Tag Archives: Eve Dallas

Golden in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Posted on by
10

Golden in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Pediatrician Kent Abner received the package on a beautiful April morning. Inside was a cheap trinket, a golden egg that could be opened into two halves. When he pried it apart, highly toxic airborne fumes entered his body―and killed him.

After Eve Dallas calls the hazmat team―and undergoes testing to reassure both her and her husband that she hasn’t been exposed―it’s time to look into Dr. Abner’s past and relationships. Not every victim Eve encounters is an angel, but it seems that Abner came pretty close―though he did ruffle some feathers over the years by taking stands for the weak and defenseless. While the lab tries to identify the deadly toxin, Eve hunts for the sender. But when someone else dies in the same grisly manner, it becomes clear that she’s dealing with either a madman―or someone who has a hidden and elusive connection to both victims

 

 

Review:

Golden in Death by J.D. Robb is the 50th book in her fantastic In-Death series, featuring our favorite couple in the literary world, Eve Dallas and Roarke.  I am a big fan of this series, having read every single book, including novellas.

The story starts with a bang, as we watch pediatrician Kent Abner, open a package that was delivered to his door. When he opened the package, a golden egg, which released a horrible airborne toxic that kills him immediately.  When the police arrive on the scene, they are fortunate that the toxic evaporated, allowing the hazmat team to investigate, and our heroine, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody, who were called to the scene.  Eve and Peabody have to notify Abner’s husband of his death, and after talking to many, they are stumped as to why Abner was murdered, as he was a very popular doctor with no enemies.

Eve brings in many members of her team, as well as Mira and Morris to try and get more clues as to why and who would attempt this horrible crime.  Things change when a second person (a woman) is killed the same way, opening the golden egg chemical toxin and dying immediately.  It is then that Eve sees some small connection between the two deaths and the investigation turns to the school Abner’s husband works at, as well as the second victim’s husband; the murderer seems to be targeting the significant others.

What follows is Dallas, Peabody and Roarke investigating all the parties from around 8 years ago, who were involved in the school scandal.  Along the way, they meet some very unlikeable characters, as well as those suffered back in the day by those unlikeable people.  The clues will build up, as Eve’s gut leans her toward the suspects.  How can they prove who they are before they kill someone else?

What I also love about this series is seeing all the wonderful recurring characters that we have come to love, and Eve’s entire police team who help her along the way.  Of course, we love spending all that time with Peabody, Mira, McNab, Morris, Feeney, just to name a few.  It was great to see Louise and Charles again; and also got a kick out of Harvo.

Again, I will say I just love the relationship between Eve and Roarke, and in this book it was even better; showing a sweeter and more confident Eve, as she has fully realizes how much her love for Roarke makes her a happier and stronger person. They are so great together…… the best literary couple ever. 

Golden in Death was very exciting, intriguing, tense and even dark (when we watch the victim suffer the toxic death), but it was such a fantastic read; totally perfect for Robb’s 50th anniversary.  From start to finish, there was never a dull moment.  J.D. Robb once again gives us a fantastic addition to this wonderful series; which I hope she never stops writing.  This was so well written by Robb, and if you have not started this series…..What are you waiting for?

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Posted on by
12

Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
The predator becomes the prey in the newest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring homicide detective Eve Dallas.

She calls herself Lady Justice. And once she has chosen a man as her target, she turns herself into a tall blonde or a curvaceous redhead, makes herself as alluring and seductive as possible to them. Once they are in her grasp, they are powerless.

The first victim is wealthy businessman Nigel McEnroy. His company’s human resources department has already paid out settlements to a couple of his young victims—but they don’t know that his crimes go far beyond workplace harassment. Lady Justice knows. And in one shocking night of brutality, she makes him pay a much steeper price.

Now Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, are combing through the evidence of McEnroy’s secret life. His compulsive need to record his misdeeds provides them with a wide range of suspects, but the true identity of Lady Justice remains elusive. It’s a challenging case, made even more difficult by McEnroy’s widow, who reacts to the investigation with fury, denial, and threats. Meanwhile, Lady Justice’s criminal crusade is escalating rapidly, and if Eve can’t stop this vigilante, there’s no telling how much blood may be spilled…

 

 

Review:

Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb is the 49th book in her wonderful In Death series.  I am a huge fan of this series, with our fantastic heroine Eve Dallas, and her awesome sexy husband, Roarke.  Forty Nine books later, not to mention novellas, I still cannot get enough of Eve and Roarke.

