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In Death #45
Secrets in Death
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2017)A new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series: Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.
The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.
The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.
Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2017
4139 people are currently reading
14958 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 1,872 reviews
August 8, 2020
Number 45 in the series and still going strong! This book was a little different however. Normally we see Eve rushing to find the murderer before more lives are lost. She is usually stressed, overworked and snarky with Roarke. He tries to help, she resists, they fall out, they make up..... If you are familiar with this series then you know exactly what I mean.
In Secrets in Death we see a whole different ball game. The central crime appears at the outset to be a one off and the solving of it is all procedure. Eve is calm. Roarke is helpful and Eve has no problems with this even so far as calling him when she needs a safe opened. Their whole relationship is on an even keel throughout the book.
Add to this all the usual little scenarios with other regulars in the series. Peabody is funny, Mira is placid and soothing, Nadine provides donuts and Galahad tries to steal the bacon. There is even a suspected incident with the candy thief.
So this is not a tense, dramatic murder mystery, rather it is a police procedural with a large dose of romance centred around our favourite couple. Of course I am giving it five stars:)
Reread completed 8th August 2020and I loved the book all over again:) It did not matter that I knew what was going to happen and who the guilty party was. It's obvious by now that I read this series for the characters not the crime, although a good murder and some serious police work never goes amiss.
In Secrets in Death we see a whole different ball game. The central crime appears at the outset to be a one off and the solving of it is all procedure. Eve is calm. Roarke is helpful and Eve has no problems with this even so far as calling him when she needs a safe opened. Their whole relationship is on an even keel throughout the book.
Add to this all the usual little scenarios with other regulars in the series. Peabody is funny, Mira is placid and soothing, Nadine provides donuts and Galahad tries to steal the bacon. There is even a suspected incident with the candy thief.
So this is not a tense, dramatic murder mystery, rather it is a police procedural with a large dose of romance centred around our favourite couple. Of course I am giving it five stars:)
Reread completed 8th August 2020and I loved the book all over again:) It did not matter that I knew what was going to happen and who the guilty party was. It's obvious by now that I read this series for the characters not the crime, although a good murder and some serious police work never goes amiss.
September 10, 2017
Some In Death books are thrillers with a race-against-time ride to the finish. Other In Death books are chilling suspense novels where the tension drips from each fast-turning page. And many In Death books are like Secrets In Death: a well-crafted police procedural that has you walking step-by-step with our heroine Eve Dallas as she solves a violent crime and proves, yet again, that she deserves her badge.
After 45 books, there’s a maturity to this series that makes it shine above most other long-running mystery series. Every book is as smooth as good whiskey, well-crafted, intriguing, and downright fun. Secrets is no exception.
Full review at Criminal Element: https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs...
After 45 books, there’s a maturity to this series that makes it shine above most other long-running mystery series. Every book is as smooth as good whiskey, well-crafted, intriguing, and downright fun. Secrets is no exception.
Full review at Criminal Element: https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs...
March 14, 2018
Lieutenant Eve Dallas agrees to meet forensic anthropologist Dr. Garnet DeWinter for a drink after hours to work on their relationship (sort of). She spies gossip columnist Larinda Mars (last seen in Glory in Death) when she arrives, giving her a wide berth but keeps her in her sights. When she sees her tottering from the restroom, Eve knows something is wrong, rushes to catch her and watches her die in that moment. It's definitely murder and she's further incensed that it happened right in front of her. Mars may not be a nice victim but in Eve's eyes she deserves justice.
What a thoroughly intriguing case! Mars' trade was in secrets, specifically those of the famous and influential and she apparently was ruthless in her research and blackmail tactics. Talk about a robust list of suspects. Dallas had her hands full in not only separating likely ones from the innocent but penetrating the solid steel walls Larinda Mars erected figuratively and literally around herself. What also makes this a standout is that the blackmail victims were good, decent people who were preyed upon by Mars and you almost didn't want to find the murderer.
I enjoyed this story primarily for the case as it was tough and tested my sense of justice. It has all the other elements we like to see...lots of Peabody time, interaction with many of the beloved secondary characters, and Roarke. Their moments weren't gratuitous either, deftly integrated into the plot. This series still does it for me and rises to the top of my reading pile upon release.
What a thoroughly intriguing case! Mars' trade was in secrets, specifically those of the famous and influential and she apparently was ruthless in her research and blackmail tactics. Talk about a robust list of suspects. Dallas had her hands full in not only separating likely ones from the innocent but penetrating the solid steel walls Larinda Mars erected figuratively and literally around herself. What also makes this a standout is that the blackmail victims were good, decent people who were preyed upon by Mars and you almost didn't want to find the murderer.
I enjoyed this story primarily for the case as it was tough and tested my sense of justice. It has all the other elements we like to see...lots of Peabody time, interaction with many of the beloved secondary characters, and Roarke. Their moments weren't gratuitous either, deftly integrated into the plot. This series still does it for me and rises to the top of my reading pile upon release.
April 6, 2023
As always a book by JD Robb has to be on the very top of my to-read list. Actually, her two new releases each year are something I'm looking forward to all year. It's amazing that after 44 books this series is going as strong for me as at the beginning.
Secrets in Death was a fantastic read. The story was captivating from the very first page, and even though some books are better than other - it never stops being a thrilling ride for me. This time the plot was oddly fascinating even though it wasn't as brutal and as lined with corpses as it's usually the case.
I loved the slower pace. Not only for myself but also for Dallas. Less late nights and zero sleep. OMG I sound like I'm living the book myself. :D But that's how I feel when reading her books. I feel like meeting friends and family - catching up with everyone is the highlight of reading a JD Robb book. She managed to accumulate the BEST supporting cast EVER. And most say hello in every book.
I hope she'll never stop writing this series. It would leave a HUGE hole in my life.
This is a rather short review, but honestly, most who know JD Robb know what her books are about. And for everyone that hasn't read any of her books yet: If you love suspense and need some romance in your books, this series is for you.
The In Death series has the BEST serial couple (except for Kate and Curran, and Elena and Raphael) - Dallas and Roarke have been together since book 3 I believe. They met in book one but don't get truly together until book 3. They grew with each book, changed to the better because of the other person, compromised and fell deeper in love with each case.
On top of amazing main characters, you'll meet the best cast ever, a diverse group of truly unique personalities. You'll get to know them, and care deeply about each and everyone. Dallas/Eve has complex relationships with most of the cast. A hate/love/I-can-barely-stand-you relationship with the butler. A mentor and younger sister bond with her partner. She has a mother figure in the departments psychiatrist. A father figure in the geek squad captain. And the most hilarious long-term hide and seek tradition with the candy thief. So many characters to look forward to and none is bland or boring. Everyone has a place in this intricate series.
And let's not forget one of my most cherished aspects of this series - Eve's (Dallas) mutilation and analyzation of english idioms. Every single book has at least three to four idioms that she screws up completely and then tries to justify the utter meaninglessness of said idiom. She makes me crack up every single time!!!!
Something else to know, this series plays in the future - around 2050. There are lots of interesting changes, inventions, and crimes to salivate over.
There is really not much else to say about this series. Just the fact that I've been religiously reading her books twice a year - always immediately when they've been released - and that should be proof enough that I absolutely adore this author's work.
Try it for yourself and be prepared for an amazing roller coaster ride. BTW I'm jealous of everyone that's starting this series. Sometimes I wish I could wipe my memory just to start from the beginning.
