Book Review: Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb

Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Technology may be different in 2060 New York, yet the city is still a place of many cultures and great divides. But as ever, some murders receive more attention than others—especially those in which the victim is a prominent businessman, found in his Park Avenue apartment, tied to the bed—and strangled—with cords of black velvet.

It doesn't surprise Lieutenant Eve Dallas that Thomas Anders's scandalous death is a source of titillation and speculation to the public—and of humiliation to his family. But while people in the city are talking about it, those close to Anders aren't so anxious to do the same. With some help from her billionaire husband, Roarke, Eve's soon knocking on doors—or barging through them—to find answers.

But the facts don't add up. Physical evidence suggests that the victim didn't struggle. The security breach in the apartment indicates that the killer was someone known to the family, but everyone's alibi checks out. Was this a crime of passion in a kinky game gone wrong—or a meticulously planned execution? It's up to Dallas to solve a case in which strangers may be connected in unexpected, and deadly, ways.

My review

I can't say this has been one of the best books in the series because it really hasn't. The spark you expect with an In Death book wasn't there. Looking at the title and summary alone you knew that Roberts was going down the 'Strangers on a Train' route. All of that psychological mind play and expertly placed twists Roberts is so good at were no longer an element of surprise in this novel.

As soon as Eve began her investigation into the death of Thomas Anders, a prominant businessman, found by his Housekeeper with his arms and legs tied to his bed and a cord around his neck - I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Where is the second murder? How do they connect? It doesn't take you long *spoiler* to realise that Baxter and Trueheart's cold case was in fact the second or let's say first murder in this 'Strangers on a Train' storyline. But let's just take a moment to talk about Trueheart. SUCH A CUTIE PIE. I just want to see more and more of him. I loved the little awkward, bumbling routine he had to play with *spoiler* Ava *spoiler*. Played to perfection.

I don't want to get too deep in case related detail in fear of spoiling the plot but it was to an extent disturbing to see a woman sift through potential candidates to find someone to murder her husband. And, Oh boy did she find the perfect person. By perfect, we mean worst. It's never the best idea to be hard-faced bitch and want your husband dead, let's face it.

Sub plot. Sub plot. Sub plot. I absolutely loved how the relationship development between Charles and Lousie arose in this novel. I could really see where Eve was coming from - with her issues of seeing Louise date a man who got paid to have sex with other people - so to see him take that huge leap and quit his job, buy a house and propose all for the sake of bettering himself was damn good to see.

The little argument between Roarke and Eve over money was something really interesting to see and I'm glad we did. What couple hasn't argued over this particular issue once, twice or a million times before. Realism. We like it.

Ultimately, it didn't feel like there was too much at stake emotionally for the main characters - it's generally those books where the emotional stakes are set high that come out as being memorable and un-puttdownable. Conflict (especially between Roarke and Dallas) can really drive these novels like no other.

The 30 or so pages, however, totally made up for the lack of spark from the rest of the book. This was when the ball really got rolling, Dallas already on her A game. The battle of brains between Eve and *spoiler* Ava *spoiler* was intense. Who's the top bitch? We all know the answer to that one and watching Eve prove it will never get old.

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 "Becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it."

Summery:  In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all. One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs and determines your loyalties ... forever.


I have just fallen in love with this series. It has taken me ages to actually read Divergent. I even suggested it to people saying it was a good book. I tried a couple of times but I just couldn't get into it, but with the movie being made I was determined to read it and have fell in love.

It was similar to 'The Hunger Games' or 'Uglies' with the factions/districts and such. But was very different as well, and you couldn't compare the two books.
I thought that the book was well written (so kudos to Veronica) and I enjoyed the plot as well :D.

I really liked Tris (Beatrice), she isn't like your typical damsel in distress like what you get in majority of books these days. I also loved Four, and I enjoyed finding out why he is called Four as well.

I would of liked to be able to have more of an explanation about the history and how the factions and things all started out.

I thought it was pretty cool that they had to do a test to see what faction they would best belong to, but they still got to choose which one they actually wanted to go to.

