Festive in Death (In Death, #39) by J. D. Robb Also by this author: Devoted in Death (In Death, #41), Brotherhood in Death (In Death, #42), Apprentice in Death (In Death, #43), , Echoes in Death (In Death, #44), Secrets in Death (In Death, #45), Dark in Death (In Death, #46), Leverage in Death (In Death, #47)
Series: In Death #39
Also in this series: Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Immortal in Death, Apprentice in Death (In Death, #43),
Published by Berkley, Brilliance Audio on September 9th 2014
Genres: Fiction/Mystery & Detective/Woman Sleuth
Pages: 340
Format: Audiobook
ISBN: 0515154156
ASIN: B00INIYH78
Goodreads
Eve Dallas deals with a homicide—and the holiday season—in the latest from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb.
Personal trainer Trey Ziegler was in peak physical condition. If you didn’t count the kitchen knife in his well-toned chest.
Lieutenant Eve Dallas soon discovers a lineup of women who were loved and left by the narcissistic gym rat. While Dallas sorts through the list of Ziegler’s enemies, she’s also dealing with her Christmas shopping list—plus the guest list for her and her billionaire husband’s upcoming holiday bash.
Feeling less than festive, Dallas tries to put aside her distaste for the victim and solve the mystery of his death. There are just a few investigating days left before Christmas, and as New Year’s 2061 approaches, this homicide cop is resolved to stop a cold-blooded killer.
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Because it is the holiday season and because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are upon us, I decided to make this week’s post about one of my favorite books in one of my favorite series’ which just happens to find one of my favorite characters in one of her least favorite situations. Although Festive in Death by J. D. Robb is not the latest offering in the series, it does land our darlin’ Eve not only in the middle of a rather seedy murder case involving a despicable victim, but also finds her playing hostess to Roarke’s lavish annual Christmas party, a role she doesn’t wear comfortably even though she loves her husband dearly. Eve Dallas is a no-nonsense, tough cop married to an otherworldly attractive man who apparently owns most of the known universe. Despite her love for Roarke, we know that nothing brings out the snarky in Eve more than fulfilling her obligations as the wife of a prominent and wealthy man. She hates to shop…especially for gifts, she hates to dress-up, and she is completely clueless about planning social events. I love that over the span of 38 previous books in the series, as well as some novellas, Eve has grown marginally softer than the dark and damaged person she was in the first book, Naked in Death. Perhaps it’s the spirit of the season… Yet, despite her somewhat lighter persona, Eve is still the same woman whose calling is to speak for the dead and whom Roarke admonishes every time she leaves the house to “take care of my cop.”
As always Susan Ericksen does a stellar job with the narration. She is The Voice of this series and has actually re-recorded some of the earlier books in order to maintain consistency with her vocal interpretation. Offhand, I can’t think of any of the characters who don’t put in, at least, a cameo appearance in this book. I highly recommend you turn on Festive in Death while you’re wrapping gifts, cooking, or performing the myriad of duties surrounding the holidays. It may seem a little tame to those who’ve fallen hard for the dark side of the back story, but it will definitely give you a lift to listen as Eve, Roarke, Summerset, Peabody, McNabb, Mavis, Trina and all the others enjoy the holidays while solving a crime.
I often see the question asked as to whether this series must be read in order. Back when I was reading hard copies of the books, I skipped around and had no problem keeping up with the characters or the stories, but when I started listening to audiobooks, I started with the first and listened to them in order. I do find that the character development flows better when the books are read or heard from the beginning, but the author gives enough detail so that each book can be a standalone. So listen and enjoy and don’t forget to give Galahad the cat a virtual head scratch for me!
About J. D. Robb
With a phenomenal career full of bestsellers, Nora Roberts was ready for a new writing challenge. As her agent put it, like Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and caffeine-free Pepsi, a pseudonym offered her the opportunity to reach a new and different group of readers. The first futuristic suspense J. D. Robb book, Naked in Death, was published in paperback in 1995, and readers were immediately drawn to Eve Dallas, a tough cop with a dark past, and her even more mysterious love interest, Roarke.
The series quickly gained attention, great reviews, and devoted readers. Since the debut of Loyalty in Death (the ninth In Death book) on Halloween 1999 on the New York Times bestseller list, every J. D. Robb title has been a New York Times bestseller. While fans had their suspicions, it wasn’t until the twelfth book in the series, Betrayal in Death (2001), that the publisher fully revealed that J. D. Robb was a pseudonym for bestselling powerhouse Nora Roberts. Unmasked, Nora Roberts fans who hadn’t yet picked up one of the Robb books were quickly playing catch-up.
Robb’s peers in the mystery world are fans as well, with accolades for the In Death series from such blockbuster authors as Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman, Dennis Lehane, Kathy Reichs, Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, Robert B. Parker, Ridley Pearson, Linda Fairstein, and Andrew Gross.
The In Death books are perpetual bestsellers, and frequently share the bestseller list with other Nora Roberts novels. J. D. Robb publishes two hardcover In Death books per year, with the occasional stand-alone original In Death story featured in an anthology.
I love J.D. Robb. I have read all her books and have just started listening to Audible. I will have to check out this series on there.
Thank you for your comment. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!