Mystery Crime Books

This is my favorite Agent Pendegrast novel.
The plot was very similar to an old NightStaker episode that feature a feidn who stalked Seattle in search of spinal fluid to gant him eternal life.
I'm happy that Preston has made the cross-over to thrillers, but in truth the novels like Relic are horror novels with a heavy dose of mystery and splash of police procedural added to make them more board in their market demographics I guess.
It's solid thrills all the way, even if a little over the top at times.

The Fury and the Power (Fury and the Terror) If you want to read the novel that was the mother of all terror thrillers with spies and conspiracies check out John Farris's work.

I have read all of the Pendergast novels and other various Preston/Child works and find myself always thinking of this one as my favorite. Although I like the "Diogenes Trilogy" (Brimstone, Dance of Death and Book of the Dead), this one seemed to really work my imagination better. It was more mentaly stimulating for lack of a better phrase.

One of the reasons I liked this book so much is because although the idea of Enoch Leng's "work" is a little far fetched, it isn't quite as out there as the Relic/Reliquary monsters. Things are more believable and therefore seem more realistic.

Without saying too much, I liked the way that they linked Pendergast to the story to add more substance to his family's "affliction." It also a better way for him to involve himself in a case than the way he takes special interest in odd cases like in "Still Life with Crows." This way, he has a personal interest in the case.

Lastly, this book goes to show Pendergast more human and less superhero than in others. In this book he goes through some rough spots and it's good to see him not getting through things unscathed but have to work hard.

Overall a great book and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys the Pendergast books or has enjoyed other Preston/Child works.

This was the first time I had read a Preston and Child book. I read a lot of reviews that highly praised this book. And I honestly expected it to be a lot better then what it was. To me personally, I found this book to be kind of "high schoolish," meaning it doesn't really fit my idea for an adult book? (Minus the language in certain areas of the book) But I can say that they did a good job building your suspense up, however they dropped it just as fast and moved on to another topic. So with that being said, I just found this book to be "OK" and I doubt I will read anymore books by Preston and Child.

You know how you can always tell "Ensign Fodder" by the red shirt he's wearing? Not so in this one. I was actually wrong about the fate of one of the characters! That hasn't happened in a long while, and any book creative enough to stump me gets high praise indeed. And while the ending wasn't exactly the way I would want it, it was still a great book and I'd recommend it to anyone who's read any of the other Child/Preston books and enjoyed them (this was my first exposure, and I don't think reading them out of order detracted much at all since each is a solid stand-alone story).

PLOT: In Manhattan a modern apartment tower is about to be build. When the excavators break into a basement, they uncover the remains of 36 people murdered and gruesomely mutilated over 130 years ago. FBI Special Agent Pendergast and museum archaeologist Nora Kelly start an investigation that reveals the doings of a mysterious doctor who once conducted medical experiments on living human beings. But just as Nora and Pendergast begin to unravel the clues to the century-old killings, a new spree of murder and surgical mutilation erupts in New York.

I am a fan of the writer duo Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. So far their former 6 books were entertaining, thrilling and also a bit scary. (Well, except for "The Ice Limit" which was a bit boring.) Overall always a great mixture between mystery and science. As a result their books are way above the average.

This book really starts well, the stetting is horrible and mysterious, the stage is set for the hunt after a cruel killer and the reader meets characters from previous Preston/Child books like the really cool FBI Agent Pentergast (The Relic, Reliquary) and Nora Kelly (Thunderhead).
Unfortunately the longer I read the less I enjoyed the book.

Pendergast knew too much too early and too easily plus he shared his knowledge with nobody. The other policemen were kept in the dark as well as the reader. Basically it might be a bit more thrilling for the reader not to know too much but in this case this was just too exaggerated and happened too often. After a while it seemed more than stupid to keep other law enforcement colleagues in the dark for so long. Therefore Pentergast's strange behavior started to annoy me.
The story development towards the ending is strange as well. The idea of Pentergast's sort of personal bond to the ancient and recent killings is kind of stupid and neither believable nor necessary at all. Pendergast travelling back in time through a memory crossing technique to discover places and incidences that he did not know anything about in real life, plus interacting with people in this dream? This idea is so absurd it hurts. On top of that the final solution to the whole scenario is just too far-fetched for my taste.

