What do you think?
Rate this book
In Death #20
Survivor In Death
Murder was always an insult. But the murder, bloody and brutal, of an entire family in their own home, was a different form of evil.
Nixie Swisher crept down the stairs for a drink - and saved her own life. When Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called to the house minutes later, she finds the whole family murdered in their beds. But the killers made a mistake: they left a survivor.
Nixie saw everything. And unfortunately for her, these elite killers soon realise they need to finish the job. So Eve and her billionaire husband Roarke give everything they can to keep Nixie safe in their own home.
And then a terrifying climax reveals there may be more to Nixie than meets the eye . . .
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2005
1355 people are currently reading
8036 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Robb
180 books35.4k 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,219 reviews
September 2, 2019
20 books in and still riveted by Eve and Roarke. This one hits a bit close to home for Eve. It's a tough one to take. But she has her support ... Roarke, of course, Peabody, Feeney, all the gang! I love all of them.
We all love Eve, don't we?
Nixie is now an orphan and Eve needs to protect her and find the killers that murdered her family. But kids and Eve don't mix.
LMAO. Yep, Eve, a kid in the house will fairly cockblock any kind of intimacy!!
LOVE that JD will use an Irish expression like "jumper" for "sweater"!!!
Sorry my Nebraska friends.
We all love Eve, don't we?
Nixie is now an orphan and Eve needs to protect her and find the killers that murdered her family. But kids and Eve don't mix.
She worked her way up, shifted to straddle him. And from across the room a child's voice demanded, "Where is Dallas?"
"Shit! Shit a brick!"
LMAO. Yep, Eve, a kid in the house will fairly cockblock any kind of intimacy!!
"I've wondered if I'd be a good father. I think I would be. I think we'd both be good at it, either despite or because of where we came from."
"There she stands, such a little thing, all that pretty hair, tidy jeans and jumper - sweater." he corrected.
LOVE that JD will use an Irish expression like "jumper" for "sweater"!!!
"Sister and family moved to Nebraska."
"Nebraska? Who lives in Nebraska?"
Sorry my Nebraska friends.
November 3, 2017
Even in a series of over 40 books which are consistently good, one or two have to stand out as being exceptional and Survivor In Death is probably one of them. Maybe because Nixie's story gives it extra emotional depth, maybe because J.D. Robb was in top form with her one liners, but it certainly had a little extra edge.
The crime itself was very nasty and the police work was a long hard slog but of course our wonderful team plus Roarke solved it in the end. The best parts of the book as usual came from the relationships between the characters. Summerset gets more than his usual share of the action and so does Galahad which is nice. There is lots of humour to even up the gruesomeness of the crime and Peabody pushes back against Eve a lot more than usual, which is an entertainment all of its own!
The ending arrived suddenly and was quick and violent, but ultimately satisfactory. I closed the book, sat back with a big smile on my face and started to look forward to reading book number 21:
The crime itself was very nasty and the police work was a long hard slog but of course our wonderful team plus Roarke solved it in the end. The best parts of the book as usual came from the relationships between the characters. Summerset gets more than his usual share of the action and so does Galahad which is nice. There is lots of humour to even up the gruesomeness of the crime and Peabody pushes back against Eve a lot more than usual, which is an entertainment all of its own!
The ending arrived suddenly and was quick and violent, but ultimately satisfactory. I closed the book, sat back with a big smile on my face and started to look forward to reading book number 21:
August 5, 2016
"But I want children with you, my lovely Eve. One day."
"One day being far, far in the future. Like, I don't know, say a decade when...Hold on. Children is plural."
He eased back, grinned. "Why, so it is--nothing slips by my canny cop."
"You really think if I ever actually let you plant something in me--they're like aliens in there, growing little hands and feet." She shuddered. "Creepy. If I ever did that, popped a kid out--which I think is probably as pleasant a process as having your eyeballs pierced by burning, poisonous sticks, I'd say, 'Whoopee, let's do this again?
Makes you wonder how there are families out there with more than one kid, huh? I think we mothers must be a little crazy. I blame the children. Or, maybe Obama. Thanks, Obama!
Is it any wonder that we become bat-shit crazy?
This book has a lot of emotions in it. Even my cold dead heart was hit when an 8 year old child goes to see the dead bodies of her whole family. She was the lone survivor and witness, and now she is staying with Roarke and Eve to keep her safe while they look for the murderers.
Dealing with this broken little girl also brings up a lot of emotional junk for both Roarke and Eve. They each have to deal with it in their own ways.
Roarke, being poetic and sweet:
"Every step of my life was bringing me to you." He turned her, kissed her forehead. "Even the ones on the darkest road."
Awww!
Eve, being the badass, deals with her emotions in a different way:
"Nothing like punching your fist into a face to brighten up the day. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't care."
Great book, great series, great characters.
"One day being far, far in the future. Like, I don't know, say a decade when...Hold on. Children is plural."
He eased back, grinned. "Why, so it is--nothing slips by my canny cop."
"You really think if I ever actually let you plant something in me--they're like aliens in there, growing little hands and feet." She shuddered. "Creepy. If I ever did that, popped a kid out--which I think is probably as pleasant a process as having your eyeballs pierced by burning, poisonous sticks, I'd say, 'Whoopee, let's do this again?
Makes you wonder how there are families out there with more than one kid, huh? I think we mothers must be a little crazy. I blame the children. Or, maybe Obama. Thanks, Obama!
Is it any wonder that we become bat-shit crazy?
This book has a lot of emotions in it. Even my cold dead heart was hit when an 8 year old child goes to see the dead bodies of her whole family. She was the lone survivor and witness, and now she is staying with Roarke and Eve to keep her safe while they look for the murderers.
Dealing with this broken little girl also brings up a lot of emotional junk for both Roarke and Eve. They each have to deal with it in their own ways.
Roarke, being poetic and sweet:
"Every step of my life was bringing me to you." He turned her, kissed her forehead. "Even the ones on the darkest road."
Awww!
Eve, being the badass, deals with her emotions in a different way:
"Nothing like punching your fist into a face to brighten up the day. I don't know what that says about me, but I don't care."
Great book, great series, great characters.
July 8, 2022
Great book! I'll give a full review at a later date.
December 13, 2018
Suspense 4.5 stars / Romance 4.5 stars
A perfect loving family was brutally murdered, 9-year-old girl survived.
One small broken, but brave child. A warrior, a future strong Woman!
Interesting plot, as always, tough case. I love how Eve handled the girl, I guess for those, who adore children, it could be too harsh; but I think Eve’s attitude was exactly what the girl needed.
Romance. Roarke and Eve spoke about kids. Not the usual romance point of view, but it’s what they are. I hope some day we read about them as parents!
But also me secretly hoped they would adopt the girl :-(
Well, they found a perfect solution, a new loving family for the child.
Eve… I just love her!
A perfect loving family was brutally murdered, 9-year-old girl survived.
One small broken, but brave child. A warrior, a future strong Woman!
Interesting plot, as always, tough case. I love how Eve handled the girl, I guess for those, who adore children, it could be too harsh; but I think Eve’s attitude was exactly what the girl needed.
Romance. Roarke and Eve spoke about kids. Not the usual romance point of view, but it’s what they are. I hope some day we read about them as parents!
But also me secretly hoped they would adopt the girl :-(
Well, they found a perfect solution, a new loving family for the child.
Eve… I just love her!
October 19, 2018
I mostly listened the audiobook version of this book when I was in the Fitness Center and this goddamn book made me cry in there! This book was so emotional... :'(
My heart broken for Nixie but I'm also so happy that she met with Eve & Roarke and the rest of Eve's team. :)
Ps. Book #20 and and it's another favorite of mine now! My God, I'm literally dying to read the rest of this series. :) J.D.Robb, I don't know how you do it every time but you're bloody amazing! <3
Ahhhh I just LOVE Eve & Roarke so, so much. <3
“You steady me,” he murmured. “I didn't even know how far off balance I'd been, and here you steady me.” He took her hands, kissed them. “I want children with you, Eve.”
The sound she made brought on a quick and easy grin. “No need for the panic face, darling. I don't mean today, or tomorrow, or nine months down the road. Having Nixie around's been considerable education. Children are a lot of bloody work, aren't they?”
“Big duh.”
He stepped to her again, laid his lips on her brow. “But I want children with you, my lovely Eve. One day.”
“One day being far, far in the future. Like, I don't know, say a decade when... Hold on. Children is plural.” He eased back, grinned.
“Why so it is--nothing slips by my canny cop.”
“You really think if I ever actually let you plant something in me-- they're like aliens in there, growing little hands and feet.” She shuddered. “Creepy. If I ever did that, popped a kid out--which I think is probably as pleasant a process as having your eyeballs pierced by burning, poisonous sticks, I'd say, 'Whoopee, let's do this again?' Have you recently suffered head trauma?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Could be coming. Any second.”
He laughed, kissed her. “I do love you, and the rest is all in the vague and misty future.
My heart broken for Nixie but I'm also so happy that she met with Eve & Roarke and the rest of Eve's team. :)
Ps. Book #20 and and it's another favorite of mine now! My God, I'm literally dying to read the rest of this series. :) J.D.Robb, I don't know how you do it every time but you're bloody amazing! <3
Ahhhh I just LOVE Eve & Roarke so, so much. <3
“You steady me,” he murmured. “I didn't even know how far off balance I'd been, and here you steady me.” He took her hands, kissed them. “I want children with you, Eve.”
The sound she made brought on a quick and easy grin. “No need for the panic face, darling. I don't mean today, or tomorrow, or nine months down the road. Having Nixie around's been considerable education. Children are a lot of bloody work, aren't they?”
“Big duh.”
