Eve Dallas – Grab This Book

Desperation in Death – J.D. Robb

The Sunday Times bestselling series is back with a gripping new thriller that pits homicide detective Eve Dallas against a conspiracy of exploitation and evil…

Mina Rose Cabot, age thirteen, disappeared walking home from soccer practice in Devon, Pennsylvania.

Eight months later her body is found in Battery Park, New York, speared through the chest by a three-inch piece of wood.

Lt. Eve Dallas knows that whoever took Mina is responsible for her death. But who took her and where has Mina been for eight long months…?

I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley

This is novel fifty five in the Eve Dallas series – there have been short stories and novellas along the way too. I have missed two along the way (they are on a bookshelf in my house waiting for me to get to them). It is safe to say I am a fan of J.D. Robb and I always look forward to each new Eve Dallas novel.

For those not in the know, reading the first fifty four novels are not essential to enjoying this book. After the introduction of the character back in Naked in Death you can pretty much read the books any old way you like. Down the years characters have been introduced, coupled up, had babies, lost loved ones and grown as their backstories get developed. After fifty plus stories the respective backstories are so well developed that the cast of these books feel like old friends to me. I miss them when I am not reading about them.

The books have delighted (mainly) down the years but, as you may expect, some just didn’t quite land for me. Dallas is a murder cop in New York and the stories are set in the future – somewhere around the year 2060. This may put off some readers but this series delivers terrific murder tales with each new book and I love watching Dallas and her team closing in on the bad guys. After so many years of reading I have decided some stories deliver more on developing the characters and throwing big pivotal events into their timeline (with a crime in the background) whereas most books give a solid murder story to enjoy while the characters mainly work their personal lives around the latest investigation. Desperation in Death is very much a story about the crime and not a tale to shake up the characters. That said, this is one of the biggest and most harrowing adventures which Dallas and friends have had to face for quite some time.

The blurb teases the story up really nicely. A young girl is heading home and vanishes. She turns up eight months later – a large piece of wood is sticking out of her chest and she is quite dead. But the girl has only just died, she is well fed, shows evidence of having expensive hair and nail treatments and is wearing expensive clothing. Where has she been for those eight months and why has nobody seen her?

As Eve begins to look into the murder of the young girl she discovers there may have been a second girl in the area at the same time. The reader knows who the second girl was and how both came to be together at a crime scene (which one of them never left). They also know the trauma both girls have endured prior to Eve entering their lives. It’s a compelling build up and once Eve and her colleagues start to piece together the connections between the two girls we are all on a fast paced race-against-time thriller.

The stakes are higher than we have seen for some time and if there is any hope to save dozens of vulnerable children then everything the NYPD do must be done quickly, quietly and there is no room for error. I was hooked.

I knew before I picked up Desperation in Death that I would enjoy the story – I wasn’t prepared for how engrossed I would become in this particular story. Chapters flew by and I finished the whole book in a single day. I love these stories and I’m already waiting for the next one.

Desperation in Death is published by Piatkus and is available in Hardback, Digital and Audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09Z1R3F7T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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July 25

Catching Up – Quick Reviews

Some people consider blogging envy to be the state which exists when Blogger A sees Blogger B receiving an opportunity which Blogger A wanted but did not get. Not always. In my house blogging envy is when I see other bloggers keeping up to date with their reviews! Okay I jest (honest) but a combination of lockdown fatigue, no laptop for six weeks and my general scattyness does mean that I have missed sharing my thoughts on quite a few titles.

In a bid to get caught up I thought I would do some shorter reviews, just share the blurb and my thoughts – rather than provide my usual oversight on some of the themes and threads before capturing my overall thoughts on a book. Still with me? Great. Books I didn’t enjoy don’t appear on the blog so I don’t want you to presume I am doing shorter reviews because I was underwhelmed or unhappy…that’s not how we roll here.

Into The Fire (An Orphan X Thriller) – Gregg Hurwitz

Evan Smoak – former government assassin, ‘Orphan X’, turned white knight of last resort – is planning on hanging up his gun.

Then he gets one last call.

Max Merriweather has lost his wife, home and career. Now it looks like he’s going to lose his life. A murdered cousin has left him a package and a team of assassins on his trail . . .

Nothing Evan can’t handle.

If it weren’t for the fact he’s carrying a brutal concussion that’s made him vulnerable. Or that the simple job of keeping Max safe quickly escalated into a mission unlike anything he’s ever encountered.