Having solutions based on science and mystery is ok but overall the story should be within certain boundaries. This time however Preston/Child went several steps too far and it was more than I could bear.

Bottom line:
The beginning plus book's initial story are ok and the writing style is good (as usual). Unfortunately the solution is really bad and therefore the book is disappointing in the end. I read all 6 of their previous novels before and I would rank "Cabinet of Curiosities" at the very bottom! (I especially recommend reading "The Relic" and "Riptide" because they kept me awake for long hours and chilled me to the bone.)
I will wait a while before I read another Preston/Child book and hopefully their next book I plan to read (Still life with Crows) is better.

Having finished FATAL VOYAGE, all i could think of was how had I gone so long without discovering this author? Great characters, especially Tempe Brennan who is constantly making smart remarks or thinking smart remarks and keeping them to herself. The story is told in first person from the point of view of Temperance, who is called in to help identify the bodies of people who died in a plane crash. Without giving too much away, Brennan comes across some bones that don't belong to any of the crash victims and the plot takes off from there. We get a secret society, cover ups from high ranking officials and international implications. Kathy Reichs keeps the plot moving nicely although some of the forensic information was a little too deep for my brain cells to process. I gave this one 4 stars. Good plot, great characters and fun to read. It could have been dumbed down just a bit so that it was at my level. Easy to recommend FATAL VOYAGE. Now I'm ready to enjoy more of Kathy Reichs' works.

the ideas that kathy writes about are gripping. it held my interest till the very end. i have read almost all of her books. i really enjoy the tv series "bones". if her books do not hold your interest then there is something wrong with you.

I liked Reichs' 2007 release so much that I decided to check out my library's Kathy Reichs collection. To read them chronologically, I started with the earliest available, Fatal Voyage. I was very excited to read this book. The first few chapters were promising- Tempe Brennan has to help identify the bodies of victims aboard a crashed airplane. Brennan finds a mysterious foot that does not belong to any of the victims. She decides to take it with her to have it id'ed. (A major no no in her life of work.) And so, the plot becomes complicated!!!

Tempe gets involved with waaay too many people, from top government officials to university professors to common folk. There are many possible reasons for the downing of the flight. There are also many suspects. But, instead of focusing on the flight and/or the mysterious foot, Reichs also drags us into an investigation on the property of the crash. And then we're trying to keep track of victims, suspects, irrelevant dead people, and all sorts of living people. Not to mention the incoherent plot structure! Honestly, reading this book gave me a headache!!! And we also meet Tempe's cat and her ex-husband temporary dog, with the dog becoming overly involved in this case!!!

Also, Tempe is in serious trouble for removing that foot from the site. It's an interesting look at her ethics, but it gets lost in between the gazillion other plots!!!

I stopped in the middle of the book to read some spoliers on amazon. Knowing about them helped me move through the book a little quicker. I expected absurdity. The most absurd was the CONSPIRACY THEORY- mixing everyone from Pope Innocent to Ben Franklin, and likening some of their "stuff" to modern-day fraternity pledges. (Sadly, Reichs doesn't know her Catholic theology well; she obviously has no idea what TRANSUBSTANTIATION is!!! Nor does she understand the purpose of the Lateran Council.) Nothing like Christian/Catholic bashing- Reichs doesn't have to believe, but she doesn't have to bash Christianity!

Skip this one! It will give you a headache.

Well researched and written story. Typical of Kathy Reichs. Recommended reading for fans of mysteries and well written characters.