He stepped to her again, laid his lips on her brow. “But I want children with you, my lovely Eve. One day.”
“One day being far, far in the future. Like, I don't know, say a decade when... Hold on. Children is plural.” He eased back, grinned.
“Why so it is--nothing slips by my canny cop.”
“You really think if I ever actually let you plant something in me-- they're like aliens in there, growing little hands and feet.” She shuddered. “Creepy. If I ever did that, popped a kid out--which I think is probably as pleasant a process as having your eyeballs pierced by burning, poisonous sticks, I'd say, 'Whoopee, let's do this again?' Have you recently suffered head trauma?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Could be coming. Any second.”
He laughed, kissed her. “I do love you, and the rest is all in the vague and misty future.
June 7, 2013
4.5 Stars! I continue to enjoy this intriguing series!
An intense, heartbreaking story. Eve struggles with this case emotionally, and nearly cracks when the circumstances surrounding the tragedy hit a little too close to home for her. She had to reach out to her support system, Roarke and Mira, to re-gain her footing and put her own issues and feelings aside to solve this case.
Although the formula in this series is generally the same, each book brings about growth in the characters. In this one I could really see Peabody coming into her own. The tables are turning, and where in the past Peabody has held her tongue when she was around Eve, hesitant to express herself for fear of being reprimanded, she let loose in the book and gave as good as she got. She had some of the best lines and she did Eve proud. They make a great team!!
Once again Susan Eriksen blew me away with the brilliant voice she lends to this series. Each character is recognizable and distinct, and she manages to maintain their personalities from book to book. She did a fabulous job portraying Nixie Swisher, the young girl at the center of the tragedy. She is one of the best, if not the best narrator I've come across listening to audiobooks! She is every bit a part of this series as Eve, Roarke, Peabody...the whole gang...she nails them every time!!
On to the next...
September 9, 2019
Number 20 in this excellent series and still going strong with this riveting episode.
The survivor of the title is 9 year old Nixie Swisher, found cowering in the bath after her family, housekeeper and a school friend having a sleep over were slaughtered in their sleep by professional killers. Lt Eve Dallas is worried that Nixie could now be a target for the killers as she saw them moving around the house and takes her into protective custody. Dallas might be cool and proficient dealing with the most heinous criminals but a little girl is outside her comfort zone and provides much humour for everyone watching Eve interact with a child. Nixie's situation also brings back bad memories of their traumatic childhoods for both Dallas and Roarke.
This was a good mix of a police investigation of what looks like a senseless crime with no obvious motive for wiping out an entire family and a chance to spend time with Dallas, Roarke and their friends Peabody, McNab, Summerset and Galahad.
The survivor of the title is 9 year old Nixie Swisher, found cowering in the bath after her family, housekeeper and a school friend having a sleep over were slaughtered in their sleep by professional killers. Lt Eve Dallas is worried that Nixie could now be a target for the killers as she saw them moving around the house and takes her into protective custody. Dallas might be cool and proficient dealing with the most heinous criminals but a little girl is outside her comfort zone and provides much humour for everyone watching Eve interact with a child. Nixie's situation also brings back bad memories of their traumatic childhoods for both Dallas and Roarke.
This was a good mix of a police investigation of what looks like a senseless crime with no obvious motive for wiping out an entire family and a chance to spend time with Dallas, Roarke and their friends Peabody, McNab, Summerset and Galahad.
July 12, 2017
”Now Eve turned her head. “My pride in you bubbles in my heart. Unless it’s that soy dog you talked me into earlier.”
“Gosh, Dallas, a blush rises to my cheeks. Unless that, too, is the soy dog.”
She thumped a fist on her chest, gave a small, somehow ladylike belch. “Guess it was the dog.”
“Now that we’ve established that, let’s have the next on the list.”
”His skinny frame was festooned—Eve figured that was the word for it—in a neon orange skin-tank with sizzling blue pants that had some sort of silver clamps running up the outside of each leg. The overshirt was a headache of dots, outdone only by the glowing checks covering his airboots.
His shining blond hair was pulled back from his thin, pretty face. The better to show off the trio of orange and blue coils adorning each ear.”
Oh, Ian…. O_O
”… I’m not taking you off this case because I know if I were in your shoes—which would never happen, as I’d have to be beaten unconscious before you’d get those pink airboots on my feet—”
Peabody’s lips twitched. “Salmon.”
“What, you’re hungry?”
“No.” Peabody took another sip of water and laughed, then winced and rubbed her ribs. “The shoes. The color’s salmon.”
“More the reason. I’m really going to wear fish shoes. So—God, what was I saying?””
“You’re not supposed to swear in front of me.” Nixie informed her of this, quite primly.
“Then turn around so I can swear behind you.”
Eve is such an educator! LOL
Apart from the funny moments, there’re some really heart wrenching ones that made me cry. The little girls pain when she says goodby to her parents was a really tear-jerker! I kept sniffing and mopping up tears while reading!!
