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In Death #17

Imitation in Death

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Summer, 2059.

A man wearing a cape and a top hat approaches a prostitute on a dark, New York City street. Minutes later, the woman is dead. Left at the scene is a letter addressed to Lieutenant Eve Dallas, inviting her to play his game and unveil his identity. He signs it, "Jack." Now Dallas is in pursuit of a murderer who knows as much about the history of serial killers as she does. He has studied the most notorious and the most vicious slayings in modern times. But he also wants to make his own mark. He has chosen his victim: Eve Dallas. And all Eve knows is that he plans to mimic the most infamous murderers of all starting with Jack the Ripper...

342 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2003

About the author

J.D. Robb

207 books34.2k followers
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Forgotten in Death (St. Martin's Press, September 2021) is the 53rd entry in the series.

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5 stars
16,359 (52%)
4 stars
10,714 (34%)
3 stars
3,483 (11%)
2 stars
303 (<1%)
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81 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 991 reviews
Profile Image for Mo.
1,392 reviews2 followers
February 24, 2022
RE-READ and AUDIBLE - FIVE SOLID STARS.

I don't think I have posted what I think Peabody might look like ... looks like her, maybe? - I sometimes wonder how she puts with Eve's sarcasm and shit - LOL.


... and any excuse to post Roarke.


Think we were all shedding a little tear at the end of this one ... a happy tear.

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ORIGINAL REVIEW below ...
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I started reading this series in 2012. I dip in now and again ... I read maybe two in a row sometimes but then change to something else. I love the books. I love the characters. I love the writing. Eve Dallas must be the most kick-ass heroine out there. She takes no shit!! She is married to the sexiest man on earth! Roarke - swoon - he is perfect, fucking perfect.


There was Ireland in his voice, dreamy wisps of it that could, unexpectedly, wind around her heart.



"Eve is on the trail of a serial killer who knows as much about the history of murder as she does, and he's paying homage to some of history's most vicious, and infamous, killers, beginning with Jack the Ripper."

Was kept guessing to the end. We had a few suspects and they all fit the profile of a killer. I love Peabody and her role in this story. Actually, all the secondary characters are wonderful. McNab, Feeney, Whitney, Mavis, Nadine .... even Summerset and dear Galahad.

"How'd you get through airport security with that steel pike up your ass."


LOL, you missed him. Admit it.


"When I came in and you were sleeping, I thought: There's my soldier, exhausted from her wars." He lifted her hand, kissed her fingers. "Now I look, and I think: there's my woman, soft and lovely."
"Where do you get this stuff?"
"It just comes to me. I've only to look at you, and the world comes to me. You're my life."


OMFG. I mean, seriously?!!!! PERFECTION.


A bit gruesome at times. Overall, another fabulous read.

I.WANT.THEIR.BABIES!!
Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,687 reviews2,494 followers
July 11, 2017
Another brilliant episode in this series from J.D. Robb
This one is outstanding for the development in the relationship between Peabody and Eve. They are a laugh a minute as they bounce repartee off each other like a comedy duo. Of course Roarke and Eve have their usual beautiful relationship and lots of other characters take a turn too. Even Summerset has his moment right at the end when he returns from his vacation.
I enjoyed all the police work in this one and I was also happy that I picked the murderer very early in the piece, as did Eve. I love these books - for me J.D. Robb can do no wrong.
Profile Image for Hulya Kara Yuksel.
1,024 reviews1,258 followers
August 27, 2018
I LOVE this series sooooo much! :)


“When I came in and you were sleeping, I thought: There’s my soldier, exhausted from her wars.”
He lifted her hand, kissed her fingers. “Now, I look, and I think: There’s my woman, soft and lovely.” Her lips curved as he undressed her. “Where do you get this stuff?”
“It just comes to me. I’ve only to look at you, and the world comes to me. You’re my life.”

Profile Image for Carolyn.
2,502 reviews699 followers
November 3, 2018
It's always so much fun to read one of J.D. Robb's scrumptious Eve Dallas novels. The crimes are always heinous, Eve is driven and sarcastic, Peabody is just Peabody and Roarke is hot, sexy and Irish (has to be the best police spouse in the thriller business - he's so understanding and caring whereas most of the other spouses of police just whinge about them never being home....)

In this episode Eve is on the hunt for a serial killer who is carrying out copy cat murders of infamous killers. She has several suspects - too many in fact - so has to use her clever and devious cop brain (and Roarke's) to narrow down the clues. Peabody is studying for detective exams and fretting about moving in with McNab but still manages to focus on the job when required. I missed Summerset who is away on a well earned holiday so it was good to see him back at the end of the book, refreshed and ready to spar with Eve. Love this series and it's great to know there are so many more to enjoy in the years ahead!
Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,346 followers
December 13, 2018
Suspense 4.5 stars / Romance 4.5 stars

Extremely interesting and twisted suspense. A murder, who imitated historic serial killers.
My girl Eve and me knew his identity from the very beginning, the others needed more time plus the evidence *lol*

Eve, you are a Goddess!!!

