Often in a crime thriller the basics fetch a lot of water in the jug. Even though it is half full it let the cops take the control and score the hits rather than the assailant. Author J.D Robb in his book "Immortal in Death" let traditions continue but circumstances shift a bit. The shift is cataclysmic though. So is the author again at the top of his game?
Let's find out. First look at the title and the cover and fancy is stripped. The cover looks barred from any over enthusiastic ramifications. The title keeping up with the tradition is a typical In Death with a word exemplifying the book. The blurb is centered around Eve Dallas and her new run in with injustice and crime. A typical blurb sans any major highlights about the story.
She was one of the most sought after women in the world. A top model who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted—even another woman's man. And now she was dead, the victim of a brutal murder. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas put her life on the line to take the case when suspicion fell on her best friend, the other woman in the fatal love triangle. Beneath the facade of glamour, Eve found that the world of high fashion thrived on an all-consuming obsession with youth and fame. One that led from the runway to the dark underworld of New York City where drugs could be found to fulfill any desire—for a price..
Eve Dallas has finally settled down into a role of a lover and a cop. She is about to be in the nuptial with Roarke yet her mind suffers from the past delusions. On the other hand life is at ease as a cop. But when a chance encounter with a mad model turns into a murder she is at it again like a lifeless zombie. But this time it is more personal as her friend is prime culprit. So for once will Eve be able to choose heart over mind? Will she get ample support for it? Will Mavis come out unscathed out of all this? What is the true story behind the series of murders? Let the story roll in death.
Eve has changed a great deal since her last few encounters. She has a life and a man to look up to. She is socializing and for once she is not that strict ass cop. But then duty calls and she is back in her mold. As tough it gets for once in her life she has to stay calm and let the mystery talk to her. The crime scenes are not a talking spot, the crime a clean entity and the links too weak and time running out. She has to be couple of steps ahead in the entire fiasco. The story is demanding and it craves for attention and spares none. It cries out for each and every character and let all of them be involved in the gory mishap. The suspense piles up and the drama keeps getting better of each and everyone. It is a death dance.
The story could have been toned down when it comes to involvement of few characters. Their importance undermined by their fleeting presence. Nothing gives the pleasure when it comes to keeping the readers off trail but at times the story gets boring.
All in all it's a crime thriller with vendetta, but then it always is. There is little margin for error but then it can cost one too many. The makings of a classic thrill keeps the readers hooked till the very end. It's a chessboard with moves being countered time and again and readers being stumped and thrown off their game completely. The denser it becomes, the messier it gets. There is only one way out of it and Eve Dallas is the only bad ass one to get to the depth of it. An enthralling read.
RATING:
4 OUT OF 5