Book Review: Devoted in Death by J. D. Robb

Devoted in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 41)
Publication: G.P. Putnam's Sons (September 15, 2015)

Description: Eve Dallas tracks a couple whose passion is fueled by cold brutality in the newest crime thriller from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Obsession in Death and Festive in Death.

When Lieutenant Eve Dallas examines a body in a downtown Manhattan alleyway, the victim’s injuries are so extensive that she almost misses the clue. Carved into the skin is the shape of a heart—and initials inside reading E and D. . .

Ella-Loo and her boyfriend, Darryl, had been separated while Darryl was a guest of the state of Oklahoma, and now that his sentence has been served they don’t ever intend to part again. Ella-Loo’s got dreams. And Darryl believes there are better ways to achieve your dreams than working for them. So they hit the road, and when their car breaks down in Arkansas, they make plans to take someone else’s. Then things get messy and they wind up killing someone—an experience that stokes a fierce, wild desire in Ella-Loo. A desire for Darryl. And a desire to kill again.

As they cross state lines on their way to New York to find the life they think they deserve, they will leave a trail of evil behind them. But now they’ve landed in the jurisdiction of Lieutenant Dallas and her team at the New York Police and Security Department. And with her husband, Roarke, at her side, she has every intention of hunting them down and giving them what they truly deserve . . .

My Thoughts: This In Death episode was definitely a police procedural as Eve and her team need to track down a pair of lovers who show their love for each other by torturing and murdering strangers. Eve comes in once the pair gets to New York. The first victim that Eve finds out about is a cellist named Dorian Kuper who was dumped on the street. Eve and Peabody do the usual checking out friends and family but it soon becomes apparent to them that he was a random victim. This starts Eve and Roarke trying to identify other similar cases.

Enter Deputy Will Banner from Arkansas who has also been tracking the pair on their killing spree across the country. He got involved because one of their earliest victims was an old guy that he was used to looking out for. The FBI has gotten involved but they don't believe Will's victim fits into their profile.

Eve calls in her friends and colleagues Morris, Mira, and McNabb to assist in the investigation as they rush to find something before the next victims are murdered. There was a lot of tension that kept building as Eve and her team uncovered clue after clue.

Outside of the investigation, tensions were high in the team because Trueheart l was scheduled to take the exam to become a detective and both he and his trainer Baxter were nervous about it. Luckily, Eve had lots for them to do to take their minds off the exam. As usual the humor in the story came from Eve misunderstanding some idioms and especially becoming confused about time zones as she sent her detectives to Arkansas and Oklahoma to dig into out criminals' pasts.

It was also good to see the comparison between Eve and Roarke's love for each other and the love of the two villains. It is good seeing that Eve and Roarke are settling into a strong, deep love and that Eve is becoming more comfortable with her emotions.

All in all, this was another excellent addition to this long-running series.

Favorite Quote:

She started to open the door, looked back at him. "Whatever came before, whatever comes after, I know what love is because of you."

He took her free hand. "Whatever came before, whatever comes after, it's you who've shown me love changes everything. Lifts everything. Gives everything."

I bought this book. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Devoted in Death by J. D. Robb

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

The first kill was an accident. Mostly.

Friday 56:

"The first one here," Eve began while the computer analyzed. "In September, in Nashville. Female, early twenties, missing for fifty-six hours. Found dead in an unoccupied home by the real-estate agent and a potential buyer."

"I bet that dropped the asking price."

This week I am spotlighting the 41st book in one of my must-read series. Devoted in Death by J. D. Robb is a futuristic mystery with wonderful characters. Here is the description from Amazon:

Eve Dallas tracks a couple whose passion is fueled by cold brutality in the newest crime thriller from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Obsession in Death and Festive in Death.

When Lieutenant Eve Dallas examines a body in a downtown Manhattan alleyway, the victim’s injuries are so extensive that she almost misses the clue. Carved into the skin is the shape of a heart—and initials inside reading E and D . . .

Ella-Loo and her boyfriend, Darryl, had been separated while Darryl was a guest of the state of Oklahoma, and now that his sentence has been served they don’t ever intend to part again. Ella-Loo’s got dreams. And Darryl believes there are better ways to achieve your dreams than working for them. So they hit the road, and when their car breaks down in Arkansas, they make plans to take someone else’s. Then things get messy and they wind up killing someone—an experience that stokes a fierce, wild desire in Ella-Loo. A desire for Darryl. And a desire to kill again.

As they cross state lines on their way to New York to find the life they think they deserve, they will leave a trail of evil behind them. But now they’ve landed in the jurisdiction of Lieutenant Dallas and her team at the New York Police and Security Department. And with her husband, Roarke, at her side, she has every intention of hunting them down and giving them what they truly deserve . . .

Book Review: Obssession in Death by J. D. Robb

Obsession in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 40)
Publication: G.P. Putnam's Sons (February 10, 2015)

Description: Eve Dallas has solved a lot of high-profile murders for the NYPSD and gotten a lot of media. She—and her billionaire husband—are getting accustomed to being objects of attention, of gossip, of speculation.

