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In Death #30
Fantasy in Death
Bart Minnock, founder of the computer gaming giant U-Play, is found in his locked private playroom, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. Despite his violent end, Eve can’t find anyone—girlfriend and business partners included—who seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire.
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction—and the price of defeat is death...
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction—and the price of defeat is death...
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 23, 2010
1590 people are currently reading
7773 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 1,423 reviews
September 5, 2016
"Good thing I pride myself on my bitchery."
We should all take pride in our bitchery, girls. Because, apparently in our society, if you are strong and powerful, you must be a bitch. So, bitch it is! I say instead of fighting against this, we should all show the asswipes who think this just how bitchy a bitch can be. Let's burn this mother down, bitches!!
So, the story in this book isn't anything we haven't heard of before - cutting edge video game kills people in real life, but it's still an entertaining story. I changed my mind a couple of times when trying to figure out who the killer was. But, of course Eve figures these things out before anyone else. That's why she makes the big bucks.
They want to thank him.
Although Eve seems to be an amazing detective, she still hasn't figured out who the candy thief is. This candy thief has been stealing her Hershey bars for years now, and always figures out where she is hiding them whether it's in her ceiling, taped under a drawer, hanging outside her window. It's pretty impressive. If the candy thief wants to kill someone it will be the first case that Eve wouldn't be able to solve.
hey, we all do what we have to in order to keep our addictions fed
The best moment of the book? When Peabody decides to have a long conversation with Eve about penises. Not in a sexual way. More of a philosophical way. If penises could talk, what would they say kind of thing. What are they thinking? It was pretty funny. My opinion is that penises are already walking around and talking. There are a lot of dickheads out there. Frankly, I wish they would shut the hell up.
We should all take pride in our bitchery, girls. Because, apparently in our society, if you are strong and powerful, you must be a bitch. So, bitch it is! I say instead of fighting against this, we should all show the asswipes who think this just how bitchy a bitch can be. Let's burn this mother down, bitches!!
So, the story in this book isn't anything we haven't heard of before - cutting edge video game kills people in real life, but it's still an entertaining story. I changed my mind a couple of times when trying to figure out who the killer was. But, of course Eve figures these things out before anyone else. That's why she makes the big bucks.
They want to thank him.
Although Eve seems to be an amazing detective, she still hasn't figured out who the candy thief is. This candy thief has been stealing her Hershey bars for years now, and always figures out where she is hiding them whether it's in her ceiling, taped under a drawer, hanging outside her window. It's pretty impressive. If the candy thief wants to kill someone it will be the first case that Eve wouldn't be able to solve.
hey, we all do what we have to in order to keep our addictions fed
The best moment of the book? When Peabody decides to have a long conversation with Eve about penises. Not in a sexual way. More of a philosophical way. If penises could talk, what would they say kind of thing. What are they thinking? It was pretty funny. My opinion is that penises are already walking around and talking. There are a lot of dickheads out there. Frankly, I wish they would shut the hell up.
January 6, 2019
This one is a surely a classic if only for the superb banter between Peabody and Eve. I know this is in every book but in Fantasy in Death it reaches new levels of snark and entertainment. Their discussion about the penis is laugh out loud funny.
The rest of the book is good too:) The crime is a modern version of the old trope - finding a corpse in a room which is locked from the inside. Not just who dunnit but how on earth did they do it. In this case there is more to it than that and the answer to the mystery is very futuristic (we all hope!)
Eve takes new strides in her understanding of friendship, Roarke is his usual gorgeous self, the candy thief is still around and all is right with the world. Oh and there is a very exciting ending with one of our heroes having an unexpectedly close call.
Love this series.
The rest of the book is good too:) The crime is a modern version of the old trope - finding a corpse in a room which is locked from the inside. Not just who dunnit but how on earth did they do it. In this case there is more to it than that and the answer to the mystery is very futuristic (we all hope!)
Eve takes new strides in her understanding of friendship, Roarke is his usual gorgeous self, the candy thief is still around and all is right with the world. Oh and there is a very exciting ending with one of our heroes having an unexpectedly close call.
Love this series.
September 20, 2019
3.25 Stars. This is the second out of four J.D. Robb CD audiobooks I got dirt cheap from a local library sale. Since they are CD’s, I can only listen in my car and due to my short commute to work, they take me forever to finish. I am getting hooked on Eve Dallas but I don’t think this was as good as the first one I listened to Born in Death.
I thought the mystery was interesting. It took most of the book to even realize how the murder was committed which kept my attention for sure. I also thought the big climax of the story towards the ends was fun and exciting. I was stuck in a parking lot running late for an appointment because I didn’t want to stop listening.
I think where I had a few issues was more in the fluff parts of the books. There was not as much time spent with Eve’s friends doing things to drive her nuts. I like that while these are mysteries they have some humor to them. Unfortunately, this book was missing some of that fun.
The other small issue was that there just were not very many suspects. As a reader you have a really good shot of guessing “who did it” so there was no big reveal of who the killer was.
I do have to say Roarke, the MC’s husband, was much better in this book. He was less whiny and more supportive. I’m still not crazy about him but he’s growing on me more.
Last slight comment, the narrator Susan Ericson is really good. I like her a lot but Eve’s voice was different than in Born in Death. It wasn’t a huge difference but I noticed it right away and I didn’t like her new voice as much. Born in Death was #23 and this book Fantasy in Death was #30 in the series. I’m guessing maybe her voice slightly changed over the 7 audiobooks and I just noticed with the big jump. I got more used to her voice as the story went on but her older voice is stronger and sexier than the new one.
All and all I’m having fun with this series. Even after only two books, I think I’m getting hooked enough that I will buy some other books in this series after I finish the last two audiobooks I have. This is a fun mainstream mystery series but I would recommend starting at a different book if you are new to the series.
