Survivor in Death

This story was extra hard for Eve and Roarke because a little girl needed their help and we all know they have a difficult time with kids because of their past. I loved seeing Eve lost with the kid and asking for help. Roarke was perfect in this story and became such a cute guy talking about kids, yes, plural, almost gave Eve a heart attack.

The story was simple to me and after Eve realised revenge was the reason, she nailed fast the person responsible. I liked to see Peabody again and it became clear to me that Eve circle is growing each day. Mavis is getting bigger and scaring Eve even more. Dr. Mira is always right in her questions, Eve really needed her with the kid. It was a different story because Eve got personal with a witness, but the investigation was easy enough.

It was precise. It was clean. It was military style. It was done silently. It isn't over.

A very nice family, a very humble family gets rips to shreds by an unknown shadow, with no DNA, no fingerprints all done with military precision. Everything was by the book. The housekeeper's throat - slashed. The Father and Mother's throat - slashed. The boy and the girl's throat - slashed. Everything is done.

Except one.

One got away. One was hidden in the shadows just like them and survived. Now it's up to Dallas to figure out who, what, and why anyone would want to kill a very nice humble family and try to murder the little girl that got away. Trying to get through her own demons of the past, she has to try to help a little girl through hers.

J. D. Robb's newest installment of the In Death series is quite good, but it follows the pattern established by the previous novels. As with the other novels, we begin with a spectacularly gruesome murder (in this one, the military-style extermination of an apparently innocent family). This is followed by an investigation by Detective Eve Dallas, who is helped (whether she likes it or not) by her billionaire husband, Roarke. What's new about this novel is that we see Eve in a slightly more maternal role as she shelters a child-witness in her own home. Also, the presence of the little girl-herself the lone survivor of her family's murders-brings out some interesting emotional responses from Roarke and Eve.

I wouldn't say this is my favourite novel in the series. The connection between the scenes seemed a little choppy, and the last 200 pages or so were unusually dialogue heavy. The thing with these novels is that you can pretty much miss 3 consecutive novels in a row, and still pick it up without too much confusion. Soap operas are plotted like this. Real time may be five years, but discourse or story time, only a few months. For the next novel, I'd like to see some genuine character development and a new setting and a new type of villain.

The main victim in this tale is a young girl who is so brave and strong and human she pulls on the heartstrings and is the center of this emotional tale. Eve and Roarke each face their own demons while trying to solve this crime and ensure the survivor's safety.

As always in Ms. Robb's writing, this story is populated by a colorful cast of characters who are easy to love and some seriously scary bad guys.

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 first-rate characters. This series is additive! This is the third time I've read Survivor and I still love it.

Thank you Ms. Robb!

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

In the last two In Death books (Divided and Visions), I felt Eve was portrayed in extremes - too cold in Divided for the emotional growth that had already occurred prior to the book, and perhaps too warm in Visions to make up for the coldness in Divided. Both of them felt somewhat "off", although they were worth the time I spent reading them.

This one has Eve back on track emotionally (maybe not as emotionally warm as we'd like, but right where she fits in the storyline). She reacted in character to a child in crisis (Nixie) - afraid of her own reaction to Nixie's trauma and of her own inexperience with children (never having a normal childhood herself, she has no clue how to relate).

I thought the plot was interesting, although as another reviewer mentioned, there were several instances when slang in use today was thrown in. It didn't fit, negatively impacted believability, and jarred me out of the story. Overall, it's a good read. Looking forward to the next one. :)

I have ready every "In Death" book in the series, and I have to say that "Survivor in Death" ranks in my mind as one of the very very best. It had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning to the very last page, and I was sorry when it ended.

Nora Roberts, a.k.a. J.D. Robb, really hits her stride in this story of a nice, upper-middle-class family that is brutally murdered, one by one, in their beds. The murderers, brutal assassins, even get the housekeeper and a sleepover guest--but inadvertently leave behind a 9-year-old survivor, spunky Nixie Swisher, who witnessed the murders while hiding.

Nixie, who seems like a young Eve (the futuristic hard-edged New York cop who stars in this series), is taken under Eve and Roarke's collective wing while Eve doggedly stays on the scent of the killers. Nixie is a delightful character; I couldn't help but wish that Eve and Roarke would adopt her, and I won't do a spoiler by saying if they do. Suffice to say that I hope she appears in future books.

This outing is much more focused on the cop work, and much less on Eve and Roarke's collective childhood traumas, which is a welcome rest. There is enough to let us know they're still dealing, but the story itself is fast-paced, suspenseful and satisfying. On to the next!

This is a great mystery. It starts where young Nixie Swisher leaves her bed to get a drink in the middle of the night, which saves her life, when two men enter her house and slaughter her entire family.

By all appearances, the Swishers were the perfect all-American family with no enemies. So why would someone want to massacre the entire family. It's a fascinating read to find out why the family was murdered.

The only sour point of the book is the lead character, Eve Dallas. The fact that the woman can show no compassion for this nine year old that saw her entire family killed before her eyes comes as no shock, if you've read the previous novels. If one of the guest characters has an abused past, Eve [who was abused herself], will generally rip them apart and leave them in emotional tatters. Yet, were all supposed to feel sorry for poor abused Eve. I often find myself sympathizing with the killers, who come off as more sympathetic than Eve Dallas does. The fact of the matter is this. Eve Dallas has empathy and sympathy for only one person and that person is Eve Dallas. Every crime she makes about herself and what she suffered. Thankfully, she's surrounded my likeable characters and some intense mysteries.

The author goes to great pains to tell the reader that Eve Dallas isn't a cold insensitive bitch, she just seems that way, because she feels so much she just can't express it. In particular you have the butt-kissing of Detective Peabody and many of the regular characters who sing her praises about how wonderful and caring she is. Too bad Eve Dallas doesn't display any of the traits we're told she has. To be honest, she doesn't show much empahty or sympathy for the abuse her own husband went through.

Summerset, the man who saved and raised Eve's husband Roarke has grown to show a growing fondess for Eve, while she still treats the man like he's poison. When she gets hurt at the end of the book, and Summerset tries to help her, she snarls at him not to touch her.

While all the characters have grown from throughout the many books, Eve Dallas hasn't. The only thing that makes her tolerable and seem slightly human is her relationship with Roarke, and often you have to wonder what the heck he sees in this wretch as he does all the giving and she does all the taking.

There were moments that this story looked like it would really take off and then it just didn't. Eve was verbally abusive to little 9 year old Nixie from the beginning to the end of the story. Given her childhood, I will go along with the fact that she has a hard time with showing her true feelings for the people she truly cares about, however, there was no call for the language and the "cold-shoulder" treatment that she continually showed toward Nixie throughout the story. Summerset was correct in his reprimand of Eve. Robb needs to soften Eve up a little; she had begun to in previous books, however, this story makes Eve look like a general in the armed forces. I am now moving on to Origin in Death and hoping that Eve will go back to being her rough cop self when warranted and more caring and loving to the people around her. She can still get the job done without all the abuse to people who are just there to help her. Her verbal abuse to Summerset in this novel is totally uncalled for. I know they go back and forth all the time and sometimes it is even amusing, however, in Survivor, it was appalling they way she verbally "kicked" a man who is such an important part of her husband's life - a father figure in fact! Roarke should take the upper hand on this one and straighten her out!