In Kathy Reich's Fatal Voyage, forensic anthropologist Dr. Tempe Brennan is called upon to aid in the body recovery at the site of a horrible commercial airline crash. The horrific crash took the lives of over 80 people. The grisly crash site has drawn attention from FEMA, NTSB, DMORT and the FBI and no one is spared from the brutalities of the crash. Brennan is surprised to find Canadian colleague Andrew Ryan also at the site. His partner was on the plane, escorting a criminal. One theory was that the plane was blown up to silence that criminal from testifying. While concerned about what caused the crash, Brennan is more interested in aiding in identifying all the remains of the bodies.

While wondering on the outer edges of the crash site, Brennan runs across a pack of coyotes about to dine on a human foot. She and Ryan scare them away and Brennan decides to take the human foot back with her for processing instead of following procedure and leaving it where she found it so it can be properly documented. Then she discovers the foot might not belong to a passenger on the plane. It's characteristics didn't match anyone on the plane, nor did it appear to have decomposed at a rate appropriate for the crash victims. Before Brennan can investigate further, she is removed from her duties. It seems some powerful people don't want her anywhere near the crash site.

Brennan is devestated at first, but then becomes more determined to find out what is going on. A mysterious old cabin seems to lie at the center of the mystery. Brennan enlists the help of several locals and along with Andrew Ryan, she tries to find out how the foot, the cabin, and several missing persons over the last 50 years tie together and with the plane crash.

This is a good book, not great. It was written around the time of Sept. 11, 2001, and the author mentions this in her notes at the end. I like the Brennan series and think it is better than the Scarpetta series. However, without going into details, let's just say a lot of the story had nothing to do with the main plot. I read Reichs again. Her books are fast moving and Brennan has a good voice as a 1st person narrator.

Ceremony in Death gives us a far deeper look into Peabody, Eve's aide. She starts to loosen up more around Eve, showing us some of her wisecracking self. We get to see some of the ways in which her 'Free-Ager' family has affected her, and we see some of the occult scene through her eyes and experience. We also delve into something that hasn't really been explored in the series yet: the question of psychic abilities, which, although not universally accepted, have apparently been studied and, to some extent, measured in this future time.

The question of identity as a tug-of-war between genetics, family influence, and self-determination is continued in this book (it's a powerful motif in the series). Peabody might seem the opposite of her Free-Ager family on the surface, but she isn't entirely. Roarke seems the epitome of the smooth businessman, but he still possesses the dark strength of his street upbringing. Eve still wonders if her father's brutality might express itself through her, and she finds this fear reflected in one of her suspects, a man she thinks may have taken up his father's love of ritualistic murder.

The 'white witches' are an interesting bunch, with some fascinating characters among them. They almost make up for the Satanists, who are a one-dimensional band of lunatics and hedonists. Those flat characters are pretty much the book's one flaw. On the other hand, sometimes you need a good old-fashioned lunatic when enjoying a deliberately melodramatic detective series, so this isn't a large flaw.

Adult material warning: we have our usual Eve/Roarke sizzling sex, but there's also some darker sexual matter in this plot that some might be uncomfortable with.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas may be facing one of the toughest investigations of her career. As Ceremony in Death opens, Eve is attending the funeral of colleague Frank Wojinski. Friends and family are distraught over the kind natured cop's death. Frank's mysterious granddaughter, Alice, slips a note into Eve's pocket indicating she is in danger, and Eve realizes she is being watched.

Alice reveals to Eve she is partly responsible for her grandfather's death. During her involvement with a local Satanic cult, she was witness to the ritual sacrifice of a child. Abused, raped, and tormented by what she had seen, Alice fled to the safety of a Wiccan coven and cut ties with Selena and her followers. Selena was not so eager to let Alice go, however. Believing that Selena was trying to silence her, Alice confided to her grandfather, who launched his own private investigation into Selena's sinister cult. Shortly after, Frank was dead.

All of this hocus pocus stuff is a little more than the logical, grounded Eve wants to entertain. But the more involved in the case she becomes, she discovers those close to her may have their own magical tendencies. And if Alice really did witness the murder of a child, she has every reason to fear Selena Cross, superstitions aside.

