Book Review-Newer Books 18

Review-Creation in Death

Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb wrote the novel Creation in Death. The Putnam Publishing Group published the book in November 2007; the novel has 352 pages.

            New York City in the future brings death in new ways for Lieutenant Eve Dallas on a regular basis. However, this time a new death shows the hand of a killer from a past cold case. Nine years ago, Eve and her mentor Feeney worked murders identical to the brunette presented here, young, very dead and showing signs of torture, now laid out in East River Park. The press dubbed this murderer, The Groom, those many years before and now, he is back.

            Many officers from nine years ago are still feeling the frustration of the killer who got away. Now Eve gathers her team, along with Feeney, to track this torturer down before another woman dies. The Groom has patterns they know about, a rhythm per se to his killing methods. Every one working this case will know every pattern and be continually searching for not only breaks in his rhythm, but also, mistakes the killer could make. As new information is discovered, Eve’s husband, Roarke, becomes embroiled in the day-to-day cop work he has often disdained. Each woman chosen has connections to Roarke; he employs the women. The nefarious plot of The Groom is unveiled through investigation and profiling by the men and women in search of this killer and his ultimate goal seems to be someone important to everyone working this crime. Roarke may not be the real target, making his contributions to the police work and the woman he loves even more significant.

            Nora Roberts has not only written many novels under her own name, but more than twenty in her pseudonym. This book continues the futuristic saga of familiar characters in yet another new twist of death. Combined in the story of mystery, drama, and danger, is the love and support of couples known to any who have read the previous books. The novel, itself, is singular enough for those who have not yet tried J.D. Robb as an author. The book has wonderful characters and moves at a satisfying pace. Creation in Death is another winner for Nora Roberts, and leaves this reader waiting for the next installment.