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In Death #54
Abandoned in Death
'If you're a crime fiction fan and haven't discovered them yet, welcome to the very best day of your life' Heat Magazine
In this brand new thriller in the Sunday Times bestselling series, Lieutenant Eve Dallas races to untangle a twisted family history while a hostage's life hangs in the balance
Say goodnight, baby darling
Three young women have gone missing. They're all pretty, mid-twenties - someone clearly has a type. But no one links their disappearances until the first - Lauren Elder - is found lying peacefully on a bench in a children's playground. She is neatly dressed with a wide black velvet ribbon covering where her neck has been precisely slit. Her hands are folded over a childish sign on which is written in black crayon - BAD MOMMY.
Lt Eve Dallas and her team are brought in to investigate Lauren's murder and uncover the links to the other two women. Can they find out enough about the missing women and unmask their captor before they kill again....?
In this brand new thriller in the Sunday Times bestselling series, Lieutenant Eve Dallas races to untangle a twisted family history while a hostage's life hangs in the balance
Say goodnight, baby darling
Three young women have gone missing. They're all pretty, mid-twenties - someone clearly has a type. But no one links their disappearances until the first - Lauren Elder - is found lying peacefully on a bench in a children's playground. She is neatly dressed with a wide black velvet ribbon covering where her neck has been precisely slit. Her hands are folded over a childish sign on which is written in black crayon - BAD MOMMY.
Lt Eve Dallas and her team are brought in to investigate Lauren's murder and uncover the links to the other two women. Can they find out enough about the missing women and unmask their captor before they kill again....?
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2022
2657 people are currently reading
11407 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 1,899 reviews
April 22, 2022
Abandoned in Death
by J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts) brings murder, romance and suspense to a well-written futuristic police procedural set mainly in New York City. This novel has a slightly different format for this series in that it alternates timelines between the early part of the twenty-first century and June of 2061. What happens when the past and the present collide?
Our protagonist, Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYC police department, arrives at a crime scene at a playground near friends Mavis and Leonardo’s new house. Joined by her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, they find the body of a young woman with vintage make-up, hair, and clothing and a note written in crayon saying “Bad Mommy”. With clues pointing to an older antagonist and no records of crimes with a similar MO, how will Eve, Delia, and the team solve the crime? Learning that other young women have recently vanished, they know they need to solve this case quickly.
Time spent with Eve, her husband Roarke, and Eve’s colleagues is always entertaining. Eve is definitely a compelling and three-dimensional character. Her need to serve and protect comes through in every book, but the underlying impetus for this is best understood by reading this series in order. Due to the way Eve was raised, she often doesn’t understand commonly used phrases and this comes into play a few times in this book making her seem more real and less perfect. As always, the interactions between Eve and Roarke are enjoyable and bring a different facet of Eve’s personality to light. Many of the reoccurring police characters play significant roles in this book. In addition, readers also get to see a bit of their private lives. I especially enjoyed seeing the character development of intern Jamie Lingstrom. Additionally, I was delighted to see a different side of Detective Jenkinson near the end of the book. As always, Dr. Mira’s psychological profiling, Morris’ autopsy results, and Roarke’s computer skills, as well as Eve and Delia’s efforts, work against time to solve the case.
The writing is fluid and flows well. The prose is suspenseful and engrossing in this intense race against the clock. A thought-provoking, stunning, deeply involved, and tragic plot gripped this reader immediately. It is appalling in places and uplifting in others. Will you guess the identity of the killer? This one was a surprise to me. As always, the interview segment near the end of the story is compelling. Seeing Eve and Delia working it together with Dr. Mira added another dimension to it.
Robb manages to embed humor in her novels, providing some much needed levity to offset some of the more serious and grim aspects of the story. She brings strong characters, great plots, wonderful relationships, and excellent pacing to this series. Themes include murder, justice, and family dynamics, as well as standing up for the innocent and the dead.
If you enjoy engaging near-future police procedurals with some romance and humor, then I recommend this series. This is the fifty-third book in the In Death Eve Dallas series and I have read all of them up to this point. Overall, it is entertaining, and over time, it is like spending time with old friends. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 8, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
Our protagonist, Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYC police department, arrives at a crime scene at a playground near friends Mavis and Leonardo’s new house. Joined by her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, they find the body of a young woman with vintage make-up, hair, and clothing and a note written in crayon saying “Bad Mommy”. With clues pointing to an older antagonist and no records of crimes with a similar MO, how will Eve, Delia, and the team solve the crime? Learning that other young women have recently vanished, they know they need to solve this case quickly.
Time spent with Eve, her husband Roarke, and Eve’s colleagues is always entertaining. Eve is definitely a compelling and three-dimensional character. Her need to serve and protect comes through in every book, but the underlying impetus for this is best understood by reading this series in order. Due to the way Eve was raised, she often doesn’t understand commonly used phrases and this comes into play a few times in this book making her seem more real and less perfect. As always, the interactions between Eve and Roarke are enjoyable and bring a different facet of Eve’s personality to light. Many of the reoccurring police characters play significant roles in this book. In addition, readers also get to see a bit of their private lives. I especially enjoyed seeing the character development of intern Jamie Lingstrom. Additionally, I was delighted to see a different side of Detective Jenkinson near the end of the book. As always, Dr. Mira’s psychological profiling, Morris’ autopsy results, and Roarke’s computer skills, as well as Eve and Delia’s efforts, work against time to solve the case.
The writing is fluid and flows well. The prose is suspenseful and engrossing in this intense race against the clock. A thought-provoking, stunning, deeply involved, and tragic plot gripped this reader immediately. It is appalling in places and uplifting in others. Will you guess the identity of the killer? This one was a surprise to me. As always, the interview segment near the end of the story is compelling. Seeing Eve and Delia working it together with Dr. Mira added another dimension to it.
