Audible Book Review: Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb

This has warm romance to offset a creepy killer.
Portrait in Death
In Death, book 16
By: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Series: In Death, Book 16
Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 06-06-13
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Female Detective, Mystery
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
After a tip from a reporter, Eve Dallas finds the body of a young woman in a Delancey Street dumpster. Just hours before, the news station had mysteriously received a portfolio of professional portraits of the woman. The photos seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary for any pretty young woman starting a modeling career. Except that she wasn't a model. And that these photos were taken after she had been murdered. Now Dallas is on the trail of a killer who's a perfectionist and an artist. He carefully observes and records his victim's every move. And he has a mission: to own every beautiful young woman's innocence, to capture her youth and vitality - in one fateful shot....
©2003 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
This episode kicks off with Eve looking forward to peace at home as Roark’s majordomo, Summerset, is set to leave on vacation. A misstep causes a delay in that happy plan.

Eve gets a dead body tip from her reporter friend, Nadine. They stand at odds when Eve first refuses Nadine access at the crime scene and then demands that Nadine turn over any files and photos she has regarding the killing.

The photos show a young woman staged as a model – in death. Eve has no witnesses, but several suspects emerge as they pick apart the photos. She must discover an artist obsessed with capturing the innocence and vitality of his victims.

While Eve is busy investigating, Roarke learns a disturbing bit of his own history that causes him to withdraw into himself. The resulting tension and make up scenes are a strong part of this book. JD Robb (Nora Roberts) does an exquisite job of conveying Roarke’s pain, anger and withdrawal. Eve has to fight to get him to share what he has learned. Then, as he has often supported her, she must make an effort to be there when he needs her. This was a wonderfully warm romance element during the investigation of a twisted killer.

The usual great dialogue rapport is present between Eve and Roarke and with Eve’s team members, Peabody, McNab, Baxter and Feeney. There are also moments with Nadine, Summerset and Mavis. All fun and feisty. There is some bad language and of course grittiness related to murders. Still, this provides engaging characters with new mysteries in each book. I recommend the series to those who enjoy strong female detectives hunting down twisted killers.

Audible Notes: Susan Ericksen is the voice of these characters. She portrays each with a unique voice and energy suitable to their character. It is a pleasure to listen to this series which sometimes keeps me up too late. As always, this is great entertainment and narrated with skill and personality.

Source: Audible 2016 sale purchase. This qualifies for Audiobook, TBR and "P" for my Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Purity in Death: In Death, Book 15 by J.D. Robb

I enjoyed the plot and character interaction in this addition to this highly entertaining series.

Purity in Death: In Death, Book 15
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Series: In Death, Book 15
Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 05-15-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Female Detective, Mystery, Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Louie Cogburn had spent three days holed up in his apartment, staring at his computer screen. His pounding headache was unbearable - like spikes drilling into his brain. And it was getting worse. Finally, when someone knocked at his door, Louie picked up a baseball bat, opened the door, and started swinging...
The first cop on the scene fired his stunner twice and Louie died instantly. Detective Eve Dallas has taken over the investigation, but there's nothing to explain the man's sudden rage or death. The only clue is a bizarre message left on his computer screen: Absolute Purity Achieved.
And when a second man dies under nearly identical circumstances, Dallas starts racking her brain for answers and for courage to face the impossible... that this might be a computer virus able to spread from machine to man....
©2013 J. D. Robb (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Eve begins a new investigation when called to the scene of a brutal killing. The killer was violently bludgeoning his neighbors with a baseball bat. Officer Trueheart took a few hits before he shot the man to stop him. The investigation quickly reveals that the killer, Louie Cogburn, was a sleaze bag criminal who spent hours on the computer which held the last message on the screen: “Purity has been achieved.” The case expands as more computer deaths are called in with the same screen message.

Eve pulls together her core team - Peabody, McNab, Feeney, and her husband, Roarke, as a civilian consultant - and begins the hunt for the Purity terrorists. News reporter Nadine adds to the tension and psychiatrist/profiler Dr. Mira steps in to help calm things when needed and even zany Mavis has a surprise to offer.

As usual, I enjoyed the well laid out plot and the teams work to get the conspirators. There is a nice blend of human life in this story as Eve deals with injured officers and shows a bit of the warmth and caring that lies hidden but fuels her drive to be a cop for the people.

The only thing I didn’t care for in this book was it seemed to be filled with anger. It opens with frustration and annoyance enhanced by the heat of summer. There is a lot of shouting and I was thankful for Roarke stepping in at times with his cool confidence that helps to center Eve.
I recommend this highly entertaining series to mystery lovers who like a tough female cop with great sidekick characters.

Audio Notes: Susan Ericksen does her usual superb job of narrating these characters. I think the angry/heat tone was part of the story and Susan captured it in the narration… for good or bad. Her voices are filled with personality and it makes listening to the series that much more enjoyable.

This is from my Audible TBR and qualifies for Mount TBR and Audio Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Quilt by Gary Paulsen

This was lovely and had me in tears by the end.

