Book nineteen in J. D. Robb's In Death series is VISIONS IN DEATH. As usual, Eve must solve a heinous crime while balancing her life as a billionaire's wife. This time, the murderer hits a little too close to home, and Eve has to rush to find the killer before he attacks another person she loves.

Some of Eve's cases have been terrible but not disturbing. In VISIONS OF DEATH, the murders are awful, made worse by the fact that Eve meets with a psychic who relives the murders in detail. If Ms. Robb was writing these books today, this one would definitely have a trigger warning at the beginning.

What eases some of the trauma is watching Eve learn what it means to have friends and what it means to be a friend. Intimate dinner parties, saying yes to a friend's request for help, and sharing your most private secret - these seem like such easy things, but for Eve, they are monumental steps forward.

Susan Erickson remains one of the best narrators. In the last book, you could tell she suffered from a cold because her character voices were off. Roarke's Irish lilt wasn't quite there. Peabody's voice was lower. In VISIONS IN DEATH, she recovered from whatever was ailing her, and everyone sounds like they should.

Nineteen books in, and Eve Dallas' story keeps getting better. I love seeing her grow as much as I enjoy the reminders of how much more she needs to heal. (The scene with Mavis asking Roarke and Eve for a huge favor is particularly entertaining.) The murders in VISIONS IN DEATH are just as fascinating and disturbing as the first few. I can't wait to see what is next! ( )

Crime

Good storyline. Psychics and Sensitives are involved. Someone from the crew gets hurt. Twist in the end. ( )

Visions in Death
4 Stars

Eve and her team investigate a series of vicious murders of young women. In a strange turn of events, Eve finds herself consulting a psychic whose visions are eerily accurate. Will they be able to find the killer before he attacks again?

Despite the futuristic setting, Robb's characters and stories demonstrate that people are the same no matter the century. Whether it be hatred, jealousy and fear, or love, friendship and family, human nature does not change.

While the storylines in the series are becoming formulaic (not surprising given the number of books), Robb still manages to catch the reader off guard every once in a while. Thus, what starts off as a run-of-the-mill serial killer case (which is exciting in and of itself), has an exceptional twist at the end.

The characterization is, as always, a highlight and there are some really wonderful moments as Eve finally opens up with Peabody.

All in all, another enjoyable installment and I'm having fun working my way through the books.
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The 19th In Death concerns a killer who is beating, raping, and brutalizing young women and removing their eyes as the final insult. A psychic named Celina Sanchez comes to help with the case. She's a friend of Dr. Louis DiMatto.

The case brings back the trauma of Eve's own childhood. She tells her partner Peabody about her childhood expanding the very small pool of people who know about it.

Eve visits Dochas for the first time which also reinforces the bad dreams she has. However, it also illustrates the ways she and Roarke have dealt with their childhood traumas in contrast to the way the killer deals.

Peabody almost becomes a victim of the killer and spends some time in intensive care.

This story has Eve realizing how big her circle of friends has grown and how much she cherishes them all. There's a dinner party with Charles and Louise, McNab and Peabody, and Eve and Roarke that gives her a nice break from the intensity of the murder investigation. I also really like that Eve and Mira are getting closer with each book. ( )