J.D. Robb discussion

We meet Mavis in the very first book, Naked in Death. The scene where Eve gets the coffee is a perfect introduction to her character and the friendship she and Eve share.

A lot of people say Mavis irritates them and I do agree sometimes I wish she would just stop expecting Eve to do some things, like the Trina treatments. But then again, the Trina scenes are so hilarious that I really would rather have them in.

But overall, I love Mavis. She also a great friend for Eve, light where Eve is more serious. Her energy is infectious and I love the descriptions of her outfits. She's definitely one of a kind.

I very much like the Eve/Mavis Friendship. I get the Whole trying to get Eve to do something she won't do . . I have a friend that I do the samething to ... It's not that I don't love her for herself but she's soooo uptight I think she would enjoy herself if she tried . . hahahaha Love Love Love Mavis!!!!

I don't think Mavis is annoying at all! Eve missed out on so much growing up, thanks to having crap-ass parents, like having girly nail-painting slumber parties and such. I think it's great that Mavis is, in some way, trying to compensate for that, you know? She just wants Eve to relax and get her mind off work work work.

I also like how Mavis seems to be able to read people really well and make everyone feel comfortable. She's come through in a few different situations where things were getting heated/awkward/etc.

BTW, does Mavis know all the details of Eve's history?

Vanessa wrote: "We meet Mavis in the very first book, Naked in Death. The scene where Eve gets the coffee is a perfect introduction to her character and the friendship she and Eve share.

A lot of..."
I agree I really love Mavis so much but sometimes I am just like enough already! But i really really love her more than I find her annoying

That's just how I feel Elizabeth. She's a great character!

Sara, she knows about her father, the rapes, and that she was found at the age of 8, (although I can't tell you what book we find out). I don't know if she knows that Eve killed him.

I was just over at the in death wiki, and saw that Nora Roberts answered a question about it, saying that Eve would have told her closest friend about her past. Ditto about killing daddy though. Gah... I want to kill him every time I think about him... I guess I'm more like Roarke in that way? ;)

Mavis is Eve's opposite. She is a girly girl,albeit a Lady Gaga type and good with people whereas Eve is tough and more of an introvert. I think they make a good combo. Eve not only learns how to be more open with people she has to learn to become more relaxed with other people.

I would like to read more about Mavis's background. Maybe in NY to Dallas we don't have to have Eve's mom we could find out more about Mavis family

She is NOT a Lady Gaga type! Don't insult Mavis like that! Well.... maybe a little bit. I feel like Lady Gaga does it because she WANTS to negative attention. She WANTS to be a "bad girl"... Mavis is more the "free spirit" type... She just does whatever she feels like, but in a good, happy, fun way!

I'm with you though, she's DEFINITELY Eve's opposite and that's really good for Eve! And I want to know more about Mavis's background, too!

I don't know much about Lady Gaga, except the wild outfits, makeup and such. She is way out of my era, but when I saw her I thought of free spirit. I agree with you that Mavis does whatever she feels like in a good, happy way.

I love mavis! Eve definitely needs Mavis to lighten things up, she's kinda life her other half. Ew no she's def NOT like lady Gaga. Mavis is so much more fun.

In my mind, Lady Gaga is like the female Marilyn Manson. Yes?

My daughter loves her. I've heard her better described as a contemporary Madonna. Whatever she is, she can sing well. I wouldn't say she's anything like Manson.

I kinda like Lady Gaga. I agree that she probably does what she does for the attention, negative or otherwise, but i think her looks are cool (most of the time) and unique. I mean, who else really has busted out wearing so much weird stuff and pulled it off? She basically has a style associated with her which is very hard to do! Also, she is an amazing singer! So I think that Mavis is a lot like Lady Gaga's looks, but since I don't know her personally I am just going by my gut feeling of her and saying that Mavis is more free-spirited and fun than Lady Gaga. And more caring, too.