The Quilt
Written by: Gary Paulsen
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 1 hr and 45 mins
Series: Alida
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-26-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Family, Ages 8-10
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A six-year-old boy goes to spend the summer with his grandmother, Alida, in a small Minnesota town. With the men all gone off to fight, the women are left to run the farms. There’s plenty for the boy to do - trying to help with the chores; getting to know the dog and the horses, cows, pigs, and chickens.
But when his cousin Kristina goes into labor, he can’t do a thing. Instead, the house fills with women come to help and to wait, and to work on the quilt together. This is no common, everyday quilt, but one that contains all the stories of the boy’s family. And as they wait, and work, the women share these stories with the boy.
In this spare, affecting novel, ordinary life and ordinary things take on a new meaning, and the bond between a boy and his grandmother shines through.
©2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2005 Gary Paulsen

Review:
Gary Paulsen has painful memories of his mother but some wonderful memories of his grandmother, Alida. He spent summers with Alida and one summer, as a six-year-old boy, was particularly memorable. Alida and young Gary are driven on an old, lumbering truck to cousin Kristina’s home to be with her as she is expecting. The boy learned of all the fun animals on a farm along with all the chores even a young boy can help with. But he learned something even more important about people… about the community of family.

The men are all away at war so the women are about the business of taking care of the farms. Kristina works up to the day she goes into labor. Young Gary tries to figure out what is going on but the kitchen full of women shoo him aside. And when he hears the cries of labor he runs out the door.

But Gary is blessed to be allowed to sit in the circle around the community quilt. There he learns the special history of the quilt as the ladies tell stories of their family members who are no longer there.

The story was simple in its presentation but deeply moving in emotional impact. I had never read Gary Paulsen so I did not pick this up because of the author. I thought it sounded interesting. As it started I wasn’t immediately pulled in but then I began to be interested in the historical elements. Then it moved into the emotional aspects and I was punched in the gut with the beauty of the precious memories shared. This may be written for young people but it is a gem for adults too.

Audio Notes: Susan Ericksen is a wonderful narrator and I recognized her voice immediately as the voice of JD Robb’s In Death series. I had to adjust my listening to her narration of this totally different work. I loved how she does grandmother’s Norwegian accent, adding the extra touch to the narration. I am very glad I got this on audio.

This was from my Audible TBR shelf. (I didn’t note so I don’t know if this was an Audible Daily Deal or a half price purchase.) This qualifies for 2017 Audio Book Challenge, 2017 Mount TBR and “Q” in Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Reunion in Death: In Death, Book 14, by J.D. Robb

This is another grand crime thriller for Eve, Roarke and Peabody.

Reunion in Death: In Death, Book 14
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins
Series: In Death, Book 14
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-15-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Modern Detective
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
At exactly 7:30 p.m., Walter Pettibone arrived home to over a hundred friends and family shouting, "surprise!" It was his birthday. Although he had known about the planned event for weeks, the real surprise was yet to come. At 8:45 p.m., a woman with emerald eyes and red hair handed him a glass of champagne. One sip of birthday bubbly, and he was dead.

The woman's name is Julie Dockport. No one at the party knew who she was. But Detective Eve Dallas remembers her all too well. Eve was personally responsible for her incarceration nearly ten years ago. And now, let out on good behavior, she still has nothing but bad intentions. It appears she wants to meet Dallas again - in a reunion neither will forget...
©2013 J. D. Robb (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc

Review:
NY homicide detective, Lieutenant Eve Dallas, and her successful businessman-husband, Roarke, have returned from a relaxing vacation. Initially Eve has no pressing cases so she pulls a cold case and begins to work it with her aide, Peabody. Soon a murder comes in to pull Eve's attention so she gives the cold case to Peabody as a side assignment as they begin the pursuit of the new murder.

Very quickly Eve suspects the MO of a female killer she put behind bars years before. Sure enough, the woman has been released from prison and has lined up targets, including Eve and Roarke. This sets up conflict between the strong-headed couple as they jockey for ways to protect each other and to capture the deadly enemy.

Peabody's intriguing parents arrive to make matters interesting on the home front. Eve isn't the most comfortable hostess and now she has to play nice with this unusual and sensitive couple.

Eve's chase of the murderer has Roarke accompanying her to Dallas and Italy. I laughed over the city girl's reaction to the country setting, keeping in mind the futuristic aspects that result in Eve being unfamiliar with farm smells and critters.  On the other side of the globe, Eve has to work her way through the red tape of the Italian police hoping to get to their suspect before she slips back to US where she is likely to go after Roarke.

As always, there is plenty of good action and police procedure as well as engaging dialog. There is emotional trauma as Eve faces her childhood memories in Dallas. I liked how Peabody’s parents came to appreciate her skills and career choice as she got to cut her teeth on a case of her own. There is some POV, head hopping that works with this series.

This is a reliably wonderful series with each book presenting police suspense and personal conflicts among the characters. Although the stories could be read out of order I recommend starting at the beginning so you can enjoy the development of the character relationships.

Audio Notes: Susan Ericksen once again does a stellar job of narration. She added the voice of the villain and Peabody’s parents to her already wonderful range of characters. I always enjoy the listening experience for this series.

