Sunday, March 01, 2009

Recent Read

Promises in Death by JD Robb


Why this one: I never miss an In Death book!!


Steam Level: Same as always – Eve and Roarke – they make those pages steamy!


Amazon Blurb: Amarylis Coltraine may have recently transferred to the New York City police force from Atlanta, but she’s been a cop long enough to know how to defend herself against an assailant. When she’s taken down just steps away from her apartment, killed with her own weapon, for Eve the victim isn’t just “one of us.”

Dallas’s friend Chief Medical Examiner Morris and Coltraine had started a serious relationship, and from all accounts the two were headed for a happy future together. But someone has put an end to all that. After breaking the news to Morris, Eve starts questioning everyone from Coltraine’s squad, informants, and neighbors, while Eve’s husband, Roarke, digs into computer data on Coltraine’s life back in Atlanta. To their shock, they discover a connection between this case and their own painful, shadowy pasts.

The truth will need to be uncovered one layer at a time, starting with the box that arrives at Cop Central addressed to Eve containing Coltraine’s guns, badge, and a note from her killer: “You can have them back. Maybe someday soon, I’ll be sending yours to somebody else.”

But Eve Dallas doesn’t take too kindly to personal threats, and she is going to break this case, whatever it takes. And that’s a promise.


My Thoughts: Despite the murders that always happen; after all Dallas does work in Homicide, these are almost a comfort read to me. It’s so good to be able to keep visiting with Eve and Roarke, Peabody, McNab, Feeney and the rest of Eve’s friends and coworkers.

The mystery this time surrounds the death of one of their own – Ammy, the cop who has been seeing Morris in the past few books. Although we didn’t get a real chance to know her, Robb has such a way of writing that characters come alive and it’s bittersweet to see this character not through ‘meeting’ her but through Eve and Morris eyes.

These are about the only books that I’m able to refrain from reading the end so I always try and guess who it is. I guessed part of the puzzle on page 117 but not the whole thing until much later when it was very obvious.

I really enjoyed this latest one but as odd as it is, I seem to enjoy the books even better when there is conflict between Eve and Roarke and watching two such strong characters work through it. And there really isn’t any this time round. They are both in pretty good sync with each other throughout.

Nevertheless, this one is again filled with great dialogue, moments that make you laugh, Eve trying to dodge the shower for Louise that she is most reluctantly hosting, and getting hurt in the line of duty and Roarke coming to her aid. It was great getting to learn more about Morris. I really hurt for him going through the loss of someone he was really coming to love.

And there was another character that I really hope makes more appearances in the book. He was quite intriguing – almost a mirror of Roarke – in a slightly off kind of way. Without meaning to be too mysterious, I hope he learns from his mistakes and comes back again.

Again – this is (I think) book 31 in the series including novellas and I’m not the least bit tired of them. In fact I’m counting the months until the next one out Kindred in Death in November 2009.


Grade: 4.25 out of 5


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know, I have yet to read one of these. My sister gave me the very first in the series. She works in Manhattan and believe it or not they were handing them out at Penn Station!!! She called me saying, I just read this book that is sooooo your kind of book.

LOL, I need to get crackin on it already!

Kristie (J) said...

Barbara: It took me three times to get into them with Naked in Death. The first couple of times I almost found Eve to be scary though I didn't get far into them before quitting. The the third time - I dunno - something just clicked and I've loved them ever since. What kept me trying was every romance reader's love for Roarke - and now I've joined that group :) He makes one mighty fine hero.

nath said...

I agree that it's more interesting when there's conflicts between Eve and Roarke... but it can't happen in every book and also, you have to vary the issue. So, so far, I'm okay :)

I thought it was a very fun one, this one :) So I'm happy. and LOL, I want to see "him" again as well :D

Carolyn Crane said...

Wow, she really keeps it going! Thanks for the review.

Stacy~ said...

I bought the whole series when there were only about 13 books released, and I never once regretted it. But I'm a bit behind - the last one I read was "Survivor In Death". I need to catch up!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to get my hands on it. I love the J.D Robb books too.

Kailana said...

I am so far behind in this series I don't know if I will ever catch up! For every couple I manage to read, another couple come out in the course of a year!

Lea said...

Hey Kristie:

Thanks for the great review. I know I'm probably going to be post pummeled or something but despite numerous attempts, I've never been able to get into a Nora Roberts' book so have not felt compelled to pick up a J.D. Robb novel.

Maybe someday though.

Regards
L

Kristie (J) said...

Lea: *laughing* not to worry, I'm not going to pummel. I don't really read Nora Roberts anymore either. And as I mentioned, it took me 3 tries to get into the In Death books. So I say - never say never *g*

Kailana: It seems she has comes out with two a year. I'd be pretty intimidated too if I wasn't keeping right up to date with them!! The only problem with being right up to date is the wait for the next one. Alternately, if I'd never read the In Death books I'd also be somewhat scared of the huge backlist of them now.

Alice: They are good aren't they? It's great reading a series where you are so familiar with all the characters it's like visiting good friends every six months.

Stacy: If you get in a reading binge of them - then you're lucky 'cause you will have them on hand when you are ready for the next one. Let's see - how many are you behind now?? Give me a sec. OK - I'm back. You aren't behind much at all!! Salvation was the one just before Promises - oh - wait - you said Survivor - ok - give me another sec. OK - you're 8 behind. But they can be read in no time ;-)

CJ: And despite the number she has written - I'm enjoying them JUST AS MUCH as the first one. In any other series I'd be tired of them by now - but not these ones!

Nath: I think it's been a while now since they've had a serious conflict. I guess as they go on they are melding their different views more and more.