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In Death #37.5
Taken in Death
Unabridged, 3 audio compact discs, 3 hours 17 minutes
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Two young children disappear from their East Side home in New York City, their nanny killed in cold blood. As Lieutenant Eve Dallas begins to unravel the crime scene and search for the children, she's drawn into the twisted mind of a kidnapper who will stop at nothing to take revenge.
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Two young children disappear from their East Side home in New York City, their nanny killed in cold blood. As Lieutenant Eve Dallas begins to unravel the crime scene and search for the children, she's drawn into the twisted mind of a kidnapper who will stop at nothing to take revenge.
3 pages, Audio CD
First published September 24, 2013
84 people are currently reading
5923 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Robb
177 books35.3k followersJ.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Stolen in Death (St. Martin's Press, February 2026) will be the 62nd entry in the series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
February 5, 2019
Even the novellas are good! 😏😏😏 My God, I just love this series so freaking much. 😎😎😎
March 7, 2022
Taken in Death by J. D. Robb
In Death series book 37.5. Futuristic cop series. Fairytale retelling. Novella length.
A retelling of Hansel and Gretel from a futuristic and cops perspective.
The eTeam and Roarke use a child’s toy to help find the psycho while Eve and her team track down clues.
🎧 Narrated by Susan Erickson. This was my first audiobook in the the series. I may be in the minority here but I did not care for it at all. For me, the accents were all wrong. Its not how I hear Roarke or Peabody or McNab in my head. At all. I suppose that’s to be expected after reading 40 something books and then switching to audio. The narrator did a good job differentiating between voices and the jittery nature of the tech geeks and the tenseness and fast pace of Eve Dallas. And since I’ve bought the last 8 books or so in audiobook I guess I get used to it.
Bottom line enjoyed the story. Not so much the narration.
In Death series book 37.5. Futuristic cop series. Fairytale retelling. Novella length.
A retelling of Hansel and Gretel from a futuristic and cops perspective.
The eTeam and Roarke use a child’s toy to help find the psycho while Eve and her team track down clues.
🎧 Narrated by Susan Erickson. This was my first audiobook in the the series. I may be in the minority here but I did not care for it at all. For me, the accents were all wrong. Its not how I hear Roarke or Peabody or McNab in my head. At all. I suppose that’s to be expected after reading 40 something books and then switching to audio. The narrator did a good job differentiating between voices and the jittery nature of the tech geeks and the tenseness and fast pace of Eve Dallas. And since I’ve bought the last 8 books or so in audiobook I guess I get used to it.
Bottom line enjoyed the story. Not so much the narration.
July 15, 2020
J.D. Robb's novellas are as good as her books just shorter. She can still pack a punch into the story, bring in most if not all of our favourite characters, and make sure Eve catches some appalling criminal.
Taken in Death is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Twins, Henry and Gala, are kidnapped by the bad witch (or their mother's evil sister) who has some very bad habits like drinking blood. And the good witch (Eve) has to follow the breadcrumbs (clues) and save them before the bad witch eats them.
Everyone takes their usual role, including Galahad who lays on Eve's feet and helps her go to sleep. He does appear to miss out on his usual bacon in the morning though. Roarke is there of course as the amazingly wonderful perfect man that he is. I doubt anyone like him really exists but it is nice to imagine that they do.
All is well in Dallas World and I am a happy reader.
Taken in Death is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Twins, Henry and Gala, are kidnapped by the bad witch (or their mother's evil sister) who has some very bad habits like drinking blood. And the good witch (Eve) has to follow the breadcrumbs (clues) and save them before the bad witch eats them.
Everyone takes their usual role, including Galahad who lays on Eve's feet and helps her go to sleep. He does appear to miss out on his usual bacon in the morning though. Roarke is there of course as the amazingly wonderful perfect man that he is. I doubt anyone like him really exists but it is nice to imagine that they do.
All is well in Dallas World and I am a happy reader.
March 5, 2020
A wonderful novella with a “Hansel and Gretal themed” novella. Review to come!
November 10, 2020
3.75 stars**
October 5, 2013
I'm not a fan of the novellas in this series but this was a very nice surprise, one where the short format works.
