Betrayal in Death

I was enjoying my first JD Robb when this horrible factual error showed up and kept beingn repeated. This must have driven any British fans bonkers. Fact Cornwall is the Southern most County in England. Fact residents ie. detectives would not speak with a "Broad Northern Accent" unless they put in for transfer. This obvious error is a horrible distraction and I hope that it isn't true of all JD Robb books or this will be first and last.

Betrayal in Death

In Death series #12

J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts

Berkley Press, Mar 2001

365 pages, ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook, MP3 CD

Sci-fi thriller romantic cozy

✭✭✭✭⭑

This book was purchased as part of a book bundle from B&N.com for my nook app. This is my honest review for which I receive no compensation of any kind.

And now the reveal…

The cover is appropriate to both the series and to this particular story.

The story is complex and engaging. The author is adept at maintaining the mystery and thrill while adding in more personal conflicts as well.

The characters are real people acting as real people would. There are no cardboard characters in an “In Death” story.

The pace is brisk without being breakneck. It allows you to take in the details of the case and the people involved. There are always many details to take in in these books. Some are relevant to the case, some are relevant to the relationships that are being built or torn apart. Some are just to build a better picture. But all the details mean something. The tension is multifaceted and almost chokes you at times.

Here are a few of those tense moments to watch out for:

When Roarke brings Mick home to stay with them and you realize that Eve doesn’t like or trust him
When Summerset is given a police tag…you know he’s going to lose them…and who will he run into then?
When Peabody and McNab fight over Charles and call it quits!
When Mick shows up for the heist…
“Honour is sometimes found among thieves.”

-Sir Walter Scott

Highly recommended.

I hate giving away plot points because I prefer to go into a book knowing only the slightest details so I will not do so now.

The ending of this book was very touching . . . the last few pages made this book one of the best in the series thus far.

I always like to point out that as a middle aged man I am very far from the target demographic for this authors works. However I still really enjoy them! I typically describe this series as 50% romance 25% sci-fi/fantasy and 25% detective novel. In this installment however I would change it to 33.33% each which is why for me book 12 if anything is better than the rest.

My point is simply that I can live with a lot less of the romance angle and the sex etc. If you have for some reason not yet discovered this series and any of this sounds good to you get a copy of the first book and start reading!

I never put spoilers in my reviews.
J D Robb (Nora Roberts) is one of the few authors I reread. Everything about the "in death" novels is quality writing and defies genre labeling. This one is about friendship, the upside and down and the lengths we'll go to for, and because of, our friends.
From the relationship between Dallas and Rourke, the mystery/thriller storyline, an extremely strong female role model, the secondary characters, the setting, well, everything, you just can't wait for the next one. Robb shows that a woman can be strong and capable despite soul crippling events in her life. I have a mantra, "just step over it and move on." Eve Dallas personifies this. It doesn't mean you never think of it or that you forget but life goes on.
Dallas "stands for the dead," they are hers, no matter who or what they were in life. To her it's almost a sacred trust and she is uncompromising in her pursuit of justice for those in her care.
I think even most men would like these books, if for no reason than to see how women would like to be treated.
Read, enjoy, repeat.

Sylvester Yost is a contract assassin, a very expensive assassin with very expensive tastes. For him, killing is a business. But make no mistake – he loves his work. In fact, he is so good at what he does that he has been caught only once in 40 years, back in his early youth. That doesn’t mean that he is unknown to international policing circles. It just means that he hasn’t ever been found.

Yost’s signature is vicious and unwavering. He does not simply dispatch his contract and step away into the shadows. He destroys the victim, body and soul, male or female, with a four-step cocktail of muscle relaxants, battering, rape and strangulation. As the prologue ends, he has just murdered a young woman in his signature manner and has done so in one of Roarke’s most lavish hotels. And the victim is just the first of four people in his current contract, each of whom is progressively more important to Roarke.

Eve Dallas is attending a major function at the hotel with Roarke, when the murder is discovered, making her the primary detective for the case. Unfortunately for Yost, he has over-estimated the resources of his employer. He has also under-estimated the dedication of Eve Dallas in standing for the dead. But most importantly, he has grossly under-estimated Eve’s determination to protect the man whom she so desperately loves and needs. And to do both, Eve must discover who is trying to destroy Roarke’s emotional stability and why.

J. D. Robb has done her traditional finest in crafting this tense and fast-paced story, the 12th entry of her In Death series. But there are differences this time around – differences that are most evident in the emotional exchanges between Eve and Roarke. Gone from this novel are most of the temper tantrums and the other self-defense mechanisms that Eve has repeatedly used in the past. In their place are attempts to be a friend to Peabody when she needs someone to listen and attempts to make small talk at social functions with Roarke. But most importantly are the attempts to reverse the roles that she and Roarke so often play under stress. This time he is the one under emotional duress and she is the one who must psychologically pull him back from the edge.

The identity of the person who has committed the betrayal delineated in the book’s title is relatively easy to determine early in the novel. What is not so easy to determine is “why.” And it is even more difficult to determine if the Judas is also Yost’s employer. Page by page, Robb ratchets up the tension and increases the complexity of the plotline.

And then, another difference from previous entries in the series is presented – the case does not wrap up cleanly. Perhaps we will find these missing pieces revealed in a later book, or perhaps not. But it will be interesting to see what Roarke does if they do reappear.

