Book Blog #2

Book Blog #2
Nov. 16/09
By: Anthony Mariano
Under the pen name JD Robb, Nora Roberts continues the life and adventures of Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Detective Peabody, in “Origin In Death,” part of the “In Death” series. Set in New York City 2059, Eve and Peabody head to Dr. Wilfred B. Icove Sr. Center to study a case of a murder. Just as they were about to leave, another case falls into their heads. Dr. Wilfred B. Icove Sr. was found dead in his office, stabbed through the heart. Eve got a hold of a security tape of a woman exiting the office after the murder. Just like his father, Dr. Wilfred Icove Jr., was killed the same way a few days later. In the end, Eve and Peabody manage to uncover a private school that the Icoves founded and owned. In this school, the students were clones that were the works of the Icoves.
As the plot progresses many themes come up. When you read the words, “In Death,” murder comes to mind. We witness a murder right after the other, as Dr. Icove Sr. was killed a few days before his own son paid the price the same way. Also, the whole mystery is a crime fiction, meaning that the whole crime scene is based on untrue events. A crime was witnessed, an investigation was undertaken and a verdict was revealed.
Robb writes the book as if she was a Crime Scene Investigator. The language used were crime/murder terms and/or phrases to write. For example, Robb says this when she describes how Dr. Icove Sr. was murdered, “A silver handle protruded from the breast of the jacket, just under a triangle of red that accented the pocket.” The language that was said in the book seemed very convincing to the readers, as if the readers were reading a murder or investigating one themselves. It seems as if the reader was in the same situation as Eve and Peabody.
As the book progresses there were a few issues that came up. As the investigation continues, the reader tends to lose the entire plot and just want to close the book for good. For me personally, I totally almost lost interest in the book but managed to like it as soon as Eve was almost finished the case. In the plot, we witness the surviving members of the Icove family dealing with the losses of the people they love. Eve and Peabody were doing the best to help the grieving family, while trying to find out who killed the two kindest doctors.
“Origin In Death,” can be compared to William Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Both stories seem similar when the plot progresses, the people reading tend to become confused and people just want to close the book or leave the play, in general.
I feel as if the book could be improved, especially for its younger readers who love crime fiction. If the author could add some twists or more intensity to the book, it would make the readers not the put the books down. The author could use simpler terms, so that the reader could get a better understanding of the book.
The author used very little rhetorical devices. The only two that come up are themes and simile. The theme that keeps coming up in the book was murder; why will no one admit who killed the team of father and son. Robb also gave similes for the women who were involved in the murders: Dolores Nocho-Alvares: the last patient of Dr. Icove Sr., Avril Icove: Dr. Icove Jr.’s wife, and Deena Flavia: a clone.
In conclusion, I thought that the book was well written and convinced to readers. I would definitely recommend it for people who like crime fiction, a good mystery and want to be part of an investigation. Every time JD Robb comes up with a new concept for the “In Death,” series, it seems as if she is duplicating the success the other books have achieved. That is what makes her a good author.