But now Eve has become the object of one person’s obsession. Someone who finds her extraordinary, and thinks about her every hour of every day. Who believes the two of them have a special relationship. Who would kill for her—again and again…

With a murderer reading meanings into her every move, handling this case will be a delicate—and dangerous—psychological dance. And Eve knows that underneath the worship and admiration, a terrible threat lies in wait. Because the beautiful lieutenant is not at all grateful for these bloody offerings from her “true and loyal friend.” And in time, idols always fall…

My Thoughts: Murder is always personal for Lieutenant Eve Dallas but this time it is more personal than usual. Some unknown admirer is killing people who they believe have disrespected Eve. The unknown admirer is leaving notes written in marker on the walls expressing her desire to be Eve's new best friend. Eve and her partner Peabody are determined to bring this murderer to justice.

Eve feels some guilt because the murderer is claiming to be killing for her. Eve is also quite sure that, when she disappoints the murderer by not acknowledging their acts, the murderer will turn on her. But before that happens, Eve needs to protect her friends. When she thinks about how many people she is close to, Eve begins to realize that she has built quite a family for herself.

I loved seeing Eve's scene with Mavis's little girl Bella. That scene, where Bella wants the diamond Roarke gave Eve, brings a touch of humor to an otherwise pretty dark story. Baffling as Eve finds the child, the love she has for her and for Mavis and Leonardo is really clear. Eve has formed so many connections in the course of these books but Mavis was her first friend.

I like that Eve and Roarke's relationship is growing stronger and stronger. Eve seems more easy with the idea that she loves him and more able to talk about her love for him. I love the way Roarke cares for and supports Eve.

This was an excellent story. I enjoyed reading about the police work done to try to narrow down the suspects to find the crazy person who was committing these crimes.

Favorite Quote:

"Who'd kill for you?" Peabody waited until Eve lowered her hands. "I mean who'd kill because somebody was rude to you, or, well, snotty."

"Nobody leaps to mind. I tend to avoid relationships with the homicidal."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Festive in Death by J. D. Robb

Festive in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 39)
Publication: Putnam Adult (September 9, 2014)

Description: Eve Dallas deals with a homicide—and the holiday season—in the latest from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Personal trainer Trey Ziegler was in peak physical condition. If you didn't count the kitchen knife in his well-toned chest.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas soon discovers a lineup of women who’d been loved and left by the narcissistic gym rat. While Dallas sorts through the list of Ziegler’s enemies, she’s also dealing with her Christmas shopping list—plus the guest list for her and her billionaire husband’s upcoming holiday bash.

Feeling less than festive, Dallas tries to put aside her distaste for the victim and solve the mystery of his death. There are just a few investigating days left before Christmas, and as New Year’s 2061 approaches, this homicide cop is resolved to stop a cold-blooded killer.

My Thoughts: In this 39th book in the In Death series Eve is getting ready for Christmas when she catches a case. Her hair and body consultant, the terrifying Trina, discovers the body of a personal trainer who had just broken off a relationship with a friend of hers.

The more Eve learns about the murdered Trey Ziegler, the less she likes him. He was a narcissistic user who drugged, raped and blackmailed. The list of women he did wrong and the men in their lives is really, really long. She has quite an array of suspects. As she and Peabody interview the variety of cheating spouses, Eve takes the time to articulate her views of marriage and the promises that are its core.

As the list of suspects narrow and Christmas gets closer, Eve is determined to get things done before the holidays. I love Eve's relationships with her friends. She is still getting used to the idea of having friends, of letting people into her life. I love how well she knows them and how she manages to get each one the perfect Christmas gift despite waiting until the last minute to get them.

I also love Eve's relationship with Roarke. Neither one of them takes the relationship they have for granted. Both are willing to work to keep it. I love the way that they continue to surprise and delight each other.

This is a marvelous series. I read it because I love Eve and Roarke. The mysteries are a side issue for me. This one had an intriguing one that kept me guessing up until the end. I can't wait to see what comes next.

Favorite Quote:

"I wouldn't have cheated in the first place."

"Well, yeah, but—"

"There's no 'but.'" Eve pulled open the car door, slid in. "You go into marriage, you plow a road. You're going to hit rough patches, and some may be rougher and last longer than others, but you've got choices to make. You work to smooth them out, you hold until they do, or they don't. You stick with the road, or you get off. But you don't do something to make it worse, don't do something that maybe makes you feel better for the short term while it sucker punches the person you're married to."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb

Concealed in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 38)
Publication: Putnam Adult (February 18, 2014)

Description: The incomparable J. D. Robb presents the latest moving and suspenseful novel in the #1New York Times–bestselling Eve Dallas series.

In a decrepit, long-empty New York building, Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband begins the demolition process by swinging a sledgehammer into a wall. When the dust clears, there are two skeletons wrapped in plastic behind it. He summons his wife immediately—and by the time she’s done with the crime scene, there are twelve murders to be solved.

The place once housed a makeshift shelter for troubled teenagers, back in the mid-2040s, and Eve tracks down the people who ran it. Between their recollections and the work of the force’s new forensic anthropologist, Eve begins to put names and faces to the remains. They are all young girls. A tattooed tough girl who dealt in illegal drugs. The runaway daughter of a pair of well-to-do doctors. They all had their stories. And they all lost their chance for a better life.

Then Eve discovers a connection between the victims and someone she knows. And she grows even more determined to reveal the secrets of the place that was called The Sanctuary—and the evil concealed in one human heart.

My Thoughts: This 38th visit to Eve and Roarke's world was a quieter episode than some. The story begins when Roarke finds some skeletal remains in a building that he has just purchased. It turns out that there are twelve sets of bones of young girls between the ages of 12 and 14,

Eve is determined, as usual, to find out who the girls are and to find out what happened to them. But most of all she is determined to bring the person who committed these crimes to justice. A new forensic anthropologist is introduced. She knows Roarke and is a beautiful, brainy fashion plate. Eve has to depend on her to identify the girls which rubs her the wrong way because it is giving up some control to a person she doesn't know or trust.

