Leafing Through Pages – Rapture In Death (In Death # 4)

Posted byaparnadever7016Posted inUncategorizedTags:, , ,

For review of all books in the In Death series, go here.

Stars: 4 / 5

Recommendation: A futuristic urban fantasy mystery thriller throwing the readers into a world that they understand as well as can envision what it would be like; and at the same time keeping it grounded to the world they know so they get hooked. Another gripping intense story that will keep you guessing right to the end.

Rapture in Death is the fourth book in the long running In Death Series by J. D. Robb, the alter ego of the famous American romance novelist Nora Roberts, first published in October of 1996. We continue to pursue Lieutenant Eve Dallas juggling her role as a Homicide Lieutenant and also being a wife to the Irish Billionaire Roarke. Continuing with my pursuit to read the In Death series, here is my take on the fourth book.

The stories in the In Death Series are set in mid-21st century New York City, New York in United States, featuring NYPSD (New York Police and Security Department) Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke, an Irish billionaire, CEO of Roarke Industries, and one of the richest man in the world. First started in 1995, as of 2023, 57 books have been written in this series. The first book begins in the year 2058 and showcases that technology completely dominates the world, yet Robb has her main characters still believe in human impulses, passion and emotions that are key to solving every single case she comes across or in her relationships with her people and husband.

We are still in 2058 – a good 63 years ahead for when the series began in 1995 – but we are in the summer/fall season. The book begins two weeks after the previous book, Immortal in Death, ends. Someone is using technology to murder and this time Eve Dallas has to find an unseen connection between three murders that only she has a gut feeling that are murders as opposed to suicides. And in the midst her husband Roarke and she face perils that they have to fight through.

Still waiting to see more of Roarke or a story centering in Roarke one of these books. Eve continues grows stronger balancing her life as a new bride to a billionaire and her duty as a cop.

Robb continues to show us futuristic world in the various concepts and technology that may have been unimaginable in 1995, but are much more acceptable and some available now in 2023. And perhaps in a few years we might see more of her imagination in the series come to life. Check the Spoiler Alerts below for some of them that I identified and grouped them.

Again I had an inkling on who might be the ultimate murder at the very beginning of the introduction of the characters itself. Although I had a mis-step on one of them, even though I was write on the others. I am pleased to say again Robb and I were on same page on this. 😛

Incidentally most of the futuristic world and technology innovations that the book gives the reader, Robb had mentioned them to have begin since 2023. When this book was written in 1995, 2023 was 28 years ahead. However, I am reading in 2023 so for me some of the concepts seem very real or close to real for the way our world is heading now.

The plot in this delves into virtual reality and how scary it is for someone to manipulate you thru subliminal suggestions and making your brain waves work per them. This book was written in 1996 with VR concept being so new then. However in this 2023 that we are in, VR is a common mode of relaxation that everyone runs to than just sipping a mai tai or a cocktail by the pool or beach. I always worry about the current generation – Generation Alpha – is living in virtual world so much that they are losing connection with real world. I hope we don’t see these manipulations mentioned in the book for real now.

A futuristic urban fantasy mystery thriller throwing the readers into a world that they understand as well as can envision what it would be like; and at the same time keeping it grounded to the world they know so they get hooked. Another gripping intense story that will keep you guessing right to the end.

Spoiler Alerts:

Plot Reveals:

  1. People live up to 150 years in this futuristic world, thanks to medical science advancements and cosmetic technology
  2. Futuristic technology and concepts for the time the book is set in (2058) which Robb imagined in 1995:
    • For Security and tools to aid cops / all cop related: Police Sensors and Porta-sensors; Land, Sea and Sky traffic is common; A Traffic Hovercraft to control air traffic; Seal It for hands and feet instead of gloves and shoe covers; instead of guns laser weapons are used that tag a person and has ability to adjust it’s power making it deadly yet less messier than a gun (NS Laser is the weapon in this series); Compuguard, a software to detect unregistered and illegal equipment; Force Fields and Security Shields, to protect businesses and vehicles; Sensor Bugs, to keep all food establishments in-check.
    • Buildings and Landmarks / Travel: Multihabitation Buildings; Graves for loved ones is for rich only; Flash Transport, for inter-planetary travel.
    • Electronics and gadgets: Body Driers to dry your body after a shower; Automatic and voice controlled electronics, appliances and lights; AutoChef, like a vending machine that makes fresh food on order; Droids / Drones / all Robots of all kinds – working for humans in all walks of life, and even pets; Virtual Reality headphones; Moving Maps, People Glides and Glide-Carts ease a shoppers life; PPCs – Portable Palm Computers; Electronics such as laser-faxes, hologram send-receive units and tele-links; Gear to help fight gravity off-planet, like gravity boots; Elevators go vertical and side-ways.
    • Food and Health Related: Real food like coffee and meat is premium and only for rich people due to depletion of rain forests; twenty four hour facial cosmetics that wont smudge such as lip dyes; Recycling is a must; Soda and Beer come in recyclable tubes rather than cans; Rehydrated food is commonly used such as irradiated powdered eggs or soy burgers; Medicines such as SoberUp for being sober after a drunk night, Alert All to keep one alert and bright.

Sub Plots:

  1. Law Enforcement and extended departments: Captain Ryan Feeney, Eve’s ex-partner and head of Electronics Detectives Division (EDD); Commander Jack Whitney, Eve’s commanding officer, and his wife Anna, daughter Linda, son Steven; Dr. Mira, behavioral psychiatrist who works with police; Nadine Furst, Channel 75’s reporter; Uniform Briggs; Chief Harrison Tibble; Beaver, a sweeper; Prosecuting Attorney, Jonathan Heartly; Chief Tech Dickie Berenski aka Dickhead; Lobar, a sweeper; Detective Crouch; Dr. Morris, Medical Examiner.
  2. Close friends and family of Eve (works for Homicide Division of Cop Central in NYC) and Roarke (Irish Billionaire who practically owns most of NYC and have investments on and off planet): Mavis Freestone, Eve’s friend and her boyfriend Leonardo, the fashion designer; Galahad, adopted cat; Summerset, Roarke’s valet and butler; Officer Delia Peabody, aide to Eve (has two brothers and a sister).
  3. Other characters frequently appear: Caro, Roarke’s personal assistant; Larinda Mars, Channel 75’s reporter for Social Information; Crack, a street dealer and runs the Down and Dirty Club in the East End; Biff, a fabric expert; Trina, hair stylist; Dr. Engrave, leader in horticulture; Dr. Ambrose, at Midtown Rehabilitation Center for Substance Addicts; Dr. Ward, on the Olympic Resort.
  4. Off planet locations: Silas Three; Tarus Five; Refini; Arts Colony on Mars; Penal Station Omega; FreeStar One; Star 50; Stellar Five; Starlight Station; Eden Colony; Vegas II; Terra Colony; Olympus Resort (Roarke is creating this pleasure place since the first book in the series); Regis III; NASA Two; Space Station Delta; Travis II.
  5. Robb talks about Urban Wars that had occurred before world changed into something futuristic world in her stories. However we are yet to hear about these Urban Wars more.
  6. From Secrets in Death # 45:
    • Detective Peabody & her partner & lover Detective Ian McNab head off to Mexico for a much needed vacation.
    • Garnet has a daughter Miranda; shows interest in Morris.
    • Nadine is looking for an admin; Eve has someone in her mind. A past character surfaces perhaps!
  7. From Glory in Death #2:
    • Roarke is trying to take over a reforestry company, Treegr.
  8. From Immortal in Death #3:
    • A new sect is mentioned – Members of the Pure Sect – who are devotional and similar to monks. Perhaps we will come across them in future?

 Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:

  1. On Pg. 126, Line 2, it should be “seven forty-five”
  2. On Pg. 251, Line 24, it should be “..Dr. Mira sighed a little…”