Robb keeps the reader in suspense, never quite knowing what is magic and what is trickery. The book closes with the reader still in doubt as to the spell casters' authenticity. Though it delves into some controversial theologies, it isn't a philosophical journey--it's a crime drama. Robb clearly delineates the line between good and evil.

Ceremony in Death is the fifth "In Death" book in a series of over thirty, with several to be released in 2008. The characters frequently reminisce about events that occurred in previous novels, and these mini flashbacks serve as excellent teasers. There is just enough information to build the reader's interest without confusion. It is the type of series that can be taken up at any point, but after the first book, Lieutenant Eve Dallas will become a regular in the reading queue.

The novel flows at a good pace, tying up all loose ends. The true killer isn't evident until the last scene, which keeps the suspense high. There are many points where the author could have fallen into proselytizing for one side or the other, which she avoided, making the story appeal to a wider audience. This is an impressive novel for such a "mass produced" author.

Another winner in the "...IN DEATH" series, CEREMONY IN DEATH finds Eve Dallas dealing with things that mere science can't explain. Although Dallas believes that evil comes in the form of men, you'll get a little surprise when you find out exactly how other characters from the series, including Roarke and Dr. Mira, feel about it.

Another great read, with high emotion, action, suspense, and romance.

This is an awesome series!

one of many in the eve dallas series. good prmise but draggy at times

I love this series... you must read it to understand. It's all about a homicide detective named Lt. Eve Dallas and how she goes about solving a case which always seems imposibble to solve at first.

Book arrived promptly and in great condition. Price could not be beat! Would purchase from Amazon again. Avoid the expensive and crowded campus bookstore.

The book arrived in excellent condition, it was brand new. I was very satisfied with my purchase.

This is a great book to have especially if you are a student struggling with theories. It is very clear and gives accurate definitions and descriptions of the theories utilized in the field of Social Work. I recommend all Social Work students to purchase the book.

This is a great book BUT pay attention. It is a REPRINT of a book first published in 1996. I was so excited to see a NEW RELEASE Myron book I didn't notice. Personally, I think they should have to state such IN LARGE PRINT on the cover.

This was my 2nd MB novel to read, and they are just flat out fun. They are just as good as Coben's other books, but they are funnier and they have a much more positive outlook. This book is a quick read yet it still has a tremendous and well thought out storyline. I especially loved the end, when it all came back to tie to Myron. Tremendous.

From the names of the characters to their twisted personalities and quirks, the Bolitar Series is brilliant. 5* for dry humor and wit. 5* for character development. 4* for plotting. A definite recommend.

Not the best Myron Bolitar novel, but Win, Esperanza and Big Cyndi are all there. Sometimes Coben's style of writing is enough to carry the plot. Worth reading.

These novels are best when you take them for what they are. They are light mystery novels with a little bit of comedy and witty dialogue mixed in.

This is the third novel in the Myron Bolitar series (the first two are Deal Breaker and Drop Shot) and it follows basically the same formula. It isn't necessary, however, to read the first two to enjoy this one. Coben does a good job of constructing the novels with the ability for each one to stand on it's on if needed.

I enjoy the dialogue as much as anything else. Coben is able to keep me very entertained with the back and forth between his very original characters as we follow them through plot twists, turns, and suprises.

This novel is more sports based than the other two which made it that much more enjoyable to me.

A fun light read that doesn't take itself too seriously. You shouldn't either.

The story has been told by other reviewers, unfortunately one gave away the ending. The reviews are accurate. The story flows and kept me turning the pages. If one takes the time it really does not make any sense but it is summer and who cares. The characters are all predictable but that is what is expected. It is hard to rate this book but I gave it 4 stars because it delivers what is promised.

The major question I have is why the prologue is there. It gives away a lot of the story early on and it did not add to my enjoyment.

This was one really good page-turner. Eventhough I'd figured out who did what it still didn't detract from this well written novel. Once again, Mr Margolin has given us a wonderful, suspenseful, compelling read. I highly recommend.