Robb manages to embed humor in her novels, providing some much needed levity to offset some of the more serious and grim aspects of the story. She brings strong characters, great plots, wonderful relationships, and excellent pacing to this series. Themes include murder, justice, and family dynamics, as well as standing up for the innocent and the dead.
If you enjoy engaging near-future police procedurals with some romance and humor, then I recommend this series. This is the fifty-third book in the In Death Eve Dallas series and I have read all of them up to this point. Overall, it is entertaining, and over time, it is like spending time with old friends. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 8, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
February 3, 2022
You'd think by book number 54 that J.D. Robb would be running out of fresh, new plots but not so. This one is just as intriguing and gripping as the rest of the series.
Eve's case involves a young woman, whose body was found lying on a bench in a playground, carefully dressed in vintage clothing from fifty years earlier with a note in a child's writing saying 'Bad Mommy'. Two other young women of similar appearance to the victim are also missing, snatched off the street in a similar way to the victim and Eve is concerned that the killer may kill again if she can't find him first.
As usual for Robb, it's a tight plot with many avenues to explore, complicated by the need to explore events and find people from fifty years before (ie. start of the 21st century). Eve has to get inside the killer's psyche to work out why he's behaving as he is and Dr Mira is called on for her psychological profiling. Peabody, McNab and the rest of the team all pulling their weight in helping to hunt down the killer and find the missing women as the clock ticks down. The ever delectable Roarke also pitches in when not helping Mavis and Leonardo with security and electronics in their massive house restoration. As always a good mix of characters and plot made for an engrossing read. 4.5★
With thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for a copy to read
Eve's case involves a young woman, whose body was found lying on a bench in a playground, carefully dressed in vintage clothing from fifty years earlier with a note in a child's writing saying 'Bad Mommy'. Two other young women of similar appearance to the victim are also missing, snatched off the street in a similar way to the victim and Eve is concerned that the killer may kill again if she can't find him first.
As usual for Robb, it's a tight plot with many avenues to explore, complicated by the need to explore events and find people from fifty years before (ie. start of the 21st century). Eve has to get inside the killer's psyche to work out why he's behaving as he is and Dr Mira is called on for her psychological profiling. Peabody, McNab and the rest of the team all pulling their weight in helping to hunt down the killer and find the missing women as the clock ticks down. The ever delectable Roarke also pitches in when not helping Mavis and Leonardo with security and electronics in their massive house restoration. As always a good mix of characters and plot made for an engrossing read. 4.5★
With thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for a copy to read
February 21, 2022
I have read the whole series twice and I still look forward to each new book as it comes out. Okay so Robb writes each one to a formula - but it is such a good one why should she ever change it! It certainly works for me.
Abandoned in Death is slightly different to normal with a 'before' and 'now" approach which gives the reader a lot of background information to events. We also witness the killer performing his atrocities but of course he functions normally in daily life and it is a huge surprise when we find out who he really is.
The mystery is excellent, the police work is as brilliant as always, and then of course we get to visit with our favourite people who have hardly aged a day in the course of 54 books. Eve and Galahad and Peabody still make me laugh. McNab continues to wear garish clothes while Feeney never wears anything that is not brown. And Roarke is still...... Roarke. Everyone say "Ah."
I am glad to see #55 is already well on its way to being published in September.
Abandoned in Death is slightly different to normal with a 'before' and 'now" approach which gives the reader a lot of background information to events. We also witness the killer performing his atrocities but of course he functions normally in daily life and it is a huge surprise when we find out who he really is.
The mystery is excellent, the police work is as brilliant as always, and then of course we get to visit with our favourite people who have hardly aged a day in the course of 54 books. Eve and Galahad and Peabody still make me laugh. McNab continues to wear garish clothes while Feeney never wears anything that is not brown. And Roarke is still...... Roarke. Everyone say "Ah."
I am glad to see #55 is already well on its way to being published in September.
February 23, 2022
This time it’s a body strategically placed on a bench at a children’s playground. NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team examine the scene and aside from being disturbed by the murder and location, they notice how the victim is obsessively clean and perfectly made up. But, her clothes are of a much earlier era’s styling and there’s a sign next to her saying “Bad Mommy.” Even without the highly skilled profiler Charlotte Mira’s assessment, they understand they’re dealing with a killer who has mommy issues. As they begin their investigation, they deduce that there are other missing women who match the profile of their victim. It becomes a race against time to find these women before they transition from good mommy to bad.
The procedurals in this story were complicated and involved so many variables it was tougher to keep up. Since the setting is 2061, it was interesting that the era of focus was nearer our own this time or one where I was familiar, somewhere around 2003 - 2009. The reaction to some of our fashion choices was pretty funny and nostalgic. Because the case involved missing women, I became much more attached to the victims than I normally do, silently rooting for the team to find them as we were getting the point of view of one of the abducted women. Also, the format included a new aspect, a “before” and “now” point of view from characters critical to the story. While it was initially strange, I came to love it, looking forward to the next one.
The revelation of the killer was a stunner, one that set me on my heels right away. Up to that point, I hadn’t a clue so it was a game changer for the team. I always love the Interview segments and this one was particularly interesting. It took a while for the story to fully engage me but when it did, I couldn’t stop reading. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it, even with Mavis’ renovation updates. Still a good time to be back in this world with my favorite characters. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
The procedurals in this story were complicated and involved so many variables it was tougher to keep up. Since the setting is 2061, it was interesting that the era of focus was nearer our own this time or one where I was familiar, somewhere around 2003 - 2009. The reaction to some of our fashion choices was pretty funny and nostalgic. Because the case involved missing women, I became much more attached to the victims than I normally do, silently rooting for the team to find them as we were getting the point of view of one of the abducted women. Also, the format included a new aspect, a “before” and “now” point of view from characters critical to the story. While it was initially strange, I came to love it, looking forward to the next one.