It's a race against time to find Henry and Gala (our Hansel & Gretel), who've been kidnapped. The next 24 hours is a tense and exciting ride with Eve Dallas and her team as they work the case. Once you start this story you will not stop until the end in this classic In Death procedural and interesting take on a classic fairy tale. I now have a new favorite novella.
It's a race against time to find Henry and Gala (our Hansel & Gretel), who've been kidnapped. The next 24 hours is a tense and exciting ride with Eve Dallas and her team as they work the case. Once you start this story you will not stop until the end in this classic In Death procedural and interesting take on a classic fairy tale. I now have a new favorite novella.
June 17, 2024
Solid short story with quick pacing.
January 17, 2021
In, Taken in Death the author gives us a twist on the Hansel and Gretel fairy-tale.
A nanny is murdered, her charges kidnapped, and the kidnapper has a taste for and is off her rocker, so Eve, Roarke and her team are racing to find the kidnapped kids before it’s too late.
There’s a mystic element in this little novella, but it needed more teasing out, and Eve’s reaction to it depth.
This tiny novella was overall an enjoyable read one that I will be re-reading at some point, however it was too darn short!
A nanny is murdered, her charges kidnapped, and the kidnapper has a taste for and is off her rocker, so Eve, Roarke and her team are racing to find the kidnapped kids before it’s too late.
There’s a mystic element in this little novella, but it needed more teasing out, and Eve’s reaction to it depth.
This tiny novella was overall an enjoyable read one that I will be re-reading at some point, however it was too darn short!
January 4, 2020
Finally, an In Death novella that has some woo-woo in it that doesn't go off the rails! Great little "time is ticking down" kind of mystery
October 10, 2019
If you ever think to yourself that you should skip the in-between books, don't. Especially this one. Eve is on the race to save twins that were kidnapped. The characters are well written and well developed, of course. Nora is a genius even with short stories!
May 11, 2022
5 stars
April 4, 2022
Taken in Death
5 Stars
Another excellent novella in the In Death series. This time Eve and her team investigate the murder of a young nanny and the disappearance of her twin charges.
This one had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end as the tension around the kidnapping intensifies, and the clock appears to be running out for little Henry and his sister, Gala (love the allusions to Hansel & Gretel interspersed throughout the tale).
It is incredible how Robb keeps hers her readers so engaged in such a long-running series.
5 Stars
Another excellent novella in the In Death series. This time Eve and her team investigate the murder of a young nanny and the disappearance of her twin charges.
This one had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end as the tension around the kidnapping intensifies, and the clock appears to be running out for little Henry and his sister, Gala (love the allusions to Hansel & Gretel interspersed throughout the tale).
It is incredible how Robb keeps hers her readers so engaged in such a long-running series.
February 13, 2022
I am bummed because after all this time I missed this novella of the In Death Series. It has an interesting premise too. Hansel and Gretel with the bad witch. And kids considering Eve as the good witch. I could just imagine her face when the boy called her that. But my heart just about melted when they both clung to Eve. 😊
January 25, 2020
Second Read: This is a novella of Robb's In Death Series. It's only 3 CDs long. But Robb tells a good story in that short time. She is very gifted that way. I haven't been able to find several of her book series so I have several yet to read....hope I can find them.
First Read: I think I've read one other novella of Robb's In Death Series. This one seems a little difficult to understand. I think I need to go back and read/listen to it again as I seem to be having some difficulties understanding it.
As much as I love this series, I just can't seem to get a grip on the short stories. The mystical element that seems to be present in a lot of them just doesn't sit right with me. This one is no exception. I can't get into too much detail, but there were some freaky things.
I liked how all of Eve's team came together to work on finding the missing children, and the way they managed to find is nothing short of a miracle. I do love it when these stories have happy endings. :-)
Third Read: Eve knows that there is no time to waste on the past and with every passing hour her deternmination to bring the children home safely strengthens. Eve and her team find themselves following an electronic breadcrumb trail left by a boy desperate to escape the evil witch. Their investigation into the kidnappers sordid past reveals violent coercion, ritalistic killings, and chilling bloodlust--making her terrifying plans for the children abundandly clear.
In conclusion, I did like it - it's impossible (for me) not to like a story with Eve & Roarke, but it lacks the shine of the full length novels.
