Silent Night featuring “Midnight in Death” by J. D. Robb

 

Midnight in Death once again makes things personal for Eve. Very personal. I think I would like to see her solve some crimes that don't draw her into them on such an intimate level.

I'm enjoying the series, but there is an obvious formula that I think is going to bother me if it continues much further. Also, as soon as a saw "the list", I knew how it was going to end -- how the big finale would happen. And I was right.

Eve's name has a made a Christmas list, but it's not for being naughty or nice. It's for putting a serial killer behind bars. Now the escaped madman has her in his sights. With her husband Roarke at her side, Eve must stop the man from exacting his bloody vengeance-or die trying.

This was a quick read, and there was a surprising amount of action and detail in this for such a short piece. I only read the Midnight in Death piece, so that's all I'll be commenting on and rating.



As for the writing elements:

• The plot was a good one.
• Pacing was well done.
• Prose and dialogue were, as always, superb.
• Character development doesn't get expanded too much in this piece, but it's consistent.
• World-building was also consistent.

• Story Rating: Midnight in Death: 9 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
7. Holiday in Death
7.5  Midnight in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas 

Holiday in Death (In Death, Book 7) by JD Robb

 

Holiday in Death is another creepy psychological thriller. One that once again hits a bit too close to home for Eve. She goes back to work sooner than she should (of course) and then gets hit with a rape/murder serial killer case. On top of that, some of her suspects have an (adult) incestual relationship... which means a whole lot of Eve's buttons are being pushed.

Here's the blurb:

No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York’s most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lieutenant Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours.

It was a good story, but I don't believe I enjoyed it as much as some of the others. Also, I figured that the author would need to change things up a bit for the finale, and accurately guessed pretty much how the finale was going to play out very early on in the book. I didn't know who the bad guy was, but I knew how the finale would happen.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was a good one.
• Pacing was mostly okay.
• Prose and dialogue are always good with this author.
• Character development was a bit same-old same-old this time around.
• World-building was consistent with previous books in the series.

I'm giving Holiday in Death a 7 of 10, but I'll leave the series at a 9 of 10.

• Book Rating: Holiday in Death: 7 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
7. Holiday in Death
7.5  Midnight in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas 

Vengeance in Death (In Death, Book 6) by JD Robb

 

This series is getting better and better. Vengeance in Death lets us see more or Roarke's past, and it includes a trip back to Ireland. Eve must process how she feels about is past, and figure out how that relates to his present. She was pretty much all black and white when the series started, now she's seeing shades of grey.

Here's the blurb:

Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas finds the first victim butchered in his own home. The second loses his life in a vacant luxury apartment. The two men had little in common. Both suffered unspeakable torture before their deaths—and both had ties to an ugly secret of ten years past—a secret shared by none other than Eve’s new husband, Roarke.

The events of this story hit way too close to home, and the pace is rather frantic. It needs to be, though. The events of the story call for it to be.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was beautiful. In a twisted and demented way.
• Pacing was frantic, but as I said, the events of the book called for it to be frantic.
• Prose and dialogue were fine.
• Character development is a big part of things, as we learn a bit more about Roarke's past.
• World-building was consistent with other books.

Vengeance in Death easily gets a 10 of 10, though the series will remain a 9 of 10 for me.

• Book Rating: Vengeance in Death: 10 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

There is a lot more that I would like to say about Vengeance in Death, but I don't want to give spoilers. And it would be very easy to accidentally give a spoiler here. I want to talk about Summerset, in particular, but just can't.

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas 

 

Ceremony in Death (In Death, Book 5) by JD Robb

 

Ceremony in Death came very close to being an urban fantasy a few times.  I generally like Urban Fantasy, but not when it's handled in this manner.

I complained a bit that I knew who the killer was very early on in Rapture in Death. Things were handled much differently with Ceremony in Death. We knew who the killer was, but then doubts were cast and... in the end, knowing the killer or not wasn't the issue, it was watching the events unfold, watching Eve figure everything out.

Eve's history once again causes some problems with her objectivity. Watching her deal with it was interesting.

