As you’ve been reading my reviews, you’ve come to know that I’m a fan of the In Death series by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts).
Let me begin this review by remind all of you that the In Death series takes place in the years 2058 – 2059. While they are considered futuristic books because of the time and conveniences (autochefs that will supply your meals without you having to cook, cars with autopilots that can also fly in the air – so you can concentrate on other things while the car is in motion, virtual reality rooms – where you can go on vacation without leaving your house, etc.), crime and the investigations of them, remain the same.
Even in the middle of the 21st century, a cop will still need to visit the witnesses, take depositions and do the legwork performed by the cops in the past that had none of the modern equipment you see in the series.
Yet, in spite of the combination of the then and now, J.D. Robb makes the series work.
Let’s begin with the crime in BETRAYAL IN DEATH.
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The book begins with homicide detective Lt. Eve Dallas out for the evening with her flamboyantly rich husband, Roarke. She’s dressed to the nines for the gala event he has orchestrated for an actress friend of his who had decided to auction off some of her famous wardrobe in order to make a sizeable donation to charity.
One of the first things you notice is the description of Eve’s gown. It’s elegant beyond description which, of course, makes Eve extremely uncomfortable.
Throughout each book, you realize that Eve isn’t one to dress up. Being a child “in the system” as she grew up and never having anything as far as luxury items, she’d gotten comfortable with her own lifestyle. Now, being married to the richest man in America, if not the world, puts her head in a spin each and every time he buys her a new and expensive gift – which often is a gorgeous new gown with shoes, purse and jewelry to match.
So, here she is, in one of the many buildings Roarke owns, when she’s called to investigate a murder – a murder that has taken place in the same hotel – only a few floors above where she had just been mingling with the other rich and famous guests.
In her beautiful silk gown and heels, she enters the room and, once again, becomes Lt. Eve Dallas.
Her mind now completely on the crime scene, she forgets all about the party downstairs and begins the investigation.
It was a brutal murder. The young maid in the hotel was viciously beaten, raped and then garroted with a thin silver wire.
During the onset of the investigation, her pal, Detective Feeny from EDD, works on the surveillance photo and realizes the murderer is Sly Yost – someone the NYPSD is all too familiar with.
Knowing that he’s had face sculpting done to change his features will make his capture harder on Dallas and her team – harder but not impossible.
As Dallas continues the investigation, another murder takes place. This time, it’s a young man but the same MO.
What do these people have in common that would make the hired assassin, Yost, murder them? And who hired him?
It doesn’t take long for Dallas to realize that the only thing these people had in common was their link to Roarke. So, maybe someone hired Yost to get to Roarke. And it’s working!
Now Dallas must find the who and put him behind bars before he can hurt Roarke more than he has already.
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While that’s a brief synopsis of the story, what you’ll find in each story is that there will be at least one murder. After all, Dallas is a homicide detective and you couldn’t very well write a book about a homicide detective without a murder.
Moving on ::::::
Earlier, I mentioned that Eve Dallas doesn’t feel comfortable in gowns and heals and expensive jewelry. J.D. Robb tells her life as the type of horror no child should ever encounter. She’s repeatedly beaten and raped by her own father. If that’s not enough, she’s placed in foster home after foster home until she’s finally old enough to leave the system and make it on her own. Now she investigates murders which often remind her of her horrific childhood.
She meets Roarke during an earlier investigation and sparks fly between them. He’s a self-made multi billionaire whose riches boggle Eve’s mind. She’s done without luxury for so long, she doesn’t know what to do with what has now been given to her out of love – a love she can’t understand. Why would anyone love her the way Roarke does – especially after the childhood she’s had?
Their love makes for a very interesting part of this book. While graphic for younger readers, adults can only dream of having this kind of love affair with their mates. It’s powerful and tender and makes your heart melt.
While all this passion, whether for the job or for her husband is going on, J.d. Robb tosses in the blooming love affair between Dallas’ aide, Officer Delia Peabody and Feeny’s right-hand man, Detective Ian McNab. Only in this book, trouble is brewing. Both being obstinate in their own directions, Peabody and McNab agree to go their separate ways. What neither of them realize is the neither of them really wants the relationship to end. Yet, they are both too stubborn to admit it.
J.D. Robb works wonders with this up and down relationship and is able to easily blend them and their personalities with the more serious Eve and Roarke.
For some twisted reason of my own, which I can’t quite figure out, I enjoy the ever present love-hate relationship between Eve and Summerset, Roarke’s butler, valet, housekeeper and personal friend.
Summerset met Roarke in Dublin when Roarke was a wild teen just looking for trouble. Summerset gave him a home, fatherly love and a new beginning. In turn, Roarke gave him a permanent place in his home with all the comforts Roarke, himself enjoys.
Summerset is extremely protective of Roarke and is stymied, knowing Roarke former ways of making money, when Roarke first announced he was marrying a cop. While Summerset was forced to accept Dallas as the new lady of the house, he is still skeptical yet, each day, he’s beginning to know and like her more. He’s gained a new respect for her diligence as a cop and is amused by her bafflement of the riches she is now entitled to.
Eve, on one hand, although admires Summerset for all he’s done for Roarke, at first, thinks he has too much to say about what goes on in Roarke’s life. Yet, on the other hand, can’t help but feel that whenever Roarke needs him, Summerset is ready and willing to drop everything and aid his employer. Their relationship is a mystery to her.
While they both enjoy their somewhat argumentative bantering, what neither is ready to admit is that they are beginning to look forward to their weird relationship and again, neither will admit that they’d also be willing to drop everything and anything to help each other should the need arise.
With this relationship, Robb shows how two complete opposites can come together because of a mutual love of another individual.
Robb takes so many personalities and blends them into one great story. Add the mystery of murder and the turmoil of the investigation and you have one great book.
Yet, I think, in my opinion, what keeps this book going is the simple and yet, confusing life of our heroine, Eve Dallas. She’s tough and soft. She’s complex yet completely understandable. She’s awkward yet completely confident as a cop. She shows the kind of characteristics most women possess. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and they blend in our lives perfectly even though we are not perfect.
This book is about the imperfections of others twisted around what seems to be the perfect murder.
BETRAYAL IN DEATH is not just another great book to read, it’s also number 12 in the series.
I’m sure once you begin reading the book, you won’t want to put it down until the last page. You’ll enjoy the heated “I need you NOW” declarations between Eve and Roarke as well as the simple seduction between the husband and wife.
You’ll enjoy the playful exchange of words between Peabody and McNab but feel your heart break as they put their romance to and end.
Whichever page you read, you’ll laugh, you might cry but you will enjoy the book.
I did.
Thank you for reading.
Please, don’t forget to read my other reviews on the In Death series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgment in Death
Recommended:
