Book 13), Seduction in Death (In Death

(More like 4.5 feathers!)
Reviewed by ANN & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

The pursuit of love has never been so deadly. A killer seduced by the idea of love targets victims of an online poetry chatroom where after making an arrangement to meet, he wines and dines them, slipping potent and rare date-rape drugs into their drinks until all they feel is euphoria and desire. These unsuspecting romantics continue to be targeted by this anonymous killer. Coming in to stop this string of murders from occurring, Eve Dallas uses everything in her arsenal to take this killer down. Unfortunately for her, her own past keeping veering her concentration off the case. As Eve tries to battle her own personal demons, McNab and Peabody engage in their own dance of bitter lovers.

I LOVED the idea of this book. The seducing killer was such an interesting idea that I think it really made this case stands out from the others in my opinion. In this book, Eve's past is played up a little more and we see a much more graphic and tortured scene painted before us. It really made me love Eve more. As a reader you can sympathize with her and what she has gone through when you read the parts about her dark childhood, but as Detective Eve Dallas, you also experience a side of Eve that is strong and competent and confident. I like that we see so many facets of Eve in one single book.

This time I listened to the audio of this book and noticed right off the bat that Susan Ericksen tweaked the voices a little bit. The most notable was Peabody. Our favorite aid no longer has that nasally voice anymore, which to be honest, was a little annoying in the previous recordings. But I found that I really liked the changes that Ericksen made in this book.

Of course, no UTC review of an In Death is complete without Roarke. Still as endearing and desirable as ever....Roarke doesn't need a date rape drug to seduce such willing victims, his charm and that Irish lilt is all he needs. I love him.

I never put spoilers in my reviews.
J D Robb (Nora Roberts) is one of the few authors I reread. Everything about the "in death" novels is quality writing and defies genre labeling.
From the relationship between Dallas and Rourke, the mystery/thriller storyline, an extremely strong female role model, the secondary characters, the setting, well, everything, you just can't wait for the next one. Robb shows that a woman can be strong and capable despite soul crippling events in her life. I have a mantra, "just step over it and move on." Eve Dallas personifies this. It doesn't mean you never think of it or that you forget but life goes on.
Dallas "stands for the dead," they are hers, no matter who or what they were in life. To her it's almost a sacred trust and she is uncompromising in her pursuit of justice for those in her care.
I think even most men would like these books, if for no reason than to see how women would like to be treated.
Read, enjoy, repeat.

J.D. Robb has clearly found a winning formula: a futuristic setting, a strong female main character, a sexy and wealthy husband who allows the author to introduce various romantic scenes, cases that involve crafty and dangerous killers and an interesting set of supporting characters. On top of all that, the author has been able to find enough variation around this pattern to keep readers guessing in each novel as to which way the plot will turn and how the characters' stories will further develop.

At the beginning of the book we find that Lieutenant Eve Dallas is once again going through a tough patch with her nightmares. These revolve around the abuse suffered in the hands of her own father and the events that finally led her to kill the monster. She usually has these nightmares when her husband, Roarke, is not there sleeping with her. In this case, he is in Ireland going through a difficult time himself, because a friend that was part of a ploy to commit a robbery against Roarke ended up getting killed by his associates when he changed his mind and switched sides. We usually do not find a troubled Roarke (at least not at the beginning of the story), so this is a welcomed break from the ordinary. On the other side however, we have been presented with Eve's nightmares multiple times, and even though I understand the need to give the new readers information about the past, this is starting to be a little repetitive. Of course, this is not a huge drawback to the quality of the book, but it would be nicer if the author finds another way to share this tidbit of information.

Eve's problems become even worse when she is summoned to the scene of a death that at first sight looks like a suicide, but quickly proves to be a murder. Somebody seduced the woman in a chat room, then took her out and slipped drugs into her drink, had his way with her and finally tossed her out the window. Every time that Eve has to face a case involving rape, she has a tough time dealing with her own emotions, and this one is not different.

One thing that the author has done well in the past has been to reintroduce characters from previous books. She did that with Charles Monroe, a licensed companion that Eve met during her investigation in the first book, and who was absent for a few installments only to come back and become part of the usual cast. Now, she reintroduces Dr. Dimatto, a woman that loves to help people in need, who we met in "Conspiracy in Death". She saw the victim plunge to the street because she lives in the same building. Dr. Dimatto is an interesting character that adds spice and humor to this novel; hopefully she will also keep showing up in following books in the series.

Once more we get a fast-paced plot that results in late nights when you find yourself sleepy but saying "OK, just one more chapter". We also find a good character development and progress in the personal story of some of the main participants, Peabody and McNabb in particular. Peabody is Eve's aide and is still having a rocky relationship with the computer whiz, McNabb, who works for captain Feeney. The funny thing is that Eve and Roarke end up in the role that Eve desperately wanted to avoid, that of sentimental support for Peabody and McNabb respectively. All these factors make this another very good novel, and I am already looking forward to reading the next one in this series.

Tossing your dream date out the window after you've had your wicked way with her seems a bit extreme, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD has seen it all and knows intimately the evil that human beings are capable of inflicting on each other. It's the scattered roses, the wine, and the romantic setting in the victim's apartment which makes Eve think that this particular jumper hardly had reason to jump. The beautiful young woman seemed to be having a good time just prior to fatal plunge, so what has happened to the other half of the romantic equation?

