Book 27), Salvation in Death (In Death

i didn't read the description right and found out it was abridged when i got it. wanted unabridged but the company only gives refunds not exchanges. taught me to read return policies and descriptions better before i buy

At this point in their relationship I would have thought Roarke and Eve would have had a bit more conflict. The depiction of the relationship for two people with such violent and intense backgrounds has them settling down very quickly into marital routine, and Roarke's showing up at Cop Central and being citizen consultant is getting stretched a bit thin at this point. The book procedurally is fascinating but misses because it doesn't really allow Eve to delve into and exam what faith and salvation really mean to her. I love these characters and my husband and I both read the books and talk about all the people in them as if we knew them personally -- if I had just met them in this book I do not think I would invest my time in future books.

This story isn't as riveting as the stories that come before and after but it is interesting. It has a slow start to me and I assume that part of it is due to the location of the first murder and the characters involved. The second murder picks up the pace a bit and helps to suck you into the book! All in all it is a required read because one of the characters appears in the next book and a little background on the character is always helpful!

Not sure if I am reviewing service or book. Service was excellent - book in excellent condition, packaged well and received promptly. As for the book - I collect every title (and I have ALL of JDRobb's) that is issued.
Love the series and am always looking for next one out.

I was quite happy with this purchase. It arrived early and in very good condition. The price was great and I would do this again and encourage my friends to try this also. In fact it was a friend who recommended your site to get books in the first place. Thanks a happy customer.

How does she do it? How does J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts come up with all these attention-grabbing stories? That's what I enjoy so much about J.D. Robb and the Lt. Eve Dallas series, you just can't stop listening.

I pre-ordered the unabridged 13-hour Salvation In Death CD edition which is read by Susan Erickson. I wanted to listen to this book as soon as possible, I couldn't wait. Susan Erickson does a great job of reading this book. She makes it a true production! She is a talented actor who can make the voice of each character sound unique and believable. I enjoy listening to the J.D. Robb series far more than reading it just because of Susan Erickson. Honestly, you just don't want to stop listening.

I believe Salvation In Death is one of the best in the J.D. Robb series. I thoroughly enjoyed the well-woven story line with its fast moving twists and turns. As always, I especially appreciate the well-developed relationships. I found myself laughing out loud at Dallas and Peabody on several occasions. Nora Roberts certainly knows how to write powerful and realistic dialogue filled with real-life emotion.

Susan Erickson reading Salvation in Death held my attention for the full 13 hours of listening. That's very high praise! This book is a thoughtful and intriguing read/listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the unabridged CD version and highly recommend it. Great job J.D. Robb!!!

Was it just me, or did Eve seem to be mellowing in this book? If this was Robb's intention, then I applaud it. I like to see characters evolve, grow, change, develop.
Dallas didn't seem to be clawed as horribly by her demons as in past books. More evidence of growth. Another reviewer mentioned that this book was more about the crime and less about the characters. That's okay. The characters are all compelling.

I've read every book in this series and enjoyed all of them except this one. When a friend told me not to waste my time reading it, I thought she must have been having a bad day. Unfortunately, I had to slog my way through it, hoping it would get better. I was very, very disappointed in the book.

Gone is the hard, precise scalpel like honed edge of Eve's character. Nora Roberts/J.D.Robb has reduced Eve to a hologram of the simpering female characters with which she populates her "romance" novels. The author has Eve becoming "gooey" over Roarke having white petunias planted in the yard. She has reduced Eve and Roarke into white trash behavior having sex in their car and yammering about b.j.s and other vulgar, crude and low class sex talk. Long gone is the amusing and snarky repartee between Eve and Peabody. Delia has devolved into a sullen, sulking glutton with her sole focus upon cramming food into her fat face and having sex with Mc Nab.

I was once such a fan of this series, but the author has wrecked the futuristic vibe with the same, maddening repetitiveness with which she wrecked her romance novels. NO ONE talks in such truncated and circular dialog unless they have a malfunction of their nervous system and speech centers in the brain. Robb has her characters repeat, repeat, repeat the same words multiple times in sentences and paragraphs until you want to throw the book at the wall. One can hope that by the year 2061, people would have graduated to a more sophisticated and elegant style of language and manner of speaking. The author has taken away the brash, steely toughness which WAS the essence of Eve and holds her up to mockery of what she has been in the prior books of this series. Maybe that is the answer: The real Eve is now a has been. Robb harps on the same old issue of Eve's childhood rape by and murder of her father in each and EVERY story. This time it was just too much of the same cut and paste junk. I found myself skipping pages until it was done.

Eve's caffeine addiction and constant sucking up coffee while looking haggard or fighting over eating various foods is old and tired as well. Worse, Feeney, Mira, even the tiresome Mavis are rendered flat and boring. The story line could be interesting if it hadn't gotten lost in blah, boredom and the mishmash of too many one dimensional characters. The copycat murder of a fundamentalist christian preacher lost in lust and alcoholism along with the murder of a hispanic priest during mass made it difficult to sustain even the slightest bit of interest. Murder and Mayhem in Spanish Harlem? Yawn. Like other reviewers have noted, Salvation in Death was "phoned in". Too often drek like this is what happens when authors take their audience for granted. In this case, Roberts/Robb could take a page from the peerless Mave Binchey and take a sabbatical from writing before she generates more of the same.

I had heard a lot about this J.D. Robb series and decided to give it a try. I was extremely disappointed. The plot is very thin with no intrigue whatsoever. I kept waiting for some connection, some hook that would resonate but it's just about gang violence and revenge as a motive. The characters are very flat, again with limited connection to real life and real personalities. It's a shame that so many author's these days seem to think that gratuitous descriptions of sexual encounters is what interests readers. Please skip it. I think this book must have an intended audience age between 25 and 35. I will not read another one in this series.