Elizabeth wrote: "I kinda like Lady Gaga. I agree that she probably does what she does for the attention, negative or otherwise, but i think her looks are cool (most of the time) and unique. I mean, who else really ..."

Thank you Elizabeth. My sentiments exactly!

I am currently in the middle of a massive re-read of the series. I typically like Mavis, but so much of her back to back and girl is getting on my nerves. Typically I think of her along the lines of everyone else here, she's Eve's opposite. She's a good friend, she makes Eve relax. But reading them all at once here, I'm on book 4, and I think she is such a self centered little snot. Eve comes home from work and she's exhausted and there's Mavis "Come do..." and when Eve tries to tell her that she's tired Mavis goes into super annoying, whiny girl mode. I over looked it during the book where Mavis was accused of murder, poor girl was freaking out. She needed her best friend with her, but the books after that? You are not the center of Eve's world. Let her alone. I'll be glad when Eve's circle of friends grows so that there will be less Mavis.

Tya wrote: "I am currently in the middle of a massive re-read of the series. I typically like Mavis, but so much of her back to back and girl is getting on my nerves. Typically I think of her along the lines o..."

There are times when i completely agree with you. But there are times when i don't. It goes both ways, but i know where you're coming from!

It seemed to me (I listened to the entire series in 2-3 months) that the books sort of rotate which secondary characters have more focus. I think that's why with each book, you have people that complain, "This book didn't have enough [insert favorite secondary character here] in it!" Like I feel like we haven't seen much of Louise and Charles in a while... or Leonardo. But she kinda rotates through them, don't you think?

At least in the more recent books... In the beginning, there was more Mavis, of course, since Eve's circle of friends wasn't as large as it is now. It was mostly just Mavis and Feeney, then Roarke... then the rest of them started trickling in...

I love that Mavis is there for Eve as a friend.Although Eve would never admit it they are kinda bestie lol.
Its kinda ironic that the crazy free spirted Mavis is very grounded and down to earth when giving Eve advise.
I espcially loved her in Innocent in death, where she could go and cry Mavis shoulder and the best piece of advise she gave was eve to seduce roarke lol.

That WAS a great part... :)

I think mavis is funny

Elizabeth wrote: "I kinda like Lady Gaga. I agree that she probably does what she does for the attention, negative or otherwise, but i think her looks are cool (most of the time) and unique. I mean, who else really ..."

I just reread this thread and I believe Alice Cooper started with the insane kind of make up in the sixties. (Goes to show you how old I am, I knew him in high school) However, I don't remember any female artists doing that before.

I think mavis is a drama queen lol

Christine wrote: "I think mavis is a drama queen lol"

I disagree. She is dramatic, that is for sure, but to me being a drama queen is making mountains out of molehills. I don't see her as the type of person that would cry I could have gotten gangrene from a splinter in her finger...except maybe when she was pregnant. That's acceptable, her hormones were out of whack.

Yeah she was very emotional about everything but that's because she was pregnant

Quick Question! How do you guys pronounce her name?? I say Mavis, like the word "have"...but, like, "mave", ya know? but i think i heard recently someone talking about Mayyyyvis Freestone and I was like....whaaaaa?? I thought about it long and hard and decided i definitely like my "Have Mavis" better!

I listen to the audiobooks, and Susan Ericksen says "May-vis". That's how I would have said it anyway, though.

awwwwww that's depressing. Hope I'm not the only one in the world who call her my version of Mavis!

I assumed it was May-vis also, lol. Sorry.

Oops lol

I almost double over in laughter when Mavis hands Bella over to Eve to hold and Eve just about S**** because Bella is wiggly and she's afraid she'll drop her.

I just loved the bauble scene. Bella is going to be a seriously spoiled child. Can you imagine what would happen if Roarke saw her wanting Eve's diamond? I say she gets the real deal by 5

I bet we will read in one the new books in the near future, where Nora has written about Bella's first birthday party, and the BAUBLE given to her from R & E will a necklace like the she tried to get from E, after she td R about it. M & L will save it for her until she's der.