Considered too rich and too dicey even for the flourishing New York illegals scene are the drugs Rabbit, and Whore. Both are found in the system of the victim. Eve doesn't think this seduction was meant to end quite in the way that it did. There is a date rapist out there who has killed, perhaps for the first time. Will he continue in this fashion? Eve soon gets her answer.

As you progress your way through this series, the fact that the crime element is greatly reduced with each subsequent book hits you. Nora Roberts (writing as J.D. Robb) is just so darn good at drawing characters, racking out that punchy dialogue and hooking you into caring about her future world of the year 2059 that you just might not care about this too much. The focus of the series has moved away from police investigation, future style, and has become more about her growing stable of fictional stars.

This series would be recommended to any kind of reader as it is just so much fun. Consider it your crime reading sorbet, as it freshens you up to take another slug at something more dark and forensic. Nora Roberts could probably set her series any old place and time and you'd still like it as it is so cleverly done. "Seduction in Death" is book number lucky thirteen in the ridiculously successful "in Death" series, featuring the snarly and dedicated police Lieutenant Eve Dallas. This particular entry is typical of the series in that it blitzes along at a blinding pace, sucks you in, and won't let go.

"Seduction in Death" is the thirteenth novel in Robb's "In Death" series and shows absolutely no sign of going stale. Indeed, the story is especially fresh and thrilling and will keep you turning pages all night long.
In this instalment, Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD (in the year 2059) is tracking a killer who courts his victims in Internet poetry chat rooms. Upon meeting his woman of choice, the killer slips a nasty date rape drug into her wine, takes her home and rapes her on a rose-petal strewn bed, then administers a final dose of drugs that proves fatal.
Eve is disturbed by this current case, as it dredges up memories of her own abused childhood. But anyone who knows Eve Dallas knows that she will find justice for the dead no matter what, and she begins the process of tracking her killer. The drugs administered to the first victim were valued at over a quarter of a million dollars, so who would have access to such a rare (virtually unheard-of) and expensive drug?
Eve is determined to stop the killer before countless more women are terrorized and killed, and when the opportunity arises, Eve decides to go undercover as bait in order to get her man!
I truly enjoyed the mystery Robb has crafted in this book. She used a slightly different format this time, letting the reader know the killer's identity early on. This in no way detracted from the suspense, however, as it was extremely exciting watching Eve put the clues together and come closer and closer to finding the killer.
As always, Eve and Roarke's relationship is fulfilling, passionate, and heart-warming. It's wonderful to read about these two, and see their devotion to one another. Robb has an immense talent for creating vivid and intriguing characters, and Eve and Roarke are two of her best ever. The secondary characters such as Peabody, Eve's aide, the E-Detectives, Captain Feeney and Detective McNab, and many others, are equally vibrant and always lots of fun to read about. You will fall in love with all of them!
"Seduction in Death" is a suspenseful and well thought out book, containing Robb's brilliantly rendered characters, in a fascinating futuristic setting. I guarantee this book and the entire rest of the series will entertain and satisfy you - so don't miss out!

Seduction in death - book continues the story of Eve Dallas, the NYSPD Lieutenant, and her husband Roarke, the millionaire, and Eve's colleagues at work: officer Peabody, McNabb and Feeney.
The author has created a plausible future world with crimes of today's world, except the tools or methods of these crimes differ from our world. We don't have all these different weapons, vehicles, or illegal drugs what she has described - although it is believable that these could be in the future.

The Seduction in Death book tells about a woman plunged in death from a high building. She was dead before she hit the ground. Eve's friend saw it happen. Eve has to find who was the person with the dead woman just before she died, and who had given her illegal drugs' overdose.

The side plots discusses of the dating problems of Peabody and McNabb, as well as marriage troubles with Eve and Roarke and what it is like to be married and in love.

Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb for this "...In Death" series, has developed a winning formula that seems to produce a gripping and delightful outing every time; and Seduction In Death is no exception. Our heroine, NYPD Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas, together with a broad supporting cast of regulars who we enjoy seeing back -- NcNab, Peabody, Feeney, Summerset, Mavis, and of course, Eve's husband and billionaire entrepreneur "Roarke" -- solves a serial killing spree thankfully spanning only a few days in fictional time. In this tale, we're told the identity of the killer up front and get both sides of the hunt and chase, which is a very interesting technique much in the mode of John Sandford's "Prey" series. The use of Internet chat rooms and budding relationships via email certainly add to the currency of the proceedings. The plot is complex and suspenseful, and entertaining from start to finish.
Two somewhat unusual elements add greatly to the appeal of this series. First, the stories are set ahead 50 years in time -- so there is an element of creative science fiction exhibited by voice-commanded computers, video cellphones, some sort of personal air travel vehicles, artificial food prepared by machines, and "droids" that look and act like humans but are really robots. Most of this borders on the believable and adds to the interest of the stories without detracting from credibility. The other angle is the "romantic thriller" relationship between Eve and her husband Roarke. While he is immensely wealthy now, he shares a poor and troubled upbringing as did Eve, a background that frequently allows our leading characters to find much solace in each other. For those that care, there are some fairly steamy, "R"-rated sex scenes between the two...
We join the audience who look forward to each new entree in this appealing, out of the ordinary, set of police mysteries. The evocative commentary, the case intrigue, the action, and a set of very interesting characters add up to top rate enjoyable reading. How does Nora keep pumping them out?!?!

J. D. Robb's _Seduction in Death_ is another one of her police procedurals featuring the tough, passionate detective, Eve Dallas. The series is set in a near-future New York City. But in spite of trappings like super computers, android butlers, asteroid prisons, and expensive date rape drugs, the world seems very much like our own.

