Survivor In Death

Rating:
Summary: Not bad could have used some editing.
Review: As usual J.D. Robb has turned out a very well edited and interesting story. What I found distracting was that the villains where too shadowy that they didn't appear all that much in the story. Eve Dallas was always reacting to what she found they had done. The villains should have been much more central to the story.

I did however greatly enjoy little Nixie and found her adorable and Eve and Roarke's interaction with her was equally amusing.

Even though Eve is her abrasive self I think there where hints of personal growth in the story. The author's vision of Roarke was skilled as always. But I do think that Eve came off looking a little small in the grand scheme of things. While I can understand Eve maintaining her "public" hardass face, I see very little growth at home. She is still almost as difficult as when they first met and married. I look forward to Robb pushing this side of Eve Dallas. On the whole the story is a enjoyable read.


Rating:
Summary: A good read!
Review: Don't know about some of the nitpicking by other reviewers, but I enjoyed this book. I would have liked to have seen a little more of the "bad guys", they were too shadowy, literally and figuratively. The book would have been a bit more compelling had I been inside their heads more.
I am glad to see Eve more at ease in her relationships with those she cares for and who care for her. I disagree that she should "get over" the first 8 years of her life. It has made her the person that she is.
Hey, it's not world peace or a cure for cancer, but Robb has created a world full of characters that are interesting, human and imperfect. I look forward to the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: One of her best!!
Review: I have followed all of JD Robb's books and this is one of her best. You ended up laughing, cheering and crying all on the same page.

Eve reflects on the similarities between herself and a 9 year old, the sole survivor of a military style execution of the little girl's entire family. All of the principal players are there from the series, but this one draws you in like none of the previous books have done.

The mystery is definitely better written, as it keeps you guessing and asking why, through almost the entire book. Roarke is enough to make my husband jealous, and me sighing with wishful dreams.

This is one for the devote fans, as JD Robb (Nora Roberts) brings up other characters and other book plots into the story line. Enjoy!!!


Rating:
Summary: A touching story
Review: I have read all of the "In Death" books and enjoyed them all for what they are -- great fun and entertainment and suspense and surprises. This book had a particular surprise and showed some growth in Eve's character. When you figure how she and Roarke have only been married two years, which to me seems very short as I have been married 28 years, the development and understanding they are beginning to show towards each other is great. I look forward to more books and for the birth of Mavis' child which will surely impact Eve more than anything.

Rating:
Summary: Yawn...
Review: I have read all of the In Death series. I used to mark the release dates on my calendar and run to the local BAM to pick up the latest on release day. It usually takes me between 3 and 5 hours to read a book and then two or three days to re-read. With Survivor, it took me 4 days to get through it the first time and it is on the floor slowly working its way under the bed. The villians are vague until the very end, the funny, sexy dialogue between Eve and Roarke was gone, Mavis got a mention and Somerset got dissed.....again....ho hum...
The one highlight (if you can call it that ) was the budding relationship between Eve and Nixie. It seemed Eve finally had found a way to deal with her childhood by being able to change the future for a child she saw as being in similar circumstances as she was. The kid got along with Roarke who showed some positive Dad tendencies, and even Somerset who would have been given a chance to enjoy the parts of Marlena's childhood he missed when she was taken from him. Everyone seemed to get something out of their individual relationships with the child. There are even hints of the child possibly remaining as a member of the family.
This abruptly stops towards the end of the book and it seemed like Ms. Robb changed her mind and decided 'hey, not a good idea'. The next thing you know, Eve is freaking out and the main goal is to ditch the kid. Well, you can't throw her in the system because poor ole' Eve went through so much (as we've heard over and over)and it wouldn't be right to do that...oh wait...we can have previous characters ride in from Virginia to the rescue. Dump the kid with them and that's ok because it's been done before and a vague promise to visit...nice tidy wrap-up.
What, if Roarke is so wonderful, can he possibly see in a selfish, whining snot like Eve. That 'we're so alike' schtick isn't even believable anymore. Eve is obnoxious to everyone she comes near and they love her no matter what? I think the next book Ms. Robb writes I'll definitely wait for the paperback in the thrift store...if I bother at all.
Oh well, there's still Christine Feehan and Sherilyn Kenyon....

