Born in Death

I love Eve and Roarke. Who wouldn't? I'm still reading through the series since I only discovered it a year or two ago and make myself take breaks in between so I won't run out of novels and be overwhelmed by sadness. In Born in Death, Eve has a mess of a different kind on her hands. Yes, of course, there's a murder in the form of a soon-to-be married young couple are found murdered, each in his/her own home. But, her best bestie in the world, fantabulous singer and far-out frosty babe Mavis is very, very pregnant and has forced Eve (and, by default, Roarke) into being her coach. Eve and Roarke try not to toss their cookies during birthing class, and Eve has to figure out the social intricacies of hosting a baby shower too! Peabody to the rescue! Then, to make matters worse, Mavis' very pregnant friend disappears and Mavis charges Eve with finding her. Before long all these loose threads begin to intertwine into another exciting In Death mystery. Another great read!

The "...IN DEATH" series, without a doubt, is one of the best. The perfect mix of mystery, psychological thriller, and romance, each book in this series always offers up a reading delight.

Once again, Eve Dallas is faced with solving a horrific crime. This time, as often happens with Dallas, the death of a young account executive and her financial manager fiance brings her own strong emotions into the mix. Since she's already dealing with the imminent arrival of Mavis's baby, the fact that she and Roarke are to serve as birthing coaches, and not to mention the baby shower she must throw for her friend before that happens, Eve's nerves are already stretched thin.

When Mavis's pregnant friend, Tandy, goes missing, Dallas now finds herself working two cases simultaneously. The two start off on different paths, but by the end of the investigation she might find that they have a lot in common--including new life and new death.

When questions of ethics are thrown into the mix by Whitney and his superiors, the crap hits the fan, and Eve and Roarke must put aside pride and anger to deal with their relationship, while still working on justice for the murder victims.

BORN IN DEATH is another winner in this series. As always, I raced through the book in record time, and was sad to be finished with the story when it ended. I can't wait for the next release, and hope to be able to see Eve and Roarke finally get that vacation they both deserve. And, if I get to read about them running naked on the sand under a bright sun, I probably won't complain!

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!

In the words of wonderful series regular Mavis Freestone, this book was "mag" from start to finish. New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas is in perfect form as we find her trying to solve a particularly nasty double murder of a young engaged couple who work for a high-tone accounting firm. It looks like they might have uncovered some hanky panky in the books before their deaths...and Eve's investigations lead her into the highest echelons of the New York monied.

Of course, even THEY can't compete with the richest of the rich--Eve's husband Roarke, he of the delicious looks and Irish accent. But Roarke is not himself any more than Eve when she's off duty: Their time to be the birth coaches for Mavis is rapidly approaching, and both are terrified beyond belief. This backdrop provides much humor throughout the book as Eve faces the necessary task of giving Mavis a baby shower. Horrors!

And there's a subplot: One of Mavis's best friends and fellow birthing friend, Tandy, has gone missing at the very end of her pregnancy. It's not like her; Mavis is near hysteria; and she makes Eventake an oath to find her. Heart sinking, Eve starts the search, certain she'll find the young mother--and her baby--murdered.

The end is worth the price of the book. As in all the In Death series, I highly recommend it.

No story line. Primarily a treatise on pregnancy and child bearing which is full of weird terms that even Google doesn't recognize, like "mobile link" and a "tube of Pepsi." The audio book was made worse by all too frequent, high pitched, ear splitting screeching. A complete waste of time and money.

Eve Dallas is investigating the murder of a young professional woman. One murder quickly turns into two as her fiancée is found murdered in his apartment; two murders, one killer. To Eve, the motive clearly ties back to their work. But in the midst of the investigation, Eve's extremely pregnant friend, Maise, begs Eve to find a fellow mother-to-be, Tandy, who has suddenly disappeared.

Reading Robb is one of my guilty pleasures, and a pleasure it was, indeed. The hallmarks of the series, along with the usual characters were there; crisp dialogue with occasional elements of humor, Eve's single-focused determination to bring justice to the victims, her love to her friends, in spite of her discomfort with emotions, and her relationship with Roarke. But it also had an emotional note with Maise's pregnancy, a question of Eve and Roake's ethics and reminders back to both Eve's and Roarke's past. The plot wasn't perfect, the coincidence huge and I enjoyed every bit of it. What can I say, I'm a fan. And sometimes you just need a purely enjoyable read. Anyone thinking of reading this series, however, should start at the beginning

2060 starts to feel a little too much like 2006 in the latest Eve Dallas murder mystery. Perhaps technology is catching up too quickly with the world of our favorite homicide lieutenant, or maybe Nora needs to start backing off her breakneck pace just a tad. I think I could forgive her for only releasing four new books a year instead of six. This was a very good book once I got into it, but about the first fourth of it was missing some vital part of its New York 2060 feel. Other than that, it cruises right along, falling back on the pattern of Eve wearing herself to a frazzle to rescue a victim in time.

Eve's best friend, outrageous pop star Mavis Freestone, is about to burst as she nears her due date, and Eve and her yummy husband Roarke are dragged to birthing classes to prepare for the big day. They meet Mavis' equally pregnant pal, Tandy Willowby, before Eve is called to the murder scene of one Natalie Copperfield, a bright young accountant who'd had a promising future. When Eve and her partner Peabody go to interview Natalie's fiance, they find him similarly murdered. With no motive and no suspects, Eve digs into the lives of the victims to find them, following a winding trail to uncover a horrifying secret and the human spider who masterminds it. When Tandy doesn't show for Mavis' baby shower, Mavis worriedly presses Eve into searching for her, as well. Eve starts sniffing a trail that leads her to an amazing discovery, but the most important thing Eve has to do is find Tandy before it's too late. In between these pressures, Eve deals with being freaked out by pregnant women, baby showers, and childbirth. She and Roarke have a few amusing moments of fear, and dour Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, also does his part to add to the fun. I am enjoying the progression of Eve and Roarke's lives, two people who used to be loners who buried themselves in their work, who have become two hardworking people making room for each other and a growing group of friends in their hearts and lives. Each book also explores yet another facet of Eve and Roarke's life together, though the dialogue between them doesn't always flow as smoothly as it should in this book. They have to combine mystery solving with childbirth when Mavis goes into labor, and Eve comes out of it having found a warm new place in herself.

Though this is a good book, I've been able to hold this series to a very high standard from the beginning, and this book fell a rung short of my expectations. It finishes with a flourish, but only after a rocky start. The two mysteries Eve is solving are intriguing, though I wasn't very shocked by the twist at the end. The plot is solid, but an important part of the flavor of this series is missing, and Nora is going to have to concentrate on the futuristic aspects of her 2060 world to keep that important piece of it solid. It's not an easy task with all the new technology exploding everywhere, but remembering her own terms (palm `link versus PPD) is an important detail. I eagerly await the next Eve Dallas novel, but I won't mind waiting a little longer for the next one to keep the standard high.

Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke attend a birthing class with Eve's good friend Mavis --- pregnant and ready to pop at any time --- and her cohab Leonardo. At dinner afterward, they are joined by single mom-to-be Tandy Willowby and enjoy an evening of good food, wine and fellowship. The two expectant women, all giggly and weepy, are a mystery to Eve, who finds babies and girlie stuff far out of her comfort zone. When the evening winds down, Dallas and Roarke see everyone safely home and then tuck themselves in for the night.

In the early hours of the morning, a dedicated accountant is found tortured and murdered. Shortly thereafter, the police discover her fiancé's body. It looks personal, but no one has a bad word to say about either of them. Their work doesn't appear to be sensitive, but when you're working with numbers, it's often hard to tell. If anyone can make heads or tails of it, Dallas can. She puts her best team to work on it. And, as is often the case, she relies on Roarke for the tasks she cannot handle by legal means.

When another body turns up, Dallas shifts into high gear, alarmed that even more corpses may be found and worried that she missed something that could have saved at least one life. She is running on adrenaline, a lot of strong coffee and very little sleep. But just as she is near physical and mental exhaustion, Tandy disappears, and it is feared that she has been abducted. Mavis, in a state close to panic, extracts a promise from Dallas that she will find Tandy --- personally. No assigning it to one of the troops; she insists on Eve personally.

The race against time on both cases takes a heavy toll on Lt. Dallas. And she has the impending birth to look forward to, having pledged her support to Mavis, and that fills her with a dread she never faces in her police work. Fortunately, she has Roarke to keep her sane.

"Problem?" he asked her.

"Our home is full of people, one of who could go off like a bomb of emotionally charged hormones at any moment. You're doing drone work for me on two cases, one of which started with a huge personal insult to you. I dragged you to Brooklyn on a Sunday, then dumped you into another crime scene and left you in charge of a hysterical witness. There's probably more in there, but those are the high points."

While it may not be a favorite in the series, BORN IN DEATH reads easily. The investigation is well handled, the dialogue is witty and clever, and the plot is driven nicely to a tidy wrap-up. Besides, Mavis has a baby, and who can resist babies? Perhaps not even Lt. Dallas.

--- Reviewed by Kate Ayers

I love the In Death series written by JD Robb. I find that if I get too busy with life and can't read for awhile, I miss Eve Dallas and her crew. These books are written so well that they take me away to a fantasyland. Sometimes I don't want to return to reality. This Born in Death is one of my very favorites. It has lots of humor as well as drama and suspense as with all the books in the series. I've read every one of them and I must say Born is definately one of the best. I think I've learned some stuff from these books also. I have the whole collection of them and I'm looking forward to the most current to come on the market in paperback. These books are all easyb to read and are awsome!

This series and this book included is just pure fun to read. Now don’t get me wrong – this is not “high literature” we are talking about here; no, far from it and I say thank goodness for that. What we have is an author who is a very good teller of stories that consistently turns out good (what I call two day reads) consistently. These stories are more character driven than plot and that is the charm they author and to be honest, why I am so hung up on these books, i.e. I just like the characters.

In this one, Eve’s best friend Mavis is having her baby and Eve and Roarke are her coaches along with her husband. A girl in the class, due to deliver at the same time that Mavis is due, suddenly goes missing. This starts Eve and her crew on a hunt that eventually turns into a baby selling ring and some wretchedly bad people.

The story moves along at a spritely pace and there is plenty of the wonderful dialog between characters which are a hallmark of these books. As usual, Eve’s past comes into play and for those of you who are familiar with Eve, you can imagine how she reacts to pregnancy and babies!!!

I read a lot of rather dull and complicated history books and these books in the “In Death” series are like a breath of fresh air and clear my mind for the boring heavy stuff. Needless to day this is one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite series

This was a library find.

I'm always happy when Nora Roberts cranks out another J. D. Robb novel for the In Death series. I finally got to the top of the library list for Born In Death, and as usual, I enjoyed it. Maybe not quite as compelling as prior installments, but still well worth the time.

Eve Dallas and Roarke are more than a little freaked out. They've been tagged to be birth coaches for Mavis and her nearly-here baby. Neither of them want anything to do with it, but such are obligations to friends. The main crime in this novel is the brutal murder of two accountants who appear to have some dirt on a client. Roarke gets pulled in to do a little financial forensic work, given his way with numbers (especially when they involve money). Clues are few and far between, and there's not many obvious leads as to what had been uncovered, as well as who would be threatened by something of that nature. Eve's life becomes a bit more complicated when a pregnant friend of Mavis, Tandy, goes missing two days before Mavis' baby shower (which Eve was coerced into hosting). Mavis applies major pressure on Eve to find her before Tandy delivers. Eve's commitment to the job and to her friend means the candle is burning at both ends. The pressure gets even more intense when there's a hint that both of her cases may be related...

This installment is a bit more "relationship"-based than action-based. Watching Eve deal with her discomfort over childbirth and parties is amusing, and it's also one of the few times you see Roarke at a loss for what to do. There's not a "race against time" element as a killer escalates their behavior, and Eve has to stop them. The crimes are somewhat singular events, and the focus is more on trying to solve them. Granted, finding Tandy before she has the baby is a race against time, but it didn't have the same Eve vs. killer feel.

Even though the book was a bit different than prior stories, I still found myself enjoying it a lot. Unlike other major authors who have seemingly burned out over time, Nora Roberts as J. D. Robb still holds my interest... Can't wait for the next one.

JD Robb is one my favorite romance authors. All of the In Death books are similar, so I'll review Born in Death as representative of the entire series. (Actually Born in Death was not my favorite, but it's the last one I read, so here goes.)

The stories all take place in the near (rather dismal) future. The central character is a cop named Eve, who solves murder mysteries. She is an interesting, tough woman (with a heart of gold), who had a terrible childhood filled with unspeakable abuse. She's married to a sexy, incredibly rich Irishman named Roarke. He's got a shady, criminal past. Despite his dark underworld connections, he often ends up being a hacker-consultant for the police department. I find that unrealistic. The In Death cast also includes a slew of flamboyant, recurring secondary characters I have a hard time keeping straight.

So what do I like about the series? Not the world-building. That's mediocre. How about the mysteries? They are merely okay. However, the mixture of future-world plus mystery plus romance is unique and exciting. Nora Roberts gets big kudos from me for her originality in combining these elements.

The romance nicely counteracts the nasty murders. The relationship between Roarke and Eve is my favorite part of the In Death series. Their interactions feel real, complex and mature, with true conflicts, and true love.

