Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Naked in Death
- Author: J. D. Robb
- Narrator: Susan Ericksen
- Length: 09:46:27
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 16/05/2017
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Detective Stories
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
The first time I heard Susan Ericksen’s voice wrap around J.D. Robb’s words, I was driving through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo at midnight. The way the city’s pulsing lights reflected off rain-slicked surfaces mirrored perfectly the high-tech, hard-edged world of 2058 New York that Robb creates in “Naked in Death”. It was one of those rare moments where setting, story, and performance aligned into something transcendent – the kind of experience I’m always chasing in my literary travels.
“”A Noir Love Letter to the Future””
Robb’s futuristic police procedural (a pen name for the prolific Nora Roberts) unfolds like the best street food you’ll ever taste – complex layers of spice and heat wrapped in deceptively simple packaging. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is that perfect combination of tough and vulnerable that makes great detective fiction sing. Her New York of 2058 feels simultaneously familiar and alien, like walking through your hometown after decades away – you recognize the bones of the place, but the skin has changed.
Ericksen’s narration captures this duality brilliantly. Her Eve Dallas voice has the rasp of someone who’s smoked too many cigarettes and seen too much darkness, but there’s an unexpected warmth when she voices Roarke, the enigmatic billionaire who becomes both suspect and love interest. I found myself thinking of those Oaxacan nights listening to the abuela’s stories – how the best storytellers know exactly when to let silence do the talking. Ericksen has that same mastery of pacing, letting Robb’s crackling dialogue breathe when needed.
“”A Sensory Feast””
What struck me most was how the audio format amplified Robb’s world-building. The descriptions of futuristic tech – the auto-chefs, the voice-controlled homes, the forensic advancements – take on new life when heard aloud. It reminds me of listening to Asimov’s robot stories around a campfire in Patagonia, how spoken words can make the speculative feel tangible. When Eve examines a crime scene or tests a new piece of equipment, you can almost hear the hum of machinery, smell the antiseptic tang of the morgue.
The central romance unfolds with delicious tension. Robb has always excelled at creating chemistry that feels earned rather than inevitable, and Ericksen nails the push-pull dynamic between Eve and Roarke. Their early exchanges crackle with the same dangerous energy as two knife fighters circling in close quarters – every word a feint or parry. It’s a masterclass in romantic suspense narration.
“”Balancing Futurism and Familiarity””
Some listeners might find the 2058 setting occasionally uneven – the tech feels advanced in some areas (flying cars, advanced forensics) while oddly retro in others (characters still use landlines). Yet this somehow works, creating a world that’s just off-kilter enough to intrigue without overwhelming. Ericksen’s steady narration grounds these elements, treating even the most futuristic concepts with matter-of-fact delivery that makes them feel lived-in.
The mystery itself is tightly plotted, with enough red herrings to keep you guessing but never so many as to frustrate. Robb understands the golden rule of detective fiction: the solution should surprise but feel inevitable in retrospect. Ericksen’s ability to subtly shift tone clues listeners in to when we’re being misdirected versus when we’re getting genuine clues – a crucial skill for mystery narration.
“”Minor Quibbles””
If I have any criticism, it’s that some supporting characters verge on caricature (the brash best friend, the crusty police chief). Yet even these Ericksen elevates through vocal nuance, finding the humanity beneath the tropes. The audiobook’s production values are solid though unspectacular – clean recording quality but lacking the atmospheric music or effects that some full-cast productions employ. Personally, I prefer this straightforward approach for crime fiction where clarity is paramount.
“”Who Will Love This?””
Fans of Kay Scarpetta will appreciate Eve’s no-nonsense professionalism. Devotees of romantic suspense will find the central relationship deeply satisfying. And anyone who enjoys their sci-fi grounded in emotional truth will relish Robb’s vision of the future. It’s the perfect listen for a long train journey or night drive when you want to be transported somewhere both strange and familiar.
As I discovered that night in Tokyo, “Naked in Death” gains something special in audio form. The way Ericksen voices Eve’s dry humor and hidden vulnerabilities makes the character feel like someone you could meet at a back-alley bar in any city – if that city happened to be a version of New York where the future arrived but didn’t erase the past. That’s the magic Robb and Ericksen create together: a world high-tech enough to dazzle but human enough to believe in.
Until our next literary adventure, keep your passport stamped and your headphones ready.
Marcus Rivera