I enjoy watching Roarke take care of Eve, too. He's so intuitive with her, so in tune. It also doesn't hurt that he's got the money to pamper her in style. But that's the food, coffee, baths, and trips. What he does for her is so much more than that.

Here's the blurb:

With her husband, Roarke, watching her every move, Eve is drawn into the most dangerous case of her career. Every step she takes makes her question her own beliefs of right and wrong—and brings her closer to a confrontation with humanity’s most seductive form of evil.

I keep wondering if Roarke is ever going to try to protect her in a way that will change her, but I think he knows her too well to do that. He would love to put her in a glass box, but that would destroy her. She remade herself into a cop, he knows he can't change that.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was intricate and complicated and twisted and I enjoyed the journey from beginning to end.
• Pacing was fine.
• Prose and dialogue were, as always with this author, nicely done.
• Character development continues to be interesting and three dimensional.
• World-building seems to have been pretty solidified at this point in the series, but it was consistent and that's what is needed now.

I'm giving Ceremony in Death a 10 of 10, and keeping the series at a 9 of 10.

• Book Rating: Ceremony in Death: 10 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
   
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas 

Rapture in Death (In Death, Book 4) by JD Robb

 

Rapture in Death could easily be labeled a futuristic psychological thriller. Yes, it's still a murder mystery, but it wouldn't have taken much for the author to nudge it into the psychological horror category. Thankfully, she did not. It still scares me to think that we're not far from the technology of being able to do this sort of thing, though.

Here's the blurb:

Eve’s investigation into three apparent suicides takes a dark turn, leading her into the provocative world of virtual reality games—where the same techniques used to create joy and desire could also prompt the mind to become the weapon of its own destruction.

Unfortunately, I knew who the killers were going to be very close to the beginning of the book. There were some twists and turns and detours that had me wondering if I was wrong a few times, but in the end I was right.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was a very good plot, and I appreciated the twists and turns. However, it was pretty easy for me to figure out the killer within a few pages of their being introduced to us.
• Pacing was mostly okay -- a few issues in this book, for the first time in the series.
• Prose and dialogue were fine.
• Character development continues to be intriguing.
• World-building continues to be very well done. The plot this time added to the world building, and that was a nice touch.

Do I count off points because I knew the killer right off the bat? Or, once the killer was introduced, anyway. It was a very good book, even knowing who did it. I'm going to give Rapture in Death a 9 of 10, and I'll keep the series there as well.

• Book Rating: Rapture in Death: 9 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
   
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas 

 

Immortal in Death (In Death, Book 3) by JD Robb

 

Immortal in Death is my favorite book in the series so far.

Here's the blurb:

She was one of the most sought-after women in the world—and then she was dead, the victim of a brutal murder. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas put her professional life on the line to take the case when suspicion fell on her best friend, the other woman in a fatal love triangle. Beneath the facade of glamour, Eve finds the high fashion world’s underbelly of drugs and dangerous alliances.

When I knew who was going to die first long before she actually died, I had a few fears that it might be too predictable. But it wasn't predictable. Not by a long shot. I knew who the killer was before Eve did, but only about thirty pages before she did, and even then I wasn't positive.

I loved the character growth this time around.  Change and growth - if characters aren't learning and growing and changing then a series doesn't work for me, and this one is working for me.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was nice, in a twisted sort of way. The addition of the fashion world was a plus, especially since Eve doesn't really get the whole fashion thing.
• Pacing was fine.
• Prose and dialogue were very well done.
• As already said, Character development was pushed forward and nicely done.
• World-building continues to be interesting and detailed.

I've given the first two books in this series an 8 and 9. I'm giving  Immortal in Death a 10 of 10, and I'll give it a series rating of a 9 of 10 for now.

• Book Rating: Immortal in Death: 10 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas  

Glory in Death (In Death, Book 2) by JD Robb

 

Glory in Death continues a few months after the events of the first book in this series, Naked in Death.

I enjoyed the second book a little more than the first book, in part because my brain was working pretty much the same as Eve's brain this time as she followed the trail to solve the mystery.