BETRAYAL IN DEATH is the twelfth book in the In Death Series. As the cover states, it deals with betrayal in many situations. Eve is at a party at one of Roarke's hotels when she is called to the murder of a chambermaid in the same hotel. The murder is brutal and was clearly done by a professional. It looks like the murder was done to hurt Roarke. Eve is determined to find the killer and protect her husband.

Roarke is busy arranging with actress Magda Lane to hold an auction of her movie memorabilia to fund a foundation to assist young actors. The memorabilia could bring in around one billion credits. Eve is concerned about the security surrounding the auction but that is quickly overshadowed first by the chambermaid's death and then by the death of another of Roarke's employees who is also killed in a property Roarke owns.

One of Roarke's old friends - long thought to be dead - arrives to visit Roarke too. Mick Connelly was one of the people that Roarke grew up with in Dublin. While Roarke has cleaned up his act, made a lot of money, and married Eve, Mick is still a very charming criminal. Eve worries about what he wants from Roarke.

The hired killer's viewpoint is also given. He is a sociopath who lives for the finer things in life like opera, fine foods, clothing and wine. He is utterly creepy and terrifying. As Eve hunts for the him, she learns that the murders are part of a much larger plot.

For the more personal part of the story, Roarke and Eve are still adjusting to each other in their marriage. While they are great with each other, they are coming from very different backgrounds and sometimes that takes adjustments from both of them. Mick is a focus that highlights their different reactions. Eve also deepens her friendship with Peabody as she attempts - despite her strong desire not to get involved - to act as a relationship counselor when Peabody and McNab have a falling out.

I love this series. Each episode deepens the relationship between Roarke and Eve, which I think is one a fiction's great romances, and each finds Eve expanding and deepening her circle of friends which is a sign that she is finally overcoming the horrible experiences of her childhood. Sometimes the mysteries take a backseat to the relationships but, in this case, the mystery and relationships were integral to each other.

This is one of those stupid 5-star reviews that everyone finds useless, and you should just skip it. (I mean really, start with the crappy 1-star reviews anytime you REALLY want to find out if something has a problem and go up from there.) I have loved the Nora Roberts (writing as "J. D. Robb") romantic/suspense series, even when she was "J.D. Robb."
I'm no prude, but more and more lately, I am SO happy that N.R. does NOT push the romance over into hard-core porn as some writers do now. {"Raw" is the term my great uncle (94-years old) used to explain to me, shaking his head, when I was picking him up from the X-rated movie he had just seen. "It's no fun any more because they don't leave anything to the imagination!"}
Rita Herron, may be the writer that floats your boat if you like this form of writing. People will get a little funky behind closed doors.
I love the futuristic/mystery aspect of Robert's books. Yes, I think I own ALL but three of her J.D. Robb books. I picture myself more as her bright, spunky, heavier partner Peabody, who, like all the women in the book, has the goo-goo eyes for the brilliant Roarke--Eve's gazillionaire husband. This particular book does not have the delicious mind-blowing twists at the end that characterize her writing, as in Montana Sky, but the writing style is wry, serious, and sometimes will just leave you chuckling so loud that people will ask what you're reading. (In the world of perfect mystery head-poppers, Montana Sky=10/10.)
For the mystery portion of this book, I would have to give it a big Ebert 8--maybe even a 9.
This book gave me happy, warm fuzzies without totally creepin' me out, so for the total, I gave it a 10. Especially when Peabody comes close to dying in the first 33 pages. It is especially relevant in today's time because cops/administrators/prosecutors don't want to cross the blue line when they find out about other DIRTY cops. This is a pie-in-the-sky book; good wins out over bad. *sigh* {By the bye, anyone who votes for a prosecutor because of their "win" record has obviously never been the innocent in a suit and is an everlovin' idjit.} Thanks for your patience.
Now, if you still read this, thanks! If you buy it, I hope you like it.

I've enjoyed all the books in this series so far but for me, this one was a stand out. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows the murderer's identity from the beginning, but not the why. The tension and the stakes ratchet higher as the story progresses, and the ending packs a punch. This series never gets old for me, and unlike many series out there, the plots are different enough and sharp enough to keep me coming back. I enjoy watching characters progress when I follow a series and Ms Roberts excels at that here. These are really Eve's stories (although husband Roarke is a big part of the draw for me) and she's already a good cop when we first meet her. But we get to see her grow as a person, becoming a friend, a wife, a mentor and even to some extent, a celebrity, and that progression has been fun to follow. One warning, the violence here is quite graphic. I can usually take a lot but parts of this were too much for me and I had to speed through a couple of paragraphs but it didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book at all. And the narration by Susan Ericksen is fantastic. Every character has a distinct and consistent voice and it's easy to forget that they're all played by the same woman. All in all, and excellent book!

I didn't feel invested in the mystery with this one. We know who the primary bad guy is almost immediately, with only the question of who hired him and why to resolve. For some reason I just really didn't care that much who hired him. The bad guys in this novel just weren't particularly compelling for me.

It was nice to get a little more of Roarke's back story and history brought out here; we often see a lot more of Eve's history than we do of his, and it was nice to see more of him in this novel. However we didn't really learn any new, concrete bits of his story, just more impressions and emotions, making this book not required reading to get the whole "story."

It was also nice to see Eve recognizing some shades of gray at the end....she is so often totally inflexible, it's nice to see her character evolving to realize not everything is black and white. I hope to see more of that in the later novels.

Overall this book was eminently skippable; you won't miss anything you can't live without, and the mystery wasn't all that compelling. Their are great novels in this series, but I wouldn't really consider this one one of them. It was enjoyable enough, but I wouldn't tell someone they HAVE to read it to get a full picture of the series or that they are missing a great story without it.