We are left with the plot. It is competent enough, even entertaining. But it is repetitious. The innocent victims murdered in a bizarre fashion, the psychotic villains with warped egos, the sting operation that traps a villain, the snappy dialogue in a holding cell that breaks a villain... If we have read other books in the series, we have seen these scenes before.

So. A passable entry, but just a bit formulaic.

This is a series that I NEVER get tired of reading...over...and over again. There is nothing like a full novel written by Nora Roberts to make for an entertainingly scrumptious story that pulls you in and makes you feel homesick in between installments. And, when that installment comes out and you finally have a chance to read it, your back at home with life, death, intrigue and love.

You gotta love Roberts. She makes the best characters and stories.

Also, let me say that Susan Erickson's right on, talented and engrossing professional narration of Roberts' books is like icing on the cake. If you love the book, try it again with the audio enhancements...truly entertaining!

In this installment of the In Death series, a killer whose romantic streak proves deadly and whose keen knowledge of drugs and technology is testament to his brilliance pursues a dangerous game. He seeks out and actively hunts women by catering to their romantic inclinations, their love of poetry, and by chemically ridding them of their inhibitions. But his rape and subsequent murder of two women brings Lieutenant Eve Dallas in as an unexpected opponent whose perceived inferiority only increases his arrogance and his determination to win the game he started. But as Dallas and her team closes in, the hunter realizes too late that he is the hunted. J.D. Robb has done a great job of weaving a splendid plot in her latest installment. Though there is no real mystery, the detailed illustration Robb has given the readers of the murderer is powerful and occasionally moving. The author's use of Eve's past in this case is obvious and we learn, as Dallas does, a little more than we wanted to about the man who was her father. Robb continuously draws parallels between the two cases. Dallas continues to "stand for the dead" and her dedication and determination almost threaten to exhaust her, which culminates in a very moving scene with her husband and his majordomo. Peabody and McNab learn to iron out their differences and to look at their relationship from a new angle while slowly discovering how to juggle their professional and personal lives together. And two other secondary characters return as civilian consultants on the case that also happen to find a growing interest in each other. Robb continues to shine in this series by approaching the case at every angle just as Eve does. In doing so, the story has more punch and all the characters, including the villains, are a little more understood. Do not miss this installment of the In Death series. It will leave you wanting more.

Well, last time I read this, I gave it 5 stars, but I didn't write any notes about it, so I'm not really sure if I liked it more, or if it's just a case of ratings inflation that happens once in a while.

NYPSD homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas is up against a pair of killers this time, loosely based, I believe, on a real story from some years ago. It's two privileged young men (this isn't a spoiler--we know this from the beginning) who are playing a game, seducing and killing women they've selected through internet chat rooms.

Because we know whodunit from the beginning, it's not so much a mystery as it is horror. It's horrifying because it seems so real, and because you know there are people out there whose minds work the way these killers' minds do. Eve also twigs to the two-killer thing right away, so it's more like watching a chase than watching the slow unraveling of clues. It's an effective story, don't get me wrong--it's just different. Which is a good thing in a series as long-running as this one. Seduction in Death, by the way, is the 15th in the series, if you include the 2 novellas.

There are also interesting developments in the ongoing series story--Peabody and McNab in particular, and a somewhat startling new romantic attraction between Dr. Dimatto and LC Charles that was very thought-provoking.

Let me start off by saying this, in my opinion, is the best Death book yet. The story is fast paced and best of all, all the secondary characters contribute to the story and many have storylines of their own.
The story opens with Roarke off at the funeral of his old friend Mick and Eve trying to survive the night without him. As she tries to sleep, she finds herself dreaming of her father. Only this time the dreams go further than it ever has leaving her shaken beyond belief. Then the call comes, another homicide, another body, and another death. The man of their dreams is wooing young, single, attractive women in a chat room where they discuss poetry, the arts, and the finer things in life. Each meets him for drinks at a swanky, romantic spot to be safe and then finds herself sexually enamored enough to take him back to her apartment. He turns the lights down low, puts on romantic music, and throws rose petals on the bed. He does everything in his power to make it the most romantic encounter of her life. You see it will be the last thing she will ever know.
I had wondered if Robb was going to let us down... Folks, I was not let down in the least. Yes, there is the usual blood and violence, the sex with Roarke, and we knew who was committing the murders fairly quickly�but what made this book for me was the use and revelations of the secondary characters. They played a prominent role in this book, which makes it worthwhile. Get ready to be seduced, not by murder, but the wonderful interactions that only Robb can produce.