Book Club Review
SURVIVOR IN DEATH
by J.D. Robb

Our book club's book for June was SURVIVOR IN DEATH, the 20th in the Eve Dallas series of NYC police procedurals by J.D. Robb (also known as Nora Roberts). For anyone who hasn't experienced this series, the key thing to know is that it takes place in New York City in the not-too-distant future (this one is set in 2059). Everyone in the club reads a wide variety of mysteries, and during our last meeting we somehow got onto the topic of J.D. Robb and we were surprised to find that none of us had ever read her before, which is surprising for someone so well regarded and ubiquitous (and prolific). So we decided to jump right in and give it a whirl.

The plot begins with a nice, innocent family being slaughtered systematically and brutally in their beds by a pair of well-trained thugs. Lt. Eve Dallas is called onto the case and jumps into it with gusto; but things get really personally when the thugs kill two of Dallas' men, who are guarding an empty safehouse. In the meantime, one nine-year-old child survived the slaughter, and to protect her, Dallas brings her to live with Dallas and her husband Roarke, who is a multibillionaire mogul. The story revolves around Dallas' hunt for not only the killers but also their motives.

There was a lot that we enjoyed about the book. At first the idea of a mystery set in the future didn't appeal to some of us; we were afraid there'd be all sorts of ridiculous gadgets and technology to set up a deus ex machina ending. But Robb actually creates a very believable future, where technology is slightly advanced beyond what we know today, but in a realistic way. Certainly the machismo of the men (and women) in blue remains unchanged, and the ties that bind cops are portrayed very well. While one of us know a lot about police procedures, we were sort of fascinated by Dallas' ability to analyze a crime scene and draw conclusions on these observations--they all made sense and were very finely tuned. The pacing is a little inconsistent, though, starting off strong but lagging in the middle, then ending with a conclusion that ties everything up just fine.

Overall we liked the book and could understand why Robb has such a loyal following. But, since we are a rather diverse lot, we did find some points to pick on. First, and strangely enough, New York City (even a NYC of the future) isn't very well evoked, beyond a bit of name dropping regarding landmark buildings and street names. Eve is tough as nails (hiding a sensitive interior and a tortured past, as is her husband, Roarke), which gives her a lot of a good one-liners, but she often seems like a Character with a capital C rather than a real woman. Ditto for Roarke, who is darkly interesting but who, in another genre, could be the Tortured Vampire with a Sensitive Soul. The relationship between Roarke and Dallas seems real enough; but I think more of us had expected fireworks that we didn't really see.

I think as a whole we all felt that we'd had a very good experience with this new author. And while not all of us were hooked enough to read more in the series, many of us were, and are looking forward to reading about Dallas' earlier exploits--and her earlier interactions (pre-marriage) with Roarke.

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

No affairs. No criminal connections. No DNA. No clues. Eve Dallas may be the best cop in the city--not to mention having the lavish resources of her husband, Roarke, at her disposal--but the Swisher case has her baffled. The family members were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night vision to find their way through the cozy middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. The only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the dark in the kitchen....

Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan--and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas's strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs t solve this case. Not only because of the promise she made to Nixie. Not only for the cause of justice. But also to put to rest some of her own darkest memories--and deepest fears. With her partner Peabody on the job, and watching her back--and with Roarke providing the kind of help only he can give--Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead set on finding out who's behind them.

A family assassinated by 2 men,

what happens when the mission fails because you kill the wrong little girl, and the one that you wanted is still alive?

This marks the 20th book in this series, and the last 5 books now have been

superb. The writing is crisp, the characters are so familiar by now that you can't help feeling like you just called your best friend on the link and were just catching up. There are so many plot points that weave their way in and out of each of these stories, Roberts answers the question that everyone always asks "When will Eve and Roarke have children?" in a way that shows the reasons, not just states the reasons.

If you've never read this series before I suggest you start with Naked in Death the first because you want to read this series in order, there is too much history missed if you start with this book.

Mass murder of five people in the still of the night. The lone survivor is a little girl, nine years old. Eve Dallas, a lieutenant with NYPSD Homicide, heads the investigation. A hideous crime scene, beyond comprehension. Eve finds the only survivor, Nixie, hiding in the shower of the master suite. Being her rescuer and savior, Nixie holds on tight to Eve and won't let go. When Nixie refuses to go with social services, Eve takes her home where she lives with her wealthy husband, Roarke. The butler takes the little girl who has been dramatized so badly under his wing. Nixie adores Eve, but Eve is not able to deal with the little girl and return the affection because of demons from her own childhood memories. Working day and night in solving the case, Eve tries to keep her distance from the little girl. You will fall in love with Nixie. As the tears streamed down my face over this precious little girl's plight in life from losing her entire family, my arms literally ached with desire to be able to hold her and protect her with love. At the same time, I had the urge to kick Eve right in the butt for not being able to let go of her own feelings and return the little girl's love. However, Eve miraculously keeps every promise she made to the little girl.

I give Nora five stars on this one. It is a humdinger of a mystery!

Marty Wurtz

Author of Deceptions and Betrayals

I have all of the books in this series (excluding the newest in hard cover), as do most of you. I have read your reviews and agree with some but disagree with others. I have a wonderful time reading these books, whether excellent or not so excellent. It seems, though, that most reviewers believe the interaction between Eve and Summerset is because of intense dislike on the part of these two. I simply don't believe that to be the case. I think they actually like and respect each other immensely but find it difficult to put aside their aloofness. Therefore, they play off each other with ascerbic wit and sarcasm and find this to be within their comfort zones. There is no doubt Rourke derives great amusement from this repartee.

As for Ms. Roberts, her writing knows no parallel. This series is her best, in my opinion.

I have followed all of JD Robb's books and this is one of her best. You ended up laughing, cheering and crying all on the same page.

Eve reflects on the similarities between herself and a 9 year old, the sole survivor of a military style execution of the little girl's entire family. All of the principal players are there from the series, but this one draws you in like none of the previous books have done.

The mystery is definitely better written, as it keeps you guessing and asking why, through almost the entire book. Roarke is enough to make my husband jealous, and me sighing with wishful dreams.

This is one for the devote fans, as JD Robb (Nora Roberts) brings up other characters and other book plots into the story line. Enjoy!!!

"Survivor In Death" is the 23rd book in the "In Death" series by Nora Roberts/J D Robb, and boy can she churn out books at a cracking pace. However, her books never feel really rushed or thin, she is somehow able to make them full and interesting works.

However, I think the Eve Dallas and Roarke series is getting past its useful life. I know lots of you reading this review will disagree (and thus award me an `unhelpful vote', even if my review is actually helpful!), but I do feel that the characters that we know and love (in most cases) have been pretty thoroughly explored. This instalment looked further into Eve's concept of childhood - she ends up looking after little Nixie Swisher after her entire family are murdered in their beds. However Eve pretty much instantly hands Nixie over to Summerset, Dr Mira, Baxter and Trueheart, anyone she can find really as she discovers there are too many echoes of Eve's awful childhood in this child, despite her upbringing being completely different, and it's almost too much for her.

Anyway, Eve and Roarke carry on in much the same vein as always - Eve being obsessively focused on her job (Roarke has to be satisfied with the crumbs of attention she gives him - usually when she wants to borrow a private jet or his special computer skills or something), Roarke being handsome and rich and good at computers... and both of them continually referring to their difficult pasts and trying to make a new future. Yes, it's all worthwhile stuff but getting rather repetitive. And I found in this instalment that I didn't much like Eve any more - she seems so massively self-absorbed and is pretty dismissive of a very distraught child who merely wants to spend some time with her. And I continually wonder what it is Roarke sees in her as she gives him so little back (apart from random platitutes like "you centre me") and he is so generous and giving with her.

