OK. Who wrote this book? Because it definitely does NOT read like any other in the 'Death' series. I read the whole book and reread the previous two just to make sure I was not dreaming my reaction. (And I've followed Dallas from the very beginning!) So what stars I gave are for the plot points and NOT the writing.

The premise reflects Robb's usual plot line. However, it reads like she gave the description to a lackey and went on vacation, or she would have caught the differences. The pacing is very different. The behavior does not fit (or even evolve from) past behavior. And the dialogue reads cruder (in more ways than one) and choppy.

The short of this review is ...

Unless Robb/Roberts has a split personality we've never encountered before, be prepared for someone else's writing style with our usual crew.

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What happened at the end??
I think that JD Robb started writing another book and forgot to finish this one.
Why didn't her publisher send it back and say "girl, you have to give it to the guy who planned it all better than this"

She gives it to the "tool" but the greedy rich man is just skipped, which made this book flop at the end.
What a disappointment.

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his book follows the In Death formula that the author has employed to make this series so popular. It's an interesting murder mystery, the killer is not immediately obvious, and the plot makes sense. It was cool to some previous events come to happen, in particular the movie premier for the Icove mystery (Origin in Death). Although once again I have to stick it to the author a little ... Eve doesn't need Roarke to solve this mystery, so why must he be brought into this special consultant role for routine matters. Let's save the zillionaire's expertise for terrorists, etc. I could understand if speed was critical to stop another murder, but it wasn't. Let the crimestoppers do their job while Roarke works to make another billion or two.

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I should have known something would happen that would interfere with the movie premiere. Silly me for thinking that Eve and the gang could have a night out on the town enjoying the excitement and hype of the premiere dressed in their glitterati with the flashbulbs blasting away. Wait a minute, what was I thinking? Its Eve so OF COURSE, it would happen and I really think Eve prefers it that way. With Calculated In Death, Eve and her team are investigating the death of an accountant who also happens to be the sister-in-law of a judge. At first glance, it appears the murder is due to a random mugging, but Eve quickly picks up on clues left at the crime scene that lead her to believe the murder was actually a professional hit. Once again, Eve quickly pieces together clues that lead her and Peabody to the killer.

Not enough Roark or Summerset in this story, unfortunately, but one of my favorite parts of the book involves a scene with Eve and Summerset after she comes home pretty banged up after a foot pursuit with the killer gets ugly. Summerset actually convinces Eve to take a blocker and she actually listens to him! I was so shocked that there wasnt more of a fight. Is Eve getting soft where Summerset is concerned? Is she starting to care about him? Nah, probably not, but as much as I enjoy their snarky poke and jab sessions, I love love love the scenes where they actually have a civil conversation and where theres a hint of some compassion, empathy or other human emotion. Just a hint, however. Anything more wouldnt be believable. Then again, anything is possible. They certainly have come a long way since the early books, where their animosity was mutual and vibrated off the pages with a such a resounding energy, that it was impossible to misinterpret the depth of their dislike of one another as anything else.

I also enjoyed that Eve didnt seem to be as haunted by the demons of her past as she usually is. I wont go so far as to say she has finally turned a corner, but I think she has a much better handle on it than she realizes.

Overall, a very good and entertaining installment that delivers the usual blend of mystery, thriller, romance and humor. I am looking forward to the next offering as Roarks family from Ireland is coming for a visit and I so enjoy seeing Eve try to navigate her way around what having a family means.

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I've been a fan of Eve Dallas and Roarke since the beginning but I had to really force myself to finish this. Yes, you were kept guessing for most of the book just who the killer(s) were but the usual crime-solving process just felt flat for me this book. It is book #36 in the series though and is bound to get a little repetitive:)

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