Secrets in Death was a fantastic read. The story was captivating from the very first page, and even though some books are better than other - it never stops being a thrilling ride for me. This time the plot was oddly fascinating even though it wasn't as brutal and as lined with corpses as it's usually the case.
I loved the slower pace. Not only for myself but also for Dallas. Less late nights and zero sleep. OMG I sound like I'm living the book myself. :D But that's how I feel when reading her books. I feel like meeting friends and family - catching up with everyone is the highlight of reading a JD Robb book. She managed to accumulate the BEST supporting cast EVER. And most say hello in every book.
I hope she'll never stop writing this series. It would leave a HUGE hole in my life.
This is a rather short review, but honestly, most who know JD Robb know what her books are about. And for everyone that hasn't read any of her books yet: If you love suspense and need some romance in your books, this series is for you.
The In Death series has the BEST serial couple (except for Kate and Curran, and Elena and Raphael) - Dallas and Roarke have been together since book 3 I believe. They met in book one but don't get truly together until book 3. They grew with each book, changed to the better because of the other person, compromised and fell deeper in love with each case.
On top of amazing main characters, you'll meet the best cast ever, a diverse group of truly unique personalities. You'll get to know them, and care deeply about each and everyone. Dallas/Eve has complex relationships with most of the cast. A hate/love/I-can-barely-stand-you relationship with the butler. A mentor and younger sister bond with her partner. She has a mother figure in the departments psychiatrist. A father figure in the geek squad captain. And the most hilarious long-term hide and seek tradition with the candy thief. So many characters to look forward to and none is bland or boring. Everyone has a place in this intricate series.
And let's not forget one of my most cherished aspects of this series - Eve's (Dallas) mutilation and analyzation of english idioms. Every single book has at least three to four idioms that she screws up completely and then tries to justify the utter meaninglessness of said idiom. She makes me crack up every single time!!!!
Something else to know, this series plays in the future - around 2050. There are lots of interesting changes, inventions, and crimes to salivate over.
There is really not much else to say about this series. Just the fact that I've been religiously reading her books twice a year - always immediately when they've been released - and that should be proof enough that I absolutely adore this author's work.
Try it for yourself and be prepared for an amazing roller coaster ride. BTW I'm jealous of everyone that's starting this series. Sometimes I wish I could wipe my memory just to start from the beginning.
October 8, 2017
Full review now posted!
This is the 45th book in J.D. Robb’s In Death series. I’ve been reading these books since I was 16, when I discovered that J.D. Robb was a pen name for Nora Roberts. If you’ve been following my reviews, you know that I love me some Nora. So finding out that she had an entire series that I hadn’t read, and that said series was about a homicide detective in the New York City of the future, felt like winning a literary lottery. The series was less than half of its current size when I found it, around 20 books, but that would’ve seemed like too large a commitment to tackle had they been written by any other author. However, they were written by my ultimate comfort author, so I was super excited to dive in.
Twelve years later, I’m all caught up, and I am always eaten up with anticipation whenever a new novel in the series is released. Reading an In Death book feels like catching up with old friends, and I love finding out what’s happened in their lives since I saw them last. Watching Eve and Roarke’s relationship move from cop and person of interest to friendship into dating and moving in together and finally deciding to get married was wonderful, but what I love most is watching their marriage deepen it roots and grow stronger. I love how Eve has opened herself up to friendships and has unwittingly build a makeshift family for herself. Peabody and Nadine, McNab and Feeney, Mira and Mr. Mira, Mavis and Leonardo and Bella, Morris and all the cops in the pen, have become Eve’s family, and feel like part of mine by extension. Even Summerset, with his surly distain for Eve on the surface, loves her fiercely beneath the ice, and she loves him beneath the sarcasm and sass she levels at him. I’ve grown to love these people so much, and to understand them. The depth of relationships Nora built with this series is really special.
But the relationships aren’t the only area in which Nora excels with this series. After 45 books, you would think that the procedural aspect of the novels would get stale. Thankfully, that has never been the case with these. Every case feels unique from its predecessors, every killer’s motivations and methods different, every victim a person with their own faces and flaws and virtues. This victim, Larinda Mars, was pretty scant in the virtue department, unless tireless dedication to ruining the lives of others can count as a virtue. Eve’s struggle with trying to find justice with someone she came to despise more with each secret she unearthed with relatable, and applaudable as she stuck to her morals and found justice for the unjust.
I’m always fascinated by the inner workings of Eve’s mind. With some mystery novels, it seems as though the main character stumbles onto answers or draws conclusions far too easily. Not so with Eve Dallas. The woman works her herself ragged. You can feel the dedication fighting against the exhaustion that starts hounding her mid-case. And she does her best thinking aloud, bouncing ideas off of her husband or her partner or whoever else happens to be handy. Because of this, we get to see the ins and outs of her thought processes, and every conclusion she comes to makes total sense instead of seeming to come out of this air as in other procedural novels. Also, her constant confusion over common idioms and her reasoning behind said confusion is always hilarious, especially since her arguments are completely logical and tend to both amuse and flabbergast Roarke.
This was a fun and successful installment in the longest series I have ever committed to reading. While there is obviously much more to appreciate if you start at the beginning, these books are written in a way that invites new readers to pick up any installment and plunge into the depths of the series once they’re hooked. I’ll read every installment as it’s published until Nora either wraps up the series or is no longer able to write them, either of which will make for a sad day indeed. There’s just no other series quite like it.
This is the 45th book in J.D. Robb’s In Death series. I’ve been reading these books since I was 16, when I discovered that J.D. Robb was a pen name for Nora Roberts. If you’ve been following my reviews, you know that I love me some Nora. So finding out that she had an entire series that I hadn’t read, and that said series was about a homicide detective in the New York City of the future, felt like winning a literary lottery. The series was less than half of its current size when I found it, around 20 books, but that would’ve seemed like too large a commitment to tackle had they been written by any other author. However, they were written by my ultimate comfort author, so I was super excited to dive in.
Twelve years later, I’m all caught up, and I am always eaten up with anticipation whenever a new novel in the series is released. Reading an In Death book feels like catching up with old friends, and I love finding out what’s happened in their lives since I saw them last. Watching Eve and Roarke’s relationship move from cop and person of interest to friendship into dating and moving in together and finally deciding to get married was wonderful, but what I love most is watching their marriage deepen it roots and grow stronger. I love how Eve has opened herself up to friendships and has unwittingly build a makeshift family for herself. Peabody and Nadine, McNab and Feeney, Mira and Mr. Mira, Mavis and Leonardo and Bella, Morris and all the cops in the pen, have become Eve’s family, and feel like part of mine by extension. Even Summerset, with his surly distain for Eve on the surface, loves her fiercely beneath the ice, and she loves him beneath the sarcasm and sass she levels at him. I’ve grown to love these people so much, and to understand them. The depth of relationships Nora built with this series is really special.
But the relationships aren’t the only area in which Nora excels with this series. After 45 books, you would think that the procedural aspect of the novels would get stale. Thankfully, that has never been the case with these. Every case feels unique from its predecessors, every killer’s motivations and methods different, every victim a person with their own faces and flaws and virtues. This victim, Larinda Mars, was pretty scant in the virtue department, unless tireless dedication to ruining the lives of others can count as a virtue. Eve’s struggle with trying to find justice with someone she came to despise more with each secret she unearthed with relatable, and applaudable as she stuck to her morals and found justice for the unjust.