But as Evan’s problems mount just one thing is clear: he is now in the most dangerous position of his life

I will start with a Five Star Read. When I was doing my 6-hour daily commute to work a few years back I hit the audiobooks pretty hard. One of the gems I discovered was the Orphan-X series by Gregg Hurwitz. I hung onto every word of that first book and quickly downloaded all the others available at the time – now I patiently wait for news of the next instalment.

Evan Smoak was an assassin for the US Government, part of the “Orphan” programme which recruited orphans who were trained as dispensible killers. Smoak left that world behind and went into hiding with a large bank balance to support his off the radar lifestyle. He tries to do some good and put his skills to use, he helps people in desperate situations and when he has solved their problem he asks them to find someone else who needs his help.

The books have all been terrific to read and Into The Fire may just be my favourite. Smoak is moving further away from the life he once knew and watching him try to adapt to a more mundane lifestyle (dating, residents association meetings, mentoring a young hacker etc) while also plotting to bump off some bad guys was wholly absorbing.

I am a huge fan of this series and encourage you to seek them out if action heroes are your thing.

Last Light – Helen Phifer

When a young woman’s body found hanging upside-down from a crucifix in an abandoned church, Detective Lucy Harwin is plunged into a case that will test her to her very limits.

Before Lucy even has time to get started, another body is found. And this time it’s someone Lucy and her team consider one of their own; the chief’s mother. Her body too is hanging upside-down, so Lucy fears there’s a serial killer stalking the streets of her small coastal town.

Lucy knows the chief is a good man. She trusts him, but can’t pin down his alibi. Just as she’s beginning to suspect the worst, she pushes for a test on some animal hairs, and uncovers a link to an old unsolved murder.

Lucy knows she’s getting close, and works around the clock to catch this killer before he strikes again. But then the trail leads her to the church where her teenage daughter volunteers. Can Lucy prevent a tragedy that will tear her world apart again?

After reading Last Light I discovered that Helen Phifer had penned several horror stories which explained why a police procedrual had some pretty brutal murder scenes. The story spends time with the investigating officer (Lucy Harwin) and we also get an insight into the killer as the narrative jumps back to the killer’s childhood and we get to see how they grow into the fully fledged murderer that Lucy needs to track down.

The most intruging element of Last Light was that I felt nobody was safe in this story. Possibly this is another consequnce of the author’s horror writing? I feel the best horror tales can make anyone a victim at any time. Lucy and her colleagues felt at risk during this story, too many police stories have untouchable heroes but Last Light didn’t give that feeling and the story benefits from the feeling of peril.

This was a pretty decent read, the payoff comes at the end when the various threads come together but I felt it took me a while to reach that point. Currently on Kindle for under £2 which makes it cheaper than a latte – buy the book not the coffee.

Golden in Death – J.D. Robb

‘Doctor Kent Abner began the day of his death comfortable and content’

When Kent Abner – baby doctor, model husband and father, good neighbour – is found dead in his town house in the West Village, Detective Eve Dallas and her team have a real mystery on their hands. Who would want to kill such a good man? They know how, where and when he was killed but why did someone want him dead?

Then a second victim is discovered and as Spring arrives in New York City, Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down a serial killer with a motive she can’t fathom and a weapon of choice which could wipe out half of Manhattan.

The 50th Eve Dallas thriller. FIFTY. By my reckoning I have read 47 of them and I have two of the missing books in my TBR pile. It is fair to say I am a big fan of this series. We have seen Eve Dallas grow from kickass socially awkward New York cop into a kickass socially awkward New York Cop who is surrounded by loads of great supporting characters. Watching Dallas grow and her character evolve has been an absolute joy for me. As a reader, finding a character you love is always special – when that character appears in 2 or 3 new books each year – well that’s icing on the cake.

For the 50th story in the series (Golden for 50) I was expecting some huge development in Eve’s personal life – a massive shift in the dyamic of the books – but it didn’t arrive. We began and ended book 50 in much the same position. Now that doesn’t mean J.D Robb may not come back to events in this book and spin them into something new (it has happened in the past with the infamous Icove case) but it didn’t have that feel. Instead we get a solid story with Dallas and Peabody trying to prevent deadly chemicals being released into the city.

There are a couple of deaths – witnessed by the reader so we know what is about to happen. It gives Dallas the opportunity to establish a link between victims, it seems a long shot when they begin to interview suspects, however, the arrogance of one of the suspects gives her cause to dig deeper. I always enjoy watching Dallas and Peabody working a case, turning their attention to characters that don’t behave as they would expect and digging deep into their lives to find the gaps in their alibi.

The humour, the thrills and the fun of the In Death series were very much present. As a fan of these stories I was delighted to have the opportunity to revisit my favourite characters. Trying to convert new readers to a series with 50 volumes may seem a daunting prospect, this isn’t the book which would draw in a new reader and have them hooked but it is a damned fine addition to a terrific collection.

