I gave this book only 2 stars because only one of the 4 stories is any good. JD Robb, as usuall writes a wonderful police mystery romance. But these other 3 author's stories are just throw aways. If you like JD Robb, then this is one book you should get from the library.

Share/Like this Review?

I have read everything Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb has written with the exception of her most recent hardcover issues as I wait for the paperbacks, and I have to say that this is just not up to her usual standards. Her portion of the book, Missing in Death,seemed superficial, never digging in to the meat of the story. I realize it was less than 100 pages, but I have read her short stories before and have never failed to get wrapped up in the storyline. Characters/plot lines would show up, and I'd wonder where I'd been that I didn't know where they had come from. Hard to forget the plot of the book you're reading when it's only 96 pages! Even Roarke failed to entertain in this story. Gaffney's Dog Days was a pretty wide stretch of the imagination, as was Lost in Paradise by Blayney. I won't elaborate so as not to give away the plots, but I was half way through Blayney's contribution when I did something I NEVER, EVER do. I put it down, read another book, and came back to this one! I never do this! I have a loyal streak a mile wide and, even if I don't like a book, I will slog though it and finish. And finish it, I did. In my opinion, they definately saved the best for last in this group of four short stories. Ruth Ryan Langan's Legacy was the best of the lot and the saving grace of the book with a delightful story. If you're a Robert/Robb fan like I am, by all means read this book. Just don't get your hopes up or set your expectations too high!

Share/Like this Review?

Very disappointed in this book. Robb was good, but not her usual caliber. The other stories were so boring!!!!!

Share/Like this Review?

I am half way through the book and I love it. I've read Missing in Death and it is a typical Eve Dallas book - great! The second story, Paticia Gaffney's The Dog Days of Laurie Summer is the first story I have read in a lonnnnnng time that I felt so good reading. It dabbles in reincarnation (I don't subscribe to that) but if you allow yourself to imagine, like when you were a kid, and you love dogs - you will LOVE this and want to buy that story for every pet lover you know.

Share/Like this Review?

This story originally appears in the anthology The Lost but in all honesty, I didnt read the other stories. I usually dont read anthologies because the stories are too short for my liking and dont seem to satisfy. Also, they are usually part of a bigger series and they dont seem to flow with the rest of the series they are a part of. But when it comes to Lieutenant Eve Dallas, Roarke, Peabody and the gang, a little bit of a story is better than nothing. I love this series so much and am so anal about reading the series in numerical order that I will overlook my rule about anthologies just so I can read these smaller stories.

Missing In Death provides a fast paced read with Dallas and Peabody investigating a disappearance of a tourist on the Staten Island Ferry. They, along with her family, fear the worst because the bathroom she was last seen going into is covered in blood and shes vanished without a trace. Just as suddenly as she disappeared, she returns, with a bump on her head and no memory of what happened to her or where she has been. This is where the real mystery begins. Dallas and Peabody are diligently following the clues to find out whose blood is all over the bathroom and locate the body and track down the killer.

This was definitely not the best Eve Dallas installment for obvious reasons but I did enjoy the unexpected twist Eve confronts while she is on the killers trail. When the killers identity is established, Eve faces a moral and ethical dilemma that would be hard for anyone to deal with, but she does and quite effectively. Had this been a full length novel, I am positive it would have received a higher rating but at least I got my Roarke fix until I dive into the next one.

Share/Like this Review?

Four authors, four stories, four excellent reads. A must for J.D. Robb fans.

Share/Like this Review?

"J. D. Robb "Missing in Death" investigates a female tourist's disappearance during a ferry ride. Detective Eve Dallas wonders - if she didn't jump, and she's not on board, then where in the world is she?

Patricia Gaffney "The Dog Days of Laurie Summer", a woman awakens to a familiar yet unsettling world.

Mary Blayney "Lost in Paradise", a man locked in an island fortress finds hope for freedom in an enigmatic nurse.

Ruth Ryan Langan "Legacy" belongs to a young woman who unearths a family secret buried on the grounds of a magnificent but imposing Irish castle."

The only reason I bought this book was for the JD Robb, Eve Dallas story. It was excellent as always and really got me in the mood to start Robb's "Kindred in Death". I seldom read anthologies, because as soon as you get involved in the story, it's finished. I always feel like I've been cheated. This is a good way to check out an author and occasionally I discover one that I might have missed otherwise. I quite liked Gaffney's story, where the character has been hurt in an accident and is in a coma. She comes back as a dog, that takes up with the family that is trying so hard to cope with the possibility that the mother and wife may not return to them. I found it humorous even while I fought tears for the pain of the 5 year old little boy. The other two stories were just so-so but as I only expected to like the Dallas story and bought the book solely for it, I'm still giving it 4 stars.

Share/Like this Review?

If you know the JD Robb "In Death" books, the first story in the book is a shorter and sweeter version of those books. I liked it. The 2nd story was a somewhat interesting take on what happens to a woman in a coma. Unfortunately, the 3rd and 4th stories were not good. The 3rd story I could not even read beyond the first few pages. The 4th one was like a bad Harlequin Romance. Happily it was short.

Overall I would not recommend this book. If you read JD Robb already, there is nothing new here. If you don't, I'm not sure you would get the characters and their idiosyncrasies. And although the 2nd story is a little interesting, the last two are so bad it is not worth the price of the book.

Share/Like this Review?

J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) is one of my favorite authors and I'm hooked on the "In-Death" series. The other three books were entertaining as well.

Share/Like this Review?

This was not the best book that I've ever read. However, if your looking for an entertaining light read for long summer days, this is your book. Definately a 'take to the beach' book.

Share/Like this Review?

MISSING IN DEATH by J. D. Robb investigates a female tourist's disappearance during a ferry ride. Detective Eve Dallas wonders -- if she didn't jump, and she's not on board, then where in the world is she? THE DOGS OF LAURIE SUMMER by Patricia Gaffney, a woman awakens to a familiar yet unsettling world.

LOST IN PARADISE by Mary Blayney, a man locked in an island fortress finds hope for freedom in an enigmatic nurse.

LEGACY by Ruth Ryan Langan belongs to a young woman who unearths a family secret buried on the grounds of a magnificent but imposing Irish castle.

Share/Like this Review?

Ordered this just for the JD Robb story. Didn't care much for the other stories. They were Boring.

Share/Like this Review?

I ordered this book on a swap just for the IN DEATH series by J D Robb. I was not interested in the other authors, did not consider reading them. Hooked on this series for years! Great addition in ongoing series, even tho it was a short novella.

Share/Like this Review?

I enjoyed the J.D. Robb story but the others didn't do a lot for me.

Share/Like this Review?

Nice read...

Share/Like this Review?

If you only read J D Robb and Patricia Gaffney this book is well worth it

Share/Like this Review?