I began reading these books at my wife's suggestion; while the earlier volumes were a bit weak, i found enough to continue, and now look forward to each new entry in the series.
Dallas and Roarke and company are strong and interesting -- if somewhat larger than life -- characters, who pull the reader into their lives and adventures, a definite plus for a series.
The plausibility of the police action portion of the stories continues to improve; that is, while not particularly like real-world police procedures, it still rings true enough for the purposes of the story.
The futuristic setting still fails to convince me, but it's certainly at least as self-consistent and plausible as the future we see in "Star Trek".
The romance elements... well, they're there. I never cease to be amused by the fact that mainstream, respectable romance novels of today often feature language and descriptions rather stronger than were common in under-the-counter pornography when i was in my teens, forty years ago.
As usual, Dallas's byplay with her assistant, Officer Peabody, and Peabody and computer cop McNabb's on-again/off-again hot romance provide elements of broad humour and Roarke continues to own virtually everything in sight. (I'm getting a bit tired of that gag, actually.)
Plotwise, it's one of the tighter and more complex to date; pretty obviously inspired by the real-life Leopold/Loeb killings that also inspired Hitchcock's "Rope", but giving a couple of nasty little extra twists of the type that are this series's stock in trade.
The initial crime(s) that bring Dallas into the story involve the use of some rather nasty date-rape drugs in the seduction and deaths of young women in kinkily-romantic settings; bed strewn with rose petals, fine wines, lovely dinners... and death.
As Dallas and Peabody probe the case, it becomes evident that this is something beyond "merely" a rapist/murderer... something nastier and sicker and dirtier.
And Dallas offers herself as bait for the monster...
If you've read earlier books in the series and enjoyed it, then you'll want to read this one as well. If you haven't read any of them, you could either go back to the beginning of the series, or you could, i'd say, easily begin with this or any other of the earlier ones that sounds interesting. Unlike some series, while the characters and setting have been steadily developing in interest and complexity, this is not a series that one has to read from the very first in order to properly appreciate them.
I would love to see a decent film or TV series made from this series; having caught an early "Remington Steele" the other day, i'd love to see Pierce Brosnan as Roarke.

Once again Eve Dallas takes the stage to stop an Internet dating game that has gone very, very wrong.
The deaths of young girls within the ages of 20-26, by a combination of drugs entered into their systems are shocking the city and disturbing Eve's task force.
In this novel Eve must go undercover to ferret out a game that is being played by players who think that they are safe from punishment or guilt because they disguise themselves as great poets and capture the hearts of their victims. Little do they know that McNab and Roarke are crack shot computer professionals who are tracking their movements.
Once again Eve and Roarke are a hit and I laughed more than once during this book as Eve's modesty and un-girly like procrastination's are downright hysterical. I like how things are going between Delia Peabody and Ian McNab, the tug-of-war they seem to be having is great. It goes to show that J.D. Robb does not just make couples get together and live happily ever after.
I finished this book in one night since I bought it from the bookstore and wish I could have drawn it out into a longer affair as leaving Eve and Roarke behind and waiting for the next book is too long a time to wait. I may have to read it more than once. I just can't get enough of Eve and Roarke and I have introduced the books to my friends so that they can enjoy and experience J.D. Robb for themselves.

Two sophisticated serial killers are stalking the women of New York via email. Or is it one man with multiple personalities? Tough homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas must solve the mystery quickly, before any more women are brutally raped and killed.
In perhaps her toughest assignment yet, Eve must unravel clue upon clue to get to the core of the case. And it won't be easy. As she peels away each false identity of the murderers, another even more clever identity emerges. Each victim has been lured to her death by a so-called "poet," who just happens to share a love of art, poetry, the classics, and other intellectual pursuits with his online "soulmate. It is chillingly easy to disguise one's identity on email, especially if, in the case of this murderer, he has multiple accounts that lead to nowhere.
Surveillance tapes and first-hand sightings of the possible suspect or suspects only compound the puzzle, as the killers are adept at face putty and other disguises, and so appear completely different each time they kill. In 2059, such appearance enhancers are all too available, as Eve well knows. When she needs a disguise of her own, she has to be almost literally hogtied as she submits to the "beautification" efforts of her dear friend, "mag" rock star Mavis, and Mavis's sidekick Trina. Those of us who know Eve et al. from the previous "In Death" novels tend to root for Mavis and Trina, as Eve's idea of beauty is primitive at best.
This insertion of comic relief is a Robb trademark, and only serves to intensify the mystery beneath. The genius of it, however, is that with each little interlude such as the beauty session, we learn more about what makes the "In-Death" regulars tick, just as we would in a real-life relationship. Thus we are privy to the on-again, off-again, often hilarious romance between Eve's stalwart aide Peabody and her peacock-dressing boyfriend, detective MacNab. There is more nasty verbal byplay between Eve and her husband's stiff and unyielding butler, Sommerset. And we get to see Eve's onetime mentor and dear friend Feeney in some unforgettable pajamas. As always, new readers will enjoy these characters, who only serve to add color and depth to the story. But regulars such as I feel we KNOW these people, and while we follow the mystery, we are also treated to the ongoing saga of each of their lives. MOST satisfying!
Nowhere is this more evident, of course, than in the deep and complicated relationship between Eve and her husband of one year, the brilliant and impossibly gorgeous billionaire Roarke. I have referred to their relationship before as fascinating, and it is...two strong, forceful people, each of whom have overcome unspeakable childhood horrors and emerged winners, must accommodate themselves to each other. We have watched as, in book after book, both Eve and Roarke, but especially Eve, have allowed layers of self-protection to fall away as they each learn to trust in the love they share. Theirs is not an easy relationship, but at its core is an intense bond that reveals itself more and more.
Robb skillfully weaves the many threads of her plot together with great skill, making it seem easy. In the end, the murdered women are avenged, and Eve has survived yet another attack on her character by a jealous rogue cop; queasily accepted the very physical relationship of Peabody and swain; seen her mentor in shocking pajamas; glimpsed a side of her Commander (Whitney) that she has never seen before; and, most importantly, let down another barrier in her erotic and high-energy marriage.
I strongly recommend this book. Regular readers will be thrilled to see Robb back in the groove after a somewhat disappointing (but still worth reading) "Betrayal in Death." Those new to the series will be tantalized enough to want to read all 12 previous efforts. And me? I'm pacing the floor, waiting for the next one.

