Imitation in Death

Whatever name she's writing under, mega-bestselling author Nora Roberts crafts top-notch stories with engaging characters and compelling plots. The latest volume in her near-future mystery series starring New York City homicide detective Eve Dallas is a perfect example of that: In Imitation in Death, summer has come to the city, but it's anything but a vacation for Eve as a serial killer with a flair for the dramatic begins a deadly game. The first victim is a prostitute, found slashed to death in an alley. What makes the case unusual is the message found beside the body -- a taunting note on expensive paper, addressed to Eve and signed with the name Jack. Initial clues point to a wannabe Jack the Ripper. But, as the body count rises, the elusive killer's M.O. shifts in baffling new directions, turning up the heat on the investigation.