I digress. The story is about the murder of the Swisher family (apart from Nixie) and then the murder of the Social Worker who may have known where Nixie was placed following the murders (which she didn't, fortunately). Eve and Peabody do a lot of checking and background searches into the lives of the Swishers and discover some other murders previously that are linked which gives them their first clue in working out who killed the Swishers. They are working under the assumption that Nixie's life is still in danger so they're working flat out to find the perpetrators.

The notable thing about the baddies in this book is that pretty much every hunch that Dallas/Peabody have bears fruit and leads them to the correct information - in fact, rather unbelievably so. No chasing off down blind alleys in this book, Eve seems to have a magical ability to make leaps of imagination which are correct. Wow. The action is never slow in this book, the banter between the police works well, it's just I feel like I've read it all before in this series and there was nothing new here. Also, despite the perpetrators being incredibly good with gadgetry and information gathering they miss a rather obvious opportunity to finish off Nixie (in my mind) which I presumed would be part of the denouement in the novel - they didn't seem to work out where she was stashed which I thought was fairly obvious. I suppose a few unexpected things like that were good (along with Nixie's future plans which were not what I thought they would be when halfway through the book) but most of the rest of the book is pretty much what you'd expect.

An honourable mention goes to the world that J D Robb has created. Lots of futuristic books have a rather Utopian view of society - I think J D Robb has probably got it right, that in the future human nature is just the same (i.e. you are just as likely to come across hate, drugs, murder, crime etc) and it's just the tools needed to prevent and detect it that are different in futuristic police work. I loved the series at the beginning as it had such a fresh view - that freshness is gone now but it's still an excellent piece of world-building. Unfortunately for me this instalment didn't have enough new about it and the characters seemed to be becoming rather fixed and repetitive in their natures. This book is probably one for the die-hard fans rather than a new reader to the series.

I bought this book the day it was released and read it in 1 night.The first chapter really hooks the reader. What Nixie went through is written so well. I do have a few complains though. First, another reviewer commented that Eve was a little abrasive with Nixie. That is true. I thought Eve should have been a little more compassionate with the child. Also, the flashbacks that Eve had, I believed, was a bit overdone. I believe this because there wasn't much comparsion between what happened to Eve as a child and what happened to Nixie. Second, I was expecting that Eve would have a little more interaction with the little girl. There aren't that many scenes where Eve is forced to be with Nixie. Eve just pawns her off to Summerset and only sees her for an occasional meal. I would have liked Eve to be forced in the company of Nixie a little more. I really was happy when Roake made it clear that he wanted to have children someday with Eve. Even though I have several small complains about this book, it is a good book. Namely because it is a J.D. Robb book and it can't be bad. I also liked how the 2 killers had connections to the villians in a earlier book. I thought that was a nice twist.

"Survivor In Death" is the 23rd book in the "In Death" series by Nora Roberts/J D Robb, and boy can she churn out books at a cracking pace. However, her books never feel really rushed or thin, she is somehow able to make them full and interesting works.

However, I think the Eve Dallas and Roarke series is getting past its useful life. I know lots of you reading this review will disagree (and thus award me an `unhelpful vote', even if my review is actually helpful!), but I do feel that the characters that we know and love (in most cases) have been pretty thoroughly explored. This instalment looked further into Eve's concept of childhood - she ends up looking after little Nixie Swisher after her entire family are murdered in their beds. However Eve pretty much instantly hands Nixie over to Summerset, Dr Mira, Baxter and Trueheart, anyone she can find really as she discovers there are too many echoes of Eve's awful childhood in this child, despite her upbringing being completely different, and it's almost too much for her.

Anyway, Eve and Roarke carry on in much the same vein as always - Eve being obsessively focused on her job (Roarke has to be satisfied with the crumbs of attention she gives him - usually when she wants to borrow a private jet or his special computer skills or something), Roarke being handsome and rich and good at computers... and both of them continually referring to their difficult pasts and trying to make a new future. Yes, it's all worthwhile stuff but getting rather repetitive. And I found in this instalment that I didn't much like Eve any more - she seems so massively self-absorbed and is pretty dismissive of a very distraught child who merely wants to spend some time with her. And I continually wonder what it is Roarke sees in her as she gives him so little back (apart from random platitutes like "you centre me") and he is so generous and giving with her.

I digress. The story is about the murder of the Swisher family (apart from Nixie) and then the murder of the Social Worker who may have known where Nixie was placed following the murders (which she didn't, fortunately). Eve and Peabody do a lot of checking and background searches into the lives of the Swishers and discover some other murders previously that are linked which gives them their first clue in working out who killed the Swishers. They are working under the assumption that Nixie's life is still in danger so they're working flat out to find the perpetrators.

The notable thing about the baddies in this book is that pretty much every hunch that Dallas/Peabody have bears fruit and leads them to the correct information - in fact, rather unbelievably so. No chasing off down blind alleys in this book, Eve seems to have a magical ability to make leaps of imagination which are correct. Wow. The action is never slow in this book, the banter between the police works well, it's just I feel like I've read it all before in this series and there was nothing new here. Also, despite the perpetrators being incredibly good with gadgetry and information gathering they miss a rather obvious opportunity to finish off Nixie (in my mind) which I presumed would be part of the denouement in the novel - they didn't seem to work out where she was stashed which I thought was fairly obvious. I suppose a few unexpected things like that were good (along with Nixie's future plans which were not what I thought they would be when halfway through the book) but most of the rest of the book is pretty much what you'd expect.

An honourable mention goes to the world that J D Robb has created. Lots of futuristic books have a rather Utopian view of society - I think J D Robb has probably got it right, that in the future human nature is just the same (i.e. you are just as likely to come across hate, drugs, murder, crime etc) and it's just the tools needed to prevent and detect it that are different in futuristic police work. I loved the series at the beginning as it had such a fresh view - that freshness is gone now but it's still an excellent piece of world-building. Unfortunately for me this instalment didn't have enough new about it and the characters seemed to be becoming rather fixed and repetitive in their natures. This book is probably one for the die-hard fans rather than a new reader to the series.

Like many others new books in the "in death" series are a must buy for me. However in this story, all the little irritants of the past are starting to converge into dissatisfaction. Eve is becoming less and less likable as the series continues. Her stubborn rudeness towards Summerset is no longer funny, because it's all one sided and often unjustified. Eve should definitely have developed some respect, if not a bit of affection, for him by now. Her interactions with the child in the story were unappealing at best and down right cruel at their worst. I think Robb may have wanted to emphasize the fact that the series couldn't work if Eve were to become a mother (as some fans have requested). It would be impossible for her to be the kind of cop she is AND be a good mother as well. However, I don't believe Eve needed to be so cold towards Nixie to illustrate the point. And, I'm sorry, but unless Nixies suffered from the Stockholm Syndrome, there was no reason whatsoever for her to feel any particular affection towards Eve or Roark. Creating an attachment to Peabody would've been more realistic.

The mystery was pretty good, but I find that the relationships are getting formulaic. Recently between Eve and Roark, you can count on: one raunchy love scene, one tender one, one stupid fight, and one reluctant admission of vulnerability. Mavis/Mira show up to cheer up some poor soul, because Eve can't be bothered to make the effort.