The bad guys were really awful! That kind of
Great book! On to the other! I’m addicted!!! LOL
February 17, 2022
2/17/22
Decided to reread a few of my favorite In Death books. Nothing's changed. Still a 10++++++ stars!!!! Need I say more?
Decided to reread a few of my favorite In Death books. Nothing's changed. Still a 10++++++ stars!!!! Need I say more?
April 19, 2017
Another solid read in what I am deeming
THE BEST SERIES
I have read to date!
J.D. Robb never fails to draw my emotions out while reading one of these books.
The case that Eve and her team is working on strikes close to home for both Eve and Roarke. In their own way they each battle back their past to protect the young person at the center of the chaos. When Nixie Swisher’s life is turned upside down Eve does whatever it takes to protect this little girl and find the evil people who took her family away from her.
For me it is always heartbreaking to see Eve struggle but I am finding with each book there is a new piece of Eve we see. In this one we see a gentler side of her….as gentle as Eve can be. If you know Eve you will understand what I mean. She may not know how to talk to a little girl or even act around one but the moments she had with Nixie were perfect.
All my favorite secondary characters (they don’t seem secondary anymore) are present. Mira, Mavis, Summerset, McNabb, Feeney, Baxter and even Trueheart were fabulous. But my favorite in this one was Peabody. Actually she is always my favorite. I love the relationship she has with Eve. They have this yin yang thing going on. There was a moment in this one where Peabody laid into Eve!!! A rather stunned Eve couldn’t have been more proud! :) Oh wait one more. Galahad was very present in this one too!
I know I sound like a broken record but I’m loving this series. Simple as that. ❤ ❤
J.D. Robb never fails to draw my emotions out while reading one of these books.
The case that Eve and her team is working on strikes close to home for both Eve and Roarke. In their own way they each battle back their past to protect the young person at the center of the chaos. When Nixie Swisher’s life is turned upside down Eve does whatever it takes to protect this little girl and find the evil people who took her family away from her.
For me it is always heartbreaking to see Eve struggle but I am finding with each book there is a new piece of Eve we see. In this one we see a gentler side of her….as gentle as Eve can be. If you know Eve you will understand what I mean. She may not know how to talk to a little girl or even act around one but the moments she had with Nixie were perfect.
All my favorite secondary characters (they don’t seem secondary anymore) are present. Mira, Mavis, Summerset, McNabb, Feeney, Baxter and even Trueheart were fabulous. But my favorite in this one was Peabody. Actually she is always my favorite. I love the relationship she has with Eve. They have this yin yang thing going on. There was a moment in this one where Peabody laid into Eve!!! A rather stunned Eve couldn’t have been more proud! :) Oh wait one more. Galahad was very present in this one too!
I know I sound like a broken record but I’m loving this series. Simple as that. ❤ ❤
September 25, 2017
5+ stars - Romantic Suspense/Futuristic/Mystery/Romantic Thriller
20 books in and this series is still just as remarkable, compelling, and addictive as ever, if not more so! My love for these characters grows stronger with every book, and I don’t see myself ever tiring of them or the brilliantly crafted stories.
Survivor in Death is one of my favorites of the series, so far. This time the case hits really close to home for both Eve and Roarke, but they’re there for each other, as always. Watching them trying to navigate the emotions and welfare of a traumatized and vulnerable nine-year-old girl was poignant. The scene where they brought Nixie to the was absolutely gut-wrenching. I bawled my eyes out.
So another fabulous read, and I’m on to the next one!
20 books in and this series is still just as remarkable, compelling, and addictive as ever, if not more so! My love for these characters grows stronger with every book, and I don’t see myself ever tiring of them or the brilliantly crafted stories.
Survivor in Death is one of my favorites of the series, so far. This time the case hits really close to home for both Eve and Roarke, but they’re there for each other, as always. Watching them trying to navigate the emotions and welfare of a traumatized and vulnerable nine-year-old girl was poignant. The scene where they brought Nixie to the was absolutely gut-wrenching. I bawled my eyes out.
So another fabulous read, and I’m on to the next one!
April 14, 2020
4.5 stars**
March 4, 2024
"Anger usually held hands with grief."
March 9, 2017
Honestly there is not a lot to say here except that this is one of my favorite "In Death" books. There are a couple of scenes that I found too outrageous to be believed (the ending with Nixie), anyone allowing Dallas to take a kid to live with her and Roarke instead of having her in foster care, etc. But I found that there were some wonderful callbacks to earlier cases that Eve had worked.
"Survivor in Death" opens up on a loving and happy family being murdered in their beds. Nixie Swisher, who is 9, ends up being the lone survivor. Due to Dallas and company not knowing why the Swisher's were attacked and if someone out there may be looking to finish the job with Nixie, Nixie is then moved in temporarily with Eve and Roarke.
