Strangers in Death - an Eve Dallas novel
Strangers in Deathby J. D. RobbDid you know that this is the 26th book in J. D. Robb's In Death series? Twenty-sixth! There are three more coming in hardcover in the next year. So many books since the first (Naked in Death) came out and I am still loving them.Unlike Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series (which went south around books 8 or 9, with horrid writing style and quite frankly, every character became incredibly unlikeable) I still love Lieutenant Eve Dallas and the cast of characters she is surrounded by. I still laugh at the dialogues between her and her partner Detective Peabody. Those two are written so well, they never fail to make me smile. In fact, I want to be Peabody if they ever make a movie of this series. (Take note, Nora Roberts! I'm a great choice!) Many people generally read a book and long to be the main character, I don't in this case. I want to be Peabody and have witty conversations with my boss.In this 26th book, Dallas is trying to find the murder of a wealthy business man who appears to have been murdered during a sex act while his wife was out of the country on a get-away with her friends. All the In Death regulars make an appearance, if not in person than in name. Whereas other books have had a larger "friend" quotient this book focused mainly on the murder mystery and a little less on the personal life of Eve Dallas. Which is one of the things I like about the series (aside from the great writing) is that it can switch moods from book to book and balance the focus between personal and professional in each.I do find myself relating to Dallas' aversion to children and pregnancy and all sorts of girly stuff. I totally get when she says she doesn't understand these things. I hear her loud and clear. I have often asked my husband why there are children outside, and they aren't in school. He generally replies with things like "Well, it's Sunday" or "It is the summer". Humph. So? ;Oh, there was one thing that stuck out for me throughout the entire book. Early on in the story Peabody says to Dallas "Love makes you do the wacky." and I thought to myself, Self, you have heard this before!Turns out I was right. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2, Episode 2 (Some Assembly Required) :
BUFFY: I couldn't believe Angel. He was acting all jealous, and he wouldn't even admit it.WILLOW: Jealous of what?BUFFY: Of Xander.WILLOW: Because you did that sexy dance with him?BUFFY: Am I ever gonna live that down?WILLOW: No.BUFFY: Anyway, he was being totally irrational.WILLOW: Love makes you do the wacky.BUFFY: That's the truth.
I wonder if Nora Roberts is a Buffy fan? That would be cool.I don't know what Nora Roberts has that authors like Patricia Cornwell and Iris Johansen don't seem to, but after 26 books I am still wanting more. The other two? I have to learn to stay away because they jumped the shark a long time ago. So very sad.In Death Series
- Naked in Death
- Glory in Death
- Immortal in Death
- Rapture in Death
- Ceremony in Death
- Vengeance in Death
- Holiday in Death
- Conspiracy in Death
- Loyalty in Death
- Witness in Death
- Judgement in Death
- Betrayal in Death
- Seduction in Death
- Reunion in Death
- Purity in Death
- Portrait in Death
- Imitation in Death *
- Divided in Death
- Visions in Death
- Survivor in Death
- Origin in Death *
- Memory in Death *
- Born in Death *
- Innocent in Death
- Creation in Death
- Strangers in Death *
- Salvation in Death *
- Promises in Death *
- Kindred in Death *
- Fantasy in Death*
- Indulgence in Death - Hard Cover - November 2010
- Treachery in Death - Hard Cover - February 2011
(mass market editions, unless otherwise noted)*books in series that I own*books in series that I own