This book is one of the few so far in this series that has really given me the shivers. I do like crime procedural TV shows so it takes something to creep me out like Origin in Death did. Things start off normal with Eve interviewing a starlet who was beaten by her lover right before she killed him with a knife, but then the story is thrown for a loop when a doctor is killed in his office at the very hospital Eve is visiting. This begins a complex and eventually shiver-inducing mystery into the reason behind the good doctor's death.
Eve really has to dig into the deeper realms of human motivation and how far someone will go to reach their ultimate goals. I was impressed with her careful handling of the sensitive situation especially when her own past trauma kept rearing its head. I also liked the fact that she was determined to do right by the people who had been hurt (physically and emotionally) by the Doctors Icove. The In Death series takes place in 2059, but it doesn't always give me a sci-fi feel despite the advanced technology and off-planet discussions. Origin in Death is definitely one that emphasizes the futuristic setting with the advances of medical technology as well as the ethics behind such knowledge.
While Eve is handling this complicated case, she is also dealing with the fact that Thanksgiving is approaching and many of Roarke's newly discovered family members are coming over from Ireland. It is rare to see the suave Roarke in a state of discomfort and I liked getting to see more proof that he is actually human. There are also, of course, plenty of interesting interactions with side characters. I especially enjoyed seeing Eve and Dr. Mira have an argument regarding medical ethics and the Doctors Icove's real motives. And I have to mention the hilarious scene where Eve, Peabody, Mavis, Nadine, and Louise all have a spa treatment day with terrifying Trina, one of the few people Eve is genuinely afraid of.
All in all, another successful (if a bit freaky) installment in the series. Susan Ericksen brings her impeccable narration to the table for a story that grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go until the last page.
1