Betrayal in Death
Reviewed by Ann & posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

A trained killer is on the loose. He is attacking people who work for Roarke and has been having his merry way with them. He beats then, rapes them and then finishes them off with his trademark weapon, a silver piece of wire. This guy is a slick criminal, both intelligent and cunning as a cat. He manages to always slip out of Eve's grasp like water.

But Eve Dallas still won't give up this fight because this case hits a little closer to home. Roarke is now feeling responsible for these deaths because of their involvement with them. He believes that they wouldn't have been targeted if they didn't work for him. His grief is palpable and shadowing and it was nice to see how the tables turned in this one. Usually, it's Eve who feels the weight of the grief and horror of her job, but in this book Roarke shows another side of him that I wasn't expecting. Robb continues to enhance her characters in a way that makes me love them more. She is able to portray both the light and dark times of their lives in a way that you feel like you can relate to them.

A couple of twists and turns are evident in this book, making this one an easy one to devour. I also really loved reading from Yost's POV because it offered a look into a killer's mind. You can see his plans, see how his mind works and in comparison to Eve's mind, it was a refreshing glance at two sides of a coin.

There's some trouble in paradise between Peabody and McNab. Their casual relationship is now strained because it seems that McNab has an different idea of their relationship. My fingers are crossed that things work out for them, but for now, the ride is a little rough as they try to work out their differences.

In the end, I found that BETRAYAL IN DEATH was one of my favorites of the series. I find it harder to choose the best one since all of them are equally great. I still don't know how Robb manages to keep things fresh without repeating the same notions over and over again. Somehow, it all just works.

The quote above refers to the main two characters in this series, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke, and it depicts well what has been a trend in this series lately. Roarke has become more and more involved in Eve's cases and has been the target of attacks by criminals in numerous occasions. Even though this does not bother me in extreme, I would like Robb to start mixing it up a little more. One of the things that I enjoy most about this series is the development of the characters throughout the different installments, but I do not think it is necessary for Roarke to be so involved in Eve's cases in order for him to be part of the plot of this series.

When the book starts we find ourselves in the spring of 2059, in a world that looks pretty much like ours in several aspects but that also shows both pros and cons when compared to our society. There is still crime and drug abuse as we see nowadays. But there are considerable advances in medicine that make Eve's world better. And also significant difficulties in getting some products, like real coffee, that make it worse. But one thing that remains the same is that criminals never rest, and Eve is faced with a killer that strangled a maid in one of Roarke's hotels after raping her. On the same night in which the murder takes place, Roarke and Eve were in the hotel hosting a party for an actress who has decided to sell the possessions she accumulated throughout her career and start the Magda Lane Foundation of the Performing Arts.

The killer did not care about being caught on the security cameras and is quickly identified as Sylvester Yost, an expensive gun for hire. When another of Roarke's employees is found dead, victim of the same man, it is clear that this is personal. Concurrently, the billionaire receives the surprising visit of an old friend from Ireland, Mick, who Roarke believed to be dead. Right from the start Eve suspects Mick is involved with the killings, but Roarke believes that even though he is a thief and a liar, Mick is not a murderer. It is very interesting to see who was right!

As Robb has done in the previous novels, she provides us with further information on Eve's and Roarke's past, especially on the latter, since Mick is there to refresh the man's memory. There are also development in the relationship between Eve's aide, Peabody, and her "boyfriend", McNabb. Peabody has become one of my favorite characters in this series due to her sense of humor and candor. These elements together with the usual fast-paced action and high suspense level make this book another very good read.

"Betrayal in death" is the 13th book in the "In death" series, and a wonderful addition to it. This book is a perfect mix of whodunit, some romance and a futuristic cop series. But then, you probably know that, if you have read the other books in the series. If that is not the case, please do first things first, and start by the beginning, reading the series in order. Even though all the books in the "In death" series can be read independently, it is only when you read them in their correct order that you will fully enjoy the series, as you will appreciate the interrelation between the characters and how they grow.

In this case, Lieutenant Eve Dallas has to face crime again. She finds herself as the primary in the gruesome murder of a maid that happened in one of the hotels of her husband, Roarke, just as Eve was attending a charity party there with him. Thanks to the security cameras, Eve discovers that the murderer is nobody else than Sylvester Yost, a gun for hire for the elite, that has been in the FBI's most searched list for more than 20 years. However, one thing is to know who he is, and another one is to find him. Only a very confident assassin does not mind showing his face.

As if that were not enough, soon afterwards another murder is committed by Yost, and in this case the victim is a young friend of Roarke. All seems to point out to the fact that someone ordered Yost to mess with Roarke, and ultimately who knows, maybe kill him. But why? And is Eve in danger too?.

Of course, there is much more than that in this book. An old friend of Roarke, Mick Connelly, reappears, and Eve cannot help but think he might be linked to the murders, despite Roarke's trust in Mick. Also, there is trouble in paradise for Peabody and McNabb, and more than some squabbles between Eve and some FBI's officers that are also trying to catch Yost.

On the whole, the points mentioned above help to make this a very engaging book, for those who like a good thriller with lots of action. I would like to point out, however, that the murders in this book are specially grim, so take that into account when deciding whether to buy this book. That having been said, I recommend "Betrayal in death" to you.

