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Purity in Death
by
J.D. Robb
detective mystery, police procedural, romantic suspense in a Kindle edition that was published by Berkley on August 27, 2002 and has 362 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include 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, Mirror, Mirror, Festive in Death, Obsession in Death, Betrayal in Death, "Wonderment in Death", "Possession in Death", Down the Rabbit Hole, "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, 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
Fifteenth in the In Death futuristic romantic suspense series revolving around a New York City detective, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her gorgeous husband, Roarke. It starts in July 2059, and Dallas and Roarke are coming up on two years married!
My Take
Corruption swings wide on both sides — those who believe they’re the good guys AND the bad guys. It’s handy that Robb uses third person global subjective point-of-view from the perspectives of a number of characters.
Boy, if that ain’t scary! A neurological computer virus that induces physical effects and paranoia. Too bad its creators forgot about innocent bystanders! It’s all computer geeks on deck, including Jamie, who is both thrilled to be working with e-detectives and a typical teen who thinks he’s invincible.
Poor Dallas, I don’t think she’ll ever be able to approach socialization as well as Roarke does. He actually enjoys it. Eve would rather go up against a chemi-head. She does note that her father didn’t, at least, attempt to scar the “merchandise”. Playing to politics is right up there with socializing for Dallas. And that especially includes basing decisions on polls. Wait’ll you read Dallas’ reaction to what Chang has planned, ROFLMAO. As for Franco’s assessment of Dallas’ “femininity” . . . hoo-boy.
I can understand the desire to “ensure” that the bad guys are punished, but Eve makes an excellent point about where those judgments stop. That said, Chadwick Fitzhugh is enabled by family. I understand wanting to shield your kids, but, but, but . . . Roarke notes that he also has standards, lol.
When you think of the damage done to our young people because of bigoted adults. It’s no wonder arrests fail. Jesus. What’s worse, it’s as if Robb has been channeling all the hateful politicians and people who are so against anyone not like them. For one, accept that every person is different. And stop worrying about whether people will judge appearances. Oy.
Robb keeps it balanced with the relationship between Roarke and Dallas:
“‘You get me that today, I might just dig up a pair of garters.’
‘I want the corset, too. And the shoes.’
‘ . . . You have to wear the shoes the whole time we —'”
It’s a good thing the balance has existed, as a major conflict arises between them in Purity in Death.
Lol, then there’s Roarke’s response to Eve’s question about “how many times a day [he thinks] about sex”. Yep, he’s the kind of guy I’d want to be married to, if only for all the laughs. I wonder if that’s part of Ian’s reasoning when he tries to break up with Peabody??
Nadine has been a constant “irritant” in Eve’s shoe and also a loyal one. That said, I do love Nadine’s frustration when she exclaims, “If you keep spouting sound bites like that off the record . . . I’m going to break down and cry.”
This is the first time it’s acknowledged why Dallas hasn’t been promoted!
Purity in Death is an action-packed story driven by its core characters with story-specific characters adding even more color. However muddy. I’d have to say it felt slow, but only because I was trying to read fast enough to find out what the heck was going on! I wanted the whys and hows!
Only . . . where does the judgment stop?
LOLOLOL, I LOVE Eve’s end run!!
“I don’t pick the dead I stand for . . . They pick me.”
The Story
Bad guys are dying . . . not a bad thing, but the cause is affecting innocents.
Now it’s Absolute Purity Achieved.
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is in charge of Homicide at Cop Central. Roarke is her gorgeous bazillionaire husband. Summerset, a.k.a. the Walking Dead, is Roarke’s mentor, father figure, and majordomo for his home. Galahad is their pudgy cat (Naked in Death, 1).
Dallas’ friends include:
Nadine Furst, the on-air ace reporter for Channel 75. Mavis Freestone, Dallas’ best friend and a universal singing sensation, has hot news for Dallas. Mavis is living with Leonardo, a famous clothing designer.
The New York City Police and Security Department (NYPSD)
Officer Delia Peabody is Dallas’ aide. Detective David Baxter will get additional responsibility. Officer Troy Trueheart is as cute and good as his name, lol. Commander Jack Whitney is Dallas’ boss; Anna is Jack’s intimidating wife. Tibble is the police chief. Officer Debrah Banker is on the Green investigation. Detective-Sergeant Thomas Dwier has investigated a number of child abuse cases. Dr Li Morris is the chief medical examiner. Dr Charlotte Mira is the NYPSD’s and the country’s top profiler.
Captain Ryan Feeney, Eve’s mentor and father figure, is in charge of the Electronic Detective Division (EDD). Detective Kevin Halloway is one of his “boys” along with the colorful Detective Ian McNab, who’s dating Peabody.
Colleen Halloway is Kevin’s grateful mother. Lily Doogan is Halloway’s girlfriend. Jamie Lingstrom is a young man being mentored by Roarke whom we first met in Ceremony in Death, 5. Alice had been Jamie’s sister, seduced by Alban.
Steven Peachtree is the mayor of New York City. Deputy Mayor Jenna Franco plays up her femininity, but she’s as hard as Dallas. The self-important Lee Chang is in charge of media communications. Clarissa Price works for Child Services — and she does not like Dallas. Lauren seems to be Price’s receptionist? assistant?
The Purity Seekers are . . .
. . . a group of concerned citizens, ranging from all walks of life, who are over-the-top angry about drug dealers, pimps, and more being released. The misogynistic Donald Dukes is a mean autocrat and computer scientist who had spent eight years in the Marines. Sylvia is his downtrodden wife. Devin was the conflicted son while Joseph is the “perfect” son. Snyder is one of Dukes’ lawyers. Sal and Nita, the cheeky one, are the Dukes’ neighbors. Old Frankie had been Nita’s old cocker spaniel. Matthew Sawyer is a bigshot brain doctor; Keith Burns is a computer geek who had been Devin’s godfather; Stanford Quillens; Angie, she’s a media consultant, and Ray Anderson; and, Michael and Hester Stanski amongst many others.
Louie K Cogburn sells drugs on playgrounds. His neighbors are/were Suzanne Cohen and Ralph Wooster, her boyfriend. Chadwick Fitzhugh preys on young boys. Dru Geller takes in and sells young people. Mary Ellen Green used to run a daycare; Jay Hippel is Green’s ex-boyfriend. Nick Greene is a more “well-rounded” dealer, revealing lots of useful evidence. Hannah Wade, a teenage runaway, was still an innocent. Judge Vera Archer needs a release. Judge Matthew signed the initial warrants. Judge Lincoln is holding up on some warrants.
The Blue Squirrel is a nasty dive that Eve uses for meets sometimes. It’s also where Mavis used to sing. The Church of the Savior is doing quite well for itself. The Jonas-Ludworg Clinic in Switzerland has a good track record of helping paralyzed people.
The Cover and Title
This cover differs from previous stories. It’s bordered top and bottom in a white that gradates into teal green, meeting in the center with a fluorescing New York City Public Library — particularly the lime green in the central doorway. At the very top is an info blurb in black with the author’s real name below that noting her pseudonym, which is in white with a black shadow. Starting at the top of the stairs is the title also in a black-shadowed white. To the right of the “J.D.” is an oval mint green icon giving additional info . . . in black.
The title is what this group is aiming for, Purity in Death, by eliminating the bad guys.