I thought the mystery was interesting. It took most of the book to even realize how the murder was committed which kept my attention for sure. I also thought the big climax of the story towards the ends was fun and exciting. I was stuck in a parking lot running late for an appointment because I didn’t want to stop listening.
I think where I had a few issues was more in the fluff parts of the books. There was not as much time spent with Eve’s friends doing things to drive her nuts. I like that while these are mysteries they have some humor to them. Unfortunately, this book was missing some of that fun.
The other small issue was that there just were not very many suspects. As a reader you have a really good shot of guessing “who did it” so there was no big reveal of who the killer was.
I do have to say Roarke, the MC’s husband, was much better in this book. He was less whiny and more supportive. I’m still not crazy about him but he’s growing on me more.
Last slight comment, the narrator Susan Ericson is really good. I like her a lot but Eve’s voice was different than in Born in Death. It wasn’t a huge difference but I noticed it right away and I didn’t like her new voice as much. Born in Death was #23 and this book Fantasy in Death was #30 in the series. I’m guessing maybe her voice slightly changed over the 7 audiobooks and I just noticed with the big jump. I got more used to her voice as the story went on but her older voice is stronger and sexier than the new one.
All and all I’m having fun with this series. Even after only two books, I think I’m getting hooked enough that I will buy some other books in this series after I finish the last two audiobooks I have. This is a fun mainstream mystery series but I would recommend starting at a different book if you are new to the series.
July 10, 2017
Took me a while to finish this one but I did, eventually. On the road so have little time for reviewing or reading. I have been scouring the second hand book shops of the Pacific North West to try and find a hardcover of NAKED IN DEATH. No luck. I did find a copy of NEW YORK TO DALLAS, which I think might be a pivotal book in the series ... from the title anyway.
What can a I say ... broken record!!! Loved it - love Eve and Roarke. And all the other characters. No complaints here.
I haven't the energy to do a full review. Sorry!!!
What can a I say ... broken record!!! Loved it - love Eve and Roarke. And all the other characters. No complaints here.
I haven't the energy to do a full review. Sorry!!!
December 16, 2018
I'll never get tired of this series. 😍😍😍
December 13, 2018
Suspense 4.5 stars / Romance 4.75 stars
Brilliant. As always absolutely brilliant written. Very interesting and a bit mystic suspense.
Not only who was the killer, but also how the murder happened.
I had my theory and I was almost right *pat myself on the back*, but it was still captivating to read.
It took me 30 books and I can finally say – Roarke is a great man.
Better later than nie *lol*
Eve – my epitome of female strength!
Brilliant. As always absolutely brilliant written. Very interesting and a bit mystic suspense.
Not only who was the killer, but also how the murder happened.
I had my theory and I was almost right *pat myself on the back*, but it was still captivating to read.
It took me 30 books and I can finally say – Roarke is a great man.
Better later than nie *lol*
"No one’s indispensable. Except you to me."
"I have good taste in all manner of things. Especially wives."
Eve – my epitome of female strength!
November 20, 2023
When Eve is called to the murder of a videogames developer in his locked gaming room, she nevertheless is sure that someone must have somehow got into and left the room; she just needs to prove it. However, the murderer is even more clever and devious than anyone she has come up against before and is not going to be easily caught. With hilarious banter as Peabody and Eve philosophise in the car and Eve pondering on the nature of love and friendship this is an entertaining futuristic locked room mystery with a twist. 4.5★
October 11, 2017
4-4.5 stars - Futuristic/Romantic Suspense/Mystery/Crime/Science Fiction/Thriller
30+ books in and I'm still addicted to this series, continually in awe of the compelling, well-crafted stories/cases, and forever in love with these amazing characters.
Did she know, could she know what it meant to him when she turned to him, when she opened herself to him like this? In absolute trust. Her strength, her valor remained a constant wonder to him, as did her unrelenting determination to defend those who could no longer defend themselves. These moments, when she allowed her vulnerabilities, her doubts, her fears to tremble to the surface compelled him to take care. In these moments he could show her it wasn’t just the warrior he loved, he treasured, but the woman, the whole of her. The dark and the light.
30+ books in and I'm still addicted to this series, continually in awe of the compelling, well-crafted stories/cases, and forever in love with these amazing characters.
Did she know, could she know what it meant to him when she turned to him, when she opened herself to him like this? In absolute trust. Her strength, her valor remained a constant wonder to him, as did her unrelenting determination to defend those who could no longer defend themselves. These moments, when she allowed her vulnerabilities, her doubts, her fears to tremble to the surface compelled him to take care. In these moments he could show her it wasn’t just the warrior he loved, he treasured, but the woman, the whole of her. The dark and the light.
August 30, 2017
Oh, I just knew that somewhere along the way the Matrix theme will come along! LOL
Here we have an evel programme where you can actually get killed!!! WOW!!!
Now I know why I don't do games anymore...
But Eve and Roarke... they kick ass even to holos!!!
Here we have an evel programme where you can actually get killed!!! WOW!!!
Now I know why I don't do games anymore...
But Eve and Roarke... they kick ass even to holos!!!
March 15, 2010
Wow, ok so I dunno what to say about this book. I LOVE these characters and the world and clearly I've stuck with the series for 30 frikkin' books, so I don't criticize lightly. Maybe because the subject matter is in my personal wheelhouse (gaming and fandom) that I'm particularly picky. Or the plot truly jumps the shark in a way unequaled since "Eve Dallas vs. the Clone World Takeover" episode (forget what book # that was, but if you read it you definitely know what I'm talking about.)
*SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING! YOU ARE WARNED!*:
When I read the first chapter I immediately was like "what's the dumbest way this is going to resolve? She's not going to...nah that's too damned stupid!" Each step of the way I'm like waiting for the clever twist that will hopefully drag me away from my initial assumption. I could see the train wreck coming, I was praying for the brakes to be slammed on. Please...and then...nope. The finale really was what I thought it would be. The game was real. They were inside the fantasy world, fighting fake bad guys who were actually real but not real. Manifested in a...some kind of science way that is not described very specifically. Oh my, worst thing ever.