The revelation of the killer was a stunner, one that set me on my heels right away. Up to that point, I hadn’t a clue so it was a game changer for the team. I always love the Interview segments and this one was particularly interesting. It took a while for the story to fully engage me but when it did, I couldn’t stop reading. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it, even with Mavis’ renovation updates. Still a good time to be back in this world with my favorite characters. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
March 25, 2022
A shorter version of this would have been better. I don't need an exact description of clothes and makeup as such detail matters little in the long run of the story. 5 of 10 stars
March 15, 2022
So. I went back and forth on the rating on this one because there were some bright spots, and then something would happen which would work my nerves. Bright spots were we finally have a Louise/Charles interaction after like 20 books. We have Mira actually doing her job and we don't have Eve in there just somehow being ten steps ahead of her. We don't have much of Roarke in this one. In fact it took a while for an "In Death" book for him to show up. The actual case felt like an older "In Death" before Eve became super cop and was bringing down organizations that not even Homeland could take down. Now the stuff that didn't work was numerous (hence the 3 stars). For example, can we please stop with Nadine being the best reporter ever who somehow figured out a major part of this case? It didn't even make sense. I started muttering dues ex machina through the whole spiel and honestly skimmed until she was finally gone. It just didn't work and the less time spent on it will make me happy. I also don't like the character of Jamie (sorry, not sorry) and I have given up figuring out his age at this point. Speaking of ages, it is brought up that Eve needs to start thinking about what to get Roarke for their third anniversary and I laughed so hard I almost choked. The timeline on this series is a mess. I give up trying to figure it out. And the writing...well I will get to that down below.
"Abandoned in Death" follows Eve and her partner Peabody as they work a case where a young woman is found dead with a sign nearby saying "Bad Mommy." When the dead woman is linked to a missing case, Eve and Peabody realize that someone out there is grabbing young women who look similar and trying to recreate his mother, until she becomes "Bad Mommy" and must be killed by him.
Eve is Eve. Still messing up sayings and all of that. But she is softer. Due to the first murder being near where Mavis and Leonardo are rebuilding their dream home, she wants the murderer caught. Of course this leads to everyone being protective (though honestly it felt dumb since we know that Mavis didn't even fit the victim profile) and we of course had to hear about the house renovation some more. This is going to go on for like 10 books isn't it?
Roarke was fine. A little less present in this one. He is still hoping to get Jamie to come work for him full-time in the future, and blah I am sick of hearing/reading about that whole thing.
We have Peabody who was really solid in this one. There's a whole thing where she throws out about her sex life with McNabb that for once made me laugh. Probably because she ran after. But I am always surprised that she and Roarke do this thing where they think that Eve of all people isn't' listening when they talk. She is, she just doesn't feel the need to comment on every thing. They should get that at this point.
Mavis, Leonardo, Bella, Charles, Louise, Nadine, etc. all appear in this one. I think it's a first in a long time that these characters were all in the same book together.
Dr. Mira was great (once again the first time in a long time for me) and we even got Yancey in this one. I think it's been a while for him too.
The writing in this one was weird for me. I felt like I was reading a Nora Roberts standalone and not a J.D. Robb book. It felt a bit surreal at times. We have this one playing with different narrative styles. We have a "Before" time following a young woman who we don't know who she is, but that she seems to be important to the case. Also as I said above, Robb follows one of the kidnapped victims in this one. In fact, we get some of the kidnap victims perspective in this one. I don't think that has been done ever in this series. If we do follow the victims, it just seems to be right before they were murdered. We get a sense of them and that's it. This one we delved in deep. We also get to read a letter and it just once again didn't feel like a Robb book, but a Nora Roberts romantic suspense novel. I don't know yet if this is good or bad, but I saw some readers were having trouble with this so I thought I just bring it up. I also bring it up because I noticed it and it kept throwing my reading.
The flow was a bit up and down because of the narrative style. I honest don't know if this works for 'In Death" or not. We usually just follow Eve in the third person and of course Roarke sometimes, but mostly we are just with Eve. This one had so many players in it that I can see why some people complained there was too much padding. I am waiting to see how the next book plays out. Because if Robb does keep this style up, it's a change from her prior books.
The setting is New York in the 2060s and I think at this point, most readers get the science fiction elements.
The ending was a surprise, I think because you realized what Eve and Mira were working to do on this one. I liked how this all worked out and the final ending though.
"Abandoned in Death" follows Eve and her partner Peabody as they work a case where a young woman is found dead with a sign nearby saying "Bad Mommy." When the dead woman is linked to a missing case, Eve and Peabody realize that someone out there is grabbing young women who look similar and trying to recreate his mother, until she becomes "Bad Mommy" and must be killed by him.
Eve is Eve. Still messing up sayings and all of that. But she is softer. Due to the first murder being near where Mavis and Leonardo are rebuilding their dream home, she wants the murderer caught. Of course this leads to everyone being protective (though honestly it felt dumb since we know that Mavis didn't even fit the victim profile) and we of course had to hear about the house renovation some more. This is going to go on for like 10 books isn't it?
Roarke was fine. A little less present in this one. He is still hoping to get Jamie to come work for him full-time in the future, and blah I am sick of hearing/reading about that whole thing.
We have Peabody who was really solid in this one. There's a whole thing where she throws out about her sex life with McNabb that for once made me laugh. Probably because she ran after. But I am always surprised that she and Roarke do this thing where they think that Eve of all people isn't' listening when they talk. She is, she just doesn't feel the need to comment on every thing. They should get that at this point.
Mavis, Leonardo, Bella, Charles, Louise, Nadine, etc. all appear in this one. I think it's a first in a long time that these characters were all in the same book together.
