Creation in Death

In a bit of a shift of focus, book 25 in J. D. Robb's In Death series, CREATION IN DEATH, does not introduce a new killer but rather brings back one Eve went up against when she was new to the force. This serial killer escaped the NYSPD once, but Eve refuses to let it happen again. One of the more fascinating aspects of the story is not how Eve builds a case and gathers evidence against one perpetrator, but rather how she uses those officers who worked closely on the previous case. Their anger, determination, insight, and shame from that cold case prove to be significant motivators and provide Eve with more than enough men to fuel her hunt for the serial killer. I have no idea if task forces work the way Ms. Robb shows them in Eve's show more world, but it definitely makes for compelling reading. The insight into police procedure, especially on resurrected cold cases, makes CREATION IN DEATH one of the more interesting books in the series. show less

I'm a big fan of Robb's In Death series, and have read them all. This ranks as one of the top five best in the series, I think. First, Robb brought back a villain that Eve had gone up against when she was a relatively new cop. This was a great angle, because it gave readers more interaction with her mentor, Feeney, who headed the case then. Readers also got a glimpse of what it is must be like for real detectives to deal with the one that got away - how it eats at them. What could they have done better to stop him? What did they miss on that case? Eve and Feeney are both confident officers that don't suffer from self-doubt very often, but it makes sense that they should on occasion, especially in this instance. Of course Eve gets show more another crack at "the Groom" and solves it (not really a spoiler since she solves every case!), but this case was really fleshed out for the reader.

One of the best features of this novel that made it stand out was the in-depth look at a task team, and investigation details, that are sometimes skimmed over in other mysteries. Police have to put in hundreds of hours interviewing, canvassing locales, re-interviewing, examining old case files, following up what are likely spurious leads but must be followed, etc. These cops truly were in a war room. This book also gave us more of what the other cop characters we've met are doing. Trueheart, Baxter, McNab, et al are all here on the team. Each has their own assignment, and while Eve remains the focus, we see more of their nitty gritty investigation tactics. It made the story more real than before. This environment also opened the eyes of Eve's husband, Roarke. Until this point, he loved and respected Eve, but never really appreciated police as a whole. This changed his perception and I thought it was a great step forward for the character. I felt this book moved Roarke past all-powerful billionaire, to enlightened all-powerful billionaire. LOL! Though there were some funny one-liners in the story, there wasn't as much humor as in many of the books. There were no social obligations for Eve, no hates beauty treatments etc. Even Peabody was more serious. However, the Groom is a serial killer that tortures his victims - it's tough to overcome the gravitas of that and it was best that Robb didn't try. One of my favorite parts of this novel was finally seeing how important justice is to Eve, and not just getting the bad guy. She takes some action at the end of the story which is both surprising, and imminently satisfying, yet fully in keeping with her character. I won't spoil it here, but this may have been the best ending I've read in the series (if not the absolute best book).

Another cool aspect was a teasing bit of the oft-mentioned "Urban Wars." This killer isn't typical, and even Sommerset must lend some help to the investigation. Mavis makes a brief appearance, and Nadine adds a little more, but this novel really focused on the cops almost exclusively. This was also the first case that Roarke gets involved with right away and stays through to the end, rather than interspersing help here and there. It was an interesting change. It is true that the futuristic aspect of the series is diminished here. We see the AutoChef, the Pepsi tubes, and a few other "gadgets" but the atmosphere of being IN THE FUTURE is lacking. This isn't a bad thing, though. This novel focused more heavily on the actual mystery than many others in the series, and something had to step aside for it. Since readers don't want to miss out on the hotness of Roarke and Eve, this was what moved to the background. Overall, I can't recommend this series enough to both traditional romance fans, and mystery fans. Fabulous! show less

A serial killer from the past comes back to New York to engage Eve and make her his final victim in the 25th In Death novel.

The killer tortures his victims and tries to see how long each can last before they die. This time he is targeting employees of Roarke's vast holdings in NYC. But his end goal is Eve who worked with Feeney as her partner when the killer last visited New York.

This was mainly a police procedural with Roarke involved from the very beginning to the ending which lets him see what Eve does during an investigation. It also involved a large task force all trying to find the latest victim before she dies and track down the killer's past.

This was an excellent story.

I spent quite a lot of time away from Eve and the gang and this book made me so happy to be back together with the lot of them.
Great plot, dialogue was spot on, and I can't express enough how I love that Eve and Roarke's relationship didn't get stale or boring, but has the same old sweetness to it with some new twists woven in there.
Absolutely loved this new side to Eve and Feeney's relationship too. Wish I could've seen more of Peabody and McNab, but what we got was fun and cute.
Can't wait to grab the next one!

I am disappointed that Robb chooses to denigrate being a female. It is disturbing to hear from the female protagonist (Eve) that if she is ever concerned with her appearance, she requests that her husband "put her down." (p.179) So she would rather be *dead* than sound or look or be female or associated with anything feminine. For her mostly female audience, it must be disquieting, at the very least, that the author spits out this message, from the mouth of the loved protagonist, no less. The author makes sweeping, judgmental statements about femininity and what it means to be a woman. Robb lacks creativity in distinguishing Eve as focused and driven (notice, those traits are non-gender specific). Instead she uses the trite concept that show more all other females are only interested in "girly" things, that is, "frivolous" things. Therefore Robb is attempting the impossible: proving a negative, as in describing Eve as 'not' something instead of who she is. This concept makes all other females viewed as 'less than' and okay to denigrate. Except if they are victims that Eve rescues. So women are put down for being interested in "female" things, but it is certainly okay if they are the victims. The author has really mastered the mixed message about femininity and what it means to be female. show less

It is March of 2060 as Creation in Death begins, and for NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, it is movie night at the crib. In their case, a mansion in New York City, a video on a big screen, and real popcorn massively drenched with butter and salt. The movie is a mindless action one which gives her more time to contemplate how good life is these days and how she has plans for Roarke and his body once the movie is over.

She should know better.

Long before the movie is over, Commander Whitney calls and orders her to report to a scene. He gives no explanation and she does not ask because of her training and the fact that for him to do this means it is important. For fun, and to watch his wife in action, Roarke goes with show more her.

That is just as well as Roarke knowns the naked dead woman who is arranged as if she is a piece of art. The death tableau is arranged in a certain way and with a certain style. A style last seen over nine years ago when Eve Dallas was part of a task force on the hunt. After a series of gruesome torture murders, the killer went dormant. They hoped he was dead.

He was not.

Now he is back as this is no copycat. His apparently first victim of what will probably be another wave of killings is 28-year-old Sarifina York. Last time he took, tortured, and ultimately killed four women in fifteen days. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows that already his next victim has been taken and is going through hell. That victim’s only hope, as well as the next ones to follow her, is for Eve Dallas and her team to find and stop this psycho.

What follows is a complicated read. While some of the head hopping and other flaws are still present in these books, it is also clear that they are far fewer than the early books in the series. What is also increasing clear is that by repeatedly having Roarke directly or indirectly knowing the victim, it creates an easy excuse to be involved in the case. Granted, Roarke owns virtually everything, but seeing him involved so much in several books in a row, the author’s crutch becomes noticeable.

My reading copy came in digital format by way of the OverDrive/Libby app and the Dallas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023 show less

Another fine case in the Eve Dallas series. I was thinking while I was reading that, unlike some other serial mysteries with flawed heroines, Eve and Roarke both grow, change, and develop. They continue to remain compelling and interesting characters, and they do not stagnate. So many books into this series, and I'm neither bored with it or annoyed with it. I really love that about Robb's writing -- she sucks you in, and you never want to get out.