So, if you must buy, buy in paperback. No J. D. Robb book is bad hence the 3 stars, but this is not her best.

I have read every book in this series at least twice. (Some three times or more). I started collecting the books as they showed up in Walmart then I got hooked on the series. I have every book, even the novellas. Anytime you have a series, it allows you to get to know the characters better with each book. As many times as I've read them, I always find something new and I am never bored.

Book #23 in the In Death Series.
Another great book. This book had the potential to be the best in the series, however, Eve's ever increasing sensitivity issues ruined it's perfection for me.
As the Swisher family is brutally murdered in their sleep, their is a lone survivor and witness, their young daughter Nixie.
In the beginning Eve embraces the child reluctantly when she finds her in the home hiding. You feel Eve can relate to her terror. Then when Eve brings the child into her home to protect her, she does everything she can to alienate the kid. COME ON! I thought Eve was growing and then she takes a giant leap back. It was just a little to over the top for me. Too much lack of compassion. Thank goodness for Roarke and Sommerset. The mystery is top notch, and Peabody is back on the job.
I just wish Eve would take some sensitivity classes. Other than that another excellent book.

As usual J.D. Robb has turned out a very well edited and interesting story. What I found distracting was that the villains where too shadowy that they didn't appear all that much in the story. Eve Dallas was always reacting to what she found they had done. The villains should have been much more central to the story.

I did however greatly enjoy little Nixie and found her adorable and Eve and Roarke's interaction with her was equally amusing.

Even though Eve is her abrasive self I think there where hints of personal growth in the story. The author's vision of Roarke was skilled as always. But I do think that Eve came off looking a little small in the grand scheme of things. While I can understand Eve maintaining her "public" hardass face, I see very little growth at home. She is still almost as difficult as when they first met and married. I look forward to Robb pushing this side of Eve Dallas. On the whole the story is a enjoyable read.

So good. Can't get enough. I love how the kid effected them and how they are thinking of the future. The evolvement of the characters and the storyline keeps me coming back for more. That, and I'm in love with Roarke.

First of all, I applaud J.D. Robb for coming up with another one of her good books. However, there is something about "Survivor" that stops it from being great rather than just good. The storyline is commendable, and the characters even more so, but I found Robb's writing this time around to be rather clipped. It seemed to lack those tiny words--"the", "is", "it", and "if"--that create sentence fluidity and structural understanding. Also, as mentioned by a previous reader, I found Eve Dallas to be much colder than I would have liked, especially towards Nixie herself. I didn't expect her to smother the child, but I'm not too sure I enjoyed seeing this particular side of my favorite heroine. All in all, I did enjoy this book and so I give it four stars.

I have read all of the "In Death" books and enjoyed them all for what they are -- great fun and entertainment and suspense and surprises. This book had a particular surprise and showed some growth in Eve's character. When you figure how she and Roarke have only been married two years, which to me seems very short as I have been married 28 years, the development and understanding they are beginning to show towards each other is great. I look forward to more books and for the birth of Mavis' child which will surely impact Eve more than anything.

The emotions you will experience reading this book will be profound. You heart will be won by a 9 year old Nixie Swisher who fields life's most horrendous blows, the loss of her whole family to bloodthirsty scum.

Eve Dallas is most wonderful in this edition. As is Roarke and all the whole cast of players that we know so well. You will be hard pressed to put this book down. Nora has excelled herself. The plot, absolute, precise police procedural, plus laughing and tears will endear all of them to you. I love this author. How she does it every 6 months amazes!!!!!!

The final chapters are the most chilling, exciting of all her ....In Death novels. It was the ult!!!!! :D I am a HUGE Fan of this series.

This book ripped my guts out! It was the little girl that killed me most. The interaction between Eve and Nixie always left me in tears. There is a reason that I continue to read the Eve Dallas books and its not just for Roarke (though he ain't bad).

This is the twentieth book book of the futuristic detective series written by Nora Roberts using the pen name J.D. Robb; it is generally referred to as the In Death Series due to the fact that all twenty titles consist of only three words of which the final two are always In Death. This one is very aptly titled, since the plot revolves around the sole survivor of an horrific family slaughter which is described in detail in the prologue and opening chapter of the book. This is the first book in the series that I have read; the necessary background information is woven into the story in a way that made the book very enjoyable as a standalone read. In fact, based upon some comments of other reviewers I believe that I might have benefitted by not being exposed to some of themes regarding the lives of the recurring characters that have been dwelt on at length in previous volumes.

This is a detective story/police procedural which takes place in a still recognizable locale in the near future - the Upper West Side of New York City in the year 2059. The choice of 2059 by the author is very clever - it is just far enough in the future not to be limited by current technology but rather can use its plausible projections with the need to be limited only by some internal consistency rather than reality. In fact most the of technological advances it utilized with regard to IT systems, electronic devices and communication equipment seem quite possible, although in some other areas the advances seem in the realm of the eventually projectible rather than to be a likelihood within the next sixty years. This is especially true of advances in vehicle transportation and the degree of development of off-earth settlements, but I have no complaints since these are devices which are almost throwaway details whose effect is to add interest to the story but which are not central to the plot development.

NYC Homicide Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas arrives at a scene where the Swisher family members and their housekeeper, Inga Snood, lie murdered in their beds along with a family guest. A high tech alarm system was negated and the sophistication and violence of the murders appear military like in their efficiency and ruthlessness. Furthermore, the house is totally devoid of clues, not one shred of telltale evidence is discovered at the scene by the high tech equipment available in that era. Then Eve suddenly discovers a survivor - the Swisher's traumatized daughter, nine-year-old Nixie, is covered with blood but has escaped the killers' rampage due to a fortunate twist of fate. In fact, Nixie is an eyewitness who actually observed the murderers from her hiding place and now needs a secure place to stay whose location can be kept secret from the killers. Thus Dallas calls upon all her skill and the resources of the Police department, both to help her solve the case and to protect Nixie. This includes her partner Delia Peabody, still recovering from severe injuries suffered only three weeks earlier and perhaps returning to duty before being at full strength, and also, of course, her husband Roarke who can use his considerable resources in ways not always available to the police. Thus begins a fast moving, often tense, clever and extremely well plotted police procedural/action story. Then suddenly the conclusion comes at the reader in a blur of violence. There are even has a few hilarious asides to relieve the tension, such as the amazement of some of the urban dwellers of NYC that people actually still reside in the rural nether regions of Nebraska and Wyoming. But the police story alone would not deserve a five star rating.

What elevated this book for me were the elements which turned it into a novel chronicling an intense human drama of not only death but also emotional trama, human frailty, self-doubt and the search for justice and perhaps some answers which could provide a measure of peace and closure for NIxie even if if not complete redemption for Dallas. Dallas' discovery of Nixie immediately causes her to recall the demons of her past (with which she still struggles and which often occasion horrific nightmares with which Roarke and Dr. Charlotte Mira are still trying to help her cope). Thus, it is difficult for Dallas to deal with Nixie (both as an eyewitness and to provide her the support which she needs); Dallas' lack of understanding of children and her inabilty to interact with them distress her, as does the fact that she has to rely on Summerset, Roarke's most loyal employee and in many ways her nemesis, to help care for Nixie and keep her safe. The psychological tension is palpable, and Dallas tries to avoid it by immersing herself in the search for the killers, not only to fulfill the promise which she made to Nixie that she would find them and "put them in a ... cage" but also as the obvious way in which she can avoid dealing with the affection, contact and understanding which NIxie needs. Thus, Nixie becomes the central character, not only because it is becomes increasingly clear that her life is still at risk, but because she directly or indirectly is responsible everything Dallas does. She is wise beyond her years, not just her intelligence but in the simple emotional logic which she applies to the situation. Her confrontation with Dallas where she avoids Dallas' self-protective attempts to distance herself by simply declaring that she has figured out that Dallas is not really mean is very effective. But the most extraordinary scene occurs in the morgue when Nixie says goodbye to her family, draws Dallas in against her will, and talks about her concerns regarding that day and the fact that she alone survived. In its simplicity it is one of the most powerful and emotional scenes which I have read in popular literature, a real tear jerker. This story involves powerful human emotions exposed and rubbed raw.

