Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Can’t Believe Robb Wrote One I Don’t Like


A secret vice of mine is reading J. D. Robb’s “In Death” series, murder mysteries set in New York City in the 2050’s-60’s.  What made these books quick fun reads was not only Dallas and Rourke, the main two characters, but the setting, so futuristic and ethically challenging given the advance of science and the loosening of old fashioned morals.  Unfortunately in her latest, Celebrity in Death, Robb has written a story that could have taken place in 1930, so devoid of setting and science fiction.  Robb is capitalizing on her cult fans, writing only a soap opera like update on what is going on in D & R’s love life and how Peabody is developing as a nascent detective.  Dallas doesn’t even have a meaningful argument with her butler!

The murder is classic Hollywood who killed the movie star schlock.  It is predictable, formulaic and way too easy to figure whodunit.  Robb, herself a celebrity, has turned deadly in her writing.





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