One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed about the "In Death" series was the wonderful range of voices the narrator gave the characters, especially the sly and distinctive voice of Peabody. I don't know WHAT the director of this recording was thinking, but Peabody sounds like mini-Eve, Mavis barely sounds like herself, Treena barely has any umph -- even the male voices are hard to tell apart. Only Roarke still sounds like himself. My first time through the series, I was really upset because I didn't know that things were going to get better.

For those who are just going through the series the first time and who are as distressed as I was, it gets a little bit better with #14, "Reunion in Death," and things are back to normal with #15, "Purity in Death." Keep the faith, folks must have given lots of feedback because the voices we came to love do come back!

Aside from that, a solid story, just a really disappointing recording. Points off for that.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is after a killer who has a flare for romance and murder. He sets the scene with care....pink rose petals, champagne, caviar and sexually enhancing drugs, to make women plyant and willing. The only problem is that he is killing them, and it would appear that he is tallying up bodies quickly. Dealing with her past and all of the nightmares/memories it produces, Eve must battle evil (once again) while juggling her cases and her sexy husband, Roarke. This time, her opponent is both diabolical and creative, and apparently has computer skills (to rival Roarke) and money (apparently the drug, [...], is extremely expensive and hard to obtain) to keep her at bay, but not for long.

We also get another opportunity to see the whole gang, and smile at the all too familiar Peabody and McNab. Fans also learn in this installment, how Louise and the sexy LC Charles got together. I think this is one of my favorites in the series, and loved seeing Summerset, Trina, Mavis, Leonardo, Feeney, Galahad and Whitney again. It was definately a must read

Seduction takes off as most of the "In Death" books do with the story of Eve's dreaded past. However, this book in the series delves into Eve's more "human" nature with J. D. Robb demanding her main character conform to the care of her family and friends. We see a much more vulnerable and "soft" side of Eve (whether or not she initially likes it). The murder mystery moves in different directions from her previous books as well. We know who the bad guys are almost from the start but it is always interesting to explore the mindful ways of our favorite cop and watch her think her way through to solving yet another homicide. I especially enjoyed the manner in which Robb enhanced the development of the secondary character-relationships of Peabody and McNab (becoming exclusive!) and Charles and Louise. The "In Death" characters are like family after you have gotten this far in the series and you'll be hooked and loving each and every one of them, right down to Commander Whitney as you follow the life and times of Eve Dallas, Roarke, Feeney, Mavis, Peabody, McNab and company.

I've now read all 13 novels in the "in Death" series as well as the two short stories and I still haven't gotten enough of the main characters, Eve and Roarke. In this latest installment, Lt. Eve Dallas is investigating the serial murder of women who participated in on-line poetry chat rooms, each the apparent victim of romance gone horribly wrong.
This novel is a little different than most of the others in the series in that you know early on "who done it". The suspense comes in wondering if Eve will figure it out before anyone else is murdered and in hoping Eve can beat the killer at his own game.
In this novel, J.D. Robb re-introduces us to Charles Monroe and Dr. Louise DiMatto (tertiary characters from previous novels) and continues their character development. Peabody and McNab are also at it again with verbal sparring and miscommunication abounding.
"Seduction" is infused with taught suspense, laugh-out-loud wit, bad guys you love to hate, and a little romance thrown in for good measure. Please tell me there's more to come!

Seduction in Death is a homerun! Highly enjoyable characters and more character development of the series' protagonists, Roarke and Eve; witty dialogue which sparks gut deep belly laughs; new story lines involving characters introduced earlier -- Charles and Louise, simply fantastic! -- good, strong plot; and bad bad-guys. Nobody does it like Robb (Nora Roberts). She's simply the best.
After the store's Publishers' Weekly reviewer panned the novel, I had reservations about
quite what to expect. (I think Publishers' Weekly's review ought to read the whole series
and think about things a bit more.) However, J. D. Robb does not at all disappoint. In 354 pages of enjoyable, small print reading, readers familiar with the In Death series are witness to Dallas' further development as a character. Those who are familiar with all the books in
the series will realize the extent of Eve's growth. She has come a long way baby from the woman who could not respond with other than silence to Roarke's expressions of love. Robb gives Dallas a richer complexity, a maturity wrought by love in this novel. I'm not going to sell out the storyline, but the closing pages of this novel are surely a testament to the depth of Robb's creativity and to the richness with which she imbues her characters.
In many places, from the beginning onwards, the dialogue is rip roaringly funny. Some of the
exchanges between Dallas and Peabody, Dallas and Roarke, Dallas and other characters, the Peabody-McNabb situation are so hilarious that this novel ought not be read in public <g>. Robb has more than a touch of the blarney in her and a wonderful way with her pen. Read the novel to find out how simply wonderful is its dialogue--in fact, read it at home so people won't think you're crazy when you burst into a belly laugh!
So often readers pay $7.99 for a novel and wind up wishing that they'd kept their money in their pockets because the story line dragged, the dialogue was meaningless, and the characters were dull. No one can accuse Seduction in Death of any of this. This was a well spent $7.99, and I enjoyed every penny's worth. My only regret is that I forgot to order an autographed copy for my birthday as I had intended to.