Romance: Roarke wins my heart, slowly, but anyway <3
Peabody is a detective, yeah! Und Eve in uniform -> hot.

Love love love this series!!!
Every book is a winner. Thanks God I have more to come ;-)
Profile Image for Katerina.
496 reviews69 followers
June 20, 2023
As always, the case is interesting, and I enjoyed this one because the perpetrator, as title implies, imitates infamous serial killers from the past!

In every story, it is interesting to discover parts from Eve's and Roarke's pasts revealed and to appreciate more the obstacles they had to overcome to become the people they are today! It's also heartwarming to see how good they are for each other and how they comfort and support each other!

Delia Peabody Eve's aid also has some challenges to overcome both personal and professional!

Dr. Mira, apart from helping Eve in her cases, is also helping in her character development and by inviting her to a family gathering shows her the normalcy of it because Eve's traumatic past and the ugliness of her job makes it difficult for her to want normal things and I guess slowly in each future instalment she'll be ready herself to form a bigger family with Roarke!

There are various suspects, and it was fun to try to guess who is the one more damaged to result in killing in such devious ways!

I enjoy every aspect of these books... the intrigue, the humour, the relationship between the main characters, the love and passion of Eve and Roarke!
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews459 followers
July 5, 2017

”How do you eat feet?” Eve wondered. “Do you start at the toes and work up, or at the akle and work down? Do ducks have ankles?”
“I’ve spent many spleepless nights pondering just that.” (Peabody)



I wouldn’t wear them, but if you want to be swept from your feet…*shrug*

”Is the U.N. in session?” (Eve)
“U.N.? As in United Nations?” (Peabody)
“No, U.N. as in Unidentified Numbskulls.” (Eve)




”You have conversations with strangers all the time,” he (Roarke) pointed out. “You just call them suspects.”



Man should take lessons from Roarke!!!

The flag still waved, a colorful symbol, Eve supposed, of man’s willingness to get together and talk about problems of humanity. And occasionally do something about them.”




Another wonderful book! I’m in awe!!! Jumping on the next!
Profile Image for Jilly.
1,838 reviews6,497 followers
August 3, 2016
This was a fun book if you find serial killers interesting. Our bad-guy is a copycat killer and emulates Jack the Ripper first, followed by another couple of famous serial killers. It was really interesting to read about them as we went along. Personally, I love stories with a lot of killing and death, but never have any interest in reading about real-life killers. So, although I am extremely blood-thirsty in my reading material, in real-life I want puppies, rainbows, and cotton candy. Is that asking too much?


Okay, sometimes it CAN be too much..

In this case, the serial killers who are referred to and were real, not fictional, are so well-known that it wasn't that big of a deal to read about them. And, it was fun to try and guess which serial killer he would copy next.

In the personal stories, we have Peabody getting ready to take her detective test, and Eve being extremely cheerful because Sommerset is on vacation. She's doing little dances and even cracking a smile. It's a little scary.

Also, Roarke buys the mother of all barbecue's after they go to a cook-out because, hey, how hard can it be to cook steak and vegies? He read all of the instruction manual. He bought the best there is. He's a man. Men cook meat. It's in their DNA.


He must be a boy doggie.

I have to admit that the BBQ bit really cracked me up. I live in Texas. BBQ is a religion here. Some fancy rich-boy thinking he simply fire up a grill and cook a good-tasting steak is outrageous! It takes a lot of years, and a lot of beers, to become a grill-master.


Ron Swanson is so hard-core.

Profile Image for Lisazj1.
2,072 reviews182 followers
December 19, 2019
4.5 stars. Every minute I spend with Lieutenant Eve Dallas is a delight. I love everything about her, her fierce intelligence, her doggedness, her fearlessness, the terror she strikes in the hearts of any hapless patrol officers who get in her way LOL. I love her strength, her courage and the tenderness for those she loves that she tries her best to disguise. I love the way she loves Roarke, and lets herself be soft and vulnerable with him. And oh how I absolutely adore watching her pick the bad guys apart! Hehehe. *evil grin*

And Roarke. *swoon* I love how open Roarke is with his feelings for Eve, how unabashedly he adores her. I love how he always knows what she needs and makes sure she gets it, whether she wants it or not, LOL. I love how he respects her, her abilities, her integrity, her sheer bloody-mindedness that will not let her quit, ever. I love that even when he is in terror for her, he never tries to stop her in what she needs to do, he just goes with her to back her up. And dear Lord, is he sexy. *fans self* It never stops blowing my mind how very hot J.D Robb/NR writes Roarke and Eve and she's never, ever explicit. It never occurs to me that it isn't until after I finish reading and think about it. The chemistry, the emotion between them is so real you can almost reach out and touch.