 Dauntless seems like it would be the hardest to get into, jumping out of trains, off of buildings. We only hear what you have to do to get into one or two of the other factions so unsure. 

I was shocked about the ending, i didn't realise it was actually finished at first. I am so glad I've read it with the second book being out already or I may of went crazy waiting for it.

Tris has this whole internal battle of what is wrong and what is the right thing to do, she stands up for her friends but she wont stand up for herself against them. She is a character that is easy to relate to.

I would recommend this book to everyone, who is into dystopian books. 

 
Also if you want to know which faction you belong to, try this Facebook app.

Video Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

I will doing some written reviews, but for now, here is my video review of Daphne Du Maurier's classic 'Rebecca'. It's one of my favourite novels of all time so I really recommend that you give it a whirl!

- Zoe -

Book Review: Looking For Alaska by John Green

Looking For Alaska by John Green

"Francois Rabelais. He was a poet. And his last words were "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a Great Perhaps.”

If you're constantly browsing Tumblr just like me – something I'm not even a bit ashamed of – there is no way you didn't at least once stumble upon John Green. I did and frankly I've never been more grateful for anything in my life.

'Looking For Alaska' is a story about group of friends – socially awkward Miles 'Pudge' Halter, his roommate Chip 'The Colonel' Martin and mysterious Alaska Young. Three of them trying to do their best in Culver Creek Preparatory High School, filling their free time with smoking cigarettes and seeking a Great Perhaps. And while everyone seems to be doing well, some of the secrets find a way to hunt their owners in a worst way possible. Later on a tragic accident occurs and Pudge along with his friends tires to discover what really happened, not only to bring justice to the victim but to find answers to the questions that should have been answered.

I'm not going to exaggerate if I say that this book is truly magnificent. Green magically happens to capture nature of teenage relationships in a way that no one else can. Author uses his word wisely and before you know it, you're suddenly finishing the book. I like the fact that he doesn't focus entirely on character's love life, but goes dipper. Personally I like book that make you not only mindlessly read but also think. Before finishing this book I came up with at least dozen of endings that could possibly happen and Green still found a way to surprise me with the lack of it. There's something powerful in having a say on how somebody's story will end and Green gives you that power. If you ask me, I find it quite remarkable.

John Green books are definitely that kind of books that you come back to after years of letting dust cover the pages. You enjoy them and every time they leave you craving more. 'Looking For Alaska' for sure will stay in my memory for a long time – if not forever. 

Book Review: Creation In Death by J.D. Robb

Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eve has seen this crime scene before: the artfully arranged body of a young brunette, arms spread, palms up, body marked by the signs of prolonged and painful torture. Carved into her torso is the time it took her to die - in hours, minutes, and seconds. And on the third finger of her left hand has been placed a silver ring. Eve is catapulted back to a case nine years earlier, when a man whom the media tagged 'The Groom' put the city on edge with a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days.

Eve and her partner Feeney, her friend and mentor, couldn't stop him before he disappeared, only to resurface in other parts of the world to kill and kill again. But now The Groom seems to have come back to where he started. When it turns out that The Groom's most recent victim was employed by Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him onto the case. A move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made it personal. The corpse was washed in products from a store Roarke owns and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures. With the Groom's monstrous return, Eve is determined to finish him once and for all. Familiar with his methods, she knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. But his sights are set on the biggest challenge of his illustrious career - an abduction that will test his skills and that promises to give him satisfaction as he's never known.

Time is running out on another woman's life and for Eve.

My review

I absolutely loved this book and it instantly become another one of my favourites. Creation in Death is definitely not the best In Death book in the series so far but is defintely hovering around that top spot.

The novel explores Eve and her team hunting down a serial killer whom the media dubbed 'The Groom' - 9 years ago. The killer seems to have resurfaced to finish what he started - painfully torturing women for prolonged periods of time, carving into their torsos the time it took them to die. On the third finger of their left hand is placed a silver ring. This time, however, the killings become a whole hell of a lot more personal with all the victims being employees of Roarke.

