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Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Faithless in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death #52
Publish Date: February 9, 2021
Source: purchased by reviewer

Publisher’s Description: The scene in the West Village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wine glasses by the bed, music playing, and a young sculptor named Ariel Byrd with the back of her head bashed in. But when Dallas tracks down the wealthy Upper East Side woman who called 911, the details don’t add up. Gwen Huffman is wealthy, elegant, comforted by her handsome fiancé as she sheds tears over the trauma of finding the body–but why did it take an hour to report it? And why is she lying about little things?

As Eve and her team look into Gwen, her past, and the people around her, they find that the lies are about more than murder. As with sculpture, they need to chip away at the layers of deception to find the shape within–and soon they’re getting the FBI involved in a case that involves a sinister, fanatical group and a stunning criminal conspiracy.

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*

Nervous Nellie says…

As you all know, I LOVE Eve Dallas and Roarke. Late 2018, I started the whole series over again. I caught things I’d forgotten and fell in love with the characters all over again. I studied the changes of Dallas and Roarke and it was fun to watch the evolution. By the way, I have 2 books left yet for the whole series, but I couldn’t wait.

There is sex, swearing and violence, but the good guy always win. This story was fantastic. It was involved and definitely a page turner. Roarke was involved deeply as was Mavis, Nadine, Peabody, McNabb and all the crew from the homicide division. If I was Eve Dallas, I wouldn’t have had the guts to do what she did to find out the murderer of the main victim in this case. She is one strong Lieutenant and this story showcased Roarke’s skills in a very in your face kind of way. If anyone continues to wonder about his past, this story will definitely get them to thinking.

I did not do any research on the story at all before starting, so I was surprised by the direction it took, but again, Eve and her crew saved a lot of lives in the end. Amazing story with a kind of Jim Jones type twist. Another hit out of the park.

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Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Jan 7

Posted by Nervous Nell Justice

Set against the background of the youth-obsessed, drug-using fashion industry, this suspenseful tale sweeps from the glitzy to the seamy with all the flair and panache one has come to expect from Robb.

Title:Immortal in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #3
Publish Date: July 1, 1996
Genre: Fantasy suspense romance
Narrator: Susan Erickson
Publisher’s Description: When Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the murder of a top model, she is putting her career on the line, because the prime suspect is her best friend. Eve’s investigations lead her into the glamorous world of high fashion.

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*

Nervous Nellie says…

Next on my re-read journey is Immortal in Death.

This book spotlights Mavis and hooks her with Leonardo. Mavis is such a great person to be around. Even though a grifter by trade, until meeting Dallas of course, she has the most up beat vision of life. Eve loves her and is the first real friend Eve can count among her posse.

Mavis is accused of killing a bad tempered, vindictive and jealous model. No possible way. None. Now, Mavis is scared out of her mind and Eve will prove her innocence come hell or high water. This is also the book where Roarke meets Mavis and starts the long road to stardom for her. What would we do without Roarke?

This is a good story, but it’s not as riveting as the ones before. That doesn’t mean that it’s not worth it’s salt, though. I enjoyed it and it created the link between Roarke and Mavis. All of Eve’s friends will someday be Roarke’s friends too. All these people that Eve brings with her into her relationship with Roarke makes him a happier man because none of them are after his money. They love him because they love Eve. I am fascinated at how the links are created and a family is built.

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Tags: Eve Dallas, futuristic romance, Immortal in Death, In Death, mystery, Roarke, urban fantasy

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

Dec 26

Posted by Nervous Nell Justice

It is 2058, New York City. In a world where technology can reveal the darkest of secrets, there’s only one place to hide a crime of passion-in the heart.

Title: Glory in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #2
Publish Date: December 28, 1995
Genre: Fantasy suspense romance
Narrator: Susan Erickson
Publisher’s Description: It is 2058, New York City. In a world where technology can reveal the darkest of secrets, there’s only one place to hide a crime of passion-in the heart.

Even in the mid-twenty-first century, during a time when genetic testing usually weeds out any violent hereditary traits before they can take over, murder still happens. The first victim is found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second is murdered in her own apartment building. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas has no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provide Eve with a long list of suspects — including her own lover, Roarke.

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*

Nervous Nellie says…

I’m still on my journey of re-reading or in my case, re-listening, to the In Death series by J. D. Robb. Normally, my first choice is an Indie author, but J.D. Robb hooked me from the first mention of Roarke.

If you are familiar with Eve and Roarke, you know what I am talking about. If you are not, please, for your own swoon worthy imagination, please partake. Roarke charishes Eve like no other man I have every read about (and I am positive that no man living does). This relationship is not perfect, but it’s one that makes me sigh.

Anyway, this story is incredible. Again, these stories may be written in 1995, but they are still strong front runners even in comparison of books written now. I feel that after I finished reading the story, I would have thought the plot was fairly simple. While I was reading it, however, the plot was fed to me just as it would have been fed to Eve Dallas making it the puzzle. The best part is that while reading the story, readers are treated to the inside day to day feelings and headaches Eve Dallas. The reader is drawn in and becomes part of her family.

There is sex, swearing, murder, anxiety, flashbacks and adult situations involving the motivations of the murder. These books are well written and will pull a reader in so far that it will be difficult to pause the book or put the book down.

One last warning: try really hard to remember prior stories because they will come back as references in current stories. For instance, the folks in this story will be referenced in book #6. They aren’t integral in the story, but they are referenced and that is kind of cool.