The "In Death" series is by far one of my favorites, and this installment doesn't disappoint. I recommend starting at the beginning with "Naked in Death", but each book can stand alone as well. I ALWAYS eagerly await these releases.

I was so disappointed with this book. It felt like she made no effort. I loved all the In Death books and was so excited when this came out. I finished it but it was a struggle. I just hope her next book has more spark than this one.

While I have not read all the books in this series yet, I am getting closer. And I must say that this is one of my favorite series in this particular genre.

That being said, I personally felt that this particular work, ‘Salvation in Death’ seemed to lack the snap and intensity of most of the other books featuring Eve and her billionaire husband. In this one Eve is a mellower individual and I felt the story went on and on and must admit that I got a bit bored with it before it finally ended. This is rare when reading these books.

A Priest is murdered – poisoned and dies in front of his congregation while given Holy Communion. A Evangelical preacher is poisoned and dies while in front of his congregation and the T.V. cameras. Are these cases related? Hmmmm.

I have to agree that this story was more about the actual crime than the characters in the story which I suppose threw me off as the reason I like this series is the fact that they are more character driven and that appeals to me.

Now this does not mean that this isn’t a fun read and I am most certainly glad I read it...it simply did not grab me and hold my attention like the other books in this series have. I suppose I will push on and look forward to the next I am able to dig up at the library.

This was a library find.

I need to say something about this series before I start my review. I have read this series over and over and over. I know all the characters and their evolution, and the stories, inside and out. I need to applaud Nora Roberts for putting forth the best of what a police officer can be. Too often of late we read stories of homicides that go unsolved and it is a result of sloppy police work. Lazy, incompetent, lack of follow-through; the opposite of the main character in these books. Eve Dallas, to me, stands for what can be. Hope. I wish more cops read these books and could be inspired to what can be done.
Okay, I am done with my rant and not sure if it will be published but I needed to state it. I think, this book more than any other in the series is the hardest case Eve Dallas had to solve. The motive behind the murder is convoluted, I cannot believe, even the smartest of cops would have ever figured this out. This book is definitely a work of fiction. I think my favorite part is Eve breaking up a fight between two women over a handbag. I guess we all get our jollies in different ways.

I haven't even read the book yet but I have to complain about the price of the book. One of the big advantages of having the Kindle is the discount on prices (no paper, less money, right?) and this is only $1.85 less than Wal-Mart. I'm very disappointed that the price is not $9.99 like most of the other new releases. Very disappointed.

I never put spoilers in my reviews.
Penguin has improved their proofreading, yay; there is one formatting issue, however, at the end there is an epilogue, don't miss it.
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 and grieves for their lost futures. 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.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of possible Spoilers*

salvation-in-death-j-d-robbA Catholic priest is in the middle of a funeral mass when he is struck down dead by the sacramental wine of communion, or more accurately the poison it was laced with. But who would want the priest dead? Eve Dallas is on the case and it's up to her to find out. But as she digs deeper she realizes that Father Miguel Flores isn't who he appears to be.

Then, shortly after, a well-known evangelist is murdered in the same way. Are the two murders connected? Is somebody on a religion bent, ridding the world of false `prophets'? Or is somebody looking for a convenient way to get rid of a problem they feel is plaguing their life?

I thought this was an okay book, there are a lot of religious elements in it do to the nature of the crimes. But overall it was a nice storyline. But I just never quite fell in love with it. And, at one point toward the end of the book as Eve was coming up with who the culprit is, I completely got lost. Thankfully I did find my way back though. But there is really a lot going on in this one, maybe too much to really take in completely.

I think I really missed all the usual characters' home lives in this one, as there really wasn't much; everything was really about the case and Eve's investigating. I needed an emotional connection that I just didn't feel this time around. Although there were a few scenes, between Roarke and Eve that made me smile, the story was still all about the case.

Next up in the series for me is the novella, Ritual in Death, which I'm hoping to enjoy a bit more...

This review and more at openbooksociety dot com

First let me tell you that I mainline J.D. Robb books like some people eat chocolate. So with that said, I have read a lot of them, of course not in order which would be too easy. This is one of my favorite books. Most of her books follow the same path which makes them predictable but still good. This one does not follow this path, less sex, more murder, and less reminiscing about the past. Which is one of the reasons I really liked this book.

As this is the 27th book in the In Death book series, the relationships are strong and have been thoroughly developed. Everyone knows what happened in the past and with this book mentioning less of Eve’s past it gives more time to the actual police investigation and theory crafting behind it.

This book is set in the not so distant future, however the New York that we all know is completely different, with air buses and licensed companions (LC) this is a how J.D. Robb envisions New York after a major war called the Urbans that essentially destroyed the majority of major cities and forced them to rebuild.

Eve, the main character in this book is stronger and more in touch with who she is and what she wants than in other books. I like this as she is supposed to be a strong willed, individualistic, creature of habit. Eve keeps more to herself in this installment than in any other which leads to arguments and misunderstandings. She is still coming to terms with being married to a former criminal who now owns most of the lucrative businesses on and off world. Let me tell you, the way that J.D. Robb wrote Roarke, he is a sight to behold, and I would hold him in a heart beat.

Another element that this book has that others do not is Peabody’s arguing with Eve. Peabody was written as a strong cop that is subservient to her supervisor. In this one however, Peabody strikes out against Eve for what she feels is the wrong method. This is really out of character for Peabody, and so far this is the first time I have seen it.

Overall I give this book 4 stars because of how different it is from the others as well as keeping with the theme most readers will be accustomed to. All of the In Death books have a strong female lead that does not take anything for granted, even when she has the ruler of the worlds at her side.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is facing two of the most difficult cases of her career. And while these cases are not necessarily difficult in and of themselves, they cause her to remember her own troubled childhood, the terror(s) of her past, and question her one moral/ethical beliefs. So while she is chasing her killer(s), she is also constantly revisiting those life changing events that shaped and formed who she is today.

