"Another superb mystery"

Reunion in Death is another brilliant turn for J.D. Robb. Her series starring Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, continues to delight and entertain. While the constant reader will appreciate the family and friends that Ms. Robb has surrounded Eve with, even the casual reader will enjoy this outing. And for those of us that are obsessive about Eve, we are given three gifts: 1) Peabody's Parents; 2)Dr. Mira's husband (who Eve admits to falling a little bit in love with); and 3)Eve and Roarke's first anniversary. This time out, Eve has to deal with a female mass murderer. Julie Dockport has married and murdered a number of men. When Eve was a rookie, she helped to capture Dockport. At that time, Dockport told Eve they were very much alike, both strong and having no need of the support of men. Since Eve married Roarke, while Julie was in prison, she has set her sights on Roarke. Freed on good behavior, she immediately begins to murder again. The mystery in a J.D. Robb book is secondary to the relationships and characters growth, but this story is particularly strong. The character of Julie Dockport is interesting and her excuses for her behavior lead Eve back to Dallas, giving her (and us) new insights into Eve's childhood.

This is a marvelous entry in the "Death" series. Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, continues to astound with her versatility, wonderful characters, and riveting stories.

Reviewed by Merrilee Heffernan
Posted February 6, 2002

Summary

At exactly 7:30 p.m., Walter Pettibone arrived home to find more than a hundred friends and family shouting, "Surprise!" It was his birthday. Although he had known about the planned event for weeks, the real surprise was yet to come. At 8:45 p.m., a woman with emerald eyes and red hair handed him a glass of champagne. One sip of birthday bubbly, and he was dead.

The woman's name is Julie Dockport. No one at the party knew who she was. But Detective Eve Dallas remembers her all too well. Eve was personally responsible for Julie's incarceration nearly ten years ago. And now, let out on good behavior, she still has nothing but bad intentions. It appears she wants to meet Dallas again--in a reunion neither will forget...