Tuesday, January 31, 2006

By Jove - she's done it again

Memory in Death

*Sigh*
There will probably be all kinds of reviews on this one so I won’t do a recap. There's one here and here. Instead I’ll let others better than I do this. But here are my impressions of the latest In Death
While I didn’t find it one of the better ones, I still adore this series – what over 20 books(?) later. Normally with a series this long I would have tired of it ages ago. It happened with Julia Quinn and the Bridgertons. It happened with Stephanie Plum. It happened with Sherrilyn Kenyon. I’m amazed really, that it hasn’t with Eve, Roarke and the gang but I can only be glad I haven’t had my fill yet. I know other readers have tired and dropped out and some haven’t gotten past the first couple. But there are still many of us that may never tire of them. I think part of the appeal is seeing Eve grow and (for her) mellow. I discovered this series about 3 or 4 years ago – the time has blurred and I managed to read them pretty much in order. It was tough at times when book 8 came in long before book 3 and I had to wait impatiently – determined to do it right. I’m a “read the end before I get there” kind of reader so this was an especially tough thing to do. But I’m glad I did.
The Eve Dallas of Memory is not the same Eve Dallas of Naked. She’s still as feisty and kick ass as she was in number one and still ready to get into a knock up take ‘em down fight but her outer shell is much softer these days. She’s always been a marshmallow on the inside but now she’s much softer with those she loves. She is able to tell Roarke she loves him in this book without all that much difficulty at all. And she is beginning to see what he goes through having a cop as a wife.
Memory in Death isn’t the thrill ride that Origin in Death was. In fact I figured it out early on, which I’m usually pretty lousy at. But we get to see more of the inner Eve in this one. And that’s always a good thing. Eve and Roarke actually get to spend more time together in this one and it’s wonderful to see how they are learning to give and take as they settle into marriage albeit a very passionate marriage.
This one still has it’s humour. There is a delightful scene where Eve as penance, directs the holiday decorating. It’s a riot.
I think it’s the growth of Eve that keeps me coming back and again to this series. As well, the mysteries are all different and unique. As long as she keeps writing like this, I’ll keep reading and loving them.


Grade: 4 out of 5


'til later


10 comments:

ReneeW said...

I too have read all of them in the correct order. During that time two more came out and it was hard not to jump ahead so I could be up on the latest buzz but I stuck to it. You are right, the best part is to see the growth of Eve's character.

That's why I'm tired of Stephanie Plum, she never learns or grows up.

What do you think of NR's picture on the back cover? I saw it at B&N and it's pretty cool.

Did you see all the controvery about it over at the AAR review board with Robin? I sort of understood the point Robin was trying to make but she beat it into the ground and was so determined to be right with NR. She made her point, then NR made her rebuttal, but Robin kept firing back (I'm right, I'm right, I'm right). I thought 'let it go girl'. NR probably won't be back to that board any time soon.

Oh, sorry, for hyjacking your blog :)

Anonymous said...

Kristie-I happen to agree with you on this one. I think that the growth of Eve and Roarke is what keeps me coming back. I don't think series like this always need to have a ton of action, as long as the story is good.

I like the fact that Eve continually grows; that she's still a tough cop that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, but with Roarke and her friends she's learning that you can be softer. I love the romance aspect between the two of them. Remembering how they started in Naked, it's nice to see that they have a really tight relationship now.

I wish more books/series were like this with a strong growth of character. :)

Hope you're doing well. Talk to you soon.

sybil said...

screw the book what did you think of the picture....

sybil said...

LOL hee I should have just said what she said and pointed at renee...

Karen Scott said...

I've been reading all the In Death books to the exclusion of everything else (Except Catherine Anderson's Keegan's Lady) and I just love Eve and Roarke, I greedily look forward to when she goes home to him every night, so that they can spend some time together. My only complaint is that it just doesn't happen enough.

That said, I'm off to AAR board to check out what's happening, and what the fuss is *g*

Kristie (J) said...

Renee & Sybil Well..... I didn't read the whole string. I could see it heading to a train wreck. I find what Robin says interesting all the time and hey - she takes on my nemisis on a regular basis and can go toe to toe with *ahem*. I can see Robin's point in a general way but when I saw the picture on the back of Memory in Death. I just thought "nice picture and thank goodness she got a new one 'cause the old one was too stern looking'. I generally don't pay much attention to authors photo's anyway. But I do like the In Death books a heck of a lot.
But!! I refuse - along with Rosario - to play the who should play Roarke and who should play Eve game. That just annoys me!! Well, I played who should play Roarke once and only once - but that was only between me, Angie & Jay. And I swore them to secrecy as to who I thought would make a fine Roarke.

Kristie (J) said...

Kaitlin - good to hear from you. Are you up to date on the series?
It's the subtle changes isn't it - that happen slowly over time that make them so effective.

Karen - how far are you now? Cause that's a lot of reading. And are you being a good JD Robb reader and doing them in order? This is where you really see her change.

Kristie (J) said...

Just to let anyone who is reading this know - I can be bought. One thousand bucks in unmarked bills and I will sell myself and share my choice of Roarke. Just noone tell Rosario I'd be willing to do this.

Anonymous said...

"Did you see all the controvery about it over at the AAR review board with Robin? I sort of understood the point Robin was trying to make but she beat it into the ground and was so determined to be right with NR. She made her point, then NR made her rebuttal, but Robin kept firing back (I'm right, I'm right, I'm right). I thought 'let it go girl'."

Really? I quite thought it was the other way around.

Anonymous said...

I'm completely up to date on all of the In Death series. :)

Did you read Blue Smoke? What did you think of it? I think it's my favorite of the Nora books in a LONG time. I'm picky...even though Nora is an auto-buy for me, it doesn't necessarily mean I like all her books.