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The "In Death" series
J.D. Robb (pen name for Nora Roberts)
Recommended by Lady SylviaA, in Scotland
No 1: Naked in Death
No 2: Glory in Death
No 3: Immortal in Death
No 4: Rapture in Death
No 5: Ceremony in Death
No 6: Vengeance in Death
No 7: Holiday in Death
No 8: Midnight in Death (in “Silent Night” anthology)
No 9: Conspiracy in Death
No 10: Loyalty in Death
No 11: Witness in Death
No 12: Judgement in Death
No 13: Betrayal in Death
No 14: Seduction in Death (September 2001)
No 15: Interlude in Death (in “Out of This World” anthology, August 2001)
Genre: Mystery/Futuristic
I saw a lot of LoLers mentioning the “In Death” books by J.D.Robb (aka Nora Roberts). This piqued my interest, so I did some surfing to look for them and found them at Amazon.uk. However, the only one I could get hold of at the time was the fourth book, “Rapture in Death.” I read it and instantly wanted the whole series!
Through a combination of a couple of very kind LoLers, who are also email buddies, my local bookseller and the Internet, I got the entire series and am now a very happy bunny!!
The series is a collection of 13 books so far; with a new book published every six months, so it's not too long to wait till the next one comes out! Believe me, you will be waiting on tenterhooks for the next release!!
The books tell the story of New York homicide cop, Eve Dallas, and are set in the near future ( 2058), where people live to 130 and travel around the city in airbuses and cops use laser guns to apprehend unwilling prisoners.
In the first book, Naked in Death, Eve, who has been a cop for 10 years, is investigating a case in which she meets a suspect, the enigmatic Roarke. A 35-year-old Irish billionaire, 6’2”, with black hair and hypnotic blue eyes, Roarke irresistibly draws Eve. Subsequent books in the series tell of the growing relationship between Roarke and Eve, and we meet her friends and workmates, share her frustration in having to drive a beat-up cop car, and see the nightmares of her damaged childhood.
Before reading these books, I had no interest at all in detective novels, but Robb’s writing style urges you to keep reading, not only to solve the murder (in some cases it’s too easy!), but to take a peek into the lives of the characters. The reader feels as if they are right there, whether it is at a murder scene, or in Roarke’s magnificent house, or in the seedy nightclub “The Blue Squirrel”. To me, that’s the sign of a good writer, to be able to make the reader part of the book, take the reader INTO the book.
Don’t be put off by the names of futuristic objects, vehicles, food, etc. You’ll soon pick it up! Off-planet travel doesn’t sound too off-planet really and soy dogs are the fast food of the near future.
These books are an average of 300 to 350 pages long, and all a self-contained murder story, which makes them good as stand-alone books. But to really get into all the main recurring characters, I recommend you read from book 1 onwards.
OK, as these books are about murder, there’s naturally going to be violence – can’t expect anything else! Murder IS violent. But it’s not gratuitous. There’s also sex. Did I mention sex? Roarke is to die for! A man with a past, a lost soul like Eve. Very sensual and loving, tender yet dangerous.
There are also regular characters in the series: Peabody – Eve’s sidekick who wears her cop uniform regulation style, but knows Eve’s ways (which can be unorthodox) and backs her to the hilt. Mavis – Eve’s best friend, an ex-con who is a nightclub singer and wears outrageous outfits. Summerset – Roarke’s butler, who gave Roarke sanctuary from the back streets of Dublin. Commander Whitney – Eve’s boss, firm but fair. Feeney – Eve’s ex-partner who now heads EDD ( the computer side of the NYPD). Galahad – the fat grey cat of a murder victim who adopts Eve and Roarke.
Some of the “In Death” books are also out as abridged audio books. A lot of each story is cut, but not too much of the story line is lost in the condensation. “Naked,” “Judgement” and “Betrayal” are available and “Glory” will be out on audio this April. The rest of the books will be available in audio as they are recorded – normally every couple of months or so.
To keep updated on new releases of books/audios, go to:
http://www.noraroberts.com/jdrobb.htm
Give these books a try if you haven’t done so before. Several good critics from Lallybroch can’t be wrong and, as I said before, I wasn’t a fan of detective novels. I am now!
See also
Ladies of Lallybroch - Mysteries Recommended Reading
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