When tracing the history of the building, they learn that it was a shelter for young kids from abusive or disrupted backgrounds. The former owners - brother and sister Nashville and Philadelphia Jones - have moved their operation to a bigger and better space. Their operation is faith-based but in a non-denominational way. Their father was a missionary. Their younger brother was a missionary who was serving in Africa when he was killed by a lion.

As each girl is identified, the connections to the Jones' facility strengthen. But there is also a connection to a Fagin-like character who also helped girls on the street. However, his choice was to teach them to steal, pick pockets, and run various scams. Mavis was one of his protegees before she ran into Eve and became her friend. In fact, Mavis knows some of the girls who are discovered in the walls of the building. This case builds slowly to a conclusion I really didn't see coming.

On the personal front, Eve and Roarke are settling into their marriage. There were no fights or arguments in this one. Both were on the same page as they sympathized with the young victims and recalled that they could have been the same had they not been smarter, meaner, and luckier. It brought back uncomfortable childhood memories for each of them but showed how they have reached acceptance of their pasts.

I also really liked the dynamic of Eve looking at Dr. and Mr. Mira's marriage and wanting that sort of love and closeness for herself and Roarke. I really like her crush on Mr. Mira who is the role model for the father she didn't have.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this episode. I can't wait to see what happens for Eve and Roarke next.

Favorite Quote:

When they got out of the car, he took her hand. "I asked myself today what might have happened if I hadn't bought that place. Those girls might have been there years yet. Then I thought, no, not at all. It was meant to be now, and me, and you."

"You're awfully damn Irish sometimes."

"Meant to be," he said with a shrug. "We know those children, and caren't so far from being them once. So we'll neither of us stop until we find who they are, what happened to them, and who took the rest of their lives."

This series is on my "must buy" list. I bought this book. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Deception Cove by Jayne Castle

Deception Cove

Author: Jayne Castle

Publication: Jove (August 27, 2013)

Description: In the world of Harmony, Rainshadow Island is home to a mysterious preserve, secrets that have been kept for centuries, and a treasure worth killing for…
 
As a light-talent, Alice North has the rare ability to make things disappear, including herself—a gift that comes in handy during her magic act with her dust bunny Houdini.
 
Business mogul Drake Sebastian is day-blind, since his sight was nearly destroyed in a lab accident. But he’s the one man who can see Alice when she disappears—and he needs her.
 
On Rainshadow Island, two dangerous Old World crystals are missing, igniting a paranormal storm. Drake thinks Alice is the key to finding them, and proposes they head there, but only after a Marriage of Convenience.
 
Alice’s honeymoon on Rainshadow is guaranteed to be memorable, as the island—and the passion between her and Drake—is about to explode…

My Thoughts: How can you go wrong with a book that has dust bunnies? Alice's dust bunny companion is Houdini which a quite an appropriate name for a bunny that is part of a magic act. Alice has been trying to make a go of it as a magician using her light talent which lets her disappear. She is being harassed by the mother of the man she entered into a Marriage of Convenience with. When he was found dead, his mother blamed Alice. Really, he had tried to kill her on their honeymoon on Rainshadow Island. 

Now Drake Sebastian has found her. He wants her to go with him to Rainshadow Island because paranormal forces are going out of control and he hopes they will be able to stop them. Drake also convinces Alice to enter into a Marriage of Convenience. This one is quite different though because they both fall in love. 

I like the Rainshadow series by Jayne Castle because it is futuristic romance. I like the world that she has created with psychic talents, strong family bonds, and all sorts of alien ruins and artifacts. I also like the romances which pair up strong characters who are lucky enough to find their perfect mates.

For a fun futuristic romance, Jayne Castle can't be beat.

Favorite Quote:

"I do realize that, as honeymoons go, this one is probably not going to make any woman's top-ten list," he said.

"Now, see, that's where you're wrong," Alice said. "It's all a matter of perspective. I can promise you that this honeymoon is a lot more fun than my last one."

"Yeah?"

"Hey, this time my husband isn't trying to murder me. He's saving me from giant cockroaches."

"I like your glass-half-full attitude."

I bought this book. You can buy your copy here. 

Book Review: Thankless in Death by J. D. Robb

Thankless in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Putnam Adult (September 17, 2013)

Description: In the latest suspense thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, the year 2060 is drawing to a close in New York City and loved ones are coming together for Thanksgiving. But sometimes the deepest hatreds seethe within the closest relationships, and blood flows faster than water…

Lieutenant Eve Dallas has plenty to be grateful for this season. Hosting Roarke’s big Irish family for the holiday may be challenging, but it’s a joyful improvement on her own dark childhood.

Other couples aren't as lucky as Eve and Roarke. The Reinholds, for example, are lying in their home stabbed and bludgeoned almost beyond recognition. Those who knew them are stunned—and heartbroken by the evidence that they were murdered by their own son. Twenty-six-year-old Jerry hadn't made a great impression on the bosses who fired him or the girlfriend who dumped him—but they didn't think he was capable of this.

Turns out Jerry is not only capable of brutality but taking a liking to it. With the money he’s stolen from his parents and a long list of grievances, he intends to finally make his mark on the world. Eve and her team already know the who, how, and why of this murder. What they need to pinpoint is where Jerry’s going to strike next.

