Crime

Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb is the fifth book in the In Death series. This time around, Eve must solve a murder that appears to involve Wiccans and Satanists. (That it was first published in 1997 explains the interest in Satanism - according to the news in the 90s, Satanists were attempting to take over the country.) As always, Eve is every bit the ass kicker we know her to be, Roarke the safety net she never knew she needed, and the other characters the support system she doesn't realize she has. As always, I tore through the story, had a few good laughs at Eve's expense, and enjoyed myself immensely trying and failing to solve the mystery before Eve. ( )

eve is just.....not a nice person ( )

This was another great installment! Eve is put into a bad situation when she is asked to investigate the death of a former cop. It seems like everyone but Roarke was a little mad at her at some point during the story. Have I mentioned that Roarke is awesome?! I really liked some of his actions in this installment and there is no question that he would do anything for Eve. I was kind of irritated by Eve’s superiors for putting her in such a bad situation and her co-workers for not understanding but I thought that Eve handled everything brilliantly.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Susan Ericksen did a great job once again. She has become the voice of these characters for me and I cannot imagine experiencing the series in any other way. I definitely recommend grabbing the audiobook if you decide to give this series a try which I hope you do. I cannot wait to listen to the next installment! ( )

Ceremony in Death
4 Stars

Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas is forced to put aside her personal loyalties when she investigates the suspicious death of a fellow officer. When several other victims die in horrific circumstances, Eve finds herself embroiled in a conflict between opposing forces of good and evil that eventually leads her to a confrontation that may force her to play the ultimate price…

The best installment so far both in terms of the investigation and the character development.

The dichotomy between Good and Evil, and the symbolism of Wicca and Satanism, inherent in the case makes this one of the most intense and gripping mysteries in the series. The villains are truly diabolical and the mundane motive behind the crimes only compounds their depravity.

The characterization continues to be a highlight of these books. Roarke demonstrates once again the depth of his love for Eve and the lengths he will go to to protect her. There are also some compelling insights into both Peabody and Feeney’s characters as they learn more about themselves and Eve as well. Eve’s behavior, on the other hand, is problematic as she allows her personal experiences to color her judgement and tends to accept things at face value rather than looking beneath the surface to underlying motivations.

In sum, the suspense, intrigue and humor of this series make it very enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next one soon. ( )