Delusion in Death [Hardcover]

Nora Roberts/JD Robb doesn't write a bad book, but I do wonder why she felt the need to rush this out - because that's what it felt like: rushed and shorter than most. Also, this year, she's not putting out her usual Halloween offering in the antho that comes out November-ish, so I expected a longer, more complex tale, before next February's offering, Calculated In Death.

This one in fact seemed a bit similar to another ID tale, with an hallucinogen/artificial airborne weapon, but still, I expected a great tale. I got a decent one, even though I had to go back and re-read a couple of pages when the baddie's identity was revealed, as I hadn't clocked how she'd drawn her conclusion. Yes, I am guilty of a touch of skim-reading, for the first time EVER, with an Eve Dallas tale, and I nearly missed it.

From there on, it was typical Eve - goad the suspect into giving you what you want, using mind games, but not, this time, a chance for the bad guy to thrown a punch first, so she could take him down, allegedly in self-defence. And yes, we've seen the bigging-up of the ego scenario more than once, and this time round, it was a bit tiring. However, that wasn't what made me rate this the lowest of any Eve Dallas tale I've read.

For me, the series isn't just about Eve and Roarke, but also about the myriad characters that form part of her posse that I've come to love, and in recent tales - discounting New York To Dallas, which they couldn't be in - they've all done a disappearing act. I mean, when was the last time that we interacted with Charles and Louise, or Mavis and family? What about hearing more about Morris and how he's getting on after the death of his lover? What about McNab? There were maybe 2 mentions of him, but he didn't even make an appearance. The last 2/3 books haven;t given so many of the characters page-time, just mouth-time.

I suppose that given it's book 38/39-ish, if you count the novellas in multi-author anthos (which are currently being re-released as Kindle solo edits) the series might be getting a little stale, but this one barely had any Eve and Roarke time, and when they did have some personal time, it was bland and mundane. None of the fire and passion that there is normally between them, whether they're making love or arguing over something. I do hope the next book picks up in every way, because the last 2/3 have been books I've borrowed from the library, not bought.

If you haven't already read any of the "in death" series then don't start here - you will not understand what is going on as the author doesn't introduce you to the characters or fill you in on much background. The first book in the series in Naked in Death: In Death Series: Book 1 which is the place to start. If you have already read some of the books then you will probably be OK with this one but there are quite a lot of references to New York To Dallas (In Death Series) so it is probably useful if you have read that one.

For those of us who have read (and own) the whole series this book reintroduces us to a world we already know and characters with whom we are already familiar. Many of the familiar characters are not present in the book or only get a brief appearance-in which is OK by me as I sometimes feel that some of the novels are contrived to include as many existing characters as possible. I was disappointed, however, in that (with the exception of Somerset) we don't really get to know any of the familiar set of people any better.

Familiarity is really the name of the game with this book. The plot is very similar to several which have been used before. The motive of the killer turns out to be quite commonplace and there are some recurring themes including Eve's nightmares (am I the only one getting a bit tired of these ?). Roarke gets heavily involved as usual and, as has happened before, the murderer is revealed about half way through and the rest of the book is about making it stick (although there is an unexpected twist near the end). You are not really able to guess the murderer or the twist before Eve as the story introduces information which, as the reader, you do not have. This is not a highly original book, it has some amusing moments but the story is very straightforward. This is by no means one of the best of the series and, as has happened with her recent suspense novels written as Nora Roberts, the author seems to have written to a formula and in a rush and rather shortchanged the reader who would like a return to the exciting and original books which we know she can write.

In truth this book really deserves only three stars but I have given it four because, as a fan, it is great to spend time with Eve, Peabody, Roarke, etc. The extra star is really for the enjoyment and feel-goodness I experienced in reading a new book in the series. Sometimes the familiar is nice and comforting and it is these characteristics which meant that I really enjoyed reading this book even if it was not as good or exciting as I wanted it to be (it certainly isn't dire by any means). This is very much one for the fans though. Let us hope for a return to form and a five starrer for the next installment - JD Robb cannot continue for long in publishing less exciting novels as even those of us who have followed the series from the beginning will begin to give up.

If like me you have been waiting for this new installment you may be disappointed. I found it a little laborious and even skipped pages which would normally never happen with this series. There was hardly any of the normal banter with Mavis or Nadine or indeed any of the humour. It was quite tedious and long winded in places and a little boring.