An associate lawyer doing pro bono work and an ex-cop turned part-time PI both come to the conclusion that the President may be a serial muderer.
Mr. Margolin weaves a pageturning tale bringing the disparate storylines into one great read.
With the sexual-political shenanigans of recent years adds a hint of possibility to this story.
I could not put down this book and read it in one sitting. This is the first book by this author that I have read. Definitely will check out his previous works and am looking forward to the next book.

Private Investigator Dana Cutler is given an assignment by an unknown client to follow a pretty college student, Charlotte Walsh and to report on her whereabouts at all times. Dana follows the girl to a secret assignation with the President of the USA where she takes some night photos which clearly show both the girl and the President. The next morning, Walsh's body shows up and Dana goes into hiding to avoid reprisals from the President's Secret Service. Meanwhile, young attorney Brad Miller is given the job of trying to prove the innocence of a jailed serial killer, Clarence Little, who protests that although he is willing to confess to other killings, he didn't commit this one. He is a truly evil man who mutilated the bodies of his female victims and kept their little fingers as a souvenir. It's a very good read with lots of twists and turns and enough suspense to keep the reader up long after bed time.

Phillip Margolin is one of my favorite crime novelists, partly due to the fact he lives in my hometown of Portland, Oregon and usually places his stories there. I had the pleasure of finally getting to the top of the list at the library for his latest book Executive Privilege. I personally feel this is one of his best novels. It grabbed my attention and didn't let go until the final page.

The story starts out with private investigator Dana Cutler taking what appears to be a simple job from a high-powered attorney. All she has to do is follow around a young college student and report on her whereabouts. But the assignment, though odd, takes on a whole new level of danger when it leads Cutler to the doorsteps of the President in a wooded cabin, apparently the participant in a tryst with her target subject. That's not the kind of information that keeps you healthy and alive for very long, and she has a past that brings back dark and unpleasant memories of trying to survive. Meanwhile, Brad Miller, a young attorney just starting out at the bottom rung of a large legal firm, is asked to take a pro bono case for a death row appeal. It's assumed that he'll go through the formalities and the appeal will be denied, but Miller turns up some evidence that would clear the convict of that particular murder (even though there are still others that the killer did confess to). The head of the legal firm is not very happy with this turn of events, and tells Miller in no uncertain terms that he is to back off. When Cutler tracks down Miller and starts comparing notes about their particular cases, the paths converge and appear to lead to murder committed and sanctioned by the highest office of government.

Everything in this novel just worked for me... the characters, plot, pacing. I started reading one evening and had a horrible time trying to find a lull in the action to set it aside. Needless to say, it was finished before I turned out the light the next evening. With all the conspiracy theories and muckrakers these days, this seemed to be a plot that wouldn't have been horribly out of place on some websites and alternative media sources. Bottom line is that it was an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to his next novel.

It was a great premise. Good characters and an easy to read style that kept me turning the pages. However, I kept waiting for the book to really start. I was expecting something spectacular to come with the turn of the next page. As the amount of pages left began to dwindle it became apparent that it would never come. There was a twist to the story. One in which I saw coming well before it was revealed.

After reading The Relic and Brimstone (both books by Preston and Child and with the fictionilized character Pendergast) I decided to read something different. Believe me, this is probably one of the best books I have ever read. A true adventure. You will not be able to put it down until you have finished reading.

I've always been a fan of Preston and Child. This book is no exception. The best "water based" thrillers I've ever read. Charcter development is unsurpassed. Four months after reading this I still vividly remember the characters and thier lives. The creepy island is extremely interesting and the twist at the end is great. With that said, its not their best novel but probably top five.

I have read Preston and Child books since discovering them last year. All the books are great and thrilling. I was a little concerned because many of the ones I'd happened to read all involved monsters that emitted strange scents. I'd begun to wonder if the duo was stuck in a rut. Well, I didn't have to worry, because Riptide is a whole different ballgame, yet equally as thrilling. The reader is hooked into the storyline on the first page, because yes, of course we all want to know what happens to Malin's brother. And yet, we are not bored with the convoluted way the author takes us to that answer. Kudos to Preston and Child for producing yet another excellent thriller.