Eve's latest cases involve two religious figures...a Catholic priest and an evangelist. And while the two cases appear related on the surface (both were heavily involved with the church and had been poisoned), Eve realizes quickly that all is not as it appears. Eve's first case involves Father Miguel Flores who has been poisoned while performing a mass, and she wonders who would want to kill "a man of God"? As the investigation unfolds she finds that Flores may not be who everyone thought but something much worse. He may have not only been responsible for two bombings that wrecked New York, but several murders as well, and the real question becomes, was the good father merely looking for redemption or salvation for his past bad acts? Eve's companion case has several threads that mirror the Flores investigation. An extremely popular evangelist, Jimmy Jay, has been poisoned while delivering a well attended and viewed (by millions) sermon. An investigation into his death shows that he may not have been what he appeared to be either. So while on the surface they appear to be similar (someone wants to unmask those pretending to be "holy") underneath Eve sees fractures and varying motives for each death. So it is easy to understand why as Eve sorts thru the evidence and speaks to witnesses, she begins to see parts of herself woven throughout both cases, and wonders about her own Salvation. However we all know that with Roarke's support, she will not fail and will stop at nothing less to stand for her victims.

For those who love the series, or Eve, Roarke, McNabb, Somerset and Peabody, you'll love this installment of the Death Series. What I enjoyed the most about the story is Robb's ability to keep Eve human and strengthen her as she faces her demons. She seems to be more at peace with herself than ever before. We now understand (more) why she does things and why she reacts to cases a certain way, but most of all, we get a better understanding of Eve herself.

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!

Salvation in Death is another will written mystery in the series. The usual plus the new good and bad characters are interesting and will developed. The story line has lots of twist and turns leading to the conclusion. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys will written mysteries. Enjoy reading

For the most part, I enjoy the In Death series and Salvation in Death is only the second disappointment so far. I was tempted to put it down and if it wasn't for the knowledge that sometimes Robb puts in details you'll need for the next book, I would have abandoned it.

The case was really interesting, don't get me wrong but I felt as though Robb drew this one out longer than need be and what was the point of adding Jenkins' murder in it? I just didn't understand the purpose of that sub-plot.

As always I enjoy Roarke and Eve's banter but I do skip over the sex scenes when I'm not in the mood to read them. The only thing I wish is that Eve would keep in mind that not everyone is as diehard a cop as she is and go to bed!

"On the sidewalk, people bustled by. On the street, traffic chugged. The air buzzed with the sound of them, of business, of busy, of life, while Lopez stood quietly studying Eve's face.

"'Why do you do what you do? Every day. It must take you places most can't look. Why do you? Why are you a cop?'

"'It's what I am.' Weird, she realized, that she could stand with a man she barely knew, one she couldn't yet eliminate as a suspect, and tell him. 'It's not just that someone has to look, even though that's just the way it is. It's that I have to look.'

"'A calling.' Lopez smiled. 'Not so different from mine.'

She let out a short laugh. 'Well.'

"We both serve, Lieutenant. And to serve we each have to believe in what some call the abstract. You in justice and in order. In law. Me, in a higher power and the laws of the Church.'

"'You probably don't have to kick as many asses in your line.'"

From Salvation in Death, 2008, J. D. Robb - A Favorite Must-Read Author...

I was apprehensive about this book, because Roberts' past novels where the Catholic Church has played a part have been riddled with mistakes regarding what the Catholic Church believes/teaches, and how Catholics should (theoretically) act and behave. However, to my surprise, Roberts did fairly well with this one. I was actually quite impressed with Dallas' analogy of her duty to protect and serve people and Lopez' duty to protect and serve souls.

However, in the epilogue Dallas asks Lopez about the Church's teachings about those who commit suicide. Lopez' answer implies that the Church teaches that all those who commit suicide automatically go to hell. This isn't the case. The current Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide." (CCC 2282)

Otherwise, though, a solid book. I do hope we get to see Charles and Louise's wedding (and Louise's bachelorette party) in subsequent books.

I've read all the in Death novels, all of them more than once, but this one I had to force myself to finish. Normally when I get an new in Death book I can't put it down, but this one was ponderous. It dragged on and on and I didn't care about the mystery or anything going on in the book. I agree with others that if felt like someone else had written the book. The dialogue and writing was nothing like the other books, uninspired and unengaging. This and the next few books made me wonder who was writing them and if it continued I would stop reading the series altogether. Fortunately Treachery in Death was so good, my confidence was restored.

To sum it up, I could barely finish it the first time and I can't ever bring myself to read it again it was that tedious.

While I may agree with some previous reviewers that Salvation in Death is not the nail-biting, rip-roaring intriguing reading material I have come to rely on with the series, I do give it a thumbs up for creativity. J. D. Robb has come up with a plot involving a murder at the very moment a priest turns wine into the sacred blood of Jesus Christ in the Catholic burial mass of one Hector Ortiz, head of a most cherished family in the neighborhood parish of St. Cristobal's Church. Eve gets right into the murder investigation, starting with trying to comprehend the basic rituals of the Catholic Church. At times I found both she and Roarke (who Eve claims is a "sort-of" Catholic) to be a little rough around the edges in their statements on religion. This did turn me off somewhat; however, looking at the big picture, the novel was well-written but not as exciting as J.D. Robb's previous stories. I find that the more recent books in this series do not have the same edge to them that the earlier stories had. I did enjoy this story but found it to be easily resolved and not hitting that "wow" factor when the killer is finally unveiled. The Jimmy Jay Jenkins storyline somewhat remindful of a Billy Graham revival meeting was somewhat unclear and seemed to be filler for the book. Nora, get back to the old days with Eve. Make her rough, tough and independent. Have her stand alone and not with Roarke holding her hand throughout a sting operation. Please put that spark back into this series that I saw time and time again in the earlier novels.