Often, authors become lazy and rest on their laurels. Not so J.D. Robb. This latest installment in the Eve Dallas - Roarke love story/ mystery series is an example of all the right things that an author can do with an ongoing series.
Robb continues to develop the characters in her story. The love between Dallas and her husband grows deeper. The fast and funny reparte between Peabody and Dallas gets funnier and sharper. Secondary characters, always integral to the plots, are given more depth without detracting from the story. Robb's stories, set in the near future, are always exciting and full of adventure. They flow quickly without leaving out any essential information. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I have all the books and short stories featuring Dallas and Roarke. Its very rare that I would go to that expense for an author, but Robb is worth it.
If you want to be a great writer, follow Robb's example!

Seduction in Death(book 13) is another will written mystery with the usual interesting well developed characters. The story line is fast moving in NYC while trying to solve multiple murders. The team has personal issues that add to the twist and turns leading too the conclusion. I would recommend this series too anyone who enjoys will written mysteries. Enjoy reading

In this latest installment, Eve Dallas is investigating the serial murder of women who participated in on-line chat rooms, each A victim of romance that was a game set up for a deadly ending.
This novel was of a different format then the last 12 as you know who the killer is early on. The format may have changed but the suspense, wit and character building sure did not! Can eve beat the killer at is game before anybody else is killed???
J.D. Robb has the most wonderful skill of building her characters and this book gets better. Peabody and McNab continue to grow in their involvement and as main characters. Charles and Dr. Louise even grow as more important characters. This is Book 13 , which I have read them all, also read the two short stories and I cannot get enough! Way to go Robb you most certainly did it again!!!

While I generally love the "In Death" books by Robb, this one fell short for me. Can we all agree that Eve and Roarke are the best part of any of the In Death books? I find myself skimming the story and trying to find the parts which contain scenes with Roarke and Eve in them. Yes, Mira and Peabody are interesting but the "mystery" is at the bottom of the list. As for my title for this review, once again this author has latched onto a word, or words in this case and felt the need to overuse them again and again.Do we really need to hear Eve say the workd tag in place of call, get in touch with, track down, look for, find etc....? As for snag, I suppose everyone in the future snags everything, the phone, the drink, the car, yada, yada, yada! Please, when you use the same word a few times on the same page and then turn around and use it 2-3 pages later, one is left to believe it has become the only verbs these characters know! Sorry for the rant but it is getting worse with each book.

I have to say that I'm re-reading the series on my Kindle. Checking out some of the books and buying some from the store. It's a great series that I've mostly read in order previously. I'm paying more attention to small details this time and getting a richer experience than I did the 1st time. I highly recommend that everyone should read the books in order starting with Naked In Death. Each book builds on the other. One note, there are several novellas that add a few missing details. You can find them in a couple of collections now. One of them helped me 'fill in' the details of how Eve met the police chief of Olympus space resort. It's a fantastic series and I can recommend most of the books.

After 12 books it is hardly surprising that I thoroughly enjoyed this (the 13th) installment of the series. This book was about the same quality of the earlier 12 novels . . . if anything it was a little better than average. If you have read the previous 12 books you will enjoy this one as well.

Eve's latest case is a killer who seduces his victims via internet chat rooms, killing her on their first date. Eve has always been passionate about her job, but the predatory nature of the crimes makes her even more determined than usual to catch him before he has the chance to kill again.
"Seduction" is slightly different stylistically from the previous books, in that Robb shows the reader whodunnit from very early on, enabling the author to shift focus from solving a mystery to character exploration. At centerstage, as always, is Eve & Roarke's relationship, with a bit of Peabody & McNab thrown in for comedic relief. The secondary characters who have been given recurring roles in the series have very little to do in this book, so with little to temper Eve's manic energy, the pace seldom lets up.
This is a good read for those who enjoy futuristic fiction and/or hardboiled female detectives, but I would highly recommend that readers new to the "In Death" series begin at the beginning. Eve & Roarke have changed quite a bit from the early books, and their relationship is best understood as it unfolds and not in the middle.

13th in the In Death Series which was published in 2001. I highly suggest reading the series in order. Setting the story in 2059 allows the author to fantasize some unique items that might be available in that decade.
Seduction in Death kept me holding my breath to see how quickly Eve would catch the perp before another woman was killed. Frustrating when the detective knows who committed the crime but does not have enough evidence to prove.

I can never find anything bad to say about a J.D. Robb book. This one is no exception. With this being the thirteenth installment of the Dallas/Roarke series, you might naturally expect some drop off in intensity, not quite come up to snuff, but that just never happens. Ms. Roberts doesn't disappoint at all. In each new book she delves deeper into the backgrounds that inspire the motivations of Eve and Roarke. As an added bonus we are treated to some of the hottest, most passionate love scenes...and they're married! Every book in this series is marked with great dialogue, but this one bumps up the humor as well. The Peabody/McNab 'mating dance' is hilarious.

Great continuation of the series. It was great to see the ever developing relationship between Eve and Roarke. Nice to see that Eve had to really be there for Roarke in this book. And I was very happy when two of my favorite characters "shared some pizza" (You'll get it when you read the novel!) And I liked the fact that we knew who the killer was from the beginning - it leads to a different perspective in this story. I can't wait for future stories in this novel - I especially loved it when Whitney hinted at a family and Eve's reaction to it - hmmm...maybe a baby will be coming in the future ( I'd love to see Eve and Roarke as parents - a girl can hope can't she?)