Belen Alcat

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is pulled from a party at her husband's Palace Hotel when one of the maids, Darlene French, is brutally beaten, raped, and subsequently strangled with a slender wire of silver. It doesn't take her long to find the hired assassin who made only a half-hearted attempt to disguise himself. A hammer for hire, Sylvester "Sly" Yost has made a career of killing and after four successful decades, he's got it down to an art form. What Dallas soon comes to realize is that behind the hammer lies the purpose behind the seemingly senseless death of a young maid. When another assassination is perpetrated on someone closer to Roarke, Dallas comes to realize that the target has been her husband all along. Finding Yost is hard enough, taking him down proves to be even more difficult, and finding his client seems next to impossible with two FBI Agents usurping her authority and a boyhood friend of Roarke's who has come to pay an unexpected visit.
J.D. Robb has written another brilliant suspense story featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke, a truly dynamic duo whose incredible relationship is put mildly to the test when his old friend Mick shows up and begins reminiscing about old times. Roarke finds himself torn between the loyalty he owes his friend who saw him through hard times and his wife who tries, despite her profession, to see him through everything. As Eve tries to come to terms with more of Roarke's past, she is also uncovering a surprising web of conspiracy to which Yost just might be the key and dealing with the aggravating "Feebs". And if that wasn't enough, she finds herself providing a shoulder for the usually sturdy Peabody whose relationship with McNab hits a surprising snag. This is a fantastic installment of Robb's In Death series, which reveals more about the enigmatic Roarke and allows Eve to explore her role as a wife and as a friend without minimizing her role as a cop.

This is a series that I NEVER get tired of reading...over...and over again. There is nothing like a full novel written by Nora Roberts to make for an entertainingly scrumptious story that pulls you in and makes you feel homesick in between installments. And, when that installment comes out and you finally have a chance to read it, your back at home with life, death, intrigue and love.

You gotta love Roberts. She makes the best characters and stories.

Also, let me say that Susan Erickson's right on, talented and engrossing professional narration of Roberts' books is like icing on the cake. If you love the book, try it again with the audio enhancements...truly entertaining!

Anyone who has followed this series since the beginning probably will agree that Eve and Roarke are the couple of the century. She is the rough edge cop who still can't believe someone could love her for herself and he is that sexy billionaire, who has found his soul mate, even if he constantly has to keep reminding her of that.
In Betrayal in Death, Eve is on the trail of assassin who has been in business for a good quarter of a century. This man is so good that no one has been able to capture him. This time, he has made his first mistake. His victims are people that Roarke cares about. No one and I mean no one, threatens Eve's man and gets away with it. To add insult to injury, the FBI decides Eve and her force of NYPD's finest aren't capable of catching this killer. Big mistake on their part. Eve sets out to bring down the killer and protect her man (who we all know doesn't need protecting) while beating the FBI at their own game.
This book has a lot of things going for it. Old friends from past books either make appearances or are heard from, though not enough in my opinion. Two secondary characters become more fully developed and get their own little story line. Roarke's past once again comes into play as we learn more about him and see his protective instincts kick in full force. However, for some reason, this book started off slowly for me. Don't get me wrong, it's good. For some reason, I don't think it's the same caliber of the other books in the series. But you know what? It sure didn't stop me from enjoying the book or eagerly anticipating the next one..

This one didn't hold my interest as well as past installments, it took me a lot longer than normal to read it. Eve and Roarke were more on equal footing in this book, so that was good. The villain was a little too predictable, the personal stuff was much more interesting than the crime they were trying to solve. The best parts were the Peabody/McNabb relationship drama and the Roarke/Eve/Summerset scene in the police station.

I borrowed this ebook from the library.

When I think of husband/wife sleuths I recall Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man) and television's Hart's- Hart to Hart (Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers), and Rock Hudson and Susan St. James (MacMillian and Wife). Now come J D Robb's Dallas and Roarke in Betrayal in Death. Forgive me for comparing Robb's wonderful book to three TV programs (The Thin Man later became a TV series) my point is we all seem to love the husband and wife teams.
Husband/wife tandems offer us something that no other duo can offer us. A rich back-story based on an intimate relationship. Robb gives us this simmering and growing charismatic relationship both in this and in her previous stories featuring these characters.
No need for me to repeat the premise of J D Robb's Betrayal in Death. Preceding reviewers have sufficiently covered that ground. For me the true story is in the relationship between Dallas and Roarke just as it was for Nick and Nora, Hart and Hart, and etc. Has your marriage been a little boring lately? Then escape into the exhilarating world of Dallas and Roarke and read Betrayal of Death. (By the way this is the only marital advice that I am going to offer so please don't email me with any questions regarding your love life.)

A killer that doesn't mind having his face caught on security cameras is either super confident, or super stupid. Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD, in the year 2059, goes for the former assumption. The hotel where the maid is killed belongs to just about the richest man around, on or off planet. He happens to be there for a charity event that very night with his wife. It's handy that his Eve is a cop at times like this.

Mining the resources of her colleagues and Roarke's untraceable sources, Eve quickly discovers that the killer is a hit man for hire, and not cheap either. So why would he bother with a woman who seems to have bothered no one at all in her young life? Looking for reasons for the killing brings Eve full circle - back to Roarke. As she knew he would, Roarke he takes the killing of a employee very personally. The self made zillionaire has a lot on the go at the moment on and off planet so it's not a good time for distractions. Who is the real target?

Twelve novels down and J.D. Robb still manages to keep the relationship between her hero and heroine sharp, despite the amount of time they spend together, and much of that annoying each other. It brings its own failures in that every novel of this series now is all to do about the same issues - someone always after Roarke, the kills always tied to him in some manner. Time for some new directions, despite how much page time is gratefully granted to such a terrific character (and let's not forget the marital sex scenes, always tastefully done).