We actually in this book get to see how would Eve be with a child of her own (honest, probably to a fault, still loving, but not outwardly so) and we get to see how much Roarke desires to one day have children (yep plural) with Dallas. And I can honestly see how easily a child could fit seamlessly in both of their lives. Heck, if you don't think Roarke would not be a stay at home dad and or taking the kids to work with him, you have not read an "In Death" book before. I can also see Summerset happily babysitting whenever they needed him to.
We do get several moving scenes in this one (seriously have a box of tissues nearby) and I did cry a few times while reading. This book brings up a lot of memories for Roarke and Summerset (we all know that Summerset's daughter was kidnapped, raped and murdered) and Summerset especially becomes more developed in this one. The scene when he is rocking Nixie to sleep and telling her about a garden...sigh. I can't even type it since I am welling up. I do have to say that I wanted to snap at Dallas a few times though. She acted like a jerk to Summerset and I was annoyed by it.
We get appearances by Mavis and of course Peabody, McNab, etc. What I thought was cool though is that we get reappearances by Richard DeBlass, Elizabeth Barrister (both in Naked in Death, #1-the case that brought Eve and Roarke together), and their adopted son Kevin (Vengeance in Death, #6)
The writing is top notch in this one I think. Robb definitely manages to hit your heart strings. The flow worked too, up until the end I thought. As I said above, I thought the ending was a bit too much to be believed.
"Survivor in Death" opens up on a loving and happy family being murdered in their beds. Nixie Swisher, who is 9, ends up being the lone survivor. Due to Dallas and company not knowing why the Swisher's were attacked and if someone out there may be looking to finish the job with Nixie, Nixie is then moved in temporarily with Eve and Roarke.
We actually in this book get to see how would Eve be with a child of her own (honest, probably to a fault, still loving, but not outwardly so) and we get to see how much Roarke desires to one day have children (yep plural) with Dallas. And I can honestly see how easily a child could fit seamlessly in both of their lives. Heck, if you don't think Roarke would not be a stay at home dad and or taking the kids to work with him, you have not read an "In Death" book before. I can also see Summerset happily babysitting whenever they needed him to.
We do get several moving scenes in this one (seriously have a box of tissues nearby) and I did cry a few times while reading. This book brings up a lot of memories for Roarke and Summerset (we all know that Summerset's daughter was kidnapped, raped and murdered) and Summerset especially becomes more developed in this one. The scene when he is rocking Nixie to sleep and telling her about a garden...sigh. I can't even type it since I am welling up. I do have to say that I wanted to snap at Dallas a few times though. She acted like a jerk to Summerset and I was annoyed by it.
We get appearances by Mavis and of course Peabody, McNab, etc. What I thought was cool though is that we get reappearances by Richard DeBlass, Elizabeth Barrister (both in Naked in Death, #1-the case that brought Eve and Roarke together), and their adopted son Kevin (Vengeance in Death, #6)
The writing is top notch in this one I think. Robb definitely manages to hit your heart strings. The flow worked too, up until the end I thought. As I said above, I thought the ending was a bit too much to be believed.
October 23, 2016
Rating above a 4.5,...as usual. ;)
March 23, 2018
So, this one hit me really hard, I had to stay up all night to know who the killer was and see that justice was served.
In this book, we have an entire family slain as they sleep in their beds with only one survivor, a 9 y/o girl . I have read several of these and some of the victims don't bother me , mostly because they are scumbags and the worst of the worst people but this little girl did get to me. I was angry at the people that were supposed to look after her but I understood and it made it much sadder.
In this book, we have an entire family slain as they sleep in their beds with only one survivor, a 9 y/o girl . I have read several of these and some of the victims don't bother me , mostly because they are scumbags and the worst of the worst people but this little girl did get to me. I was angry at the people that were supposed to look after her but I understood and it made it much sadder.
August 6, 2019
Loved this 20th book in J.D. Robb's "In Death" series!
One of my favourites!
One of my favourites!
November 9, 2021
1st Read July 07-20 2013
2nd read 13-21 October 2015
2nd read 13-21 October 2015
June 26, 2022
Ne zaman yeni bir Eve Dallas kitabı okusam seriyi en baştan tekrar okuyasım geliyor 😏
December 22, 2022
This was an awesome read. Sad, though!! Definitely recommend this one but start with number one because you want to get to know all the great characters and it’s more fun.
Read
November 27, 2021Neredeyse 10 günde okumuşum.Tamamen benden kaynaklı...Sözde seriye bağlayıp pata küte 30ları bulasım vardı.Bu aralar cidden imkansız gibi..Ama olsun. Roarke ve Eve ile şahane zamanlar geçirdim :)
Hikaye yine akıcıydı.Ve kalp kırıcı.Bir aile evinde, güvenli alanında, masum iki çocukla birlikte katledilir.Beklemedikleri şey o evde bir misafir olması.Beklemedikleri şeyi de görmediler tabi.Şimdi bir tanık var. Ve bu grup yarım işlerden hoşlanmıyor. Bunun için nereyi patlattıkları, kimi katlettikleri umurlarında da değil.