Dr. Mira was great (once again the first time in a long time for me) and we even got Yancey in this one. I think it's been a while for him too.
The writing in this one was weird for me. I felt like I was reading a Nora Roberts standalone and not a J.D. Robb book. It felt a bit surreal at times. We have this one playing with different narrative styles. We have a "Before" time following a young woman who we don't know who she is, but that she seems to be important to the case. Also as I said above, Robb follows one of the kidnapped victims in this one. In fact, we get some of the kidnap victims perspective in this one. I don't think that has been done ever in this series. If we do follow the victims, it just seems to be right before they were murdered. We get a sense of them and that's it. This one we delved in deep. We also get to read a letter and it just once again didn't feel like a Robb book, but a Nora Roberts romantic suspense novel. I don't know yet if this is good or bad, but I saw some readers were having trouble with this so I thought I just bring it up. I also bring it up because I noticed it and it kept throwing my reading.
The flow was a bit up and down because of the narrative style. I honest don't know if this works for 'In Death" or not. We usually just follow Eve in the third person and of course Roarke sometimes, but mostly we are just with Eve. This one had so many players in it that I can see why some people complained there was too much padding. I am waiting to see how the next book plays out. Because if Robb does keep this style up, it's a change from her prior books.
The setting is New York in the 2060s and I think at this point, most readers get the science fiction elements.
The ending was a surprise, I think because you realized what Eve and Mira were working to do on this one. I liked how this all worked out and the final ending though.
February 23, 2022
I think this gif summarize my feelings about how much I love Roarke... 🥰 I've been reading this series since 2015 and with each book I love these characters more and more... 😊
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He rose, pointed a finger at the cat when Galahad took a very casual step toward the table. Then pulled Eve in and kissed her.
“Take care of my cop.”
He stood there a moment in the open doorway with the light streaming in and a gentle breeze,a warm one,playing with all that black silk hair. Stood there, she thought,all tall and lean in his perfect suit, one hand in his pocket.On her button, she realized.He carried that damn button like a magic charm.
February 16, 2025
The more I read from this series the more I love them. This mystery was one of my favorites so far, I thought it was creepy and sad and wonderful. A woman who was kidnapped was left perfectly made up with a new tattoo, piercings, and a sign that says “Bad Mommy”. Lt. Dallas is extra inspired to find this killer since he dumped the first body at the park her good friend takes her daughter to. This mystery was pretty twisty and I will admit I didn’t see the killer until pretty close to the reveal. The side characters were amazing as always and added some great depth to the story. I loved that Eve finally wanted to buy a property and why she wanted to, and I am wondering if I read the book right after this one if Roarke didn’t but it for her.
February 6, 2022
The discovery of a young woman, nicely dressed and laying on a bench in a children’s playground, but so obviously dead, was the start of a horror case where the perpetrator was trying to replicate his mother as she was when he was a boy. There were other missing persons, similar in looks to the first and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Detective Peabody knew they had to act fast, follow the clues to find the other women before it was too late.
While all Dallas’ department worked to find the evidence they needed, she and Roarke worked at home and on the job. Peabody kept up with her boss and the two worked well. But time was of the essence, and they wanted to win the race. But would they? Could they? Someone who was around sixty years of age and leaving notes of ‘Bad Mommy’ on his victims created a bad vibe in Dallas…
Abandoned in Death is the 54th in the In Death series by J.D. Robb and another brilliant, hugely entertaining episode in this series which I hope never ends! I don’t know how the author does it, but each episode is fresh and new. Catching up with the characters each time is like catching up with family. I highly recommend this series, but my advice is – start at the beginning 😊
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
While all Dallas’ department worked to find the evidence they needed, she and Roarke worked at home and on the job. Peabody kept up with her boss and the two worked well. But time was of the essence, and they wanted to win the race. But would they? Could they? Someone who was around sixty years of age and leaving notes of ‘Bad Mommy’ on his victims created a bad vibe in Dallas…
Abandoned in Death is the 54th in the In Death series by J.D. Robb and another brilliant, hugely entertaining episode in this series which I hope never ends! I don’t know how the author does it, but each episode is fresh and new. Catching up with the characters each time is like catching up with family. I highly recommend this series, but my advice is – start at the beginning 😊
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2022
3.5 stars - I thought this took a while to really get going, but I absolutely loved where it ended up. It was particularly satisfying because I thought we were spending time on a particular character group for one reason and then it totally got undermined by the end!
May 10, 2024
A wonderful addition to the In Death series, even if it is a different style than her other books. I personally love how Violet's story is woven through the book. And for once, I actually feel bad for Dickhead.
December 30, 2021
One woman dead. Two missing. Time is a factor if either of them will be found alive. Detective Eve Dallas is facing a very difficult case. As always, her attention is more than riveted to solving this latest murder. The fact that the woman's body was found at a playground near her dear friends Mavis and Leonardo's neighborhood presses Eve even more. There is one clue that is rather curious - a note that says "Bad Mommy."
What could that pertain to? Well, between Eve and her team, as well as resident Dr. Mira, Eve begins to unravel events that took place decades previously. Actually. as the book opens there is a very sad case of a mother who was prepared to give up on life and this including taking her young son with her. What happened in that case, to the woman, to the child, and what does that have to do with the current case?
I have read thousands of books in my lifetime and for the life of me I could not come close to finding a similar plot line. A plot that took some time to unfold for Eve. Her skills of deduction, along with occasional help from her billionaire hunk husband Roarke, proved invaluable when it came to desperately try to find the other two missing women.
This 54th book in J. D. Robb's amazing series was a one-sitting read from start to finish. Impossible to put down, especially when the feeling of working alongside Eve as she connected the past with the present events. The sense of urgency never once let up.