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Tags: Eve Dallas, futuristic romance, Glory in Death, In Death, mystery, Roarke, urban fantasy

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

Mar 27

Posted by Nervous Nell Justice

The first book in the IN DEATH series by J.D. Robb. The book that started the phenomenon of at least 48 books with several novellas thrown in. Eve Dallas meets billionaire Roarke and he slowly ingratiates himself into her life and her love.

Title: Naked in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #1
Publish Date: July 1, 1995
Genre: Fantasy suspense romance
Narrator: Susan Erickson
Publisher’s Description: Here is the novel that started it all- the first book in J.D. Robb’s number-one New York Times-bestselling In Death series, featuring New York homicide detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke.

It is the year 2058, and technology now completely rules the world. But New York City Detective Eve Dallas knows that the irresistible impulses of the human heart are still ruled by just one thing: passion.

When a senator’s daughter is killed, the secret life of prostitution she’d been leading is revealed. The high-profile case takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the rarefied circles of Washington politics and society. Further complicating matters is Eve’s growing attraction to Roarke, who is one of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, devilishly handsome… and the leading suspect in the investigation.

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*

Nervous Nellie says…

I have always had the stubborn opinion that I don’t need to read a book if I’ve already read it once. My partner in crime here in the blog world has been slowly changing my mind about that. Ivana re-reads series just because a new book is joining the ranks. I always thought that was a silly thing to do, but I’m coming around to her way of thinking.

If you’ve followed my posts of late, I read the In Death series book #46, #47 and #48. Dark in Death, Leverage in Death, and Connections in Death are the last three releases with Vendetta in Death coming soon. Now, a person that is not enthralled with the In Death series may say something like: “48 books? How can a series go on for 48 books?” I don’t know and I don’t care. I love this series. What I think I love about it the most is that the mystery plot is the basis for the book and the characters are not the center of the story. Basically, the mystery happens, Eve Dallas has to investigate and from there I am led through the procedure of finding the killer with the secondary characters hopping in to help. There is also the bonus of living Eve’s off-time life as a secondary story too which is an over arch of the whole series. This series has a lot of characters, but they aren’t all thrown at the reader right away. The infusion of the characters is slow so it’s kind of like meeting the family one by one.

Naked in Death is the very first Eve Dallas book. She is an incredibly tough woman with the uncanny ability to fit the murder puzzle together. She isn’t the only hero in the book which gives credit of teamwork where credit is due. The plot of the story involves a murder of a prostitute. It’s a high profile prostitute with a lot of political land mines to navigate. Eve could easily open and close the case by citing some lame reasoning or another, but, like a dog with a bone, she will not give up. Her tenacity and incredible feeling for each and every victim is what keeps her chipping away until she uncovers what is more than just a little shocking. She meets her future husband, Roarke and fights valiantly against her attraction to him, which we all know is a moot point.

I read this book the first time around nearly 20 years ago. It holds up today and could easily follow any of the newer books. The writing is very professional, which it would be because of the author and best selling level of quality. I don’t feel like I need to plug this author because she is world renown but I do feel I need to plug the series. Come on and join us cult followers of Eve Dallas and Roarke. I do not think you’ll be sorry.

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Tags: Eve Dallas, futuristic romance, In Death, mystery, Naked in Death, Roarke, urban fantasy

Connections in Death by J.D. Robb

Mar 25

Posted by Nervous Nell Justice

Roarke’s new addition to his business family loses her brother to drug overdose…or was it?

Title: Connections in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #48
Publish Date: February 5, 2019
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Source: reviewer purchased
Publisher’s Description:In this gritty and gripping new audiobook in the number-one New York Times best-selling series, Eve Dallas fights to save the innocent – and serve justice to the guilty – on the streets of New York.

Homicide cop Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband, Roarke, are building a brand-new school and youth shelter. They know that the hard life can lead kids toward dangerous crossroads – and with this new project, they hope to nudge a few more of them onto the right path. For expert help, they hire child psychologist Dr. Rochelle Pickering – whose own brother pulled himself out of a spiral of addiction and crime with Rochelle’s support.

Lyle is living with Rochelle while he gets his life together, and he’s thrilled to hear about his sister’s new job offer. But within hours, triumph is followed by tragedy. Returning from a celebratory dinner with her boyfriend, she finds Lyle dead with a syringe in his lap, and Eve’s investigation confirms that this wasn’t just another OD. After all his work to get clean, Lyle’s been pumped full of poison – and a neighbor with a peephole reports seeing a scruffy, pink-haired girl fleeing the scene.
Now, Eve and Roarke must venture into the gang territory where Lyle used to run and the ugly underground world of tattoo parlors and strip joints where everyone has taken a wrong turn somewhere. They both believe in giving people a second chance. Maybe even a third or fourth. But as far as they’re concerned, whoever gave the order on Lyle Pickering’s murder has run out of chances….

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In some cases…spoilers. *BEWARE*

Nervous Nellie says…

Crack makes an appearance in this book. I love Crack – and now he has a love too. Roarke’s new child psychologist is the sister to a man that is finally got his life straight. He’s happy, healthy and back in the folds of his family. So…why did he OD?

This was a good story but it lacked some of the pizzazz as some of the other In Death books. It seemed a simple feat for Eve to take down two gangs and get confessions from them all. It felt like the book was non stop action, and it was good action, but it felt a little too straight line. Not many twists and turns. Like I said, it was a good book, but not as mysterious as some of the others.