Crime wise "Betrayal in Death" falls a little flat, and seems to be riding on the established strengths of a very popular series. More crime time required! Still, a solid entry in a great series that remains in an as yet undefined category all of its own.

Eve is chasing a killer who brutalizes his victims and then rapes them, no matter if they're a man or a woman. It seems the first two have some connection to her husband. Then an old friend thought dead comes back into Rourk's life. Suspicion begin to form. The FBI get into the mix and interfere with Eve's investigation. Peabody and McNab have a falling out. A son is conspiring to steal millions from his mother's fund raiser. All the little threads come together. As always, a great Eve Dallas story. Robb has yet to disappoint me.

In May 2059, New York Police Department Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her spouse wealthy billionaire Roarke take a rest between cases. Since Roarke worked both sides of the law, he has enemies from his past wanting him dead as well as some new foes who also prefer he no longer breathes. Thus, he is not surprised when a paid assassin brutalizes, rapes, and kills an employee in one of his hotels, but he personalizes the ugly incident.

Eve is assigned as primary investigator on the case. When a second homicide occurs with the victim being a close friend of Roarke's, he and Eve conclude that someone wants to hurt and distract the businessman. The police know the identity of the killer, but have no earthly idea where the hitman is hiding. However, the dynamic duo knows the main event is coming soon.

Not since the "silver age" of Neal Adam's Green Lantern and Green Arrow has a crime duo won the hearts of readers as Eve and Roarke have. The current tale contains a well-executed mystery with many puzzle pieces that need placing together to obtain the full picture of the plot. Although the who-done-it remains the primary story line, the love story subplot between the lead protagonists provides cross genre appeal to romantic suspense fans. The audience will find this exciting novel impossible to put down until all the questions are answered.

Harriet Klausner

This was a very good read, especially as regards the building of characters and relationships. There are NO surprises, as you'll have this thing figured out quickly. But the author does well in leading one along enthusiastically to see exactly HOW she comes to the conclusion you expect.
Mystery/crime-novel fans should also like this novel (and presumably the series), but anyone attracted by the "futuristic" setting will get a good laugh. This is the most unsophisticated treatment of a future 50 years from now that one could imagine...or rather not imagine.
The author obviously set the timeline ahead 50 years simply to relieve disbelief of this Irish criminal/Donald Trump/Bill Gates mishmash named Roarke, who owns practically everything and everyone, and is an exceedingly handsome computer genius to boot. Totally ridiculous character, so lets just jump ahead 50 years! You'll still come to like the character and also that of Eve Dallas, of course. What the sophisticated will not like is the general abandonment and lack of attention that this futuristic setting receives from thereon.
But again, she has the romance/mystery bit down, plus entertaining characters who like to...err...enjoy each others' company almost every other page.

This latest in the "In Death" series sure does not disappoint fans! Eve Dallas, is tough as ever and satisfies all those who enjoy women with attitude and style. Roarke is as sexy and clever as ever and in this latest installment Eve gets the chance to be that loving wife with tenderness to Roarke.
Each book in this series adds a new degree to the relationship between Roarke and Eve as they come up on their first year of marriage. The relationship Eve hates between McNab and Peabody gets more interesting and while there's more heat going on there, Eve ignores it mostly but does let Peabody cry on her shoulder with a lot of ice cream and tears
The main plot of the story, is the case in which Eve is tracking a contract killer that even the FBI hasn't been able to catch for over 25 years. Roarke still is of help with his computer equipment. There is a visit from one of Roarke's boyhood friends from Dublin. You learn more of Roarke's past and even a new side to him.
The ending was surprising and touching. "Betrayal in Death" is absolutely the best in this series yet!

Wow! "Betrayal in Death" is the BEST book in this series yet. The mystery is exciting and full of twists and turns and the relationship between Eve and Roarke has reached a whole new level.
In this instalment, Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD is investigating the murder of a maid at one of Roarke's hotels. The killer is identified as a hit man for the elite, which doesn't solve the crime at all. It becomes apparent that the real target may be Roarke, and it's up to our favourite feisty Lieutenant to find out who is pulling the strings.
What I really loved about this book is how Eve and Roarke's marriage no longer seems one-sided. For a long time Roarke has been Eve's rock, comforting her and receiving little in return. But in this book, as the murders that occur upset Roarke, Eve comes to his side, and really shows how much she has grown as a person. Eve and Roarke's relationship really blooms in this novel. Their love scenes are even more passionate and heart-warming than before, and are guaranteed to leave readers satisfied. The mystery is first-rate: suspenseful, and well thought out. "Betrayal in Death" is a wonderful addition to this fantastic series - so don't miss it!

In her book BETRAYAL IN DEATH, J.D Robb works with a cast of well developed characters, some of which we are familiar with in our ever day life. Her lead character is a kick ass homicide cop devoted to finding the killer and no one had better stand in her way. The language is rough for those of us over fifty and shocked at the language we hear from our teens and young adults. But this book is one that deprived me a nights sleep as I kept reading 'just a little more' until I finished it early this morning.

I read every Robb novel about Eve Dallas I can find. They never disappoint. The action is always fresh, the characters ever changing, the details superbly implemented. The weapons may be in the future, the transport interplanetary, but the good guys versus the bad guys feel very real and very right-now. Gotta go find my next Robb.....

