Rapture in Death (In Death, #4)

by J D Robb

Lieutenant Eve Dallas delves into the world of virtual reality gaming to stop a sadistic killer in this In Death novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb.

They died with smiles on their faces. Three apparent suicides: a brilliant engineer, an infamous lawyer, and a controversial politician. Three strangers with nothing in common—and no obvious reasons for killing themselves. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas finds the deaths suspicious. And her instincts pay off when autopsies reveal small burns on the brains of the victims.

Was it a genetic abnormality or a high-tech method of murder? Eve’s investigation turns to the provocative world of virtual reality games—where the same techniques used to create joy and desire can also prompt the mind to become the weapon of its own destruction...

• ISBN10: 0425155188
• ISBN13: 9780425155189
• Publish Date: 1 October 1996
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Berkley
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425155189

Reviews

[FranJessca @ A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog]

Every month I look forward to reading another book from J.D. Robb’s In Death series for the #InDeathReadALong hosted by @PNRBookLoverReviews and @UTCBookBlog. This month is Rapture in Death, which is the fourth book to the series. It’s another installment that I fell in love with because it was hard to put down. It’s getting harder and harder to read only one book a month for the Read-A-Long. 

The fourth book has Eve Dallas investigating three people that committed suicides. They should be closed cases, but Eve finds each suicide suspicious, especially after autopsies are done on the bodies. There’s a small burn on their brains, so Eve is determined to find out what drove a lawyer, engineer, and politician to kill themselves. There’s no stopping Eve from finding out the truth, even if she puts herself in danger again. 

This installment is another perfect addition to the series. I enjoyed following Eve, Peabody, and Feeney on investigating these suicides, especially after Eve tries to save another person who committed suicide in the book in front of her. The person was acting strange, and this is why I agreed Eve was doing the right thing about investigating these deaths. 

I started figuring out who could be behind everything after Eve encountered this person. There was something off with this person, especially how they reacted to Eve and Roarke being together. I love each antagonist that J.D. Robb writes in her stories because they are pure evil in their way. This one took it to the top. I was sick to my stomach towards the end of the book and what this antagonist had planned altogether. 

Let’s not forget about Roarke and how much I adore his and Eve’s relationship. They’re married now, and they are supposed to be in the honeymoon phase, but Roarke knows Eve’s job is never done. It’s bad enough during their honeymoon is when one of the suicides took place. Be prepared for some steamy scenes in this book between the newly wedded couple. I love them as a couple, and I love how Roarke treats Eve and vice versa. These two were meant to be together, and I can’t wait to continue reading these books in the series. 

Overall, this installment gets 4.5-stars, and I highly recommend it to Romantic Suspense/Thriller readers out there. Be prepared, though, because this is another book that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is happening to these people committing suicide. Poor Eve and Roarke are caught in the crossfire again, but they can handle anything thrown at them.

[Berls]

For once, I actually was ahead of Eve and had this solved way before her. Didnt make me love it much less though - characters are still fantastic and I enjoyed getting a little deeper into Rourke

[Angie]

Rapture in Death is just as compulsively readable as the previous books, but it didn't grab me the same way. Eve and Roarke are enjoying their honeymoon Off Planet when they're interrupted by an apparent suicide. The deceased doesn't seem like the type to have suddenly ended their life, and once back on Earth, Eve is faced with yet another suspicious looking suicide. When the brain scans show an odd burn on both victim's brains, Eve knows she's dealing with another murderer.

I did really like the subliminal messages angle in Rapture in Death. Subliminal messages have always been really interesting to me, and it looks like they're even more persuasive in this future. Unfortunately, the actual mystery wasn't that exciting for me. I didn't bother playing along because there were only two new characters who could possibly be behind it. Once Eve came face to face with the killer, I still didn't really understand their motive beyond "Because I can."

I feel like a lot more could have been done with the mind control, especially to learn more about Eve and Roarke. Both of them are targeted, but not in ways that gave us anything new about them. Rapture in Death was quite lacking in character development anyway, which is also why I think I didn't like it quite as much. I still flew through it in one sitting, because these books are just hard to put down!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[nitzan_schwarz]

ALSO POSTED ON MY BLOG, AFTERWORDS!
With every book that I read, the In Death series seems to be getting better. Maybe I'm watching the growth of Robb as a writer in front of my very eyes. Maybe it's the characters developing. But whatever the reason,Rapture in Death is my favorite of the series so far, but something tells me it might not stay there for long--maybe not even as far as the next book.