Vendetta in Death was an intense and exciting story, with a violent murderer called Lady Justice.  Eve is dispatched to the scene of a horribly mutilated body, and from there, she, Roarke and Peabody become enmeshed into a case that is not only violent, but also emotional, as the victims are not nice men.

The first victim, Nigel McEnroy was a wealthy respected businessman, who was devoted to his family; but behind the scenes he was a dark and evil man, who preyed on women, either women he hired for his company, or those he picked up in bars. Nigel would drug the women, and rape them, then he would blackmail them to keep it quiet.  The second victim left his wife for a younger woman, and stole the business from under her.  The third victim brutally beat his wife into submission, and though now divorced, she still felt threatened by him.  Most of these women belong to a private support group that enabled them to share amongst themselves their stories and get past the trauma they suffered.  Lady Justice was part of this group, taking it upon herself to secretly take vengeance against the men who tortured these women, by torturing, mutilating and murdering them.

Eve and Peabody begin their investigation by finding the names of the women in the support group, and to interview all of them.  Half way through, we can guess who the murderer is, but Eve needs to find proof, and time is of essence as now there are three murders, and another one may be near.  What follows is an exciting, intense and thrilling story line that will keep us glued to our seats, unable to put the book down.  It many ways this was a different type of story, with the evil men deserving justice, but not at this horribly violent manner.  Eve having spent many years coming to terms with her abusive childhood, does not allow herself to be sympathetic, despite the evil men. Eve always stands for the dead; she is determined to stop this murderer.

Again, I have to say I just love the relationship between Eve and Roarke, and in this book it was even better; they are so great together, with their love and banter…… the best literary couple ever.  I also love Peabody, who has come a long way to not only be the perfect partner, but also stepping up more.  It is always great to spend time with the fabulous recurring secondary characters in this series; Peabody, Nadine, Mavis, McNab, Baxter, Feeney, Trueheart and Morris.

Vendetta in Death was very exciting, emotional, as well as tense and even dark, but it was a fantastic read.  From start to finish, there was never a dull moment.  J.D. Robb once again gives us a fantastic addition to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come.  This was so well written by Robb, and if you have not started this series…..What are you waiting for?

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

Dark in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Posted on by
12

Dark in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Dark in DeathAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
It was a stab in the dark.

On a chilly February night, during a screening of Psycho in midtown, someone sunk an ice pick into the back of Chanel Rylan’s neck, then disappeared quietly into the crowds of drunks and tourists in Times Square. To Chanel’s best friend, who had just slipped out of the theater for a moment to take a call, it felt as unreal as the ancient black-and-white movie up on the screen. But Chanel’s blood ran red, and her death was anything but fictional.

Then, as Eve Dallas puzzles over a homicide that seems carefully planned and yet oddly personal, she receives a tip from an unexpected source: an author of police thrillers who recognizes the crime—from the pages of her own book. Dallas doesn’t think it’s coincidence, since a recent strangulation of a sex worker resembles a scene from her writing as well. Cops look for patterns of behavior: similar weapons, similar MOs. But this killer seems to find inspiration in someone else’s imagination, and if the theory holds, this may be only the second of a long-running series.

The good news is that Eve and her billionaire husband Roarke have an excuse to curl up in front of the fireplace with their cat, Galahad, reading mystery stories for research. The bad news is that time is running out before the next victim plays an unwitting role in a murderer’s deranged private drama—and only Eve can put a stop to a creative impulse gone horribly, destructively wrong.

 

 

Review:

Dark in Death by J. D. Robb is the 46th book in her fantastic In Death series. I am one of the proud fans who can say that I have read every single book, including novellas in this series…..and I never ever want it to end.  I have said this so many times…I love Eve & Roarke; the best literary couple ever. Ok, now let’s move on to my review. 🙂

Dark in Death begins when Eve has just gotten home from a long day at work, when her phone rings to summon her to a murder scene.  Eve and Peabody will begin to investigate the gruesome death of an actress in a movie theater, which was showing the film Psycho.  The actress was stabbed in the back of her neck with an ice pick, and there were no witnesses, since everyone in the theater was engrossed in the wild violent shower scene of the movie.  