I’m always fascinated by the inner workings of Eve’s mind. With some mystery novels, it seems as though the main character stumbles onto answers or draws conclusions far too easily. Not so with Eve Dallas. The woman works her herself ragged. You can feel the dedication fighting against the exhaustion that starts hounding her mid-case. And she does her best thinking aloud, bouncing ideas off of her husband or her partner or whoever else happens to be handy. Because of this, we get to see the ins and outs of her thought processes, and every conclusion she comes to makes total sense instead of seeming to come out of this air as in other procedural novels. Also, her constant confusion over common idioms and her reasoning behind said confusion is always hilarious, especially since her arguments are completely logical and tend to both amuse and flabbergast Roarke.
This was a fun and successful installment in the longest series I have ever committed to reading. While there is obviously much more to appreciate if you start at the beginning, these books are written in a way that invites new readers to pick up any installment and plunge into the depths of the series once they’re hooked. I’ll read every installment as it’s published until Nora either wraps up the series or is no longer able to write them, either of which will make for a sad day indeed. There’s just no other series quite like it.
October 28, 2017
Mars was mostly dead when she stumbled into the bar.
Too bad, she didn't have this guy to fix her. Instead she ended up dead-dead. Bummer. But, it couldn't have happened to a nicer jerk. It so happens that Larinda Mars was worse than your typical paparazzi scum, she was blackmailing paparazzi scum.
Diabolical!
Eve and Roarke are trying to find the killer of someone with so many enemies that they probably had to hold a lottery and let the winner kill her. There are more suspects than members on a Rugby team. (What's up with that many people on the field? It looks like a mob riot, not a game.)
This was an entertaining story in the Eve Dallas world. There was enough Roarke to keep me happy, plus a little extra Peabody, which is awesome. I love the dynamics of her and Eve as partners.
Peabody’s face lit with a grin. “Okay, there it goes. My internal boogie. I’m mentally hugging you again.”
“Did you cop a feel this time?”
“Just a little one. Affectionately.”
“I’m mentally kicking my boot up your ass.”
We even get Peabody having a conversation with McNab - still not enough, but it was something. I know the author said she is going to stop this series when Eve gets pregnant, but wouldn't it be awesome if there was a spin-off starring Peabody and McNab? Then, we can see Eve and Roarke as parents in the background. That would be the best thing ever.
Too bad, she didn't have this guy to fix her. Instead she ended up dead-dead. Bummer. But, it couldn't have happened to a nicer jerk. It so happens that Larinda Mars was worse than your typical paparazzi scum, she was blackmailing paparazzi scum.
Diabolical!
Eve and Roarke are trying to find the killer of someone with so many enemies that they probably had to hold a lottery and let the winner kill her. There are more suspects than members on a Rugby team. (What's up with that many people on the field? It looks like a mob riot, not a game.)
This was an entertaining story in the Eve Dallas world. There was enough Roarke to keep me happy, plus a little extra Peabody, which is awesome. I love the dynamics of her and Eve as partners.
Peabody’s face lit with a grin. “Okay, there it goes. My internal boogie. I’m mentally hugging you again.”
“Did you cop a feel this time?”
“Just a little one. Affectionately.”
“I’m mentally kicking my boot up your ass.”
We even get Peabody having a conversation with McNab - still not enough, but it was something. I know the author said she is going to stop this series when Eve gets pregnant, but wouldn't it be awesome if there was a spin-off starring Peabody and McNab? Then, we can see Eve and Roarke as parents in the background. That would be the best thing ever.
April 2, 2024
Secrets in Death by J D Robb
In Death series #45. Futuristic police procedural and mystery. Can be read in any order after the first 10 or so.
Detective Eve Dallas is at a chic Manhattan bar when a woman staggers up from the lower level, bleeding profusely and dies in her arms. Someone cut an artery in the woman’s arm. Dallas immediately closes down the bar and she and her team investigate. Turns out the dead woman was a very proficient blackmailer and all the suspects are glad the woman is dead. And there are lots of secrets around the city of New York.
Gritty and dark. Fast moving with all the usual sidekicks, late night murder board, nightmares and Roarke being generous and skillful with all things electronic. Exciting and suspenseful in the usual follow-the-clues, New York crazy.
I love these mysteries.
In Death series #45. Futuristic police procedural and mystery. Can be read in any order after the first 10 or so.
Detective Eve Dallas is at a chic Manhattan bar when a woman staggers up from the lower level, bleeding profusely and dies in her arms. Someone cut an artery in the woman’s arm. Dallas immediately closes down the bar and she and her team investigate. Turns out the dead woman was a very proficient blackmailer and all the suspects are glad the woman is dead. And there are lots of secrets around the city of New York.
Gritty and dark. Fast moving with all the usual sidekicks, late night murder board, nightmares and Roarke being generous and skillful with all things electronic. Exciting and suspenseful in the usual follow-the-clues, New York crazy.
I love these mysteries.
March 24, 2021
3.75 stars**
February 16, 2017
Eve digs into the lives of New York's famous after a professional gossip is murdered right under Eve's nose.
Secrets in Death reads like an extension of Echoes in Death. Our suspects occupy the same rarefied circles of the victims in Echoes, the characters are still drained from the previous case, and winter still holds the city hostage. Overall, Secrets is quiet and reflective, with the focus on Eve's chosen family and the ties that bind them rather than on the horror of people killing people. There are still plenty of moments of Eve-snark and Peabody-silly, but the standout scenes are all Roarke: for readers who love him (*both hands raised*), this story will be a treat. We get a rare glimpse into his head, especially his feelings about his past, his marriage, and his work.
I don't recommend this as an entrée to the series, but devoted fans will find a lot to love.
Secrets in Death reads like an extension of Echoes in Death. Our suspects occupy the same rarefied circles of the victims in Echoes, the characters are still drained from the previous case, and winter still holds the city hostage. Overall, Secrets is quiet and reflective, with the focus on Eve's chosen family and the ties that bind them rather than on the horror of people killing people. There are still plenty of moments of Eve-snark and Peabody-silly, but the standout scenes are all Roarke: for readers who love him (*both hands raised*), this story will be a treat. We get a rare glimpse into his head, especially his feelings about his past, his marriage, and his work.
I don't recommend this as an entrée to the series, but devoted fans will find a lot to love.
February 8, 2018
Have you ever read 45 books in the same series? Surprise! I have, and so have thousands of other people who have been following Eve and Roarke since 1995. Okay fine, I started reading them in like 2004 but quickly caught up. I'm not going to stop until I'm dead or the series ends because these books are consistently solid and starting each one gives me a sense of comfort...even if someone is being mauled or locked in a basement in the first chapter. I switched to listening to the audio versions of these about 10 books ago (actually I switched at book #31--thanks Goodreads shelving system!) and I won't go back as long as Susan Erickson keeps narrating them because it is like turning on one of your favorite crime shows and catching up with characters you know well.
A few years ago, I wrote a short piece on my defunct reading blog with my friends about things that are guaranteed to happen in every edition of this series. I went through it again today after finishing this book and laughed at how the same thing still holds true. Anyway, without further ado,
50 Things Very Nearly Guaranteed to Occur in an Installment of J.D. Robb's In Death Series
1. A workout scene that includes virtual reality and/or a swim in the pool
2. A dinner with red meat and/or pizza (or more likely, two dinners, one of each) (X)
3. Someone is stealing Eve’s candy!
4. Eve bribes Dickhead (the lab guy) with baseball tickets.
5. Obligatory mention of the cat, Galahad. (X)
6. Uh oh, it’s a back and forth between Eve and Summerset. (or four)
7. “Go ahead! Speak to my superior!” His name is Whitney, and he’s always on my side.