This is the 27th book in the In Death Series.
This story begins with Eve and Roarke at birthing class with Mavis and Leonardo. It is the funniest first chapter ever. At this class they meet Tandy, a single mother to be from London. Mavis and Leonardo have befriended her and are to be her birthing coaches.
Dallas catches a double homicide of an accountant and her fiance. All signs point to her finding something off at work.
As this mystery deepens, Tandy pulls a no show at Mavis' shower. It looks like no one has seen her for a few days. Eve promises Mavis she will find Tandy. Eve, Roarke, Peobody and McNab are working double time to solve these two mysteries.
This was a good story. It was funny and touching. I started the book laughing and ended it crying. I thought the mystery was good. But I was bummed we had to wait for the baby til the last chapter. I liked how Eve and Roarke reacted in the birthing room. It was interesting to see how everything played out and I don't think Eve and Roarke fans will be disappointed.

Although it takes a while to come together, Born is a good read. As always in this series, a colorful cast of characters who are easy to love add to the enjoyment factor. The emotions Ms. Robb portrays are pretty powerful. I've read it three times and have enjoyed it each time.

If you haven't read the 'in Death' series, you're denying yourself hours of entertainment and pleasure. Take the advice I was given, though, and read them in order so you meet the main cast members as they come into play and develop into first-rate characters. This series is additive!

Thank you Ms. Robb!

Shelley Dawn, author of Dark Nights and Sweet, Sweet Jessie

Born in Death is a will written mystery with the usual interesting will developed characters. The story line has lots of misdirection leading to the conclusion. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys will written mysteries. Enjoy reading

I know when I pick up a new book in this series that I am going to enjoy reading the book. What else can you want from a series?

I don't think I've reviewed any of the earlier books, but I've just finished reading this one, and wanted to share how I felt. This is one of those series where you care about the back story and the major continuing characters as much as you care about the mystery. This book moves that back story along. You discover a lot about all of the continuing characters and their strengths and weaknesses. That is part of the charm of the series.

You also have a very interesting mystery to deal with. Or rather a pair of mysteries that could not be solved if what looked like two different mysteries were not being worked by the same person.

You are going to enjoy this.

Nora keeps getting better and better with this series. I love the way she continues to show the development of Eve's character as she learns to trust and socialize with the help of Roarke. Her comedic relationship with Summerset always brings me a chuckle in the middle of the dark throes of the murder and mayhem. Her relationships with Peabody and Mavis continue to deepen as well. This one was terrific because she went all out for her friends. Eve has come a long way from the beginning of the series and I don't think it will be long before she will be ready to accept the additional responsibility of motherhood. I'm not so sure she'll do the pregnancy thing, but an adopted child might be a real option for her to help her and Roarke feel like they're doing something to mend their broken pasts. Thanks Nora for a wonderful series. Keep up the good work and keep allowing Eve and Roarke to grow and develop - that's what makes this series great!

To quote directly fom this book, It could accurately be described as "a little bit of fluff." But fun and entertaining fluff none the less. This series has been a welcome treat to me over the years. Once again our heroine, Eve Dallas, is thrust into the breach of a complex and violent homocide. The book goes in directions that most long time readers will find comfortingly familiar. No real surprises along the way but it was nice to see Mavis finally deliver her baby into the world. It'll be interesting to see how the story line continues to where Roarke and Eve stumble into parenthood.

JD Robb (Nora) has perfected her formula into a very enjoyable series that I look forward to reading long into the future. It's not Pulitzer or award winning literature but it is darn good...Enjoy!

This book had situations and dialogue thy had me laughing out loud! These books are usually full of intense situations between the cases and the ever evolving relationships, that it is really nice to have the comedy relief watching Roarke and Dallas deal with the pregnant Mavis as she gets ready "to pop". I tend to forget about this one even though it's my third or fourth run thru the series while waiting for the next But, that keeps it fresh and entertaining.

J.D. Robb returns with another fabulous book in the In Death series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her multibillionaire husband, Roarke.

Eve and Roarke are absolutely horrified by the entire birthing process but have agreed to be coaches for their very pregnant friend, Mavis. Eve is almost relieved when a double murder of two accountants in a top notch international firm drags her away from all the various baby hoopla that leaves her in cold sweat. Her attention is divided, however, when Mavis' pregnant friend, Tandy Willowby, turns up missing and Mavis insists that only Eve can find her. Eve takes all of this in stride, as she works to solve both cases with Roarke closely at her side.

BORN IN DEATH is perhaps the best yet in this absolutely phenomenal series! J.D. Robb paints a fantastic portrait of Eve and Roarke's terror regarding everything to do with the birthing process, from the hormonal moms to the actual labor and delivery. There are quite a few laugh-out-loud moments as Eve struggles between her vivid imagination which pictures babies as being somewhat like the alien life forms from the Aliens movies and her desire to be a good and supportive friend to Mavis.

One of the best things about reading any J.D. Robb book is that each book is complete in and of itself. While the relationships of both the main and secondary characters do grow and develop, one can easily pick up any book in the series and not feel cheated as to the back history of each character. This is partially due to Ms. Robb's clear vision of each personality portrayed. More importantly, however, this is a true testament to the superb writing talent of J.D. Robb as this reviewer never hesitates but rushes immediately to purchase each new installment in the series.

BORN IN DEATH will delight fans of the In Death series. The romance between Eve and Roarke continues to flourish and is a tribute to marriage as these two never tire of one another but instead only deepen their relationship in each book. Never has the solidarity and strength of their relationship been more apparent than in BORN IN DEATH. J.D. Robb injects a bit more humor than usual in this installment but this only adds to the depth of the overall series. BORN IN DEATH is highly recommended for its spectacular blend of romance, police procedures, and mystery all told in a futuristic setting.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Those of us who have kept up with this series will be both amused and touched by the birth of Mavis' baby. The ending brings a tear or two especially if you have gone thru the 'process'. Eve and Roarke's reactions are downright funny and right on. And the concept of male birth control pills is a forever dream of mine in my field of abuse counselling!

The two mysteries melded together nicely. For a while I thought I would have to keep up with two separate ones. But it worked beautifully. Nora is a wonder!! Loved her picture on the backcover and imagine she sees a little of Eve in herself. Well done.

The words were terse. Hip lingo keeps omitting words from sentences but it fits in Eve's world. All the usual characters are included in the book; some more than others. Well worth the read.

Born in Death covers two mysteries: the cold, clinical murder of two rising young financial professionals (who were engaged) and the disappearance of one of Mavis' friends who is also expecting a child.

As others have remarked, I thought the way the mysteries dovetailed was a bit too convenient - also, their resolution almost seemed a bit too easy. I also thought the "oh, the horror" reaction from both Eve and Roarke about babies was a bit overdone (if very funny).

However, I really enjoyed the character growth from Eve, watching Peabody continue to assert herself, and, best of all, how Roarke was integrated into the plot. In some past mysteries, getting him involved has sometimes felt obnoxious or contrived. The tension between his profession and Eve's professional advancement is interesting and well done. I also liked the ending VERY much - it was touching, believable and consistent with how the characters have been depicted. Great read.