Herşey okeydi.Ama sonunun böyle olmalarını cidden sevmiyorum.Ne bileyim Eve ile bir yüzleşme, ya da suçlular yakalandıktan sonra bir yüzleşme sahnesi de olsun istedim.Sebepleri biliyoruz ama sanki çok tatmin olamadım sonu kısmında.
İlkim sonraki kitap bayağı olaylı demişti. Kalbimi çalan bir şeyler bulamazsam devam ederim ^^
Hikaye yine akıcıydı.Ve kalp kırıcı.Bir aile evinde, güvenli alanında, masum iki çocukla birlikte katledilir.Beklemedikleri şey o evde bir misafir olması.Beklemedikleri şeyi de görmediler tabi.Şimdi bir tanık var. Ve bu grup yarım işlerden hoşlanmıyor. Bunun için nereyi patlattıkları, kimi katlettikleri umurlarında da değil.
Herşey okeydi.Ama sonunun böyle olmalarını cidden sevmiyorum.Ne bileyim Eve ile bir yüzleşme, ya da suçlular yakalandıktan sonra bir yüzleşme sahnesi de olsun istedim.Sebepleri biliyoruz ama sanki çok tatmin olamadım sonu kısmında.
İlkim sonraki kitap bayağı olaylı demişti. Kalbimi çalan bir şeyler bulamazsam devam ederim ^^
February 9, 2008
This is the 20th book in the In Death series.
It is late Autumn/Early winter in the year 2059. Nine year old Nixie Swisher awakens in the middle of the night to get an orange fizzy. Form her hiding place in the kitchen, Nixie witnesses intruders in her home who methodically and quickly murder her entire family including their housekeeper and her friend Lennie who was staying the night for a sleep over.
Eve Dallas gets the call and quickly realizes that this was not a simple B and E. But a targeted assassination. But try as she might, Eve can't find a motive. The family was just what they seemed on the surface, a nice loving, normal upper middle class family. And now only Nixie was left and Eve takes her into protective custody because she is sure he killer isn't finished because Nixie is still alive.
Whew! After the last book Visions in Death I was thinking Robb had tapped herself dry with this series. I was wrong. She roared back strongly in this installment. From the very first line of the book A late night Orange Fizzy saved Nixie's life you knew you were in for some harrowing moments.
The first part of the book is all about waiting for the shoe to drop. I was sure Eve would find something nefarious about Nixie's parents And we'd get an "AHA!" moment. But no, her frustration mounts and so does ours. Robb likes to mix it up. Sometimes you know immediately the who and/or the why and sometimes she teases it out. This time around she leaves us out in the cold completely. You can't even begin to guess the why let alone the who. And in that vein she lets it play out like a pure police procedural.
Three major things I loved:
1) Eve hides Nixie at her house and they all rally around the little girl. It was so neat to see whole gang (including Mavis and Trueheart!) take the time to be with the little girl who lost so much. And I have to love how realistic it is for the cops to simply enjoy hanging at Eve and Roarke's house because of the great food. Simple, yet so true.
2) Eve stayed Eve. Robb didn't make Eve go soft and get all maternal and gooey over Nixie. She and Roarke didn't even consider adopting her. Robb did not temper Eve in the least. Eve's interactions with Nixie were the same she'd have with any other witness except a little panicky because Eve just doesn't do well with children. But I especially love that Eve's language stayed salty. When she tells Nixie that she's going to catch the murderers and "put them in a Goddamn cage." It becomes Nixie's mantra. She repeats it so many times that it becomes funny and poignant at the same time. In the end when Nixie meets the killer and looks him in the eye, the repeats her mantra again, this time with deep satisfaction.
3) The scene at the morgue. I rarely cry at books or movies. And I've only choked up once in this series when Eve almost lost her badge back in Conspiracy in Death. But the scene at the morgue where Nixie says goodbye to her parents, her brother and her housekeeper was so sad and so well written. I swear, I bawled like a baby.
It is late Autumn/Early winter in the year 2059. Nine year old Nixie Swisher awakens in the middle of the night to get an orange fizzy. Form her hiding place in the kitchen, Nixie witnesses intruders in her home who methodically and quickly murder her entire family including their housekeeper and her friend Lennie who was staying the night for a sleep over.
Eve Dallas gets the call and quickly realizes that this was not a simple B and E. But a targeted assassination. But try as she might, Eve can't find a motive. The family was just what they seemed on the surface, a nice loving, normal upper middle class family. And now only Nixie was left and Eve takes her into protective custody because she is sure he killer isn't finished because Nixie is still alive.
Whew! After the last book Visions in Death I was thinking Robb had tapped herself dry with this series. I was wrong. She roared back strongly in this installment. From the very first line of the book A late night Orange Fizzy saved Nixie's life you knew you were in for some harrowing moments.