My Thoughts: This episode isn't a "who dunnit" because we know who the criminal is. Eve and the rest of the police know too. However, knowing who doesn't help if they can't find him or can't figure out who the killer will target next. 

What makes this episode creepy is that we spend time in the mind of the killer who who is so self-centered that he knows that nothing is ever his fault and that nothing he could do is ever wrong. Jerald Reinhold is the spoiled only child of loving parents. He can't hold a job because every job is beneath him and every boss has it in for him. He thinks nothing of stealing from his parents or freeloading on them. His girlfriend kicked him out when he didn't pay his share of the rent, stole from her and then hit her. Now his parents are getting ready to show some tough love and kick him out if he doesn't show an effort to get and keep a job. When his mother "nags" him, he picks up the knife she is using to make him a sandwich and stabs her more than 50 times. He decides that he really likes killing and lies in wait for his father. After killing him, he steals everything he thinks is valuable and decides it is time to even the score with all those who have done him wrong. 

This story takes place just before Thanksgiving. Eve also has to deal with the fact that many of Roarke's Irish relatives are coming to stay over Thanksgiving. Eve likes them all but is still uncomfortable with them all being there. She is also afraid that her job will get in the way of her doing as much with the family as she should which will let Roarke down. In addition, many of Eve and Roarke's other friends are scheduled to attend the Thanksgiving festivities.

To add even more pressure, Eve is to be given the Medal of Honor for solving some very spectacular cases. Roarke is to be given the Medal of Honor - Civilian too. Eve is not a fan of publicity. She doesn't do the job for the glory and hates that the ceremony will keep her from looking for this latest murderer. Then her boss offers her a promotion to Captain. Once, Eve would have jumped at it. Marrying Roarke of the questionable past slowed down her path to advancement because of politics. Choosing to marry Roarke was right for her. She doesn't hesitate very long before turning down the promotion. She knows that her strength is as an investigator. She doesn't want to become an administrator. At first, Roarke is surprised that she turned down the promotion but quickly understands Eve's reasoning. 

I love this series. I eagerly anticipate each new episode because I really like all the recurring characters. I think Eve and Roarke have a great relationship. I also like catching up on the lives of many of the secondary characters too. In this one, few secondary characters beyond Peabody had more than walk-on parts. 

Favorite Quote:

She couldn't stop their grief, and knew she couldn't take it on.

What she could do, would do, was pursue and catch the man who'd taken their daughter and forever changed their lives.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Thankless in Death by J. D. Robb

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

This week I am spotlighting Thankless in Death by J. D. Robb. I love this series and always move new books in the series to the top of my TBR stack. Here is the description of this 37th book in the series:

In the latest suspense thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, the year 2060 is drawing to a close in New York City and loved ones are coming together for Thanksgiving. But sometimes the deepest hatreds seethe within the closest relationships, and blood flows faster than water… 

Lieutenant Eve Dallas has plenty to be grateful for this season. Hosting Roarke’s big Irish family for the holiday may be challenging, but it’s a joyful improvement on her own dark childhood. 

Other couples aren’t as lucky as Eve and Roarke. The Reinholds, for example, are lying in their home stabbed and bludgeoned almost beyond recognition. Those who knew them are stunned—and heartbroken by the evidence that they were murdered by their own son. Twenty-six-year-old Jerry hadn't made a great impression on the bosses who fired him or the girlfriend who dumped him—but they didn't think he was capable of this.

 Turns out Jerry is not only capable of brutality but taking a liking to it. With the money he’s stolen from his parents and a long list of grievances, he intends to finally make his mark on the world. Eve and her team already know the who, how, and why of this murder. What they need to pinpoint is where Jerry’s going to strike next.

Beginning:

He was sick to death of her nagging.

Friday 56:

"Commander, I'm honored. But I didn't investigate, apprehend, or build the case alone. My team—"

Book Review: Purity in Death by J. D. Robb

Purity in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Berkley (August 27, 2002)

Description: Eve Dallas must face the impossible: someone has unleashed a computer virus that may be able to spread from machine to man.

My Thoughts: This episode of the In Death series highlights a difference between Eve and Roarke that they are going to have to adjust to. Eve's black and white view of the law versus Roarke's moral flexibility causes some conflict between the two of them as Eve investigates a terror organization that has found a way to pass a virus into the minds of those they have judged as criminals who have escaped the justice system. 

The story begins with a phone call from Officer Troy Trueheart who has answered a call for help and who killed the man who was beating a woman and who had killed her boyfriend. Eve rushes to his aide because he is one of her cops and discovers that things aren't adding up. Trueheart's stun shouldn't have killed this drug dealer whose target audience was school children. 

When the dealer's computer is brought to EDD, it contaminates one of the officers assigned to study it which causes him to stun and paralyze McNab and take Feaney hostage before Eve manages to disarm him. Then the virus kills him. Since Eve has recruited Roarke as an "expert consultant, civilian" he gets deeply involved in trying to trace down the virus without killing himself while Eve follows the more traditional police path of investigating.

For Eve, law is god. She is especially outraged by these murders because they are being committed by people who have taken the law into their own hands. She stands for the victims even though they are not nice people. These are people who are exploiting children - a drug dealer who preys on schoolchildren, a child molester, etc.

This episode also begins to put some shades of grey into Eve's black and white view of the world and the law. She has to decided how far she can push the line without becoming what she despises. She has to make compromises for the greater good.