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September 23

Secrets in Death – JD Robb (Audiobook)

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…

Another audiobook review – this time I thought I would use September’s Audible Subscription Credit to pick up the newest title in JD Robb’s fantastic “in Death” series.

Full disclosure from the start – I LOVE THESE BOOKS. I have ploughed hours of my life into reading and re-reading stories about Eve Dallas – the tough cop who is perpetually (and hilariously) uncomfortable when not chasing down murderers. Secrets in Death is book 45 in the series – I have read all previous books (often more than once) and I am heavily invested in the lives of the characters.

So did I enjoy Secrets in Death? Yes! I thought it was the best new release in this series for a while. Did I like the Audio? On the whole I did – but Susan Ericksen’s Irish accent was a bit of a shock initially and took a little getting used to. When Dallas is married to an Irishman that’s a bit of an issue, particularly since Roarke features heavily in Secrets.

The story its-self was really strong. Eve is enduring an awkward meeting in a plush New York bar when tv’s gossip girl (who Eve had previously noticed sitting at a nearby table) stumbles across the floor of the bar and falls to the floor. She is bleeding heaving and despite the best efforts of Dallas and two medical practitioners also in the bar – Larinda Mars dies at Eve’s feet.

It is a strong start and the pace keeps going. Larinda has made her fame through sharing the secrets and gossip of the nations celebs. As she climbed the ladder to her success she has upset more than her fair share of people with her exclusive reveals. But there may be more to Larinda’s investigative powers than a simple nose for the “truth” and it is not long before Eve becomes embroiled in an investigation where potential suspects are very good at keeping secrets.

Book 45 in the series – you do need to have an awareness of the background of the characters to get the most from Secrets. However it can be read as a stand alone as there is a strong murder story at the heart of the book.

A strong entry into the series though a minor quibble was that I did find that identifying the murderer was slightly easier this time around than in some of the other books. However, the story was as sharp as ever and I never fail to enjoy a JD Robb novel.

Secrets in Death is published by Piatkus and is available in Hardback, Digital and audiobook format: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Death-J-D-Robb-ebook/dp/B01MSAHS7G/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

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September 12

Apprentice in Death – J.D. Robb

The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people lay dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. There’s a sniper loose on the streets of New York City, and Lieutenant Eve Dallas is about to face one of the toughest and most unsettling cases of her career.

Eve knows that only a handful of people could have carried out such an audacious but professional hit. Even more disturbing: this expert in death has an accomplice. Someone is being trained in the science of killing – and they have a terrifying agenda of their own. With a city shaken to its core, Eve and her team are forced to hunt not one but two killers. Worse still – this talented young apprentice has developed an insatiable taste for murder…

My thanks to Piatkus for my review copy which I received through Netgalley

Eve Dallas 43. That’s not her age – that is the number of full novels that she features in (and there are also a number of short stories). I’ve read them all, more than once in most cases…I love these books. As much as I love them I am aware that there are some stories which I enjoy more than others – there are books where the characters are developed but the “in Death” element is not as gripping as I would like.

So where does Apprentice in Death sit in the collection? Happily it is one I will be revisiting, a really strong addition to the series and one of the more chilling stories.

A sniper is terrorising New York. Three dead at Central Park and no apparent link between the victims. Dallas and her team have to analyse the murders, work out why they were targeted and ensure that the sniper does not strike again. It’s a race against time novel and J.D. Robb always does these well – she can easily convey the urgency and Dallas’s frustration over lack of progress. We see how she pulls in the resources of her team, husband Roarke is on hand to lend his unique skills and financial weight, Dr Mira to analyse the psychology, dependable Peabody and even “Dickhead” the lab tech – all present and correct as you would expect when Dallas is on the case. One of the strengths of the series is that the author has had so long to develop her supporting cast that regulars such as Eve’s oldest friend Mavis can be dropped to cameo role – we don’t need to see all the players in every book as we know they will return soon enough.

The sniper story takes an unexpected twist after a second attack takes place. This really raises the stakes and we get a proper look at one of J.D. Robb’s coldest killers to date. There were scenes which totally chilled me, a killer without compassion and Dallas unpicks their behaviour, lays out how their evil streak was nurtured and gives examples of how they terrorised others. It was often an uncomfortable read but it was handled expertly by the author and the reading was compelling.

Away from the murders regular readers will enjoy some interchanges between Dallas and Summerset – their relationship is going to hit an unexpected dynamic in Apprentice in Death…will things ever be the same again?

