J.D. Robb discussion

Our buddy read continues in May with book 3 Spiraled. Let's plan on opening discussion around the 15th.

FBI Special Agent Ava McLane solves crimes; she doesn’t witness them. When she’s trapped in a mall without her weapon as a shooter picks off victims, she hides with a wounded teen and prays for her survival.
But that’s only the beginning…

An epidemic of mass shootings has swept across Oregon. The young shooters terrify the public, committing random murders before taking their own lives. The task force assembled to solve the case—which includes Ava’s boyfriend, detective Mason Callahan—remains stumped. And on top of this chaos, Ava’s troubled twin sister reappears, throwing Ava’s already-tumultuous life into a tailspin.

An old-fashioned cop with a strong sense of duty, Mason struggles to find the cause of the shootings as workaholic Ava spins ever closer to breaking down. But can one detective save the lives of countless innocents—and prevent the woman he loves from going over the edge?

I'm in!! Who's with me??

Sandra wrote: "I'm in!! Who's with me??"

Me, of course, LOL.

I'm in!!!

I'm in. It is one of the few buddy reads where I'm current.

I’m in! Love this series.

I see Ava's in trouble again. Is this a modern day Perils of Pauline?

I will be reading

WooHoo! Glad to have you all in with me! I'm loving this series and characters. Can't wait to discuss with everyone.

Sharon wrote: "I see Ava's in trouble again. Is this a modern day Perils of Pauline?"

Oh my, that lady attracts trouble! Maybe she should think of a change in career.

I am in! I love this series!

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I see Ava's in trouble again. Is this a modern day Perils of Pauline?"

Oh my, that lady attracts trouble! Maybe she should think of a change in career."

LOL I agree. Eventually her luck is going to run out.

I'm almost finished with listening to this one and oh my goodness!! It does NOT disappoint! Really tugging at my heart strings. Can't wait to discuss!

I couldn't wait to finish so I listened to the last hour. Tears flowing down my cheeks at the end. This one is a heartbreaker. I really want to start the last book Targeted now, but I've got so many others to read. I'll try to hold off until next month.

You have me excited to start. I'm almost finished an arc, then I'm jumping in.

Got it from the library today, I'll try and fit it in over the next week.

I finished. The murder mystery was really good in this one, not a plot I'd read before.

And boy poor Ava... no wonder she's got anxiety issues. (view spoiler)[ I'm wondering if she's going to have a reunion with Jayne or for her own mental health decide that's it and cut her loose. I don't think so, I think they will come to some kind of understanding by the end of the series. (hide spoiler)]

And isn't Mason still a sweetheart! 💖

I am in love with Mason!! And confession time...I just finished listening to Target...the last book! I couldn't help myself, I just had these characters in my mind and had to read on. I'll hold my thoughts until our June read - but I can say I think it's the best of the series! Loved the case and the character development.

Just finished. I think this one is the best in the series so far. It is a good mix of the character's personal life and an interesting case.

Sandra I want to jump to the next book too. Unfortunately, I have a couple arc commitments that are going to make it hard.

I have a bunch of arc commitments, Sharon. But once in awhile, I just like to read for ME. So much of my reading time is decided by arc release dates or group reads. I'd like to get back to more of reading whatever strikes me at the time. Or at least a happy blend! lol

I normally schedule in extra time for books I like too. I was so off after my granddaughter died last year, that I dropped out of most of my arc commitments. Now I'm trying get back on track. I am not going to get over committed any more. I enjoy the buddy reads too much. It is hard to find that blend of reading for oneself and helping others. It is good that you try.

Sandra wrote: "I have a bunch of arc commitments, Sharon. But once in awhile, I just like to read for ME. So much of my reading time is decided by arc release dates or group reads. I'd like to get back to more of..."

Oh I agree so much Sandra. I've got sucked into challenges and group reads.. and have so many scheduled I don't know sometimes if I'm coming or going. Not really complaining though I love our buddy reads and challenges! Sometimes I just break free and read something that takes my fancy. Or a new release I just can't wait to read. Problem is there are so many good books out there..

I keep promising myself to cut back on arcs...but every single one I accept are books I'm anxious to read. And publishers or the authors approach me - I no longer go seeking arcs. They're books I can't turn down because I know I'll just be buying them later if I do. But...it takes up a lot of my reading time. And I want to participate in our buddy reads & most BOM reads. I do all I can. And that leaves precious little time to just choose books I have my eye on. I've got to figure out a way to make it all work together.

And I promise...y'all will LOVE Targeted!!! The case is puzzling...took me a long time to figure out the who as it does Mason & Ava. I hope they remain in the future series books in some capacity. I need to go look at the series that follows this one. Oh and ZANDER...omg! I hope his story continues.

Oh yay!! Had forgotten that the series merge at this point & Callahan & Mason continue as main characters. So looking forward to [book:The Last Sister|46184620! And it's Zander!! You'll see why I'm so excited after finishing Targeted.

Sandra wrote: "Oh yay!! Had forgotten that the series merge at this point & Callahan & Mason continue as main characters. So looking forward to [book:The Last Sister|46184620! And it's Zander!! You'll see why I'm..."