On the personal front, Eve's relationship with Nadine Furst, Channel 75's star reporter gets a lot of play. And Eve's best friend Mavis swirls into the story very briefly to tell Eve that she is pregnant which opens up more strange emotional worlds for both Eve and Roarke.

This was another excellent and entertaining entry into the In Death series.

Favorite Quote:

"Man. God. Roarke."

"An interesting and flattering lineup," Roarke said to his wife's strangled call for help. "Here now, darling." Gently, he eased Peabody's death grip on Eve and with his arm led her into a small waiting area.

I am gradually buying Kindle copies of the In Death books are re-reading them as I go. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Reunion in Death by J. D. Robb

Reunion in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Berkley (March 5, 2002)

Description: A birthday bash sets the scene for a frightening reunion with a killer from Eve Dallas's past

At exactly 7:30 p.m., Walter Pettibone arrived home to over a hundred friends and family shouting, surprise! It was his birthday. Although he had known about the planned event for weeks, the real surprise was yet to come. At 8:45 p.m., a woman with emerald eyes and red hair handed him a glass of champagne. One sip of birthday bubbly, and he was dead.

The woman's name is Julie Dockport. No one at the party knew who she was. But Detective Eve Dallas remembers her all too well. Eve was personally responsible for her incarceration nearly ten years ago. And now, let out on good behavior, she still has nothing but bad intentions. It appears she wants to meet Dallas again -- in a reunion neither will forget.

My Thoughts: Just in time for Eve and Roarke's first wedding anniversary, an old enemy comes from Eve's past determined to take away the one thing she loves most - Roarke. This woman has made a career of meeting, marrying, and killing older men. She is an accomplished liar and very adept at presenting whatever image she needs. It is harder to track her down for this new set of killings because she has changed her pattern. She is still killing rich older men but she isn't forming a relationship with them first. The pieces of the story we get from her point of view show a thrill killer who is angry that she didn't get the respect she thought Eve owed her when she caught her the first time. 

Even while her Free Ager parents are visiting and charming everyone around them, Peabody gets her first cold case to investigate and amply shows that Eve's training is developing her into an excellent police officer. She even stands up to Eve once or twice which shows that their relationship is growing more to friendship and a relationship of equals. On another relationship front, LC Charles relationship is growing closer to Dr. Louise Dimatto. Louise has a bigger role in this one as she is called in to patch Eve up after various dangerous encounters. It is also at one of her fundraisers for her clinics in poor areas of town that the book's events come to a climax.

Eve is also starting to be willing to look into the past that has mostly haunted her nightmares since she was a child. When the case takes them to Dallas, Eve is forced to relive the time when she killed her father and escaped with a broken arm in the city. They find the hotel where she killed him and are surprised to find that it has undergone gentrification. The scenes where Eve and Roarke retrace Eve's steps are some of the most emotionally intense scenes I have ever read. 

This episode also sees Mira becoming more of a confident than just a colleague as Eve goes to talk to her and urges her to talk to Roarke too. 

This series has chilling villains and intriguing plots, but the best part for me is watching the relationships. I think watching Eve and Roarke build a strong marriage and relationship is the core of the series for me. This is, however, one of those series that has to be read in order. Yes, there are lots of books. But I recommend beginning this series and getting to know Eve and Roarke.

Favorite Quote:

"I didn't make you for a cop. That disturbed me for some time later as I prided myself for spotting a cop at half a mile in the dark. But when I turned and looked at you, I didn't see cop. I saw woman, I saw the woman, though I hadn't figured that out. I only knew that I looked, and I saw, and everything shifted. Nothing would be the same for me after that instant."

I am gradually buying and re-reading the In Death Series on my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Seduction in Death by J. D. Robb

Seduction in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Berkley (September 1, 2001)

Description: Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed—a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn’t intended to kill her. But now that he had, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt. Or start hunting again… 

My Thoughts: This episode in the In Death series is not a "whodunnit" but rather a police procedural where we watch Eve and her team gather the evidence needed to stop the murderers. The story begins when Eve is called to the case of the death of a young woman who might have jumped, or might have been pushed, from the balcony of her apartment. The death is witnessed by Dr. Louise Dimatto who Eve had met on an earlier case. Eve quickly learns that the young woman had been dosed with two unusual sex enhancement drugs. It was the amount and the combination that killed her.

We also get a look into the killer's minds. They are two rich boys who are playing a game. Their births were the result of the original experiments with the two drugs before it was learned how dangerous they were. One is a computer hacker and the other is the one who is making the drugs. Kevin is the one who accidentally killed the first girl but Lucias is the one who deliberately sets out to kill the second girl. The game escalates for them with Lucias being the leader and Kevin the tool who follows his lead. 

This case brings back some of the memories Eve has about her childhood where she was sexuallly and physcally abused by her own father which makes it a hard one for her to investigate. Roarke works with her as her civilian consultant as they try to track down the killers.

The big relationship issue in this story doesn't center on Eve and Roarke. Instead, McNab and Peabody's relationship is the focus. McNab is very jealous because he believes that Peabody's relationship with licenced companion Charles is sexual. Of course, Peabody hasn't told him that they are just good friends. When Charles and Louise meet and start a relationship, McNab is angry with Charles for hurting Peabody. They do manage to resolve their relationship issues and begin dating exclusively.

This was an enjoyable entry into this long-running series. 

