Visions In Death is the next book in the series and was another strong addition to this series. In this book, Eve is up against a killer who is killing young women and removing their eyes. With little to go on, Eve may be on her most difficult case yet especially when she begins to work with a pyschic who seems to be having visions relating to the murders. Peabody played a more prominent role in this one which was a nice change. Plus, I just love the dynamics between her and Eve so I had a fun time reading this book. Another fast-paced mystery with a great ending that I didn't see coming whatsoever. ( )

Like the twist at the end – I did NOT see that coming! Love the ongoing development of Eve’s relationship with Peabody, so wonderful to look at such a long lived series with detailed character development. ( )

Eve tells Peabody about her childhood.

A man who was severely abused by his mother as a child begins raping and murdering women who have her hair. He then removes their eyes. A psychic-sensitive sees his murders as he commits them. Peabody is attacked. ( )

This is the 19th in the series, and not really one of my favorites. But hey--it's a long-running series. Some stories are bound to be better than others.

There's yet another serial killer on the loose in mid-21st-century NYC. And yet again, the victims' eyes are removed. Eve & co. are getting nowhere, when a psychic shows up and reluctantly offers her help, saying she'd dreamed about the murders. Eve is just as reluctant to accept that help, preferring solid police work to woo-woo stuff.

Of course there are some wonderful moments in the ongoing series story--including a dinner party given by Charles & Louise and including Eve & Roarke and Peabody & McNab. And those moments are why even though the mystery in this book isn't one of my favorites, it's still a must-read.

It's just that I'd be perfectly happy if I never read another serial killer book again. Ever. I think that's probably why I went from reading lots and lots of romantic suspense to reading hardly any--I overdosed on those darn serial killers. I guess I wouldn't mind if a serial killer were just a little different for a change. But it seems that 99% of them are killing their mothers. I blame Hitchcock.

The end did redeem the story quite a lot, but for me, it was too little, too late. I was, I hate to say, bored with the story by the time the twist came, so I wasn't as excited by it as I might otherwise have been. Whether the fault is with the story itself or simply with my disenchantment with serial killer tales I have no idea. ( )

Nora Roberts, (writing as J.D.Robb) has crafted a hard hitting, female detective series that consistently one ups itself and always finds a place at the top of the best seller charts and Visions In Death is no exception.The year is 2059 and New York City Detective, Eve Dallas is called to Central Park to investigate the murder of Elisa Maplewood. Arriving in an expensive gown and heels, Dallas seems as out of place as the horrific scene she and partner, Detective Peabody pour over. Carefully and methodically they collect anything that could possibly lead to the apprehension of a suspect. The killer had gone to great lengths and taken unnecessary risks in order to stage the scene…the victim was displayed on the rocks near the lake, her hands posed as if in prayer, with a single red ribbon around her neck. Upon closer examination, Dallas discovers the most alarming, as well as, the most telling clue, the eyes had been removed with surgical precision.

When Celina Sanchez, a licensed, registered psychic offers to help with the investigation by sharing her disturbing and surprisingly accurate visions, Dallas is less than receptive to the idea. However, after an extensive background check and some cajoling, Dallas and Peabody pay Celina a visit at her home. During their conversation, Dallas presents the psychic with the ribbon from the crime scene, to which Celina has no reaction whatsoever. When the psychic continues to question why she was unable to connect, Dallas admits it was a fake, which upsets and impresses Celina tremendously. When the actual ribbon was retrieved from an evidence bag and given to Celina, she had an immediate and severe reaction, which surprised and alarmed the two seasoned detectives. Despite following up on all leads, exhaustive searches and Celina’s visions, more bodies were discovered with the killer’s grotesque signature.

Agreeing to an interview with the press was an unusual step for Dallas, however, she had a plan and reporter Nadine Furst had the means to put it into action. If this killer was motivated by a hatred of women, if he harbored feelings of male superiority, what better way to call him out of the shadows than to have women discussing his shortcomings on television. While Dallas was right about his reaction, she miscalculated the target of his rage. She had anticipated, as the lead investigator the killer would come after her, instead her partner, Detective Peabody was viciously and mercilessly attacked.

As visions of death become shocking crime scenes, Dallas must venture inside a killer’s twisted mind to find what motivates him to do his dastardly deed. During the hunt for this psychopath, she is forced to deal with abuse issues from her childhood that she has spent a life-time trying to bury. The author takes the reader through an action-packed murder mystery, while at the same time personalizing the story through the growing bond between Dallas and husband Roarke, as well as, the relationship between Peabody and Dallas. The reader is given a glimpse into Eve’s past and the issues that haunt her, motivate her and have shaped her strong, in your face personality. The characteristics that make her such a good cop are the very same traits that force her to keep everyone at arm length distance.

The twists and turns will keep you glued to your seat, trying to figure out who is behind this latest series of murders in the city that never sleeps. An excellent audio experience that I recommend to anyone that enjoys thrillers and mysteries.

