Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas encounters one of her most difficult cases in this latest offering from J. D. Robb, alter ego of bestselling author Nora Roberts. With the very first victim, Eve realizes that the killer stalking the streets of New York City isn't a run-of-the-mill serial murderer. The copycat executions are imitating the methods and victim choices of an ominous list of notorious serial killers, beginning with Jack the Ripper. And when the killer leaves a distinctive note at the crime scene, it's clear that he's targeting Eve personally--a fact that worries Roarke, Eve's shrewd husband.

Assisted by her aide, Peabody, Eve compiles a list of suspects that includes several high-profile possibilities. Their very prominence, however, complicates the investigation, for they have the power and influence to make the search difficult. All of the suspects are reluctant to cooperate but one of them is playing with Eve like a cat with a mouse by tempting her with crime scene notes and challenging her to find him. Can Eve stop him before he slaughters again? Or will his next victim be Eve herself?

Author Robb, a.k.a. Roberts, doesn't miss a beat in this police procedural thriller. The futuristic setting is rich with imaginative details; the cast of supporting characters offers an intriguing variety, while Eve and Roarke's relationship is layered with emotional intimacy and spiced with sex. Whether you're a faithful follower or new to the series, you won't be disappointed in the edge-of-the-seat suspense in Imitation In Death. Don't miss this one. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly
The latest entry in Robb's series of feisty futuristic mysteries (after Portrait in Death) delivers. This time, Lt. Eve Dallas shows up to investigate the grisly killing of a New York City prostitute only to find a note from the killer on the body. Signed "Jack," the note taunts Eve by name and affirms what she has already guessed-that the murder was specifically planned to imitate Jack the Ripper. Purchasers of the costly foreign stationery that the killer used-a crime writer, a top diplomat and a famous musician-become Eve's suspects. As she investigates them, a second killing occurs, this time in the manner of the Boston Strangler. Aided by her faithful second-in-command, Peabody (who's nervously awaiting her detective's exam), and supported by her handsome husband Roarke, Eve scours both the country and the past for clues. The solution to the puzzle is far less intriguing than the copycat-killer premise, and readers might wonder why detection in the year 2059 is so low-tech-where, for example, are DNA and forensic testing? As always, however, Robb's delightfully snappy dialogue, playful sexuality and whirlwind pacing will keep readers captivated. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
The seventeenth in Robb's futuristic detective series featuring Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas sends her on a mission to stop a killer who is imitating famous serial killers of the past. Eve is brought into the case when a Jack-the-Ripper-style murder is accompanied by a note addressed to her on distinctive, costly stationery. Narrator Susan Ericksen has Eve's number. Through her voice she depicts Eve's toughness, strength, and insecurities. She also nails Peabody, Eve's able assistant and Peabody's love interest, a fellow cop with a decided surfer dude inflection. The entire cast of characters is given distinctive and believable voices in this fast-moving mystery. D.T.H. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Book Description
Summer, 2059. A man wearing a cape and a top hat approaches a prostitute on a dark, New York City street. Minutes later, the woman is dead. Left at the scene is a letter addressed to Lieutenant Eve Dallas, inviting her to play his game and unveil his identity. He signs it, "Jack."

Now Dallas is in pursuit of a murderer who knows as much about the history of serial killers as she does. He has studied the most notorious and the most vicious slayings in modern times. But he also wants to make his own mark. He has chosen his victim: Eve Dallas. And all Eve knows is that he plans to mimic the most infamous murderers of all — starting with Jack the Ripper...

"Robb’s energetic prose and hard-edged dialogue will keep readers engrossed." —Publishers Weekly

"Edgy and raw." —Booklist

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Whatever name she's writing under, mega-bestselling author Nora Roberts crafts top-notch stories with engaging characters and compelling plots. The latest volume in her near-future mystery series starring New York City homicide detective Eve Dallas is a perfect example of that: In Imitation in Death, summer has come to the city, but it's anything but a vacation for Eve as a serial killer with a flair for the dramatic begins a deadly game. The first victim is a prostitute, found slashed to death in an alley. What makes the case unusual is the message found beside the body -- a taunting note on expensive paper, addressed to Eve and signed with the name Jack. Initial clues point to a wannabe Jack the Ripper. But, as the body count rises, the elusive killer's M.O. shifts in baffling new directions, turning up the heat on the investigation. Eve is the first to realize that her quarry is not limiting himself to copying one classic criminal but is taking inspiration from a rogue's gallery of the most notorious villains in the history of homicide. The killer thinks Eve is the perfect audience for this lethal performance...and also a perfect victim. But Eve has a very different role in mind -- Nemesis -- and has put together just the supporting "cast" she needs to orchestrate a surprise ending for the killer. Sue Stone

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Summer is drawing to a violent close when a killer makes his debut with the mutilation of a prostitute. His calling card: a personal note to Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The latest entry in Robb's series of feisty futuristic mysteries (after Portrait in Death) delivers. This time, Lt. Eve Dallas shows up to investigate the grisly killing of a New York City prostitute only to find a note from the killer on the body. Signed "Jack," the note taunts Eve by name and affirms what she has already guessed-that the murder was specifically planned to imitate Jack the Ripper. Purchasers of the costly foreign stationery that the killer used-a crime writer, a top diplomat and a famous musician-become Eve's suspects. As she investigates them, a second killing occurs, this time in the manner of the Boston Strangler. Aided by her faithful second-in-command, Peabody (who's nervously awaiting her detective's exam), and supported by her handsome husband Roarke, Eve scours both the country and the past for clues. The solution to the puzzle is far less intriguing than the copycat-killer premise, and readers might wonder why detection in the year 2059 is so low-tech-where, for example, are DNA and forensic testing? As always, however, Robb's delightfully snappy dialogue, playful sexuality and whirlwind pacing will keep readers captivated. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Lt. Eve Dallas specializes in serial killers, and her newest case has her tracking a devotee of them. He imitates Jack the Ripper and slashes up a licensed companion, as prostitutes are known in the mid-21st century. Next he uses the techniques of the Boston Strangler to kill a grandmother. At each murder scene he leaves a note for Eve on expensive, unrecycled paper, illegal to own in the United States. Distractions and humor are provided by Officer Peabody, who is studying for the imminent detective examination and anxious about her evolving romance with McNab. Susan Ericksen has read several of Robb's (a.k.a. Nora Roberts) futuristic crime novels and is adept at portraying the colorful people who surround Eve. The uncertain, emotional Peabody is a fine foil for Eve's confident strength. Ericksen's pacing, pitch, and accents make each character come alive. Recommended for popular collections.-Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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