I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Origin in Death
by
J.D. Robb
police procedural, romantic suspense in a Kindle edition that was published by Berkley on March 3, 2007 and has 324 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, Divided in Death, Visions in Death, Desperation in Death, Abandoned in Death, Creation in Death, Survivor in Death, Concealed in Death
Twenty-first in the In Death romantic suspense police procedural series and revolving around Lieutenant Eve Dallas. The focus is on the various possibilities of human origins.
My Take
This story is a major case in Eve’s life and, again, repeatedly, she comes to the rescue while in between her crimesolving, she and Roarke learn how to celebrate with family.
Robb pulled me right in with the girl regretting her inabilities with language and writing, about the disappointments and resulting punishments, the lack of exposure to the outside, the social restrictions. The more I read, the more I cried. That ending line in the first chapter . . . ohhh . . .
Poor Eve. She has an intense character arc in the In Death series. One of the issues is the marriage rules Eve gets so panicky about. There’s Eve’s growth from black-and-white to shades of gray. She (and Peabody) also has a little thing for Morris, and does she ever have the claws out for Amaryllis! I also love how Eve’s circle of friends has grown from one to many, and as Eve notes, they’re such a great variety of people from various backgrounds.
Eve’s background will also get to you. So many things that we take for granted from our childhoods: Barbie dolls, childhood books . . . I always laugh at Roarke playing dress-up with Eve and Eve’s reaction to make-up. As for Eve’s fear of Trina and vending machines, oh man. Her battles with computers. The love (and expression of it) between Eve and Roarke.
Lololol, Eve and Roarke get roped into Lamaze classes.
Peabody has her own issues, and this trip to a facial reconstruction facility has her pondering her lips and nose — right along with her butt obsession, lol. It’s Eve’s reactions to Peabody’s worries that has me cracking up, all the time. More of the “usual” interchange between Peabody and Dallas is Peabody’s fantasies about Roarke — that fantasy she has about, oh darn, Dallas and McNab dying and Roarke needing consolation . . . LMAO.
There’s Lee-Lee’s problem with a boyfriend who becomes controlling and can’t accept her breakup with him — some things never change.
Ya gotta laugh at Eve’s views on so many things, including how the detectives in EDD dress. Then there’s Eve’s reaction to dressing at all, always thinking how it’ll affect a chase after a criminal, lol.
Robb does bring color to the story, sometimes unfortunately, as in “mustard the unfortunate color of infected urine” and “slopping a soy fry through a puddle of anemic ketchup”. The description of the Icove facilities brought it to life.
And, you know, gadget girl here, who loves all that futuristic technology. I want a droid and an Auto Chef, and a . . . Okay,, it’s not just the gadgets. It’s the humanity, the compassion, and the amazing range of characters Robb creates. Then there are the cases Robb comes up with. Wow. They’re all so different, and this one, Origin in Death, is a pip!
It is amazing how intelligent Diana is, and I’m sure it’s a reflection of all the students at Brookhollow. It’s a sensible assessment after that first chapter.
I love the combination of the main romantic relationship between Eve and Roarke. And Robb blends it in with police procedures as Dallas and her people and friends track down information to solve her cases. I do adore how Roarke insinuates himself and how useful this former computer-savvy “criminal” is. He’s not Eve’s only supporter. That Jack Whitney is a gem.
While Eve’s is the primary perspective in the global subjective point-of-view, we also hear from Roarke and other characters.
In some ways the purpose behind these actions make sense, if only in wanting to compensate for losses, to remember lost family, but the reality is a horror.
The Story
It’s a double murder that leads Lieutenant Dallas to dig into the father and son’s pasts, leading to a horrific discovery.
. . . there had been promises to keep.
The Characters
The coffee-obsessed Lieutenant Eve Dallas is the head of Homicide in Cop Central. Roarke is her gorgeous billionaire — and very supportive — husband. Eve freaks about her husband’s interests, through Roarke Enterprises, in “nearly every area of business, art, entertainment, and development in the known universe”. She has come to appreciate his criminal past and to accept his horning in on her cases. Summerset is their majordomo, Roarke’s father figure, and Eve’s nemesis. Galahad is their pudge of a cat, and I do adore his antics.
Their friends include . . .