Nora Roberts, as J. D. Robb, delivers the best thrillers in her "IN DEATH" series. I just can't put them down! In this book, we are taken to May in New York, the year is 2059. Tonight, NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is dressed in silk and diamonds, attending a party with her sinfully rich and handsome husband Roarke. Eve still hasn't gotten used to the idea that so much has changed since her marriage to the man that goes by only one name, Roarke. No matter what name he goes by, he is her lover and protector. While in the hotel ballroom of THE ROARKE PALACE HOTEL, champagne is served and millions of dollars worth of jewelry and art are on display for the Magda Lane auction - no one is aware that in room 4602 a horrific rape and murder is taking place. When Eve is notified of the death, she jumps into action. She knows what it's like to be beaten and broken, and above all helpless. The victims of murder have a name, face and a voice. It's her duty to speak for the dead. She calls in her team - Peabody, Feeney, McNab, and Dr. Mira. She needs to know why housekeeper Darlene French was killed. When they find out who the murderer is, more questions need answers. He's a killing machine named Sylvester Yost, and his 'services' weren't cheap. He didn't care why he was paid to kill Darlene, he just accepted the contract, fulfilled it, and took the money [along with a souvenir from his victim]. This was just the beginning... He strikes again. This time the brutal rape and murder of Jonah Talbot is caught on a security disc.

I'm a huge fan of J.D. Robb's series - eagerly awaiting each new entry. However, this outing, the 12th in the series, was less. Lt. Dallas is still one of the best cops in procedural-land, and her relationship with Roarke is still one of the best in mystery-land. But this time, the story line didn't have the punch the previous 11 did. There is an assasin loose in New York City, and when he begins assasinating people tied to Roarke, Dallas takes it personally. She is about to close in on the killer, but is thwarted by federal interference and so must begin the search all over as the assasin dives for cover. Who is the assasin's real target? Roarke? Dallas? Or someone as close to them - Mavis? Sommerset? From the story line, this should be a humdinger. But the writing isn't as tight, as punchy. If memory serves, this is the longest of the series, and the padding doesn't add much to the mystery. There's no doubt that I will read the next book (due in September), but if it fails to reach the standards set by the first 11 books, my interest will wain. There are just too many good mysteries on the market today to waste time with a series gone bad.

I follow a great many mystery/suspense/legal/thriller writers and as a consequence always have quite a few books waiting in the wings for my attention. No matter how long the queue, a new JD Robb always moves to the front of the line. She has yet to disappoint me.
Roarke and Dallas move to new levels in Betrayal. Dallas is finding out what it means to be friend, lover and wife. (If you want some fun, try reading her out loud - my dog loves Eve, especially when she's on a rant.) Who will ever forget the ice-cream-commiseration with poor Peabody? And, by the by, Peabody and McNab are getting to be pretty hot, too.
I really loved the storyline - one thing about the villians in these stories, you really want them to get theirs in the end. Seeing Roarke as the one all wound up this time was a nice change, and it's nice to see Eve's learning to manage him. My only disappointment in this book - and it's been said before - was that Mr. Yost didn't meet a more fitting end, like making some new friends in prison! I would hope we could see more of Agent Stowe in the future. She seems to be a promising contact in the Bureau, and she's smart enough to work her way into Eve's circle of friends with Nadine, Dr Mira and Mavis.
Keep 'em coming, Ms Roberts! Always a pleasure!

I am never disappointed by any Eve Dallas book. I love how J.D. Robb can add a bit of a love story into each book without taking anything away from Eve or Roarke. They are both very strong people and its a pleasure to read each and every book.

And I want him NOW! I don't know how she does it...time after time, Nora Roberts, aka JD Robb, manages to deliver spine tingling suspense, mystery, drama, and of course...sigh...the hot, sexy relationship between Eve and Roarke. In each book, their relationship grows and deepens, and this one is no exception, as Eve must give her husband help and support in a way that he can accept. This is a difficult undertaking for the hard-boiled but vulnerable cop, but she does it, as only she can. All our favorites are here: Peabody, MacNab, Feeney, et al. But as always, our focus is on Eve and Roarke, and their fascinating, erotic marriage. Will Eve find the serial killer in time to save her husband? What do you think...

The 12th installment of the IN DEATH series delivers!

Eve Dallas tackles her greatest challenge to date when it is discovered that the murderer she's chasing has targeted none other than her husband, Roarke. She must balance heart and head, managing to keep both in check, if this murderous rampage is to be stopped before her husband falls victim.

The suspense is perfectly-written. It feels very natural. It feels very real and lifelike. Occasionally, writers grow stale and their stories lose something. In this installment, Nora Roberts (writing as J.D. Robb) has not lost a step! I loved this book.

This is an excellent Lt Dallas story as are all of the books in J D Robb's Dallas series. I have nearly read this entire series. I love to match wits with Lt Dallas--I even figure out the angle before Dallas on occasion. She usually beats me. Try the Dallas series--if you enjoy mystery books, you should love these!

Betrayal was another great addition to the series. Eve has to work around the clock in order to find a hired hitman while balancing life outside of the job. Her husband Roarke's hotel is the site of a major auction for movie star Magda Lane, not to mention his childhood friend (whom he previously assumed was dead) has shown up in NYC. It's incredibly fun and interesting reading through and discovering more about these complex characters, even more interesting to find out who exactly is doing the betraying. Great read.