The first part of the book is all about waiting for the shoe to drop. I was sure Eve would find something nefarious about Nixie's parents And we'd get an "AHA!" moment. But no, her frustration mounts and so does ours. Robb likes to mix it up. Sometimes you know immediately the who and/or the why and sometimes she teases it out. This time around she leaves us out in the cold completely. You can't even begin to guess the why let alone the who. And in that vein she lets it play out like a pure police procedural.
Three major things I loved:
1) Eve hides Nixie at her house and they all rally around the little girl. It was so neat to see whole gang (including Mavis and Trueheart!) take the time to be with the little girl who lost so much. And I have to love how realistic it is for the cops to simply enjoy hanging at Eve and Roarke's house because of the great food. Simple, yet so true.
2) Eve stayed Eve. Robb didn't make Eve go soft and get all maternal and gooey over Nixie. She and Roarke didn't even consider adopting her. Robb did not temper Eve in the least. Eve's interactions with Nixie were the same she'd have with any other witness except a little panicky because Eve just doesn't do well with children. But I especially love that Eve's language stayed salty. When she tells Nixie that she's going to catch the murderers and "put them in a Goddamn cage." It becomes Nixie's mantra. She repeats it so many times that it becomes funny and poignant at the same time. In the end when Nixie meets the killer and looks him in the eye, the repeats her mantra again, this time with deep satisfaction.
3) The scene at the morgue. I rarely cry at books or movies. And I've only choked up once in this series when Eve almost lost her badge back in Conspiracy in Death. But the scene at the morgue where Nixie says goodbye to her parents, her brother and her housekeeper was so sad and so well written. I swear, I bawled like a baby.
May 23, 2019
One of my favourite ID books - love all the emotions in this one, some really good bantering, and the story line is just excellent!
If anyone can have a dry eye while reading the part where Nixie is in the morgue, I don't understand you.
The re-introduction of past characters bodes well with this book and leads one to wonder if they will surface again down the road.
Love this book every time I read it.
From the blurb: No affairs. No criminal connections. No DNA. No clues. Lieutenant Eve Dallas may be the best cop in the city—not to mention having the lavish resources of her husband Roarke at her disposal—but the Swisher case has her baffled. The family members were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night vision to find their way through the cozy middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. The only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the dark in the kitchen…
Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan—and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas’s strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs to solve this case. Not only because of the promise she made to Nixie. Not only for the cause of justice. But also to put to rest some of her own darkest memories—and deepest fears. With her partner Peabody on the job, and watching her back—and with Roarke providing the kind of help that only he can give—Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead-set on finding out who’s behind them.
2 thumbs up, 5 stars!
If anyone can have a dry eye while reading the part where Nixie is in the morgue, I don't understand you.
The re-introduction of past characters bodes well with this book and leads one to wonder if they will surface again down the road.
Love this book every time I read it.
From the blurb: No affairs. No criminal connections. No DNA. No clues. Lieutenant Eve Dallas may be the best cop in the city—not to mention having the lavish resources of her husband Roarke at her disposal—but the Swisher case has her baffled. The family members were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night vision to find their way through the cozy middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. The only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the dark in the kitchen…
Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan—and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas’s strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs to solve this case. Not only because of the promise she made to Nixie. Not only for the cause of justice. But also to put to rest some of her own darkest memories—and deepest fears. With her partner Peabody on the job, and watching her back—and with Roarke providing the kind of help that only he can give—Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead-set on finding out who’s behind them.
2 thumbs up, 5 stars!
November 9, 2017
11/6/17 - Finished another reread of Survivor - another of my favorites! Love, love, love this book and these characters!
Original Review: Just pure raw emotion...heart-wrenching, heart-breaking, heart-touching. Character/relationship development is superb as always - the characters carry this story to a higher level. The plot development is brilliant per vintage JD Robb...she never lets me down. Nothing else to say except this is a Must Read, not only for In Death series fans but also fans of suspense, murder mysteries, & dark, emotional gut-wrenching books that rip your heart out. Oh, and yes, fans of love & hope & justice delved out by Lt. Eve Dallas. A Page Turner.
Original Review: Just pure raw emotion...heart-wrenching, heart-breaking, heart-touching. Character/relationship development is superb as always - the characters carry this story to a higher level. The plot development is brilliant per vintage JD Robb...she never lets me down. Nothing else to say except this is a Must Read, not only for In Death series fans but also fans of suspense, murder mysteries, & dark, emotional gut-wrenching books that rip your heart out. Oh, and yes, fans of love & hope & justice delved out by Lt. Eve Dallas. A Page Turner.
January 11, 2009
I really enjoyed this installation. The cases with an emotional connection to Eve's past and present are definitely the most addictive to read. This one had some lovely moments. One of my faves so far for the case solely.
February 26, 2019
3.5 Comfortable Stars
This series continues to feel like a good TV series, the main characters addictive and always manifesting well in my mind.
The best/strongest parts of the book were the interactions between the main characters. Summerset pops up in this book more than he does usually, as does the cat. Having Nixie in the house makes it amusingly clear that Roarke and Eve aren't ready for kids yet.
