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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting first novel in an imaginative series!, Jul 3 2007
Damn! I wish I hadn't done that! "Naked in Death" is the first in JD Robb's popular Death series which is now almost two dozen novels strong ... and I loved it! My pocketbook will protest and my bookshelves will be groaning under the ever increasing load as I begin the quest to accumulate the rest of the series.
Eve Dallas is a lieutenant in the New York City Police Department. The story is set in 2058 - a future near enough to be entirely recognizable but far enough away that Robb can postulate some very interesting technological and cultural developments - guns have been banned; prostitution is legal and completely regulated; cars have an auto-pilot setting; VR simulations have advanced to a heart-stopping, palm-sweating, gut-wrenching reality that is light years beyond the technology we know of today; smoking is almost a thing of the past; police weaponry consists only of lasers and high powered stun guns with handguns firing real bullets available only in museums and private collections; and, would you believe it, recreational "hotels" for the über-wealthy are actually in continuous orbit above the earth!
The murder, on the other hand, is one we are, sadly, all too familiar with - the violent, gruesome, almost ritualistic slaying of a sex trade worker, now known by the euphemism "licenced companion", which is only the first of an intended series by a serial killer. He left behind a note ... "ONE OF SIX"! This particular licenced companion, Sharon DeBlass, just happened to be the grand-daughter of a US Senator and you might well imagine the political pressure that is being brought to bear on Dallas and NYPD to solve the case. When the investigation points in the direction of Roarke, a self-made reclusive billionaire, the heat and passion in the novel is turned up a notch as Dallas finds herself in the unenviable position of falling for a man who just might be the killer she's looking for!
I don't think I can give Robb top marks for the plot - the solution is just a little too predictable and can be seen a fair distance from the end of the novel. But "Naked in Death" certainly earns both thumbs well turned up in every other way - dialogue, characterization, setting, humour (the side plot about the husband's murder by Hetta Finestein, a lovable little gray haired old lady, is a positive hoot), imagination, novelty, creativity and more. And I have to hand it to Robb ... she writes a mean sex scene. Whew! They're footloose, they're well-timed, they're playful and they're enough to bring a little sheen of sweat up on your brow!
Highly recommended! Romance, police procedural, mystery, science fiction ... you name it, they all fit. If you like a lightweight, easy-going enjoyable read in any of those genres, you'll enjoy "Naked in Death".
Paul Weiss
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Cross-Over Novel, May 12 2004
By A Customer
I was a fan of mystery novels before I stumbled upon Roberts "Born In" romance series. Loved the romance but by the 3rd book in the trilogy, I was pretty bored with romance alone. This series is the best thing I've ever stumbled upon. While you're enthralled in the romance, you're thinking "who did it??", while you're enthralled in the mystery, you're thinking "are they going to 'do' it??" (ha ha). Not big in sci-fi, I could have done without the future, but it doesn't interfere enough for non-sci-fi fans, and actually adds a little flavor to the story.I cannot put these books down. I'm on the 3rd in the series, excited that there are about 15 more to go! At this pace, I'll probably have the whole series read by the end of next week! Die-hard mystery fans may be disappointed, as will die-hard romance fans. But if you like a little of everything, there's no better place to go!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Start to a New Series by J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts!, May 10 2004
Eve Dallas was a New York police lieutenant who was very good at her job - sometimes too good. She never told anyone how she had nightmares about all of the victims that she was too late to save and she refused to open up to the psychiatrists at the office. Her last case, where a father hacked up his young daughter into little pieces, continued to haunt her, but, before she had a chance to go in for testing, she was called to work on a priority case with political ramifications. Turns out an expensive, high-class prostitute was murdered, shot three times with an old gun. The catch was that the prostitute was the granddaughter of a US senator who wanted the killer caught and the case filed away so that he could concentrate on his political agenda. Lucky for the victim, Eve doesn't give into political pressure...Eve starts will the prostitute's clients, of which there are many, and find herself questioning Roarke, a mysterious Irish billionaire who had dinner with the victim the night before she died. Its true that Eve feels an instant physical attraction to Roarke, but she refuses to act on it - she is a professional and she doesn't get involved with suspects. Pushing her gut instincts about Roarke aside, Eve tries to be objective in her investigation, but the evidence keeps piling up against Roarke. When two more prostitutes are killed in rapid succession, Eve is under pressure to bring the killer in. With her career on the line, political pressure from the senator and her superiors, Eve cannot afford to get involved with someone like Roarke. But how can she ignore the man who makes her feel for the first time in years...? Naked in Death is the first in J.D. Robb/Nora Robert's new In Death series starring Eve Dallas as a police detective. The mystery was made fresh and new by the author's futuristic setting, where prostitution is legalized and pleasure workers are licensed professionals, guns are obsolete and food is reproduced in a machine, but still familiar and bearing many of the traits that we see in our world today. I was entertained by the author's attention to detail, such as Eve's problems with her car's heater and addiction to real coffee (which is hideously expensive). I also really liked the characters - Eve was really tough, but she had lots of weaknesses to keep her human and likeable. I am interested in learning more about her past and seeing where her relationship goes with Roarke. Roarke was also a great character with a mysterious past, which I assume will be illuminated throughout the series. He is rich, knows exactly what he wants and isn't afraid to go out and get it, but he is still insecure. The mystery was also well written and thought out with plenty of little subplots and red herrings thrown in to keep the reader guessing, however, if you are paying close attention, there are enough clues for you to figure out who killed the women. Well written, detailed with a solid plot and well-drawn characters, Naked in Death is definitely worth your time to read!
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