This story is a lot of fun. I found my emotions (pity/anger) jumping from one character to another. As with other J.D. Robb novels, this story is interesting and the characters first-rate. I enjoy the investigation process, the way the main character, Eve Dallas, works down to the truth. I've read Salvation twice and have loved it both times.

If you haven't read the 'in Death' series, you're denying yourself hours of entertainment and pleasure. Take the advice I was given, though, and read them in order so you meet the main cast members as they come into play and develop into superior and entertaining characters. This series is additive.

Thank you Ms. Robb!

Shelley Dawn, author of Sweet, Sweet Jessie and Dark Nights

One of these days I'll learn not to start a J. D. Robb novel on a weeknight, right before I have to head off to a conference. I'm addicted to this series, and Salvation in Death is no different. A fun read that kept me up long after the light should have been turned out.

Dallas is called out to pick up an apparent homicide at a church funeral. She arrives with Peabody to find a dead priest, likely poisoned by the sacramental wine used during the Mass. No one seems to have anything against the priest, and the wine served during Mass is not locked up. Really, just about anyone *could* have done it. But after digging into the preist's past a bit, Dallas finds something interesting... It doesn't look like the priest is who he said he was, and may well not have been a priest at all. Throw in a another poison murder of a big name tele-evangelist in front of thousands, and Dallas doesn't quite know what she has to deal with. Is it a copycat murder, or does someone have a vendetta against all religious figures? And just who *is* the "priest" who was murdered, and why would he have been hiding for so long?

This episode in Eve Dallas' life was a bit different than many of the other novels. There's two murders in play, and it's not quite clear as to whether they're linked or just coincidentally similar. Many times you get one main case, and that's the whole focus. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) also digs a bit deeper into Eve's abusive background, as there are a few elements of the case that resurrect in her some not-so-pleasant memories.

As always, I keep expecting this series to start to go stale. And as always (fortunately), it hasn't for me.

I just can't get enough of Eve Dallas and Roarke! This probably falls into my top ten favorites of Robb's In Death series. The mysteries keep getting more intricate, as this one fully illustrates. A mystery within a mystery. A Catholic priest drops dead during the consecration of the mass. He was poisoned. Who would poison a priest? Better yet, who would pretend to be a priest? Eve must delve into a tight-knit community to unravel the crime.

This was a great book because readers see once again that Eve is dedicated to justice, even if the victim(s) was not a total innocent and the killer(s) somewhat sympathetic. She takes every case to heart, and must unravel all aspects to get at the truth, even after the case is solved. I also liked that Peabody is once more at center stage with Eve during the investigation. And, as a Catholic, I found it funny to see Eve and Roarke wrestle with issues of faith, such as the transubstantiation and sanctity of confession. Their love and passion is as hot as ever, and anchors each mystery with something good even amidst murder and deceit. Readers see each character grow and develop, becoming more and more invested in them. This series is a must read!

Its' very difficult for me NOT to give any of the "In Death" series books 5 stars. I try to channel my inner Eve Dallas, as often as I can. My Irish heritage enjoys Roarke, to no end. These are great characters that build and build through the series. I anxiously anticipate the next little bit of data into all of the core character's personalities, lives, etc. Nora Roberts is an incredibly prolific writer who maintains top quality throughout this series, in my opinion. :->

Salvation in Death poses some very exciting twists and deep, dark secrets. It begins with a funeral mass with the young Father Miguel Flores, a priest in NYC's Spanish Harlem. As he goes through the mass for a very popular and wealthy older man, he gets to the communion and as he swallows the wine falls and dies in spite of numerous attempts to revive him. Fr. Flores was very popular and known for his attention to young and old. However, as Lt. Dallas and Det. Peabody begin to investigate his death more and more secrets and violent acts come to light. Jimmy Jay Jenkins, an evangelical preacher who founded the Church of the Eternal Light is killed in a similar manner. As Dallas with the help of her husband Roarke, partner Peabody and her whole team including Captain Feeney and his division start digging into the backgrounds of both religious figures, the danger escalates and Dallas has to race to find the killer(s?)!

A really good read and with a lot of deep thoughts on religion as well as the criminal mind. I love this series and really enjoyed this offering.

Valerie Matteson
Ann Arbor, MI

This is another good addition to the series, but doesn't measure up to the last three (Innocent, Creation, and Strangers). Those three had excellent plotlines that were filled with tension - page-turners 'til the end. This one was interesting, but didn't have the tension of the others. I enjoyed the banter/relationships between the main and secondary characters (a definite strength of the author), but the mystery didn't keep me as interested, and there wasn't enough of a relationship focus (between Eve and Roarke) to keep me as invested in the story. Overall, it was a good read, but suffered from the comparison to the previous three. Hopefully the next one will regain the momentum.

"Salvation in Death" number 27 in the In Death - series is one of the best so far. There are two cases (one especially seizing), Eve and Roarke at their top and a lot of Peabody, McNabb and co. - so there's all a good "In Death"- book needs.
"Salvation in Death" starts with the murder (through poison) of a catholic priest during mass. The priest, a highly appraised member of the community, seems to have no enemies and besides the church no real family. He cared especially about the youths in his community and every member of the church looked up to him. But when the autopsy of his body brings some old scars and a covered tatoo to light, Eve starts to realize that the priest may have some dark secrets in his past. And when the tatoo points to a ruthless gang of youths that terrorized the people in the community years ago Eve is no longer convinced that the priest really was the one who he posed to be.
When another religious leader is killed in a similar way Eve and her team have to investigate if there is a serieal killer on the hunt or if this cases have nothing to do with each other.
Especially the first murder case is gripping and up until the end you don't really know the reasons for the murder. Case two is interesting as well and both show the reader that under the cover all can be different and that humans are experts in being pretenders. The combination of the church and Eve is really interesting and Eve is at her best although she is unsure about how to handle the catholic rituals and all that is going on in a church. But with her approach to respect people for what they do and not for what they are Eve handles the situation without too many complications.
In this In Death Eve really seems to get a better grip about how to handle her past and I felt really happy when reading this. Roarke and she are hot as always and Roarke has some funny moments for which I adore him even more. He is there for her when certain aspects of the case trouble her but she is also there for him when he has to fight with some bad memories of his past. They just are a perfect team and I can't wait to read more of them and how they try to handle themselves and the relationships with their friends (especially Louise's and Charle's upcoming wedding) .
All in all this is a "classic" In Death - book that enthrals the reader from the first moment right to the end.
So enjoy your copy of this fabulous book.
S.M.

