Rapture in Death
by J.D. Robb
List Price:
Our Price: $3.93
You Save: $4.06 (51%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: J.D. RobbEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-10-01
ISBN: 0425155188
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Berkley
Book Reviews of Rapture in Death
Book Review: Entertaining, but Frustratingly Vague Series
Summary: 3 Stars
As an long time reader of serial fiction, one thing I've learned is not to read the books in too close of a succession. The writer's flaws become more easily apparent that way. And having discovered the In Death series only about 6 months ago, I followed this advice fairly well. I read book 1, waited about a month and a half and read book 2. Book 3 I read about a month after that. And now, I've completed book 4 about a month and a half later. If was probably in the middle of book 3 when the problems became apparent. This doesn't speak well for a series nearing 30 books. Though, I hope that with time and experience Robb/Roberts improved.
First, everything is rather vague. As I'm reading, I don't have a really good "visual" of anything in my mind. All I have are impressions. With very few exceptions, I don't have a good picture of the characters or locations. I suppose this is a valid way for an author to provide description, but I prefer more. I'm left feeling unfulfilled. This is a particular hindrance given that the setting is several decades into the future. Other than flying cars, what's futuristic about this future?
When Robb gets in over her head in some detail, she just cuts away. A prime example was in RAPTURE. An angry Roarke literally scares the heck out of character that has used him. Instead of using this opportunity to show us something specific about Roarke, Robb provides some vague description of how Roarke learned all kinds of nasty things growing up and then cuts away. Next time we see Roarke, he's calmly smoking a cigarette, while his "victim" is huddling in a corner. It's never made clear if Roarke's "assault" was physical or just verbal. Did he do "nasty things" or just promise to.
Second, the narrator gets lost. Generally, the story is being told from the point of view of Dallas. But out of no where, Robb injects the point of some other character. Sometimes even a minor one. Often multiple POVs are expressed in one scene. My guess is, Robb wants us to know what that other character's thoughts/impressions are. That's fine, but jumping in and out of various people's heads rather randomly strikes me as lazy.
For example, in RAPTURE, Dallas and Roarke are having a party. Dallas is leading a guest down the hall to her office. The scene if from her POV. Yet, suddenly we're in the guest's head where he's noting how "grand" and expensive things are. Robb did great with a follow up remark from Dallas where she answers an unasked question. Why can't she just do that more often instead of jarring the reader with a random POV?
If Robb wants us to know what that other character is thinking, she should find another way of doing it. Or, it's not that important. Or, Robb needs to rethink having Dallas as the sole narrator of the story.
Another particularly bad example of random transition can also be read in RAPTURE. The killer pulls a gun on Dallas and very next thing we're up in Roarke's head. No transition. No page break. Just the very next paragraph. I suppose we can blame the editors for this, but next to similar problems, it's hard to say what is the fault of the editors and what belongs to Robb.
Third, the lack of character development for Roarke. He was a rounded character in Book 1, which read more like a traditional romance. But since he seems more like a prop for the development of Dallas than anything else. His only thoughts are of her. The only life of his own he has is that he goes out of town every so often to make money. And Dallas can't sleep.
After 4 books, I'm still no clearer on why he chose Dallas. She's foul mouthed, unsophisticated, "uncouth" relative to him and somewhat hypocritical. (She gets annoyed at the possiblity of his doing something illegal, yet she breaks the rules to take advantage of his illegal hardware when she needs to.) I get that the have similar backgrounds, but he's made himself into something different. He even says several times, that he didn't like cops. So just what is it about her that makes her special? Sure, the two obviously have great sex. But they don't seems to have much in common. Nor do they seem particularly interested in each others' lives unless there is a benefit to them, particularly (ie Dallas using Roarke technology. Or, is Roarke into anyting that will damage Dallas's career.) On the other hand, Roarke only seems to care if Dallas is working too hard or eating enough. Maybe he'd make a better mother.
Often, Dallas will discuss something bothering her about the case. But I've yet to see her take an interest in what Roarke might be doing. I know this is fiction featuring Dallas. I just wish I felt that the relationship between her and Roarke were more believable.
Fourth, I understand the format is that of a procedural, but starting with book 2, I was bored a good deal of the time. They read exactly the same. And the killer is usually obvious soon after he/she is introduced.
Five, I get that Roarke is richer than G-d. But does he have to own everything? Meaning Dallas has easy access to just about any place she likes. And does he have to had slept with just about every good looking female on the planet? Which makes one wonder even more - great sex aside - why Dallas?
Summary of Rapture in Death
Each murder victim died with a smile on their face. The only one who isn't grinning is Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas-because she's got to find out why.Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.89
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Judgment in Deathby J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 2000-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Witness in Deathby J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 2000-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.21
Price in other shops:
Conspiracy in Deathby J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1999-03; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.64
Price in other shops:
Loyalty in Deathby J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1999-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.24
Price in other shops:
Holiday in Deathby J.D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1998-06-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.66
Price in other shops:
Vengeance in Deathby J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1997-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.33
Price in other shops:
Ceremony in Deathby J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1997-05-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1)by J. D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1995-07-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.13
Price in other shops:
Immortal in Death (In Death, Book 3)by J.D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1996-07-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.16
Price in other shops:
Glory in Death (In Death, Book 2)by J.D. Robb
Berkley; Published: 1995-12-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.12
Price in other shops: