Apprentice in Death

One of the things that allows me to continue to enjoy Eve Dallas and the In Death series after forty-plus books is the fact that Eve is not a static character. It would be easy to do; plenty of series have main characters who remain the same until the very end. J. D. Robb never does that. Every book in the series showcases some form of growth within Eve. Sometimes it is obvious, while other books show a more nuanced development, but it is always there. Showing Eve no longer surviving but thriving despite her past and her concerns about who she is as a person, given her parentage, is the best antidote to some of the most brutal murders and callous murderers I've ever come across.

In APPRENTICE IN DEATH, there are two murderers, and Eve show more must once again wrestle with the nature versus nurture approach to childhood development. Counteracting the sickening nature of the murders and their reasons is the delight that is Bella's first birthday party. It never delves into the saccharine but remains as sweet as can be, especially as it highlights Eve's love for Bella, even if she remains firmly anti-child in her own life.

We see more growth in Eve's acceptance of Roarke's revamping of her office and the master bedroom, which is a huge deal considering she abhors change. The moments of poignant love and happiness are a welcome balm and satisfying proof that our girl Eve has come a long way indeed. show less

This 43rd Eve Dallas futuristic mystery/romance has Eve working the case of a long distance serial killer. The first three victims were picked off at a skating rink. Eve and her team try to find some connection between the three or find out which might have attracted a serial killer. A second shooting in Times Square has five victims. And, again, Eve and her team try to find connections.

Roarke helps by developing a software program that enables them to track the shots back to their origin. It is soon plain that the killer must be someone with extensive practice as a sniper. Soon Eve, Roarke, and the team know who the sniper was but now have to track them down before the next shooting happen.

Meanwhile, Eve is stressing over attending a show more birthday party for Mavis's one-year-old daughter Bella. She is also choosing the design for her new home office since she has outgrown the one Roarke first provided for her which was a copy of the office in the apartment she lived in before she met Roarke.

I really like the strong relationships in this series. Eve has moved from being a loner to a woman who is deeply loved and who deeply loves and who can expand and deepen her friendships. Despite feeling sometimes that she now has too many friends, Eve has a much richer life than before she met and married Roarke.

This book also explores the conflict between nature and nurture as Eve sees some of herself in the killer that she is tracking. She sees someone she could have been had she made different choices in her life. This also explores the variety of mentors in her life and in Roarke's and the way they helped shape the people Eve and Roarke have become.

This is a series that never gets old for me. I move each new book to the top of my reading stack and look forward greatly to the next. show less

I don’t think Dallas catching the bad guys at the end of every story will ever get old! In Death is a lot like the Law & Order of books – it endures because the format and characters are familiar, but each case has just enough “new” to keep people coming back. This was another excellent installment.

My favorite aspect of the series is watching the characters evolve. Eve and Roarke have come a long way, and that shows here. They still have fights (what married couple doesn’t), but they make sense and aren’t just for the sake of angst or forced tension. Her evolution also impacts how she views and investigates cases, which really adds to the stories.

The case here is a LDSK – long distance serial killer. A sniper. The series show more is set in the future, but often references the past. Here, Robb actually mentions the DC snipers as a past case example for LDSK! Little things like that are a delight. There’s not as much humor here, due to the horror of the killings, but there are still some lighthearted moments.

I always have a good feeling after finishing one of these mysteries, which leaves me eager for the next book. Bring on Echoes in Death! show less

Apprentice in Death is another good entry in the In Death series. This book focuses on a sniper and the damage that can be done at a distance. The first target is killed at an ice rink along with two others who are killed as cover for the real victim. Eve Dallas and her team must determine which of the three is the target and if there are going to be more victims to come. The story takes a serious turn when midway through the book, we discover who the killer is and the reasons behind the kills. Once again, we get insight into Eve's thought processes and how each case becomes personal to her in some way. My only complaint was that the last third of the book seemed a bit overblown, but the rest of the story was fast paced, interesting, show more and as always, unique in some way to make the reader want more. Overall, a really good story. How long is it going to take for Hollywood to recognize how good these stories are and find a way to put them on the screen? show less

[Apprentice in Death] by J.D. Robb
In Death series Book #43
5★'s

From The Book:
The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice-skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be. Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD but never one like this. A review of the security videos reveals that the victims were killed with a tactical laser rifle fired by a sniper, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the list of locations where the shooter could have set up seems endless, the number of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, show more professional killer. Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil.

My Thoughts:
How can J.D. Robb, (Nora Roberts) have possibly produced 43 books in this series and still kept the series fresh and exciting and the host of characters growing and developing? I don't know the answer but she has succeeded beautifully. Even the relationship between Eve and Sommerset took a turn in this one. I have to say Ms. Robb succeeded in giving us a scary moment there. There were also moments of joy and celebration as little Bella turns 2 years old and Eve gets her first view of her new, state of the art, work station. Although many of the later books can be read out of order unless you are one of those people whose head will implode...if you are just starting the series you will benefit in learning how the characters develop and mesh together by starting at book 1, [Naked in Death]. And you'll have the adventure and the joy of 42 others...a marathon reading fest! I keep forgetting just how good this series is until I have the newest one in hand. Looking forward to two new ones in 2017. show less

Finally, a book in this series that has some meat to it. It reminds me of some of why I started reading this series in the first place. The characters are emotionally more believable with even a few insights into relationships formed over the years and the "family" which Roarke and Eve have built around themselves. Eve Dallas is confronted with a LDSK, long distance serial killer, the likes which haven't been seen since the Urban Wars of the early 21st century. Random killings, or is there a pattern and purpose? 3 people are shot down at an ice skating rink by a sniper using a laser rifle. Eve and her partner Peabody have to figure the means and motive before more victims begin stacking up. Things are intense, as there are very few show more snipers skilled enough for such shooting other than those in the military or NYPSD's own tactical SWAT team. This is one of the best of this series in many years. I read it in one sitting. show less

This 43rd Eve Dallas futuristic mystery/romance has Eve working the case of a long distance serial killer. The first three victims were picked off at a skating rink. Eve and her team try to find some connection between the three or find out which might have attracted a serial killer. A second shooting in Times Square has five victims. And, again, Eve and her team try to find connections.

Roarke helps by developing a software program that enables them to track the shots back to their origin. It is soon plain that the killer must be someone with extensive practice as a sniper. Soon Eve, Roarke, and the team know who the sniper was but now have to track them down before the next shooting happen.

Meanwhile, Eve is stressing over attending a show more birthday party for Mavis's one-year-old daughter Bella. She is also choosing the design for her new home office since she has outgrown the one Roarke first provided for her which was a copy of the office in the apartment she lived in before she met Roarke.

I really like the strong relationships in this series. Eve has moved from being a loner to a woman who is deeply loved and who deeply loves and who can expand and deepen her friendships. Despite feeling sometimes that she now has too many friends, Eve has a much richer life than before she met and married Roarke.

This book also explores the conflict between nature and nurture as Eve sees some of herself in the killer that she is tracking. She sees someone she could have been had she made different choices in her life. This also explores the variety of mentors in her life and in Roarke's and the way they helped shape the people Eve and Roarke have become.

This is a series that never gets old for me. I move each new book to the top of my reading stack and look forward greatly to the next. show less