8. Mira is looking very put together, looking serene, and drinking tea in her pastel pantsuit. (X)
9. Does Peabody’s butt look big in this?
10. She-body joke from McNab.
11. Also, sexy time for Peabody and McNab, to which Eve will roll her eyes and/or tell them she feels uncomfortable or to get a room. (X)
12. Surprise! The case has some connection to Eve. (Does every killer have it out for her?) (X)
13. Roarke owns the building/s/every building they go to. (X)
14. Look at this new invention I’m working on!
15. Eve has a hot shower. (101 degrees, too hot according to Roarke)
16. They probably have sex in the shower, though. (X)
17. Time for the tube of Pepsi from the vending machine! Angry words may or may not be had.
18. Eve questions where some piece of clothing came from in her closet. (Spoiler Alert: ROARKE BOUGHT IT, HE BUYS ALL YOUR CLOTHES, WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS QUESTIONING THIS?) (X)
19. Roarke gets so caught up in the sexytimes that he cannot help but tell Eve he loves her in Irish. (X)
20. Despite cop protocols in real life and the fact that he is involved in every business venture in the galaxy, Roarke will always be involved in every case. (and also smarter and better at computers and business than everyone else) (X)
21. Eve will move most of the operation to her house instead of Cop Central, but everyone seems okay with that since there will be lots of tasty food.
22. Eve will be referred to as “Roarke’s cop” by at least one random person.
23. Is this REAL coffee? (X)
24. I bet you forgot that Baxter and Trueheart were in this series. Isn’t Trueheart such a babyfaced cutie? (X)
25. Eve has a nightmare. (X)
26. Roarke doesn’t know what to do but obviously does the right thing. (X)
27. Roarke will dig into someone’s finances and ALWAYS find some hidden accounts. (X)
28. Also, he will bypass a security system. (X)
29. Mention of licensed companions and some futuristic drugs like Zoner and Rabbit.
30. Good cop/Bad cop interrogation of a suspect
31. There’s a room in Eve and Roarke’s mansion that Eve didn’t know even existed! (Seriously? Who hasn’t gone in every room in their house? Even if it has 100+ rooms, I think it could/should be done.)
32. Did Leonardo design that outfit?
33. Look at the baby! Here’s Mavis! Remember how Eve and Mavis are BFFs even though they never seem to really be supporting each other or hanging out? (X)
34. Trina does a makeover. (X)
35. Eve and Roarke function very well for only sleeping about 3 hours a night…
36. Until Eve is so exhausted that she passes out in her clothes and Roarke finds her.
37. Roarke fingers the button of Eve’s he keeps in his pocket.
38. Nadine’s hassling Eve for info on the case and Eve has no comment except “they’re pursuing all leads.” (X)
39. A page later, Nadine’s getting an exclusive. (X)
40. Feeney’s leading up the geek squad with his puppy dog eyes. Best cop Eve knows. He’s her inspiration. (X)
41. You don’t want to interrupt Roarke at work, Eve? Too bad, Caro’s been told to put you right through.
42. Peabody will be hungry on the job. (Pro-tip: Pack some snacks for the road.)
43. Did you know Peabody came from a family of “Free-ager” hippies?
44. “How do Charles and Louise get on so well as a couple? How does she live with his job choice?” Eve wonders.
45. Let’s make a murder board! (X)
46. “They’re mine now.” (the victims) (X)
47. Mention of the utilitarian beauty of Eve’s cop car, courtesy of Roarke.
48. Eve will double park her car in front of a ritzy building and sass the doorman.
49. Roarke will notice Eve’ tired eyes and plan a nice evening for them. (With meat. Both kinds.)
50. “Totally mag.”
I'm surprised how many were left out of this installment, but I think it made it feel a bit different. The victim had an interesting backstory that actually frustrated me a bit because so much time is spent talking about the present. I was curious what led her to do what she did and it is kind of glossed over. There were too many lengthy interviews with the victim's victims (she was a gossip columnist) and not enough of her history. Maybe we are all just spoiled by books and some people are just stupid or shitty or go off the deep end for no reason. I shouldn't expect everything to be explained, but I would've appreciated a few more red herrings. When the killer was introduced, I thought, "Welp, X did it." Usually, Robb makes the reader think one or two people may have done it before the actual killer. Or it circles back. Or something crazy happens. Here, I thought someone did it. They did it. All in all, not my favorite book in this series but the next one came out LAST WEEK so I'll be back when the 112 people in front of me on the holds list at King County Library finish listening to the 30 in-system copies of the audiobook on CD.
A few years ago, I wrote a short piece on my defunct reading blog with my friends about things that are guaranteed to happen in every edition of this series. I went through it again today after finishing this book and laughed at how the same thing still holds true. Anyway, without further ado,
50 Things Very Nearly Guaranteed to Occur in an Installment of J.D. Robb's In Death Series
1. A workout scene that includes virtual reality and/or a swim in the pool
2. A dinner with red meat and/or pizza (or more likely, two dinners, one of each) (X)
3. Someone is stealing Eve’s candy!
4. Eve bribes Dickhead (the lab guy) with baseball tickets.
5. Obligatory mention of the cat, Galahad. (X)
6. Uh oh, it’s a back and forth between Eve and Summerset. (or four)
7. “Go ahead! Speak to my superior!” His name is Whitney, and he’s always on my side.
8. Mira is looking very put together, looking serene, and drinking tea in her pastel pantsuit. (X)
9. Does Peabody’s butt look big in this?
10. She-body joke from McNab.
11. Also, sexy time for Peabody and McNab, to which Eve will roll her eyes and/or tell them she feels uncomfortable or to get a room. (X)
12. Surprise! The case has some connection to Eve. (Does every killer have it out for her?) (X)
13. Roarke owns the building/s/every building they go to. (X)
14. Look at this new invention I’m working on!
15. Eve has a hot shower. (101 degrees, too hot according to Roarke)
16. They probably have sex in the shower, though. (X)
17. Time for the tube of Pepsi from the vending machine! Angry words may or may not be had.
18. Eve questions where some piece of clothing came from in her closet. (Spoiler Alert: ROARKE BOUGHT IT, HE BUYS ALL YOUR CLOTHES, WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS QUESTIONING THIS?) (X)
19. Roarke gets so caught up in the sexytimes that he cannot help but tell Eve he loves her in Irish. (X)
20. Despite cop protocols in real life and the fact that he is involved in every business venture in the galaxy, Roarke will always be involved in every case. (and also smarter and better at computers and business than everyone else) (X)
21. Eve will move most of the operation to her house instead of Cop Central, but everyone seems okay with that since there will be lots of tasty food.
22. Eve will be referred to as “Roarke’s cop” by at least one random person.
23. Is this REAL coffee? (X)
24. I bet you forgot that Baxter and Trueheart were in this series. Isn’t Trueheart such a babyfaced cutie? (X)
25. Eve has a nightmare. (X)
26. Roarke doesn’t know what to do but obviously does the right thing. (X)
27. Roarke will dig into someone’s finances and ALWAYS find some hidden accounts. (X)
28. Also, he will bypass a security system. (X)
29. Mention of licensed companions and some futuristic drugs like Zoner and Rabbit.
30. Good cop/Bad cop interrogation of a suspect
31. There’s a room in Eve and Roarke’s mansion that Eve didn’t know even existed! (Seriously? Who hasn’t gone in every room in their house? Even if it has 100+ rooms, I think it could/should be done.)
