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Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb
Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance.
Title: Abandoned in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #54
Publish Date: February 8, 2022
Source: purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance—in the new In Death novel by #1 New York Times bestselling J. D. Robb.
The woman’s body was found on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong—like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child.
It seems clear the killer’s childhood was traumatic—a situation Eve is all too familiar with herself. Yet the clues point to a perpetrator who’d be around sixty, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge? When Eve learns that other young women have recently vanished, the case grows even more urgent—and to solve it she’ll need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the depths of a shattered mind.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
You know I love me a good story with Eve and Roarke. I waited and waited for this book because…well…you know, Eve and Roarke. This story starts out a bit differently than some of the other books with the spotlight on the killer as a child. A creepy little brat of a kid. The mom is at the end of her rope and that’s where the mom and kid’s lives take a turn.
I saw the core group in the story plus Mavis, Bella, Leonardo, Nadine and special appearances by Quilla, Morris and Jamie. I enjoyed spending time with them but I have to tell you that I wasn’t all that glued to my seat. I could really see the “bones” of the book as I read. Eve getting called on to investigate, rattling Dickhead’s cage, Roarke working e-man, Roarke giving the same look when Eve asks if he could find out something, Roarke picking the locks, the gratuitous sex scene and then the breakdown in the box with people watching in observation. I’m not saying that it was a bad story – it was ok but it lacked the usual edge of my seat anticipation. I’ll read it again, maybe I’ll change my mind.
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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.
Our reviews in this series…
- Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb
- Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
- Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
- Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
- Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
- Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
- Connections in Death by J.D. Robb
- Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
- Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
- Dark in Death by J.D. Robb
- Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb
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NEW RELEASE TODAY!! Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb
Join One Book Two as we celebrate some great book news! A new book drops today from a favorite author!
Title: Faithless in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #52
Release date: February 22, 2021
Description: In the new Eve Dallas police thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb, what looked like a lover’s quarrel turned fatal has larger—and more terrifying—motives behind it…
The scene in the West Village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wineglasses 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.
Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb
Lt. Eve Dallas is about to walk into the shadows of her husband’s dangerous past.
Title: Shadows in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #51
Publish Date: September 8, 2020
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: Lt. Eve Dallas is about to walk into the shadows of her husband’s dangerous past.
As it often did since he’d married a cop, murder interrupted more pleasant activities. Then again, Roarke supposed, the woman lying in a pool of her own blood a few steps inside the arch in Washington Square Park had a heftier complaint.
When a night out at the theatre is interrupted by the murder of a young woman in Washington Square Park, it seems like an ordinary case for Detective Eve Dallas and her team. But when Roarke spots a shadow from his past in the crowd, Eve realizes that this case is far from business as usual.
Eve has two complex cases on her hands – the shocking murder of this wealthy young mother and tracking down the shadow before he can strike again, this time much closer to home. Eve is well used to being the hunter, but how will she cope when the tables are turned? As Eve and the team follow leads to Roarke’s hometown in Ireland, the race is on to stop the shadow making his next move . . .
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
All I can say about Lorkin Cobb is “What an effing idiot.” He thinks he’s gonna take Roarke down? Kill Dallas? Dude, you got some delusions of grandeur. Obviously, he has no idea who he’s messing with.
This was a story that did have a bit more gooey stuff between Roarke and Dallas (before the ultimate end) and it felt a little over the top. Other than that, it was golden. The initial case was a quick solver and I was gratified at how Eve got the defendant to cry. The arrogant nasty sociopathic jerk cried. That case didn’t exactly end right with that arrest. I got to go with the team on a fast paced, no holds barred manhunt of the bought and paid for assassin. I got to learn more about Roarke’s background. I got a good look at how Sommerset fathers Roarke (which was really awesome) and how cool it is to watch a team work together. Everyone. All of Eve’s people wanted in on catching this moron. They, every last one of them, are frosty to the ult. And the ending?!? It was a spectacular chase. I loved every minute of it. I can tell you I always get satisfaction at the end of these books. Eve and Delia do their “in the box” work and nail the sleazy, evil monster to the wall. It’s such a feeling to see the good guys win. This ending was no slouch either. It may be the best dramatic endings so far. No, no cliffhanger, just an awesome “nail that bastard” ending. I also loved, to the point of “nanner, nanner” NYPSD’s success in locating Cobb when InterPol hadn’t been able to in 20 years. It was marvelous.
My favorite alternate character in this book was the shopkeeper at the men’s store that Cobb shopped at. He was an absolute treasure. He was so excited to be a part of a police investigation that I just had to smile. I loved him. Watch for him when you read/listen to this book.
As always, these books get a 5 star.
Our reviews in this series in no particular order…
- Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
- Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
- Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
- Connections in Death by J.D. Robb
- Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
- Dark in Death by J.D. Robb
- Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
- Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb
- Wonderment in Death by JD Robb
- Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
- Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
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Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
Killed inside a locked room. How? Who? It’s impossible they said, until they met Eve Dallas.
Title: Fantasy in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #30
Publish Date: January 6, 2010
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: Bart Minnock, founder of the computer gaming giant U-Play, is found in his locked private playroom, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. Despite his violent end, Eve can’t find anyone—girlfriend and business partners included—who seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire.
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction—and the price of defeat is death…
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
This was a difficult mystery to solve. I don’t think anyone but Eve Dallas could have solved it. Anyone else investigating this locked room death mystery would have put it on the cold case pile nearly right away.
These brainiac gamers built their little company with a lot of sweat and encouragement from Roarke. They were all super smart and incredibly tuned in to the gamer world. They were set to be on top. They weren’t there yet, but they were getting there. Then one is killed. It puts all the others in a tailspin.
The de facto leader, Bart Minnock, has got the world by the tail. He is the driving force behind U-play and he was the one that approached Roarke and got him to help start the business. He was liked and incredibly smart. He was really the super brain behind the whole company. Bart went home one day to test play U-play’s new game in development. The next morning he was found dead.
Eve, of course, has a nose for murder and figures out not just who and why, but how. How’d she figure it out? By digging. And pushing. And researching. Relentless, that’s her middle name. I am so sure that no one else could have figured it out. Even the E-geeks said it was impossible.
On the personal front, Nadine publishes The Icove Agenda. The book that blows the publishing scene to smithereens. Everyone is there. Mavis, Trina, Leonardo, Nadine. It was great to see how things were going with the fam. Good times.
As always, these books get a 5 star.
Our reviews in this series in no particular order…
- Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
- Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
- Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
- Connections in Death by J.D. Robb
- Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
- Dark in Death by J.D. Robb
- Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
- Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb
- Wonderment in Death by JD Robb
- Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
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