Vision In Death kept me on the edge of my seat, couldn't put it down until it was finished ( )

Read 1/2008

Visions in Death by J. D. Robb (8/10)
Futuristic Crime/Romance. More Eve and Roarke. Yay! ( )

Robb delivers another page-turning chapter in the story of Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD Homicide division, circa 2060. A believable future world, with more than its fair share of serial killers. Helped by dependable partner Peabody and megarich husband Roarke, the bad guys have no chance against her determination. In this story, a psychic sees the murders; Eve is initially sceptical but the psychic is bang on the money... ( )

In 2059 New York City, technology and humanity still fight for their place in the world, and NYPSD lieutenant Eve Dallas searches the darkest corners of Manhattan for an elusive killer with a passion for collecting souls....

The victim was found on the rocks, just above the still, dark water of the lake. She wore nothing but a red ribbon tied around her neck. Her hands were posed as if in prayer. But it is the eyes-removed with such precision, as if by the careful hand of a surgeon that have Dallas most alarmed.

Another Eve Dallas, I was a quick read that I throughly enjoyed. Same formula as always but good. ( )

FOUND AT AMAZON.COM----From Publishers Weekly
Though not as gripping as the previous installments in Robb's mid–21st-century In Death series (Remember When, etc.), this new offering showcases her many talents. New York policewoman Eve Dallas is on the trail of a serial killer who strangles his young female victims with a red ribbon and removes their eyes postmortem. Dallas and her longtime partner, Detective Peabody, pursue the criminal with wisecracking vigor and old-fashioned police work, assisted as well by Eve's handsome husband, billionaire businessman Roarke, and a beautiful psychic who volunteers to share her chilling visions of the murders. Naturally, the determined Dallas gets her man, though her toughness is shaken along the way by memories of her own childhood abuse, the murderer's vicious attack on Peabody and a surprising 11th-hour revelation. The Thomas Harrisesque mystery resolves rather simply, and the story gets less of an energy boost than usual from the romantic power play between Eve and Roarke and the edgy sci-fi detail that made the earlier books so distinctive. (In fact, the Manhattan of 2059 is oddly old-fashioned, with more homey crafts stores than the New York of 2004.) Nevertheless, the book is a sassy, smart-alecky read, possessing the warm characterizations and witty dialogue that have earned Robb/Roberts her huge and loyal readership.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. found on www.amazon.com ( )

This is one of J.D. Robb's (Nora Roberts) police procedural series set in the 2050s. It's a familiar tale: a serial rapist/killer must be stopped before he kills again. The clue-gathering and analysis is pretty well told, and the characters are believable. Robb/Roberts doesn't let the futuristic aspects get in the way of the crime story in this one; I don't know about the earlier novels in the series.

This is the first one of the series I've read, and I'd now like to go back to find the first ones. It stands alone, but it would be useful to know the backstories.

Addenda (1/25/07): I've now read half-a-dozen of the "in Death" books, and this one stands out even more. Dallas's realization of what it means to be interconnected with other people (in the hospital scene after Peabody's injury) is very well written. Her background has never given her that appreciation before, and her struggle is palpable. ( )

J.D Robb returns to form in this gripping new installment of the In Death series. For those unfamiliar to the series I would recommend that they seek out the first novel Naked In Death, because although these futuristic crime novels can be read as stand alones it's much more satisfying to see the relationships between prickly homocide cop Eve Dallas, and the secondary characters as they develop.
Visions begins with Eve called away from one of Roarke's, her billionaire husband, business functions, to deal with the grisly murder and rape of a young woman in Central Park. The interesting thing about this serial killer is that he takes his victims eyes, but the truly intriguing twist in this installment is the introduction of psychic Celina Sanchez who claims to have received visions from the killer's point of view.

There is plenty here to keep hard core In Death fans happy, and it retains all the elements one would expect; crisp plotting, bitingly funny dialogue between Dallas and her partner Peabody, and a dash of romance to go with the police work. Eve continues to work out the trauma's of her childhood, but these are presented in new and fresh ways in particular the scene where she visits Dochas a refuge center for abused women and children will give you the chills. Although Dallas always seems to be on the trail of serial killers, the killer in Visions manages to appear fresh in his perversity and the glimpses into his mind seem worryingly plausible.

Even when In Death mysteries are sub par the books are still some of the best in the genre due to skillful characterisation and Visions is no exception. Standout moments are when Dallas finally reveals her childhood demons to Peabody the scene is realistic and beautifully written and if you fail to have a lump in your throat while reading it then you have no soul!

Other key moments include a scene that threatens one of the major supporting characters. As ever Eve's reactions of horror to Peabody and McNabb's relationship are incredibly funny. Visions is unusual in that we see a little more of how the year 2059 treats the issue of clairvoyancy, something which has only been touched on in previous novels.

Visions also boasts a great plot twist, and a peek at what happens after the killer is caught. The epilogue where the crew is called out to exhume the killer's earlier victims' bodies buried is among some of the best prose Robb has written. Definitely a must buy for Robb addicts. ( )

Another Eve Dallas story where Eve finds out that having friends is a good thing while she investigates a nasty serial killer, while being fed information from a psychic. A great twist in the tail as well! ( )