Interlude in Death (In Death, Book 12.5) by JD Robb

 

Interlude In Death was originally published in the "Out of this World" anthology, and thus it takes place off of earth. Eve and Roarke are on Olympus, though this is work travel for Eve instead of Roarke. It's a police convention and Eve is going to have to give a lecture. It's a relatively short story, but it packs quite a punch.

Once again, Roarke's past comes up during the events of the investigation, and we learn something that seems a bit far fetched, but I've a feeling the author will close that particular loop in a later book. I look forward to it.

Another little twist for this book - it wasn't Eve's investigation. The chief of police on Olympus gets a paycheck from Roarke, which put him in charge this time. It threw off their balance a bit, but they dealt with it and plugged right along.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was a very good one.
• Pacing was well done.
• Prose and dialogue were excellent.
• Character development was consistent with previous books.
• World-building was consistent with previous books.

• Book Rating: Interlude 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
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
12.5 Interlude In Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
17.5 Remember When
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
 

Betrayal in Death (In Death, Book 12) by JD Robb

 

Betrayal in Death gives us a professional killer, more information about Roarke's death, and a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.

Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I'm fascinated by the idea of an assassin -- Anita Blake's friend Edward, Kitty Norville's friend Cormac, Gin Blanco, Nadia Stafford. Something about the mindset just sets my mind to spinning. But those assassins have something of a code of honor, and the assassin Eve is after does not appear to be anything but a killer for hire with no code or morals as to who he hits or why. Still, the added bit of her trying to take down a pro, having to snaggle with the FBI, being supported by her commanding officers -- the author is doing a good job of not making each book "same thing different book".

She also found another quite plausible way to draw Roarke into the investigation. I actually figured out why he was drawn into things from the very start, which was a bit frustrating as it took he and Eve so long to figure it out. But, that was okay, I thoroughly enjoyed following the events through to their conclusion.

Here's the blurb:

Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates a homicide on familiar ground—her husband’s hotel. There, she finds herself up against a murderer with a passion for the finer things in life—and death.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was a very good one.
• Pacing was most okay.
• Prose and dialogue were excellent.
• Character development was once again added to, giving us more glimpses of Roarke.
• World-building was consistent with previous books.

 Betrayal in Death is easily a 10 of 10 for me. If I average out the books in this series, they will probably come to a series rating of 10 of 10. But I'm leaving the series at a 9 of 10 for several reasons. The first is that this technically is not my genre, and when compared to the books I consider a 10 of 10, doesn't measure up. That's not the fault of the author, as this is an exceptionally well written series, it's just that, for me, this is a 9 of 10.  The second reason is that there is a bit of a lack of story archs - threads running through multiple books to help tie them all together. I mean, sure - we're being fed bits and pieces of both Eve and Roarke's past, but the series is still, in some ways, a collection of books involving the same character and world, and not tied together as tightly as I usually prefer. Which means that, for me -- the series will remain a 9 of 10 for now.

• Book Rating: Betrayal 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
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
12.5 Interlude In Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
17.5 Remember When
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
 

Judgement in Death (In Death, Book 11) by JD Robb

 

Judgment in Death once again lets us peek into Roarke's past. If the events of this book had happened earlier in the relationship I'm not sure the couple would have survived intact. But, Eve and Roarke's marriage is strong enough now that, while it was a bit rocky, they managed to deal with everything thrown at them.

The mystery this time puts Eve into a tight spot, as she finds herself investigating cops. She doesn't back away from it, she stands for the dead and that means she does what needs to be done to bring the killer down... but she still has some troubles navigating her investigation this time.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was a good one. Troubling, twisted, and sad... but good.
• Pacing was fine.
• Prose and dialogue were, as always, several levels above great.
• Character development developed a whole lot in this book.
• World-building was consistent with previous books.

• Book Rating: Judgement 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
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
12.5 Interlude In Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
17.5 Remember When
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
 

Witness in Death (In Death, Book 10) by JD Robb

 

Witness in Death gives us an Agatha Christie-esque type murder mystery, and it was one I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have complained of the series starting to reach the edges of being same-old same-old, but Witness in Death manages to be just different enough to escape that feeling.

Here's the blurb:

When a celebrity is killed right before her eyes, New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas takes a new place in crime—as both officer and witness to murder.

One of the things that I think adds interest to this story is that, while it is a futuristic world, it's not so far in the future that we can't easily see. When someone was born very close to the year one of my daughter's were born, my mind begins wondering what life will be like when they are sixty. Nice touch.


As for the writing elements:

• The plot was masterfully woven and beautifully complex.
• Pacing was mostly okay.
• Prose and dialogue were perfect.
• Character development was consistent with previous books.
• World-building was consistent with previous books.

I worry that as Eve becomes more and more reliant on Roarke, that we'll begin seeing trouble in paradise. Because he owns so much of New York, he manages to be in some way involved in just about every case. I'd like to see Eve have a few cases that don't involve Roarke in any way, and I'd like to see her handle the case without his help. Using the "secret" computers may be okay occasionally, but using them for every case, I worry what other lines she's going to step over.  She's gone from black and white to shades of grey, but at what point does she move too far into shades of grey?

Eve is a good cop, and works hard to do the right thing. I don't want to see that change. We haven't, yet, but I'd really like to see her keep Roarke out of her investigations. Having him involved every once in a while would be fine, but he's been deeply involved (and active) on pretty much every case for a while now.

Still, Witness in Death, easily gets a 10 of 10 from me.

• Book Rating: Witness 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
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
 

Loyalty in Death (In Death, Book 9) by JD Robb

 

Loyalty in Death is the 9th novel and 10th story in this series, and I think I'm ready for the author to do something to change things up. I'm less than half way through the series at this point, and to be honest I'm sticking it out because I want to make it to New York to Dallas.

There were some interesting side trips in this book - Peabody has a few things going on, one of those things I've kind of been waiting to happen, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that works out in the next book.

The blurb doesn't warn that the subject of Loyalty in Death is terrorism, so I'll give the warning that if this is a touchy issue for you then you may want to skip it. The book appears to have been originally published in 1999, well before the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Here is the blurb:

New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns to face her most ingenious foe: an unknown bomber who taunts her with letters—and kills without mercy.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was good, if disturbing. I had to suspend reality a bit for this one though, as I don't believe local police would be allowed to run this type of investigation without the Feds moving in.
• Pacing was mostly okay.
• Prose and dialogue were excellent.
• Character development was further defined for a few of the secondary characters.
• World-building was detailed and interesting.

• Book Rating: Loyalty 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

Conspiracy in Death (In Death, Book 8) by JD Robb

 

Conspiracy in Death is tough to read. The official blurb doesn't tell us much, so I will say that this case shakes Eve's foundations. It almost breaks her.

It becomes very personal, but it doesn't start out that way. It only becomes personal because she won't drop it, and because she is so good at her job.

Here's the not-very-informative blurb:

Eve investigates the sidewalk murders of homeless people by a killer collecting human organs.

I hated the events of the book through much of what happened, but I understand that the author needed to mix things up a bit, and she certainly managed to do just that.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was beautifully crafted.
• Pacing was excruciating at times, but it needed to be.
• Prose and dialogue were stellar, as always with this author.
• Character development was painful to watch at times, but probably a necessary step in the series.
• World-building was detailed and interesting.

If you've ever wanted to see what happens after the HEA of a romance book, then this series is the one to read. I am loving the evolution of Eve and Roarke's relationship, watching them learn and grow and bond and just deal with everyday life as best they can.

• Book Rating: Conspiracy 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
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