Imitation in Death (In Death, #17) by J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #17
Published by Berkley Books on August 26, 2003
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 342
Goodreads

FINAL DECISION: This is an interesting entry in the In Death series that balances a very creepy mystery with meaningful character development, especially for Eve and Peabody.

THE STORY: Lieutenant Eve Dallas faces a challenging case when a killer starts imitating infamous serial killers from history. As the body count rises, Eve must delve into the minds of both the current killer and the historical murderers they’re copying. Meanwhile, Eve continues navigating her personal growth and relationships as her past continues to comes back to her.

OPINION: IMITATION IN DEATH delivers a well-crafted mystery while developing the character relationships that make this series so compelling for me. The central case is one that is creepy as the killer imitates famous serial killers. The concept provides a fresh angle that keeps the investigation engaging. Robb handles the darker elements with skill, balancing the grim nature of the crimes with moments of levity and personal interaction. The book, as others in the series, is not unduly graphic despite the killings.

As always, the heart of the book lies in the character development. Eve’s growth continues to be a highlight as she becomes more comfortable with her role not just as a cop but also as a friend, wife, and part of a larger community. Her interactions with Roarke remain a cornerstone of the series, showing their partnership’s strength and individual growth. There is a new twist to Eve’s development as more of her past comes to light.

The secondary characters also get their moments to shine. Peabody’s development as she strives to reach the rank of detective and the various personal tidbits all add depth to the narrative. It’s particularly satisfying to see how the recurring characters continue to evolve, making the series’ world feel increasingly rich and lived-in. What I really love about this series are the characters and their interaction so every book that develops those stories and relationships is of particular interest to me. Here, the development of the relationship between Peabody and Eve is particularly special and I really enjoyed the last 10 percent of the book because of it.

WORTH MENTIONING: This entire series takes place over such a short period of time despite the years over which the books were written. It is sometimes surprising that this book picks up right after the prior ones. Specifically, Eve is enjoying Summerset being gone…until he is not.

CONNECTED BOOKS: IMITATION IN DEATH is the 17th book in the In Death series. While the mystery in this book is standalone, there are continuing and overarching storylines (especially regarding character relationships and development) that continue from book to book. I recommend reading the series in order, although it is not necessary.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.