NYPSD Liutenant Eve Dallas, her billionaire husband Roarke, and her 'Scooby Doo' gang return again. Through a poetry chat, young women are being wined, dined, raped, and murdered. The women were all young, single, and in need of a modern-day 'Romeo'. But what makes this crime different is that there appears to be two killers, working together and taking turns keeping 'score'. Eve herself goes undercover as bait to 'seduce' the poet and catch the murderer. Through the book, Eve's usual gang appears and aids her on this new case. Peabody and McNab make up (in a wild way), while Mavis and Trina help *redecorate* Eve. Once again, Robb (aka Roberts) creates a delightful mix of romance, mystery, and suspense.

I can't believe I had once thought that I didn't want to try to read J.D. Robb's series since it was futuristic! I am so glad I did try it because I am definitely hooked. And I was lucky enough to start the series when there were 10 of them out and I was able to read one right after the other. I just finished Seduction in Death and again - it was a fantastic read. Nora Roberts is the world's best author and thank goodness she can write as fast as she does. She is amazing. By now her characters are like family - everyone of them likable and interesting and real! Please keep them coming! This series is highly, ultimately, recommended!

Nora Roberts (writing as J.D. Robb) is a brilliant writer. She's able to weave a tale that entertains, enraptures and imprisons the senses. You are left spellbound by her grasp of storytelling and her expert use of language...

BUT...

This story falls short of many of her previous stories. (And many that came after.) The plot is generic and rehashed. The only originality is the fact that the Casanova tale takes place in the future.

She puts an interesting spin on it, which is why she gets 3 stars instead of 1 or 2, but this is one of the weaker stories in the series if you ask me.

A cyber-poet is wooing women, offering them a love that rivals even their most romantic dreams...and leaves the women dead the next day. Eve Dallas is once again standing for the dead, trying to unravel a twisted mind's need for power and domination. While she's at it, old nightmares are awakened. Peobody and McNab find the beginnings of a resolution for their relationship, as Eve and Roarke once again join forces to make the city safe.
I love the continuing love story of Eve and Roarke. Nora Roberts, under her JD Robb pen-name, writes a series that continues to grab me as it pulls me deeper and deeper into this wonderful couple's life.

Plots are exciting and suspenseful. I find the most enjoyable area of the book is the personal relationships developed among the characters. I have been reading the In Death series in the order written and always find myself looking forward to the next installment.

When I first heard of the title of this book, I was like oh great...more sex. But in truth it's about what would happen if you take things a little too far with planning your "night".

Even though it was a mistake, what happens when you decide to do it again, this time you do it on purpose?

Eve Dallas is sent to drag you butt to prison or to hell: whichever one you choose!!

This is a continuation of what I condisider a most brilliant series.. I would never have thought that reading 15 stories about the same people would have me hooked BUT I AM and after reading the last page.. I look forward to the next.. This time the story is of a topical subject.. Internet Chat Rooms and sexual crime.. date rape drugs.. Eve and Rourke together with many of the charactors in her previous books work together to solve the murders... This however, the feeling within are close to home... I love the way J.D.Robb aka Nora Roberts draws you into the dialogue..as she does with many of her books..I shall look forward to many more...

This was the most exciting book! Perhaps having daughters was responsible for chat rooms now giving me chills. Roarke still gets my vote, Eve get all the great lines with Peabody a close 2nd. Two good villians and watching their MO is creepy. Enjoyed this book immensely. Procedural is intense. Could barely put the book down. All my favorites are here, Charles, McNab, Feeney. Mavis and Trina turn up again to haunt Eve and there's a very touching little scene with Summerset and Eve. Great good time! Nora is amazing! Keep them coming!

Once again Robb has delivered a fast paced and entertaining book. The style of this book was a little different than from the previous mysteries, because you know who is doing it, but it was still great to read and follow the developments throughout the book. It's been so great watching the characters & relationships develop throughout the series, Eve has grown so much emotionally throughout the series, and in each book we get to know all the characters better, which makes the stories that much more enjoyable. Peabody & McNab's story continues, as well a story line for Charles Monroe (our favorite LC from previous books).
I can't believe this is the 13th installment already, the stories are still fresh. I definitely recommend you pick this one up, the series is still going strong.

I have read two other of Nora Roberts books written under the pseudonym JD Robb and I have loved them all so far. It's so refreshing to read a book that not only has an excellent mystery/story but also features a married couple truly in love (and lust!) I am by no means a science fiction/fantasy lover but the futuristic setting of these 'In Death' books really intrigues me and it's written in such a way that it is certainly not the focus of the story-but it definitely enhances it. I would recommend these to anyone who is a fan of the psychological thriller/mystery genre. However, they are not your typical Nora Roberts' books, which I tend to shy away from as I am not an avid romance reader. Great series!!!

For an author such as J D Robb there is always one trash review. It is interesting to read that review after reading the book.the book. If you are concerned about the quality of this book or J D Robb in general - don't be. Keep a lookout for the one liners and repartee particularle with Peabody.

This is my favorite murder/suspense series. I eagerly anticipate the next installment and thus far have not been disappointed by tired plot lines and reworked stories.
I had read a reivew that this book was 'more of the same' for Eve Dallas, Rourke, and friends, but after reading the book I didn't feel that way at all.
I love the ancillary character development, the setting of 2059, the fast pace and usually polish the book off in a day.
It is one of the only collections of stories I own.
I for one am glad JD Robb keeps the series going.