Favorite Quote:

It didn't matter that they'd been together more than a year. It occurred to her that she would, very likely, have this leap of heart, this dazzling rush, every time she saw him for the rest of her life.

Eventually, it might stop embarrassing her.

I bought this one for my Kindle to read it again. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb

Betrayal in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Berkley (March 1, 2001)

Description: At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndown - and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. He's Sly Yost, a virtuoso of music and murder. A hit man for the elite. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows him well. But in this twisted case, knowing the killer doesn't help solve the crime. Because there's someone else involved. Someone with a more personal motive. And Eve must face a terrifying possibility - that the real target may, in fact, be her husband Roarke...

My Thoughts:  BETRAYAL IN DEATH is the twelfth book in the In Death Series. As the cover states, it deals with betrayal in many situations. Eve is at a party at one of Roarke's hotels when she is called to the murder of a chambermaid in the same hotel. The murder is brutal and was clearly done by a professional. It looks like the murder was done to hurt Roarke. Eve is determined to find the killer and protect her husband.

Roarke is busy arranging with actress Magda Lane to hold an auction of her movie memorabilia to fund a foundation to assist young actors. The memorabilia could bring in around one billion credits. Eve is concerned about the security surrounding the auction but that is quickly overshadowed first by the chambermaid's death and then by the death of another of Roarke's employees who is also killed in a property Roarke owns.

One of Roarke's old friends - long thought to be dead - arrives to visit Roarke too. Mick Connelly was one of the people that Roarke grew up with in Dublin. While Roarke has cleaned up his act, made a lot of money, and married Eve, Mick is still a very charming criminal. Eve worries about what he wants from Roarke. 

The hired killer's viewpoint is also given. He is a sociopath who lives for the finer things in life like opera, fine foods, clothing and wine. He is utterly creepy and terrifying. As Eve hunts for the him, she learns that the murders are part of a much larger plot.

For the more personal part of the story, Roarke and Eve are still adjusting to each other in their marriage. While they are great with each other, they are coming from very different backgrounds and sometimes that takes adjustments from both of them. Mick is a focus that highlights their different reactions. Eve also deepens her friendship with Peabody as she attempts - despite her strong desire not to get involved - to act as a relationship counselor when Peabody and McNab have a falling out. 

I love this series. Each episode deepens the relationship between Roarke and Eve, which I think is one a fiction's great romances, and each finds Eve expanding and deepening her circle of friends which is a sign that she is finally overcoming the horrible experiences of her childhood. Sometimes the mysteries take a backseat to the relationships but, in this case, the mystery and relationships were integral to each other. 

Favorite Quote:

"Mick was important to me, Eve. As close, likely closer than a brother might have been through some very ugly times, and some good ones. I thought he was dead, and I'd adjusted to that."

"And, now you know he isn't." She understood friendship, its pulls and tugs and puzzles. "Would you mind asking him not to do anything I'd have to arrest him for while he's staying in one of the guest rooms?"

I bought this ebook for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Judgment in Death by J. D. Robb

Judgment in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Berkley (September 1, 2000)

Description: In an uptown strip joint, a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon's a baseball bat. The motive's a mystery. It's a case of serious overkill that pushes Eve Dallas straight into overdrive. Her investigation uncovers a private club that's more than a hot spot. Purgatory's a last chance for atonement where everyone is judged. Where your ultimate fate depends on your most intimate sins. And where one cop's hidden secrets are about to plunge innocent souls into vice-ridden damnation... 

My Thoughts: JUDGMENT IN DEATH is the eleventh book in the In Death series. This is a re-read for me as I am enjoying the series again by reading all of the books in order. For me, I divide the books into three parts. The first part is the mystery itself. The second part is the growth of Eve and Roarke's relationship. The final part is how Eve's circle of friends is expanding.

First the mystery. Eve is called to one of Roarke's bars and finds that a cop who was moonlighting as a bartender had been brutally murdered. The investigation ties him to a previously blown investigation into crime boss Max Riker and to police corruption in the 128th Precinct. While I don't always remember various mysteries, this time I did remember who the murderer was. It was still entertaining to watch Eve do the investigation as she investigates Riker and the officers in the 128th.

Second the relationship. Eve and Roarke have a fight here because each of them is determined to protect the other. Eve goes to taunt Riker even though she knows that he and Roarke had a previous business relationship and Riker wants revenge on Roarke. Worse still, she panics and lies to Roarke about it. Roarke gives Eve the cold shoulder which throws her out of balance. A cute scene is the one where she and Mavis get drunk together and talk about what Eve should do. Even though this is the eleventh book in the series, by internal chronology, they have only been married for one year. Both of them are testing the boundaries of their relationship. 

Third Eve's circle of friends. Lieutenant Don Webster, now of Internal Affairs but formerly a one night stand for Eve, plays a big role in this episode. He makes a pass at Eve and Roarke beats him up which just compounds the problems he and Eve are having. Dr. Mira also admits to Eve that she thinks of her as a daughter which Eve characterizes as "weird but nice." What I find interesting is that we don't see Roarke's circle of friends but he is fitting seamlessly into hers. Anytime one of Roarke's friends makes an appearance in the series, they are always characterized as someone who was a friend from earlier in his life with whom he has lost contact. 

This was another great story in a series that just gets stronger with each book. 

Favorite Quote:

Into the night, in the dark, he lay beside her, listening to her breathe. He knew the varied and sundry reasons a man would kill. But none were more fierce, none were more vital than to hold safe what he loved.

I bought this one for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

This week I am spotlighting a book I got at ALA. Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard is a futuristic romance that was published on Nov. 2, 2010. Here is the description:

An intergalactic cold war-and some heated passion- from an inventive new voice in futuristic romance. 

After a stint in an alien prison, Captain Ari Rose wonders why she even bothered to survive. Stripped of her command and banished to her father's scientific expedition to finish a Ph.D. she doesn't want, Ari never planned to languish quietly behind a desk. She wasn't built for it, either. But when pirates commandeer her father's ship, Ari once again becomes a prisoner.

As far as pirate leader Cullin is concerned, Ari's past imprisonment puts her dead center in Cullin's sights. If she hasn't been brainwashed and returned as a spy, then he's convinced she must be part of a traitorous alliance endangering billions of lives. Cullin can't afford the desire she fires within him and he'll stop at nothing, including destroying her, to uncover the truth.

Beginning:

Sun glinting off the barrel of a gun stopped Captain Ari Idylle dead in her tracks. 

Friday 56:

Turrel scoffed. "After seeing her lockouts? Hell, no, I ain't going in that room."

Book Review: Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb

Calculated in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Putnam Adult (February 26, 2013)

Description: On Manhattan's Upper East Side a woman lies dead at the bottom of the stairs, stripped of all her valuables. Most cops might call it a mugging gone wrong, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows better.

A well-off accountant and a beloved wife and mother, Marta Dickenson doesn’t seem the type to be on anyone's hit list. But when Eve and her partner, Peabody, find blood inside the building, the lieutenant knows Marta's murder was the work of a killer who's trained, but not professional or smart enough to remove all the evidence.

But when someone steals the files out of Marta's office, Eve must immerse herself in her billionaire husband Roarke's world of big business to figure out who's cruel and callous enough to hire a hit on an innocent woman. And as the killer's violent streak begins to escalate, Eve knows she has to draw him out, even if it means using herself as bait. . . .

My Thoughts: CALCULATED IN DEATH, the 36th book in the In Death series, emphasized the police procedural. This story was very focused on Eve solving the case of the death of an accountant, mother of two and happily married. She also happened to be the sister-in-law of one of Eve's favorite judges. 

This mystery finds Eve deep in the world of big business. Luckily, she has an expert guide in her husband Roarke who is the biggest of big businessmen. Eve has to follow the trail and untangle the threads that bind a number of companies together uncovering fraud, money laundering, and other scams while she is digging. Along the way another accountant is killed and one of the partners in an investment business too. Eve is pretty sure which over-privileged but not over-bright executive is pulling the strings but she has to set herself up as a target before they can catch the underling who is actually doing the killing.

This was a very enjoyable mystery and I loved the byplay between Eve and Roarke. This one showed how well they have come to know each other and how well they work in tandem. But I missed the contributions of the many characters we have seen in the series. The only other character who had a substantial role in this one was Peabody who was her charming self. We just had cameos by McNab and Feeney, Mira and Nadine Furst, and Mavis and Leonardo.

I liked the recurring references to the upcoming movie premiere and the necessity for Eve's appearance on the Red Carpet. You could just tell that Eve would rather be anywhere else. At least, she wanted to be anywhere else until she arranged to trap the killer there. I also liked that Eve was more nervous about having Trina do her hair and make-up than she was at the possibility that the killer would succeed in his plan to eliminate Eve and Peabody.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this one. I think it would also work for newcomers to the series as an entry point without having to read the previous 35 books. 

Favorite Quote:

"That's a lot of vegetables."

"It is, yes, and if you eat them like a good girl..." He lifted the silver lid on another plate, revealed a small pizza, with pepperoni arranged into a smiley face.

She tried to give him a stony stare, but the laugh won out. "You think you're cute, don't you, pal?"

"Adorable."

"In this case, you can have adorable. Ow!" She managed the stony stare when he slapped her hand away from the pizza.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here. 

Friday Memes: Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I looked to my TBR mountain for this week's spotlighted book. I chose Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb which is the 36th book in this series according to Fantastic Fiction. I have loved every one of these futuristic mystery romances and don't expect this one to be an exception. Here is the description:

On Manhattan's Upper East Side a woman lies dead at the bottom of the stairs, stripped of all her valuables. Most cops might call it a mugging gone wrong, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows better.

A well-off accountant and a beloved wife and mother, Marta Dickenson doesn’t seem the type to be on anyone's hit list. But when Eve and her partner, Peabody, find blood inside the building, the lieutenant knows Marta's murder was the work of a killer who's trained, but not professional or smart enough to remove all the evidence.

But when someone steals the files out of Marta's office, Eve must immerse herself in her billionaire husband Roarke's world of big business to figure out who's cruel and callous enough to hire a hit on an innocent woman. And as the killer's violent streak begins to escalate, Eve knows she has to draw him out, even if it means using herself as bait. . . .

Beginning:

A killer wind hurled bitter November air, toothy little knives to gnaw at the bones. She'd forgotten her gloves, but that was just as well as she'd have ruined yet another overpriced pair once she was sealed up.

For now, Lieutenant Eve Dallas stuck her frozen hands in the warm pockets of her coat and looked down at death.

Friday 56:

She had more in her own smaller space at Central, Eve realized. Little things—the paperweight mostly to give her something to pick up, fiddle with; the sun catcher in her tiny window, just because she liked it there; the silly talking gun Peabody had given her, because it made her laugh. 

WoW: Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for. I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist though. Be warned!

This week I am waiting for Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb. I have completely lost track of what number book this will be in the In Death series of futuristic mystery/romances but I know I must have this latest episode. I need to spend time with Eve and Roarke and watch their relationship grow. They are probably one of my favorite literary couples. 

Here is the description of this Feb. 26 release:

On Manhattan's Upper East Side a woman lies dead at the bottom of the stairs, stripped of all her valuables. Most cops might call it a mugging gone wrong, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows better.

A well-off accountant and a beloved wife and mother, Marta Dickenson doesn’t seem the type to be on anyone's hit list. But when Eve and her partner, Peabody, find blood inside the building, the lieutenant knows Marta's murder was the work of a killer who's trained, but not professional or smart enough to remove all the evidence.

But when someone steals the files out of Marta's office, Eve must immerse herself in her billionaire husband Roarke's world of big business to figure out who's cruel and callous enough to hire a hit on an innocent woman. And as the killer's violent streak begins to escalate, Eve knows she has to draw him out, even if it means using herself as bait. . . .

WoW: Calculated in Death by J. D. Robb

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is where we can post our links and see what books others are waiting for. It spotlights upcoming releases.

J. D. Robb is another on my list of auto-buy authors. Calculated in Death which is the 36th book in the In Death series will be published on Feb. 26, 2013. Here is the description:

On Manhattan's Upper East Side a woman lies dead at the bottom of the stairs, stripped of all her valuables. Most cops might call it a mugging gone wrong, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows better.

A well-off accountant and a beloved wife and mother, Marta Dickenson doesn’t seem the type to be on anyone's hit list. But when Eve and her partner, Peabody, find blood inside the building, the lieutenant knows Marta's murder was the work of a killer who's trained, but not professional or smart enough to remove all the evidence.

But when someone steals the files out of Marta's office, Eve must immerse herself in her billionaire husband Roarke's world of big business to figure out who's cruel and callous enough to hire a hit on an innocent woman. And as the killer's violent streak begins to escalate, Eve knows she has to draw him out, even if it means using herself as bait. . . .

Book Review: Delusion in Death by J. D. Robb

Delusion in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Putnam Adult (September 11, 2012)

Description: It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks . . .until something went terribly wrong. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics gives its report, the mass delusions make more sense: It appears the
bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive anyone to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn’t explain who would unleash such horror—or why. And if Eve can’t figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it’s airborne. . . .

My Thoughts: This was another strong entry in the long-running In Death series. By internal chronology, Eve and Roarke have only known each other for two and a half years. I have been reading these books since 1995. 

This episode is more of a police procedural than has been the case in recent novels. Eve is called in to work a case where people in one of Roarke's bars went crazy and killed each other - eighty-three of them. Someone released an air-borne drug cocktail with LSD and other components that caused hallucinations and triggered violence. Eve as a huge number of suspects to sort through as she tries to decide if this is some new outbreak of terrorism or some more mundane murder plot. 

Eve is also still dealing with the repercussions of her meeting with her biological mother and the trauma that caused in her life. While she has always had nightmares about her abusive childhood, since her return from Dallas they have become much more severe. Roarke manages to convince her to finally talk with Mira about the dreams. He uses some marital blackmail and convinces Eve to see Mira because he can't stand the pain she is in. 

The case has a lot of resemblance to some terrorist attacks that happened in Europe during the Urban Wars. Sommerset shares some information that puts Eve on the right track. It was interesting to see how the relationship between Eve and Sommerset has changed over the course of thirty-five books.

Because there is the possibility of terrorism, Homeland Security gets involved in the case. This is hard for Roarke because Eve convinced him not to destroy Homeland when he found out that they knew Eve was being abused by her father and let it continue because they were watching him for other reasons. Roarke had to put aside his need for revenge at Eve's request. Luckily, Homeland has done some housecleaning of its own and sends and agent that Eve can both like and respect to work with her.

Together Eve and her team, along with Roarke's able assistance, manage to build a case against the suspect and stop him before he can complete all of his terroristic plans. After the first half, this wasn't so much a "whodunnit" as a "how can we gather the evidence to prove it" sort of mystery.

I always treasure each new opportunity to visit with Eve and Roarke and really enjoyed this episode. I can't wait for the next one to arrive.

Favorite Quote:

She turned to him. "You can start with money, power, and position since that's your deal."

"All right."

"I'll take jealousy, personal gripes, and the rest."

"Because that's your deal?"

She shrugged. "If you cheated on me, I wouldn't kill a bar full of people. Just you," she said with a big smile. "And I'd do it myself because that's how much I care."

"I'm touched." He moved to her, cupped her face. "Don't work yourself into a stupor. You have to take your own power and position at your eight o'clock briefing."

I bought this one as I have all the rest of the In Death series. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Delusion in Death

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

This week I am spotlighting Delusion in Death by J. D. Robb. This is the 35th novel in the In Death series. This series hasn't lost its luster for me. I still eagerly await each new title in this futuristic mystery series. Here is the description of this latest story:

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks . . .until something went terribly wrong. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics gives its report, the mass delusions make more sense: It appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive anyone to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn’t explain who would unleash such horror—or why. And if Eve can’t figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it’s airborne. . . .

Beginning:

After a killer day at the office, nothing smoothed those raw edges like happy hour.

Friday 56:

"You make a good aide."

"I can get you more, if and when you need it."