Delusion In Death

In Death, Book 35

By: J. D. Robb

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crowd seemed oppressive. Some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after 12 minutes of chaos and violence, 80 people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things - monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people into temporary insanity - if not kill them outright.

But that doesn’t explain who would unleash such horror - or why. Eve’s husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he’s convinced the attack wasn’t directed at him. It’s bigger than that. And if Eve can’t figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it’s airborne....

©2012 Nora Roberts (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Robb, Dallas & Ericksen - what a Fantastic Combo

With most series, it doesn't affect the enjoyment of the books much if you read them in order or not. With the In Death series, it does. Although you certainly can read any book as a stand-alone, you usually get more out of any specific book if you've read several of the previous books in the series. More than most, this series intertwines and builds in significant ways over the course of the books.

For this book, I'd suggest reading "New York to Dallas" at the very least -- or that book won't be as enjoyable if you read it later. (Possibly also Reunion in Death first, before New York to Dallas, but before you read Reunion . . . ). I strongly recommend reading this series in order. Most books are great and even the few that fall a bit short of the normal standard of excellence invariably advance character development.

Ericksen is amazing as the narrator of this series. More than 15 often-recurring characters (plus another set of occasional ones) are clearly delineated. I am constantly astounded at how I can recognize which character is speaking within one or two words. The consistency across this volume of books is incredible. I don't know what salary you're making, Susan, but you're worth it. Ask for a raise!

As always Eve rocks

Okay first I love love how Sue Ericksen reads the In Death Series. From book 1 to book 35 I am immersed in the lives of the characters because of the way she brings life and characterization to each character . I absolutely love Eve and Rourke. So for me I can't really give a bad review for any of the In Death books. The only thing I will say is I wished JD kept us a little more on the edge in guessing if the killer was someone we knew or someone after Rourke or terrorist almost to the very end. The books starts off with a bang. So for the In Death fans you'll like the book.

Mesmerizing and sometimes sort of terrifying.

Bio-terrorism, egads! I was not sure I could read this one. Glad I did as this played out with all the good guys being sane so I could be, too, while reading. Intense all the way with a few snippets of a little humor to break up the tension. Great writing. Great read.

This is my second time (first time in ebook format), this time listening to Susan Ericksen performing at her usual outstanding best all the voices. What a talent!

Too Much Isn't Better Than Just Right

Would you consider the audio edition of Delusion In Death to be better than the print version?

As I do not read the print version of the In Death stories, I cannot fairly compare the audio edition to the print edition.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most engaging aspect of the story is the search for how the crime is committed. Once that is discovered, the entrapment of the perpetrator is a bit boring.

What does Susan Ericksen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Susan is a brilliant audio actor! She is very good at assigning characters appropriate accents, dialects, and even tempo to their speech. (The one exception is that all her Latino characters sound the same, which is not true to life.) Her performance gives every character a life that only precise and careful readers would or could do while reading on their own.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Hate, from one generation to another

Excellent!

Would you consider the audio edition of Delusion In Death to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version. I love the audio versions so much that I haven't picked up a print version since book 3

Which character ??? as performed by Susan Ericksen ??? was your favorite?

I love all the characterizations done by Susan Ericksen. It is so amazing to me that she can perform conversations between two or more women and never miss changing characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did cry during this book. It is very emotional with the revelations and the growth experienced by Eve during the book.

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming!

Delivers!

What made the experience of listening to Delusion In Death the most enjoyable?

Unique story line. History of the Urban Wars which would have started about now. Progression of heroine in resolving the disaster of her own beginning.

What did you like best about this story?

Very real feeling of the future world where the same old same old issues reside.

Any additional comments?

Probably one of the better "In Death" series. Good story. Plot interesting and unique. The main characters continue to interest one. I have read every book in this series and I liked this better than most. Kept my attention from beginning to end. Kept me up a few nights listening, too! She has not yet worn out this series and the rotating sub-characters remain interesting. I think you'll like it. If you are new to the series, this might be a good start as it is easy to pick it up.

Another Robb Thriller!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Another great, edge of the seat thrilled by J.D. Robb. Would love to listen to all her books in one sitting!

Any additional comments?

Always look forward to Robb's next book as soon as I finish the last one!

Delusion In Death

Any additional comments?

Magic formula, huh? All the characters we know and love are in this story. Peabody, Roarke, Feeney, etc. Some have really bit roles, like McNab. There’s a new major role in this book, a federal investigator. Maybe a future series based on this character? Basically, a couple of grizzly murder scenes results in another obsessive search by Eve and her supporters, a few bad dreams, love scenes and showers with handsome Roarke … all familiar venues. If you’re familiar with the basics of the first 34 In Death books penned by Nora Roberts, and the well rounded band of sleuthers therein, you’ll be right at home.

Eve and Summerset help each other!

Another excellent addition to the In Death series. This one starts with a bar full of people go from a typical after work drink to viciously attacking each other. Leaving over 80 people gruesomely killed by each other in the space of a few minutes. Then it happens again, less people dead this time, but same circumstances.

This mystery and the eventual mastermind behind it was more of a surprise than some of the others in the series. Which was nice! All the usual characters are here and they are what keeps me reading these books. I love the interplay between them all. Eve and Summerset actually help each other! That alone makes this worth reading.

As always, wonderfully performed by Susan Ericksen.

murder mystery in the future with humor added in

Beware of graphic sexual abuse. I love Eve Dallas and her lack of knowledge when it comes to slang/colloquial sayings. She takes sayings literally and will make you laugh out loud. Her husband Roarke is very patient and her partner Peabody corrects her sayings but many times the literal use Eve makes perfect sense. She is great at being a homicide detective partially because of the horrendous abuse she suffered at the hands of her father when she was a child. Roarke had also been abused as a child and had built his empire from illegal means when he was younger. He has given up that part of his business dealings since he has married Eve. All the secondary characters are such a great combination that adds to this series. I vote to read the whole series. I'm on book 37 at this time.