How many books have we read that were supposedly "excellent, chilling and must reads," and they only landed up being mediocre, at best? Movies are the same way. It's as if some people don't get out much or read much, and when they do, they think a mediocre book or movie is the talk of the town. Well this book isn't one of them. This is indeed a must read! This is the kind of read that you want to spend the day with. The way a book on this subject is supposed to be written. You won't be disappointed in this one. I wish I could say that with a lot of those so called "Best Sellers."

This was the book that got me hooked. I picked up a copy off a free book pile and immediately after finishing went and bought the whole series. I don't do what I did. Start from the first book. (Glory) You'll be hooked for sure.

Reviewed by Rosanna Filippello Author of the Angelo Mysteries Series published by JustMyBest inc. Book One--Angel of Death, Book Two--Angelo of Justice

(Angel of Truth to be released Fall of 2005)

[...]

I won't bother re-telling the plot, except to say that I would have preferred not knowing who the killers were quite so soon. However, having said that, this is still a great read.
I find that when she writes as Nora Roberts, she appears to use a formula. The characters are often interchangeable with the characters from other books. Not so with the Robb series. Keep it up, Nora.

This is the first book I have read from this author. The characters have great dialouge and the idea behind the book is interesting. But you will basically know the ending by the middle of the book. I must say I don't like the character of Roarke. He comes of as pushy and a sexist. Is that supposed to be a turn on? I'm not sure. I did like Eve, however.

The book was good, but compared to the earlier books in the series, the writing's gone stale, flat somehow... In short, it's not as interesting as it used to be. The dynamic between Roarke and Eve is mellower now, but there's no sense of being inspired to write the book, and hence to read it as often as you would the older ones. Besieds, the villains getting revealed waaay too early on and getting so much space of their own is a sign that there's nothing else to write about, and that's a problem.

Robb does it again with this very entertaining book that will keep you fixated on the pages. Not many books can do that. I always buy a book when I hear that the story can do that to a reader. There are far too many books out there that are hyped up, especially by Oprah, who has lousy tastes in books, by the way. But this is a must read. What makes this such a good read is that it has a mixture of love, laughter and mystery. Buy the audio for those road trips. The reader is excellent.

Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb has done it again! Starts out a little slow, but certainly picks up! We, (the reader) knows who the killer is from the beginning. It was fun waiting for Dallas to figure it out! When is Peabody going to tell McNab that she never slept with Charles? Can't wait for the next one!

I started reading this series around a year ago and fell in love with all the charcacters especially Eve and Roark. they match each other so well that are like one. She is a fantastic cop and he the entrepenure. All the minor characters Feeny,Mavis,Peabody,and espically Summerset and Mcnab all work so
well together. I find myself hoping that Peabody and Mcnab get serious even though Eve is not crazy about that situation. I hope that a child is not going to show up for another year,I want Eve to find a member of her real family that left her,and come to terms with her childhood. She will be a better mother knowing more of her situation and childhood and know where she will be going. I am looking forward to her next book,and I have all of her series ,and I love her books.

The interaction between the lead cop and her civilian husband while working together makes story quite interesting. The lead cop.is always determined to bring murderers to justice. The way she digs into the case is very interesting.

Please read the first 12 in this series before reading on.
This read really relies on characters well established in the previous books. Buy them, read them, they just keep getting better and better. The core characters are vital to the interaction of the main characters, Eve, Roarke and Peabody. You do yourself an injustice going into this 13th book not knowing the full dimension of its reoccuring characters. The interaction, the play on words is so well established book after book. If this series ever ends, I for one, will be VERY depressed. Can't wait for #14. Thanks Nora.

After I had picked up one of these series of books, I was hooked. I had read them all and was on the waiting list for this one. I was thrilled when it arrived and was not disappointed when I read it....except I wish it had lasted longer. I just can't put these down. They are the murder mysteries I love, but they are also romantic and quite funny at times. It's just the right blend of mystery, murder, love and laughter. Waiting for the next one!

I loved the plot. I loved Peabody & McNab their argument and the extents they went were fabulous! I loved that it picked up moments from the last book. How elements from previous books were drawn in and utilized - like the Magda movie - to keep the feeling that we're part of their lives.

The story line was good, as per usual JD Robb. However, listening to the audiobook was awful. The narrator either changed the voices she used for the characters or it is an old recording that needs to be redone. It was very distracting and took away from the story.

I am reading all of JD Robb "in Death" book with Eve Dallas as the main character. It is written in the future so its kinds of fun hearing all kinds of new things. The author mixes in romance, mystery, sex, comedy it is easy and fun reading

Great read. Nora has done it again! Her characters are as wonderful as ever with an interesting twist with Charles, Peabody and McNab. This gives more time to Eve and her past, as well as her sharing her heart with Rouarke. The plot is different from her others, but just as enticing, and Mavis and crew work on Eve's psyche as entertainingly as ever. This might be the best one yet. Kudos to Nora and I look forward to her next book.

Hey, I'm a huge fan of J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts. I love this series and can't wait for the next book. However, I have to say I am getting a little annoyed because there has been no movement with Eve and Roarke. I want to see them have a baby or get some answers on her father or something. This was a great book and I'm glad I got it, but there are a lot of other plots that can and should be explored.

I keep wondering how JD Robb can top herself and she never disappoints. I can't say this book is the best of the series because they are all great. However, I will say she maintains the quality I've come to expect. I could not put this book down. The characters continue to evolve. I can't wait for the next one.

The thing about this and the other in death books is the authors wonderful characters and her ability to bring Laughter into the strangest situations. One wouldn't imagine that murder, mystery and homicide are all that funny but in this book the ugly is tempered with a smile or giggle.