Series Recommendations: In Death series by J.D. Robb

…In Death, a futuristic crime series set in mid-21st century New York City, is written by Nora Roberts under pseudonym, J. D. Robb. The series features NYPSD ("New York City Police and Security Department") Lieutenant Eve Dallas, a tough cop with a dark past, and her even more mysterious love interest, Roarke.

Visit the Official J.D. Robb website

Jess says: I could not recommend this series enough. You'll pick up one book and won't rest till you've read them all. Eve Dallas is a sassy hard ass you will ultimately love, and her dashing husband Roarke is the fictional male you'll all want to get into bed with. Although the series is filled with countless numbers of serial killers, each murder is refreshingly original. Roberts crosses the police procedural with science fiction, and let's face it, she did it justice. Each book will keep you on the edge and the endles psychological foreplay will keep you thinking until the killer's locked behind bars.

Fun fact: After the publication of Fantasy in Death (in February 2010) Nora Roberts will have published 190 full-length novels.

Series order

01. Naked in Death
02. Glory in Death
03. Immortal in Death
04. Rapture in Death
05. Ceremony in Death
06. Vengeance in Death
07. Holiday in Death
07.5. Midnight in Death (novella)
08. Conspiracy in Death
09. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgment in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
12.5. Interlude In Death (novella)
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation In Death
17.5. Big Jack (novella)
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor In Death
21. Origin In Death
22. Memory in Death
22.5. Haunted in Death (3x short stories)
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent In Death
24.5. Eternity in Death (novella)
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
27.5. Ritual in Death (novella)
28. Promises in Death
29. Kindred In Death
29.5. Missing in Death (novella)
30. Fantasy in Death
31. Indulgence in Death
31.5. Possession in Death (novella)
32. Treachery in Death
33. New York to Dallas (In Death)
33.5. Chaos in Death (novella)
34. Celebrity in Death
35. Delusion in Death
36. Calculated in Death
37. Thankless in Death
38. Concealed in Death
39. Festive in Death
40. Obsession in Death

Total Count
40 novels
9 Novellas

Book Review: Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb

Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Technology may be different in 2060 New York, yet the city is still a place of many cultures and great divides. But as ever, some murders receive more attention than others—especially those in which the victim is a prominent businessman, found in his Park Avenue apartment, tied to the bed—and strangled—with cords of black velvet.

It doesn't surprise Lieutenant Eve Dallas that Thomas Anders's scandalous death is a source of titillation and speculation to the public—and of humiliation to his family. But while people in the city are talking about it, those close to Anders aren't so anxious to do the same. With some help from her billionaire husband, Roarke, Eve's soon knocking on doors—or barging through them—to find answers.

But the facts don't add up. Physical evidence suggests that the victim didn't struggle. The security breach in the apartment indicates that the killer was someone known to the family, but everyone's alibi checks out. Was this a crime of passion in a kinky game gone wrong—or a meticulously planned execution? It's up to Dallas to solve a case in which strangers may be connected in unexpected, and deadly, ways.

My review

I can't say this has been one of the best books in the series because it really hasn't. The spark you expect with an In Death book wasn't there. Looking at the title and summary alone you knew that Roberts was going down the 'Strangers on a Train' route. All of that psychological mind play and expertly placed twists Roberts is so good at were no longer an element of surprise in this novel.

As soon as Eve began her investigation into the death of Thomas Anders, a prominant businessman, found by his Housekeeper with his arms and legs tied to his bed and a cord around his neck - I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Where is the second murder? How do they connect? It doesn't take you long *spoiler* to realise that Baxter and Trueheart's cold case was in fact the second or let's say first murder in this 'Strangers on a Train' storyline. But let's just take a moment to talk about Trueheart. SUCH A CUTIE PIE. I just want to see more and more of him. I loved the little awkward, bumbling routine he had to play with *spoiler* Ava *spoiler*. Played to perfection.

I don't want to get too deep in case related detail in fear of spoiling the plot but it was to an extent disturbing to see a woman sift through potential candidates to find someone to murder her husband. And, Oh boy did she find the perfect person. By perfect, we mean worst. It's never the best idea to be hard-faced bitch and want your husband dead, let's face it.

Sub plot. Sub plot. Sub plot. I absolutely loved how the relationship development between Charles and Lousie arose in this novel. I could really see where Eve was coming from - with her issues of seeing Louise date a man who got paid to have sex with other people - so to see him take that huge leap and quit his job, buy a house and propose all for the sake of bettering himself was damn good to see.

The little argument between Roarke and Eve over money was something really interesting to see and I'm glad we did. What couple hasn't argued over this particular issue once, twice or a million times before. Realism. We like it.

Ultimately, it didn't feel like there was too much at stake emotionally for the main characters - it's generally those books where the emotional stakes are set high that come out as being memorable and un-puttdownable. Conflict (especially between Roarke and Dallas) can really drive these novels like no other.

The 30 or so pages, however, totally made up for the lack of spark from the rest of the book. This was when the ball really got rolling, Dallas already on her A game. The battle of brains between Eve and *spoiler* Ava *spoiler* was intense. Who's the top bitch? We all know the answer to that one and watching Eve prove it will never get old.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge | Day 1

15 day Book Blogger Challenge is a meme hosted by Good Books and Good Wine, here.

15 book related confessions

1. Too much fluff and happiness makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork.
2. A large majority of YA books have gotten to the point where nothing is original anymore.
3. Love triangles? Yawn.
4. Can we lay the 'blah blah blah will be the next J.K. Rowling' to rest now? No author is completely alike. There will be authors both greater and worse than the mighty J.K. Rowling.
5. Speaking of Queen Jo, it makes me sad that it now takes me up to 6 months to finish the new books she's written. They're amazing (when I actually finish them) and yet there's nothing in them that grabs me and makes me want to finish them. The characters don't appeal to me.
6. Bless the existence of ebooks because now I can just accumulate lots and lots of books and still have room for my favourite books on my shelves.
7. Physical books > Ebooks. Always.
8. Will never buy a book by Cassandra Clare again.
9. Nothing I love more than a novel that effectively combines romance and crime.
10. I admit it, I may judge people by the contents of their bookshelves. I have a strong aversion to chick-lit. If that makes me anti-feminist or something... I'm sorry.
11. I have that problem where I'll buy more books despite the fact that I have loads of un-read stuff on my shelf. That's not really a confession. That is a universal problem.
12. Books sometimes aren't always better than films. (You know it could be like Twilight... both the films and the books are awful)
13. I am that person that has to carry a book around everywhere, even if I'm only going to the shop for some bread.
14. You caught me. I do judge books by their cover. (Cover art is supposed to be a marketing tool and if the cover doesn't even relate to the narrative in some - rational - shape or form THEN WHAT IS THE POINT? And redoing the covers of classical novels like Pride and Prejudice to join the Twilight trend? No. Get out.)
15. I really can't sit and read YA books about whiny little 15 years old anymore. It has become a form of torture for my brain.

What are your confessions?

Random Reads #1: September 2013

Random Reads is a monthly meme hosted by Sarah at I’m Loving Books. This feature is to get us reading a random book within the month that is in our TBR stack.

Want to join in on Random Reads? It’s easy…
1. If you’re on Goodreads enable sorting to your to-read shelf (you should see numbers next to each book now).
2. Go to Random.org and type in the Min as 1 and the Max as how many ever books are on your to-read shelf.
3. Scroll down to the book matching the number Random.org picks.
4. Link up to your Random Reads post (here). If you choose more than one book per month, be sure to put a number by your name in the list so it doesn't look like a duplicate.
5. Read and be merry!

This month, Random chose number 234 (out of 427) which is

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Goodreads Summary
Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Castle Season 5 Bloopers

- s c r e a m s -
Oh and watch the bloopers because FUNNY

Castle Season 6 Promo #2

Can you hear all the fans screaming? Because I can (and I am). Watch the latest promo released by ABC for Castle's sixth season airing September 23rd.

Recap and Review: The Newsroom, 2x07, 'Red Team III'.

The Newsroom
Season 2, Episode 7
'Red Team III'
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The latest episode of The Newsroom was hands down the best episode of the season. Red Team III saw the complete undoing and total trainwreck that was the Operation Genoa story. It came as no surprise to me to see that Jerry's downfall came from the basketball game in the background of the General's interview.

The start of the episode saw the team being interviewed by Rebecca Halliday (don't you just love Marcia Gay Harden?) as we finally began to understand the extent of the 'wrongful termination' suit brought against ACN by Jerry Dantana.

The flashbacks thoughout the episode walk us through the Red team meetings with the objectve of using fresh eyes to find any holes in the Genoa story. It was also supposed to be the first time Will ever heard about the story, except that's not the case when it becomes apparent he heard the story from a 'very reliable source'. You have to wonder though why Will never voiced the story to anyone before it was brought to him during the red team meeting. Also why did no one ever check to see if Will and Charlie's source where the same?

Evidence Rundown

General Stomtonovich: Confessed in an interview that U.S. troops used sarin gas on civililians during Operation Genoa. Except we all know he didn't. Jerry grew some balls to edit the footage in his favour.
Tweets: Neal used his sources to find tweets about Operation Genoa
Eric Sweeney: One of the Genoa informants. During an on air interview with Elliot, he mentions in passing that he along with three of his fellow comrades "suffered traumatic brain injuries". This proposed a HUGE problem for his reliaiity surrounding Genoa as one of the symtoms of his injury was memory loss.
Valenzuela: The dead soldier who apparently never died but did the Genoa interview to back up his good ol' friend Sweeney.The problem with his interview turns out to be the fact that Mac lead him through the interview. He never said any knew information and only recited what Mac had told him happened.
Manifest: That piece of paper Shep gave Charlie that says but doesn't say sarin was on board the plane involved in Genoa... but hey, it turns out Shep's son was an employee at ACN until he was fired and long story short had a drug realapse and died. So this manifest? Yeah, it was fake. Hold it over a light for 20 seconds and the message 'fuck you, Charlie!' emerges in invisible ink. Charlie, duuuude, you got played. I still don't know if I should laugh about it or not.

But the ending. Damn. Jane Fonda stole the whole damn show (and I completely agree, everyone should want to be Daniel Craig). To quote Jeff Daniels: “I told Aaron when he showed us the script to this episode: ‘You wrote a Jane Fonda scene to beat all Jane Fonda scenes.’” Leona Lansing has transformed from the bitch we all loved to hate in season 1 to basically the greatest human on the planet (right behind Sloan Sabbith of course).

Highlights of the Episode

Sloan Sabbith. She's the highlight in every episode. "You wouldn’t survive in jail, Don. I would. I’d thrive.”

When Mac finally caught on to the fact that Genoa was a giant scam my heart literally broke into a thousand pieces. If you didn't want to hug her when she told the team to retract the story you must have a heart of stone

When Leona Lansing takes no shit: “No, I do not accept your resignations! And Jerry Dantana is not going to get ONE FUCKING DOLLAR! I’ve got some kick ass courtroom outfits.”

Promo: 2x08, 'Election Night, Part 1'

Book Review: Creation In Death by J.D. Robb

Creation in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eve has seen this crime scene before: the artfully arranged body of a young brunette, arms spread, palms up, body marked by the signs of prolonged and painful torture. Carved into her torso is the time it took her to die - in hours, minutes, and seconds. And on the third finger of her left hand has been placed a silver ring. Eve is catapulted back to a case nine years earlier, when a man whom the media tagged 'The Groom' put the city on edge with a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days.

Eve and her partner Feeney, her friend and mentor, couldn't stop him before he disappeared, only to resurface in other parts of the world to kill and kill again. But now The Groom seems to have come back to where he started. When it turns out that The Groom's most recent victim was employed by Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him onto the case. A move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made it personal. The corpse was washed in products from a store Roarke owns and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures. With the Groom's monstrous return, Eve is determined to finish him once and for all. Familiar with his methods, she knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. But his sights are set on the biggest challenge of his illustrious career - an abduction that will test his skills and that promises to give him satisfaction as he's never known.

Time is running out on another woman's life and for Eve.

My review

I absolutely loved this book and it instantly become another one of my favourites. Creation in Death is definitely not the best In Death book in the series so far but is defintely hovering around that top spot.

The novel explores Eve and her team hunting down a serial killer whom the media dubbed 'The Groom' - 9 years ago. The killer seems to have resurfaced to finish what he started - painfully torturing women for prolonged periods of time, carving into their torsos the time it took them to die. On the third finger of their left hand is placed a silver ring. This time, however, the killings become a whole hell of a lot more personal with all the victims being employees of Roarke.

'The Groom' case was an extremely good one for bringing out some variety with how characters react and interact with each other - most particularly the strain it caused between Eve and Feeney. I enjoyed the fact that Roarke got a more hands on approach with this case - being involved every step of the way - and got more of a feel of how cops operate during high-profile/intense cases.

The fast pace of the narrative was a very nice additition, helping reflect the speed the killer ets through his victims as well as highlighting the non-stop buzz within the team as the tried to hunt him down. It would have been extremely interesting to see if Robb was abale to incorporate more twists but the plot worked regardless.

I absolutely loved 'The Groom's' last victim, Ariel. She was brilliant in trying to prolong her life and her interaction/connection with Eve was something that made me smile. I'd love to see her in a future novel even if only mentioned in passing.

In the future of the series, I hope we get to see Eve in a little bit more danger, and by that I mean, where Eve is put into a position where Roarke, Feeney, Peadbody etc have to work hard to get her back. Physically make a huge effort. An effort that may last a few days where we get to see the strain it places on everyone involved. I don't want the team to already be legging it towards the place Eve is being help minutes after she's been captured. Other than that, this was a well written book, with another cracking case and more brilliant characterisation.

Book Review: The Marriage of True Minds by Stephen Evans

The Marriage of True Minds by Stephen Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story of a crossed love that is star to every wandering bark.

Together as husband and wife, Nick Ward and Lena Grant ran a successful boutique law firm in Minneapolis, vanquishing all their legal foes side by side. When Nick’s charmingly erratic behavior finally became too much for Lena, the marriage and the partnership ended. But—like C. K. Dexter Haven and Tracy Lord—it seems that Lena and Nick just can’t quite separate.

Lena works out fiercely, keeps her dates with the boring and conventional Preston Winter, and daily battles on against corporate greed. But Nick’s not doing so well.

Still brilliant and devilishly clever, he is now also almost crazy. He is prone to fantasy and the big gesture, and he engages frantically in guerrilla activism for the sake of animals wild and domestic. Nick doesn’t make plans; he has visions. And eventually his antics put him back into Lena’s hands. While she tries to navigate the legal waters into which he’s thrown them, Nick veers out of her wake and into the midst of a strange set of companions, including Oscar, his psychiatric attendant and Action Comics collector; Ralph and Alice Wilson, the rebellious managers of the city animal shelter; and an aging Russian hound named Wolfram.

My review

The Marriage of True Minds may be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Evans sharp ear for dialogue and brilliant characterisation makes this novel an extremely witty and fun read.

The reader is immediately thrust into the magnetic and somewhat dysfucntional relationship between the clever Lena Grant and devishly brilliant/delusional Nick Ward.

Recently divorced, Lena is entrusted with the burden of baby sitting her eccentric ex-husband after he ends up in the psych ward for filling the mayor's pool with ice and live lobsters - making his getaway in a stretch limo. Lena battles the waters of keeping the very blasé Preston Winters happy whilst inevitably keeping Nick out of prison and confronting her feelings once and for all in regards to one extremely 'cracked partnership'.

This minimalist novel cleverly interlaces themes of love, mental health and animal rights into a scintillating narrative where ideals clash with reality.

Recap and Review: The Killing, 3x11 and 3x12

The Killing
Season 3, Episode 11/12
"From up Here" and "The Road to Hamelin"
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

After the Emmy worthy performance of Peter Sarsgaard in last weeks episode, the finale opens up with the aftermath of his death. Linden and Skinner are back to their extracurricular activities in the bedroom (can I just say at last despite the end results), Holder makes nice with his girlfriend and Becker leaves prison life whilst Henderson finally embraces the job.
Just when it seems like not a lot can happen, it all comes crashing down.

Linden and Holder catch a new case, the body of a girl is found in a burnt out car, execution style bullet wound to the head, teeth and ring finger removed. The Pied Piper is still at large (shocker!).

Going into the episode I had my suspect pool narrowed down to Henderson, Reddick and Skinner - and I have to admit Skinner was at the bottom of that list.

All arrows, however, were pointing at Reddick (the far too obvious suspect). After trying to pawn off the case to someone else, taking bullet's call, having a connection with one the victims and access to police records it seemed only obvious for Linden and Holder to start chasing him down as the real killer. Such a damn shame that the person they shared their suspicions with was Skinner. A big 'oh shit why did I do that' moment when Linden spots Kallie's ring being worn by none other than Skinner's daughter.

Linden's realisation that she was in love with a serial killer was probably one of the most heart wrenching moments in the episode. Sarah Linden, forever unfortunate in love and in life. For once I'd just love to see her happy for longer than 5 minutes and for that happiness to at least last for a while.

The finale ends with Linden pointing her gun at Skinner (after she takes yet another dangerous drive with a criminal on the promise that she'll be lead to Adrian - the missing son of Peter Sarsgaards, Ray Seward). Skinner confesses to all 21 murders and then some. As if 21 women weren't enough there are plenty more bodies scattered around Seattle that are yet to be found and identified. The women he killed were viewed as nothing more than whores and "human garbage".

It was somewhat shocking and cathartic to see Linden put a bullet between Skinner's eyes despite Holder's objections. Though the ending was crisp and abrupt, it leave me yearning more. I need a season 4 to see how this fatal move plays out and affects all the character's involved.

Highlights of the episode
The cute scene between Skinner and Linden in his office and the little discovery that Linden is always singing in the car (something we haven't seen happen with her and Holder). It was nice to see Linden in a different light and happy.
The (always) brilliant chemistry between Holder and Linden

“Oh c’mon Linden, I don’t gotta be my sleuth par excellence to see the cat’s got a hand in the jelly jar — and it ain’t the first time, neither!”

(gif not mine)

Sassy!Holder vs. IA

"You mind if we take a look at your phone?" 
"As long as you don't mind the pictures of me banging your momma last night."

Sassy!Reddick vs. IA

"Holder's an idiot, he's not Al Qeada. Jesus! Where are you brain trusts getting your intel from anyway? You couldn't solve a crime if it fell out of the sky and sat on your face. My PBA rep's on the line. I expect you pull that tampon outta your ass and cut him loose"

I just love the sass!

Ultimately, the finale was 2 hours of compelling drama that never became weak or dragging - The Killing is a show that deserves a 4th season! A show unlike any other crime show on TV; It will be extremely interesting to see how characters develop after this case and what more the show has to offer.

What did you think of the finale? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Book Review: Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb

Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am head over heels in love with this series and you'd think that after 24 novels that would dissipate? It hasn't. Robb/Roberts manages to make each book better and better and 'Innocent in Death' is by far my all-time favourite book from the series.

This book was 'unputtadownable', protagonist Eve Dallas catching the case of a well-liked teacher poisoned at a posh private school. With no clear motives and no suspects, Robb/Roberts wields a tale of mystery filled with numerous twists and turns that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats.

With minimal action this book is all about the psychological thrill.

Whilst Eve battles to find the killer she has to deal with the emotional turmoil surrounding her marriage to Roarke, when one of his ex-flames returns to rekindle their romance. This situation is one that I have waited a long time to witness and Robb/Roberts didn't let me down. There have been a number of books where Roarke and Dallas have been at odds but never have I felt so much pain for them like I did with this book. Summerset's involvement as he comforted Eve (in his own little way) proved the extent to which a rift had surfaced between the couple.

In Death is a must-read crime series and Innocent In Death is one that can't be missed.