Ceremony in Death (In Death)
Berkley - Berkley
Release date: 1997-05-01
Mass Market Paperback
Author: Nora Roberts
Crime & mystery, Fiction, Fiction - Mystery/ Detective, Mystery/Suspense, Fiction / Romance / Suspense, Mystery & Detective - Police Procedural, Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths, Mystery fiction
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Ceremony in Death (In Death)
Date undefinedAs this book started I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it. Its a very dark book, and focuses on a few "reglions" I know nothing about. Satanism and Wiccan. Though I personally don't believe in either, the book wouldn't have been as good as it was with out Ms. Robb's serious study over the two religions and adding her own sense of STYLE!
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Roarke's and Eve's relationship get deeper. Its so wonderful to see a woman like Eve, who can turn to complete mush when it comes to the man she loves. I also enjoyed seeing in this book how much Peabody has grown into her own woman and officer. Though she's still under Eve, she's got so much potential to be another great ongoing character in these books! As always I love Mavis for her sense of style and flair that she brings to the books! I even in this case ejoyed the villians Alban (who I had a hard time picturing in my head) and Selina (who I pictured very vividly in my mind as an obvious crazy person). The book was great, I definately recommend to all J. D. Robb's fans and its also a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading! Another spectacular job Ms. Robb!
Ceremony in Death (In Death)
Date undefinedCeremony in Death gives us a far deeper look into Peabody, Eve's aide. She starts to loosen up more around Eve, showing us some of her wisecracking self. We get to see some of the ways in which her 'Free-Ager' family has affected her, and we see some of the occult scene through her eyes and experience. We also delve into something that hasn't really been explored in the series yet: the question of psychic abilities, which, although not universally accepted, have apparently been studied and, to some extent, measured in this future time.
The question of identity as a tug-of-war between genetics, family influence, and self-determination is continued in this book (it's a powerful motif in the series). Peabody might seem the opposite of her Free-Ager family on the surface, but she isn't entirely. Roarke seems the epitome of the smooth businessman, but he still possesses the dark strength of his street upbringing. Eve still wonders if her father's brutality might express itself through her, and she finds this fear reflected in one of her suspects, a man she thinks may have taken up his father's love of ritualistic murder.
The 'white witches' are an interesting bunch, with some fascinating characters among them. They almost make up for the Satanists, who are a one-dimensional band of lunatics and hedonists. Those flat characters are pretty much the book's one flaw. On the other hand, sometimes you need a good old-fashioned lunatic when enjoying a deliberately melodramatic detective series, so this isn't a large flaw.
Adult material warning: we have our usual Eve/Roarke sizzling sex, but there's also some darker sexual matter in this plot that some might be uncomfortable with.
Ceremony in Death (In Death)
Date undefinedLieutenant Eve Dallas may be facing one of the toughest investigations of her career. As Ceremony in Death opens, Eve is attending the funeral of colleague Frank Wojinski. Friends and family are distraught over the kind natured cop's death. Frank's mysterious granddaughter, Alice, slips a note into Eve's pocket indicating she is in danger, and Eve realizes she is being watched.
Alice reveals to Eve she is partly responsible for her grandfather's death. During her involvement with a local Satanic cult, she was witness to the ritual sacrifice of a child. Abused, raped, and tormented by what she had seen, Alice fled to the safety of a Wiccan coven and cut ties with Selena and her followers. Selena was not so eager to let Alice go, however. Believing that Selena was trying to silence her, Alice confided to her grandfather, who launched his own private investigation into Selena's sinister cult. Shortly after, Frank was dead.
All of this hocus pocus stuff is a little more than the logical, grounded Eve wants to entertain. But the more involved in the case she becomes, she discovers those close to her may have their own magical tendencies. And if Alice really did witness the murder of a child, she has every reason to fear Selena Cross, superstitions aside.
Robb keeps the reader in suspense, never quite knowing what is magic and what is trickery. The book closes with the reader still in doubt as to the spell casters' authenticity. Though it delves into some controversial theologies, it isn't a philosophical journey--it's a crime drama. Robb clearly delineates the line between good and evil.
Ceremony in Death is the fifth "In Death" book in a series of over thirty, with several to be released in 2008. The characters frequently reminisce about events that occurred in previous novels, and these mini flashbacks serve as excellent teasers. There is just enough information to build the reader's interest without confusion. It is the type of series that can be taken up at any point, but after the first book, Lieutenant Eve Dallas will become a regular in the reading queue.
The novel flows at a good pace, tying up all loose ends. The true killer isn't evident until the last scene, which keeps the suspense high. There are many points where the author could have fallen into proselytizing for one side or the other, which she avoided, making the story appeal to a wider audience. This is an impressive novel for such a "mass produced" author.