Let's be honest. Basically she wanted to put Eve and Roarke in a sword fight. This whole plot was an excuse for that. When she described Roarke and how hot he looked in leather jerkin knee-boots I almost threw the Kindle against the wall. *hurl*. I honestly would have preferred them to somehow time-travel and be in the 15th century fighting. Or at a Ren Faire. As bad a leap that would have been I would have been less incredulous and "WTF" the whole way through.
Of course I'll buy the next one, but PLEASE PLEASE either: break them up so you can put them together again, or have her get pregnant. It's time, even I'm getting tired of their hot sex without their going somewhere new. :(
*SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING! YOU ARE WARNED!*:
When I read the first chapter I immediately was like "what's the dumbest way this is going to resolve? She's not going to...nah that's too damned stupid!" Each step of the way I'm like waiting for the clever twist that will hopefully drag me away from my initial assumption. I could see the train wreck coming, I was praying for the brakes to be slammed on. Please...and then...nope. The finale really was what I thought it would be. The game was real. They were inside the fantasy world, fighting fake bad guys who were actually real but not real. Manifested in a...some kind of science way that is not described very specifically. Oh my, worst thing ever.
Let's be honest. Basically she wanted to put Eve and Roarke in a sword fight. This whole plot was an excuse for that. When she described Roarke and how hot he looked in leather jerkin knee-boots I almost threw the Kindle against the wall. *hurl*. I honestly would have preferred them to somehow time-travel and be in the 15th century fighting. Or at a Ren Faire. As bad a leap that would have been I would have been less incredulous and "WTF" the whole way through.
Of course I'll buy the next one, but PLEASE PLEASE either: break them up so you can put them together again, or have her get pregnant. It's time, even I'm getting tired of their hot sex without their going somewhere new. :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
Yet another solid addition in the In Death series by J.D. Robb. When I started this series about 10 months ago I thought I would read a few and muddle my way through it over time. But as you can see I have more than muddled my way through it. Thirty books under my belt and now I am thinking how sad it is going to be when I reach the last book that is published. With that, I wonder how far J.D. will take Eve and Roarke and all the others.
In Fantasy in Death I had to suspend my belief a bit as the events surrounding the murders was a little out there. The world of Gaming can be intense and sinister. The writing was fantastic of course as J.D. always makes sure to dot her i’s and cross her t’s.
Eve and Roarke would have their boundaries tested in this one. Eve is still trying to navigate the relationship rules and doesn’t always get it. There are just too many rules!! And Roarke doesn’t live in a world where things are considered black and white. There are times when he cannot keep his frustration under wraps.
I love it when within the story Eve has to get all fancied up. She certainly is no girly girl but when she gives in to the magic of Trina and Leonardo, Eve cannot be any more beautiful. So says Roarke. :)
Now Roarke isn’t too shabby either. He in a tux surely makes Eve heart skip a beat.
Things get a bit crazy towards the end. Eve struggles to keep herself together when something happens to Roarke. The moment of what if’s…..
In Fantasy in Death I had to suspend my belief a bit as the events surrounding the murders was a little out there. The world of Gaming can be intense and sinister. The writing was fantastic of course as J.D. always makes sure to dot her i’s and cross her t’s.
Eve and Roarke would have their boundaries tested in this one. Eve is still trying to navigate the relationship rules and doesn’t always get it. There are just too many rules!! And Roarke doesn’t live in a world where things are considered black and white. There are times when he cannot keep his frustration under wraps.
I love it when within the story Eve has to get all fancied up. She certainly is no girly girl but when she gives in to the magic of Trina and Leonardo, Eve cannot be any more beautiful. So says Roarke. :)
Now Roarke isn’t too shabby either. He in a tux surely makes Eve heart skip a beat.
Things get a bit crazy towards the end. Eve struggles to keep herself together when something happens to Roarke. The moment of what if’s…..
September 12, 2025
Bu çifti - özellikle Roarke 😍- bu kadar çok sevip, seriye resmen bir yıldır ara varmek ne demek biliyor musunuz? Rezillik!!! Çok kızıyorum kendime çok...
Ben polisiye okuru değilim bu yüzde o kısım benim açımdan çok önem arz etmiyor.Ama yine de ciddi bir içerik vardı. Nora bazen okuru gerçekten çok şaşırtıyor. Özellikle şu cümle, kitabı özetler nitelikteydi.
"Bu bir bilimkurgu saçmalığı."
"Bilim onu yakalayana kadar bu bir kurgu."
Gerçekten de, vay be!
Umarım en azından ayda bir kez de olsa seriden bir kitap okuyarak güncel olabilirim. 🙏
Nora hanım Şubatta, serinin 62. kitabını yayınlayacakken ne mümkün ama umut işte...
Ben polisiye okuru değilim bu yüzde o kısım benim açımdan çok önem arz etmiyor.Ama yine de ciddi bir içerik vardı. Nora bazen okuru gerçekten çok şaşırtıyor. Özellikle şu cümle, kitabı özetler nitelikteydi.
"Bu bir bilimkurgu saçmalığı."
"Bilim onu yakalayana kadar bu bir kurgu."
Gerçekten de, vay be!
Umarım en azından ayda bir kez de olsa seriden bir kitap okuyarak güncel olabilirim. 🙏
Nora hanım Şubatta, serinin 62. kitabını yayınlayacakken ne mümkün ama umut işte...
October 2, 2025
This is J.D. Robb's take on the classic Lock Room Mystery, with some futuristic tech, of course. There are three suspects and any one of them could have done the deed. Eve has her hands full when her e aces can't even figure out how the killer got in the locked holo room and, of course, everyone loved Bart Minnock, a rising star in the gaming universe.