I also enjoyed the progression of her personal relationships, as well as the symbolism that turned up a few times in what the people she was interrogating had to say versus what she was going through personally at the time.

Here's the blurb:

Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas has no problem finding connections between two violent crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women whose intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provided Eve with a long list of suspects—including her own lover, Roarke. 

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was perfect, for a variety of reasons.
• Pacing was very well done.
• Prose and dialogue were fine.
• Character development continues to build and grow and I'm enjoying it.
• World-building was consistent with that of the first book.

Glory in Death will a a 9 of 10 for me, and I'm going to hold off on a series rating at this point. I will be reading the third book in this series, Immortal in Death.

• Book Rating: Glory in Death: 9 of 10

The books in this series are:

1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengeance in Death
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred in Death
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas 

Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1) by J.D. Robb

 

I realize I'm late to this series, but I've heard a lot about it so I figured I'd check the first book out. I enjoyed Naked in Death, and I'm going to read the second book, but I'm not so sure I'll want to keep going from there.

I appreciated the futuristic descriptions, though I doubt we'll be quite as far along as she says we'll be in another fifty or so years. Back in the seventies we were pretty sure we'd have flying cars before the year 2000. That date is long past and I'm still driving on asphalt. Still, her world building was enjoyable.

As for the mystery, it was twisted in a variety of ways, and I still knew who the murderer was about half-way through the book.

I like Eve, and I look forward to getting to know her better in the next book. I also like Roarke, and it appears there is just as much to learn about him as there is to learn about Eve.

Here's the blurb:

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant using her instincts to hunt for a ruthless killer. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire—and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own.
 

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was good, even if I did figure out who did it way before I think I was supposed to.
• Pacing was well done.
• Prose and dialogue were well done.
• Character development was handled nicely.
• World-building was interesting, including the politics of this futuristic world.

I didn't have to think very hard about a rating for Naked in Death. It was well written and kept me engaged, but it wasn't good enough for a ten. It's a pretty solid eight.

• Book Rating: Naked in Death: 8 of 10 

I won't give a series rating after one book.

* Anxiously Awaiting as of late September 2011

.

There isn't a whole lot of new discoveries this month - anything with new information is shown in red. New information could be a link to the books page on Amazon, a release date, an excerpt, etc.  I've also put an (e) next to the books that have an excerpt out, clicking the (e) will take you to my list of excerpts.

I've already read and reviewed Spider's Revenge, and the next book I'm super excited about is Better Off Undead. I think I'm even going to go back and reread the previous books in the series.

09/27/11 Spider's Revenge (Elemental Assassin, Book 5) by Jennifer Estep (e)

09/27/11 Darkness Unbound (Dark Angel series - new Risa books) by Keri Arthur (e)

10/04/11 Better Off Undead (The Bloodhound Files book 4) by DD Barant  (e)

10/04/11 In Charm's Way (A Bewitching Mystery #8) by Madelyn Alt
10/04/11 Angels of Darkness by Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Sharon Shinn
10/04/11 Down These Strange Streets by Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, Charlaine Harris, Diana Gabaldon, etc.

10/18/11 Double Dexter (Dexter book 6) by Jeff Lindsay (e)

10/25/11 Darkness Rising (Dark Angel/Risa book 2) by Keri Arthur

10/25/11 The Bite Before Christmas Jeaniene Frost, Lynsay Sands

Fall/11 Unnamed Kate and Curran Novella from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (e)

11/01/11 Magic on the Line (Allie Beckstrom Book 7) by Devon Monk (e)

11/22/11 Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich

11/29/11 Killing Rites (Black Sun's Daughter Book 1) by M.L.N. Hanover (e)

11/29/11 Virtual Virgin (Delilah Street #5) by Carole Nelson Douglas
11/29/11 Fate's Edge (The Edge series) by Ilona Andrews (e)

12/06/11 Bound by the Vampire Queen (Vampire Queen Book 8) by Joey W. Hill (e)

12/06/11 Head Rush (Justine Jones Disillusionist Book 3) by Carolyn Crane

01/03/12 Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock, Book 4) by Faith Hunter  
01/10/12 Lothaire (Immortals After Dark book 12) by Kresley Cole