I have read every book in this series at least twice. (Some three times or more). I started collecting the books as they showed up in Walmart then I got hooked on the series. I have every book, even the novellas. Anytime you have a series, it allows you to get to know the characters better with each book. As many times as I've read them, I always find something new and I am never bored.

Eve Dallas, a police investigator in the New York of the future, is hard at work on a double homicide case, involving a young engaged couple at an accounting firm. She is already stretched thin by the case when her best friend, Mavis, begs her to look into the disappearance of a friend from her pregnancy classes. Unable to refuse her hormonal friend this favor, Eve dives in with her usual disregard for her own health and well being, much to the chagrin of her rich, handsome and perfect husband.

I know that these books follow a formula, and I expect that when I pick one up. However, usually the character development and interaction are so sparkling that I find myself completely engaged once I start reading. I found myself less so with this book than with Robb's others. This one seemed heavy on the investigation to me, and much lighter on the characters. I missed Roarke losing his temper and having his accent get away from him. I missed cute and irritating behavior from Peabody and McNab. I missed Mira soothing Eve and talking to her about accepting her past. I missed sniping between Eve and Summerset. I especially missed Charles getting away with sexually harassing Eve. Where were all of these elements? At the end of this book, I felt a little lonely, like I hadn't really been in Eve's universe at all.

One of Robb's greatest strengths is in making her characters leap off of the page. I often find myself laughing out loud at a bit of dialog I read in her stories. This book, unfortunately, gave me little opportunity to laugh.

In the year 2059, NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called to the scene of a particularly brutal homicide in which the dead woman was bound, tortured and killed. The victim, Natalie Copperfield, worked as an accountant at the firm of Sloan, Myers and Kraus as does her fiancée Byson. When Eve goes to his abode to question him she finds him murdered in an almost an identical manner to that of Natalie.

Eve believes the same person killed bottle of them and when she listens to recordings on their links she learns that Natalie and Byson discovered something irregular at their firm and were investigating it. As Eve investigates the accounting firm; her best friend Mavis, who is about to give birth, wants her to find her friend Tandy who is also about to go into labor. With the help of her sexy husband Roarke, a billionaire many times over, Eve finds the two cases are linked; if she finds the missing woman, she will also find the killer.

J.D. Robb is a fantastic writer of futuristic police procedurals. Her characters have changed and grown over the course of this series and in this latest installment, Eve and Roarke have to overcome their own fears to help a good friend. The mystery is so well crafted that readers will not know who the killer is until the extraordinary climax occurs. BORN IN DEATH is filled with loads of action and an insightful glimpse of the protagonists' private lives. Ms. Robb has written another bestseller.

Harriet Klausner

Sophomoric, repetitive, boring. It's similar to something written by a fifteen-year-old girl trying her hand at writing a Harlequin-type storyline for the first time.
I've heard so many women rave about Nora Roberts, but I've yet to find out why. The characters get tangled up inside each other, storylines are unclear, wrong words are used regularly, words common to different cultures are used by the central characters (Are they British? Are they American? Who knows?), the descriptions are florid at best. I'm struggling through this book to fulfill a requirement for a local library summer reading competition, but this is where it ends for me with Nora Roberts. Please, someone, get this poor woman a decent editor and proofreader!

My comments are based not on any specific book but the whole IN DEATH series.

Also, the books are written primarily for a female audience, so some of my observations and reactions, as a man, may skew from the expected demographic norms.

SPOILER NOTATION: I worked hard at not including any spoilers in my long review. That said, I offer the following:

1) I name the killer in one book. However, the plot reveals the killer early on. In this book, the WHO is not important; HOW the killer is caught, is. As such, I do not feel that knowing the killer up front is a spoiler.
2) I mention some background info about Roarke, and other instances, like mentioning a grief-stricken character. But are such instances a spoiler? While I do not think so, I appreciate that others may disagree.
3) So, if you want NO plot info about this long series, please be advise to proceed no further!

WHAT I LIKE:

Above all, I like that there are SO many books in the series. I listen to the audiobooks while working, and find the familiarity of one-after-another comforting. I enjoy how layers of the primary characters are revealed as the series continues, and how the characters deepen.

I think the books are well written, and often enjoy the wording and phrasing. There was only one book that I found tedious (so much so that I never finished it: SALVATION).

In PORTRAIT, we discover a lot more about Roarke and his Irish past. The scenes where his finds his long-lost family are deeply moving (and it is curious to the extreme that the author has no other scenes quite like this in the long long long series). I re-read over and over the pages with Roarke and his mother's sister. Just lovely. (Curious, too, this book is the only one not in unabridged audio format.)

The primary characters. I like `em all, and delight when they enter a scene. It is like a dear old friend stopping by suddenly. Yes, please come in! I even enjoy minor reoccurring characters such as Crack (another side of him is revealed in PORTRAIT, and is quite touching). With the audiobooks, I love the voices. The narrator does a great job.

The mysteries are, generally, of interest.

I enjoy the endless bickering between Eve and Summerset. CAVEAT: It makes all the difference that the two secretly admire each other (but will never admit this).

Some readers have stated that they cannot see why the Dazzling Roarke would have married Eve. But their attraction makes perfect sense to me. Each had a very similar - and spectacularly bad - childhood and this, from my viewpoint, creates a unique bond between them. Moreover, most women would, ah, defer to the Mighty Man but I can understand how Roarke would be highly attracted to a woman who was not easy, not deferential.

While Eve is normally prickly to an extreme, and often outright abusive (see below), the author occasionally reveals that Eve actually has a kinder side - a rare pleasure. In PROMISES, Eve is generous and tender towards a grief-stricken Morris. In INDULGENCE, Eve surprises Roarke, early in the book, with a thoughtful, wondrous anniversary present.

Above all, what engage me are not the mysteries but the characters. They feel real - a great testament to the author.

DO NOT LIKE:

GET THE GIRL SOME SLEEP. Geeez, Eve's compulsive workaholism is painful. Painful! Her constant lack of sleep, and aversion to sitting down and having a decent meal, or fun, becomes tiresome in the extreme. In the extreme (I almost gave up on the series because of this).

The sex scenes. I cringe. If I were reading the books I could just easily flip through the sex but I am listening to the audiobooks. As such, I have to leap up, run over to the computer, and fast-forward though the scenes. Mind you, I am not a prude, hardly, but such scenes make me feel, I dunno, like a peeping Tom. I know Eve and Roarke so well; it is painfully uncomfortable being a voyeur to their intimate acts. (That said, I enjoy it when Peabody refers to sex, obliquely, with McNab, and Eve invariably cringes.)