32. Did Leonardo design that outfit?
33. Look at the baby! Here’s Mavis! Remember how Eve and Mavis are BFFs even though they never seem to really be supporting each other or hanging out? (X)
34. Trina does a makeover. (X)
35. Eve and Roarke function very well for only sleeping about 3 hours a night…
36. Until Eve is so exhausted that she passes out in her clothes and Roarke finds her.
37. Roarke fingers the button of Eve’s he keeps in his pocket.
38. Nadine’s hassling Eve for info on the case and Eve has no comment except “they’re pursuing all leads.” (X)
39. A page later, Nadine’s getting an exclusive. (X)
40. Feeney’s leading up the geek squad with his puppy dog eyes. Best cop Eve knows. He’s her inspiration. (X)
41. You don’t want to interrupt Roarke at work, Eve? Too bad, Caro’s been told to put you right through.
42. Peabody will be hungry on the job. (Pro-tip: Pack some snacks for the road.)
43. Did you know Peabody came from a family of “Free-ager” hippies?
44. “How do Charles and Louise get on so well as a couple? How does she live with his job choice?” Eve wonders.
45. Let’s make a murder board! (X)
46. “They’re mine now.” (the victims) (X)
47. Mention of the utilitarian beauty of Eve’s cop car, courtesy of Roarke.
48. Eve will double park her car in front of a ritzy building and sass the doorman.
49. Roarke will notice Eve’ tired eyes and plan a nice evening for them. (With meat. Both kinds.)
50. “Totally mag.”
I'm surprised how many were left out of this installment, but I think it made it feel a bit different. The victim had an interesting backstory that actually frustrated me a bit because so much time is spent talking about the present. I was curious what led her to do what she did and it is kind of glossed over. There were too many lengthy interviews with the victim's victims (she was a gossip columnist) and not enough of her history. Maybe we are all just spoiled by books and some people are just stupid or shitty or go off the deep end for no reason. I shouldn't expect everything to be explained, but I would've appreciated a few more red herrings. When the killer was introduced, I thought, "Welp, X did it." Usually, Robb makes the reader think one or two people may have done it before the actual killer. Or it circles back. Or something crazy happens. Here, I thought someone did it. They did it. All in all, not my favorite book in this series but the next one came out LAST WEEK so I'll be back when the 112 people in front of me on the holds list at King County Library finish listening to the 30 in-system copies of the audiobook on CD.
September 30, 2017
Detective Eve Dallas was off duty when she met up with a colleague in Du Vin, an upmarket Manhattan restaurant – but it wasn’t long before she had to put her cop hat back on. When the woman right in front of her was bleeding out, Eve flew into action. Larinda Mars was dead – it was up to Eve to discover who had killed her.
As information about the victim came to light, Eve determined she only needed to find out who had disliked Larinda the most. The amount of people under that heading was vast – it wouldn’t be easy; but it would be done…
Secrets in Death is another brilliant In Death novel by the amazing and versatile J.D. Robb! #45 in the series – how does one writer do it? But do it she does – every single novel is filled with intriguing characters, varying plots and a wonderful cast of cops whose interactions always make me laugh. And Eve and Roarke! Their story never gets old! I have no problem recommending Secrets in Death highly.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review.
As information about the victim came to light, Eve determined she only needed to find out who had disliked Larinda the most. The amount of people under that heading was vast – it wouldn’t be easy; but it would be done…
Secrets in Death is another brilliant In Death novel by the amazing and versatile J.D. Robb! #45 in the series – how does one writer do it? But do it she does – every single novel is filled with intriguing characters, varying plots and a wonderful cast of cops whose interactions always make me laugh. And Eve and Roarke! Their story never gets old! I have no problem recommending Secrets in Death highly.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review.
March 16, 2025
Great as always! A woman has a very popular tv show where she shares exclusive information with her fans. She gets this information by blackmailing people and will NEVER stop. Someone decides to make her stop.
September 8, 2017
3.5 stars!
Let me break it down that to you,
5 stars for Eve and Roarke loving time and the time they were spending together.
2 stars for the crimes story itself, gosh! It's bloody boring!!!!
The victim was the lady who bargain herself into one of Roarke's party in exchange for information regarding a guy who almost kill Nadine in Glory in Death!
Yeah, didn't like her and apparently she even dirtier than what it seem!!
Well, that's all really.
Trying to catch the killer didn't too difficult, rather predictable and absolutely there is no heart pounding anticipation which I usually feels when I read how Eve tried to solved the mystery.
The villain is less than average, even Truehart can solve this one I think!!
Might be that's why so many loving time between Eve and Roarke here, and I'm loving it and not complaining about that, but I still wants a better story than this!
Oh, if this is the type of crimes Eve needed to solve, she should having a baby soon. Because guaranteed she have time for her kid!!!
Let me break it down that to you,
5 stars for Eve and Roarke loving time and the time they were spending together.
2 stars for the crimes story itself, gosh! It's bloody boring!!!!
The victim was the lady who bargain herself into one of Roarke's party in exchange for information regarding a guy who almost kill Nadine in Glory in Death!
Yeah, didn't like her and apparently she even dirtier than what it seem!!
Well, that's all really.
Trying to catch the killer didn't too difficult, rather predictable and absolutely there is no heart pounding anticipation which I usually feels when I read how Eve tried to solved the mystery.
The villain is less than average, even Truehart can solve this one I think!!
Might be that's why so many loving time between Eve and Roarke here, and I'm loving it and not complaining about that, but I still wants a better story than this!
Oh, if this is the type of crimes Eve needed to solve, she should having a baby soon. Because guaranteed she have time for her kid!!!
September 10, 2017
There is simply nothing better than a new JD Robb book, not for me, at least. The 45th installment of her bestselling In Death series is just as good, if not better, than the first book. This series never falls in quality, never strays and never disappoints. Nora Roberts as JD Robb can apparently do no wrong.
Secrets in Death struck me as a more quiet, intimate book than most of its predecessors. While the crime is gruesome, the victim herself is a villain of sorts so it’s hard to feel sorry that she’s dead. That situation allows the reader to focus entirely on the mystery and feel Eve’s eternal drive to uncover the truth and stand for the dead, whether they deserve it or not. We are all the same in death, and no one believes in that simple truth more than Lieutenant Eve Dallas.
This book, unlike the previous ones, doesn’t delve much into Eve’s traumatic past, which is a relief. Even the nightmares are mostly kept at bay. Some things concerning Roarke that have been brewing for a while are finally resolved in a very easy, just and satisfying manner. When I said this book was more intimate, I meant that Nora allowed her characters to spend some time on the mundane, to learn additional details about each other and discuss simple matters like cooking and apple pie. It felt warm and necessary, a contrast to and a rest from the atrocities they face daily.
Secondary characters were a bit less present this time around, but I didn’t mind a bit. The world around Eve and Roarke is well established, their well-chosen family a surety. We see glimpses of the new Eve, the woman who knows that people around her will put her first and that they are there to stay. It’s easy to see how she’s grown to trust people, and the special connection she has with Dr. Mira and her husband.
Secrets in Death might not be my favorite In Death book, but it’s honestly hard to tell them apart at this point. Going back to these characters feels like coming home after a long absence every time, and I think that the strange mix of comfort and excitement is one of my very favorite feelings in the world.
