Genre: Futuristic Suspense
Series: In Death #11
Publication Date: 2000
ISBN: 0425173631
Page Count: 368
Rating: ★★★
Review Copy: Audiobook
When a celebrity is killed right before her eyes, New York detective Eve Dallas takes a new place in crime - as both officer and witness to murder...
Opening night at New York's New Globe Theater turns from stage scene to crime scene when the leading man is stabbed to death center stage. Now Eve Dallas has a high-profile, celebrity homicide on her hands. Not only is she lead detective, she's also a witness - and when the press discovers that her husband owns the theater, there's more media spotlight than either can handle. The only way out is to move fast. Question everyone and everything...and in the meantime, try to tell the difference between the truth - and really good acting...
This was a slight dip in the road for me for the In Death series. The quality of the wrting was at its usual exceptional level; fast-paced, gritty, funny, sentimental. All the usual good stuff. But unfortunately this time the subject matter of the crime simply didn't ignite my imagination. I'm sure it was just a personal thing.
There's a murder within the first few paragraphs right on the stage in front of Eve during a performance of a play that's being backed by her squillionaire husband, Roarke. So the killer is known right from the beginning, but the question really is, who switched the fake knife for a very real one?
I didn't really like the cast of self-adsorbed, borderline narcissistic actors and luvvies. They weren't supposed to be enjoyable, I don't suppose, but it also had a somewhat old fashioned feeling to the format. A bit like an old Agatha Christie or Hercule Poirot, where all the players are known, and it's just a question of interrogating each of them until somebody spills their guts. Like I said, it just wasn't for me.
However, I'd say it was worth reading it for one hilarious scene alone. Eve gets her new computer unit in her office at Cop Central. Funniest. Scene. Ever. The narrator truly outdid herself on it.
I'm also loving the developments with MacNab and Peabody. So cute, I really hope it keeps going.
So, all in all not my favourite of the series, but not without a few high points, either.
3 Stars ★★★
This play in this book is based on the movie, Witness for the Prosecution, a pretty old movie. Since I'd seen it, it had more appeal for me (not by much). However, the highlight for me was the scene where Eve tries to plan and orchestrate dinner for Roarke. That's a classic:)
ReplyDeleteAh, I did not know that. Well it's not going to affect my love of the series. Like I said, it just wasn't to my personal taste. I prefer the ones that concentrate more on the futuristic elements; the drugs, gadgets and weapons of the time, and this didn't really utilise any of those.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great scene (the dinner) "Who has 50 different kinds of plates?" lol