Father Miguel Flores is presiding over the funeral service for Hector Ortiz at St. Cristobal's Church in Spanish Harlem when he drinks the wine from the chalice; he keels over immediately and dies. NY Police and Security Department officer Lieutenant Eve Dallas catches the case. Examining the body affirms her belief that the priest was poisoned with a deadly put in the consecrated wine. Eve and Detective Peabody search Father Miguel's apartment where she finds amedallion taped to the back of a dresser drawer; it contains the name Lino on it which came from his mother.

The medical examiner finds the priest had extensive facial reconstruction and knife wounds scarred all over the bones in his body. He also had a tattoo removed, but the ME was able to resurface the design, which turns out to be a mark of a gang member. Eve ponders whether the real Father Flores is missing most likely dead with an imposter replacing him. She soon confirms her theory as the false father is Linno Martinez who obviously had a purpose for being at this church in 2160. The cop needs to find a motive for why Martinez was at St. Cristobal's, why someone killed him, and where is the real Father Flores

Each new book in this superb bestselling futuristic police procedural series enhances the Eve Dallas mythos and deservedly the reputation of J.D. Robb. Eve's current case is extremely complex having to go back in time to when Juno was a gang leader. This case proves difficult to get a handle on even with her spouse Roarke's help with all the assets at his disposal. The heroine runs a methodical step by step investigation with each new clue requiring hard work from either Eve or part of her team. There is less banter between the characters even with Roarke and Eve (though the pair still steam up the city), as the official inquiry moves the story line forward in what may be the best "in Death" tale to date.

Harriet Klausner

First Sentence: At the mass of the dead, the priest placed the wafer of unleavened bread and the cheap red wine on the linen corporal draping the alter.

Performing communion can be deadly. At least it was to the priest officiating at a funeral service. One sip of from the chalice and he is dead.

One other small problem; as Eve investigates, she discovers he's not really a priest either. Instead he is someone who appeared five years prior claiming to be, and having had facial surgery, a priest who now can't be found. Eve has to determine whether the missing priest or the impersonator was the target and who is the killer.

Robb/Roberts has not lost her touch all these books later. She still knows how to grab the reader from the very beginning and keep you going until the very end. She creates great characters and sharp, crisp, often funny dialogue that you can hear in your head and sometimes even want to read out loud.

Eve is one of my favorite female characters. She is tough, smart, somewhat socially awkward and, I'm happy to say, starting to recover from the abuse of her childhood. There are some rather graphic intimate scenes, which can be skimmed over, but also show the less tough, more vulnerable side of Eve. Her husband, Roark, Is involved in this story, but less actively than in the past.

Sense of time and place is very well done. The story is set just far enough in the future to allow for imaginative technology in electronic devices and transportation. Still, it doesn't ignore that some things continue on in time such as a woman baking bread from scratch as her grandmother once did.

The story is very well plotted. Dealing with the Catholic Church and religion could be uncomfortable or preachy, but Robb doesn't go down either of those paths. Instead it is used to demonstrate the questions of good and faith sometimes conflicting with the law, but also the desire for some to do what is right.

Lest you mistake a book written by Robb/Roberts as being light, be assured it is not. White there are moments of humor, the story is a solid police procedural with the objective always being to obtain justice for the dead.

For me, this is a great series. As long as Robb continues to write them, I'll continue to read them.

When a priest who's not a priest drops dead at a prominent man's funeral, Eve Dallas knows she's got one heck of a mystery to solve. She and her partner Peabody begin digging into the dead man's past with the few clues there are; one the faded trace of a tattoo, marking the man as a member of the Soldados, a gang from the pre-Urban Wars days. A special mark on the tattoo marks the man as a killer, leaving Eve to wonder why he would bother to pose as a priest for five years. Not far into the investigation, another church leader drops dead of cyanide poisoning during a televised service, and Eve briefly wonders if she's got another serial killer on her hands, or a copycat with entirely different motives. Either way, it doesn't help her solve the identity of the dead man in priest's robes, and she must use all the resources of the NYPSD, and those of her uber-rich husband Roarke, to get to the bottom of the case.

I've been a JD Robb fan from the beginning, and I have purchased her new novels immediately upon their release all these years, so it pains me to say I found this book lacking. There has been a trend for the last few books of Eve and Roarke doing nothing but work, and it was especially tedious in this novel. Somewhere in the distant background Eve had friends who were planning a bridal shower for one of her closest pals, but that was a bare blip before it disappeared. Eve, workaholic that she may be, still used to have a life, and if she worked too much, Roarke would pull her away somewhere exotic to unwind from time to time. Now, they get up in the morning and go to work, then come home and continue working, have hot, passionate sex, go back to work, crawl into bed two hours before it's time to go back to work, and then, you guessed it, they go to work again. SNORE. Eve and Peabody used to have witty repartee and Eve had an amused tolerance for Peabody's quirky warmth; now, Peabody gets crushed every time she opens her mouth, and Eve is just plain mean. Roarke used to make my heart go pitty-pat; now he's Eve's well-dressed lapdog.

