J.D. Robb discussion

Our In Death series buddy read continues in Sept. with Calculated in Death. Open discussion begins on the 8th! Feel free to join in.

Synopsis:
On Manhattan's Upper East Side a woman lies dead at the bottom of the stairs, stripped of all her valuables. Most cops might call it a mugging gone wrong, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows better.

A well-off accountant and a beloved wife and mother, Marta Dickenson doesn't seem the type to be on anyone's hit list. But when Eve and her partner, Peabody, find blood inside the building, the lieutenant knows Marta's murder was the work of a killer who's trained, but not professional or smart enough to remove all the evidence.

But when someone steals the files out of Marta's office, Eve must immerse herself in her billionaire husband Roarke's world of big business to figure out who's cruel and callous enough to hire a hit on an innocent woman. And as the killer's violent streak begins to escalate, Eve knows she has to draw him out, even if it means using herself as bait. . . .

Approximate Story Start Date: November 2060

Character List:
Eve Dallas
Roarke
David Baxter
Crack
Ryan Feeney
Mavis Freestone
Nadine Furst
Galahad
Ian McNab
Charlotte Mira
Delia Peabody
Lawrence Summerset
Troy Trueheart
Anna Whitney
Jack Whitney
Bella Eve
Callendar
Louise Dimatto
Jenkinson
Leonardo
Dennis Mira
Charles Monroe
Morris
Cher Reo
Trina
Troy Trueheart
Don Webster

Everyone ready for more? Open discussion begins the 8th!

Always ready. I'll just be starting closer to spoiler date.

Michelle wrote: "Always ready. I'll just be starting closer to spoiler date."

Me too, Michelle!

I'm ready.

Wow two great read for September

Just requested it!

I'm ready:)

I must say that sometimes I get tired of Eve setting herself up as bait, as if that's the only way to catch a murderer. Don't know how many times so far in the series, but it was on my mind last time.

Of course, I'll still be reading, but it's almost like the cropping up of TSTL heroines in other series to me.

Charlene wrote: "I must say that sometimes I get tired of Eve setting herself up as bait, as if that's the only way to catch a murderer. Don't know how many times so far in the series, but it was on my mind last ti..."

Interesting take. I never put Eve in the TSTL heroine. For me, she does whatever it takes to capture the murderer.

Sharon, I wasn't equating TSTL and Eve's using herself as bait; just that the baiting of herself "trope" crops up quite often in IN DEATH stories. Although, I must say that so far, Roarke gets more and more agitated when Eve does this...

Open discussion begins tomorrow (8th)!

This is now a Spoiler Zone! Feel free to openly discuss Calculated In Death.

Charlene wrote: "Sharon, I wasn't equating TSTL and Eve's using herself as bait; just that the baiting of herself "trope" crops up quite often in IN DEATH stories. Although, I must say that so far, Roarke gets more..."

I agree, Charlene. It is becoming an oversued trope. Part of it is the fact that she is the main character and a control freak, so she finds it difficult to delegate.

I agree that Eve finds it difficult to delegate. I also believe that she doesn't ever want to put anyone else in danger though she has no fear of putting herself in the bulls eye as she's very confident of her own instincts & abilities - much to Roarke's chagrin.

Sorry Charlene I misread your earlier post.

I agree Sandra. As much as Roarke tries to protect Eve, Eve tries to protect her team. She is anxious when she can't put herself in the line of fire and has to use Peabody or someone else. It is her leadership style to take on as much of the danger as she can.

For me this books is one of the forgettable ones. The case didn't interest me . Cruel and selfish as it all was but in the scheme of things nothing stood out. Eve and Roarke are cruising along with the usual ups and downs of relationships. All the friends came out to play along as well. Eve and her department & Baxter putting Trueheart forth for detective exam was interesting. I did notice this book had lots more of Eve miss quoting or jumbling up sayings.
Overall a good read but very low on the list of loving it.

Great points, Michellee. I agree this isn't one of the books that stands out most when I think of the series. Loved the relationship interaction as always and enjoyed Baxter putting Trueheart up for detective. So much growth in these characters.

What stands out most in this book to you? Are there any momentous moments? How did the case play out in your eyes?

The magic coat stands out for me. Summerset telling Eve to take a blocker and he will let Roarke know when he comes home.

Same section when Eve tells Roarke that she was stunned.

Oh yes, Sharon...the magic coat! :)

Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: "What stands out most in this book to you? Are there any momentous moments? How did the case play out in your eyes?"

Regarding the case. I like it. Granted it isn't the most memorable overall. However, the case is relevant with the hacking, thievery, and half crazed hit man.

It always surprises me in real life, when people are very wealthy and not satisfied to the point that they steal with various ponzi schemes.

My favorite scenes are the baby catch, Roarke take care of Eve, and the ending scene so romantic

Michelle wrote: "For me this books is one of the forgettable ones. The case didn't interest me . Cruel and selfish as it all was but in the scheme of things nothing stood out. Eve and Roarke are cruising along with..."

I agree, Michelle. This one didn't really resonate with me either. Too much focus on the financial aspects had my eyes glazing over.

Barbara "Cookie" wrote: "My favorite scenes are the baby catch, Roarke take care of Eve, and the ending scene so romantic"

Yes, I enjoyed those scenes too Cookie. In fact, this is one of the times where I really appreciated Roarke and Eve's relationship as the plot was only so-so.

My favorite scene was Galahad snarling at Eve because she betrayed him with another feline! Lol!

Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: "Oh yes, Sharon...the magic coat! :)"

I kept wondering when Peabody would get hers.

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "For me this books is one of the forgettable ones. The case didn't interest me . Cruel and selfish as it all was but in the scheme of things nothing stood out. Eve and Roarke are cr..."

It was skim reading worthy for me. I, at the best of times , am lost with finance talk.

I liked that baby catch scene, too. And that the coat worked, so Eve knew enough to get Peabody out of the way before she got hit without a magic coat.

I wanted to hear, after the Mole bragged that he got into Peabody's tech stuff, that someone was going to fix hers and the department's data protection systems.

Oh, yes, I also noticed Eve's mixed metaphors were in abundance in this book. A monkey's cousin was hilarious, as Peabody ran with that one.

Perhaps because we talk more about the mixed metaphors they are standing out more and more. I myself look forward to seeing them. I have wondered also when Peabody will be getting a magic coat. perhaps in the next books as we are in November she will get one as a Christmas present from Eve. I agree with you all this was not a stand out as some other books can be. But I love reading them no matter what.

It could be Susan but I do think this one was on the high side for mixed metaphor.
For some reason when we started the buddy read I stopped reading the lastest so I'm far behind. How I've managed not to read them I don't know but I will get to them.

Michelle wrote: "It could be Susan but I do think this one was on the high side for mixed metaphor.
For some reason when we started the buddy read I stopped reading the lastest so I'm far behind. How I've managed ..."

I did the same, Michelle! Now I'm waiting to read the last couple when we read them together in this buddy read!! It'll be fun to go into not having read the book several times previously. :)

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
So happy I'm not the only one that did that.

No, you're not the only one. I look at it this way - you only get ONE chance to read an ID book for the first time! I want to anticipate it awhile longer and then relish it!

I'm so behind so I just finished this one. The case wasn't one of the best so far, but it was okay. I loved the scene when Peabody takes off her jacket (and a few other items) and proceeds to Alexander's (I think I have the character right) door pretending to be thrown out of the car by her boyfriend.

I also noticed that the mixed metaphors seem to be increasing as the series goes on.

That was a good scene. I could not see Eve pulling that off.

Michelle wrote: "That was a good scene. I could not see Eve pulling that off."

Me either. Peabody did a great job.