I have read each and every book in this series - including the novellas - and I must say that Robb never ceases to surprise me. To engage me. To keep my attention from beginning to end. It is with eager anticipation that I look forward to reading Desperation in Death, set for release in September, 2022.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
What could that pertain to? Well, between Eve and her team, as well as resident Dr. Mira, Eve begins to unravel events that took place decades previously. Actually. as the book opens there is a very sad case of a mother who was prepared to give up on life and this including taking her young son with her. What happened in that case, to the woman, to the child, and what does that have to do with the current case?
I have read thousands of books in my lifetime and for the life of me I could not come close to finding a similar plot line. A plot that took some time to unfold for Eve. Her skills of deduction, along with occasional help from her billionaire hunk husband Roarke, proved invaluable when it came to desperately try to find the other two missing women.
This 54th book in J. D. Robb's amazing series was a one-sitting read from start to finish. Impossible to put down, especially when the feeling of working alongside Eve as she connected the past with the present events. The sense of urgency never once let up.
I have read each and every book in this series - including the novellas - and I must say that Robb never ceases to surprise me. To engage me. To keep my attention from beginning to end. It is with eager anticipation that I look forward to reading Desperation in Death, set for release in September, 2022.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 9, 2022
This one just did not hold my attention when I started it ... I actually gave up on it and put it aside but, after some recent 'non-starter' books, I decided to go back to it. At the end of the day, ROBB has never let me down ... and, she didn't. Kept at it yesterday (raining all day so a good excuse to sit and read) and once I got to about a third of the way in, I was hooked. The last part of the book was riveting ...
54 books in and J.D. Robb can still keep (most of) her audience interested - it's hard to believe, really. Of course Roarke and the gang are great, always there to help Eve and I find the books that they (Mavis, Dr. Mira, etc., you know who I mean) are to the forefront of, claim my attention more than the books that they are absent in 🤷♀️ - I cannot wait to 'see' the house of Mavis and Co., when it is renovated.
Any mention of "the button" will nearly make me give the book an extra star.
Eve wondered why so many ugly people had beautiful faces.
The murders and scenarios bring up some bad memories for Eve and, as usual, these are dealt with in a sympathetic manner - we feel her pain, her sadness but Roarke is always on hand to take care of 'his cop'. ❤️
One more book until I am up to date but she has another one coming out in early 2023. I have read some negative reviews, saying that these later books are not up to her usual, earlier high standards. I sort of agree - I tend to re-read the early books and not bother with these later editions - I must have read "Naked in Death" at least four times and it never gets old ... the banter was better, the humour was better, the sex was better - I know it is difficult to keep such a high standard going but, still, after 54 books, this series is not getting old for me - a little 'tired' in places but not 'tired' enough to stop me being invested in Eve, Roarke and "the gang". Plus we have some 'new', younger characters in this book and I hope they will be a standard feature in future books. We will only have to wait until 2045 for Book 100 to release in the series ... roll on.😉
54 books in and J.D. Robb can still keep (most of) her audience interested - it's hard to believe, really. Of course Roarke and the gang are great, always there to help Eve and I find the books that they (Mavis, Dr. Mira, etc., you know who I mean) are to the forefront of, claim my attention more than the books that they are absent in 🤷♀️ - I cannot wait to 'see' the house of Mavis and Co., when it is renovated.
He carried that damn button like a magic charm.
Any mention of "the button" will nearly make me give the book an extra star.
Eve wondered why so many ugly people had beautiful faces.
"What's Irish for fuckhead?"
"Fuckhead translates to all languages."
And they were closing in. She could feel it.
She could feel the pieces fitting together.
The mother had always been the key.
The murders and scenarios bring up some bad memories for Eve and, as usual, these are dealt with in a sympathetic manner - we feel her pain, her sadness but Roarke is always on hand to take care of 'his cop'. ❤️
One more book until I am up to date but she has another one coming out in early 2023. I have read some negative reviews, saying that these later books are not up to her usual, earlier high standards. I sort of agree - I tend to re-read the early books and not bother with these later editions - I must have read "Naked in Death" at least four times and it never gets old ... the banter was better, the humour was better, the sex was better - I know it is difficult to keep such a high standard going but, still, after 54 books, this series is not getting old for me - a little 'tired' in places but not 'tired' enough to stop me being invested in Eve, Roarke and "the gang". Plus we have some 'new', younger characters in this book and I hope they will be a standard feature in future books. We will only have to wait until 2045 for Book 100 to release in the series ... roll on.😉
January 31, 2023
This book was a bit different than the prior books in the series. I was struck by the 1980s being in the far past as the story switched from past to present. I was glad to see so many of the old gang of characters present. Good to see Dr. Louise again. Robb introduced two new characters to the team in the form of two new interns. I am always amazed that J. D. Robb can keep coming up with different story ideas as this is book 54 in the Death Series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and fifteen minutes. Susan Ericksen does an excellent job narrating the story. She has been the narrator throughout the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and fifteen minutes. Susan Ericksen does an excellent job narrating the story. She has been the narrator throughout the series.
February 19, 2022
5 stars - Futuristic/Crime/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
And we have another winner! Hard to believe it's been 54 books, and I still can't get enough of this phenomenal series and its fabulous characters! The criminal element and mystery in this installment was more intriguing than in the last few books, and the villain was a real sicko.
I'd love to see the In Death books made into a TV series or movie at some point as long as they do a great job with the casting.
And we have another winner! Hard to believe it's been 54 books, and I still can't get enough of this phenomenal series and its fabulous characters! The criminal element and mystery in this installment was more intriguing than in the last few books, and the villain was a real sicko.
I'd love to see the In Death books made into a TV series or movie at some point as long as they do a great job with the casting.