There's not a single character here that I don't wholeheartedly love, even Summerset, that stiff old stick, heh. The snarky sniping back and forth between he and Eve never stops being entertaining, as well as being obvious that they secretly enjoy it.

The killer Eve hunts this time starts his spree with a savagely brutal reenactment of a Jack the Ripper murder, with a personal, mocking challenge to Eve. Watching her work her way through the investigation and close in on the bad guy never gets old. Good thing for me there's so much of this world to read. :)
Profile Image for Shawna.
3,664 reviews4,713 followers
September 6, 2017
5 stars - Romantic Suspense/Futuristic/Romantic Thriller

I love this series and just can’t get enough of these characters, especially Roarke.

There was Ireland in his voice, dreamy wisps of it that could, unexpectedly, wind around her heart.

“When I came in and you were sleeping, I thought: There’s my soldier, exhausted from her wars.” He lifted her hand, kissed her fingers. “Now, I look, and I think: There’s my woman, soft and lovely.” Her lips curved as he undressed her. “Where do you get this stuff?” “It just comes to me. I’ve only to look at you, and the world comes to me. You’re my life.”


This time around Lieutenant Eve Dallas is up against a sadistic killer imitating some of history’s most infamous, gruesome murders.

“Every now and then,” he said without looking up, “I see something in here that goes beyond. Beyond the human. And we know, don’t we, Dallas, that the human has an amazing capacity for cruelty to its own species? But every once in a while, I see something that takes even that one hideous step beyond.”

“How the hell would you define this?” “I don’t have the words. I don’t think there are any. Vicious isn’t enough. Evil doesn’t cover it, not really. I can’t get philosophical now, Morris. That won’t help her.

“What the hell’s wrong with us, Dallas?” “Beats me.” He closed his eyes for a moment, knowing he was settling down again. “We love the dead.” When she snorted, he grinned, eyes still closed. “And not in a sick, boink the corpse sort of way, gutterbrain. Despite whoever they were when they were alive, we love them because they were cheated and misused. The ultimate underdogs.” “They come to us,” Morris continued, “from babies to the doddering old, and everything between. No matter who loved them in life, we’re their most intimate companions in death. And sometimes, that intimacy reaches down inside us and braids our guts like cornrows.”


Here are my favorite casting choices.

Eve Dallas:

Stana Katic
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Jennifer Garner
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Jaimie Alexander
 photo ea4d5eb553178d73e035af835eaa3877--jaimie-alexander-haircuts_zpszuyulhrs.jpg

Sandra Bullock
 photo 8957797a3335d16a59c295a246f3c3b2--dark-eyes-sandra-bullock_zpsujiim6hd.jpg

Roarke:

David Gandy
 photo c4ea9a460fd104c470e4ef84911395b1--david-gandy-death_zpsmf1gyi38.jpg

 photo 90ba3e055929dcd00115bdda2f6bf100--black-dagger-brotherhood-brotherhood-series_zpskzvpioma.jpg

Michael Fassbender
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Hugh Jackman
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Henry Cavill
 photo ae89690bca4869ea6789f4cbd163bf14--black-jackets-biker-jackets_zps4fs717v3.jpg

Profile Image for ♥Sharon♥.
984 reviews140 followers
April 4, 2017

I have such a horrible memory. Really I do. I’m not sure how I came upon this series. I’m sure it was by a friend’s recommendation. Was it you Mo?

However it came to be I am grateful because I have loved every single one of the books I have read.

The two main characters have stolen my heart.

Eve is something else. I love her strength. I love her humor. I love her compassion. And most of all I love how she loves Roarke.

Roarke is breathtaking. I love his strength. I love his weakness when it comes to Eve. I love his loyalty. And most of all I love how he loves Eve.


And I’m pretty sure I say this in all my reviews but I can’t say enough about the secondary characters. These books would not be as amazing without them.

Peabody is fantastic. I loved her storyline in this one. She is makes me laugh.

Mavis is a whirlwind. It is so fitting that she is Eve's bff! J D Robb took her down a road that I can’t wait to see how things will end up!

Feeney is just Feeney. His dry sense of humor is spot on and the bag of nuts!! He doesn’t leave home without them. LOL

Summerset keeps changing. Even if it is just a little bit. The exchanges between him and Eve are priceless. They really love each other. I am sure of it. :)

McNabb is quite a colorful character. He is rather sweet too.