February 15, 2011
Can someone really say that a plot felt formulaic when it is the THIRTIETH book in a series? I don’t really think so. *facepalm* Okay, well we’re back with badass Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her Irish billionaire stud of a husband, Roarke. This time, Dallas and Peabody are doing their thang in the homicide-detecting world and the victim in one of the founders of a video game design company. Normally, Nora Roberts/JD Robb is rather informative about the occupations of her characters and we get tons of fun factoids about those jobs. (I’d like to give a shoutout to Nora for instilling me with knowledge about such random jobs as glass-blowing, breeding horses, winemaking, flipping property and drawing comics.) Though I’m sure other readers have felt this in other works during her prolific writing career, I felt like she was a little out of her element in the video game world. I’m no expert, but I’ve played hundreds of hours of video games and this whole element in the books was just…blah.
I’ve been a fan of this series from the get-go and I’m definitely going to continue but one thing that is driving me a little batty is ? I know Eve Dallas is not a typical character and Roarke’s and her pasts do not lend themselves to raising a child, (at least in their minds) but it is killing me.
Also, as an aside, I love the side characters as much as I love Eve and Roarke these days. Why not just call it a wash and start an offshoot with Peabody as the protag? Or maybe Trueheart? I'm getting sick of reading about Eve and Roarke and their "perfect connection" and Roarke being more tech-savvy than every hacker (yeah, right) and richer than every human.
OMG, maybe in the next one Roarke will lose all of his money and they will have to live on Dallas' income. Or wait, maybe they'll have octuplets. Maybe Roarke could have amnesia like Eric in the Sookie books and they'd have to rediscover their love...or Eve could mess up at work and Peabody could be lead detective. The possibilities are endless. Since I'm getting behind and the next one is already released, I'll just read on...but I bet it will just be more of the same:-/
I’ve been a fan of this series from the get-go and I’m definitely going to continue but one thing that is driving me a little batty is ? I know Eve Dallas is not a typical character and Roarke’s and her pasts do not lend themselves to raising a child, (at least in their minds) but it is killing me.
Also, as an aside, I love the side characters as much as I love Eve and Roarke these days. Why not just call it a wash and start an offshoot with Peabody as the protag? Or maybe Trueheart? I'm getting sick of reading about Eve and Roarke and their "perfect connection" and Roarke being more tech-savvy than every hacker (yeah, right) and richer than every human.
OMG, maybe in the next one Roarke will lose all of his money and they will have to live on Dallas' income. Or wait, maybe they'll have octuplets. Maybe Roarke could have amnesia like Eric in the Sookie books and they'd have to rediscover their love...or Eve could mess up at work and Peabody could be lead detective. The possibilities are endless. Since I'm getting behind and the next one is already released, I'll just read on...but I bet it will just be more of the same:-/
July 24, 2019
Not being a real "gamer" myself, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. The bantering between Dallas and Peabody was just hilarious at the first of the book - all about ginnies and penis's - laughed out loud (again) during this scene!
Love the scene where Eve slaps Peabody up the side of her head about her comment about Roarke - way too funny!
Roarke and Eve having a little "spat" made for a tense moment or two - finally Roarke came to his senses :)
Like this book more each time I read it - a killer that you love to hate, and some really good problem solving!
Two thumbs up and 5 stars!
From the blurb: Bart Minnock, founder of the computer gaming giant U-Play, is found in his locked private playroom, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. Despite his violent end, Eve can’t find anyone—girlfriend and business partners included—who seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire.
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction—and the price of defeat is death...
Love the scene where Eve slaps Peabody up the side of her head about her comment about Roarke - way too funny!
Roarke and Eve having a little "spat" made for a tense moment or two - finally Roarke came to his senses :)
Like this book more each time I read it - a killer that you love to hate, and some really good problem solving!
Two thumbs up and 5 stars!
From the blurb: Bart Minnock, founder of the computer gaming giant U-Play, is found in his locked private playroom, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. Despite his violent end, Eve can’t find anyone—girlfriend and business partners included—who seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire.
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks—as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction—and the price of defeat is death...
August 15, 2017
Soooooo, after 30 books I have to admit some books are better than the others. Others became a favorite and would definitely worth a reread but this one? Just so so. And why you ask me? This is about video games and I have zero knowledge with those. My eyes just kinda glazed and I zoned out reading or talking about it in real life. So, the problem? it's me and and my ignorance with video games.
But I still enjoyed the characters of course. If it's even more possible to love them more and more with each book.
And the convo with Eve and Peabody about the penis? It was epic.
"Do you think the penis ever gets tired? Does the penis ever just think: For God's sake, pal, give it a rest? Or is it all: Woo-Hoo! Here we go again!"
But I still enjoyed the characters of course. If it's even more possible to love them more and more with each book.
And the convo with Eve and Peabody about the penis? It was epic.
"Do you think the penis ever gets tired? Does the penis ever just think: For God's sake, pal, give it a rest? Or is it all: Woo-Hoo! Here we go again!"
February 10, 2017
I couldn't believe I didn't rate this book yet.
Because this is one of those book when Eve realised she doesn't want to live if Roarke get killed...
So what my excuses?
Well, I read this during our Xmas holiday in NZ where we stay with MIL more than two weeks.
It was summer there, we've got invited for barbecue often and stealing time to read these two was rather hard let alone to connect with goodreads:)
Because this is one of those book when Eve realised she doesn't want to live if Roarke get killed...
So what my excuses?
Well, I read this during our Xmas holiday in NZ where we stay with MIL more than two weeks.
It was summer there, we've got invited for barbecue often and stealing time to read these two was rather hard let alone to connect with goodreads:)
January 25, 2025
Thirtieth in the In Death police procedural romance series and revolving around Lieutenant Eve Dallas. The focus is on computer gaming.
