Nora Roberts. . .where do I start? She's a master of formula, but not much else. To be fair, I've only read the first IN DEATH book, along with another of her novels, which I couldn't get past page fifty because of its utter failure in concept, plot, and execution. But alas,this isn't about that.

Glory in Death, Roberts second novel in the story of Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her flamboyant billionaire lover Roarke, starts with the murder of a well-known criminal attorney named Cicely Towers. The breadcrumb trail that follows from there is a series of rollarcoaster ups and downs--not always for the best reasons.

Techincally, Roberts is a sound writer. She's sleek and lean, but gives you enough to immerse yourself within the narrative. However, at times you can be left sctratching your head at rather odd, and sometimes unrealistic charactization. Eve Dallas, for instance, is a tough ass cop who takes her job very, very seriously, and yet, we are to believe she can hop from solving a chilling murder case to being melted like butter in the arms of her luxiourous lover like a teenage girl. And Roarke himself seems to be a bit of a crybaby in a couple spots about his desire for her to profress she loves him.

Within the first fifty pages of the novel, there is serious tension between them that is very enjoyable as it escalates, but within the next fifty pages all is well and they both can't get enough of each other in their fits of sex. Which leaves me, the reader, to wonder why the hell this was even included, as the whole angle is seemginly thrown away. In truth it serves as a transition for their overall relationship, which is explained with more satisfying and organic answers(err. . .in retrospect, maybe not)near the end of the book, but the immediate effect is pretty disappointing.

Roberts loses the plot here and there up until the last one hundred pages, which I actaully blazed though this evening. While I have reservations about Robert's abilty to tell a "get together" romance(the first book had my eyes rolling constantly), she is much better suited for the "maitenance" side of fictional couples, which also allows her to focus more attention to the plot, which, while not exactly the cleverest brain teaser in the world, is enjoyable in the guilty pleasure sense.

All in all, a three star effort on Mrs. Roberts part. This could have been a four star if not for the flaws. I will most certainly be reading the third book in the In Death series in the future. I recommend to anyone who'd be willing to tolerate the first book's misteps.