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.
Divided in Death
by
J.D. Robb
science fiction, detective mystery, forensic mystery, romantic suspense in a Kindle edition that was published by Berkley on August 31, 2004 and has 365 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, Imitation in Death, Visions in Death, Desperation in Death, Abandoned in Death, Creation in Death, Survivor in Death, Concealed in Death, Origin in Death
Eighteenth in the In Death futuristic romantic suspense series revolving around Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her hunky gazillionaire husband. Set in September 2059 in New York City, the focus is on a security expert employed by Roarke. If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the In Death books on my website.
Divided in Death was nominated in 2005 for the RITA Award by Romance Writers of America for Paranormal Romance.
My Take
This was a twister and fun — she got her own back!
It’s a detective novel, a police procedural, and forensics all wrapped in with the futuristic setting and the romance between Eve and Roarke. Sigh . . . Not that it’s all hearts and flowers for these two, oh no, they have plenty of battles. There’s also a burgeoning love in Divided in Death.
Poor Eve. Roarke is forever giving her presents. He’s also, forever, feeding her team whenever they meet at her home office. Okay, okay, he feeds them when they’re working on a hot case at the police station too. The man is beyond brilliant with computers . . . and Peabody thinks Roarke would be the complete James Bond. Yeah, he’s gorgeous with a heart-melting Irish accent.
I dunno. People keep thinking Eve will accept what they set up for her. If they only knew . . .
“humans who didn’t have a working arrangement with soap and water” . . . I can smell it now!
Robb uses third person global subjective point-of-view, mostly from Dallas’ perspective with Roarke second, and other characters popping in. Robb also keeps a nice rhythm going, jumping back and forth with characters and the action they’re experiencing. Whew.
Then there’s the major betrayal at the end. Wow. Yeah, it’s a wow from both sides, good and evil. There’s also a major confession from Dr Mira. And that sneak-around that Dallas does on the HSO. You go, girl!!
The Story
It’s horrible to believe you’re loved and then discover the truth.
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is the head of Homicide at Cop Central. She’s married to one of the wealthiest men on the planet — a former thief, smuggler, you name it — and Roarke is gorgeous and supportive of his cop wife. Hmm, sometimes overly supportive, lol. Galahad is their pudge of a cat. I do enjoy those scenes when Galahad tries to cop food, lol! Summerset is the majordomo Eve loves to hate. Aunt Sinead is part of Roarke’s newly discovered Irish family.
Dallas’ friends include Mavis Freestone, a colorful singing sensation, who is cohabbing with Leonardo, a famous fashion designer. Dr Louise DiMatto runs the Canal Street Clinic for the homeless and helpless. Nadine Furst is Channel 75’s on-air ace reporter with a heart.
New York Police and Security Department (NYPSD)
The newly elevated Detective Delia Peabody is so excited about her promotion. Commander Jack Whitney is in charge of Cop Central and is Dallas’ boss. Tibble is the police chief. Dr Charlotte Mira is the head profiler for the NYPSD and one of Dallas’ friends . . . and a mother figure. Mira’s husband, Dennis, is an absolute sweetheart, absent-minded and kind, and with whom Eve is a little bit in love. Captain Ryan Feeney is the head of the Electronic Detective Division (EDD) and just back from Bimini, a trip Dallas flipped for him and his family. Feeney says his whole family sees him as a hero, a status he expects to enjoy for the next six months. He’s also been Eve’s mentor and a father figure to her. Detective Ian McNab is one of his and in love with Peabody.
Dr Li Morris is the chief medical examiner and talented with the tenor sax. Marlie Drew is night shift with the AME. Joseph Powell and Sibresky are big on jokes but careful with their “cargo”. Angelo was Powell’s replacement. Mrs Lance was Powell’s neighbor. Sally “Sal” Riser logs the bodies out from Staging. Dick Berenski is the chief lab tech and as disgusting as he is brilliant. Lieutenant Don Webster, who has a thing for Dallas, is with Internal Affairs (IAB). Lamar is a police artist.
Roarke Enterprises
Caro is Roarke’s extremely trusted administrative assistant. Reva Ewing is Caro’s daughter, former Secret Service, and a security expert who’s questioning herself. She works for Roarke on a Code Red project in Roarke Industries Securecomp division, a contract that came through the Global Intelligence Council. She’s been married for two years to Blair Bissel, a sculptor. Yoshi Tokimoto is Reva’s second-in-command. Reva suggests Roarke up LaSalle to second-in-command to replace Tokimoto.
Blair’s parents are Marcus Bissel and Rita Hass. Carter is Blair’s younger, dissolute brother with a half interest in a Jamaican tiki bar, Waves, with Diesel Moore. Chloe McCoy was employed at Blair’s art studio . . . and, ohmigod, what a drama queen! Deena Hornbock is Chloe’s tolerant neighbor. Officer Nalley was first on scene. Felicity Kade, a trust fund baby and Reva’s best friend, loves art, fashion, and socializing. Previous boyfriends include Fredo. LeBliss Consultants is a hide.
HSO began . . .
. .. at the end of the Urban Wars to protect the country, police the streets, and gather intel from radical factions. It’s morphed into its own terrorist group. Quinn Sparrow is the assistant director of Data Resources. Operative Clark with Homeland Security had been surveilling Troy and his eight-year-old daughter, Dallas.
The Doomsday Group is a group of techno-terrorists.
Jerry is the doorman at Caro’s apartment building. Anne B Foster had been president of the US when Reva saved her life. Patrick Roarke, a.k.a. Roarke O’Hara, had been Roarke’s sad excuse of a father. He had been involved in “business” with Richard Troy, a.k.a. Richie Williams, William Bounty, and/or Rick Marco — Dallas’ truly hideous father. Both men had been involved with Max Ricker (Judgment in Death, 11). The results of Ricker-Troy-Roarke’s dealings come out in Out of This World: “Interlude in Death”, 12.5. Snooks is an Arena Ball player. The Blue Squirrel is where Mavis used to sing and is renowned for its horrible food and drink. Sheila is McNab’s cousin in Scotland. Reva’s absent father is Bryce Gruber.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background on the top two-thirds. A colonial blue banner divides the top from the bottom graphic and acts as the background for the title in black. At the very top of the cover is an info blurb in white with the real author’s name in white with a white outline. Her pseudonym is in colonial blue behind the first name. At the bottom is a collage of events in the story from purple to gold to deep orange.
The title could refer to so many possibilities that are Divided in Death, all those betrayals from Reva and Blair and family to the HSO and Doomsday/Roarke Enterprises to friendships.