02/07/12  Fair Game (Alpha and Omega Book 3) by Patricia Briggs

02/21/12 A Perfect Blood (Rachel Morgan / Hollows book 16) by Kim Harrison

02/28/12 Angels' Flight (Guild Hunter short stories) by Nalini Singh 

02/28/12 By a Thread (Elemental Assassin book 6) by Jennifer Estep (e)

02/28/12 Trail of the Spellmans (Spellman Files #5) by Lisa Lutz

03/06/12 Doubletake (Cal Leandros Book #7) by Rob Thurman

03/27/12 Once Burned (Night Prince, Book 1, Vlad and Leila) by Jeaniene Frost

03/29/12 Tangle of Need (Psy/Changelings book 11, Adria and Riaz) by Nalini Singh

04/03/12 Magic Without Mercy (Allie Beckstrom Book 8) by Devon Monk

05/01/12 Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

06/05/12 Dead Sexy (Anita Blake #21) by Laurell K. Hamilton
06/05/12 Darkness Devours (Dark Angel #3-  Risa books) by Keri Arthur

06/05/12 Unnamed Psychic Eye Mystery by Victoria Laurie
??/??/?? Cold Days (Dresden Files Book 14) by Jim Butcher

??/??/12 Liquid Fire (Dakota Frost / Skindancer series book3 ) by Anthony Francis (e)
??/??/12 Tempest’s Fury (Jane True Book 5) by Nicole Peeler 

??/??/12 Unnamed Jaime story (Women/Otherworld Bk 13) Kelley Armstrong

??/??/12 Kitty Steals the Show (Kitty Norville Book 10) by Carrie Vaughn

??/??/12 Demons at the Gates (Phoenix Chronicles, Book 5) by Lori Handeland

09/01/12 Daemon's Angel (Dark Hunters) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

09/01/12 Ashes of Honor (October Daye, Book 6) by Seanan McGuire 

09/28/12 The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance (Anth) with an Elemental Assassin story by Jennifer Estep (e)

11/??/12 Unnamed Allie Beckstrom, Book 9 (Final book) by Devon Monk
02/??/13 Untitled (Kate Daniels #6)  by Ilona Andrews

Spring/13  Unnamed Mercy Thompson Book 7 by Patricia Briggs

09/01/13 The Chimes at Midnight (October Daye, Book 7) by Seanan McGuire
10/01/13 Alpha (Dark Hunters, Daria's story) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Not all of the series I keep up with have another book listed as coming out. The authors have stated there will be more, but to my knowledge they haven't said when, or given a title name. I've listed those series below.

* Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton (taking a few years off)
* Bronwyn the Witch series by Candace Havens (teaser in email about upcoming news)

* Caruthers Sisters series by Candace Havens (teaser in email about upcoming news)
* Cat & Bones, Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

Below are series I follow, but it is unclear whether there will be more books in the series:

* Nadia Stafford series by Kelley Armstrong (rumors of a self pubbed ebook to finish the trilogy)
* Nature of Desire series by Joey W. Hill
* Daughters of Arianne series by Joey W. Hill
* Felix Gomez series Mario Acevedo

* Anya Kalinczyk / Embers series by Laura Bickle

* Master of None series by Sonya Bateman

* Nikki Heat series by Richard Castle

You can read an excerpt of many of these books, to see my list of excerpts please go here. 

If someone wants to send me an ARC of one of the books on my Anxiously Awaiting list, I will read it within a day or two of it arriving (assuming I'm home and I'm not sick or anything), and will get a blog post up of it as soon as I've finished reading it. You may send me a digital version at chained lightning at g mail dot com, or to send a hard copy you may contact me at that email address to ask for a shipping address. If you have an ARC you would like to send that is not on my Anxiously Awaiting list I will attempt to read and review it in a timely manner but it may not be placed topmost in my TBR pile. Feel free to email me to see if I'd be interested in reading something, as well. I've found a few authors this way that I may not have read had I not received a review copy -- and now I'm hooked on a few of those series, just waiting for the next book.