I know that 90% of homicides are committed by men, so the fact that the vast majority of In Death killers are men is statistically normal. Still...I yearned for a bit more diversity

And speaking of diversity, Eve's world is awfully white. Hello? In NYC? I mean, her mostly white world might make sense if the series took place in some small Mid-West town, but NYC? Yes, yes, I know there is the occasional person of color (or of Asian descent, or gay), but these little bits of diversity are just that: little bits. This is SO not NYC. The city has always been incredibly diverse, and there is no reason to think it will not be fifty years in the fixture.

I cringe every time Pepsi is mentioned. How much did the author earn from this incessant plug?

The books take place in the future. While there are a few futuristic touches (I especially like the droids), the sensibilities seem very 1990s. If you look at the VAST differences in how women have been treated in just the last fifty years, it is impossible to imagine that in fifty years hence women will still be treated as they are today, and still fighting for equality.

Cars & Equipment. Eve's endless fighting with very bad computers and very bad cars simply makes so sense. Obviously, Roarke could have effortlessly resolved these issues (he does, at looooooong last, get her a good car). Yes, Eve would have pitched her usual fit, yes, they would have fought - yawn - but in the end she would have accepted these necessary gifts. Indeed, it makes no sense that Roarke would not have fully outfitted the whole NY police department with top-of-the-line computers (a great tax write-off, too).

I know Eve is supposed to be tough. But there is a HUGE difference between tough and abusive. And Eve often veers to outright abuse. In one book (INNOCENT) she hits Roark right in the face, drawing blood. And for no reason. When he asks why, she casually replies: "Because you are a man." Huh? Huh? Imagine the reader outrage if the roles were reversed. In VENGEANCE, Eve interrogates Summerset and is INCREDIBLY abusive. I cringed. There are, too, countless small scenes where Eve is not just being tough - which I can admire - but outright mean and abusive. Above all, I dislike how often Eve is abusive to Roarke, verbally, and am surprised how many readers overlook this.

Roarke becomes, I dunno, almost like an accessory to Eve. This reduces my appreciation of the man. I would have enjoyed learning more about his world, his friends, and his struggles. While he is endlessly helping Eve with HER work, comforting HER after she has nightmares, tending to HER wounds (both physical and mental), Eve rarely offers same. This also reduces my appreciation of her (and of the author).

Roarke becomes friends with Eve's friends. OK. Where though are Roarke's friends (see above, also)? He seems to have but one friend, Brian, who lives in another country.

Roarke and Eve are written as The Great Love Story. Really? Their relationship consists of three aspects 99% of the time: Sex. Fighting. Working together to solve a crime. Sorry, but this conveys little depth. To me, countless small, seemingly mundane things, done with consideration and real warmth, are what make for a great relationship. The Roarke and Eve relationship lacks this distinction. Even after the zillion sex scenes I cannot recall that the two ever just laid in bed for an hour after climaxing, and simply talked, laughed, and gently touched each other. No, they finish quickly (it never seems to take much time), and Eve usually jumps up and goes right back to work. In short, they seem to have sex; they do not seem to make love.

Early in the series, too many primary characters (Eve, Roarke, Peabody, and even Mira) were In Danger, and the potential victim of X killer. Oh no! But, I loathed this. Luckily, the author later decided to expand the hit list and our beloved friends were safe from imminent danger, although it seems like every third book Eve is in danger. Boooooring.

And, how many times do Eve and Roarke have the exact same fight when Eve puts herself in danger? These get really old really quick. In NEW YORK, the two have another huge fight and I yearned for Roarke to just say: "You know, I put up with a lot. But I have had enough of your abuse whenever I express concern for your safetly." I yearned for him to then just turn, and walk away. Of course, I do not blame Eve. I blame the author.

My biggest complaint? There is no pay-off. A great story needs a great payoff. We want the girl to get the guy, the poor person to win the lottery, and the honest politician to vanquish over evil. While Eve always gets her man, the stories then abruptly end:

* A particularly egregious example is in TREACHERY. After a long long long build-up to catch the bad guy (well, bad girl, one Renee Oberman), Eve confronts Oberman, the two engage in a (highly improbable and ludicrous) fistfight, and the books ends. That was it. I gasped. Where was my pay-off? Where was THE great scene, one I had waited for through the whole long long long build-up, for Eve to confront Oberman in an interrogation room as Oberman tried to weasel her way out of trouble, and as Eve, evidence by evidence, boxed Oberman into a tight box? Where was the scene with Oberman, shrieking, being handcuffed and carted off? Where was the sad scene where Oberman's esteemed father learned the terrible truth of his daughter? Where was the scene with Nadine putting the right spin on events?

* In MEMORY, Eve tells a moving story to Roarke about when she was a child, and in the care of a horrible foster mother. A boy across the street did a nice thing for Eve - the first nice thing anybody had ever done for her. Then the foster mother, secretly, did a terrible thing to the boy. Eve knew the truth, and, as a scared young girl, did nothing about it. OK. But...it would have been nice at the end of the book for Eve to have found the boy, now a man (which Roarke had offered to do), and reveal the truth.

* Also in TREACHERY, Peabody meets with the very angry mother of a police offer killed in the line of duty. We readers know differently: the officer was killed by other officers. This is later proved by Eve, who mentions getting a posthumous commendation for the officer. OK. But it would have been deeply moving to have included a scene at the end where Peabody meets again with the mother to present the award - and the truth regarding the courage of her daughter.

Anyway, these are but a few examples; all the books are like this. I yearn for more closure, to learn about the After of each case, and of situations introduced but not followed up. Sigh.

The female cop, Eve Dallas, who lives to solve hideous crimes of murder, finds herself working up to a nervous breakdown over the idea of being her best friend's coach through the birth of her child. Between dreaded birthing classes, Eve is working on a double murder committed by unspeakable civilized people who are driven to insanity by the power of greed. In the mist of all this horror and death, is the miracle of life. I gave Nora 4 stars on this one because there were many areas where the story line seemed to drag. However, the ending was a show stopper, leaving you with a good feeling about it all.

Marty Wurtz

Author of Deceptions and Betrayals

This was an interesting and winding story that created a lot of suspense and also warm fuzzies. The ending was great. I was smiling the whole time while reading it. Robb did a good job of developing the new characters. I hope Tandy continues to be part of subsequent stories.

Dallas is still prickly, but she's grown more comfortable in her many roles: wife, friend, reluctant millionaire. This is a smooth, well written mystery and the author uses her large ensemble cast to very good effect. Most of them are here, Mira, Louise, Charles, Whitney and more...they make brief, effective appearances. The plot is somewhat predictable but it's never (as some of the earlier plots in the series were) absurd and it feels right. A very enjoyable book

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of this series. I really can't complain much, since this has been my first disappointment after reading over twenty books about Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke. Even though this book was not up to the level I have gotten used to from Robb, towards the end, the author saves the day and the overall experience ends up being OK.

