J.D. Robb discussion

In a remote, frozen corner of New Hampshire, a Navy SEAL team and the elite security experts of Troubleshooters, Incorporated are going head-to-head as fierce but friendly rivals in a raid-and-rescue training exercise. Despite the frigid winter temperatures, tension smolders between veteran SEAL Petty Officer Mark "Jenk" Jenkins and former cop turned Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine after an impulsive night goes awry. And then, suddenly, Tracy Shapiro, the Troubleshooters' new receptionist, vanishes while playing the role of hostage during a mock rescue operation.

Teaming up with the FBI to launch a manhunt in the treacherous wilderness, Jenk and Lindsey must put aside their feelings as a record snowstorm approaches, dramatically reducing any hope of finding Tracy alive. The trail is colder than the biting New England climate until a lucky break leads to a horrifying discovery--a brutally murdered young woman wearing the jacket Tracy wore when she disappeared. Suddenly there is a chilling certainty that Tracy has fallen prey to a serial killer--one who knows the backwoods terrain and who doesn't play by the rules of engagement.

In a race against time, a raging blizzard, and a cunning opponent, Jenk and Lindsey are put to the ultimate test. Rising everything, they must finally come together in a desperate attempt to save Tracy--and each other.

Prologue
22 Chapters

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Lindsey Fontaine: Troubleshooters Inc. operative, a former LAPD detective.
Mark Jenkins: Navy SEAL Team Sixteen Petty Officer, nicknames are Jenks and Marky-Mark.
Irving (Izzy) Zanella:Navy SEAL Team Sixteen Petty Officer
Tracy Shapiro: New Troubleshooters Inc. receptionist
Dave Malkoff: Troubleshooters Inc. operative, former CIA
Sophia Ghaffari: Troubleshooters Inc. support staff
Decker: Troubleshooters Inc operative, former Navy Seal
Tom (Tommy) Paoletti: CEO of Troubleshooters Inc., former Navy SEAL commander of SEAL Team Sixteen.
Kelly Paoletti: Tom's wife, a pediatrician.
Lew Koehl: New SEAL Team Sixteen Commanding Officer.
Alyssa Locke: Troubleshooters Inc operative
Tess Bailey: Troubleshooters Inc operative
Danny Gillman: Nickname Gilligan, Navy SEAL on Team Sixteen.
Jay Lopez: Navy SEAL on Team Sixteen.
Alec (Big Mac) MacInnough: Navy SEAL on Team Sixteen
Sam Starrett: Troubleshooters Inc op.
Lyle: Tracy Shapiro's ex boyfriend.
Beth Foster: Kidnap victim of a serial killer
George:
Charlie Paoletti: Infant son of Tom and Kelly Paoletti
Nortman
Stella
Heather
Yusaf
Lydia
Dimitri
Richard Eulie
Bill
(hide spoiler)]

Discussion Question #1
Discussion Question #2

it is downloaded on overdrive and ready to go for this weekend. Has a lot of my favorites minus some of FBI fav's.

Wow, that sounds really good. Can't wait to read it.

I remember this being really bizarre (the mystery portion)! Good story.

Will order it from library asap!

I've ordered this book and the reviews seem promising. But my question is this, this will be the first book form the series that I'm reading, am I going to be hopelessly lost in this story? I really enjoy new series but I usually start from the beginning so I'm a little apprehensive about this one.

That's a good question. There's pretty significant character development that continues from book to book so you'd not understand those nuances or the characters' back stories.

I, as a hard fast rule, do not read out of order, but have in instances where it did no harm. I wouldn't recommend doing so in this series. After the second book, the stories and characters really do form connections and set ups for later stories are created in each book. Lastly, there are some stories that have continuing story arcs.

Someone who isn't such a stickler for reading in order should weigh in here!

I agree with Jonetta, there are some series that can be read out of order, I don't think this is one. There are too many connecting and continuing stories that go from book to book.

I wouldn't read this series out of order. We've been reading about some of these characters for nine books. We know because of past actions, why they do the things they do. And, since some stories arc over several books, you wouldn't want to jump into the middle of them.

I agree with the others. While each book is a complete story, the characters connect and develop throughout this series.

Rebecca - If you decide to start with book 1, I think you'll find our group members are always happy to fall back & discuss past group reads with those just starting. This is an awesome series! :)

Thanks, Maggie, Robin & Sandra! We will definitely chime in on the earlier books.

Hope this is helpful Rebecca.

I usually read a book in a day or two so I think I'll just spend some time at the library trying to catch up to you guys. But any helpful hints about the first 9 books will be welcome. Thank you.

I liked the first book, loved all the rest to date:)

I agree. This is a really good series to read, so far -- and I expect this author will not step far enough away from her winning ideas to create any duds :)

I didn't care for the first book very much, but LOVED the rest of the series.

Started listening today and as always enjoying it. Jenk and Izzy are cracking me up.

I have finished this one. Loved it, of course. I just need to find time to get the review written! :)

Let's go ahead and open this up for discussion. It's now a spoiler zone.

Tracy's disappearance was very odd. Initially, what did you think was going on at the time?

Any comments on this story? We get a lot of Izzy in this one. He's one of those characters you either adore or find annoying. Where do you fall?

I was kind of in between when it came to Izzy. The first part of the book there were a lot of LOL moments with the babysitting but as I got further in the book there were moments where he really annoyed me.

This was the book where I found Izzy to be extremely annoying. I just wanted to scream, "Shut up!" so many times:)

I felt the same way through the majority of the book

Jonetta wrote: "Tracy's disappearance was very odd. Initially, what did you think was going on at the time?"

If I can remember it correctly, I thought Tracy just was PO'd and took off on her on without thinking about the potential difficulties.

Jonetta wrote: "Tracy's disappearance was very odd. Initially, what did you think was going on at the time?"

After reading the backblurb, I figured she'd be the one who needed rescuing. I wasn't surprised when she disappeared. I figured she went out the back door like she was told and got lost in the woods until the psycho found her.

Jonetta wrote: "Any comments on this story? We get a lot of Izzy in this one. He's one of those characters you either adore or find annoying. Where do you fall?"

Overall, I liked Izzy, but there were a couple of times I thought he was getting very annoying.

Comments on the story....I have been rooting for Decker & Sophia for a couple of books, but now I'm wondering if it will be Dave & Sophia in the end. The main reason I think it may be Dave is because most of their story was told from his point of view, not Deckers.

Decker keeps wasting opportunities.

decker is an ass and Sophia should just ask him out and if he says no then she should move on. all this pansy footing around each other was driving me crazy.

Susan, for a long time, I was in his corner. But after this book, I gave up on him.

Love this series however, this has to be my least favourite book so far.
Mark and Lindsey drove me crazy as did Decker and Sophia.
I enjoyed all of the action, especially towards the end, in this story.
I love Izzy but yes I found him annoying as well.
I really want Sophia to be with Decker not Dave.

Jonetta wrote: "Tracy's disappearance was very odd. Initially, what did you think was going on at the time?"

I also found it odd that Tracy disappeared. However once we read that she was at the general store/pharmacy I knew things were only going to get worse for her.
What a horrific killer!!!!

Wendy wrote: "Love this series however, this has to be my least favourite book so far.
Mark and Lindsey drove me crazy as did Decker and Sophia.
I enjoyed all of the action, especially towards the end, in this ..."

This wasn't one of my favorites for the same reasons.

We haven't talked much about Mark (Jenk) Jenkins and Lindsey Fontaine. Your opinion of them individually and as a couple? Were you drawn into their romance?