Her "In Death" books keep getting better and better. I find it hard to believe that I have to wait another 6 months for the next book in the series to be released. Once again this book takes place in New York in the future. Lt. Eve Dallas and her husband, the infamous Roarke find themselves caught between the past he tries hard to forget and his future. A serial killer is on the loose and his first murder takes place in one of Roarkes hotels. Lt. Dallas is the primary on the case but she is bumping heads with the FBI. The story is well told and you will lose yourself in these characters. The familiarity of the main characters makes these books all the better. We learn what loyalty means to Roarke and his meaning of "taking care of what is his". I would recommend all of the J.D. Robbs to anyone that likes Romance and Suspense.

The only bad thing about starting a J. D. Robb book is knowing it will end all too soon. There is some consolation in that the next in this fabulous series is due out in September. There is not a sexier, more dynamic couple than Roarke and Eve, and guess what? They're married! An important point about this series is that it is not just a romance. Ms. Roberts (aka. J. D. Robb) has written a series that men can appreciate as well as women. If you have not read any of this series, I envy you being able to start at the beginning and work your way through. What a treat.

Book 12 is another will written mystery thriller in the series. The usual interesting well developed characters are back with new interesting bad guys too foil. I would recommend this series too anyone who enjoys a good mystery, a little romance, and some humor. Enjoy reading

Why is that when you marry someone with money, others are trying to ruin his life?

Dallas must again face the tragic idea that someone is after her beloved Irish husband Roarke. This time they go after him through his hotel. It's a wonder she doesn't have gray hair already!!

But what do you do when you know the style, and knows the history of the killer. Does help Roarke or only hinder him?

I dearly love the In Death series by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) and hearing them performed by Susan Erikson makes them even better as she has developed such distinctive voices for the characters. When she first began performing these books she hadn't developed most of the voices, especially Peabody's. This CD is a totally redone performance of the book with all the familiar accents and tones. In the original you can't tell Peabody's voice from Eve's. Now you can! I loved it.
Also, normally an unabridged CD version of a book comes on a bunch of discs and costs a bundle. This is a new format, though. The complete book comes on just one disc and, with shipping, cost me only about $20. Hardback books cost more than that and you don't get to hear Roarke's sexy Irish voice in your ear or Peabody's saucy comebacks.
You do have to have a stereo that will play the MP3CD format, so that can be a problem for some but I suspect all new players will do it. It will play in the computer so there's always that method of listening to it. I haven't tried copying it to my MP3 player but I imagine one can do that as well.
My only complaint about the format is that I can't seem to rewind or fast forward in small amounts like I can with a regular CD. I can jump by chapters, but that's the smallest increment I can make it do. However, for the price and convenience of having it all on just one disc, I'm willing to accept the limitations. Hopefully they will fix them soon.

The Plots are very good. The pace is also good. Police procedures are quite believable but the various interactions and relationships between the characters are outstanding. Very enjoyable and fast paced read.

If it were possible, I would read twenty four hours a day. The 'In Death' series is by far the best! Keep it going, Nora! I even have my husband hooked on the series after I convinced him they were much more than romances. Their isn't a character in the series that isn't likable. Eve, Roarke, Mavis, Dr. Mira, Treena, even Summerset seem so real. Wouldn't this make a great mini-series? And wouldn't Nancy McKeon be the perfect Eve? I can hardly wait for the next in September!

Nora Roberts aka J. D. Robb delivers again. From the first "Naked In Death" to this issue, she gives one hell of a read. Witty banter, which I love, fairly good crime scenes, Eve and Roarke are great to watch grow as well as all the other recurring characters (and some of them are doozies). Eve tears at my heart with her courage and guts. Thank heavens, she has Roarke who understands her. Read them in order. It won't take you long. They are keepers!

This series continues to keep my interest, pretty fast-paced, although I feel the gratuitous sex goes a bit overboard. No matter what's wrong, both physically & emotionally, hot sex with Rourke cures all.

This book was one of the best in the series. If you are not familiar with this series, I suggest you begin with the first one.
This book was probably the funniest of the series and only those that are familiar with the characters and previous plotlines will understand and fully appreciate all the insider jokes. For instance the candy thief struck again (any opinions on who he/she is? I'm thinking Eve's trustworthy aide - any takes?).
Roarke has always been just a little too good to be true - always cool and unflappable. In this book however, we get to see him really shaken and Eve gets to take care of him for a change. There weren't many tense moments or surprises in this book but I believe however that has more to do with my familiarity with the characters and the author's style than a lack in the story itself - hence the five stars.
Oh well, back to waiting for the next one. Hopefully Eve will catch the candy thief...

Betrayal is a violation of trust. Betrayal is a violation of love. Betrayal is a violation of friendship. Betrayal is a violation. J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts teaches us about the word and the various circumstances which define it. She is ice. She blows us away. On the journey we learn more about Roarke and Eve. We feel viscerally what they mean to each other and what that committment of love means. We learn what "standing for someone" means.
The double mystery to solve, makes this a very fast read. Now once again, I am waiting. Somehow she needs to write books that take more than 2 1/2 minutes to read.(:-) Get it. You won't regret. I am on to my 3rd read!!

I have so enjoyed this series and eagerly await the next installment. The plot here, gives you more information about Eve's husband Roarke and builds on your understanding of their developing relationship. It's nice to read about married people who have great sex and are working at a continually evolving relationship. I don't know how Nora Roberts does it but I hope she keeps it up.

Murder is once again stalking the streets of New York, and Eve Dallas is hot on its trail. An old friend from Roarke's past, a celebrity auction and a killer with class throw twists and turns throughout the story. Betrayal in Death takes readers back to a future New York, and back to a cast of characters that never fail to delight as Eve, with Roarke's help, stands for the dead.