. . . Dallas’ best friend, the sensational and pregnant Mavis Freestone; Leonardo is a famous fashion designer and Mavis’ significant other; the scary Trina, a hair and skin specialist; Dr Louise Dimatto, who has a privileged background and chooses to serve the lowest rung of society; Dimatto is dating Charles Monroe, a professional Licensed Companion; Nadine Furst is the ace on-air reporter for Channel 75; and, Crack, who runs the sleazy Down and Dirty bar.
Roarke’s family includes . . .
. . . Sinead, Roarke’s mother’s twin. Cousins include Sean, Celia, Tom, and Cassie, who is a fast-crawling baby. Her parents are Reenie and Eemon (Sinead’s son). Ned is Sinead’s brother; Connor is his oldest son. Maggie is Connor’s wife nursing young Devin. Alise “Granny” Brody is Sinead, Siobhan, and Ned’s mother. Patrick Roarke had been his evil father.
NYPSD is the . . .
. . . New York Police and Security Department with Tibble as the chief of police. Commander Jack Whitney is Dallas’ boss. Homicide includes Detective Delia Peabody, who is Dallas’ partner. Dallas’ other men include Detective (Det.) David Baxter, a.k.a. Horny Dog, and his aide, Officer Troy Trueheart and Det. Jenkinson, a.k.a. Sick Bastard. The Electronic Detectives Department is headed up by Captain Ryan Feeney, Eve’s mentor. His “men” include Detective Ian McNab, Peabody’s cohab.
The snappy Dr Li Morris is the chief medical examiner. Detective Amaryllis “Ammy” Coltraine has recently transferred to NYC from Savannah. Dr Charlotte Mira is the city’s top profiler and a psychiatrist who has become friends with Eve; Dennis is Mira’s husband. Cher Reo is a shark of an assistant prosecuting attorney who works well with Dallas; Adam Quincy is the chief legal counsel for the NYPSD; that jerk, Dick Berenski, is the very competent chief lab tech; and, Officer Otts is the unfortunate officer on duty
Mrs Whitney terrifies Eve.
The Wilfred B Icove Center for Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery is . . .
. . . the brainchild of the honored and respected Dr Wilfred B Icove. His son is Dr Wilfred B Icove, Jr, sculptor to the stars. Pia and Carla Poole are assistants. Avril is Junior’s wife, and they have two children. Deena Flavia is a childhood friend of Avril’s. Janis Petrie is another doctor.
Dolores Nocho-Alverez is a woman of many talents. Desiree Frost is interested in Brookhollow for her daughter. Darby is just a toddler.
Brookhollow Academy is . . .
. . . an elite private school based in New Hampshire and founded by Dr Jonah Delecourt Wilson, a geneticist who had married Eva Hannson Samuels. Evelyn Samuels is the current president; Abigail is her personal assistant. Diana Rodriguez (her parents are Hector, a lab tech, and Magdalene Cruz, a PT) is a student. Past students include Brianne Delaney and Bridget O’Brian. There’s also Brookhollow College.
James Hyer is the sheriff of the County Sheriff’s Department in the school’s vicinity. I do love how Eve takes down Deputy James Gaitor. More deputies include Max, who is more reasonable, and Freddie. Dr Richards is their local ME; Joe and Billy are with forensics.
Lee-Lee Ten is a famous and perfect model who was attacked. Bryhern Speegal had been her boyfriend. Charlie is Lee-Lee’s lawyer. Her friends include Carly Jo, Presty Bing, and Apple Grand. Maudie Jacobs belongs to the same health club as Avril. Dochas is a women’s shelter Roarke built. The Urbans were a period of wars throughout the world, a time that affected many people’s future interests. Formed during the Urbans, Unilab provides mobile research and lab facilities for Doctors Without Borders and Right to Health. Free-Agers believe in nurturing, protecting, and respecting life.
The Cover and Title
The top two-third’s of the cover’s background is a royal blue with the actual name of the author in black and outlined in white at the top. Her pseudonym is in a deeper blue. The bottom third of the cover is a graphic collage of events in the story: a police badge in the back left, a red evidence tag in front of it with four people in profile behind it. Behind them on the right is a laboratory setting in reds.
The title is all about beginnings, an Origin in Death.