My Take
Wow. Just wow. It’s amazing how much research goes on behind the scenes in creating a computer game. It sounds like a lot of fun.
As for Bart’s home. Wow, just wow. Seriously, it sounds like a fun place and reminds me of Tom Hanks in Big. Yeah, Bart is a combination of happy child and practical businessman who cares about people. Benny has a thing for Star Quest and has decked his place out as Commander Black’s quarters. Cill is obsessed, and I do mean obsessed with privacy . . . for extremely sad reasons. Var, on the other hand, is tidy urban.
I loved their titles: GID, Get It Done; GTB, Go To Benny; BS, Brainstorm; and Triple B, Big Brain Boss. I’ll bet their employees enjoy that job requirement that everyone has to play.
Dallas and Roarke have an amazing relationship that continues to evolve. They love. They fight. Dallas is very aware of Roarke’s emotions while Roarke “knows all”, lol, but she has a difficult time knowing how to respond. It's scary how much nurture has a part in later life. It’s her sense of safety, being with him, that has allowed the horrors of her past to slide pas the blocks in her memory. Some of those horrors arise in her dreams . . . and those are just nasty!
Robb always includes “classic” cultural references that Eve invariably doesn’t know which plays up her lack of a normal childhood. Another bad childhood was Cill’s. What is wrong with parents??
More color comes with Robb’s descriptions of what a number of the characters are wearing — McNab’s dress is . . . beyond colorful, as is the rest of EDD. Except for Feeney, hee-hee.
Oh lordy. The concept of the kill is incredible. The killer? Omigod. It always astonishes me the excuses criminals come up with for why things happened as they did.
Robb uses third person global subjective point-of-view, as we get perspectives from a variety of characters, although the primary ones are from Dallas and Roarke.
The one question that does keep cropping up for me is Roarke. How is it that everyone is so okay with him going out on cases, etc.? I do not question his usefulness. At all. It just seems weird.
If you enjoy a locked-door mystery and are intrigued by futuristic gaming, jump into the action with this colorful group of characters. It’s a futuristic world Robb has created that will set off your imagination.
Gamers and gadget-lovers would enjoy this one; twisty, twisty, twisty.
The Story
Bart Minnock, founder of the computer gaming giant U-Play, is found in his locked private playroom, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. Despite his violent end, Eve can’t find anyone — girlfriend and business partners included — who seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire.
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks — as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction — and the price of defeat is death . . .
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is in charge of Homicide at Cop Central. Roarke is her beyond gorgeous, gazillionaire husband. Galahad is their tub of a cat. Summerset is the majordomo.
Their friends include . . .
. . . Nadine Furst, an on-air reporter for Channel 75 and the host of Now. Mavis Freestone, Eve's best friend and a music sensation is married to Leonardo, an in-demand fashion designer, and they have an amazing toddler, Bella. Dr Louise Dimatto and Charles Monroe are on their honeymoon ( Kindred in Death , 29). Trina is the beauty stylist who terrifies Eve.
New York City Police and Security Department (NYPSD)
Detective Delia Peabody is Dallas’ partner. Homicide includes Detectives Reineke and Baxter and Baxter’s aide, Trueheart. Captain Ryan Feeney is in charge of the Electronics Detective Division (EDD) and his “boys” include Detectives Ian McNab (Peabody’s significant other) and Callendar.
Dr Charlotte Mira is the department's profiler and shrink. Cher Reo is an assistant prosecuting attorney. Dr Li Morris is the chief medical examiner. Officers Uttica and Kobel are involved. Foster.
U-Play is . . .
. . . a computer gaming company founded by Bart Minnock (development), Benny Leman (research), and Cill Allen (organizer and “mom” to the staff) who are all friends from high school. Var Hoyt (marketing) joined them later in college, forming a quartet of innovators and friends.
CeeCee Rove is Bart’s girlfriend. Bart’s server droid is a replica of Princess Leia. Jackie is Bart’s doorman. Bart’s neighbors include Drs David and Susan Sing with two boys (Min is the nanny), Steven and Michael; and Linc Trevor. Benny’s server droid is Alfred.
Fantastical is the game the quartet is creating now. In one game choice, the warrior Tor fights against Lord Manx (the Black Knight) for the King of Juno. In another choice, Delancy Queeg is a treasure hunter. Felicity Lowenstien is a friend and their corporate lawyer.
Their employees include the jittery Roland Chadwick, Jessie, Airskate, and Stick.
Milton “Milt” Dubrosky is Roland’s duplicitous boyfriend. Urban Meadows is Milt’s salon where Nanette is his consultant. Milt’s other “friends” include Britt Casey and Chelsea Saxton, a roommate.
Lane DuVaugne is a vice-president with Synch Entertainment. His second, sweet wife is Taija. Derby is their droid butler.
Razor knows his weapons. Dr Pruitt is a neurosurgeon. Polumbi’s is a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint for which Eve has fond memories.
The Cover and Title
The top +two-thirds of the cover is a grayish orange with the author’s name spread across it in a grayish purple. At the very top is an info blurb in black. Below this is a black band with the title in white. Below this is a collage of events in the story with “Homicide” in a gradient that runs from deep pink to lighter pink. The images are what appears to be a two-barreled gun and a broken medieval sword against a background of computer programming in orange against black and then blue against black. On the far right is a wooden staircase.
The title truly reflects this Fantasy in Death, for it’s only the fantasy of the mind that can murder in this way.
My Take
Wow. Just wow. It’s amazing how much research goes on behind the scenes in creating a computer game. It sounds like a lot of fun.
As for Bart’s home. Wow, just wow. Seriously, it sounds like a fun place and reminds me of Tom Hanks in Big. Yeah, Bart is a combination of happy child and practical businessman who cares about people. Benny has a thing for Star Quest and has decked his place out as Commander Black’s quarters. Cill is obsessed, and I do mean obsessed with privacy . . . for extremely sad reasons. Var, on the other hand, is tidy urban.