In comparison to most books which I rate highly and part of a series which include several predecessors, my reaction to the conclusion of this novel was that I am much more interested in reading the undoubted sequels than the earlier works. This is both because the author did such a good job of providing the necessary background information and because this story literally cries out for a sequel which examines the aftermath of this case for Dallas and Roarke. (However, I am tempted to read NAKED IN DEATH, the first story and recently rereleased in order to see how it all began and learn how much the characters have evolved.) The major reason for my subtraction of a half star from my rating was the detailed depiction of extreme violence, not only in the scene of the initial murders but also additional ones connected to this case and some of the flashbacks involving Dallas' and Roarke's childhoods. Despite the fact that this violence was admittedly an essential element of the story and in no sense gratuitous, I still found it discomforting. I had a few other minor quibbles about some details including what I regarded as some of the improbabilities of the futuristic elements; however, none of them keep me from highly recommending this story. Finally, the quote from Milton's PARADISE LOST that Roarke utters to describe Nixie as they leave the morgue is by itself worth paying the price of the book and taking time to read it.

Tucker Andersen

No matter how many of the in death series I read or what order I read them in, I always get lost in the storyline. In this story I loved watching eve interact with the child Nixie. Even though she feels she can't deal with children she is actually very good with Nixie.

This latest contribution is by far the most thrilling, chilling, and heart-wrenching so far in the best-selling "In Death" series. Eve Dallas, along with her usual investigative team, plus a few characters from the past (including two from the inagural book) return to cope with a new mystery. This time, though, Nixie Swisher, a nine-year-old witness to her family's masacre, drives the story up a notch. Similarities in Nixie's tragic experience force Eve to cope with her own dark past. The reader cries for Nixie, for Eve, for others, continuously through the story. But the adversity Nixie and Eve face tie them to one another -- yes, Eve is forced to not only deal with a child on a regular basis, but she chooses to house one (for a bit at least) to the delight and incredible humor of readers. As usual, JD Robb presents us with a compelling and provocative story that insights tears, laughter, and mystery.

Readers who haven't yet fallen in love with Roarke will, long before finishing this book, fall hard. Nonetheless, "Survivor in Death" though raising the line by which Robb novels are measured, leave readers eagerly anticipating the release of the next in the series.

This was a good addition to the In Death series, although not quite up to her usual.

Eve goes to a murder scene and meets Nixie, a witness who's the only survivor. Eve ends up taking Nixie into protective custody at her home. It was a very touching storyline with Eve and Roarke bonding with a child and exploring and healing some of their own childhood issues.

I do agree with some of the other reviewers that the bad guys were very shadowy and the story had an abrupt ending...I felt like I wasn't sure exactly what happened and would have liked to know more.

Nine-year-old Nixie Swisher is a survivor of death. While her whole family and best friend are murder, Nixie lives. And for Lt. Eve Dallas, her husband Roarke and members of her team they want to make sure that its stays that way. Now as the bodies continue to add up, and the clues are in short supply, Eve and her team are racing against time to find the truth and protect Nixie.

This was antother great book by Ms. Robb. The character were as always great. I liked the fact Ms. Robb has shown the growth of the relationship between Eve and Roarke. "Survivor in Death" should not be missed by any fan of the "In Death" books!

It's amazing how JD Robb keeps on churning out these books and keeps the reader going. This one really does wring the emotions, with a young, traumatised child left behind after the cruel and vicious murders of her whole family and best friend. The mystery is kept going for a while with the lack of clues because of the apparent perfection of their lives. It's an engrossing thriller with a relatively good plot and worth reading if you're on a lazy holiday by the beach or you have spare time on the subway.

But nothing really changes in these books, the characters remain the same, mostly, except for a promotion for Peabody. Roarke is Mr. Perfection, the utterly charming, good looking, rich as Croesus ever-supportive husband. His perfection used to irk me, but it's toned down in this book. There are fewer gratuitous mentions of his ownership of the planet and more. The rest -- Peabody, Baxter, McNab, Feeney -- remain Eve's ever-faithful sidekicks. But Eve is rather unlikeable, and I'm surprised she has any friends left, much less faithful sidekicks. She's rude and mean and she revels in it. And her fear of children and her avoidance of them border on the unreasonable. Children are humans too and having a troubled past doesn't quite explain it, since she's obviously pulled herself out of the morass.

While it's flagged as futuristic, it's not intended to break new ground in the genre. There are token references to better computers, the lack of natural food, Auto Chefs etc. which aren't terribly imaginative.

So this book basically should be regarded as a generally enjoyable, pleasant read without much expectations with regards to characterisation. Still, many loyal readers may find the sameness comforting.

My Synopsis: How dare she?

That child should be dead! The order was for the entire family to be erased - not all but one! How on earth could a nine-year old be the undoing of a professional team?

Why was she out of bed? Children should do as they're told!

New mission: find the nine-year old and finish the mission.

In my opinion this is the best book of the In Death series. It was fast-paced, with engaging characters. I had to fight tears at one point. It was very well written. JD Robb has redeemed herself, at least for the moment.

Don't know about some of the nitpicking by other reviewers, but I enjoyed this book. I would have liked to have seen a little more of the "bad guys", they were too shadowy, literally and figuratively. The book would have been a bit more compelling had I been inside their heads more.

I am glad to see Eve more at ease in her relationships with those she cares for and who care for her. I disagree that she should "get over" the first 8 years of her life. It has made her the person that she is.

Hey, it's not world peace or a cure for cancer, but Robb has created a world full of characters that are interesting, human and imperfect. I look forward to the next installment.

Eve takes the eight year old lone-survivor of a targeted family home for protection. This creates pressure on many levels as she battles to find the assassins, deals with having a child in the house, and brings back haunting memories of her own childhood.

Another great read for this series.

There is an interesting story in here, somewhere. But I just can't get through the ersatz porn that reads like something we might have written in ninth grade. She 'ground herself into him', and 'her heart a thundering storm', and 'her hips pistoned'. OK, we get it, they are passionate about each other. That could be summed up in fewer words, with at least some attempt at style. A one star rating is one star too many for this one.

The latest installment of the "In Death" series hits the ground running and builds steadily until about 3/4ths the way through.

Then, as others on here have noted, it seems the author abruptly changed her mind about the direction of the book and quickly wrapped up the story. Of course, it is always the author's perogative to take the story where they want it to go, but I felt the change in direction was jarring at best. In addition, the story screamed for two denouements- One to resolve Nixie's immediate situation, and two- to give more insight into the villains' minds in Interview- always compelling scenes in this series. In other words, the book needed about 20 more pages.