Those of us who follow the series, and of course I recommend reading it in order from the beginning, are aware of hoe Eve feels about babies. If you have any doubts, just look at the quote that serves as title to this review. This aversion and the part of the story that has to do with Mavis' pregnancy and imminent delivery, is what saves the day. The mystery aspects of this book, fall well short of the mark, not only because they were not that interesting, but also because there are two different cases going on and the way they are wrapped up is borderline ridiculous.

Early in the book I got the feeling that things were going awry. I was not caught at all by the story and the writing felt forced and contrived, which is far from normal for Robb. To make matters worse, the investigation deals with the issue of clients' privacy and this topic is dragged forever becoming pretty boring. There are other things that were out of character for the author, such as the British slang she uses at some point, which feels forced and gets annoying, which is rather different that how well she had managed to incorporate Irish elements in other books.

Only when we towards the end, the story ended up dealing with the personal stories of the characters did we get the quality we are used to. I guess ending up with a bang does save the day, but in my opinion, the author was really close to delivering a total clunker. Hopefully, the next one in the series will be as good as some of the previous installments.

Sorry to say it, but this will be the last book of this series that I will bother to read. I have invested alot of time in reading the past installments, and after i finished this one, which i had to practically force myself to finish, ill be looking forward to something different.

Every book is becoming more of the same. Someone dies mysteriously, Eve is called in to investigate and harrass the other cops, theres always something wrong with the link in the home of the victim, they make it sound like Eve spends 20+ hours a day investigating, after 3 hours of sleep her and Roarke have sex about 3-4 times per novel, Eve always has weird dreams, and the Eve/Roarke relationship progresses nowhere. Doesnt that about sum it up?

Too bad too cause Roberts is a great writer, but like many of the best-sellers, i.e. Grisham especially, they finish something and thats that. No honest criticizing. No thought involved. I hate reading stories that sound they are made in a factory house that just pumps them out all day and night. I hope Roberts reads this and can vamp up her storyline. Otherwise, I wont buy another.

I have to agree with some of the other reviewers who said that the mystery in this story wasn't as good. I had a hard time getting into that part of the book. It was very predictable. However, I did love the scenes dealing with Mavis and the birth of her child. Hilarious! The tension between Eve and Roarke regarding her job was very interesting. I'm a little apprehensive about her upcoming book "Innocent in Death". From what I've read, Roarke's fidelity is going to come into question. I know authors of series need to keep their stories fresh, but I hope Eve and Roarke's relationship isn't changed forever.

Yet another exciting murder suspense which Eve and Roarke fit right in to solve but then long term friend Mavis is coming full term in her pregnancy and the 2 of them are like lost sheep but pull it together in the end with the usually balance of serious and kidding, once again it is a must to read and own.

I think, like some others, that this might be my last foray into the "In Death" series. It started out as a strong if sometimes formulaic series that usually proved enjoyable on the strength of its main characters. At this point, however, the formulaic nature has now brought down the characters as well as the plot. The plot here is fairly abysmal, with even Robb not pretending much interest in it. The crime isn't terribly interesting and there's absolutely no sense of suspense in solving it. It's fairly routine police work--which, while probably more realistic than most, doesn't make for interesting reading.

While I still enjoy Eve's interactions with Peabody and Mavis, Robb's approach to her main character has grown a little stale. Every book, we hear again and again how Eve works too hard and Eve has nightmares and Eve never grows up enough to take basic care of herself. I think this is supposed to show Eve as a strong take charge woman, when in sum, the opposite effect is achieved. I still like on the job Eve, but her emotional reactions to things have become a bit of a broken record.

I will say for Robb that Roarke has considerably improved as the series has progressed. Early on in the series, I had a like/loathing relationship with Roarke, where I liked Eve's clumsy and often funny interactions with Roarke's high society lifestyle. And Roarke can be very charming when he wants to be. But his insistence on shoving himself into all of his wife's cases and openly disrespecting her in front of her colleagues while at the same time throwing a fit if she ever did the slightest bit in return made me outright hate him at times. But that's mellowed out somewhat as the series has progressed and Robb's allowed Roarke a few more acknowledged flaws. I loved his horror at the baby stuff in this book. It is nice to see a couple in a romance sort of series that isn't in a huge rush towards children.

On the whole, though, the staleness of the plotlines and the lack of character development for most of the major players has decreased my enjoyment of this series to the point where I will not be reading another unless I happen upon a copy at the library.

Born in Death is probably the best to date in this series. It shows a maturity in the characters and plot line that has really evolved with each new addition. It is truly one of my favorite mystery series because I love the futuristic but not sci-fi setting. The author allows you to use your own imagination to fill in the look and feel of a 2060 world. I raced through the book and am left to wait for the next installment...ah how time will drag.

Be aware I am a BIG J.D. Robb fan so I might add an extra star! I love the "in Death" series. In fact I started back from book one and I am reading them in order. Over the years I have read several and have enjoyed them thoroughly. They are a great "fun" read!

J. D. Robb, pen name for Nora Roberts, has all 24 titles ending "in death." This novel was chosen for me by whom? It revolves around a group of pregnant women who meet on a regular basis until their babies are born. The London emigrant, Tandy, is missing with her bag ready to go to the hospital, but her location is unknown. Eva is an investigator friend of Mavis, who asks her to find Tandy. Meanwhile, a brutal double homicide of Natalie Copperfield and her fiance has taken place, and so it is possible that Tandy has seen the same fate. Shannon Christian had the bad luck to be in the wrong place and the presence of her boyfriend did not help. Another brutal double homicide, only this time in real life.

Eve is knee-deep in a case trying to find out who killed Natalie. No one seems to care who killed Shannon, even though they found the killers who were charged only with car jacking. Two petty criminals killed the male first, bound him in a sheet and set him on fire beside the railroad tracks. Shannon was kept and abused (raped and cut -- mutilated, and "you know what that means.") for two days before she will killed. One black bus driver said "Why were they on Cherry Street anyway?" The two cases parallel even though they happened in different countries. They were simply in the wrong area of town. Could that be what happened to Tandy? Or was it more sinister.

There is a time to live and a time to die, a time to be born, to grow old and feeble. A time for justice. Love begats love. Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, first and last. Some of Nora Roberts' novels I read are 'Born in Ice,' 'Holding the Dream,' and 'Northern Lights.' As I recall, I perused 'Remember When' written more recently by both personalities of the same writer. It was not much different, but rare.

Another great murder story featuring Lt Eve Dallas and her cast of characters. Plenty of romance mixed in with murder, etoys, and sarcasm. Gotta love the parts with pregnant Mavis and the birthing classes; what a grand finale in the birthing center!!

This as all the books in the series was enjoyable if I forget the "futuristic" element which is quite silly. The renaming of current things like cell for "pocket link" as an example doesn't show much imagination. Moreover, the fashions seem more today than tomorrow! Even though the merging of the 2 cases in the novel is a "little" unbelievable, it is a pretty good mystery story and the relationships between the diverse characters is fun.