đ
Secrets in Death struck me as a more quiet, intimate book than most of its predecessors. While the crime is gruesome, the victim herself is a villain of sorts so it’s hard to feel sorry that she’s dead. That situation allows the reader to focus entirely on the mystery and feel Eve’s eternal drive to uncover the truth and stand for the dead, whether they deserve it or not. We are all the same in death, and no one believes in that simple truth more than Lieutenant Eve Dallas.
This book, unlike the previous ones, doesn’t delve much into Eve’s traumatic past, which is a relief. Even the nightmares are mostly kept at bay. Some things concerning Roarke that have been brewing for a while are finally resolved in a very easy, just and satisfying manner. When I said this book was more intimate, I meant that Nora allowed her characters to spend some time on the mundane, to learn additional details about each other and discuss simple matters like cooking and apple pie. It felt warm and necessary, a contrast to and a rest from the atrocities they face daily.
Secondary characters were a bit less present this time around, but I didn’t mind a bit. The world around Eve and Roarke is well established, their well-chosen family a surety. We see glimpses of the new Eve, the woman who knows that people around her will put her first and that they are there to stay. It’s easy to see how she’s grown to trust people, and the special connection she has with Dr. Mira and her husband.
Secrets in Death might not be my favorite In Death book, but it’s honestly hard to tell them apart at this point. Going back to these characters feels like coming home after a long absence every time, and I think that the strange mix of comfort and excitement is one of my very favorite feelings in the world.
đ
September 6, 2017
What is there to say about this book? Soooo much! This book was almost...cozy. Which is crazy, considering this IS Eve Dallas we're talking about. But it was a nice respite from the breakneck speed of the few previous books. Seeing where Eve has gotten to on an emotional level, where she is with Roarke, where she stands with the "Gang." Almost everyone made a cameo, with a few notable exceptions. And Roarke! OMG, seeing into Roarke's head and his conversations with Eve and Summerset?!?!?! That's all I'm going to say. This is a spoiler free zone. I listened to the audio version (will have to indulge in an actual "read" of the book once some eye issues resolve) and as always, Susan Ericksen does a masterful job with the narration. There's enough mystery to keep readers engaged, even though Larinda Mars (the victim) is totally despicable. This once again gives such insight into Eve's sense of right/wrong, good/evil, and justice. And did I mention Roarke!?!?!
October 13, 2017
Secrets In Death is book 45 of the In Death series by J. D. Robb. Lieutenant Eve Dallas and a work colleague Garnet DeWinter was having quit drink after work when Larinda Mars gossip reporter of Channel 75 fell at her feet and died. For Lieutenant Eva Dallas and her team, this case ended up to be more complicated them first thought. The readers of Secrets In Death will follow the twist and turns in Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigation into Larinda Mars death.
I love this series I have all forty-five books on my bookshelf. The way J. D. Robb portrays her characters especially Eve and Roarke. J. D. Robb writing style is fantastic in the way she engages the readers with the plot and her characters. I like that the In Death series is set in the future, and this allows the readers to dream about what life could be like in the twenty-first century.
The Readers of Secrets In Death will start to think about what law enforcement procedures would be like in the future. Also, readers of Secrets In Death will ensure that readers begin to think about how they treat their staff. Secrets in Death highlights the importance of friendships.
I recommend this book.
I love this series I have all forty-five books on my bookshelf. The way J. D. Robb portrays her characters especially Eve and Roarke. J. D. Robb writing style is fantastic in the way she engages the readers with the plot and her characters. I like that the In Death series is set in the future, and this allows the readers to dream about what life could be like in the twenty-first century.
The Readers of Secrets In Death will start to think about what law enforcement procedures would be like in the future. Also, readers of Secrets In Death will ensure that readers begin to think about how they treat their staff. Secrets in Death highlights the importance of friendships.
I recommend this book.
October 21, 2017
Eve has agreed reluctantly to meet with Garnet DeWinter at a high end pub called Du Vin. She sees Larinda Mars gossip columnist there but ignores her as she gets seated. As she and DeWinter, wrap up their brief conversation she see Mars walking back into the pub stumbling and bleeding out from a wound to her arm. DeWinter, Eve and a doctor in the pub try to save her but it's too late. Now Eve must investigate a murder that has happened at Roarke's establishment and find justice for a woman that she finds has many people that have lots of motive to kill her.
This was a really good book. It was a little lighter than some in the series but I appreciated that. It was a extremely interesting one to me though. I was a little disappointed with some of the secrets you find out about Mars and wanted there to be more after the build up but it was still a good case with the people she was blackmailing. I also thought the secret Roarke finds out in this one was a nice moment and did solve somethings for him. I always love getting to see the characters as always and enjoyed the little McNabb focus too.
I think overall I would give it a 4.5
This was a really good book. It was a little lighter than some in the series but I appreciated that. It was a extremely interesting one to me though. I was a little disappointed with some of the secrets you find out about Mars and wanted there to be more after the build up but it was still a good case with the people she was blackmailing. I also thought the secret Roarke finds out in this one was a nice moment and did solve somethings for him. I always love getting to see the characters as always and enjoyed the little McNabb focus too.
I think overall I would give it a 4.5
October 17, 2017
Bittersweet. That's what I am feeling right now. No words can express how much I LOVE this series. FREAKING LOVE IT. I've been stalling on writing this review thinking of prolonging it more until the next book comes out on January 2018. Can it come sooner???? *sigh* I should be celebrating I've finished it already but instead I feel lost. The characters are like family already. Waiting with bated breath for January to reunite with them again. But hey, I can always reread :)
Anyhoo, a gossip celebrity is murdered in this installment. And Eve found out this victim has been exploiting people who could afford to pay. The crime is not really that interesting but I get to read about Eve and Roarke and the others so it was still enjoyable.
Anyhoo, a gossip celebrity is murdered in this installment. And Eve found out this victim has been exploiting people who could afford to pay. The crime is not really that interesting but I get to read about Eve and Roarke and the others so it was still enjoyable.
June 19, 2018
One of the latest in the JD Robb’s series, Lieutenant Eve Dallas reluctantly meets forensic archaeologist Dr. Garnet DeWinter for a drink in an upmarket winebar in New York (one of property magnate husband Rourke’s, naturally), when the bitching is curtailed by celebrity gossip columnist Larinda Mars, staggering into the bar from the ladies, oozing blood and dies in Eve’s arms. Cue the instant crime scene lock down, Det Peabody and e-whiz boyfriend summoned to the scene to interview witnesses, along with husband, to assess the damage.
Larinda Mars works for Channel Seventy-five, the same company as Eve’s friend, crime reporter Nadine Furst, except that the victim has supplemented her income from blackmailing and extortion of the rich and nervous at the shallow end of the gene pool, where appearance is prized above substance.
The action takes place over 2 days (short for a police procedural, extremely short for forensics) but we learn the cause of death and that, due to reconstructive surgery, the victim is at least 10 years older than she looks, and has systematically wiped out her past.
Much of the story surrounds the victims of the victim, searching for motives and a possible killer, opening old wounds and secrets in Eve’s and Roarke’s lives that were better left undisturbed. Best character for me was the make-up artist, always discrete yet able to give Eve positive leads.
The usual gang are here; Sommerset and Galahad the cat, Detectives Trueheart and Baxter for the heavy lifting, Peabody needs a good slap. Feeney and Whitney hover on the sidelines and appearances by Mavis and Mira are mercifully short. Nadine is less bitchy than usual while Roarke’s twinkling eyes and magic fingers not only set Eve’s body humming, but are good when is comes to opening up a vault.