February 10, 2022
With her 54th book added to the In Death Series, readers are jetted into the year 2060, where we find our favorite police detective Eve Dallas up to her neck in a mystifying, puzzling and bewildering case of “Bad Mommy” murders. Another emotional tour-de-force achievement from Robb told in an easily followed “Before” and “Now” timeline. Explosive plotting, memorable characters and a look inside the human psyche that is both disturbing and thought-provoking.
Don’t expect a lot of the extra-special fluffy BFF-stuff this go-round. The story is devoted mostly to police procedures and solving this intensely emotional and tragic case. The main plot was the focus and always in the forefront brimming with suspense and impossible to put down. Even though the romance was minimal as well, rest assured that Roarke is always there to heat up a room.
There’s some wicked surprises and a final twist with a cleverly disguised wolf in sheep’s clothing. Surprise -- I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING even though the answers were right in front of my face from the get-go. It still didn’t click and would behoove me to remember that Robb is the real deal – the master of the keyboard -- and always at the controls!
The wrap-up was a little quicker than I would prefer and left a few questions without answers. At least the case was solved satisfactorily and certainly with surprising impact. Extending the abrupt halt to include a little social gathering with the beloved gang of friends would have been delightful and leaving readers (at least this one) in a little more celebratory mindset. But that’s just my preference. I'm a whiny reader who never is ready for a super-duper book to end -- so the author bears no fault.
There were a few sightings and hints of new -- and what appear to be fun and interesting characters joining the good guy pool. And the possibilities are strong that it won’t be long before readers see more of them, when . . . Desperation In Death, Book No. 55 arrives in September. Yippee – that’s positively without a doubt defined as “the good stuff.”
Another stellar addition to this dynamic series of books. A real winner for this fan!
February 11, 2022
It's closer to 2.5 stars. The formula was there. You know the ones like the "don't tell me about your sex life", deliberately misunderstanding phrases, the discussions on clothing that had nothing to do with the case, dreams and a couple of sex scenes...etc. The boxes were ticked. This one was a little bit magically solved but overall a decent mystery. 3 for it, 2 for not keeping me engaged/same old.
February 22, 2022
As a longtime fan of this series, it seems to me that the stories are becoming a bit less edgy and the characters a bit more mellow than in years past. That's not to say either is any less appealing, though - they're still set in the future (this one in 2061) amid all the fun gizmos like meals programmed into a machine and vehicles that can land and take off vertically, calls for homicide detective Eve Dallas to draw on childhood experiences to help solve a couple of murders and prevent another - not pleasant recollections given what she was forced to endure.
Eve's salvation came in large part by way of her now husband, the Irish hunky and filthy rich Roarke (who, happily, gets to put his considerable expertise to good use in helping to solve the case). It begins with a woman's body that's laid out on a bench at a New York City playground. Clearly, she was murdered - but just as clearly, the killer arranged her body with great care. She sported a new tattoo and body piercings, but the clothing didn't quite fit and looked to be vintage. The real puzzlement, though, was the note left on the body: Bad Mommy.
The working premise is that they're dealing with an older killer - most likely male - who, like Eve, endured a traumatic childhood that involved a mother who was less than mother-like - but with no other clues, how will they find him? Readers get some glimpses by way of flashbacks into the lives of the "bad mommy" and her child, but it isn't till a second woman's body is found in a similar fashion - and Roarke puts some of his high-tech research tools to good use - that Eve begins to think positive. From there, it's a race to the finish, with a big twist (which, of course, I won't reveal). All told, another one well done, and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next.
Eve's salvation came in large part by way of her now husband, the Irish hunky and filthy rich Roarke (who, happily, gets to put his considerable expertise to good use in helping to solve the case). It begins with a woman's body that's laid out on a bench at a New York City playground. Clearly, she was murdered - but just as clearly, the killer arranged her body with great care. She sported a new tattoo and body piercings, but the clothing didn't quite fit and looked to be vintage. The real puzzlement, though, was the note left on the body: Bad Mommy.
The working premise is that they're dealing with an older killer - most likely male - who, like Eve, endured a traumatic childhood that involved a mother who was less than mother-like - but with no other clues, how will they find him? Readers get some glimpses by way of flashbacks into the lives of the "bad mommy" and her child, but it isn't till a second woman's body is found in a similar fashion - and Roarke puts some of his high-tech research tools to good use - that Eve begins to think positive. From there, it's a race to the finish, with a big twist (which, of course, I won't reveal). All told, another one well done, and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next.
February 17, 2022
WOW! The #54 rocks!! It's incredible that a series can reach #54 and be as good as it was with #1!!!
I think that here we returned to a more criminal part of the story with little touches of personal interactions included. And it is a very good thing because some other series lost that part and became more gushing and overly romanticized!
But, thankfully, not Eve! I'm very happy!!!
The story is heartbraking and horrifying at the same time. I was sorry for the villain and hated him alltogether! O_O
At the same time my heart broke for the victims too... They were truly victims in every sense...
As usual, the pace is fast and the reasoning behind Eve's action were true and logical. I appreciate how her mind works!
Another great book! I'm so looking forward to the next! And I strongly hope that the author will continue for a very long time this series in the same way!
I think that here we returned to a more criminal part of the story with little touches of personal interactions included. And it is a very good thing because some other series lost that part and became more gushing and overly romanticized!
But, thankfully, not Eve! I'm very happy!!!
The story is heartbraking and horrifying at the same time. I was sorry for the villain and hated him alltogether! O_O
At the same time my heart broke for the victims too... They were truly victims in every sense...
As usual, the pace is fast and the reasoning behind Eve's action were true and logical. I appreciate how her mind works!
Another great book! I'm so looking forward to the next! And I strongly hope that the author will continue for a very long time this series in the same way!
February 14, 2022
Well, it was a decent read. My problem with this series is that it's become to repetitive for me. Almost formulaic.
Each story seems to check a box:
Mystery - that's a given (genre)
Roarke will ultimately help with EDD and possible break some locks.