It doesn't matter the order, the story is going to capture your attention and your imagination. Whether you know the characters or just meeting them they seem real and intriguing. Just keep them coming

Yes, Mavis finally has a baby at the end of the book. But before Eve gets to help with that she has a set of murders to solve, and a missing pregnant woman to find. To make her life more interesting, she also has to cope with baby shopping and a...shower. Definitely not Eve's scene. But somehow Lt. Dallas comes through on all counts!

Robb Rocks!

I LOVE J.D. Robb books but Born in Death just felt like someone else wrote this book. The writing style of not the same as the previous books. In the other books Nora doesn't use words like addy, vid, wit ALL the time and there is wayyyy too much description of what people Eve is interviewing have on. I felt that this book was not up to her usual HIGH standards and was very disappointed because I had waited so long. I will continue to read all of Nora Roberts books and will hope that she returns to her usual style of writing.

I have read this book and I am loving it the second time,as much if not more than the first. If you have never read the In Death series by J.D.Robb and you like who done its you have to read this series.

As noted in other reviews, the mystery plot is not up to the "In Death" series standards, but I loved this book - it made me shed tears, as well as laugh out loud, numerous times. A great, fun read!!

I have always enjoyed J.D.Robb's mysteries, but I was a bit disappointed in this novel.
I did enjoy Mavis and the birth of her child. I thought the scene had a humorous touch which was refreshing. I thought the plot for the most part was weak. Some parts held my attention, but overall I thought it could have been developed better. I'll probably buy Nora's next novel "Innocent in Death" with a view towards it being a better than "Born in Death". I hope so.

It is simply unbearable to put this book down. The character development is completely captivating; and the humor of Eve and Roarke regarding childbirth cannot but to keep the reader chuckling. Great thriller and great story outside the thriller. A masterpiece inside a masterpiece. I will say no more as to do so would ruin the pleasure of reading "Born In Death". And that would be an unspeakable crime.

This is the first J.D. Robb book that I read, and I came away largely unimpressed. Set in a futuristic New York City, detective Eve Dallas starts off helping her friend Mavis as a birthing coach, even though she hates the thoughts of delivering a baby. Why she was there made no sense to me, since Mavis's partner was already there. Mavis has Eve investigate the disappearance of her friend, which coincidentally is connected to the murder case she's investigating. In fact, the level of coincidences in thsi book are down right absurd.

There really was not much to like in this novel. The characters were neither compelling nor believable. The melodrama was high, the tension low. As far as the detective and mystery aspect of this book, it fell flat. In reading some of the reviews, apparently one of the drawing points to this series is in getting to know some of the characters, but these characters don't seem worth getting to know. The novel was unimpressive and unispiring. I don't see myself coming back for more.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity

Nora Roberts can not write a book that is not wonderful. This is another in her series that I did not have. I now have everyone that she has written. I an glad that they are being published in large print as my sister is very low vision and she loves them.

Eve Dallas has a lot on her plate right now, a couple that dead, a missing mom-to-be and her best friend is about to give birth. While it seems that her two cases are not related, they are. Now Eve, Roarke, and and her faithful crew are under the gun to solve these crimes.

"Born in Death" is the lastest book by J.D. Robb, while the Mavis giving birth is funny, overall this book is lacking the grit of past books.

born in death takes the mystery cop plot (the crime eve is trying to solve) and intertwines it with a big plot point in the series the birth of mavis and leonardos baby .... the cop plot moves along (i wont give it away ) its well written and its combined thru out the book with mavis baby plot giving fans alot of buildup and a great funny touching conclusion toss in some great sex with roarke (pierce brosnan circa 1989- 1999 not hugh jackman hes not masculine enough ) and you you have a winner

All of the books in this series are great fun, in my opinion, but I've been anxiously waiting the birth of Mavis' and Leonardo's baby for ages! This novel not only gives one the birth of Mavis' baby, it gives one another emotional birth, as well. The character development and the interaction between the characters keeps getting better and the main plot has one really rooting for the good guys!

Eve Dallas has a grisly double homicide to solve when two young lovers - both employees of the same prestigious accounting firm - are brutally killed on the same night. Tandy Willowby, one of the mothers-to-be in Mavis's birthing class, didn't show up for the shower. Eve will have to track Tandy down while simultaneously investigating the deals and double-crosses hidden in the files of some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against this particularly vicious killer. As always with the help of her team and husband, Eve manages to solve both cases and also be there for the birth of Mavis and Leonardo's baby.

I loved being able to laugh as Roarke and Dallas handle being the coach team for Mavis..there were some hilarious parts in this book on that situation....and I loved the book as a whole..I can always count on getting a great read when I buy a JD Robb book...kudos to the author!

The series is becoming too predictable. While reading this book on an airplane, I kept thinking, haven't I read this before? The dialogue feels like it was picked up from another one of the "In Death" series and woven together to create a new book. The flashbacks to Eve and Roarke's childhoods are becoming trite and maudlin. I read very quickly just to get to Mavis's baby being born, which of course is at the end of the book. Don't think I'll be reading more of this series.

A long time fan of Eve and Rourke, I could not wait for this book to come out. Unfortunately, I felt let down. The plot while gripping in some parts, was rushed. After so many books, there are now a whole host of characters that we are familiar with but there is no need to trot out so many in one book. And what's with this CSI like dovetail convergence of 2 cases? Plot lines running dry? As much as I love the series and can't wait to get my hands on the next book, I would rather they come out at a slower rate but be more polished.

This book never loses it's punch. I love all the series of Dallas, but they seem to be getting better and better!!! You will not be dissapointed and will want to read the next one as quick as she prints it!!

I love the whole series. I'm 14, and I started it in the summer. I loved it. I couldn't wait for november 7 to come. I could've waited longer. I thought the book was maybe going to be more action, and Roarke and Eve deciding to have kids finally,but no. And the part that got me pissed off was when Vommander Whitney thought that Eve may give Roarke some tips on something and use her, that was messed up because how many times has roarke helped the police. Alot! I think this was the worst book ever of the Death series. But I really can't wait for Innocent in death that's coming out in february. It deals with a little jealousy. And maybe you'll see Eve and Roarke together more often. Not just for a quick sex on the office floor. But, they are my favorite couple ever.

J. D. Robb created some of the most interesting and fun characters for her "in death" series and I haven't missed one of the sequels, yet. The futuristic world is very exciting to read about and visualize living with the amenities of the time period. I get so much fun and enjoyment when I read her books and I love the interaction between Eve and Roarke, that I laugh out loud.

You'll never go wrong when you pick up any book by Nora Roberts and her J. D. Robb pseudonym.