This is from my own Audible Library, picked up last year. It does qualify for my Triple Dog Dare, my Audio Challenge and R in my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Seduction in Death: In Death, Book 13 by J. D. Robb

This is another entertaining crime investigation with two of my fav characters, Eve and Roarke.
Seduction in Death: In Death, Book 13
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
Series: In Death, Book 13
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-15-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Crime Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed - a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn't intended to kill her. But now that he has, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt or start hunting again....
©2001 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Eve Dallas knows that evil comes in all shapes and sizes. She is a detective who fights for the innocent dead. The latest victim is a young woman who had fallen onto the sidewalk from her high up apartment. Eve quickly recognizes that the death is not a suicide. The evidence shows that someone romanced her with flowers and wine. Eve correctly suspects she died from an accidental, but lethal, overdose or mix of rare date-rape drugs.

The security cameras caught images of the perpetrator, and he left a trail of fingerprints and DNA. But none of that is in the system and it appears that not even his face is real. Eve and her team are going to have to go the long route to track down the expensive shoes, clothing, flowers, wine, wig, make-up traces and, most importantly, the hard to get drugs, in an effort to tie them to the killer.

A few nights later another young woman is found murdered. This time the death is clearly not accidental - it is intentional and brutal. There is no trace evidence left at the scene of this fragile young woman. Either the killer is upping his game or there is more than one person involved.

Eve is determined, as always, to get the killer(s) before more young ladies die. She isn’t beyond using a little computer help from Roarke who is brought on board as a civilian consultant to help Eve think more like a man in this process of seduction.

The plot is detailed, a bit gritty because of the sexual/rape nature of the crimes, and has effective twists. JD Robb (Nora Roberts) does a wonderful job weaving personal character issues (this episode has the estranged romance between Peabody and McNab) in the background of the crime investigation. This story also reveals the crimes from the view of the killer(s) which adds interest. These books are always reliable entertainment and I will continue to download and listen to them as there is a long list ahead.

Audio Notes: Susan Erickson does her usual wonderful job of narrating this series. She has these characters pinned with personality and voice. I really enjoy listening to the books as I can follow them while doing mindless chores - vacuuming, folding laundry, etc. It makes for enjoyable and productive use of my time.

I purchased this with an Audible credit to continue in the series. This qualifies for my 2015 Audio Challenge.

Audible Book Review plus Giveaway: Judgment in Death by J.D.Robb

This is a gripping installment in this series.
Judgment in Death
by J.D.Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

• Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins 
• • Series: In Death, Book 11
• Format: Unabridged




Release Date:05-20-08
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Program Type: Audiobook

Publisher's Summary
In an uptown strip joint, a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon's a baseball bat. The motive's a mystery. It's a case of serious overkill that pushes Eve Dallas straight into overdrive. Her investigation uncovers a private club that's more than a hot spot. Purgatory's a last chance for atonement where everyone is judged. Where your most intimate fate depends on your most intimate sins. And where one cop's hidden secrets are about to plunge innocent souls into vice-ridden damnation.
Crack another case with Eve Dallas.
©2007 J. D. Robb; (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

Review:
Eve Dallas is called in to investigate another murder in her jurisdiction. She discovers that the murder victim is a cop who was apparently working a second job as club security. Under his body Eve finds thirty silver credit chips. The club, Purgatory, is owned by Eve’s business magnate husband, Roarke.

Eve presses into the details uncovering facts that make it look like the cop was on the take, receiving monies from a criminal boss, Max Ricker. Ricker had escaped arrest recently in circumstances that looked like police information had been leaked. As Eve pushes her investigation into which cops were involved with the failed arrest she bumps into IAB (Internal Affairs Bureau) Lieutenant Webster who unofficially warns her off the case.

Ricker was once a partner with Roarke before Roarke decided Ricker was bad business as Roarke was in the process of cleaning up all his business affairs to legitimate interests. Ricker hates Roarke and isn’t beyond using Eve to get to Roarke. As the book moves along Eve has a childhood memory that reveals a surprising connection to her own past as well. Ricker’s threats against Eve set Roarke on edge and create a tension at home between Eve and Roarke.

The plot clearly involves a killer who is angry by “betrayal”in the system and seeks his own justice. Eve is her usual determined and gutsy self in doggedly pursuing the leads. The tension between Eve and Roarke creates a good emotional interest to add to the mystery. As usual the regular characters, Peabody, Dr. Mira, Mavis and more, add great personality to the story.

I listened to this audio book every chance I got as it was so engrossing. It is one of my favorite in the series so far.

Audio Notes: I love Susan Ericksen as the narrator of this series. She never fails to surprise me at the versatile voices and emotional intensity she nails with her narration. This is a great series to listen to in audio!

I purchased this through my Audible subscription and will continue the series.

Giveaway:

I happened to pick up this Audio Cassette recently with several other In Death titles at a thrift shop.
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a used Audio Cassette - appears to be in good working condition.

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR

visit THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only for cassette audio book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) July 12, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after July 12, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.