I loved their titles: GID, Get It Done; GTB, Go To Benny; BS, Brainstorm; and Triple B, Big Brain Boss. I’ll bet their employees enjoy that job requirement that everyone has to play.
Dallas and Roarke have an amazing relationship that continues to evolve. They love. They fight. Dallas is very aware of Roarke’s emotions while Roarke “knows all”, lol, but she has a difficult time knowing how to respond. It's scary how much nurture has a part in later life. It’s her sense of safety, being with him, that has allowed the horrors of her past to slide pas the blocks in her memory. Some of those horrors arise in her dreams . . . and those are just nasty!
Robb always includes “classic” cultural references that Eve invariably doesn’t know which plays up her lack of a normal childhood. Another bad childhood was Cill’s. What is wrong with parents??
More color comes with Robb’s descriptions of what a number of the characters are wearing — McNab’s dress is . . . beyond colorful, as is the rest of EDD. Except for Feeney, hee-hee.
Oh lordy. The concept of the kill is incredible. The killer? Omigod. It always astonishes me the excuses criminals come up with for why things happened as they did.
Robb uses third person global subjective point-of-view, as we get perspectives from a variety of characters, although the primary ones are from Dallas and Roarke.
The one question that does keep cropping up for me is Roarke. How is it that everyone is so okay with him going out on cases, etc.? I do not question his usefulness. At all. It just seems weird.
If you enjoy a locked-door mystery and are intrigued by futuristic gaming, jump into the action with this colorful group of characters. It’s a futuristic world Robb has created that will set off your imagination.
Gamers and gadget-lovers would enjoy this one; twisty, twisty, twisty.
The Story
Bart Minnock, founder of the computer gaming giant U-Play, is found in his locked private playroom, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. Despite his violent end, Eve can’t find anyone — girlfriend and business partners included — who seemed to have a problem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire.
Of course gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks — as Eve’s husband, Roarke, one of U-Play’s competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naïve, and he knew how to fight back in the real world as well as the virtual one.
Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction — and the price of defeat is death . . .
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is in charge of Homicide at Cop Central. Roarke is her beyond gorgeous, gazillionaire husband. Galahad is their tub of a cat. Summerset is the majordomo.
Their friends include . . .
. . . Nadine Furst, an on-air reporter for Channel 75 and the host of Now. Mavis Freestone, Eve's best friend and a music sensation is married to Leonardo, an in-demand fashion designer, and they have an amazing toddler, Bella. Dr Louise Dimatto and Charles Monroe are on their honeymoon ( Kindred in Death , 29). Trina is the beauty stylist who terrifies Eve.
New York City Police and Security Department (NYPSD)
Detective Delia Peabody is Dallas’ partner. Homicide includes Detectives Reineke and Baxter and Baxter’s aide, Trueheart. Captain Ryan Feeney is in charge of the Electronics Detective Division (EDD) and his “boys” include Detectives Ian McNab (Peabody’s significant other) and Callendar.
Dr Charlotte Mira is the department's profiler and shrink. Cher Reo is an assistant prosecuting attorney. Dr Li Morris is the chief medical examiner. Officers Uttica and Kobel are involved. Foster.
U-Play is . . .
. . . a computer gaming company founded by Bart Minnock (development), Benny Leman (research), and Cill Allen (organizer and “mom” to the staff) who are all friends from high school. Var Hoyt (marketing) joined them later in college, forming a quartet of innovators and friends.
CeeCee Rove is Bart’s girlfriend. Bart’s server droid is a replica of Princess Leia. Jackie is Bart’s doorman. Bart’s neighbors include Drs David and Susan Sing with two boys (Min is the nanny), Steven and Michael; and Linc Trevor. Benny’s server droid is Alfred.
Fantastical is the game the quartet is creating now. In one game choice, the warrior Tor fights against Lord Manx (the Black Knight) for the King of Juno. In another choice, Delancy Queeg is a treasure hunter. Felicity Lowenstien is a friend and their corporate lawyer.
Their employees include the jittery Roland Chadwick, Jessie, Airskate, and Stick.
Milton “Milt” Dubrosky is Roland’s duplicitous boyfriend. Urban Meadows is Milt’s salon where Nanette is his consultant. Milt’s other “friends” include Britt Casey and Chelsea Saxton, a roommate.
Lane DuVaugne is a vice-president with Synch Entertainment. His second, sweet wife is Taija. Derby is their droid butler.
Razor knows his weapons. Dr Pruitt is a neurosurgeon. Polumbi’s is a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint for which Eve has fond memories.
The Cover and Title
The top +two-thirds of the cover is a grayish orange with the author’s name spread across it in a grayish purple. At the very top is an info blurb in black. Below this is a black band with the title in white. Below this is a collage of events in the story with “Homicide” in a gradient that runs from deep pink to lighter pink. The images are what appears to be a two-barreled gun and a broken medieval sword against a background of computer programming in orange against black and then blue against black. On the far right is a wooden staircase.
The title truly reflects this Fantasy in Death, for it’s only the fantasy of the mind that can murder in this way.
June 13, 2016
This will be a very short review… FANTASY IN DEATH is one of the best books in the In Death series. Can I stop there? No, well then I guess you’ll have to stay tuned to the gushing that will commence soon because I bloody loved this book!
As you know, I’m a big In Death fan but this particular book has to be one of my favorites in the series. If you’re a gamer, then you may find this true for yourself, but the real reason I liked this book so much as because of the case.
