It's hard to believe this is the 59th book in this long-running series. I have read many, but not all, of the prior books. The plot about a woman killed in a nightclub shortly before her wedding is intriguing. Lt. Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody are able to narrow down the suspects through interviews and thorough investigation.

Peabody is my favorite character in this series and I was happy to see she does play a big role in the investigation, unlike some of the more recent books in which Roarke is the one who partners with Eve when questioning suspects. I like the way Dallas and Peabody complement each other so I was glad there were more of those scenes in this book. There were some entertaining moments in the book, but this is not one of my favorites in the series. There doesn't seem to be as much substance as others in the series, and the writing isn't up to the standard of what I expect from a J.D. Robb book. I would rate it 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy of this ebook. Although I received the ebook at no cost, my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Eve Dallas has her hands full trying to solve the murder in Passions in Death by J. D. Robb. She continues to depend on Peabody and Roarke in her endeavors.

Stimulating mystery, well-developed characters, and a comfortably paced read. See my complete review at www.reviewingtheevdence.com.

3.5 rounded up - I didn't realize this was a series and to come in on number 59 is rough, even with how the author handled the previous details. Very obvious redherring aside, I liked the who dunnit aspect.

I only recently started this top notch series. This is the 59th story featuring NYC Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas. She lives with her husband Roarke, who is wealthy and very caring of her. The setting is the slightly futuristic 2060s. But even with a little advanced technology this is very much a police procedural novel.

Dallas is called to a nightclub that is familiar to her from her past. The murder victim is one of two brides who were there to have a girls night out before their upcoming weekend wedding. Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody along with their team investigate people in attendance as well as others with a possible motive. This includes interviews, forensics, and running down alibis. You follow Dallas as she pieces together information to find the suspect. She is always professional and caring, wanting justice.

I love that Robb (Nora Roberts) writing in her seventies is inclusive in having a victim be part of a loving lesbian couple. And her use of phrases like "friends with bennies" delighted me. I don’t think my mother knows what that means. LOL. I really appreciate that her writing continues to feel fresh and engaging. The pace is great and the story moves along with ease. I still need to catch up on so much of this series when I can find the time.

I have never read a bad book by J.D.Robb and her newest is no exception. Eve and Peabody are back at it when a young bride to be is killed while out with her fiancé and best friends. Knowing it was a crime of passion Eve and Peobody investigate the death only like they can. This story also had a lot of focus on Eves marriage to Roark and her group of friends. Reading these books feels like checking in with your favorite TV series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Eve Dallas is a murder cop but this one hit close to home.  A bachelorette party at the Down and Dirty and murder in the same room where Eve was once assaulted at her own pre-wedding bash.  A surprise turns bloody, the wedding flowers will become funeral flowers and the long dreamed about honeymoon to Hawaii will never happen.  Is it a crime of passion or cold premediated murder? Eve and her trusty sidekick Peabody are on the job and justice will be served. 
There were no cameras and no clues as to whodunit. It will take old fashioned police work with a good helping of gut to get to the bottom of the crime and bring the killer out into the open. It's only as Eve begins to crack the case open in the end and starts looking for proof that the story picks up the pace otherwise it's a little slow and meandering. 
Since there is no flashbang or multiple murders there was time to dwell on how much Eve has grown into her rich and luxurious lifestyle and how much her relationship with her billionaire husband has settled into a comfortable fit.  Dr. Mira is of course there to provide her insights and consults and along the way if we catch a glimpse of the relationship between the Mira's and see Mr. Mira in a role as cook and plumber all the better.  We also catch a very quick glance at all the other usual suspects between the electronic division, Eve's own squad, etc. 
Slow and steady wins the race and I salute Ms. Roberts or Ms. Robb as I should refer to her here for this series for coming up for yet another motive for murder.  I missed the fast paced, curved balls, late-night dream chats with the victims, fun interactions with Eve's squad and glimpses into Roarke's largesse as he treats the team to food and drink to fuel their investigation. So, I can't wait for the next case in the Death series.

Book number 59 in the "In Death" series is here! A bachelorette party gone wrong. When one of the brides-to-be is murdered Eve Dallas, along with her faithful crew are on a mission to discover who and why. As always, we get glimpses of our favorite chubby cat and the beloved cast of characters that encompasses the "In Death" world. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this series. Now I’m excited about book SIXTY and what that’ll bring.

Mystery perfection!
~Tanja

A propulsive procedural that sees Lt. Eve Dallas investigating a crime with echos of an attack that she herself suffered in the same location. Eve, her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, and her husband, Roarke must find the villain who attacked two brides at a hen party in a private club. There's a good list of suspects and she's got to work through them. The mystery is twisty enough but the characters are better. It's amazing that this is the 59th in the series and yet each one can still stand on its own. I've dipped in and out and each time I'm reminded of how good a storyteller Robb is- and this is no exception. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

As Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the New York City Police Department gets pulled into another crime scene - it gets personal for her. A murder happened at the same Down and Dirty Club and in the same private room, where she was viciously attacked when celebrating her upcoming wedding. That this victim was also celebrating with friends and family her soon-to-happen wedding, brings it even closer to home for Eve and her husband-sometimes-citizen expert, Roarke, along with partner Detective Peabody. This series is the one I can hardly wait for the next book to come out as the well-written and realistic police-procedural can't help but draw the reader into trying to help solve the crime! Eve's character defines this series as she is hard-wired to take care of her victims by solving their murders. As Eve determines the crime was senseless and very personal - it forces her to examine her own relationships that she has reluctantly come to rely on since her marriage to Roarke. Her initial lack of desire to be involved in personal, social relationships and the way she stumbles through those that she now has, is often times comical, but mostly endearing (but don't let her know that at your own risk). Eve painstakingly pulls this crime apart bit by bit, suspect by suspect, until she hones in on the murderer and takes him to the interview-box with no mercy. It amazes me that JD Robb continues to be able to bring us to book number 59 of this series and always give us something new while fine-tuning all the characters in the series that help to make it such a delight to read. Personally - I feel that I know them all well now....and even find myself using some of the "future-speak" used in descriptions - much to the confusion of others. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #PassionsInDeath

Four and a half stars

The first I’ve read in this immensely popular series, featuring Lt Eve Dallas, — this will definitely not be the last.

With an appeal that crosses genres, this story is as much about Dallas and her “tribe” - beginning with her ongoing romance with her spouse, the mega-rich and gorgeous Irishman Rourke — along with her circle of friends, (whom I can only imagine has both grown and tightened over the many years this series has been in existence) as it is about a new case, and the puzzling mystery surrounding it.

When a struggling artist, Erin Albright, is brutally murdered during her bridal shower, days before her marriage to the woman of her dreams, the close group of friends celebrating with her become prime (and really, only) suspects for the crime. Thus begins a meandering path undertaken by Dallas and team to understand the characters forming Erin’s closest relationships (with motivators both apparent and hidden) - kicking off a process that allows the author to draw many parallels between the intimate bonds held by the victim and her circle or tribe, and the relationships that Dallas herself holds near and dear.

As Eve and her aid, the empathetic and oddly charming Peabody, begin to put the pieces together, an interesting and ultimately satisfying (to this reader, as well as the crime-solving team) ending evolves - an ending which goes to show one may never really understand the hidden passions that drive those closest to us.

A fun mystery/romance/character-driven mash-up, also peppered with humor, and a trickle of quirky sci-fi elements that serve to remind us the author has set this series in what is now the relatively near future (2050’s).

I reviewed the audio version of this book and enjoyed the narration very much, finding the format an engaging and entertaining alternate dimension to the story.

A great big thank you to the author, the publisher and #NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

While a little more personal life macro plot progression would have taken this to the next level (I feel like Mavis & Peabody have been moving into this new house for half the series at this point 😅), I really appreciate the solid police procedural of this one. It was one that was more about probing the psychology of the suspects rather than strictly following clues, but that worked with the overall theme of a crime of passion.

Note - this is one that could be read without reading earlier books pretty well if folks are looking to try the series

his is only about the third book I've read in the series (out of fifty-nine). I enjoyed this book, but I don't think this series will ever be one I'm dying (see what I did there?) to read. All the futuristic stuff is kind of a turn off for me and keeps it from being five stars.

The who dunit part of the story is very well thought out and plotted and I love all of the deductions made by Lt. Dallas and her colleagues and the inclusion of her husband in some of it. Of course, it is totally wonderful when she slaps those cuffs on the guilty.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-book. All thoughts are my own.

Not many series last for so many books and still demand the reader's interest. Usually after fifteen or twenty books, the plots are recycled and the quality is erratic. When Nora Roberts decided to switch genres and write a futuristic thriller, she used a pen name. But the author is so adept at creating fascinating characters with relationships that ring true, snappy dialogue, well thought out plots that the J.D.Robb "In Death" series took off. Eve Dallas is a tough murder cop who stands for the dead. Her husband Roarke, who looks like an Irish God, is a "gazillionaire" who often helps out when he isn't "buying the universe". Eve's partner, Peabody, is a free-ager (hippie) who's soft edges allow her to play good cop to accent Eve's persona. The procedural thrillers are packed with several other recurring characters, each with their own unique personality and reading one of the books is like visiting with family.

The title of this novel is a bit of a misnomer. Most of the books in the series have lots of action and at least a few spicy scenes with a different type of action. This latest book omits both and centers on the inner workings of Eve's mind as she tracks down the killer and figures out how to pin down the culprit with very little evidence. Although the murderer was no great surprise, the motive was unexpected. It made an interesting change of pace. Readers can always look forward to Eve's unique musings as she ponders the literal meanings of phrases as opposed to the accepted meaning. That and the quick comebacks between Eve and those closest to her are always a lot of fun.

Because this is a must read series, I was thrilled to get access to advance copies from the publisher of both the text and the audiobook editions. I alternated between the two formats and enjoyed the book immensely. Check the audio edition for the review that includes my praise of the fantastic narrator. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. If you are new to the series, you would miss out on the ongoing character development, but the plots are episodic and the book includes enough background to allow the reader to enjoy the book as a standalone. Long time readers will love this latest novel.

loved this mystery and keeping secrets and the different point of views. Also loved trying to figure out who did it . I enjoyed the mystery behind it.

Dallas and Peabody are called to the scene of a murder at the Down and Dirty club where a crazy in love young couple is celebrating their upcoming wedding with their best friends. Except everything is not as it seems and someone at the club is not happy with this union. I adored Erin and Shauna, their circle of friends, and the precise way the world crumbled as the detectives became ever closer to finding the murderer. With tried and true police work, an understanding of the human psyche, and a determination to find justice for the dead, the detectives work tirelessly to solve a murder that is precise, calculated, and passion filled. With a complex, fast-paced plot, strong friendships and relationships, characters that you can’t help but relate to and like, and a plot that will keep you turning pages, “Passions in Death” is a fantastic police procedural detective story! I am thoroughly hooked on the series and really want to know the back story on all of my favourite characters (this is book 59 in the “In Death” series).

If I were writing a cover blurb for #PassionsInDeath, I would say “Appearances can be deceiving, and trusting the wrong person will be deadly. If detectives Dallas and Peabody are unable to stop the killer odds are they will kill again to exercise their new found power.”

I loved narrator Susan Ericksen and how she brings all of the characters to life, especially Rourke with his Irish accent and Chi-Chi with her attitude. And while I switched between the ebook and audiobook, I have to say once I settled into the audio, I actually preferred this format.

#PassionsInDeath is published on September 3, 2024. Thank you NetGalley Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the #drc and #audiobook of this title. I am a big fan of JD Robb


#mystery #thriller #suspensenovels #detectivebooks #crimebooks #futuristicsuspense #dallasandrourke #peabodyanddallas #policeprocedurals #indeathseries #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgeek #booknerd #seriesbooks #youshouldreadthis #highlyrecommend #bookreview #bookrecommendations

It is a hot time, summer in the city as Eve and Roarke are called out in the early hours to a bachelorette party gone deadly in the Down and Dirty Club. Eve is grimly reminded of her own near fatal experience in the very same private room as the victim. Erin had a big surprise planned in the seedy backroom including a silly costume and two tickets for fiancée Shauna’s dream honeymoon trip to Hawaii. Now instead of a wedding, the only ceremony planned is a funeral while Eve Dallas hunts down the perpetrator.

Since the club was full of lubricated witnesses including Shauna, there is little to go on, but as usual, Eve and company will do their best to ferret out the close-knit groups’ secrets and possible motivations for this crime of passion and perhaps, even vengeance. Eve’s memories of her own assault as well as current marriage to Roarke and all it has led her to, intertwine the investigation. The implication of Shauna’s friends, some since high school, and associates keeps the investigation tightly focused on a relatively small circle of would be suspects.

While I always enjoy being back in the world of Eve Dallas and Roarke as well as their found family and friends, this story seemed more repetitive and narrowly focused than some. The part I enjoyed the most besides Eve’s investigative techniques and good times grilling witnesses and suspects is connected by to Eve and Roarke own history and parallels of the lead up to their wedding three years prior. Eve’s assessment about how much she has come to value “the marriage deal” as she calls it makes an entertaining symmetry to the story.

It's unfathomable that there are 59 books in this series and it still feels fresh. I've been reading the In Death books since the 90's and have an obsession with the world of Dallas and Roarke. In this latest installment, Eve is called out to investigate a murder in her friend Crack's club. A bride-to-be just days away from her wedding has been killed, and the whole situation eerily echoes what happened to Eve the night before her own wedding. The case itself is interesting, as are the parallels to Eve's past, and as always, the side characters shine. I'll keep on reading this series as long as Nora Roberts as her alter ego, J.D. Robb, wants to write them! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy.

I received an ARC from netgalley but this represents my own opinion.

I love Nora Roberts. I've loved her writing for decades, since before google was a thing that told me she was as amazing as her writing. Unlike another author whom I started reading within the same couple of years, she hasn't used her platform to sow seeds of hate and division, and I'm grateful for it. Her women are strong and loving, and her men are worthy.

If you're looking for a whodunit, this isn't it. It's not about who does it as much as why and how because very few people do characters as well as Nora does and she knows it. There's no suspense in this one either, no chases or takedown, though Eve has her usual encounter with misdemeanor dude. Those never get old, and highlight an interesting combination of compassion and cynicism.

<spoiler>The thing I find most interesting about this book is how the characters you don't like are both rigid in their worldviews. You have the anti-bi, anti-monogamy lesbian ex who hates one bride for getting her ex to settle down on one hand and the very straight ex who can't accept being replaced by a woman on the other. I won't say if either, both, or neither is the killer but honestly that feels unimportant. The real enemy here is the tendency to put people and life in boxes and then become angry when they don't fit.<spoiler>

I love Nora Roberts. I love this series. I love this book.

Thank you St. Martin's Publishing Group and J.D. Robb for providing me with an eARC of the soon to be released Eve Dallas novel. Passions in Death is #59 in this excellent series written by J.D. Robb. If this is the first you're hearing about this futuristic mystery series, please check it out. Be sure to start at the beginning.

On a hot, sticky summer night in 2061, Eve Dallas, New York homicide detective, receives a call from her friend Crack. Crack is the owner operator of the Down and Dirty Club. Not ususally open on a Monday, tonight the club was hosting a bachelorette party. Sadly, the bride-to-be has been found dead in one of the party rooms. Crack knows Eve will look past his record, and the seamy location of the woman, to find out who ended her life. Eve arrives to discover the woman is dead in the same party room where Eve fended off an attack in the earlier novel, Immortal in Death. Eve was lucky and now she vows to find justice for this poor woman.

Book after book, J.D. Robb continues to write a quality series. Some of the Eve Dallas books are fast paced, dealing with multiple deaths, organized crazed killers or terrorist groups. Others, like this book, are slow burners dealing with a crime of passion. No matter what type of killer Eve is pursuing, she is still the same strong, kick ass woman we met in book 1, Naked in Death. She's mellowed a bit and has her vulnerable moments but never compromises her values. Her husband Roarke and her partner Peabody are front and center in every book. A revolving cast of characters peppers the books, keeping things fresh. In addition to reading the books for the mystery, I also read them to keep up with the lives of these characters. I'm invested in them as much as I am with Eve and am always happy to see the return of one of them. I can't recommend this series highly enough, 5 out of 5 stars.