Down the Rabbit Hole
by
Elaine Fox, J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Mary Kay MacComas, R.C. Ryan
It is part of the In Death #41.5, series and is a anthology, contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense in Paperback edition that was published by Jove on September 29, 2015 and has 432 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Mirror, Mirror, Indulgence in Death, Treachery in Death, Kindred in Death, The Other Side, New York to Dallas, Unquiet, Celebrity in Death, Delusion in Death, Calculated in Death, Thankless in Death, Festive in Death, Obsession in Death, Betrayal in Death, "Wonderment in Death", "Possession in Death", "Midnight in Death", Devoted in Death, Brotherhood in Death, Apprentice in Death, Echoes in Death, Secrets in Death, Dark in Death, Leverage in Death, "Interlude in Death", Vendetta in Death, Golden in Death, Faithless in Death, Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Immortal in Death, Rapture in Death, Ceremony in Death, Vengeance in Death, , Loyalty in Death, Witness in Death, Judgment in Death, Seduction in Death, Reunion in Death, Holiday in Death, Purity in Death, Portrait in Death, Imitation in Death, Divided in Death, Visions in Death, Desperation in Death, Abandoned in Death, Creation in Death, Survivor in Death, Concealed in Death, Origin in Death, One More Kiss
An anthology of five short stories revolving around the Alice in Wonderland theme.
The Series
“Wonderment in Death” (In Death, 41.5)
“Alice and the Earl in Wonderland” (Poppy’s Coin, 6)
The Stories
It’s 2061 and J.D. Robb‘s “Wonderment in Death” is probably the most literal of the five with a Mad Hatter, a March Hare, and a Dormouse all working together to destroy people in this romantic suspense. I am somewhat surprised that Galahad didn’t show up as the Cheshire cat!
It’s a fun story that will also make you cry at the loss. The fun involves Robb’s depiction of that Mad Hatter, for he is mad and has an obsession with outlandish hats. And yes, he does love his tea parties…eeek… At the end, it’s that interview with Peabody having her fun, lol, at which you can’t help but crack up.
The sad is in what this serial killer does. How he destroys his victims. It’s always such a heart-wrenching loss, and particularly well done when the author shows that loss.
As always, I do enjoy reading about the “criminal” working so closely with cops, talking the talk. And feeding them, lol.
Mary Blayney‘s “Alice and the Earl in Wonderland” is another of her historical romance shorts, and yes, it is a different story from her “Amy and the Earl’s Amazing Adventure“. It’s kind of cute, although I was expecting more based on Blayney’s previous short stories.
In this one, Alice and the Earl of Weston come forward in time from Regency England, so it is fun to “watch” Alice Kemp and Bennet end up in 2005, having no idea where they are. Alice is an annoying character with her insistence on being below the pale due to her parents’ divorce. Blayney pushes this too far, and I was so annoyed that I almost skipped over the story. Nor does Blayney’s portrayal of 1805 feel real. If I had read this Poppy’s Coin first, I would not have wanted to read any others.
Elaine Fox‘s “iLove” is cute with its contemporary play on the iPhone as Macy dumps Jeremy because of his “love affair” with his cellphone. It seems both have a lesson to learn, and Fox really jumps down that rabbit hole to make her point. Where Jeremy finds himself was a fascinating concept.
Mary Kay McComas‘ “A True Heart” has an intriguing way of diving into her protagonist’s character as Elise goes costume hopping with Martin using a series of vignettes looking back in time to show Elise how her, well, character for lack of a better word, is going downhill. How she’s missing out on life because of it.
It’s the scarecrow who tells Elise “it isn’t the brain in your head or the heart in your chest that you make choices with. They aren’t what you feel and care and empathize with. … It’s you choosing who to be; you deciding how to live your life.”
R.C. Ryan‘s “Fallen” is another one with time travel, which makes sense as it is so much easier to fall down the rabbit hole, lol. It reminded me of Lynn Kurland’s De Piaget/MacLeod historical romance time travel series. In this one, Ryan takes a slight twist in how Beth ends up with her man. It’s how the curse plays out that is the bigger fall into that rabbit hole! There were a few odd threads in this, but Ryan does well enough.
The Cover and Title
The cover is is divided into graphic and text with the top third a shiny top hat at the woodsy entrance to a golden glowing hole in the distance in a whorl of glittering yellow. The bottom third lists the title and the authors in an embossed silver.
The title is the theme for each short story, and it’s Down the Rabbit Hole interpreted five different ways.
