Every January (except last year, where I clearly didn’t even try to lie to myself, I tell myself that I’m going to actually review books this year. And every February I fail. But I’ve come to the conclusion (with maybe some well-placed words from my therapist) that I need some mental health moments, and this is one of them, so even if I only last till February or only review six books, I’m still doing it. And it doesn’t matter if I only review a handful of books. Just like it doesn’t matter if I don’t put the crayon back in the exact same spot in my crayon box. Right?
(It actually kind of does matter but I’m choosing to believe it doesn’t. The crayon thing, not the review thing.)
Anyway. Sorry for the detour in to my brain.
So… the In Death series. This is number 57. Nora, aren’t you tired?
Eve and Roarke are back from their three week vacation celebrating three years of marriage when she gets a call that Detective Greenleaf, of IAB, has been found dead of an apparent suicide. His mentee, Webster, who long-time readers might remember as another IAB guy who once thought he was in love with Eve, is the one who finds Greenleaf, and requests Dallas specifically. Of course, Eve understands immediately that the scene doesn’t read as a suicide, and the mystery begins.
I found the mystery to be a little thin this time around, and the plot as well. But it was nice to check in with our cast of characters, and most everyone is here: Roarke, Peabody and McNabb, Feeney, Dr. Mira (although I did miss Mr. Mira), Mavis, Somerset, and the rest of the gang. And there were more “family” moments, either with Roarke’s extended family in Ireland or the cobbled together family of the NYPSD. It was a bit of a departure from the usual, and kind of nice. I just wish the mystery at the heart of the novel had been a little juicier.
Also, in Googling Webster’s name (because I couldn’t remeber it), I learned there’s a whole In Death wiki out there. And that there are people who clearly have more time on their hands than I.