by J.D. Robb
Series: Eve Dallas #39
Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 368
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
My Rating:
Sultry Scale:
Eve Dallas deals with a homicide—and the holiday season—in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author.
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'd been 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.
I think my favorite stories in this series revolve around Christmas, and this one did not disappoint. I love it when Eve has to shop and give gifts. It allows us to see a softer and reluctantly sentimental side of the tough-as-nails detective. Her shopping-induced hysteria never fails to make me giggle. And I just can't get enough Roarke, who is featured as David Gandy in my reader's mind. I love Eve and Roarke's relationship so much that I don't begrudge Eve for having him. (Yes, I live in my head so sometimes I hate the lead female character just for the fact that she has the perfect book boyfriend. Don't judge me - I know some of you do it as well!)
There was a good mystery to this story - not quite as violent/sadistic as some we have had in the past. In this book, Eve is on the case to discover who murdered a very unsympathetic victim. In typical Eve fashion, she does her best for the "victim" despite the fact that he probably deserved what he got. The plot is full of murder, drama, adultery, blackmail, and rape among all the other holiday theatrics, parties, and Eve/Roarke interactions.
I listened to this book in audio, as I have taken to doing with this whole series. I save the books to take with me on driving trips or for days when I need to clean the house. The narrator, Susan Ericksen, is a truly gifted raconteur. It is sometimes difficult for an audiobook to engage me and keep my interest. My mind can wander and before I know it, I have no idea what happened in the previous half hour of the story. But Ms. Ericksen keeps me engaged and interested for the duration of the In Death books. She does a fabulous Irish lilt for Roarke, and changes up accents and voices so often that it seems there are multiple people reading the story.
After 38+ books and novellas, you would think that I would be getting tired of the series. But that is simply not true. I have enjoyed every book, and I look forward to long driving trips just so I can listen. I hope this series is around for a long time to come.
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