Purity in Death by J.D. Robb Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.73 You Save: $4.26 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Purity in Death
Book Review: "Absolute purity achieved"
Summary: 4 Stars
It is the summer of the year 2059 in New York and people are antsy due to the extreme heat, but for Louis K. Cogburn things get a little out of control when he uses a baseball bat to kill a neighbor and beat the girlfriend of the deceased. The life of the girl is saved only because a police officer was nearby and intervened, killing the aggressor. The officer is none other than Eve Dallas' protégé Trueheart, who instead of calling dispatch after the fact, calls the Lieutenant while he is still confused by the events. Now things get tricky, and Dallas has to step lightly to make sure that it does not look like cover up and that the termination is determined to be justifiable.
Louie was a small-timer who sold illegals to kids in order to start them in the vice, but he had no history of prior violent acts. Also, there is a strange message on the screen of Louie's computer: Absolute Purity Achieved. Things get complicated when Halloway, a detective working on EDD (Electronic Detectives Division) goes berserk while examining the computer found at the scene. In his rampage he stuns McNabb and takes Captain Feeney as a hostage. It is clear, that the computer has something in it that drives people crazy and then kills them, so Eve has to find the Purity Seekers, a group of terrorist that is using technology to kill scum.
J. D. Robb chooses a controversial issue for this novel, since the killers are going after people who deserve it; the innocents who have been harmed in the process are considered collateral damage by the group of avengers. The general public is quickly divided, and there are differences of opinion, even between spouses, in particular between Eve and her husband Roarke. As usual, the author creates a good balance between the topic at hand and the personal situations of the characters. In this case we find Peabody and McNabb having to deal with the aftermath of the injury he received, creating some highly emotional situations.
Those that have been following the series - and as I did in some of my other reviews I am going to recommend that you read it in order - will find a character from the past reintroduced here. Jamie is a kid that Eve met when she was going after a satanic sect. After the kid lost his grandfather and his sister both Roarke and Eve took the role of his protectors. He is extremely skilled in electronics, and comes as a great help in the current situation. Robb has a natural ability for reintroducing characters in this fashion and get the reader to establish a rapport with them. That is one of the many reasons why this series is still going strong.
Book Review: A Disappointment
Summary: 3 Stars
"Purity in Death" is a disappointment. I've been a fan of Robert's `in Death' series for years. What I have really love about this series is that it's rich cast of supporting characters, and how the heroine, Lt. Eve Dallas seems to emotionally grow in each book. There was no growth this time, just a lot of recylcing of catch Dallas phrases.
Actually I felt as if she wrote it on a template. There were the usual Dallas ... moments, Dallas can't accept the softer feelings, Dallas fly's off the handle when confronted by conflict, etc..., but very little real interaction between she and her friends / collegues. We are TOLD (and not shown) so often that Eve Dallas feels certain these ways, with the same stock expressions, that the book it reads more like a write by the numbers than a book put out by the ever prolific, but usually engaging. Nora Roberts. Also, since this case was so focused on people who prey on children I would have expected a bit more actualization in regards to her scarred childhood.
I gave it 3 stars because the plot is engaging - and if anyone else but Nora Roberts had written it I would have given it 4, but this feels phoned in. The plot is interesting as usual but she fails to create a connection with between reader and charecter.
Book Review: A Purely Fantastic Read!
Summary: 5 Stars
Once again, Eve Dallas is standing for the dead. Some new computer virus is targeting people, and though Eve has no respect for what the victims did while they were living, she'll find who murdered them. The further down she digs, the higher up their suspects seem to go. As Eve and Roarke try to follow their leads back to the killers, Peabody and McNab draw closer. And another secondary character announce big news that makes Eve squirm.
Reading the "In Death" series is like coming home. The mystery is always engrossing, but it's watching the characters develop, watching their relationship evolve, that keeps bringing me back for more.
Book Review: A computer virus that can attach humans?
Summary: 5 Stars
Another winner!. This story has a very scary premise. In this one a group calling themselved "purity" has developed a computer virus that can acutally infect the user. It will cause the user to self destroy and if anyone gts in their way they might go with the. They are going after the scum of the earth but innocent people are also getting hurt along the way. Not that this matters to Dallas as any murder is a wrongful death to her.
McNab is wounded on this book and you have to feel for how this effects the main characters. Especially his and Peabody's relationship!
Book Review: A disappointed fan
Summary: 2 Stars
I have read all the 'in death' books and often count the days until the next one comes out but I was very disappointed in 'Purity in Death'. The playful 'here they go again' tone to the rampant sexuality of the books was completely overshadowed by the unnecessary introduction of practices that shouldn't be hinted at, much less described in detail and the vivid descriptions of crime scenes (which usually drive home the grisly nature of police work) were painted with such minute and gory detail as to be completely distracting from the story line and, frankly, nauseating! Reality may have it's place (even in fiction) but if I wanted to be scared and sickened by what I read, I'd read the daily newspaper.Because overall the series is so entertaining, I will no doubt read the next offering but if you're picking up J.D. Robb for the first time, I don't recommend you start with this one.
In fact ... unless you're an addict don't read this one at all.