Eve will dream of her childhood that somehow relates to the crime.
Roarke will need to remind Eve to eat and will feed the team.
Roarke will need to dress her or Eve will think about how she's not fashionable and let's Roarke pick her clothes.
Eve will mention some saying or quote and talk about how it doesn't make sense.
The obligatory steamy scene or two.
Eve will have words with the butler dude. I've forgotten his name at the moment.
The cat will be mentioned.
Eve will use the workout room or pool.
Mira will be brought in and there will be a mention of her gatekeeper/admin somehow. Mira will always have a few minutes to talk Eve through a case.
Peabody will bring up something about her freeager upbringing.
The EDD guys will be mentioned for their attire.
Side characters will be rotated in. Her bestie who hasn't been her bestie in years, the reporter, the former LCC and wife we haven't seen in a while until now, Trina, etc.
Oh, and Dallas usually has to catch a runaway criminal in the cop central. I think this is the first book hat hasn't happened with in a while. I could be wrong.
There's more for sure. But each book has it and it's stale dating the series for me.
But here is one thing to note. Since I listen to these books, I can't check for myself. However, I'm almost certain Eve and Roarke have spent more than 3 Christmas's together in 54 books. Yet she says their third anniversary is coming up in this one. I'm not sure why after 54 books, only three years have past. That seems highly unlikely. I think JD/NR timeline is way off. Which I'm not blaming her for. But someone needs to take notes and push this further.
I'll be honest and say, this maybe my last of the series. I was hoping for something more and I got less with repetitive scenes. Dallas's life needs to be shaken up. I can't understand why we are stuck with her not having kids after 54 books. Plenty of cops have kids. I get Dallas's trauma may cause her to feel that way. But Dallas needs some character development or movement or this series should end.
Each story seems to check a box:
Mystery - that's a given (genre)
Roarke will ultimately help with EDD and possible break some locks.
Eve will dream of her childhood that somehow relates to the crime.
Roarke will need to remind Eve to eat and will feed the team.
Roarke will need to dress her or Eve will think about how she's not fashionable and let's Roarke pick her clothes.
Eve will mention some saying or quote and talk about how it doesn't make sense.
The obligatory steamy scene or two.
Eve will have words with the butler dude. I've forgotten his name at the moment.
The cat will be mentioned.
Eve will use the workout room or pool.
Mira will be brought in and there will be a mention of her gatekeeper/admin somehow. Mira will always have a few minutes to talk Eve through a case.
Peabody will bring up something about her freeager upbringing.
The EDD guys will be mentioned for their attire.
Side characters will be rotated in. Her bestie who hasn't been her bestie in years, the reporter, the former LCC and wife we haven't seen in a while until now, Trina, etc.
Oh, and Dallas usually has to catch a runaway criminal in the cop central. I think this is the first book hat hasn't happened with in a while. I could be wrong.
There's more for sure. But each book has it and it's stale dating the series for me.
But here is one thing to note. Since I listen to these books, I can't check for myself. However, I'm almost certain Eve and Roarke have spent more than 3 Christmas's together in 54 books. Yet she says their third anniversary is coming up in this one. I'm not sure why after 54 books, only three years have past. That seems highly unlikely. I think JD/NR timeline is way off. Which I'm not blaming her for. But someone needs to take notes and push this further.
I'll be honest and say, this maybe my last of the series. I was hoping for something more and I got less with repetitive scenes. Dallas's life needs to be shaken up. I can't understand why we are stuck with her not having kids after 54 books. Plenty of cops have kids. I get Dallas's trauma may cause her to feel that way. But Dallas needs some character development or movement or this series should end.
February 27, 2022
Lackluster effort in this long-running series. I wasn't exactly bored, but I wasn't impressed either.
Ho-hum.
The only bright point was the twist near the end, when the Big Baddie is identified.
It was nice to catch up with everyone, but there were no real highlights there, either. Oh well...
Ho-hum.
The only bright point was the twist near the end, when the Big Baddie is identified.
It was nice to catch up with everyone, but there were no real highlights there, either. Oh well...
July 1, 2022
I put this one off until now, not just because I've been busy working and moving house but because I've had enough of the annoying interactions between Eve and Roarke. Her abrasive manner and borderline abusive treatment of others doesn't gel well with her inability to stand up to her husband. It is really effecting how seriously I take her as a "kickass cop" "in charge," and she isn't even really in control there, as her cops are routinely outvoting her and ignoring her orders and preferences because they believe they know what's best for her and her case.
Her husband's presence in the field and his apparent control of her has done damage to her professional environment and Robb thinks this is perfectly acceptable because romance. Roarke has all but declawed her in front of her squad, tacitly reassuring them that he can put her in check when he feels she's not doing what he thinks is good for her.
In many respects, this book was annoying in all the ways it usually is for me. Eve "doesn't" argue when her husband treats her like a child who needs to be dressed, fed and made to do things she doesn't want to do. She bullies and takes sadistic pleasure in intimidating others but allows her husband to call the shots at work and at home.
Is this just some feminist gripe that refuses to acknowledge the give and take that marriage entails? It is not; I'd be perfectly fine if Eve was equally as controlling in terms of Roarke's sleep schedule (and remember that he works just as hard but gets less sleep than Eve does), work schedule, clothing choices and diet. That's not the dynamic Robb has created. Eve cannot be the one to correct or control Roarke because this would "immasculate" him. By contrast, Roarke's apparent function in the series has and continues to be as paternal figure. His judgment is supposed to be better than Eve's because...reasons, and we're supposed to give him the pass we wouldn't give our own SOs because he is hawt and sexy and has an Irish accent and buckets of fictional mony.
The contrast between the spineless wife and bully cop grated, and that was when I wasn't sniggering at how foolish Eve looked trying to make "tough" and "kickass" happen in the field with her egotistical and overprotective husband breathing down her neck and monitoring her every move.