Rating:
Summary: I always look forward to reading about Eve!
Review: I just read Survivor in Death! I very much enjoyed it! Eve is called upon to solve the murder of a family -- mother, father, housekeeper/nanny, brother, and by mistake, the daughter's friend (the friend was spending the night and the daughter was sneaking a late night orange fizzy when the killers came in). Eve and Roarke take in the survivor -- a nine year old girl -- to protect her. I love Eve's interaction with Nixie, and how she has to deal with seeing herself (as a child) in that child. Nixie is brave and deals with everthing in a way that Eve respects. Though even Eve herself wouldn't agree, she dealt with the child well, how she needed to be handled. I do wish they had decided to keep the child (that would have led to some interesting moments for both Eve and Roarke!) but I think the choice was good, and I'm sure we will read more about Nixie in coming books!
I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to the next one!

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad
Review: I was looking forward to this next installment of Eve Dallas' life, but I wasn't as pleased as I had hoped. It was great, but to me it seemed to be missing something. Eve still has everyone at arm's length, except for Roarke, and she is still kicking (...) and solving crimes. But with the "Survivor" being a 9 year old girl, I was hoping for a whole new dimension of Eve. Plus...I thought Mavis would finally have her baby! I am looking forward to "Origin in Death" to see what happens next and I will always be a fan of the "...In Death" series, but I hope that Dallas will come around and soften up maybe just a little....

Rating:
Summary: Eve's Endless Power Trips
Review: I've read all the "In Death" books and certain recurring aspects have finally irritated me enough to rate this at only two stars. First, on the plus side, Feeney's insidious bag of nuts is missing from this book (about time). Also on the plus side, there is a very well-written, poignant passage when Summerset explains his view of heaven ("a garden") to Nixie. Roarke, as usual, is to die for, although I'm beginning to wonder what he sees in Eve. His comments that they are two of a kind (therefore attracted to each other) don't ring true anymore. Other than abusive childhoods, they are polar opposites. He grew into a positive personality; she turned into a demanding, obnoxious brat.

On the minus side: once again we are subjected to Eve's nightmares, more than one in this book since the presence of a child serves to allow Robb to waste endless pages with repeated nightmares. Truth is, thousands (including Roarke) have endured horrific childhoods and were able to move on. Maybe Eve should, too.

Once again, every secondary character in the book -- Roarke, Peabody, Nadine, Mira, McNabb, Baxter, Whitney, Feeney, Webster, even Summerset -- each get at least one shot at telling Eve endlessly how wonderful she is, no one is as dedicated, etc., etc. Truth is after more than 20 books, Eve has yet to exhibit a single trait or action that would justify the love and respect these people shower on her with their constant ego-stroking. Although it's made clear in almost all the books that Eve "speaks for dead", etc., it seems more to me like she's on the ultimate power trip. She carries multiple weapons, verbally, physically and emotionally abuses nearly everyone she has contact with and does so with impunity. What's more powerful than that?

Her bickering with Summerset was humorous in the first few books. By now, I'm wondering what on earth she has against the guy? He does his job, takes care of her, picks up after her and most importantly, saved Roarke's life. Yet her biggest thrill of the day is being nasty to Summerset. Likewise, her lack of personal grooming was humorous for a while. But by now she should have grown enough to be able to comb her hair, get a real haircut and stop dressing like a rag picker.

I also agree with the reviewer who mentioned how "clipped" much of the dialogue is. Robb dropped so many pronouns that at times the meaning of the sentence wasn't immediately clear. Likewise, she dropped so many dialogue tag lines that in scenes when there were more than two people talking it was irritating to keep track of who was talking.

There were too many victims and too many secondary characters associated with the victims. Too many names to keep straight. The villians were so poorly developed I was left wondering if someone would actually kill that many people for the reason given in the book.






Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Read!
Review: Out of all the "In Death" books, in my opinion, this one is the best. If Nora could just write faster. I have yet to be disappointed. They just keep getting better.

Rating:
Summary: Overall good story
Review: This was a good addition to the In Death series, although not quite up to her usual.

Eve goes to a murder scene and meets Nixie, a witness who's the only survivor. Eve ends up taking Nixie into protective custody at her home. It was a very touching storyline with Eve and Roarke bonding with a child and exploring and healing some of their own childhood issues.

I do agree with some of the other reviewers that the bad guys were very shadowy and the story had an abrupt ending...I felt like I wasn't sure exactly what happened and would have liked to know more.