Bart Minnock, the founder of U-Play, is found beheaded in his private playroom. No one has been in or out, and no one knows how he was murdered since he was killed with a single, powerful blow. FANTASY IN DEATH taps into the Sci Fi aspect of this series, getting deep into the nitty gritty advanced technology that this world has. I think every single character in this book found this case to be super exciting because of the advanced technology. It was hilarious seeing McNab and Roarke drool over everything. You could really tell that they were enjoying themselves.
As probably one of the more gory deaths we’ve encountered in the series, I think Eve had her hands full with this one. But she’s still as steady as ever, trying to find the killer with a ruthless determination. I don’t think there is anyone that comes close to Eve Dallas; she’s truly one of a kind.
FANTASY IN DEATH will definitely go down as one of my favorite books in one of my favorite series. If you get the chance to read it, you definitely should.
November 27, 2018
Bir tık daha fazla bilim kurgu içeriyordu ama vaka çok ilginçti. Eve ve Roarke zaten şahaneydi. Ve de en başında tahmin ettiğim de katil çıktı, istediğim gibi bir finaldi.
---
Eve and Roarke were amazing again. The case was a little closer to sci-fi than the previous ones. And I guessed the killer right. Loved it.
“Try to look like Peabody."
"Sorry?"
"Serious, official, yet approachable."
"You forgot adorable."
"Peabody is not adorable."
"She is from my perspective. Besides, I was talking about me.”
“No one’s indispensable. Except you to me.” <3
---
Eve and Roarke were amazing again. The case was a little closer to sci-fi than the previous ones. And I guessed the killer right. Loved it.
“Try to look like Peabody."
"Sorry?"
"Serious, official, yet approachable."
"You forgot adorable."
"Peabody is not adorable."
"She is from my perspective. Besides, I was talking about me.”
“No one’s indispensable. Except you to me.” <3
March 17, 2019
3.5 Stars
In this book we are brought into the world of virtual reality gaming and a new game has been created, one that promises to give the gamer an epic experience, but it can also be a deadly one – as Bart, the creator of the game finds out. An enjoyable read, where things really got interesting in the second half of the book for me.
Eve again finds that Roarke has business connections to the victim and when he is put in danger, to say Eve isn’t happy, would be an understatement.
The tender and quiet moments between Eve and Roarke again, sigh, were like always lovely to see.
Now, thanks to the library fairies ensuring my reservations arrived quick, I can immediately move on to the next book in the series.
In this book we are brought into the world of virtual reality gaming and a new game has been created, one that promises to give the gamer an epic experience, but it can also be a deadly one – as Bart, the creator of the game finds out. An enjoyable read, where things really got interesting in the second half of the book for me.
Eve again finds that Roarke has business connections to the victim and when he is put in danger, to say Eve isn’t happy, would be an understatement.
The tender and quiet moments between Eve and Roarke again, sigh, were like always lovely to see.
Now, thanks to the library fairies ensuring my reservations arrived quick, I can immediately move on to the next book in the series.
December 31, 2020
I think I've rated every single book in this series 5 stars. And that's not a rating I'm quick to give most books. But this series ... it is by far the most engaging series I've ever read. I look forward to reading night after night and book after book.
As for Fantasy in Death: this one kept me riveted. The characters felt very real to me in this one, including those we interacted with during the case. And while I had it basically figured out from the beginning, as usual J.D. Robb added some thrills that kept me turning the page. I absolutely love Eve Dallas and Roarke, and I find myself drawn into their world, wanting to see them day after day. I definitely like how we're seeing Eve soften up a little as time goes by. She's establishing her place as a wife and it looks good on her.
As for Fantasy in Death: this one kept me riveted. The characters felt very real to me in this one, including those we interacted with during the case. And while I had it basically figured out from the beginning, as usual J.D. Robb added some thrills that kept me turning the page. I absolutely love Eve Dallas and Roarke, and I find myself drawn into their world, wanting to see them day after day. I definitely like how we're seeing Eve soften up a little as time goes by. She's establishing her place as a wife and it looks good on her.
January 18, 2017
Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
Series: In Death, #30
Suspense > futuristic > romance > mystery
“What’s the point of playing if winning isn’t the goal?”
One of the owners of a virtual gaming company, Bart Minnock is killed in the locked room. Eve Dallas and her team have to figure out how a virtual game player came to be decapitated in a sealed Holo-room. The team is about to enter the next level of police work.
Series: In Death, #30
Suspense > futuristic > romance > mystery
“What’s the point of playing if winning isn’t the goal?”
One of the owners of a virtual gaming company, Bart Minnock is killed in the locked room. Eve Dallas and her team have to figure out how a virtual game player came to be decapitated in a sealed Holo-room. The team is about to enter the next level of police work.
July 28, 2022
1st Read from October 16 to 21, 2013
2nd Read from October 10 to 2016
2nd Read from October 10 to 2016
October 18, 2022
3,5 / 5
August 20, 2024
Perhaps A Sign
4 Stars.
Dark Erotica Special Buddy Read
August 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I liked it a lot but it was a bit more sci-fi than previous books. Considering how little scifi we normally get from this series even though it's supposed to BE scifi that aspect in this story was a tad unbelievable.
But I love REAL Sci-fi so I'm hoping this is a sign that we can expect to see more of that in future books.
Though I'm doubtful on that issue.
The sex scenes are none existent. There are somewhat intimate scenes between Wve and Roarke but they are very clean in description.
Honestly, I'm seriously thinking of giving this series up. Certain things just annoy me about them.
4 Stars.
Dark Erotica Special Buddy Read
August 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I liked it a lot but it was a bit more sci-fi than previous books. Considering how little scifi we normally get from this series even though it's supposed to BE scifi that aspect in this story was a tad unbelievable.
But I love REAL Sci-fi so I'm hoping this is a sign that we can expect to see more of that in future books.
Though I'm doubtful on that issue.
The sex scenes are none existent. There are somewhat intimate scenes between Wve and Roarke but they are very clean in description.
