It’s been so much fun re-reading the earlier In Death books this year. I am going to post reviews of the ones that I never did again next year as well. I can’t get to my bookcases right now (burst pipe, room if back together thankfully, but contractors still need to paint and put my stuff back where it was) so these are the only ones that I had sitting around upstairs that I had access to. And some where on my Kindle., I realized after “New York to Dallas” that was one of the last In Death books I bought as a hardcover. Also thanks to a friend who asked me about some of the books listed here because I thought I had posted a review of them (In Death #17 and In Death #18) but had not. She loves this series so wanted to know what I thought about them and had to go, wait, there’s no review there? So that helped me keep up with reading and posting these in groups of 5. One thing to note, not really going to go back and post the individual novellas. Majority of them I read in anthologies so I like to just post those reviews related to that, but not in the mood to go and pepper reviews I already did in the many different ways these books pop up.
“Imitation in Death” (In Death #17)-3 stars. Honestly. I have zero memory of this book. It was great to re-read but I legit don’t recall it. Probably because Eve chasing down a guy who is all, I am Jack the Ripper would have made me roll my eyes in 2003 (when this book was published). Also, one of the most hilarious freaking things that another reviewer pointed out is that if you look at one of the book covers, you can guess who the killer is. I am still cracking up at that. But honestly this one drags a lot. Nothing really happens to almost the end. You are also supposed to think there is some tension coming since one of Roarke’s past partners pops up, eh, no one even cares. Anyway, just a 3 star book that I am still stunned I have zero memory of reading back in the day.
“Divided in Death” (In Death #18)-3 stars. This is another one I don’t recall reading the first time through. Beyond hilarious it was on my bookshelf though. This book follows one of Roarke’s security specialists, Reva, being accused of a double homicide. Reva was rightfully angry when she found out her husband and best friend were having an affair. But Eve and Roarke both think someone could be setting her up.
One of the things though that this book brings up is that government (HSO) knew what was happening to Eve back in the day with regards to her father Richard Troy sexually abusing her, and they did nothing. So yeah. There’s a lot of animosity going on with Roarke in this one and it ends up driving him and Eve apart. Honestly I was kind of over Roarke. Him talking about murdering federal agents was not endearing at all. I jus shook my head. There is a heartbreaking moment though when everyone at NYPD almost finds out what happened to Eve back in the day, and what she had to do to save herself in Dallas, but in the end it is Eve confronting the POS bureaucrat from HSO with Whitney by her side.
In the end, the case is solved, but I am glad that I re-read this one because New York to Dallas gets more into Eve’s past and you have to read all of the books to even get to where Robb was going with things.
“Indulgence in Death” (In Death #31)-4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I loved the beginning of this one. We have Eve and Roarke visiting Roarke’s family in Ireland. I also laughed at the part of the book where Eve realizes how noisy their bed is and that still doesn’t stop her from having sex with Roarke. There’s also a murder in Ireland, but it also quickly gets solved. The two of them return to New York and then we get to the main murders. Eve gets called into a man who has a crossbow bolt into his neck. Then other murders occur with Eve worrying there’s a spree killer on the loose.
Honestly I have to say that this was a solid one. I liked how Eve and Peabody worked together on this as well as Eve and Roarke. The book was interesting and when you find out who is committing the murders and why you are going to be disgusted.
“New York to Dallas” (In Death #33)-5 stars. Apologies for a long review on this one. Honestly I am realizing now that maybe “In Death” should have ended here. There were parts of this that didn’t work for me. Eve finding out who [redacted redacted redacted]. I think that would have been great to be left as a loose thread. But the way that Roarke and Mira came to stand by her with Eve having to confront her past. With Eve having at this point everyone knowing what happened to her when she was a child, was tough to do.
“New York to Dallas” has Eve trying to track down serial killer, Isaac McQueen. Eve took him down when she was a rookie (yeah, I won’t get into how Eve was always super cop even when she was a rookie). But now with Isaac having escaped prison who plans on making Eve come and chase him since he sees himself as the reason why Eve is where she is now.
This is a tough one for all involved. McQueen eventually gets to Dallas and kidnaps someone and Eve is contacted and told if she doesn’t come in 8 hours, the woman is going to lose a finger. Dr. Mira is ticked and threatens to block Eve from going. Of course for long time fans all know why Mira and others don’t want Eve going. Dallas was where Eve was found after she killed her father, Richard Troy in self defense. Eve and Mira do clear the air, but Eve leaves Peabody in New York running point there while she and Roarke go to Dallas.
I don’t know what to say. This book just breaks your heart while reading it. We all know what was done to Eve and why she turned to the law. And we know why Roarke still holds a big old grudge against the HSO. But this one has Eve facing her past (literally) at one point. I thought it was so good and I loved that when Eve does eventually break, she has Roarke and Mira there. I do have to say that the reveal of someone who is “close” to Eve didn’t work for me at all. I honestly was tempted to drop the book a star, but think that Robb wanted to close the loop on that whole thing and I just wish she had left it alone. It read very weird the first time and on my second re-read it didn’t make a lick of sense.
“Celebrity in Death” (In Death #34)-2 stars. Honestly this one started my lower ratings of the book. I really don’t like the Icove Agenda and the whole thing being turned into a movie just is the complete opposite of what Eve would even want. This is also when Nadine went from an investigative reporter with a hit show into a super screenwriter and book writer and I just did not get it or believe it one iota. “Celebrity in Death” follows Eve trying to figure out who killed a movie star playing the role of Peabody in the Icove Agenda movie. It was just boring. Most of the book is just people reeling from the stars who look just like Eve, Roarke, Peabody, etc. I recall I almost didn’t finish this one because it really did not work in the end.