Now the mystery. This was actually a pretty interesting case for Eve to unwind, but that took a backseat to her grandstanding. Eve is no longer just a damn good cop who cares, she's a freaking invincible superhero. It's really hard to like someone as pompous as all that, which makes me wonder why she has any friends or that awesome husband, and that makes me really sad because I used to love Eve several books back. But, I digress. There really was a clever mystery to solve, but it suffered at the end because of the need to make Eve the star of the moment and underline her supercop status, and once again, the villain was ridiculously coldhearted and evil. Solving a murder is no longer enough for Eve; she must destroy these nefarious demons!

And yet...I don't want to give the book low stars because the story kept me interested. If one is not already an Eve Dallas fan, they might actually enjoy this book a whole lot more than I did because they aren't missing all the special little details that used to be there that I miss. I wish Eve would get off her high horse, she and Roarke could do something, anything, besides work 24/7, and all the delightful side characters the author has spent almost 30 books developing would actually get to play their roles, which used to flesh these books out so nicely. It used to be a delight to step into the hectic world of New York 2060, but now it's a bit exhausting.

OK-I liked Salvation in Death. Which was a surprise because I stopped reading the series around the 10th book-it was getting too boring for me. I skipped over to the 20th or so and the next one I read was this one. AND I checked it out from the library (I can't believe they're releasing all these books in hardcover) so I spared myself some change-maybe that's why I appreciated the book even more. The hiatus did me good, because I was able to get right into the story without feeling like I'd missed anything. I would suggest the same for all the readers who are expressing frustration over the plot lines and boredom-just take a break from the series and when you decide to come back, you would enjoy it much more.

I don't know how she does it. This is the 27th book in the series (more if you count the novellas) and by now I should be bored silly with them, especially at the rate the author writes them. After all, they share the same basic elements: Eve Dallas & sidekick Peabody investigate a murder; Eve & Roarke have hot sex and are amazed at how much they love each other; Eve works with the team down at cop central and carps at Peabody and McNab for smooching on the job; Roarke helps; Eve has flashbacks to childhood trauma; various friends of Eve make guest appearances; Eve solves murder. But somehow J.D. Robb keeps coming up with new ways to put those basic elements together so they not only don't feel old and trite but so I would notice and be sad if one of them was missing. Only the need to sleep and work kept me from reading this straight through.

This book is one of the better ones in the series. I agree with author Lisa Scottoline's jacket blurb that this book would be a good place to start if you haven't previously read any of this series. In a continuing series like this, it is always best to start at the beginning and having read all the rest does help follow the emotional nuances in the plot. But the author does give enough background so a new reader will understand the reasons Eve gets emotionally upset over certain things that come up in the investigation. And if you start with this book, you will want to go back and read the rest.

The book starts out with 2 murders in short order. The victims' professions, method of death and venue make it appear as if they are the work of the same killer. Eve digs deeply into the victims' lives to learn the truth. Because the first victim is a priest, Eve and Roarke have several discussions about Catholicism, which make Roarke very uncomfortable. It will be interesting to see if the author brings this into future books. Solving this case makes Eve think deeply and have discussions about her own past, vengeance, and justice. Those more introspective moments make this book more intimate than some of the past ones where Eve is in danger or racing to stop a killer.

My only complaint (and this is very minor), is that I miss some of Eve's friends who made only brief appearances or got only quick mentions. As Louise and Charles have a wedding coming up, I suspect one of the next books will make up for this.

I have changed from reading to listening to J.D. Robb's "In Death" series. Susan Ericksen is a superb reader, nothing else can come close to how she makes a book come alive. She is a master at voice creation of characters and no matter how many "in death" books you listen to the voices of Eve, Roarke, Peabody, et al, are the same. It is like a continuing story of these people. Their professional and emotional life experienced through their voices. It is Susan Ericksen's reading that really does it for me.

Salvation in Death was one of Robb's better novels. She did develop the story in depth and gave us quite a few surprises along the way. The romance of Eve and Roarke is pretty steamy, and really adds to the dimensional character of Eve. And his voice is soooooooo sexy, with that Irish accent. They are perfect for each other. They know each other "inside and out". :)

It was interesting to follow the story thread involving religion and the Catholic church. Some may take offense but I feel Robb treated all of it with respect, not judgement. Not all clergy in any religion are blameless, and the plot involved in this becomes complicated. It just all makes for a good story line. It was also quite revealing to learn just how Eve and Roarke related to religion itself, and how each character revealed their own moral convictions and perceptions of crime committed in the religious realm.

I look forward to another J.D. Robb mystery. Right now I am picturing Eve and Roarke taking a long needed vacation on some island (probably their own) and her link ringing, pulling her back into "just doing her job".

Definately not my favorite In Death book but it was okay. The best parts were the cake and the purse. The worst part was the second murder - hello, like nobody saw that coming. Definately need more interaction with other characters. Nobody lives life in a bubble, not even Eve, and there just wasn't the character developement that there has been in past books.

Looking forward to the next book. I hope they also release that one in large print at the same time as the regular hard cover.

This book got off to a great start, but what a disappointment afterwards. I agree with the other reviewers who said this seemed phone in. I also have 2 other issues. The murdered priest started out as a "good" guy who was praised for his work with the children of the parish. ****Spoiler alert**** Then we find out that he was a former gang member who had orchestrated the bombing and killing of several people. It is interesting and telling that Robb has the priest reportedly arguing with another priest about redemption thru good works. The priest could have been a much more interesting character, but suddenly the priest becomes a con artist and a murderer with no redeeming qualities. It's almost like he's a different person in the second half of the book. My other issue is that Eve makes such a big deal over collaring the priest's murder because murder is never justified. However, she certainly doesn't think that Roarke murdered Marlena's murderers. Robb has Eve and Roarke talk about this interminably in the book, but she never adequately justifies why Roarke's actions in the taking the law in his own hands are different than the actions of the one who did so for the priest. I really enjoy all of Robb's characters and most of her storytelling. But she is definitely not up to par with this book.