Dr. Mira is someone special. Her relationship with Eve warms my heart.


And the list goes on. Commander Whitney, Nadine, Baxter, Morris, Webster, Trueheart and let’s not forget Galahad.

I won’t go into the plot other to say that it was intriguing, a bit gory and I had absolutely no clue who the ‘bad guy’ was until the end. The writing was fabulous as always. ❤
Profile Image for Diane.
677 reviews28 followers
May 3, 2019
I love this book - imitation of all the notorious serial killers like Albert DeSoto, Jack The Ripper, etc.! Peabody finally gets her detective shield and Eve has a "glimpse" of what her birth mother was like - sad really. Eve wears her "blues" in this one and surprises even Roarke!!!

2 thumbs up and 5 stars!
Profile Image for Ana.
529 reviews64 followers
February 18, 2020
A verdade é que depois de tantos volumes seria normal que já existisse um cansaço, aquela ideia que seria mais do mesmo e que seria difícil ter vontade de ler mais livro da série, mas isso não acontece.
A cada novo livro, rimos, choramos, sofremos e torcemos.
Desde a relação de Eve e Roarke, até aos momentos de amizade partilhados entre Eve e Peabody, a verdade é que uma pessoa vai-se deliciando com cada pormenor e envolvendo-se cada vez mais nesta "família mortal".
Profile Image for Debra Johnson.
10.9k reviews172 followers
July 16, 2023
Had Me Twitching

4 Solid Stars

I liked it a lot.
Had me twitchy for a while. One of the possible suspects I liked and I really hoped they weren't the killer.
Twisty and twisted for sure.

This wasn't my favorite. But not my least favorite either.

I'm constantly amazed how a series this long with the same 2 MC's continues to GRAB and keep my attention.

As usual, side characters play a major part in this one.

I definitely recommend the series.

Suspense, mystery, some well placed adult steam.

DE Special BR
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Profile Image for Karla.
987 reviews1,109 followers
July 21, 2012
5 Stars! J.D. Robb does it again Seventeen books in and this series is still going strong!! It never gets old for me and it just keeps getting better. Roarke and Eve are so comfortable in their relationship, it makes me smile. I love the way they tease each other, Eve comes off as so aloof and annoyed, all the while loving it when Roarke irks her into submission. The passion and desire they have for each other gives me the warm fuzzies. On this particular case Eve brings Roarke on board as a consultant and whenever that happens it just adds a little extra to the read. The more Roarke...the better. Along for the ride are the crazy love birds, Peabody and McNab, Eve's rock...Feeney, and the lovely Dr. Mira. All that and another amazing plot, with a psychotic killer, tense moments, as Eve whittles away at the clues to find justice for the victims!!


Susan Erickson is phenomenal as the book's narrator. She nails the voice for each character, and injects the right emotion and inflection, making an already thrilling read...EVEN BETTER!!
Profile Image for Anita.
2,404 reviews195 followers
June 8, 2019
Are serial killers born or are they made? In "Imitation in Death" out killer was made. He is also not very original in that he has chosen to recreate the masters of the craft starting with Jack the Ripper. He calls out Eve with a handwritten note on extremely expensive unrecycled paper. The hunt is on and Eve has four really great suspects and everyone has a different favorite for "Jack". But, Eve knows, she just . . . knows. How to prove it is going to take everything Eve, Roarke and the team have. Great mystery and high suspense in a case that touches Eve deeply.
Profile Image for The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo.
2,607 reviews356 followers
August 5, 2022
This is the one where Dallas and Peabody hunt down a man impersonating famous serial killers from the past: Jack the Ripper, Albert Desalvo, Ted Bundy. A pretty interesting plot, with plenty of likely suspects.

Also in this one: Peabody and McNabb make it official by leasing an apartment together, and Peabody preps for the detective exam. Will she pass?? With Lt. Dallas training her, it's practically a sure thing.
Profile Image for Sandra Hoover.
1,350 reviews225 followers
July 8, 2017
Finished rereading Imitation & remembered how much I enjoy the relationships in this one. Eve & Roarke, Eve & Peabody, Eve & Mira, Eve & Nadine...our Eve has a family and she is finally realizing & acknowledging it. She finally remembers her mother through yet another nightmare & that is just sad. On the other hand, there's Peabody & she just makes me laugh! She-Body can justify eating anything! Love the donut scene. I should also mention a murderer is imitating the crimes of some of the most famous serial killers. And he is challenging Eve to catch him. Another great read by Robb!

*Note: Reread July 2017 - A winner every time!
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