This was the first Preston/Child book I had ever read, and if this book doesn't hook you on their work, nothing else will! This book blends science, pirate lore, and history seamlessly as we follow the adventure of a man desperate to confront his past, and a greedy company bent on recovering an ancient treasure.

Using their uncanny understanding of science and history, Preston/Child spin a fabulous tale that keeps the reader hooked until the very last page. This is a must read for anyone who loves scientific, historical thrillers or is just a fan of Preston/Child.

Timothy Lassiter, author of Three Degrees of Separation and The Devil You Know.

I buy and read Patterson sight unseen. Cat and Mouse was disappointing. Irritably inconsistent and predictable. I hope Mr Patterson hasn't lost it.

I think Cat & Mouse is my favorite Cross series book so far. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that the evolution of one of the villains didn't make sense. I don't want to give the storyline away, but if you've read the book, you probably know what I mean.

I'm a little behind in the Patterson books, but I'm feverishly trying to catch up!

[...] Seriously this was the 4th book in this Alex Cross series, it may not have been all that bad if you knew the back stories/characters. OK, coming off my soap box now.

So the basic story line, Soneji is back and he is a twisted SOB... he wants to take out as many people as possible as well as Cross. He has a plan and the plan unfolds quickly and pretty darn exciting. However through the first half of the book you start to read about this other psycho "Mr. Smith" who is one his own murder spree... the twist in plot hits! And you wont be able to stop reading!

I think this may have been one of my favorite Patterson books to date. I love the twist in plot mid way through, it really made it difficult to put it down at that point. If you are a fan of twists in the plot that you didn't see coming then this book is for you. Great Summer time read!

BTW Here is a link to the order of the Cross Series:

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Cross-Series-In-Order-James-Patterson/lm/RPDN9G1NBTS3Q/ref=cm_rna_own_lm

I really loved this book. Not only did it have the return of the series' best psycho (so far), but it also featured another memorable psycho, Mr. Smith. The ending is so twisted and unbelievable. I loved every minute of it and couldn't get enough of it. S.L. Chessor author of My Tongue Fell Out & Poodlums Boogeymen and Booglers.Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry CollectionMy Tongue Fell Out

ive read 2 books now of pattersons and both left me feeling like ive wasted my time and money. his characters are one dimensional. cross for example is as vanilla as they come....boooooring. the only thing that saved this book from a 1 star was a scene involving a dog house. one scene out of the whole book. every chapter involving cross fawning over his love interest ( his childrens principal) was laughably bad and merits skipping. the way patterson chose to create his villain was unoriginal. if youre looking for bathroom reading material and not a serious read this might be for you. otherwise save your money.

There's nothing to say except that Nora does it again! She's is by far one of the best writers of our time. Each of her IN DEATH books are well written, the stories and mystery are totally awesome.

This is my third Eve Dallas "In Death" read, and also the third in the series.

So far this is the best one yet. Each book they get better.

You can tell J.D Robb, aka Nora Roberts is really getting familiar with the characters, and the great writing proves it.

It is really fun to read the books in this series. Its like a television show, you can drop in and visit your friends. Luckily for us the readers, Nora Roberts keeps cranking them out.

As long as she writes them, I will read them.

Happy Reading!

Eve and her rich fiance Roarke are about to get married, but that doesn't mean all is puppies and rainbows. Mavis, Eve's best friend, talks Eve into using Mavis's new fashion maven boyfriend as her wedding dress designer, but dear Leonardo turns out to be the start of Eve's latest case. Or rather, his ex-lover (a famous model) is, when she turns up dead in Leonardo's flat after an argument, and Mavis is found unconscious near the body, her fingerprints on the murder weapon.

Once again Eve finds herself trying to walk a fine line between her duty as a cop and her loyalty to the people she cares about. She sets off into a world of models and actors, business and crime, drugs and beauty. At stake is nothing less than immortality---or rather, Immortality, a new drug that promises youth, beauty, energy, power.