***SPOILERS*** I felt that the author had created a very good scenario for bringing a child into Eve, Roarke and Summerset's lives without the career disruption of a pregnancy. This scenario was set up to go hand in hand with Eve coming more to terms with her childhood. For whatever reason, it was decided not to go down that road and that's too bad. I think it would have made for fascinating interactions in the books ahead.

This installment of the In Death series shows another dimension to the characters of Eve and Roarke. Seeing how they deal with a minor who is also an important witness is very revealing. It shows how they are growing as people and as a couple. Seems like Eve is getting closer to captain's bars as well. Interesting storyline which also touches on an old case [from Loyalty in Death]. Can't wait to see how the series continues.

Just finished SURVIVOR IN DEATH early this morning (1 am early). It is the last book in the IN DEATH series 16-20. Of all her books this one had me in tears and really sympathetic to Eve. Peabody and McNabb are such fun. Love Dr. Mira and the way she has really helped Eve to get to know herself.

I just read Survivor in Death! I very much enjoyed it! Eve is called upon to solve the murder of a family -- mother, father, housekeeper/nanny, brother, and by mistake, the daughter's friend (the friend was spending the night and the daughter was sneaking a late night orange fizzy when the killers came in). Eve and Roarke take in the survivor -- a nine year old girl -- to protect her. I love Eve's interaction with Nixie, and how she has to deal with seeing herself (as a child) in that child. Nixie is brave and deals with everthing in a way that Eve respects. Though even Eve herself wouldn't agree, she dealt with the child well, how she needed to be handled. I do wish they had decided to keep the child (that would have led to some interesting moments for both Eve and Roarke!) but I think the choice was good, and I'm sure we will read more about Nixie in coming books!

I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to the next one!

Pretty solid installment in the series. The idea was good, moving Roarke and Eve along the path to a kid of their own. I do think Robb overdid Eve's complete inability to relate to this child at all. I expected to see some development of Eve's character here, but she remained at the same point in her neuroses at the end of the book as she was at the beginning.

I have been a fan of this series for several years and am one of the first to purchase on the day it is released. I love the bantering between Roarke and Eve and this book had very little of it. It seems like they have been married for 25 years and not just 2. I do love the continuing saga between all the characters from past books and current although the relationship between her and Roarke seems to have fizzled and Peabody and McNab are taking that position over. I agree with the author that them having a baby will ruin the series but I felt like this book really lacked umph. Usually I am laughing a lot and sometimes even crying a lot and this was just ok. In fact when I read the synopsis of the book a couple of months ago, I wondered of the DeBlass would end up with this child also. So, perhaps that was a little predictable. Eve is definitely a brat. But we love her and expect Roarke to bring her down a little in his wonderful way. I enjoy it when she is squirming because she has upset him. I think their relationship is what has gotten the readers hooked in the first place. Its what makes the in death series not just another mystery and not just another love story.

...her whole family. Orphaned and afraid, she finds a champion in Eve Dallas. Solving the horrible murders is what Eve does, but handling an emotionally damanged child? She's out of her element. But with Roarke's help, maybe Eve can handle both!

Watching Nixie deal with her family's death made this an especially emotional book for me!

I agree with Nicholas' Mom above that the ending left me quite unfulfilled. The book was so intriguing I even missed my train stop once while reading. But there were so many open ends at the end of the book that the only certain thing was that the guys were caught. I expected Eve and Roarke to keep the child at one point, but there was no closure of the ex-wife, the sister in law, Nixie's farewell... I guess I juat wanted and expected more. It really was just the last chapter that was the let-down.

I have read every JD Robb and most Nora Roberts books and stories, and this is the first one that I would give a four. The reason is when I finished Survivor in Death I felt like I had read the abridged version. I think anyone who read Survivor as their first JD Robb did not get to know the characters as well as in all the previous Death books. At least that's what I think my reaction came from. I always end any of the JDRobb/Nora Roberts books wanting more, but not feeling like the book needed to be better developed or lacking something.

The first thing that's important to know about this book is that it is best read as part of the on-going "In Death" series. If you do choose to read it out of order, you'll likely not enjoy it very much.

If, on the other hand, you're someone who has read all the other books in the series, I think you'll enjoy Survivor. It's definitely one of the more intense and emotional installments, although not as good as Divided in Death or Portrait in Death.

The case is riveting from the start, but as in all the other books, the murder mystery pales in comparison to the emotional interaction between Eve and Roarke. This particular mystery starts very strong, but by the end, it's a bit of a mess and you'll probably be scratching your head in confusion. The first chapter hooks the reader, though, and you might find yourself in tears when you read about little Nixie's plight.

The one thing preventing me from giving this book 5 stars is the characterization of Eve. Now, I do think Eve reacts in-character to Nixie: she's brash, emotionally distant, and difficult. She also feels that she could best serve the child by finding out who killed her parents. I didn't expect or want Eve to be cuddly with Nixie or cooing over her. That wouldn't have been the Eve I know. But sometimes I think Roberts goes a bit too far with Eve's grouchy, foul moods. In several places in this novel, Eve is downright unlikeable, even cruel. She's obnoxious with Summerset in one scene where he humbles himself enough to apologize and even as Nixie clearly grows to love Eve, Eve can only express her fondness by noting that Nixie did a "dumbass" thing in risking her life.

Roberts repeatedly balances Eve's rough edges with reminders of her terrible childhood. As awful as that childhood was, I feel like the death of Nixie's parents was not the type of crime that would affect Eve any differently than it did the other characters. Roarke, Peabody, and Summerset were also deeply upset, and Roarke and Summerset in particular have experienced things in their own pasts that made them particularly pained by what occured. And yet Eve is the only one whose harsh behavior is excused because of what she went through as a child. I want Eve to be strong, and I like that she's not a typical heroine, but this book felt like a big step back in terms of Eve's growth. Her coldness to Nixie was ultimately as unbelievable as extreme warmth and fuzziness would have been. Roarke needed to confront her, and let her know that her work is important and vital, but sometimes she needs to give people like Nixie her time, not just her dedication as a cop.

The book has some great scenes, including Roarke remembering his past while spending time with Nixie, and Summerset caring for the child. In fact, I fell more in love with Roarke than ever, which made it even more frustrating that Eve was so irritating. There are also two wonderful love scenes, including one involving a flower that heightens sensation, and a long-awaited (at least by this reader) discussion between Eve and Roarke about the possibility of starting a family.

But overall, the end never fulfilled the emotional promise of the initial chapters.

Like many readers, I eagerly await the arrival of a new Dallas/Roarke story. Survivor in Death was no exception. At just under 300 pages a shorter work and one I have to say that I was overall disappointed with.

To begin, and this may be a small point, but the language felt different. There were slang terms used that are more common today, 'phat' being an example, that I felt were a jarring note. The language just felt more contemporary and less in keeping with Ms. Robb's futuristic setting. Also, the continued references to Nixie and other witnesses as 'wits' (something I don't remember from previous stories) tended to strike me as off.

Like other reviewers, I feel that the antagonists were not fleshed out all, they remained only very shallow and shadowy presences. The motive for the murders seemed pretty weak without in the absence of character development. Additionally, I think there was too much of an effort to tie past storylines or characters from past books into this one, as in the supposed links of the evildoers to Casasandra, the Doomsday group. Why didn't she just throw in the Purity group while she was at it?

As for other continuing characters, yes Feeney, Peabody, McNab, Baxter, et al. were there, but it seems that even they were given short shrift. Yes, Peabody is still recovering from injuries received in Visions in Death, but even so, I felt that none of the regular characters have advanced any in our knowledge of them or grown as characters or people. Only 1 appearance by Mavis, good heavens, what is the series coming to?