First Read: I think I've read one other novella of Robb's In Death Series. This one seems a little difficult to understand. I think I need to go back and read/listen to it again as I seem to be having some difficulties understanding it.
As much as I love this series, I just can't seem to get a grip on the short stories. The mystical element that seems to be present in a lot of them just doesn't sit right with me. This one is no exception. I can't get into too much detail, but there were some freaky things.
I liked how all of Eve's team came together to work on finding the missing children, and the way they managed to find is nothing short of a miracle. I do love it when these stories have happy endings. :-)
Third Read: Eve knows that there is no time to waste on the past and with every passing hour her deternmination to bring the children home safely strengthens. Eve and her team find themselves following an electronic breadcrumb trail left by a boy desperate to escape the evil witch. Their investigation into the kidnappers sordid past reveals violent coercion, ritalistic killings, and chilling bloodlust--making her terrifying plans for the children abundandly clear.
In conclusion, I did like it - it's impossible (for me) not to like a story with Eve & Roarke, but it lacks the shine of the full length novels.
April 15, 2024
Out of all the In Death novellas, Taken ID has to be my favorite. It’s a smart retake of the fairy tale, “Hansel & Gretel” with a futuristic slant, a dash of high tech and a kickass heroine with a penchant for sarcasm.
The kids – twins, Henry and Gala totally stole my heart. Both of them oozing with cuteness and so brave. Both of them trying to protect the other, defending each other. Even an inmovable heart would be moved.
Roarke and Eve, along with their team, fighting against the clock to find and save those two kids. I find it interesting that even in a novella, J.D. Robb managed to get in enough backstory about the culprit and the twins’ parents so that the story felt like a complete novel.
I enjoyed all the elements of Taken ID especially the happy ending with Eve. That scene was so emotional, with a sprinkle of humor that made just perfect.
Posted on Blog
May 11, 2018
A nanny is found dead and the two kids are missing. When the camera show who killed and kidnapped, the goal for Eve and her team is to found the children before it become a bigger tragedy.
For this novella and probably because we know who the assassin is we witness the true madness of this person. Let me tell you, I'm glad I didn't read it before going to bed because for me it was one of the disturbing ones in the In Death series. Could be because there's kids involve but I really think it's mostly because the killer was completely insane.
For this novella and probably because we know who the assassin is we witness the true madness of this person. Let me tell you, I'm glad I didn't read it before going to bed because for me it was one of the disturbing ones in the In Death series. Could be because there's kids involve but I really think it's mostly because the killer was completely insane.
December 3, 2015
Stuff with kids makes me oogie. It ratchets up the tension until I have to mentally plan my Christmas shopping before I can go to sleep.
November 27, 2022
For some strange reason this was my first time reading this 🤷🏾♀️
Some similarities to the Hansel and Gretel story as two young children are kidnapped and their nanny murdered. Eve and her team as well as agents work tirelessly to find the children. Brave young children provide clues that lead to a happy ending. Pretty quick read
Some similarities to the Hansel and Gretel story as two young children are kidnapped and their nanny murdered. Eve and her team as well as agents work tirelessly to find the children. Brave young children provide clues that lead to a happy ending. Pretty quick read
March 29, 2021
This novella (#37.5) is a great addition to J.D. Robb's "In Death" series!
July 18, 2014
Dallas to the rescue. The fascinating connection between twins is prevalent in this story. A fast moving short thriller that had an interesting premise. I'm glad this was a short, reading about kidnapping children is not my bag but this was not too bad. Crazy, Silence of the Lamb, occult, genius takes them and it is up to Dallas's team to get them back before the witching hour. A twist makes it even creepier.
October 11, 2019
That was some creepy shit. I honestly don't think I've ever read a "real-life Hansel and Gretel" kind of storyline, so finding it in the In Death series (as opposed to one of my paranormal fantasy sci-fi stories) is a bit shocking.
May 18, 2020
This was a demented evil twin story with a touch of the psychic. It was ok.
March 23, 2023
Taken in Death is an In Death series novella that is available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or as a separate ebook. I read it as part of the anthology (which I'd happily recommend to fans of fairytale retellings) but I'm reviewing it separately too as I know some people aren't interested in anthologies.