My library hasn't got it so I've already made a request for them to get it. If not I may have to kindle it. Love how Kendra Elliot is merging the series too.

Who is everyone's favourite character/couple so far..

For me it's Mason and Ava! But I think Zander's story is going to be good...if he gets a hea. His past is heartbreaking.

Sandra wrote: "For me it's Mason and Ava! But I think Zander's story is going to be good...if he gets a hea. His past is heartbreaking."

So his wife died tragically? Do we actually know what happened, did I miss that?

Mason is definitely my favourite character.. no surprises there.. but I think Mercy and Truman are my favourite couple. I like Mercy's backstory more than Ava's I think.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Sandra wrote: "For me it's Mason and Ava! But I think Zander's story is going to be good...if he gets a hea. His past is heartbreaking."

So his wife died tragically? Do we actually know what happe..."

He tells Ava in Targeted. It's killing me not to talk about it. Read faster y'all!!! lolololololol

Sandra wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Sandra wrote: "For me it's Mason and Ava! But I think Zander's story is going to be good...if he gets a hea. His past is heartbreaking."

So his wife died tragically? D..."

Good things come to those who wait... Patience, Patience... I'll try and read it first of the month. 😁

I know. It's my fault for reading ahead. I just couldn't help it after Spiraled. lol

Sandra wrote: "I know. It's my fault for reading ahead. I just couldn't help it after Spiraled. lol"

Glad you enjoyed it so much, Sandra.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Sandra wrote: "For me it's Mason and Ava! But I think Zander's story is going to be good...if he gets a hea. His past is heartbreaking."

So his wife died tragically? Do we actually know what happe..."

I agree with you Lisa, Mercy and Truman are my favorite couple. In fact, Truman inches ahead of Mason. I love Mason though.

I finished Spiraled this afternoon and thought it was great. Can't wait for the discussion.

I'm so glad Zander is going to get his own book. I really like his character and was thinking that he would make a good hero for a series.

My favorite characters are Mercy and Truman. Mason and Ava are close behind them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The opening scenes at the mall were riveting. I just wanted to read more and more.

For some reason...maybe it was something that the author wrote...I was very suspicious of the guy who ran out of the men's room after the gunshot, saying that the shooter had killed himself. When he stopped at Ava and asked her if she needed help getting Misty out of the mall, I kept thinking "Don't go with him." I'm not sure what it was that made me uneasy about the situation, but I was glad when Ava said they would wait for the police/medics. Did anyone else feel like something wasn't right?

Good pick up Robin. At that stage I was absorbing what was happening and thinking.. Oh no Ava.. not again! Talk about always being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yes, I don't know how Ava always ends up in the middle of these situations. I keep waiting for a story to show Mason in the same situation and see what Ava does at that time. Maybe in the next book.

I didn't have any bad vibes about him at that time. I thought he was lucky he wasn't shot.

Good instincts Robin.

I was hoping Ava would get a break from being in the cross hairs, but not yet. I keep thinking you can only get lucky so many times

Robin wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The opening scenes at the mall were riveting. I just wanted to read more and more.

For some reason...maybe it was something that the author wrote...I was very susp..."

I don't remember thinking much about the guy at that time, but I got a serious zing when the girl friend of one of the shooters gave Mason a key clue. I kept waiting for him to jump on it and couldn't believe it took so long.

Robin wrote: "Yes, I don't know how Ava always ends up in the middle of these situations. I keep waiting for a story to show Mason in the same situation and see what Ava does at that time. Maybe in the next book."

Next book!!

Robin wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The opening scenes at the mall were riveting. I just wanted to read more and more.

For some reason...maybe it was something that the author wrote...I was very susp..."

It set off bells for me. Something just felt off about it. Definitely some fore shadowing going on there. The whole mall scene was creepy.

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

Ok...I messed up by reading the next book early. Now I can't separate what happens in this book from the next when it comes to certain things. So I'm afraid to post much. lol Sorry.

Share your thoughts & post questions if you have any. Needless to say again...I loved this story!

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and I don't remember how it ended with Jayne. Did she leave rehab?

Robin wrote: "I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and I don't remember how it ended with Jayne. Did she leave rehab?"

She left the rehab that Ava had her in. Supposedly she went to a new one in Costa Rica (I think that is were she is) with the young married guy. I'm interested to see what happens next.

Question:

Does anyone think the author goes a little overboard in this series with Ava getting hurt/capture/in the middle of the dog fight in every book?

In a way, I wanted Ava to worry about Mason for a change.

Question:

Was it easy to figure out how the different shooters were selected? If so, did it ruin the story for anyone? If not, when did you pick up on the how?

Question:

The Ava/Jayne subplot. What do you think? Is there hope for Jayne? Why do you think Ava won't give Jayne an ultimatum then stick to it? Is it getting to the point where Mason is going to give Ava an ultimatum?

Sharon wrote: "Question:

Does anyone think the author goes a little overboard in this series with Ava getting hurt/capture/in the middle of the dog fight in every book?

In a way, I wanted Ava to worry about M..."

Sharon, I agree to a point. It does seem like this is a recurring theme. I began to worry that it was going to be repeated over & over, but I think you'll like how it all goes down in the next book.