We left Eve and Roarke finally married, and what comes after a wedding? a honeymoon! Only, a power couple like Eve and Roarke can't possibly have a normal honeymoon. Nope, their honeymoon has to end with a murder looking like a suicide.

Yikes.

If you don't know these books and are a bit confused, Eve is a tough homicide detective in 2058 New York whose sole mission in life is to bring justice to those who have been robbed of theirs. Her other half, Roarke, is the guy who owns half of this futuristic world. The guy who's picture you'd see in the dictionary underneathmulti-billionaire. The guy who is the definition of wicked, smart and sizzling.

And if you're ever in search of a brilliant, sustaining, steady romance in books - this couple will always be at the top of my list.

The strongest part of this book was seeing the growth in Eve. She finally shows fear; both ordinary fears and emotional ones. That's a far cry from the detective we met in Naked in Death, who would've never even dreamed of letting someone else see her afraid.

Then there was the fact she finally trusts Roarke and his magical hands enough to go against procedures and the rules in exchange for a faster result. That is yet another thing she would've never done before.

But Eve isn't the only one developing - Roarke is, as well. We got to see a lot more of him and his past in this book, and we encountered his cruel and cold side when someone does something he can't forgive. Call me twisted or crazy, but I loved that side of him in this context. Sometime, a little evil is warranted.

And while this book deals with horrific murders, it never failed to make me laugh. I love that about J.D. Robb.The power to take something heavy and, without taking from it, make it into something a person can smile from is rare and valuable.

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Old Version
To read this review and more, pop by my blog; Drugs Called Books

J.D Robb's In Death series is quickly making its way to my favorite series list. If anything, it keeps getting better!

This is really going to be just a quick, short review, cause I don't have much to say I haven't in former reviews of the series: It's still has the same wonderful characters, still has wonderful plots, still has the same wonderful writing.

Rapture in Death begins in Eve and Roarke's honeymoon.
If you haven't read the other books and don't know who those are, Eve is a homicide detective in a futuristic world. She's tough, intelligent, intuitive and cares a lot for the victims she investigates--even when no one else does.
Roarke is the guy who owns half of that futuristic world (and who wasn't always on the right side of the law), a person who's name probably represents un-measurable wealth and influence in the dictionary, and the guy who managed to catch the tough detective.
Both of those people had a hard past, but both managed to make something of themselves despite of it.

The two of them together make one of the better couples I've ever read about; they complete each other in a way that's absolutely amazing to read about. I can't imagine Eve or Roarke without one another.

[But honestly, if you haven't read the other books in the series stop reading this review and either go read the series. ]

So these two have finally married, and now have two days left of their dreamy two weeks honeymoon, and death strikes in the form of a suicide. That marks the beginning of a new investigation, and the end of their peaceful time.

For me, I think I see a lot of growth in Eve this book. She shows fear, both ordinary ones like from going out of planet and emotional ones like losing Roarke. I thought that was really interesting to see from a person who wouldn't have shown those fears before.
Then there was her bending the rules, trusting Roarke and his machines enough to go against procedure in order to get faster results.

As for Roarke, we see more of his personality and past as well. We also see his cruel and cold side when someone does something Roarke can't (and in my humble opinion shouldn't) forgive. Call me twisted or crazy but I love when he turns evil. In my defense - the guy deserved it!

Now, I know this may sound weird but... This book had me grinning so hard!
I love that about Nora Roberts (aka; J.D Robb)--she manages to take a mystery about horrible deaths with hard situations into a story that will make you smile, without losing the effects of the darkness. And I think that's something incredible. The power to take something heavy and without taking from it making it smile-worthy, is something few people have.

What I enjoyed most about this book was that for the first time - I've been surprised by the killer! Not surprised as in "I never saw it coming" because I had my suspicions, and at a certain point it was obvious, but this time there was another person mighty suspicious, and though I thought he/she may be a distraction, I didn't know for sure who it was until 80% into the read, when in the other books I formed an immediate dislike to the killer upon our first meeting with him. This time that didn't happen.
I love when I'm left room to spaculate on my own throughout a mystery novel ;]

So, I guess I just wanted to let you guys know this series is one you should pick up. Don't skip it, it's really good!

[ibeforem]

A solid entry in the series, taking place right after Eve and Roarke get married. It also marks the beginning of the Eve/Peabody partnership, which I enjoy because Peabody’s one of my favorite characters in the series. If it weren’t for the piece of really obvious foreshadowing, I wouldn’t have guessed who the bad guy was.

[mitabird]

4.5 stars