I got this book yesterday and have already finished it. I read it in one long sitting and enjoyed it immensely. The funnest part of this installment was the role reversal of Eve and Roarke. Eve spent most of the book trying to take care of Roarke and was markedly more demonstrative in her feelings for him. I loved the scenes where she gave him comfort in front of other people on the job and their fights as always were great. Funniest scene - Eve makes Roarke sit down and thinks about pouring a soother down his throat, what a kick. Also liked the progression of Peabody and McNab's relationship. Only wish for next book - a little more background on Eve, I really look forward to uncovering a little more of her history. As always, I eagerly await another installment and thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Love the J.D. Robb series. Eve Dallas is a top cop. Love the way her mind works as she is figuring out who did it. This book is for people who love detective novels with a tough cop. Ready for the next one!

Well written, with lots of detail. I feel like I'm right there watching everything that happens. I love watching all the main characters as they grow together through the series. I especially like how Trina can put the fear of God into Eve!

I love the In Death series, and this book didn't disappoint me. It's terribly hard to put any of the books down once I begin them, and this one was no exception. I definitly reccommend this book to fans of the series and suggest interested people look to the first book, Naked In Death before reading Betrayal. Reading them in order is always the best way! ^^

Wow this book was awesome! Eve Dallas is such a great character. The novel went by so quick and the scences were perfectely detailed. I found Yost, the murderer, to be a very interesting character. The background to the murder was just a little complicated but understandable in the end. Overall it was a good suspenseful novel.

Again another "in death" masterpiece, excitingly continuing all the various relationships developed in the previous books. Exciting, couldn't put down, and a non-formula, atypical ending!
Can't wait for the next installment "Seduction in Death". I advise all newcomers to the Series, to start at the beginning of the books.

I wasn't sure if the book would continue to keep my interest. As each chapter was being read I couldn't help but try to figure out who was going to be caught and how. By the time I was halfway thru I had a hard time putting the book down. I can't wait to start the next one.

I bought this book as a fairly random choice based on its good reviews. The plot is clever enough and the police procedures are reasonably knowledgeable but......! Aren't there supposed to be proof-readers and editors whose job it is to make sure that an author doesn't make embarrassing errors? I'm an Irishman and I can promise you that the image of Dublin exemplified by one of the main characters just doesn't ring true. Roarke's background would have been difficult enough to justify if he had been born in the 60's or 70's but he's supposed to be from the early 21st century for heaven's sake and he talks about Dublin as if he had come from a huge slum! The dialogue he comes out with is just totally incredible and I use that word in its literal form. His phrases and attitudes are not the stuff of an ex-gangland boss from Ireland. But then the dialogue of the entire book is sadly embarrassing. On the last page, one of the two main characters refers to an enemy as "him and his ... son". A half dozen lines later, exactly the same dialogue comes out of the mouth of his wife! And again, earlier in the book.... "People ask me why I'm doing this, why I'm giving so much of it up. Do you know what I say?" You have to turn the page to get the answer from the hard-bitten female cop and the delay adds to the leaden disappointment of what she says....."No, what?" !!! (Even if she had said, "No, but I suppose you're going to tell me.") Having said all of that, I finished the book to see the end so it "held" me in that sense. I do think that Nora needs to get herself some honest proof-readers and/or editor, then her imaginative plots might have a bit more literary and realistic merit.

nora roberts is the best author i have read her in death series is gripping and you can imagine your self there in the story it is that vivid. i have read most of the series my newly aquired is that of visions in death. i try to get most from my library but it is very hard as she is a poular read with most people.

Nothing is wrong with a J.D. Robb or a Nora Roberts book at any time. She is a fantastic writer and can take you on a splendid journey and it has an unexpected turn or two when you get through the book.

When I don't believe JD Robb (Nora Roberts) can keep going with these two wonderful characters she does it again. Dallas and Roarke are growing in chracter and presentation with each suceeding book. I like the nuances, I like the small but real changes each makes to accomodate the other, their professions and their marriage. Robb continues to pay attention to her secondary characters as well, ehancing the the texture of her story. I have as much delight in watching all these chracters interact as trying to figure out "who done it". May Eve Dallas and Roarke go on forever...

I thought this book was excellent. I especially liked the fact that we had a little role reversal this time around. Usually Roarke is the one that is always comforting and taking care of Eve, but in this book we have Eve primarily doing these things more for Roarke. She also gets to be more of a friend for Peabody One thing I did not like was the situation with Peabody and McNab towards the end (once you read it you'll know what I'm talking about.) I can't believe I have to wait until Septemnber to see what happens between these two! All in all, it was a great book. Enjoy!

If JD Robb writes it, I buy and read it. I thoroughly enjoyed every one of the In Death series. The characters just keep getting more and more interesting as the series goes along. Can't wait for the next one this fall.

I realize this is an old title of hers, but J D Robb is just a magnificant writer. I am happy to say I have read all of her books and each was as good as the last. Betrayal in Death is no exception. It keeps you riveted from cover to cover.If you haven't read it yet don't hesitate. It is a great read.

I didn't know she wrote bodice rippers, but it is easy to believe.
Really dumb plot: set 50 years in the future for no good reason, zero understanding of technology, simple characters, nothing surprising except when a victim gets away from a killer who is close to an impossible set of characteristics. $2M for a killing in NYC? 4 such killings to distract a CEO so he wouldn't look at his security for a $500M auction?
This woman is a NYT Best Selling author? So many great reviews of a mediocre book?
These merely show how easy it is to manipulate the systems involved.