I've read all the "In Death" series and loved all but this one. I found this book extremely hard to get through due to the many characters. I found myself re-reading parts to remember who was who. Ther was very little in the book about our other favorite personalities whom we've grown to expect in the books. Perhaps it's time for Eve and Roarke to start their family and for Eve to get the well deserved and earned promotion. She could also work for Roarke on the side as a security consultant. After all, he's worked enough as a civilian consultant for the police force. Think of Somerset as a care giver for the Roarke children!

Tmckinsey

Yes, I bought the hardback, and probably will continue to buy books in this series, all with a hope that there will be more action....more something. I love this series and have been reading them for years, but they are starting to run together. Outside of the most wonderful characters, the books are becoming redundant. Eve chases killer, asks Roarke for help, Peabody wants to eat, Mira is cool, and McNab wants sex. That's it in a nutshell. The story line was interesting, men of God killed in front of their congregation. The end was not an earth shaker and finding out who killed both men was just shy of boring. I would think with the cast of characters created by Ms. Roberts she could take a story to so many levels, but she insists on keeping it safe. I am not asking for her to kill someone off, but she needs to shake up the characters a bit. Just a suggestion.

I have read every J.D. Robb I could get my hands on and always enjoyed them. But after awhile I came to accept certain weaknesses - fairly simple plots and often obvious solutions.

With this work, Robb has taken a leap forward in her writing. There is duplicity, red herrings, subplots, and twists in twists. For once I couldn't guess who dunit until near the end, and even then Robb managed to pull a twist.

I look forward to the next Robb in February with even more anticipation and pleasure than usual.

This book was not qutie what I have come to expect of an In Death book, however it was not the greatest disappointment in a new book in a series I've read this year. I think this one was probably so mellow because of what probably happens in the next book. You know we have the big bacholorette/wedding shower, the wedding of charles and louise. I don't doubt that some time down the road we will see roarke and eve having a child--coolest if they actually have to deal with the pregnancy but some how I see them taking in an innocent from one of the cases.

This novel was excellent reading. It kept me interested the entire time I was reading it and it was hard to stop reading this novel once I started it. As usual, J.D. Robb has captured my attention as she has in all of her novels that I have read. I would recommend this novel to everyone who is interested in mystery novels. I am anticipating reading her next novel which I have pre-ordered, but it is not available until February, 2009. I just enjoy reading J.D. Robb's novels and she does not live far from where I reside now in Maryland. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to meet her one day. I started reading her novels while residing in Stuttgart, Germany the past five years. My daughter introduced me to these novels and then I began to order them from the store.com myself.
A sincere reader and fan. Brenda B. Hughes.

Supurb! I think this is the best of the entire series (and I have every one). Just a great murder mystery. They always have me from the beginning but this one I really couldn't put down.

I was beginning to wonder if this series hadn't just about run its course but if they continue like this one I'm in for the duration.

The characters are all there and keeping with their assorted chacteristics, as a matter of a fact each book adds more. It makes for a better rounded Eve.

My only dissappointment in the book is that the author seems to have forgotten about DNA.

Keep them coming! Nora

Another very good evolving, fast moving murder mystery. I particularly enjoy the characters and their interactions with others. Eve is a no nonsense police officer. I would highly recommend this book.

Normally I read Robb's novels in a day or so because I *have* to know what happens to the characters and then I'll go back, reread, and savor those little details and plot points that make the "In Death series" pop. Not this time.

It took me more than a week to finish this book and the only way I got through it was to treat it like a required reading assignment for school.

As others have mentioned, there is no character development in this book and the mystery is subpar. The supporting characters, who normally add such richness to these novels, are simply shadows of themselves and have had their personalities removed. Not a good thing for a personality driven series.

I gave the book three stars because it was nice to see Robb break from the "somehow everything's connected to Roarke's past and businesses" but other than that there isn't much here for the true fan.

I am a die hard J.D. Robb fan. I've read all of her books and am rereading them a second time around.

This book was great. There were so many twists and turns that you just don't see coming. Things are not what they seem. So sit down and get ready for a great adventure in reading.

As a MAJOR Nora Roberts/J.D Robb fan, I loved this book.

It is another of her finely woven Eve Dallas crime dramas. The detail she incorporates into her writing is incredible, having been raised Catholic I appreciated the small nuances she included.

The building of the story, as Eve figures out the hows and whys of the crime are a pleasure to read. I can't wait for the next one!

Eve Dallas mid 21st century NY cop and her multi-billionarie husband Roarke are on the case of a murdered Catholic Priest where they immediately have more questions than answers another murdered religious icon and thrills that don't stop until you read the last line.
If you follow the series this is the 27th in the series where you'll get to catch up on all your favorite supporting characters and find out what they're up to now.
If you prefer stand a-lones this one stands all by it's self.

Another great mystery for Eve Dallas to solve. There were so many layers to uncover. Butting two different religions, past and present issues, and strong main characters...what's not to love about the In Death Series? Not as thrilling as some of the other stories, but still a great read.

I enjoyed this book in the series as much as some and more than others. I did miss more with Feeney and Nadine and the others but I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. This was more about the mystery and less about all the characters lives. Plus the fact that Eve had two deaths that were similar but really not the same.

I was wondering how come there were so many serial killers and fanatics in Eve and Roarke's lives in previous books. So it was fun to have a different type of case that was interesting and new.

If you have read any of the others in the series, by all means, get this one. If not, WHY NOT!!!!

Once again, J.D. Robb does not disappoint her fans. This prolific writer seems to get better and better with each book. She goes from one situation to the next, with an expertise that allows her characters and their relationships to flourish. Like few other authors, Robb understands that evil in the guise of holiness is the highest form of corruption and hypocrisy. It seems that everything that comes from this author's imagination is entertaining and worthwhile reading. (Jerry Marcus is the author of The Salvation Peddler,The Last Pope: A Novel and Broken Trust - The Murder Of Basketball Star Jack Molinas.)