A well known author comes forth to mention that the murder scene resembles one of her books.  In a short time, Eve will realize that this is not the first murder, as a recent death also resembles another of the author’s books.  The race is now on to find the now serial killer before they kill again.

Eve and Roarke begin to read the author’s books to find clues to who & how will be next.  I thought this was a great theme, especially since Eve Dallas written by J.D. Robb is also a murder themed series.  It was kind of a different storyline for Robb (aka Nora Roberts), and yet very interesting.  

What follows is an intense and suspenseful case, with the team desperate to find the murderer.  As they get closer to discovering the identity, the culprit will be a step ahead of them to slip away.  Just when Eve warns people that they could be the next target, to her dismay, they did not listen and another murder happens.  Eve, Roarke, Peabody and the team are able to identify the murderer, but will they be able to stop the next murder in process?  I will not give spoilers, as saying too much more would ruin it for you.

Dark in Death was another wonderful intense, exciting murder mystery in the wonderful world of Eve and Roarke, and the great supporting cast that surrounds them.  It was nice in calmer moments to see Nadine again, as well as Mavis, Leonardo, Bella, not to mention the regulars we have come to love; Peabody, McNab, Feeney, etc.    I loved the scenes with Eve and Roarke cuddling on the sofa by the fireplace reading the books, and with Summerset on vacation, deciding to test out having sex in the other rooms.  Those were the light fun moments, as they are so great together in every way.  Sigh  I love them,  andeven Galahad their cat. lol

Dark in Death was so well written by Robb, and there were some hold your breath moments that kept us on the edge of our seats. If you have not read this series, you are missing one of the best thrillers, with a super couple, and awesome secondary characters.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Posted on by
9

Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Secrets in Death
In-Death series – Book #45
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: September 5, 2017

Secrets in DeathAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.

The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.

The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.

Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…

 

 

 

Review:

Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb is amazingly the 45th book in her In- Death series and this does not include all her novellas.    Bravo to J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) that 45 books later, I still cannot get enough of Eve & Roarke and the fabulous team that surrounds them.

Secrets in Death begins with Eve meeting Dr.DeWinter (forensic anthropologist) at Du Vin (a fancy nightspot) to try to clear the air between them and get on better terms.  Just when they come to an agreement, and get ready to leave, Eve hears a crash and runs to help someone falling.   As blood gushes everywhere, Eve is the first on the scene of a murder.    

The murdered woman is Larinda Mars, a gossip reporter, who was truly an evil witch. She was not liked by those who have dealt with her, and Eve will find that she had many enemies.   When Eve, Roarke and Peabody search for clues in Mars house, they find out that she has been blackmailing many people, in fact over the years she has made herself a fortune in millions.  Eve upon interviewing those listed in Mars computer and paperwork, discover how despicable she was. Larinda Mars had a big list of those she watched, which included those close to us; Eve, Roarke, Nadine, Mavis, just to name a few…this too angered Eve.  Eve must try to maintain the need to solve this crime, even if she knows the victim probably deserved her punishment.  But Eve Dallas always stands for the dead..no matter how awful they are.

 I will say that Secrets in Death was a bit different then most of the previous books.  Though there is murder, the intensity and violence was not evident through most of the book. It was more of  a slower investigative pace, which was very well done.   It was also a bit introspective, especially after interviewing those being blackmailed that brought back memories for both Roarke and Eve, as they reflected on things from their past.

Even with this change of pace story line, it was a fantastic ride, as we spent so much time with Eve and Roarke.  I say this over and over.  There is no better couple in the literary world then our Eve and Roarke.  Of course, everyone wants a ‘Roarke’ in their lives.  I also loved seeing some of our secondary character favorites, such as Nadine getting a bigger role in this book; the snarky and cute fun between Peabody & Eve; and seeing Mavis and Bella again.  J.D. Robb always manages to give us a break from the murder, giving us fun with Peabody, or the beautiful romance between Roarke and Eve. It takes a master writer who can do that so deftly.  The moment when Eve finds out that Summerset left for vacation, and they were alone in their mansion was totally classic. Loved it…..

Secrets in Death was another fantastic mystery that has us guessing until the very end.  Though I have to admit there was one person I wanted it to be.  The victim was so unlikeable and evil that we kind of felt sorry for those who had so many reasons to kill her.  J.D. Robb does it again with another wonderful story.  I can’t wait for the next book, and never ever want this to end.  

Reviewed by Barb

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Share