Verdict: a reasonable read, but maybe my interest is beginning to wane???
.
Larinda Mars works for Channel Seventy-five, the same company as Eve’s friend, crime reporter Nadine Furst, except that the victim has supplemented her income from blackmailing and extortion of the rich and nervous at the shallow end of the gene pool, where appearance is prized above substance.
The action takes place over 2 days (short for a police procedural, extremely short for forensics) but we learn the cause of death and that, due to reconstructive surgery, the victim is at least 10 years older than she looks, and has systematically wiped out her past.
Much of the story surrounds the victims of the victim, searching for motives and a possible killer, opening old wounds and secrets in Eve’s and Roarke’s lives that were better left undisturbed. Best character for me was the make-up artist, always discrete yet able to give Eve positive leads.
The usual gang are here; Sommerset and Galahad the cat, Detectives Trueheart and Baxter for the heavy lifting, Peabody needs a good slap. Feeney and Whitney hover on the sidelines and appearances by Mavis and Mira are mercifully short. Nadine is less bitchy than usual while Roarke’s twinkling eyes and magic fingers not only set Eve’s body humming, but are good when is comes to opening up a vault.
Verdict: a reasonable read, but maybe my interest is beginning to wane???
.
September 10, 2017
A really good solid read that I've come to expect from this author. Definitely entertaining. I did think she took it too far to tie Eve's abuse to not one but several cases. It was slightly distracting. But to be honest, the victim was a predator and thus I wasn't invested in finding her killer. So I just listened and enjoyed the story. I didn't try hard to figure out who done it. I still would recommend this book/series. Susan Erickson is amazing as usual as narrator. Now what to read next.
January 20, 2018
3.5 stars.
This one dragged a bit for me! Couldn't really get into it as much as the other books. I remember back in the day I used to fly through a book a day!! It has taken me nearly 2 weeks to finish this one. Not a bad read overall but not my favourite.
LMAO. I love how I can understand Roarke's "linguistic" references.
This one dragged a bit for me! Couldn't really get into it as much as the other books. I remember back in the day I used to fly through a book a day!! It has taken me nearly 2 weeks to finish this one. Not a bad read overall but not my favourite.
"You're going to tell me you admired him?"
"Well now, there was a time in my youth when he was a hero for certain, scooping up funds like candy drops and bolloxing up the system with keystrokes and vision. No question at all he was bleeding deadly, but he went full mentaller, and that's the tragic."
Eve stood a moment, brows knit. "What? What language is that?"
"Sorry, a mental and linguistic trip to that youth."
LMAO. I love how I can understand Roarke's "linguistic" references.
Habits, particularly enjoyable ones,
are hard to break, after all.
But then Eve.
Just Eve.
Only Eve.
Difficult, cynical, troubled and fascinating Eve had changed him, saved him, completed him. And habits had been as easily broken as a dry twig under a boot.
July 8, 2024
I honestly had no clue who the killer was. The story was tight, engrossing, and one of the best in the series. I love the progression of Eve and Roarke's relationship. All around, an excellent story.
September 30, 2021
What joy there is when a library is open again. Yahoo. have really missed it until yesterday.
more important stay healthy, Don't want to hear of any of us getting sick. Stay well
Revision: FIRST READ: J.D. Robb's Book #45 just hit the streets, and it was a very good book. I enjoyed my read of it very much as I do most all of her books. Once again J.D. Robb has pulled me back into her In Death world with some of my favorite characters. Being the Christmas Season, I especially liked Eve's Gift to Roarke of an original Yates book. Really touching to me. Let me just say right up front, I guessed the killer the moment Eve met this person, but thought I was wrong because it seemed way too obvious. I didn't have the killer's motivation correct, but knew this person did it. That being said, I loved watching Eve's mind work to figure out each step along the way. I also loved how much Eve got to work with Roarke on this case. He always helps out a good bit, but many times it is on the edge. Since it occurred in his own owned bar/restaurant, he was in on it from the very beginning.
I also loved we saw another side of Eve when it came to her friends. When she makes an offer to Peabody because she can tell she and McNabb need time away, it made me feel all squishy inside. Eve is normally such a hard person even around her friends. It was refreshing to see her in this new light. She is fiercely protective of her friends, and we saw her anger at discovering her friends and Roarke being on the list of possible blackmail marks as she investigated Larinda Mars' death.
I love that her anger helped keep her going much of the time.
Book 44 choas in Death I find somewhat familiar to this one. It seems to be a writing switch for Robb that works well in her schemes and plots. I recommend this type of book is excellently written.
SECOND READ: It has gotten to the point where I devour these books mostly because of my love for and attachment to the characters. Thank goodness because the resolution of the investigation, though it was interesting, seemed a tad abrupt. Abrupt resolution aside, I've enjoyed being a witness to Eve's evolution. Eve has gained a wealth of compassion without having to sacrifice her edge and spark. I've also enjoyed DeWinter and how she seems to be slowly becoming part of Eve's circle of friends. There are some books where the writing style is distinctively different and it feels like they are being penned by a ghost writer, where the characters are talking but they don't sound like themselves. I'm happy the characters sound like themselves in this latest installment.
THIRD READ: While these books make great stand-alone novels, I recommend starting from book one for maximum enjoyment. You'll better understand Eve's growth as well as the evolution between her and the other characters. You also better appreciate the inside jokes and subtle nuances a la Eve's penchant for destroying/dissecting idioms and losing her gloves, her weird dreams, Roarke in his conquer-the-world suits, Nadine's donut bribes and especially the mysterious candy thief (Don't you want to know who it is??? I don't know yet....am keeping my eyes and ears open looking for clues). Great Book, Highly Recommend!!!!
A new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series: Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.
The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.
The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.
Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…
Nora could have written this book in her sleep. It has good energy, hang on suspense, big time real detective work, and not a list of suspects to wonder about. The killer has no defined motive, and is only caught because he commits a pointless second murder to cover up the first. Great Book!!!
more important stay healthy, Don't want to hear of any of us getting sick. Stay well
Revision: FIRST READ: J.D. Robb's Book #45 just hit the streets, and it was a very good book. I enjoyed my read of it very much as I do most all of her books. Once again J.D. Robb has pulled me back into her In Death world with some of my favorite characters. Being the Christmas Season, I especially liked Eve's Gift to Roarke of an original Yates book. Really touching to me. Let me just say right up front, I guessed the killer the moment Eve met this person, but thought I was wrong because it seemed way too obvious. I didn't have the killer's motivation correct, but knew this person did it. That being said, I loved watching Eve's mind work to figure out each step along the way. I also loved how much Eve got to work with Roarke on this case. He always helps out a good bit, but many times it is on the edge. Since it occurred in his own owned bar/restaurant, he was in on it from the very beginning.
I also loved we saw another side of Eve when it came to her friends. When she makes an offer to Peabody because she can tell she and McNabb need time away, it made me feel all squishy inside. Eve is normally such a hard person even around her friends. It was refreshing to see her in this new light. She is fiercely protective of her friends, and we saw her anger at discovering her friends and Roarke being on the list of possible blackmail marks as she investigated Larinda Mars' death.
I love that her anger helped keep her going much of the time.
Book 44 choas in Death I find somewhat familiar to this one. It seems to be a writing switch for Robb that works well in her schemes and plots. I recommend this type of book is excellently written.