'The Groom' case was an extremely good one for bringing out some variety with how characters react and interact with each other - most particularly the strain it caused between Eve and Feeney. I enjoyed the fact that Roarke got a more hands on approach with this case - being involved every step of the way - and got more of a feel of how cops operate during high-profile/intense cases.

The fast pace of the narrative was a very nice additition, helping reflect the speed the killer ets through his victims as well as highlighting the non-stop buzz within the team as the tried to hunt him down. It would have been extremely interesting to see if Robb was abale to incorporate more twists but the plot worked regardless.

I absolutely loved 'The Groom's' last victim, Ariel. She was brilliant in trying to prolong her life and her interaction/connection with Eve was something that made me smile. I'd love to see her in a future novel even if only mentioned in passing.

In the future of the series, I hope we get to see Eve in a little bit more danger, and by that I mean, where Eve is put into a position where Roarke, Feeney, Peadbody etc have to work hard to get her back. Physically make a huge effort. An effort that may last a few days where we get to see the strain it places on everyone involved. I don't want the team to already be legging it towards the place Eve is being help minutes after she's been captured. Other than that, this was a well written book, with another cracking case and more brilliant characterisation.

Book Review: The Marriage of True Minds by Stephen Evans

The Marriage of True Minds by Stephen Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story of a crossed love that is star to every wandering bark.

Together as husband and wife, Nick Ward and Lena Grant ran a successful boutique law firm in Minneapolis, vanquishing all their legal foes side by side. When Nick’s charmingly erratic behavior finally became too much for Lena, the marriage and the partnership ended. But—like C. K. Dexter Haven and Tracy Lord—it seems that Lena and Nick just can’t quite separate.

Lena works out fiercely, keeps her dates with the boring and conventional Preston Winter, and daily battles on against corporate greed. But Nick’s not doing so well.

Still brilliant and devilishly clever, he is now also almost crazy. He is prone to fantasy and the big gesture, and he engages frantically in guerrilla activism for the sake of animals wild and domestic. Nick doesn’t make plans; he has visions. And eventually his antics put him back into Lena’s hands. While she tries to navigate the legal waters into which he’s thrown them, Nick veers out of her wake and into the midst of a strange set of companions, including Oscar, his psychiatric attendant and Action Comics collector; Ralph and Alice Wilson, the rebellious managers of the city animal shelter; and an aging Russian hound named Wolfram.

My review

The Marriage of True Minds may be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Evans sharp ear for dialogue and brilliant characterisation makes this novel an extremely witty and fun read.

The reader is immediately thrust into the magnetic and somewhat dysfucntional relationship between the clever Lena Grant and devishly brilliant/delusional Nick Ward.

Recently divorced, Lena is entrusted with the burden of baby sitting her eccentric ex-husband after he ends up in the psych ward for filling the mayor's pool with ice and live lobsters - making his getaway in a stretch limo. Lena battles the waters of keeping the very blasé Preston Winters happy whilst inevitably keeping Nick out of prison and confronting her feelings once and for all in regards to one extremely 'cracked partnership'.

This minimalist novel cleverly interlaces themes of love, mental health and animal rights into a scintillating narrative where ideals clash with reality.

Book Review: Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb

Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am head over heels in love with this series and you'd think that after 24 novels that would dissipate? It hasn't. Robb/Roberts manages to make each book better and better and 'Innocent in Death' is by far my all-time favourite book from the series.

This book was 'unputtadownable', protagonist Eve Dallas catching the case of a well-liked teacher poisoned at a posh private school. With no clear motives and no suspects, Robb/Roberts wields a tale of mystery filled with numerous twists and turns that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats.

With minimal action this book is all about the psychological thrill.

Whilst Eve battles to find the killer she has to deal with the emotional turmoil surrounding her marriage to Roarke, when one of his ex-flames returns to rekindle their romance. This situation is one that I have waited a long time to witness and Robb/Roberts didn't let me down. There have been a number of books where Roarke and Dallas have been at odds but never have I felt so much pain for them like I did with this book. Summerset's involvement as he comforted Eve (in his own little way) proved the extent to which a rift had surfaced between the couple.

In Death is a must-read crime series and Innocent In Death is one that can't be missed.