Apprentice in Death is published by Piatkus and can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apprentice-Death-J-D-Robb/dp/034941081X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473720998&sr=1-1&keywords=apprentice+in+death

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January 23

Devoted in Death – J.D. Robb

It’s a new year in New York city, and two star-crossed lovers have just discovered an insatiable appetite…for murder.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas has witnessed some grisly crimes in her career and she knows just how dark things can get on the streets. But when a much-loved musician is found dead, Eve soon realises that his murder is part of a horrifying killing spree, stretching right across the country.

Now the killers have reached New York, and they’ve found themselves another victim. Eve knows she only has a couple of days to save a young girl’s life, and to stop the killers before their sadistic games escalate. Eve’s husband Roarke is ready to put his brains and his considerable resources behind the search. But even as the couple works closely together, time is running out…

My review copy came from Little Brown/Piatkus through Netgalley.

The In Death series by J. D. Robb is one of my favourites, I love Eve Dallas (the central character) and over the last 20 years J. D. Robb has built up a world and cast of characters that I cannot wait to return to. Set in a futuristic New York there are fun technological ‘advances’ and inventions which are now so well established in the books that the world seems totally believable to me. If I am still kicking around in 2061 I will be gutted if J. D. Robb’s portrayal of how life will be turns out to be inaccurate!

Devoted in Death takes the approach of revealing the killers (there are two of them) from the outset of the story. They are the Devoted couple from the title and are on a killing spree from Arkansas to New York City. However, their crimes are spread across a number of states and they have remained undetected. Undetected that is, until they murder a loved and respected musician in NYC Dallas notices a mark on the corpse which has previously appeared on other bodies.

Dallas and her team are now on a race against time as the killers have abducted their latest target. If Dallas does not track down the killers soon then another body will be found and it too will almost certainly show signs of a prolonged torture prior to death.

Devoted in Death is not ideal as a jumping on point for a series which has now reached into 50 titles (a count which includes short stories and novellas). However, all the books in the In Death series CAN be read as a stand-alone crime thriller – the fun in knowing the back story will always reward returning readers. For a series that has been running for so long I am constantly amazed how J. D. Robb can keep hitting such a high mark.

These are fun reads, great crime thrillers and there are a huge number of books to read. I have read most of the In Death books more than once and will continue to revisit them. Dallas is the kick ass hero that you want to read about – long may she continue.

Devoted in Death will be released in paperback by Piatkus on 28th January and is also available in digital format: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0349403716?keywords=devoted%20in%20death&qid=1453576624&ref_=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1&sr=8-1

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September 29

Festive In Death – JD Robb

Christmas came early when I found Festive In Death in the bookshop mid September. Having grudged the influx of Christmas books that seem to be appearing (far too early for my liking) I grabbed this particular title with not a qualm about the date.

Festive in Death is the 39^th book in an ongoing series featuring New York cop Eve Dallas and her many time multi-millionaire husband, Roarke. Just dwell on that number one more time….book 39! The closest comparison I can find to an ongoing series that keeps on giving me such reading pleasure are the Amazing Spider-man comics.

Quick summary: JD Robb is the pseudonym of Nora Roberts. Robb/Roberts released the first book in the In Death series in 1995 (Naked in Death). This book introduced New York cop Lt Eve Dallas – stories are set around the year 2050 but the timeline progresses through the novels.

I would urge all new/potential readers not to be put off by the futuristic setting. These are fantastic crime novels, great police procedurals and for the long term reader provide a rich supporting cast that enhance the depth of the world that Robb has created. There are references to futuristic tech, fashion and transport but it never feels forced and you can accept the majority of the concepts without suspending too much belief.

Festive in Death is a proper ‘whodunnit’ with a killer revealed at the end of the book. Robb does like to vary the story style and will frequently reveal the murderer at the outset of a novel and let us watch Dallas close the net on the killer.

In this book, however, Dallas is asked to ‘stand’ for someone she does not like. A predator that took advantage of vulnerable women and abused their trust. But despite how he lived his life, solving the riddle of his death is with Dallas and she will get to the truth.

As the title suggests this tale plays out over the Holiday season, much of the focus is on Dallas, Roarke and their friends. The trade off for the cosy festive read is that Eve does not get exposed to the peril that arises in other stories and her investigation is methodical rather than dynamic. Not to say that this is not a good story, it just seems more aimed at the long term fan rather than attempting to draw in a new reader.

I suppose, however, that by book 39 Robb does not need to put her characters through the wringer every single outing and we can enjoy a character driven story. As a long term fan, who has read each book in the series more than once, I enjoyed Festive in Death for what it was: another great read from a master storyteller.

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