Review: Delusion in Death by J. D. Robb

Author: J. D. Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Date of Publication: September 2012

After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

In the latest installment of the "In Death" series, we find Eve Dallas trying to find a killer who uses people against themselves.  Someone is releasing a bio weapon that causes extreme rage and hallucinations in people.  The result is mass carnage.  The first scene is a bar filled with people who have turned turn on each other.  The scene is horrific.  As Eve and her team investigate, they realize they have a terrifying mess on their hands. One of the themes that runs through this book is "Any time, anywhere, any place".  How scary is that?  The book is so relevant to today with the potential of bio terrorism always around the corner.  It was a little frightening. 

As for the rest of the story, I enjoyed it.  As you know, I'm a fan of Eve and her crew.  This one was more of a straight cop story.  However, Eve and Roarke are still dealing with the events that happened in Dallas.  Eve has a long way to go to recover. Most people who have had similar  experiences would probably react n the same ways as Eve. We also learn a little more about Summerset and his background.  The usual suspects round out the story nicely.  I don't think I'll ever get enough of the humor that is included in the these books. 

As this is the 35th book, I wouldn't read it as a stand alone. At this point, there is just too much back history involved.  Number 36 comes out in February.  I can't wait!

New York to Dallas by J. D. Robb

Author: J. D. Robb

Publisher: Putnam adult

Audiobook:Brilliance Audio

Date of Publication: September 2011

The number-one New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name-and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.

When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.

The first thing that struck me about this 33rd volume is that Ms. Robb chose not to use the customary "in Death" in this title.   Once you read the book, you will understand the meaning of "New York to Dallas".  I have read the entire series and while there have been intense moments in a lot of the books, I would have to say that this one is one of the most intense and gut wrenching books in the series.  Reading the In Death books is like visiting old friends.  Eve has grown so much from the first book and I am amazed at how Ms. Robb keeps finding new ways for her to change.


I won't give away too much of the plot in this one.  Suffice it to say that there are a few twists that surprised me. There are some great laugh out loud moments and Roarke is his sweet usual self. I was engrossed from the start.  I listened to the audio book and I found myself sitting in my car in my driveway just to listen to a little bit more.  The one thing that was missing from this one is the usual cast of characters. (Well, except Roarke of course!)  We only get glimpses of them.  While I felt it hurt past books, I was OK with that in this one. Being away from them makes Eve realize how much they are home to her and how much she values them. It was necessary to the story.

Susan Ericksen narrates this volume as usual.  I will be disappointed if they ever change the narrator.  She will always be the voice of Eve Dallas to me.  

Blood and Steel (Novellette)

Author:Angela Knight
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing

Elyn Castel spent 50 years as the slave of a vampire sociopath. Now, thanks to cyborg bodyguard Jarl “Blade” Bladin, Kruz is dead. But Blade is after Elyn now, and she has to do everything she can to get away from Blade. But that’s easier said than done…

Blood and Steel is a new novellette by Angela Knight. Having never read anything else by her, I can't really compare this short story to any of her longer works. It was a very fast read since it is a novella, but I felt like I came into the middle of a movie and had to take a few minutes to orient myself before I could figure out what was going on. I really think this tale would have worked better as a longer story with more background on both characters. It had great potential, but for me it fell short. I didn't buy the relationship between Elyn and Blade, especially given Elyn's history that is really only eluded to here. Maybe if there had been more back story, I might have liked it more. The loves scenes were pretty good, but not enough to make me really like it.

I would recommend it if you are in the mood for something quick with pretty well done love scenes, pick it up.

--Kari

* note: I read a complimentary copy of Blood and Steel supplied courtesy of the publisher. I was not compensated in anyway for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

Silver Bound

By: Ella Drake

1 Star

Sheriff Guy Trident doesn't have much to do with off-worlders; he has his hands full keeping his own planet safe. But he'll do anything, go anywhere to save Jewel Quinn. She broke his heart years ago when she left to marry a Terraloft aristocrat. Now she's run away from her husband, only to fall into the clutches of slavers.

Posing as a wealthy playboy, Guy arrives at Zuthuru Station to learn he's too late: Jewel's memories have been erased. She's been tipped in silver, a process that leaves nothing behind except her body, sexually bound to pleasuring her master. Unwilling to give up hope, Guy buys her.

Jewel fights to reclaim herself, recalling a different connection to the handsome sheriff, remembering the frightened eyes of a young boy and the events that made her run. Together she and Guy search for her cure, plan her son's rescue from her ruthless ex, and test if they have any kind of future...before the past catches up to them.

Rightly or wrongly you set a romance in space I'm going to compare you to Han & Leia. If you tell me Firefly served as one of your inspirations, you have set the bar very high. And for about the first third of the book Drake lived up to it. Yes, there was a misstep in the second chapter where Silver Tipping was unnecessarily and unbelievably explained to the victim, Jewel. I was willing to let it slide with a snide aside to myself of "exposition much?"

In the beginning the characters were all set up well, I understood them. Understood the motives to their actions, but then it all fell apart. :(

Let me be clear I was ENJOYING Silver Bound up until about the half way point and then the only way I can describe it; the WTF'ckery took over.

Jewel's ex-husband HAD HER MIND WIPED AND TURNED INTO A SEXUAL SLAVE. He also had people killed. He killed someone himself with his bare hands. Guy knew all of this. Guy hid Jewel from the ex during the bare hand murder and later in the book he turns Jewel over to the ex because Jewel says "He (ex-husband) won't hurt me." I repeat W.T.F.?!

Basically I could've forgiven all the other little inconsistencies in character, the in your face exposition but every single time the ex-husband appeared on the scene Guy and Jewel turned into morons. Are you familiar with the scene in Scary Movie where Carmen Electra grabs the banana instead of the knife or gun?

Well that's what Guy and Jewel's behavior when dealing the ex reminded me of.

Admittedly I've come down like a ton of bricks on Silver Bound, and I'm not saying this to mitigate my opinion of it - but I did like enough of it that I will try another book from Ella Drake. When Silver Bound was good, it was great. But when it was bad - it was an unfunny, infuriating parody.