I didn't think that baby would ever get here! So glad it's finally here & with Eve & co. it couldn't have been any other way than with lots of drama. Without the drama why would we keep coming back to visit. Still lots of fast paced dialog & snappy comebacks between characters as we have come to expect. Good story ribbons to untie. Keep em coming.

This series, written as J.D. Robb, is great. The crime stories stand alone but she keeps the character development going to the degree that it is as important as the story in each book. Nora Roberts is the best at telling a good story and at the same time creating characters that the reader can really care about. Can't wait for the next one!

As usual, J.D. Robb delivers.
As usual, it was very difficult to put this book down.
As usual, I can't wait until the next book comes out.
My only disappointment, was the number of typos that I found in this book. J.D. Robb's editor needs to do a better job proof-reading.

J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) hits another homerun with Born in Death. I love the humor that she includes in her book. I laughed out loud reading the interaction between Rourke and Eve and the birth of Mavis' child. I've yet to read a book by J.D. Robb or Nora Roberts that I haven't enjoyed.

I never thought I'd say it but I think this is the end of the line for me in the "In Death" series. A series that started very exciting, interesting, and intruging has become boring and predictable. The murder plot was completely boring and it to for ever for Robb to get to the murder plot but the time it got to the kidnapping I could have cared less. The plot is so been there, done that but dozens of other authors. There was nothing interesting or intruging about it, there was no big surprise on who the killer was. I thought it might be intriging when the Commander talked to Dallas about Roarke looking at information from his competitors but after an intital anger that was dropped. My growing dislike of Detective Dallas contiuned in this book over her constant whining and complaining about having to throw her best friend a baby shower. Her best friend and she's whining like a baby. Of course in the end Dallas ended up having to do nothing for the shower instead dropping the whole thing on Peabody. Some friend. Every book is the exact same. Dallas is annoying and ordering people around, she goes around berating people and witnesses, she's so exhausted you'd think she was the only detective in New York and some how the police investigation always ends up at her huge beautiful, comfortable home instead of the police station, her rotten childhood, its all gotten so predictable and boring. There's no excitment, no thrill, no real charactor growth. For those of you who enjoy this series I hope you contiune to do so but I'm s done.

Eve and Roarke fans will love this selection!!!! The last chapter had me holding my ribs in laughter! As usual Eve works to exhaustion. Although the mysteries, I agree with other posts, were transparent, it will not disappoint diehard fans!!! This series continues to surprise me that it still has so much life left in it! Bravo JD Robb!

Ok I think I've read every title in the series - heck I own most of them but this one was not what I was expecting at all. An earlier reviewer said they felt like Roberts has tired of the characters and frankly I have to concur. The mystery plot was thin at best, the tie in between the two cases transparent. Also, it appeared as if Roarke was the only person truely capable of helping Dallas solve the case (seriously - who would take their civilian SPOUSE on interviews and case resolutions - that part has always bugged me) - doesn't the government have their own financial experts?

The mention of a bunch of characters but no real interactions was unnecessary; it felt like Roberts thought she had to give "shout-outs" to all past characters. Showcase a few that are pertinent to the story and develop them further - it really does make for better storytelling. And speaking of development how about our cop? Can she grow a little - we know she's tough and never backs down but how about a little more growth and maturity as far as her personality is concerned - always so pi**** or angry - move on some. Same for the father storyline - time for some therapy and moving forward on it. Let's not even get into her work habits and the "only Eve can take care of this" plot lines - sheesh.

Lastly I have to address what so many other people seemed so excited about - Mavis and that baby. I confess - I hated it. Mavis, in my opinion, has become a whiney, self-absorbed, demanding character who just drains the scene - I've just come to not be able to stand her! I don't care about her, wouldn't care if she never came back - I used to like her but the one-note has just turned me off. Again it's my opinion but the characters who've been shown to have the best, consistent potential for development are Peabody and to a lesser extent her man, McNab.

So overall I guess I just didn't like the book the way I used to enjoy the series. The readers are growing and changing and it's time for Dallas and crew to do the same.

I never thought I would find myself at a loss for words to describe how disappointed I was by an offering in the In Death series, but this is the one that has me utterly baffled. Talk about phoning in a story. I didn't sense any real commitment to delivering a compelling murder mystery or advancing the growth of characters in Born in Death. In fact, in the beginning especially, I wondered if someone else was writing the book. There are a ton of inconsistencies in the tone and jargon that were completely offputting and consistently took me out of the story. The fact that the editor allowed this to happen makes me wonder if everyone involved is bored with Eve. If Nora Roberts is ready to move on, fine, then wrap up this series in the style fans have come to expect. But don't crank them out for the sake of cranking them out. I will give the series one more chance, but if the next one isn't a return to form, I'm done.

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.
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 and grieves for their lost futures. 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.

i really enjoyed this book, in fact, saved it for a New Year's Eve treat and it was worth the wait. I love the continued character development and

how they all grow together. I read these books over and over and so does my mom.

To me this "In Death" book wasn't as good as some of the others ones that I've read. I liked the plot and how Mavis's friend fit into the whole thing, but - I don't know, it took me longer to finish this book than it did the others that I've read.....

I have read all of J. D. Robbs books in this series. They are always fast paced, imaganitive, and keeps me guesing till the end. If you like murder mysterys you will love this book and all of her previous ones.

In preparation for the (very) long awaited release of "Born in Death," I had re-read the series. Unfortunately, re-reading the older books was more entertaining than was the original reading of this one. I had wished otherwise. ::sigh::

I ordered my books, not only were they less expensive than the retail stores, but I had them sooner, than the guarantee. The only problem was that I read them so fast, the author hasn't had a chance to write More!

This was my first (and probably last) Nora Roberts novel. I certainly don't see the attraction to this author and why she has sold so many books. The characters are so one-dimensional. Transitioning from scene to scene and scene breaks in general are terrible. The same with transitioning the dialog from one character to another. Of course, the conversation was the equivalent of cave men grunting; I have a hard time believing that educated people talk like this. The love scenes -- horrid -- made me want to skip over them. The first half of the book was totally boring with Eve doing too much rationalization instead of detective work. Too many unexplained anacronyms. But, she did get the spelling of e-mail correct!

If you're a Nora Roberts addict, this book will give you your fix. She spins her usual good yarn, sadly, as always, there's no character development, a lot of redundancy. However, again as always, and isn't this why we read her--there is a Happy Ending.

The complete lack of a convincing mystery could be forgiven because everyone who reads this series has been salivating for the birth of Mavis' baby. I had been especially looking forward to this because Mavis is my favorite character. However, Nora Roberts disappoints in a huge way. She opted for no originality and instead pulled out every predictable heart tugging moment ever written.
I felt like I was reading an episode of All My Children

I would really have liked to have listened to this audio book while driving. Unfortunately, it can only be heard on a computer, therefore, the only thing I can say about this product is that I would have really liked to have had the information before ordering.
Compulsive Reader