Honestly, I'm seriously thinking of giving this series up. Certain things just annoy me about them.
March 29, 2022
Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody are investigating the murder of Bart Minnock. What is strange about their investigation is that the victim was murdered in his holo room. Dallas and Peabody look at all the angles but are still coming up empty with suspects. Through out the whole book Eve and Roarke's relationship goes thru rocky ground to solid ground in a matter of few pages. As Dallas narrows the list of suspects and comes face to face with a startling discovery. Who is the killer? What is the startling discovery? Your answers await you in Fantasy in Death.
I'm very impressed by the author for carrying this series into such high numbers. I found that all of the characters are evolving and changing as books progress. I still find the characters and stories compelling, complex, intriguing, raw, and honest. I look forward to my next adventure in this series.
I'm very impressed by the author for carrying this series into such high numbers. I found that all of the characters are evolving and changing as books progress. I still find the characters and stories compelling, complex, intriguing, raw, and honest. I look forward to my next adventure in this series.
July 9, 2021
This was interesting! Totally unique case for sure, and I really didn't know which one was guilty until the end. Very creative overall!
May 28, 2024
This really wasn’t one of my favorites. Something was lacking.
March 28, 2022
I tend to be very O.C.D. when it comes to book series: I have to read them in order. It just makes sense, right?
So, why did I read “Fantasy in Death”, the 30th book in J.D. Robb’s In Death series (currently clocking in at 54 books and counting) featuring her police detective Eve Dallas after only having read one other in the series?
Here’s the deal: I always take a book (or two) with me to work to read during my two 15-minute breaks and one half hour lunch break. I also have a bunch of what I call “junk books” in my car. These are books that I have picked up at various library book sales or that people have given me; books that were bought for a dollar or free. So, anyway, one day I was rushing out the door to go to work (a rarity, as I am almost obsessively on time), and I forgot my book, so I had to grab one of my junk books from the backseat. I (completely randomly) grabbed “Fantasy in Death”. This is how and why I came to read the 30th book in a series that I had not read any of the previous novels, bar one.
If, by chance, you have managed to stay awake or are continuing to read further in this already inane and pointless intro to my review, I applaud you.
Getting back to the review: Dallas is investigating the homicide of a young, brilliant computer game designer, Bart Minnock. He is the CEO of one of the hottest new tech firms in the city. He was found in a locked holographic projection room where he was playing a new game he had been working on. He had been decapitated. There is no evidence that anyone else had been in the room with him. Security cameras show nobody else coming in or out.
It’s the classic “locked room” mystery set-up, and Robb does a decent job building up the suspense. Unfortunately, the story falters a bit around the midpoint for me. It just gets bogged down with a lot of boring tangential stuff and references to events in previous books that I might have found interesting had I read those books, but I fully acknowledge that this is all on me.
In truth, Robb tells a good detective story, and she throws in a lot of believable police procedural. Her gimmick, which probably shouldn’t work but it does, is that her Dallas novels are set in the future. It’s probably mentioned somewhere, but the novels are set roughly during the latter-half of the 21st-century. It should be noted that she started writing these novels back in the mid-90s.
There are science-fictional elements to this story, but, for the most part, Robb’s focus is on police procedural. This is a crime thriller first and foremost.
Robb (whose real name is Nora Roberts, a best-selling romance novelist) clearly has respect for the mystery/detective genre. Dallas is a likable albeit tough literary police detective, one who has no problem standing alongside the big boys like Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch or David Putnams’s Bruno Johnson. Like them, she also has a traumatic past that helps to give her that extra edge and laser-focus to do what needs to get done.
So, why did I read “Fantasy in Death”, the 30th book in J.D. Robb’s In Death series (currently clocking in at 54 books and counting) featuring her police detective Eve Dallas after only having read one other in the series?
Here’s the deal: I always take a book (or two) with me to work to read during my two 15-minute breaks and one half hour lunch break. I also have a bunch of what I call “junk books” in my car. These are books that I have picked up at various library book sales or that people have given me; books that were bought for a dollar or free. So, anyway, one day I was rushing out the door to go to work (a rarity, as I am almost obsessively on time), and I forgot my book, so I had to grab one of my junk books from the backseat. I (completely randomly) grabbed “Fantasy in Death”. This is how and why I came to read the 30th book in a series that I had not read any of the previous novels, bar one.
If, by chance, you have managed to stay awake or are continuing to read further in this already inane and pointless intro to my review, I applaud you.
Getting back to the review: Dallas is investigating the homicide of a young, brilliant computer game designer, Bart Minnock. He is the CEO of one of the hottest new tech firms in the city. He was found in a locked holographic projection room where he was playing a new game he had been working on. He had been decapitated. There is no evidence that anyone else had been in the room with him. Security cameras show nobody else coming in or out.
It’s the classic “locked room” mystery set-up, and Robb does a decent job building up the suspense. Unfortunately, the story falters a bit around the midpoint for me. It just gets bogged down with a lot of boring tangential stuff and references to events in previous books that I might have found interesting had I read those books, but I fully acknowledge that this is all on me.
In truth, Robb tells a good detective story, and she throws in a lot of believable police procedural. Her gimmick, which probably shouldn’t work but it does, is that her Dallas novels are set in the future. It’s probably mentioned somewhere, but the novels are set roughly during the latter-half of the 21st-century. It should be noted that she started writing these novels back in the mid-90s.
There are science-fictional elements to this story, but, for the most part, Robb’s focus is on police procedural. This is a crime thriller first and foremost.
Robb (whose real name is Nora Roberts, a best-selling romance novelist) clearly has respect for the mystery/detective genre. Dallas is a likable albeit tough literary police detective, one who has no problem standing alongside the big boys like Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch or David Putnams’s Bruno Johnson. Like them, she also has a traumatic past that helps to give her that extra edge and laser-focus to do what needs to get done.
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