While Eve and Roarke's relationship still sizzles, there's a bit more attention paid this time to the difficulties of trying to deal with something as big as marriage when two such headstrong loners are involved. Eve's childhood memories also rear up to smack her full-out this time, and the reader isn't spared any details. The things that happened to her as a child were horrific, and not everyone will feel comfortable reading about them, even though they're handled in a non-prurient and non-sensationalistic manner.

This mystery kept me guessing much longer than the previous one, which I very much enjoyed. There was plenty of misdirection and guilt to go around, confounding the guessing game beautifully. I love Roberts's heady mix of futurism, mystery, romance, mild erotica, and sharp personalities.

I am a HUGE Nora Roberts/JD ROBB fan and all of the "in death" books are soo great, cant read them fast enough! Eve Dallas is the best! The romance with Roarke is HOT HOT HOT!!!

Immortal in Death (In Death, Book 3) In this exciting third book on tape. Susan Ericksen brings the characters to life once again. Eve's about to get married but a murder gets in the way, will Eve and Rourke get hitched or not? We find out more about Dallas' past and we find out that there is rivalry in the different divisions. It was well worth the price of the audiobook.

Nora Roberts Rocks! Lt. Eve Dallas makes the best protagonist and it's like a ongoing series so there is always a new story!

I've read all of Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb's books and this is one of my favorites for the In Death Series. If you haven't read any of them I would suggest you start at the beggining (Naked in Death) and make your way from there. I'm sure you won't be able to get enough. All the books are absolutely amazing and you just fall in love with Eve and Roarke and everything they go through together.

An off-duty cop has been killed in Roarke's Club, Purgatory, and as Eve unravels the mystery, not only does she find bad cops, but one of Roarke's oldest and deadliest enemies, Max Ricker. Ricker wants to destroy Roarke and what better way then using Eve. And as the story unfolds, the body count rises as more cops turn up dead, but why? Is it a vendetta or something more sinister? You won't be necessarily surprised, but you will love the character and plot development.

On top of everything else, while trying to solve the murder, Eve begins to have memories about her childhood, and realizes that Max Ricker has ties to her disturbing past. She is extremely surprised to find that Roarke's oldest enemy probably knew what her father was doing to her in Dallas, and made no attempts to stop him. (In later installments, you find that Roarke and Eve's lives were intertwined long before they met, since childhood. Both of their fathers knew each other and were involved in criminal enterprises. So, it would seem that Roarke and Eve were destined to be together.)

In summary, I think this novel is one of my favorites in the series. Not only did we see Roarke "lose his cool", but we get to see how he feels about the appearance of Eve's past lover, Webster (an internal affairs detective who appears to know more than he is willing to say). I think it was nice to see Roarke "off stride" for a change. I will also say that one disadvantage for me is that I am not reading the series in order, so I am not sure if what I am about to say is relevant. What I would have like to read is a story about how Ricker's son (who was mentioned a lot) handles the fact that Eve and Roarke stopped his lunatic father? I think that would be a wonderful story and an interesting villian in a future story.

A stale plot is made masterfully refreshing in the hands of one of the greatest writers to ever put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard as the case may be).

Nora Roberts (writing as J.D. Robb) takes the tale of "cop killers" to new heights of suspense in the futuristic Eve Dallas series. Readers are taken on a journey into an imagination as vivid and lively as any Walt Disney movie. The difference, of course, being that Walt Disney only killed the parents of cartoon animals whereas Robb expertly tackles a more real world (if futuristic) human death. The imaginative effect is nonetheless incredible!

I'm a huge fan of this series, but I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as the others. I have to agree with another reviewer that said that the identification of the killer was so abrupt that it almost left me wondering if I missed some pages or something. I think that Roarke's behavior in this book became a little annoying. And I did not like the angry sex scene in this book. These two are always so loving with each other that it seems way too out of the ordinary. It's also starting to wear on me that Roarke has his nose in every little thing that Eve does. Give me a break! He should be more of a peripheral character than being thrust into the middle of every mystery.