I love this most recent scene with Bella and Eve and the BABA. I think Bella's helping Eve grow into herself just as much as Mavis has throughout the series.

Dee wrote: "Mavis is Eve's opposite. She is a girly girl,albeit a Lady Gaga type and good with people whereas Eve is tough and more of an introvert. I think they make a good combo. Eve not only learns how t..."
Concealed in Death reveals some of Mavis' background. It really gives her depth and perspective.
Personally, I love her happy side- even Summerset can't resist her.

I know Mavis is a fictional character, but I will always choose Mavis over Lady Gaga.

Personally, I think Mavis has better taste than Lady Gaga.

I love the Mavis/Eve relationship too but I also think we are seeing more of a friendship developing between Peabody and Eve. The Peabody/Eve interaction is in every book i have read so far and it is a funny relationship also. We don't get to see the Mavis/Eve relationship for extended periods in the books.

I think that is mostly because they are partners do they work the cases together. But Mavis is her BFF. The first person she allowed herself to care about. That will never be topped

Dawn wrote: "I think that is mostly because they are partners do they work the cases together. But Mavis is her BFF. The first person she allowed herself to care about. That will never be topped"

Yes Dawn. You are absolutely right. I do like the relationship. Peabody/Eve make me laugh out loud.

Mavis is crazy, but I love her, she adds a bit of humour and madness into the books.

Nobody knows Eve like Mavis, not even Roarke.

@Michael and Jonette, I agree. Mavis has a sweetness that tears down walls. She is a amazing person. I remember when she helped Peabody' s brother. It showed her intelligence and compassion.

I know Mavis plays the DUMB BLONDE(I know she changes her hair color frequently), but I know we all know that Mavis is smarter than she looks or acts.

She really came across with the tear jerking confession to Eve about the girls she knew in CONCEALED IN DEATH.

@Mara, it was nice to see a little of her background in that one. Even though it was from a sad place.

I was blown away by that confession. Who knew she had this kind of background.

Jonetta wrote: "I was blown away by that confession. Who knew she had this kind of background."

Me too!! I mean I know she had a ruff start but man. I love that she didn't let it take away her light. She didn't let them win by becoming bitter. Her and Eve both fought their past and not let what happened to them beat them. Just in different ways.

Well said Songbyrd.

Jonetta wrote: "Well said Songbyrd."

Jonetta wrote: "Well said Songbyrd."

Michael wrote: "What I like best about Mavis is she forces Eve outside her comfort zone. Nothing seems scarier for Eve than the mother-daughter connection.

What I like best about Peabody is she forces Eve to tru..."

My favorite integration between Eve and Mavi's occurred in Concealed in death. Eve asks Mavi's what it was like living on the streets in order to understand the lives these young ladies lived. Mavi's also finally gives us her family history and we get the truth as to how dis functional a mother she had. This explains why Mavi's wants yo be such a good mother.

There are a lot of fun moments in the books when it comes to Mavis.

My all time favorite is from BORN IN DEATH when Mavis asks Roarke and Eve to be in the delivery room with her and Leonardo.

Though I know that Roarke and Eve wanted to turn green, I am sure that underneath their façades they were honored that Mavis trusted them enough to ask them to be their when her baby was born.

What I like about Mavis is not just that she's a "girly girl". It's that she's tough without giving up what it is to be a girl. She lived on the streets. She had a dreadful childhood and horrid mother. Yet she's still an optimist. She believes and trusts wholeheartedly in her friends and they are eternally grateful for it. Remember what Trina said when Eve met her. About how could anyone think she could be a murderer? And how she'd give Eve treatments for life if she got her off? (Not that that's an enticement in Eve's mind...)

She inspires these things by accepting her friends and giving them the gift of her loyalty and belief.