On the whole, this book felt more to me as a rent-payer, and not up to Ms. Robb's usual high standards. I did laugh a number of times and felt quite sympathetic toward Nixie and the book was an enjoyable read, but I couldn't help but feel that there was something missing, some spark that would have made the story more vital. Perhaps it was due to the shorter length, as noted before this story was under 300 pages where her previous works tend to be 330 to 350 pages.

This is one of my favorites in the series, not only due to Nora Roberts' (J.D. Robb) dramatic writing style and flair for characters, but because the storyline can either bring you to tears, horror, or laughter. The brutal, sickening murders, the 9 year old with spine, Eve's realization that she has a long way to becoming a mother, it all captivates the reader from the start. I have read all of her novels, including the last "Origin in Death" and cannot wait for the next. But I don't think Eve is to blame for the continuing discord between her and Summerset. He is just as rude to her, and she did step in front of the bullet for him, or laser scalpel to be more precise. I am interested to find out how Ms. Roberts will continue the underlying theme in the next novel of how most cases can remind Eve of her childhood.

Regarding the audio books, Susan Erickson is one of the best story readers I have ever heard. And I spend much driving time listening to Books on CD!

I've read all the 'In Death' novels and started to re read them all after waiting for 'Survivor' to be released in Australia. I'm dissapointed in the fact that Eve is getting nastier and nastier. I empathise with her character that she was abused and struggling with that knowledge and the fact that she killed her father - but for a trained cop (who you would assume would have had grief counselling with her training) handles Nixie fairly rough. Eve was softer as a cop in her first dozen or so books and she keeps getting nastier and more surly. I want to tell her to grow up and stop being such a jerk. Don't get me wrong - I love Eve and all the books. But it seems with every relevation with every book - Eve's attitude and general interaction with - let's face it 'nicer' characters (Peabody, Roarke, McNab) she's coping less and less. Her nasty attitude is leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth.

We are quickly thrown back in the world of murder with a sad beginning that is so vivid you feel as if you are actually watching a movie. Survivor in Death has all the favorite parts people enjoy from the other in Death books, and adds a few new perspectives too. The ending is AWESOME and there are some pretty nice action scenes. Seeing how Roarke and Eve handle a child is also pretty humorous at times. A great book for both faithful fans and people just looking for a good read.

Before I read this book, I read the reviews here on the store and was thoroughly confused about what to expect. Some saw it as a complex police procedural with maturing relationships and a lessening of the explicit rehash of Eve's & Roarke's traumatic childhoods. Others thought the details of the crimesolving were neglected and cast Eve as increasingly and somewhat randomly witchy.

Well, I'm going to vote with the former group:

* Eve and Roarke retain their passion, yet are depicted with an increasing amount of trust and a decreasing need for conflict which often was simply a painful stage set for a lusty truce. The characters are shown giving each other a growing amount of credit and respect; still, acerbic and affectionately humorous debates abound.

* Plot and police work were good enough for me. I mostly read murder mysteries, when I'm not reading technical manuals, but I'm not in law enforcement, so I'm a connoisseur without having insider knowledge. The books wouldn't work without some semblance of police methodology, but really, we all read these for the characters, and especially for the witty dialogue between and among these interesting characters, don't we? :)

* Contrary to the comments of some, Eve actually seemed more mellow in Survivor, as did Roarke, both without losing their edge. For those who find Eve's conversations mean, cold, etc., I recommend listening to the conversation between good friends who are also smart, articulate, and in the habit of entertaining themselves and others with verbal play. Yes, she seems like a serious witch to Summerset, who, in return, chides her annoyingly. Their relationship is a bit of a caricature (for *our* entertainment) and that's how *they* play. In this book, as in previous ones, they also make allowances and back off when someone they share is in need.

*Peabody and McNab continue to emerge as alternative and complementary versions of Eve and Roarke. Looking forward to seeing how that develops; Peabody is very much her own person and McNab is an entertaining foil.

*Finally, as a devoted mother of 2, former teacher and, on the whole, person who appreciates many of the fine reasons for reproducing and the excellent qualities of individual children - no, most definitely, Eve and Roarke do not need to be awarded offspring. As in real life, something would most definitely have to give. In real life, that can be positive, or at least not negative. But hey, this is entertainment. I don't need my heros and entertainers to reflect my own personal self. We *love* Eve and Roarke expressly because they are *not* like us, no? Let's not beat up the author for refusing to morph them into Middle America.

*Oh, and by the way, I found Eve's conversations with the surviving child constructive and honest, unlike some who read this good story.

This is a series that should be read in order. But for fans who have read the previous books, this is another fine addition to the series. I didn't feel it was quite as strong as some of the others. It didn't have the same element of humor, nor was the motive for the killings as clear. But Robb never really disappoints and this was another enjoyable, straight-through read.

As a rule I will read anything Nora Roberts writes. I loved this series at the start but I am only continuing to read this book to find out why the family was murdered in the first place. Eve needs to lighten up. YES she killed her father. Yes she was abused and still suffers nightmares over the fact. But she has been with Roarke for two years and consulted with Dr. Mira so one would think that past history does not still haunt her 24 hours a day. And why is Eve still such a witch to Sommerset? Does Eve always get to be so hard and rude because of her horrible childhood? The writing at times is so terse - Your my cop. She's mine now, etc that does not ring true and is repeatitive. And where is the romance between Eve and Roarke? I did not like it and I say - let them have a child - maybe that way Eve will soften up and the writing will lighten up.

I am new to the In Death series and on the whole, love it. I think I have read more than half of the books in the last couple of months. This one had three plot elements that were just left out there to blow in the wind. First, did I miss the explanation of why in the world three stone cold killers would return to the scene of the crime? And what happened to the killers's wives and kids? What about the elaborate trap that was being set? I got the feeling that this manuscript was "cut off" before all the of planned threads were woven through and it's a shame. I wanted the rest of the story.

I have loved this series since its inception, but now I'm finding myself bored, but I read this one to the end, just to find out who the villains were. We all know Eve had a rough childhood, but now, instead of seeing her as heroic because of all she has overcome, I think she is just selfish and self-absorbed.

Ms. Roberts confuses her readers by leading them to think that Nixie might be staying with Eve and Rourke, but then abruptly slams the door on that idea. I was also disturbed and annoyed with the way Eve speaks to Nixie. There is a lot of swearing and at one point Eve tells her to "Stay there. Stay quiet, or I'm going to beat the crap out of you."

If you must read this, borrow it from the library.

9 year old lily, witnessed the murder of her whole family. With no one place to go to Eve opened her home to the child to keep her safe and to find the assasins. As Eve get closer to finding the murderers she's put herself in grave danger.

The story is amazing and has some shocking twist, it keep you guessing who the villans are. And brings you to almost tears as this innocent girl deal with the death of her family.

I have enjoyed all of the In Death Series. Can not read them quick enough. I have to know what's going to happen next. I love how the characters have evolved. Eve and Roarke are just hot together. Hope the series doesn't end.

