Imitation in Death

J.D. Robb
aka Nora Roberts

9/7/2003

A new serial killer is in New York City in the year 2059. For his first murder, he wears a cape and top hat, solicits a licensed companion (prostitution is now legalized), then slits her throat. He imitates Jack the Ripper, but then adds his own twists. One of the twists is a note to Lt. Eve Dallas, Homicide Detective.

Eve, with the assistance of her aide, Peabody, quickly tracks down the exclusive paper and starts questioning the few known owners of it in the city. They realize this murderer is targeting women, which is why he chose Eve for his taunting note. They are sure the killer is a man with a hatred of women, especially of those in authority. The more they dig after the second victim is found, they discover that Eve will probably be targeted as well.

I delight in this series of mystery/speculative fiction novels. The characters are well defined. We probe further into them in each novel, yet don't lose the mystery. In Imitation in Death, I felt the mystery wasn't as well done. Eve gets into the killer's psyche and is certain she knows his identity. Yet the reasons to lead her to that conclusion are not presented as strongly as the red herring men also involved. Robb has a mystery for this novel, but the real reason for it is the development of the ongoing characters. In my opinion, it will be one of the weaker novels in the series.

This book, along with the others of the "In Death" series, is available at .

Notice: Sexual situations

Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
"Midnight in Death" Silent Night
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgment in Death
Betrayal in Death
Seduction in Death
"Interlude in Death" Out of This World
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Remember When (written w/ Nora Roberts)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
"Haunted in Death" in Bump in the Night
Creation in Death
Strangers in Death