Nora Roberts did just enough research on Catholicism to get it WRONG. She sets the tone by describing the priest during the funeral Mass--and promptly shows her ignorance. She uses the right phrases in the wrong ways, and irritated me from the start. I spent the entire book searching for her reason for writing Chapter 1 the way she did--and found none. The fact that the priest died in the middle of the Mass was actually irrelevant to the plot. It may have been an attempt to restrict the list of potential perpetrators, but it did not succeed--partly because it is only Ms. Roberts' ignorance of Catholic practices that allows her to make those (erroneous) restrictions. Ms. Roberts opened a major can of worms in the first chapter, and totally failed to address it. I find it extremely hard to believe that any priest would ever allow the removal of the consecrated Bread or Wine for laboratory testing--at least not without an argument. And then she has Eve mention "transubstantiation"--just because she can? Neither the term nor the conversation about it is relevant. Ms. Roberts really should have found a practicing Catholic to read her book before it was published, so she could have corrected her glaring errors. I own all of the In Death books and have read most of them several times but I doubt I will re-read this one.

I was not impressed. To me, the language was confusing. The main character, Eve, was depicted as a hard core cop that was not convincing.. Also, I question the reference to Mexicans in Spanish Harlem. Spanish Harlem is predominately a Puerto Rican neighborhood. The two don't normally mix too well. Their cultures are too different and even the languages are not the same. And I never saw houses in Harem only apartments.

I've always known Nora Roberts wrote as J D Robb, but I never read any of this series. A friend gave me this book when we were on a business trip. I was hooked from the first page. I had to read the series from the beginning.

Good Eve & Roake romp as always. Still love the fast paced dialogue between the main characters. Love the visit with good friends I get in every book... but I missed at least a short look in on Louise & Charles other than a mention of a shower. Enjoyed the look into the graceful old rituals versus the carnival atmosphere that is the modern religious practices of the mega church neither is completely accurate to its partcipants but are easy targets for the murder minded.

This book is boring or perhaps I should say the characters are boring. I read five chapters and gave up. Maybe I was unlucky to pick up 'Salvation in Death' as my first J D Robb book but I don't think I could ever develop a liking for Eve Dallas. The future dates confused me; was this explained in earlier books? The basketball episode was embarrassingly bad - really! Heroine can do everything and anything...or perhaps she was an all-star basketball player in an earlier book. Romance novel drivel with a rude, crude, vulgar heroine. Would give it less than one star if it was allowed.

I have read every Eve Dallas book and always look forward to the next. I already have "Promises in Death." I liked this book, but was able to put it down which I usually have trouble doing. The great characters are all there, but with a little less zing. Would I recommend it? Sure. My ONLY real complaint in any of the series' books is the constant rudeness to Sommerset. I don't get it and I don't like it.

i own every "eve dallas" book ever published, and when i get my hands on a new one, everything stops and i start reading till im done with it....but this latest one, i got 2 weeks ago and i just cant get into it, its about 1/4 read...i'll finish it to be sure, but its not what i expected, to many characters or something...cant wait for the next one!

Whether Nora Roberts is writng as herself or J D Robb, you get lost in her books. She writes so descriptively that you can see exactly what she is describing. I can't put her books down until I finish it! I recommend her books to everyone who loves a great mystery

I do not see J.D. Robb's usual style in this book. The reading of it did not flow, there was not a lot of character development. It almost felt like a synopsis. Her use of discriptives varied from previous books, words she has used almost exclusively in past books were changed.
During the reading of the book I had envisioned a different and more satisfying reason for the main murder. One that would have reflected how the man had changed. I also missed the usual cast of characters, their use in this book seemed almost an afterthought.
I hope the next book will return the her usual great style.

I am a big fan of the JD Robb books and own all of them. I looked forward eagerly to reading this new book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The book is boring. The writing and the words used are so different from prior books. The characters from the prior books and the dialogue between them are mostly missing. The words that JD Robb used and her writing style in prior books are not present here. Frankly, I became bored and had trouble finishing this book. In my view, JD Robb did not write this book and whoever she paid to write this book did not do a very good job. I passed this book along to my sister, a librarian, to read. She is a big fan of JD Robb and agreed that it had been ghostwritten by somebody who wasn't very good. I am still going to buy the next JD Robb book, but if it isn't any better, that is it for me.

Sybil Barrier

Both the condition and timing of receiving this book were great. The Post Offfice took it's time delivering it, maybe because it was Christmas, but it was mailed the next day. I've read all Robb's other books and was looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed. Seemed a bit lighter than some of the others, but still good.

I have loved this series since the beginning. This book should have been titled "Bored to Death". It was missing all the excitement of previous books. Not a bad book for an unknown author, but not the quality of J.D. Robb's other books. I've ordered the next hoping it's actually good, but if not, I guess I'm through with J.D. Robb.

This is the first of the "series" book I read and will be the last. Could barely finish it. Although the story was interesting, the writing was horrible. I couldn't figure out why use future years, i.e. 2050, when it made no sense. Ok, future is commanding a computer to do research, check your wrist "unit" (wrist watch), 'link is a phone ?? And why would I have to translate flip lingo throughout ? Ok for some of the story but no one talks like that. Also some disrespectful comments made about the church.

I love the In Death series but I was a little disappointed in Salvation In Death. I liked the fact that Eve wasn't as bad-tempered as usual but the story was missing something. Would I recommend it? Sure. It's a good book, just not one of her best.

This book along with all of the other J.D.Robb books are top notch. I love the way the books are written so that you can put your mind in the future with Eve. It is my way of going to another place and I always do it with a Nora Roberts book.