Delusion in Death

This was another strong entry in the long-running In Death series. By internal chronology, Eve and Roarke have only known each other for two and a half years. I have been reading these books since 1995.

This episode is more of a police procedural than has been the case in recent novels. Eve is called in to work a case where people in one of Roarke's bars went crazy and killed each other - eighty-three of them. Someone released an air-borne drug cocktail with LSD and other components that caused hallucinations and triggered violence. Eve as a huge number of suspects to sort through as she tries to decide if this is some new outbreak of terrorism or some more mundane murder plot.

Eve is also still dealing with the repercussions of her show more meeting with her biological mother and the trauma that caused in her life. While she has always had nightmares about her abusive childhood, since her return from Dallas they have become much more severe. Roarke manages to convince her to finally talk with Mira about the dreams. He uses some marital blackmail and convinces Eve to see Mira because he can't stand the pain she is in.

The case has a lot of resemblance to some terrorist attacks that happened in Europe during the Urban Wars. Sommerset shares some information that puts Eve on the right track. It was interesting to see how the relationship between Eve and Sommerset has changed over the course of thirty-five books.

Because there is the possibility of terrorism, Homeland Security gets involved in the case. This is hard for Roarke because Eve convinced him not to destroy Homeland when he found out that they knew Eve was being abused by her father and let it continue because they were watching him for other reasons. Roarke had to put aside his need for revenge at Eve's request. Luckily, Homeland has done some housecleaning of its own and sends and agent that Eve can both like and respect to work with her.

Together Eve and her team, along with Roarke's able assistance, manage to build a case against the suspect and stop him before he can complete all of his terroristic plans. After the first half, this wasn't so much a "whodunnit" as a "how can we gather the evidence to prove it" sort of mystery.

I always treasure each new opportunity to visit with Eve and Roarke and really enjoyed this episode. I can't wait for the next one to arrive. show less

Delusion in Death
5 Stars

Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team investigate one of their strangest cases when a room full of people suddenly turns violent. Friends and strangers alike attack each other in a frenzy using any weapon at hand. When the chaos lifts, 80 people are dead and several more are hospitalized. What caused it and will it happen again?

A gripping plot and excellent character development, especially for Summerset and Eve.

The case is rather straightforward but scary in its intensity and the idea that anyone, anywhere is vulnerable to an airborne toxin. The identity of the villain was a surprise as I had another suspect in mind. Kudos to Robb for the well-crafted red herrings.

The Urban Wars, its origins, reasons and details, show more has always been fascinating and readers are provided with additional information in this installment. Summerset proves to be an invaluable resource and Eve shows tremendous tact and sensitivity when dealing with the bony thorn in her side. Their interactions are always a highlight.

There is also progression in Eve's ongoing attempts to deal with the traumas of her childhood and it seems that she has attained some closure at least when it comes to the diabolical woman who bore her - she cannot be called a mother in any sense of the word.

Overall, a fantastic addition to the series, which goes from strength to strength. I have no idea how Nora Roberts manages to outdo herself over and over. She is most certainly the undisputed Queen of Romance. show less

JD Robb may well be the only author left who I begin her books as soon as I get them, even when I am not in the mood to read. The books are always quick, engaging and downright entertaining. I have laughed out loud at something in every installment. This was no exception. Delusion quickly moved into my top ten favorites of the series because it involved nearly the full cast of characters, had some more “history” of this future world, and a lovely extra plot twist at the end.

Eighty people lay dead at a local pub after attacking and killing each other for no apparent reason. A toxin, obviously, but why? Eve has to pull in just about everyone on this case because of the sheer scope – many more avenues of investigation are considered show more and explored. Robb may also be the first mystery writer I have read to manage a terrorist-type plot without it devolving into a political “thriller” or the never-ending “suspense” of when will he/she strike next. That alone deserves five stars in my mind. Also, though the format is established (murder, Eve investigates, tension-relieving sex with Roarke, aha-suspect, gotcha), sometimes Robb throws in a little more, as she does here. Not only an extra twist at the end, but also having Summerset with some input to the case and expansion on the oft-mentioned Urban Wars.

There are a couple minor glitches, as happens with long-running series. I am tired of revisiting Eve’s traumatic childhood, though Delusion may have finally provided closure on that front (I truly hope so). Also, it’s getting more than contrived that Roarke manages to be involved in every case now. The expert consultant angle has been milked to, um, death. Time to move him to the background and bring in some more family-stuff if you want to bring him to the forefront. Still, these were minor issues that didn’t ruin the book.

Overall, fans of the series will surely like this installment, and I truly enjoyed it. Highly recommended. show less

This was another strong entry in the long-running In Death series. By internal chronology, Eve and Roarke have only known each other for two and a half years. I have been reading these books since 1995.

This episode is more of a police procedural than has been the case in recent novels. Eve is called in to work a case where people in one of Roarke's bars went crazy and killed each other - eighty-three of them. Someone released an air-borne drug cocktail with LSD and other components that caused hallucinations and triggered violence. Eve as a huge number of suspects to sort through as she tries to decide if this is some new outbreak of terrorism or some more mundane murder plot.

Eve is also still dealing with the repercussions of her show more meeting with her biological mother and the trauma that caused in her life. While she has always had nightmares about her abusive childhood, since her return from Dallas they have become much more severe. Roarke manages to convince her to finally talk with Mira about the dreams. He uses some marital blackmail and convinces Eve to see Mira because he can't stand the pain she is in.

The case has a lot of resemblance to some terrorist attacks that happened in Europe during the Urban Wars. Sommerset shares some information that puts Eve on the right track. It was interesting to see how the relationship between Eve and Sommerset has changed over the course of thirty-five books.

Because there is the possibility of terrorism, Homeland Security gets involved in the case. This is hard for Roarke because Eve convinced him not to destroy Homeland when he found out that they knew Eve was being abused by her father and let it continue because they were watching him for other reasons. Roarke had to put aside his need for revenge at Eve's request. Luckily, Homeland has done some housecleaning of its own and sends and agent that Eve can both like and respect to work with her.

Together Eve and her team, along with Roarke's able assistance, manage to build a case against the suspect and stop him before he can complete all of his terroristic plans. After the first half, this wasn't so much a "whodunnit" as a "how can we gather the evidence to prove it" sort of mystery.

I always treasure each new opportunity to visit with Eve and Roarke and really enjoyed this episode. I can't wait for the next one to arrive. show less

DELUSION IN DEATH, book 35 of the In Death series, involves a unique and insidious murder method, one that may end up tainting your feelings about a night on the town after reading it. Rather than facing their chosen victims, the murderer in DELUSION IN DEATH chooses an airborne toxin that drives those exposed to it to hallucinations and violence. All because they feel other people are taking what is owed to them. It is a selfish motive, but a chilling method of seeking so-called justice. It also results in one of the largest body counts under Eve's care. Hypnotizing and yet disturbing, DELUSION IN DEATH is another strong entry in the series.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD has seen a lot of bad things, but nothing at all like this as Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb begins. The scene in the bar, On the Rocks, in Manhattan Lower West Side is a bloodbath.

Literally.

There is blood everywhere and dead bodies, scattered everywhere with some top of others, as some sort of frenzied deal went on with very few survivors. In a matter of minutes, over 80 people died as they fought hand to hand and did everything they could to kill each other. Friends turned on friends, coworkers turned on each other, and the results are a nightmare for Dallas, Detective Peabody, and others that have to go inside the destroyed place and work a massive case of savage carnage.

Of course, Roarke owns the show more place, and that means he is involved. Was this aimed at Roarke? Was it terrorism aimed at the City? Was it something else?

With Roarke involved that also means that eventually Roarke’s butler, and everything, Summerset is involved. As longtime readers know, Dallas and Summerset, are like oil and water. They don’t mix well and have a grudging tolerance of each other with Roarke as their focus. But, in this case and as has happened before a couple of times, Summerset is a huge help because he has seen quite a few things in his many years.

Summerset has had a long and checkered life including experiences during the “Urban Wars.” A period where there was incredible strife, civil unrest, and terrorism as mankind did to each other as it always does-- kill on a large scale. Summerset knows of two very similar sounding incidents during that period. One was in South Kensington, an area of London. That was followed by another event in Rome a few weeks later.

The military and the politicians covered it all up and nobody knows who or what was behind it all. She asks Summerset to reach out to his old contacts and see if anybody, all these years later, might have an idea what is going on now. While Eve Dallas wonders if somebody is trying to resurrect the old terrorist group, Red Horse, or something else is happening, it isn’t long before the federal agency, Homeland, is involved. The race is on as Dallas and others chase an elusive suspect who won’t stop with just one demonstration.

A fast moving read, Delusion in Death, unspools a gripping read. All the usual caveats apply with the head hopping and such, but those quickly fall away as the author once again pulls the reader deep into a police procedural set in the future where people still kill for all the usual reasons. The tools of cops and killers are different, but humanity does what it does.

I also still want an auto-chef, Roarke’s library, and maybe my own Summerset.

My reading copy came by way of the Libby/OverDrive App and the Dallas Public Library System.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2024 show less

Full review on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2012/09/delusion-in-death.html

What I love about this series is the ebb and flow of the continuity. Just looking at the last three books - New York to Dallas was intense, both in the case and in the emotional trauma Eve had to deal with. Then Celebrity in Death was more low-key, the case not having a lot of violence, Eve's personal life taking a back burner for once, not too many nightmares, no fights with Roarke. And then - bam! The opening scene of Delusion in Death is utter chaos, and Eve has to slog through that madness throughout the whole book. She also has to deal with her own residual trauma from her trip to Dallas, and I love the way that plays out. It shows show more how much she's grown, how she can rely on others to help her, but she still is the strong, independent Eve we love for her pigheadedness. There's a great scene between Eve and Mira, and between Eve and Peabody. And we get to see a soft side of Eve that I really didn't expect when she talks to Mavis at one point! That was a delight. But she's still snarky enough. Still love that. show less