SECOND READ: It has gotten to the point where I devour these books mostly because of my love for and attachment to the characters. Thank goodness because the resolution of the investigation, though it was interesting, seemed a tad abrupt. Abrupt resolution aside, I've enjoyed being a witness to Eve's evolution. Eve has gained a wealth of compassion without having to sacrifice her edge and spark. I've also enjoyed DeWinter and how she seems to be slowly becoming part of Eve's circle of friends. There are some books where the writing style is distinctively different and it feels like they are being penned by a ghost writer, where the characters are talking but they don't sound like themselves. I'm happy the characters sound like themselves in this latest installment.
THIRD READ: While these books make great stand-alone novels, I recommend starting from book one for maximum enjoyment. You'll better understand Eve's growth as well as the evolution between her and the other characters. You also better appreciate the inside jokes and subtle nuances a la Eve's penchant for destroying/dissecting idioms and losing her gloves, her weird dreams, Roarke in his conquer-the-world suits, Nadine's donut bribes and especially the mysterious candy thief (Don't you want to know who it is??? I don't know yet....am keeping my eyes and ears open looking for clues). Great Book, Highly Recommend!!!!
A new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series: Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.
The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.
The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.
Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…
Nora could have written this book in her sleep. It has good energy, hang on suspense, big time real detective work, and not a list of suspects to wonder about. The killer has no defined motive, and is only caught because he commits a pointless second murder to cover up the first. Great Book!!!
March 10, 2018
I think to sum up this book was it wasn't great, but much better than the last few books. As some reviews noted, this one was pretty boring. At least we looked into a straight murder this time, but we still had to have the victim being the lowest of the low by targeting celebs who were victims of rape or molestation. Eve was Eve and there wasn't much depth to other characters besides a nice moment between Summerset and Roarke. I guessed the killer pretty easily because once again the bad guy might as well have worn a sign. There seemed to be hints about the victim's obsession, but it's glossed over.
Secrets in Death starts with DeWinter out with Eve hoping to clear the air. Eve is all kinds of wrong here so I'm over the mean girling of DeWinter. Eve still dangles her friendship out of reach and acts like DeWinter did something wrong by being friends with Morris. The hypocrisy of Eve regarding DeWinter being a "snob" made me laugh. You're married to a billionaire, take a seat.
A murder interrupts and Eve goes to work figuring who had the motive to kill a gossip columnist who was into blackmail. The victim was terrible, the people she blackmailed were not. Watching Eve interview wasn't that interesting except for a few scenes.
Most characters show up or are mentioned. There's a a hint that McNabb is burned out which could have been interesting, but that's done away with pretty quickly. We have Eve briefed on what I consider more interesting cases. Peabody was mature for five seconds than goes into straight clown mode again (her demanding her makeup get done is just...I can't talk about it without swearing).
As I said there's some development between Summerset and Roarke which I loved. A secret is out to rest that readers have known about for a while.
The writing is typical Robb. Be warned there's still redecorating discussion and now we also discuss Nadine's new digs and her decorating. The flow was up and down.
The setting of course is New York in February. I hope next book features a time jump by a couple of months.
The ending just occurs and is pretty cut and dry. I was expecting a few more pages and was surprised how the book just ends.
Secrets in Death starts with DeWinter out with Eve hoping to clear the air. Eve is all kinds of wrong here so I'm over the mean girling of DeWinter. Eve still dangles her friendship out of reach and acts like DeWinter did something wrong by being friends with Morris. The hypocrisy of Eve regarding DeWinter being a "snob" made me laugh. You're married to a billionaire, take a seat.
A murder interrupts and Eve goes to work figuring who had the motive to kill a gossip columnist who was into blackmail. The victim was terrible, the people she blackmailed were not. Watching Eve interview wasn't that interesting except for a few scenes.
Most characters show up or are mentioned. There's a a hint that McNabb is burned out which could have been interesting, but that's done away with pretty quickly. We have Eve briefed on what I consider more interesting cases. Peabody was mature for five seconds than goes into straight clown mode again (her demanding her makeup get done is just...I can't talk about it without swearing).
As I said there's some development between Summerset and Roarke which I loved. A secret is out to rest that readers have known about for a while.
The writing is typical Robb. Be warned there's still redecorating discussion and now we also discuss Nadine's new digs and her decorating. The flow was up and down.
The setting of course is New York in February. I hope next book features a time jump by a couple of months.
The ending just occurs and is pretty cut and dry. I was expecting a few more pages and was surprised how the book just ends.
September 22, 2017
I was slightly disappointed with this one. Which is unusual for this series as normally I'm really into them. There are a lot of them and I do dip in and out rather than read avidly, but Secrets in Death just suddenly started feeling like I was reading the same book again.
That doesn't detract from the fact that Eve Dallas is an incredibly absorbing character, as she was here, but I guess I feel at this point she is going around in circles.
Writing still great. I just think maybe I'm tiring of it? Certainly nothing to do with the talent and storytelling of the excellent J D Robb persona. It's not you it's me....
That doesn't detract from the fact that Eve Dallas is an incredibly absorbing character, as she was here, but I guess I feel at this point she is going around in circles.
Writing still great. I just think maybe I'm tiring of it? Certainly nothing to do with the talent and storytelling of the excellent J D Robb persona. It's not you it's me....
September 6, 2017
Each time I finish a new In Death book, I feel like reading the entire series all over again. Seriously, I dread the day J.D. Robb finally decides to end this. The horror!
Also, I like how the intimate scenes felt a bit longer than in previous books. That is, it didn't immediately fade to black, and I guess it felt slightly more descriptive. Perhaps that's just me and my wishful thinking. Lol!
Also, I like how the intimate scenes felt a bit longer than in previous books. That is, it didn't immediately fade to black, and I guess it felt slightly more descriptive. Perhaps that's just me and my wishful thinking. Lol!
September 17, 2017
Am I done with this series? I keep saying I am, and then reading just one more to see what the secondary characters are up to and to see if this is one of the better crime stories in the series (it isn't). I think I'm done. We'll see.
September 25, 2019
Secrets in death by J.D.Robb is the 45th book in the In Death series. Gossip queen and reporter Larinda Mars is murdered in a restaurant while Lieutenant Eve Dallas is having drinks with Dr. DeWinter in a table nearby. There is no shortage of suspects when Eve discovers that Larinda was using her power to blackmail her victims. Another amazing book in the series. The best part is that we are able to catch up with all the characters and watch how their relationships progress. These books are always fun and entertaining although this one proceeds at a slower pace than usual. Another brilliant instalment in this very addictive series.
Want to read
August 24, 2017I so much need this book to be released like Yesterday!
September 5, 2017
Every now and then I need my Eve and Roarke fix, so I was pretty much dying by the time I got this book in my hands. Things take a dark turn when Larinda Mars, a professional gossip, is murdered in one of Roarke’s hotspots. As it turns out, she experienced an altercation right before her death and now Eve is on the hunt to find out how she was killed. But as the secrets start to come out, she learns that Larinda was actually a blackmailer. She had a lot of people in her hands, which means that any one of them could have ended her. It’s up to Eve to process and eliminate before someone does the same to her.
SECRETS IN DEATH doesn’t mess around. I consider Robb an expert at writing these police procedural books because each case is so very different from one another yet there’s also some familiarity with it as well. As Eve and Peabody go through the motions, you can’t help but learn from them. I love the pacing of this book. Each chapter is a great step forward in both characterization and plot. I find it fascinating that Robb can make us care about a woman who isn’t particularly well-liked because it shows just how good she is at characterization.
I continue to fall in love with the cases that Robb comes up with. They are all so unique and timeless. This book definitely makes me excited for the next one.
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