Festive In Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Festive in Death
In Death series – Book #39
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: September 9, 2014

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Description:
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.

Review:
Festive in Death by J.D. Robb, is the 39^th book (does not count all the novellas, as she does at least one novella a year) in her fantastic In Death series. Of course, we all know (if you don’t, you are behind the times 🙂 ) that J.D. is really Nora Roberts. This my all-time favorite series that I anxiously await each book. The In-Death series is about crime, murder and mystery, which at times can be very violent, but the best part of this series are the leading characters that we get to spend time with book after book. My favorite couple, Eve & Roarke, and the best group of secondary characters ever – Peabody, Summerset, Mira, Nadine, Mavis, Baxter, McNab, Feeney, and Galahad, just to name a few.

Festive in Death was a bit different then the norm, as it was not terribly violent or a race against time to find the killer. There is a murder that starts off the story, as Eve is called to the scene in the middle of the night. But as she investigates, the victim is very disliked by all, with no one, including Eve and her team sympathetic. But Eve always stands for the dead, and even if the victim may have deserved his fate, the search for the killer is necessary. This is a story is a complicated mystery, with so many suspects, and as Eve, Peabody, Roarke delve deeper, the victim turns out to be even more despicable. Throughout the story, there are many twists and turns that you have no idea who the killer is.

While the investigation is ongoing, Eve must do her favorite thing. Christmas is close and she needs to shop for gifts. More so now, since she has built a group of friends over the years. Our beloved Roarke is throwing his annual Christmas party, which is so much fun to watch, as Roark and Eve’s co-workers, and friends mingle. I loves watching Eve give out the gifts to her special friends, and the whole holiday spirit. Once again, I have to mention how spectacular Eve and Roarke are as a couple. J.D. Robb does a super job showing us the love they feel for each other, as well as their love scenes, which are done so well, without being erotic, but feeling the chemistry and leaving so much to the imagination.

Festive in Death was an excellent and fun addition to this series. It was a welcome break from some of the squeamish violence in some of the past novels, and because of this, the action was a bit slower, with the focus more toward the mystery. I love this series, and look forward to the next book to spend more time with Eve, Roarke and friends.

Reviewed by Barb