There’s a good mixture of emotions in this book, from humour to sadness.
The ending arrived somewhat suddenly, and I wasn’t completely satisfied with the reason given for why the murders took place, one of the key reasons why I didn’t give this book 4 stars.
This series continues to feel like a good TV series, the main characters addictive and always manifesting well in my mind.
The best/strongest parts of the book were the interactions between the main characters. Summerset pops up in this book more than he does usually, as does the cat. Having Nixie in the house makes it amusingly clear that Roarke and Eve aren't ready for kids yet.
There’s a good mixture of emotions in this book, from humour to sadness.
The ending arrived somewhat suddenly, and I wasn’t completely satisfied with the reason given for why the murders took place, one of the key reasons why I didn’t give this book 4 stars.
November 7, 2021
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
When Eve catches a case where there is no forensic evidence - none, she is at a loss as to where to begin to solve the home invasion and murder of a family who, to everyone who knows them, are just perfect. Eve does have a witness - nine year old Nixie, but even the eye witness has limited information. Knowing the child is in danger, Eve takes her into her home and promptly questions her sanity for doing so. But, the child is her only lead and needs the protection that only Eve and Roarke can provide. Still, kids are so not Eve's thing, but Nixie has bonded and won't let Eve palm her off on anyone else. Luckily for Eve, Roarke, Summerset, Baxter and Truelove all help her out, but Nixie knows that it will be Eve who will find the men who killed her family.
When Eve catches a case where there is no forensic evidence - none, she is at a loss as to where to begin to solve the home invasion and murder of a family who, to everyone who knows them, are just perfect. Eve does have a witness - nine year old Nixie, but even the eye witness has limited information. Knowing the child is in danger, Eve takes her into her home and promptly questions her sanity for doing so. But, the child is her only lead and needs the protection that only Eve and Roarke can provide. Still, kids are so not Eve's thing, but Nixie has bonded and won't let Eve palm her off on anyone else. Luckily for Eve, Roarke, Summerset, Baxter and Truelove all help her out, but Nixie knows that it will be Eve who will find the men who killed her family.
April 23, 2022
I suppose six years after the first read, it was time for a re-read ... or listen. I am in a FB group with In Death addicts - some of them seem to remember every single detail of the book but I guess if they have read and re-read them numerous times, they remember - they probably keep notes of all that goes on in each book. Nixie Swisher ... taken into protective custody by Eve and Roarke (in their house). I think it has been widely discussed that Eve and Roarke will never have children... so Nora/JD says in interviews. I don't know. Judging by this book, I think Roarke would be a great parent ... Eve ... mmm, will have to think about that. LOL. 🤔😉
I will mention the narrator again, Susan Ericksen - excellent. ❤️
And yes, I do have my pretty Hardcover ... 📚
"I've wondered if I'd be a good father. I think I would be. I think we'd be good at it, either despite of or because of where we came from. Maybe both. But it's not now ..."
For a moment Eve stared at the child and saw herself.
"Every step of my life was bringing me to you ... Even the ones on the dark road."
"Death brought us here."
"No ... it's love that brought us here.
"I would've found you", she murmured. "even on the darkest road."
She looked, Eve thought, like a wounded angel ...
I will mention the narrator again, Susan Ericksen - excellent. ❤️
And yes, I do have my pretty Hardcover ... 📚
March 1, 2020
Spoilers ahead, 2.5*
An entire family is wiped out except for one brave child that the killers overlooked. When Eve begins her investigation she takes the child into.her home as a witness and for security. It seems to be a professional hit and there's no doubt the killers will be back for Nixie
I liked that we saw more of Summerset, Baxter and Trueheart here but I honestly didn't like Eve or her attitude here. She was under stress to find the killers, true, but she acted like an ass 80% of the time and tremendously annoyed me in this one
The reasoning for the murders seems a bit shaky and with another foolish abrupt ending we don't even get a proper explanation or to see the scumbags receive their punishment for heartlessly murdering and torturing multiple people including innocent children
While I enjoyed the plot and the secondary characters as well as Roarke I had too many instances where I was genuinely annoyed to rate this one higher
An entire family is wiped out except for one brave child that the killers overlooked. When Eve begins her investigation she takes the child into.her home as a witness and for security. It seems to be a professional hit and there's no doubt the killers will be back for Nixie
I liked that we saw more of Summerset, Baxter and Trueheart here but I honestly didn't like Eve or her attitude here. She was under stress to find the killers, true, but she acted like an ass 80% of the time and tremendously annoyed me in this one
The reasoning for the murders seems a bit shaky and with another foolish abrupt ending we don't even get a proper explanation or to see the scumbags receive their punishment for heartlessly murdering and torturing multiple people including innocent children
While I enjoyed the plot and the secondary characters as well as Roarke I had too many instances where I was genuinely annoyed to rate this one higher
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,219 reviews