I've read all the JD Robb and Nora Roberts books but this book just didn't have the warmth, humor or flow that I always expect from her. Her characters seemed stilted and several times I closed the book in disgust, feeling Eve and Roarke wouldn't have said or acted the way the book protrayed. After reading the "In Death" books from the very first one, I feel like these characters are friends and they felt like strangers to me in this book. There was too much dialog (slang & curses not usually used by Eve or Roarke), not enough descriptions nor what the characters were thinking. There was almost no input from the "villians"-1 1/2 pages, very unusual for Robb since normally she puts you into the bad guys minds. Even after finishing the book I'm still not entirely certain what the motives were since we never got to know the murderers. Her secondary characters seemed very one-dimensional, none of the usual banter, quirks and smart alecky remarks we all love and expect. This book seemed written by someone other than Nora Roberts-it had a "male" feel to the writing, or at the very least someone new edited it. I'm very disappointed in this book-might be my first "In Death" not to stay on my bookcase.

The best on the in Death series. Shows real growth of charactors. Some of the most moving scenes that I have read in quite awhile. Ms Roberts can only be praised for her writing skil. A keeper like all the rest of the series.

I've read all the "In Death" books and certain recurring aspects have finally irritated me enough to rate this at only two stars. First, on the plus side, Feeney's insidious bag of nuts is missing from this book (about time). Also on the plus side, there is a very well-written, poignant passage when Summerset explains his view of heaven ("a garden") to Nixie. Roarke, as usual, is to die for, although I'm beginning to wonder what he sees in Eve. His comments that they are two of a kind (therefore attracted to each other) don't ring true anymore. Other than abusive childhoods, they are polar opposites. He grew into a positive personality; she turned into a demanding, obnoxious brat.

On the minus side: once again we are subjected to Eve's nightmares, more than one in this book since the presence of a child serves to allow Robb to waste endless pages with repeated nightmares. Truth is, thousands (including Roarke) have endured horrific childhoods and were able to move on. Maybe Eve should, too.

Once again, every secondary character in the book -- Roarke, Peabody, Nadine, Mira, McNabb, Baxter, Whitney, Feeney, Webster, even Summerset -- each get at least one shot at telling Eve endlessly how wonderful she is, no one is as dedicated, etc., etc. Truth is after more than 20 books, Eve has yet to exhibit a single trait or action that would justify the love and respect these people shower on her with their constant ego-stroking. Although it's made clear in almost all the books that Eve "speaks for dead", etc., it seems more to me like she's on the ultimate power trip. She carries multiple weapons, verbally, physically and emotionally abuses nearly everyone she has contact with and does so with impunity. What's more powerful than that?

Her bickering with Summerset was humorous in the first few books. By now, I'm wondering what on earth she has against the guy? He does his job, takes care of her, picks up after her and most importantly, saved Roarke's life. Yet her biggest thrill of the day is being nasty to Summerset. Likewise, her lack of personal grooming was humorous for a while. But by now she should have grown enough to be able to comb her hair, get a real haircut and stop dressing like a rag picker.

I also agree with the reviewer who mentioned how "clipped" much of the dialogue is. Robb dropped so many pronouns that at times the meaning of the sentence wasn't immediately clear. Likewise, she dropped so many dialogue tag lines that in scenes when there were more than two people talking it was irritating to keep track of who was talking.

There were too many victims and too many secondary characters associated with the victims. Too many names to keep straight. The villians were so poorly developed I was left wondering if someone would actually kill that many people for the reason given in the book.

I seldom buy hardcover mysteries, I read too many of them. But I do buy J. D. Robb in hardcover, and typically think it's worth the price. But not this time. The complexity of plot that we've gotten used to is very much missing from this book. Eve is wooden and ugly and ice cold. The other characters such as Roarke and Peabody are absolutely predictable and boring. We have to endure the dream about Eve's father once again. I hesitate to rail on, because I've gotten so much enjoyment from Robb's other books, and surely everyone's entitled to a dud. So I'll just say if you're a J. D. Robb fan, I know you have to read this book. Just save yourself some money and wait until it comes out in paperback.

I just loved this one, loved the interaction with the kid. Would have liked to have seen Eva a little more warm toward her

but can understand. I was so hoping they would have kept her but that was not to be, loved it loved it. My fav in death book.

I guess I'm one of the minority who don't care for this series and set of characters. This was my first 'In Death' book and will be my last. Although nearly all of the characters were unengaging and not likeable, the heroine, Eve Dallas, was right at the top of the list: harsh, nasty, vulgar and very off-putting. And what, oh WHAT is the deal with that amazingly stupid character name Nixie Swisher??! Please!

This book still has my heart beating. I wanted to be there, be them, live there, work there, know them, love them.

J.D. Robb must write faster! Cannot wait til the next one comes out in August...better than any of her previous books which is saying alot because they are all great.

I have read all of the In Death series. I used to mark the release dates on my calendar and run to the local BAM to pick up the latest on release day. It usually takes me between 3 and 5 hours to read a book and then two or three days to re-read. With Survivor, it took me 4 days to get through it the first time and it is on the floor slowly working its way under the bed. The villians are vague until the very end, the funny, sexy dialogue between Eve and Roarke was gone, Mavis got a mention and Somerset got dissed.....again....ho hum...

The one highlight (if you can call it that ) was the budding relationship between Eve and Nixie. It seemed Eve finally had found a way to deal with her childhood by being able to change the future for a child she saw as being in similar circumstances as she was. The kid got along with Roarke who showed some positive Dad tendencies, and even Somerset who would have been given a chance to enjoy the parts of Marlena's childhood he missed when she was taken from him. Everyone seemed to get something out of their individual relationships with the child. There are even hints of the child possibly remaining as a member of the family.

This abruptly stops towards the end of the book and it seemed like Ms. Robb changed her mind and decided 'hey, not a good idea'. The next thing you know, Eve is freaking out and the main goal is to ditch the kid. Well, you can't throw her in the system because poor ole' Eve went through so much (as we've heard over and over)and it wouldn't be right to do that...oh wait...we can have previous characters ride in from Virginia to the rescue. Dump the kid with them and that's ok because it's been done before and a vague promise to visit...nice tidy wrap-up.

What, if Roarke is so wonderful, can he possibly see in a selfish, whining snot like Eve. That 'we're so alike' schtick isn't even believable anymore. Eve is obnoxious to everyone she comes near and they love her no matter what? I think the next book Ms. Robb writes I'll definitely wait for the paperback in the thrift store...if I bother at all.

Oh well, there's still Christine Feehan and Sherilyn Kenyon....

I normally devour these books in mere hours but this one took me several days. There was just a general lack of feeling by the characters that caused disinterest on my part to hurry towards the end. All of the characters seemed boring to me this go around. Nevertheless, J.D. Robb's worst writing is still better than a lot of mystery writers so I will definitely continue to read these. I may, however, wait for the next one in paperback.

After what appeared to be an interesting prologue, the next 100 pages lacked excitment; as did much of the rest of the book. Although there are some interesting events, I thought the book did not flow well. Computer searches may be the way crime is fought in the future, but I prefer more foot work in the street. I also thought there could have been less profanity. It was a bit unrealistic the way the author described the vehicles of the future as they cruise on and above the steets of New York City. To use some of Ms. Roberts (J. D. Robb's) words, I would say the this book was not the "ult".

the beginning of this book was excellent, but dont be fooled, the first few chapters are the only decent part of this book. the rest of the book is just filled with sex and the ultimate downfall is that there is no foreshadowing to the killers. what's the point of writing it if the reader cant try to figure out who the murderers were. this was one of the worst books i have ever read, i'd call it a trashy romance novel with a hint of mystery. dont waste your time reading it.