This story is J.D. Robb's take on Hansel and Gretel, normally Eve is only involved in investigating murders but after the body of a nanny is discovered the team quickly realise that the children she was looking after have been abducted. Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down missing seven year old twins Henry and Gala before they come to harm at the hands of the evil witch who stole them.
Taken in Death was a really creepy novella with a cannibalistic evil twin and a couple of pretty smart children who are able to leave a trail for Eve to follow. A perfect read-in-one-sitting story that'll give you your Eve and Roarke fix while you're waiting for the next full length book to arrive.
1st read - December 2019
2nd read - November 2021
3rd read - March 2023
This story is J.D. Robb's take on Hansel and Gretel, normally Eve is only involved in investigating murders but after the body of a nanny is discovered the team quickly realise that the children she was looking after have been abducted. Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down missing seven year old twins Henry and Gala before they come to harm at the hands of the evil witch who stole them.
Taken in Death was a really creepy novella with a cannibalistic evil twin and a couple of pretty smart children who are able to leave a trail for Eve to follow. A perfect read-in-one-sitting story that'll give you your Eve and Roarke fix while you're waiting for the next full length book to arrive.
1st read - December 2019
2nd read - November 2021
3rd read - March 2023
December 9, 2013
I feel sad! I'm finally up to date with this series! Now I have to wait for the next one to be published :(
September 17, 2020
Well what do you know, the case in this one is actually pretty solid. I kinda want a full-length In Death book about a now.
April 18, 2019
Quick novella from the world of Eve Dallas.
I listened to the audiobook on Scribd. It was only a few hours.
Murder/kidnapping. I’m hopeful these two kids make an appearance in future books.
Recommended
I listened to the audiobook on Scribd. It was only a few hours.
Murder/kidnapping. I’m hopeful these two kids make an appearance in future books.
Recommended
January 24, 2016
This Eve Dallas's Short Story is included in the Warped Fairy Tale Retellings among other writers in the Anthology, Mirror, Mirror. Well in this case, Taken in Death retells the snarky version of Hansel and Gretel. I love how Roarke, Eve and Peabody played around the story of Hansel and Gretel in order to trace the psycho. Since this is a very short story like an hour read, this has a very promising plot and victims seem very witty if given that this book has been a complete novel. Since it's short then I just wish to think the following; the interrogation of Maj, the killer, the longer silent convo of Gala and Henry to Eve and Roarke, and eventually the inclusion of the Mcdermitts family to the circle of friend of Eve and Roarke.
August 5, 2025
5 stars.
August 2025 - re-listened. I don't know why but I really like the twins.
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May 2024 - re-listened.
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June 2023 - re-listened.
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Feb 2022 - re-listened. I love Henry!
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May 2020 - re-listened during self-isolation week 7...
This is one of my favourites. Just love those smart little kids.
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I really enjoyed this novella. The twins were fabulous characters. Again, some psychic/paranormal elements not usual in the full length books. It's always interesting seeing Eve out of her depth when dealing with the little ones, this time as the Good Witch!
August 2025 - re-listened. I don't know why but I really like the twins.
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May 2024 - re-listened.
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June 2023 - re-listened.
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Feb 2022 - re-listened. I love Henry!
_____________________
May 2020 - re-listened during self-isolation week 7...
This is one of my favourites. Just love those smart little kids.
_____________________
I really enjoyed this novella. The twins were fabulous characters. Again, some psychic/paranormal elements not usual in the full length books. It's always interesting seeing Eve out of her depth when dealing with the little ones, this time as the Good Witch!
March 28, 2023
Perfect book to end this round of the PtP challenge with, being that it mirrored Hansel and Gretel, a fairy tale, and the overall theme for this round was Snow White, another fairy tale. Enjoyable little story, that even though it could be read out of order as it was an in between novella, I'm glad I was able to catch up and be current before reading it. The little boy in the story was especially endearing - smart and gutsy, I liked him a lot. It all worked out in the end, as the stories in the series always do. And I was happy at the end.
I listened to the audio and Susan Ericksen was her usual mistress of narration!
I listened to the audio and Susan Ericksen was her usual mistress of narration!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews