I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Imitation in Death
by
J.D. Robb
science fiction, romantic suspense in a Kindle edition that was published by Berkley on August 26, 2003 and has 356 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, Purity in Death, Portrait in Death, Divided in Death, Visions in Death, Desperation in Death, Abandoned in Death, Creation in Death, Survivor in Death, Concealed in Death
Seventeenth in the In Death futuristic romantic suspense series revolving around Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her hunky husband, Roarke. It’s the end of August, the beginning of September of 2059, with the focus on a serial killer who’s imitating famous killers of the past.
If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the In Death books on my website.
My Take
The In Death stories are a combination of horrific, police procedural, and humor, and Imitation in Death does NOT disappoint. From our initial encounter with Morris to Dr Mira laughing over Eve’s reaction to the idea of a family picnic to Eve’s continual embarrassment over being seen by fellow cops in her fancy dresses and fancier cars. Core character interactions are also fun from Peabody’s fascination for Roarke and Feeney’s appreciation for those magic hands, lol.
That picnic was a treat — for the reader, for Roarke, and an eye-opener for Eve when she discovers that Mira made all the food. Eve is also exposed to motherhood while Roarke is unsafely fascinated by barbecue grills . . . !
Oy, when Chan describes Jacie’s apartment as a deluxe single, well, it makes my place look HUGE.
Robb uses third person global subjective point-of-view from primarily Dallas’ and Roarke’s perspectives, but it also allows us to listen in on other characters, good and bad and what they think.
I can see why cops and doctors are a bad bet marriage-wise, and Dallas is dang lucky in Roarke. He gets her, he gets it. And he gets to horn in on her investigations whenever he wants, because he’s just that pushy, lol. I love how much he enjoys seeing her make the transition from cop to society wife, sometimes through changing from jeans to evening dress, many times simply by showing up at some fancy do with blood on her trousers.
With each story in the series, Eve’s character arc develops a tidbit more. She’s blocked her life from age eight and down to prevent the horror of the systematic rape and abuse from opening up in her mind. In Imitation in Death, she remembers her mother’s and father’s names and her feelings about having a child around. Dang, Mira’s good. I love what she has to say to Eve to get her to see her as someone other than the product of her birth parents.
It’s a detective story with the police procedural incorporated. What they can legitimately do or not, the bits and pieces they pull together (and how they do it) to determine whodunnit. In between are the varying social interactions. My favorites are with Roarke, although her relationship with Peabody and Mavis are right up there.
Part of the futuristic goodies include that AutoChef, which seems to automatically spit out cooked food and chilled drinks (I do not want to think about having to actually cook the food so it’s there, I want it to magically appear, lol), the flying cars, and the droids. Droids are throughout the stories but rarely do they show up inside Roarke’s house.
It was an eye-opener when Pepper states that she loves Leo, and probably for his weaknesses.
Speaking of weaknesses, Eve sure does have them with Roarke’s money and the transport he can command. I don’t get why she can’t just swing with it and use his shuttles and cars without whining about it.
There’s action — how could there not be when the swing-happy Dallas is “starring”, lol, yet the characters are what drive Imitation in Death. And, whoa, there are “some” characters. Some will break your heart while others will make you shudder.
Robb certainly keeps the action moving!
The Story
It’s a case, you could say it had historic proportions, that causes Morris to put off his vacay to Aruba.
As for Eve? While she reckons “I’m Homicide. My day starts when yours ends.”
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is the head of Homicide at Cop Central in New York City. Her husband, Roarke, is one of the richest and most gorgeous men in the world. And he adores Eve! Unfortunately, Roarke also loves Summerset, his majordomo and Roarke’s father figure, and Summerset hates Eve. Galahad is their protective cat.
Dallas’ friends include Nadine Furst, Channel 75’s on-air ace reporter who suggests Dallas throw some tips Quinton Post‘s way. Mavis Freestone, Eve’s oldest and best friend, is a singing sensation who is involved with Leonardo, a fashion designer.
The New York City Police and Security Department (NYPSD)
Officer Delia Peabody is Dallas’ aide who is studying for the detective exam with the strict, slightly irritating Detective Ian McNab of EDD. More of Dallas’ team includes Detective “Hornydog” Baxter who’s training the delectable Officer Troy Trueheart.
Captain Ryan Feeney, Dallas’ mentor and a father figure to her, is the head of the Electronic Detective Division (EDD). Commander Jack Whitney is Dallas’ boss who has a chat with Judge Womac. Dr Li Morris is the stylin’ chief medical examiner. Dr Charlotte “Charlie” Mira is the top profiler for the NYPSD and sees herself as a mother figure to Eve.
Officer Henley is on the Gregg murder. Officer Frohicke admires Roarke’s snazzy car and is part of the investigation into Lois Gregg. Officer Cullin needs to have better control of his prisoner. Someone named Leroy has the tongue trots.
Detective-Sergeant Haggerty is with the Boston PD. Detective Sloan was new on the LAPD when he and his partner, Trent, caught Susie Mannery; now he’s a bit older with a new partner, Baker.
Dennis is Mira’s beloved and absentminded husband with whom Dallas is a little bit in love. Gillian, a Wiccan, is the Miras’ daughter and has some interesting home “truths” for Eve *grin*. She also has three children. Lana is a granddaughter. Callie is another daughter? daughter-in-law? Bryce is a grandson who loves to sample people’s food.
Pepper Franklin is a famous actress performing in New York. Turney is her butler droid. Leo Fortney is her current lover, the most incredible jerk. Suelee is Fortney’s stacked, slightly ditzy secretary. Fortney is on a call with Thad. The Gold Key is Fortney’s gym.
Jacie Wooton was an LC who used to be on the high end until she let drugs bring her down. Piers Chan is Jacie’s slum landlord. Tressa Palank, an ex-cop, is Jacie’s counselor. Lois Gregg is a sweet grandmother. Jeffrey Gregg is her anguished son who is married to Leah, who realizes Lois had been her best friend. Mizzy is a daughter. Sam had been the love of Lois’ life. Rico Vincenti, the proprietor of a family-run market, has only good to say about Lois. The owner of a boutique and Addy will miss Lois. Elsa Parksy is a sharp-eyed neighbor of Lois’. (Fred had been Elsa’s beloved husband.) Marlene Cox is a shy waitress at Uncle Peter Waterman‘s Riley’s Irish Pub. Sela Cox is Marlene’s determined mother. I think Aunt Dora is married to Pete. Dr Laurence is treating Marlene. “Donna” is the ticked-off girlfriend. “Frank” is the no-show friend. Katie Mitchell is a CPA who works out of her home.
Jack the Ripper; Albert DeSalvo, the Boston Strangler; Ted Bundy; Marsonini; and, “Peter Brent” who uses a long-range blaster to shoot a cop are people you do not want to meet. Lisle had been lucky enough to have a girlfriend over.
Niles Renquist is a British diplomat with the UN. Pamela “Mrs Pompous A**hole” is his amazingly snooty wife. Rose is their neglected daughter. Sophia DiCarlo is the abused and terrified au pair. (Sophia’s parents are also domestics and employed by Angela Dysert.) Thomas Newkirk, a former RAF captain, is Renquist’s personal assistant. Renquist works for British UN Delegate Marshall Evans. Roberta Jane Gable had been Renquist’s nanny in his childhood. Eve reckons she was a pincher. Renquist’s sister had been Sarah. Stevens is the Renquist housekeeper.
Elliot Hawthorne, a retired billionaire, loves to play golf and get married. Tony is Elliot’s caddy. Darla Hawthorne is wife #3. Hank is her hunky tennis instructor. Carmichael Smith is an international recording star with some nasty mommy issues. Li is Carmichael’s assistant.
Thomas A Breen, a house husband, is a true crime writer with a focus on twentieth-century serial killers and mass murderers. Julietta “Jule” Gates is his wife who works at a fashion magazine. Their son is Jed. Dallas has reason to suspect him, from his fascination with murderers to his mother being a neurologist while his father was the stay-at-home dad. Serena Unger is a fashion designer employed with Mirandi’s second label arm.
Dochas is . . .
. . . a women’s shelter Roarke built. Moira O’Bannion is a counselor who revealed Roarke’s true past history in Portrait in Death, 16.
Willy the Wanker is a regular on a particular train line. Stel is Dallas’ mother’s name; Rich is the father’s. Victor Clarence is a joke on His Royal Highness Prince Albert Victor, the Duke of Clarence.
The Cover and Title
The cover is ablaze with color, starting with the red border across the top serving as a background for the info blurb and the true name of the author. The “author’s name” is in white with a black shadow that begins in the wild royal blue sky with patches of white clouds. At the bottom is a black border with the space between a huge, very colorful graphic of the UN with five flags flying above the title, which is white shadowed in black. I’m missing the point of the deep yellow oval badge to the left of the pseudonym with the navy text exclaiming it’s the “First Time in Print!”.
The title is too true, for they are crimes in an Imitation in Death.