Will I continue reading? Likely. Do I take Eve seriously or regard her as a tough as nails cop?
Absolutely not. What kind of seasoned, kickass cop allows her overprotective spouse to play bodyguard while she's on the job? Can you imagine Feeney's wife insisting on going with her husband to crime scenes? I'm not buying the protagonist anymore, but the police procedural bits make it worth it. Three stars.
Her husband's presence in the field and his apparent control of her has done damage to her professional environment and Robb thinks this is perfectly acceptable because romance. Roarke has all but declawed her in front of her squad, tacitly reassuring them that he can put her in check when he feels she's not doing what he thinks is good for her.
In many respects, this book was annoying in all the ways it usually is for me. Eve "doesn't" argue when her husband treats her like a child who needs to be dressed, fed and made to do things she doesn't want to do. She bullies and takes sadistic pleasure in intimidating others but allows her husband to call the shots at work and at home.
Is this just some feminist gripe that refuses to acknowledge the give and take that marriage entails? It is not; I'd be perfectly fine if Eve was equally as controlling in terms of Roarke's sleep schedule (and remember that he works just as hard but gets less sleep than Eve does), work schedule, clothing choices and diet. That's not the dynamic Robb has created. Eve cannot be the one to correct or control Roarke because this would "immasculate" him. By contrast, Roarke's apparent function in the series has and continues to be as paternal figure. His judgment is supposed to be better than Eve's because...reasons, and we're supposed to give him the pass we wouldn't give our own SOs because he is hawt and sexy and has an Irish accent and buckets of fictional mony.
The contrast between the spineless wife and bully cop grated, and that was when I wasn't sniggering at how foolish Eve looked trying to make "tough" and "kickass" happen in the field with her egotistical and overprotective husband breathing down her neck and monitoring her every move.
Will I continue reading? Likely. Do I take Eve seriously or regard her as a tough as nails cop?
Absolutely not. What kind of seasoned, kickass cop allows her overprotective spouse to play bodyguard while she's on the job? Can you imagine Feeney's wife insisting on going with her husband to crime scenes? I'm not buying the protagonist anymore, but the police procedural bits make it worth it. Three stars.
September 10, 2025
I am not going to give you a recap of this book. There is no need for that. I'm just going to give you my opinions.
Unlike the last book Forgotten in Death, where there was a lack of padding, Abandoned in Death had a ton of it. But, unfortunately, it also had a ton of repetition, which really does annoy some readers—me, being one of them.
I will admit that this book did have a fantastic twist towards the end...one that I couldn't see coming.
Many of the secondary characters are ones that we really don't know too much about, which was extremely interesting. Roarke was not a center-stage character but did fulfill his role/s quite nicely.
Enjoy!
Unlike the last book Forgotten in Death, where there was a lack of padding, Abandoned in Death had a ton of it. But, unfortunately, it also had a ton of repetition, which really does annoy some readers—me, being one of them.
I will admit that this book did have a fantastic twist towards the end...one that I couldn't see coming.
Many of the secondary characters are ones that we really don't know too much about, which was extremely interesting. Roarke was not a center-stage character but did fulfill his role/s quite nicely.
Enjoy!
February 27, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
Another will written murder mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller novel by J. D. Robb In Death Series book 54. Eve is called to a murder scene with the victim called Bad Mummy. Another Bad Mummy is found. The investigation leads to a man 🚹 who believes he is still mummy boy. They capture him with the help of the last kidnapped victim. I would highly recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic relationship mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒😀☺🏡
Great series and happy reading and have fun 🌙
Another will written murder mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller novel by J. D. Robb In Death Series book 54. Eve is called to a murder scene with the victim called Bad Mummy. Another Bad Mummy is found. The investigation leads to a man 🚹 who believes he is still mummy boy. They capture him with the help of the last kidnapped victim. I would highly recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic relationship mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒😀☺🏡
Great series and happy reading and have fun 🌙
February 10, 2022
I hope the next book has more Eve and Roarke moments.
April 24, 2022
Not bad. Interior decorating kept to a minimum, which I guess is all we can hope for these days.
June 30, 2022
Ugh, now I have to wait for the next book to come out!!
July 13, 2022
Another great addition to this series! I enjoyed the past/present aspects in this one. It's not seen often in this series. I loved the appearances of so many of my favorite characters. It almost felt like a family reunion. Highly recommended.
September 9, 2025
Enjoyed it as always!
February 11, 2022
Oh My God, Oh my God, Oh my God!! This book was simply amazing!! This may be one the best books in the series!
I will try not to give any of the plot away because I want everyone to have the same experience I did in reading it. It's like an Agatha Christie in that when the murderer is revealed you look back on all the clues Nora dropped along the way and realize you should have come to the same conclusion Eve did sooner.
The story jumps from timeline to timeline seamlessly and that just adds to the rich background. And, of course, the characters are fully developed. Unlike so many writers of serials, our main characters are allowed to also grow and develop. The Eve in this book is not the same Eve over 50 books ago. Neither is anyone else.
If you have become a bit tired of the series, this book will jump start your love of all Eve and Roarke all over again.
I will try not to give any of the plot away because I want everyone to have the same experience I did in reading it. It's like an Agatha Christie in that when the murderer is revealed you look back on all the clues Nora dropped along the way and realize you should have come to the same conclusion Eve did sooner.
The story jumps from timeline to timeline seamlessly and that just adds to the rich background. And, of course, the characters are fully developed. Unlike so many writers of serials, our main characters are allowed to also grow and develop. The Eve in this book is not the same Eve over 50 books ago. Neither is anyone else.
If you have become a bit tired of the series, this book will jump start your love of all Eve and Roarke all over again.
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