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.

A bachelorette party at the Down and Dirty turns from a rowdy night out to a horrible tragedy when one of the brides is murdered. Everybody loved Erin and her fiancée – they have a tight circle of friends and no one can imagine who would do this. But someone in their inner circle did. Lieutenant Eve Dallas doesn’t know Erin Albright, but she will come to as she stands for her and finds the killer in Passions in Death.

Within the more case-centric In Death stories, there are two kinds of tales: one where it’s a race against time and others like this one that have a more measured pace. This story is the latter and it’s a nice breather to the more tense installments while also being a compelling story on its own. The crime Eve, Peabody, and company are trying to solve is engaging because the victim at the heart of it seems so likeable, was on the verge of a joyous occasion, and as Eve notes, it was a crime that was committed not just of passion but of a meanness, a pettiness that adds its own flavor of cruelty. I liked watching Eve and Peabody do the legwork, consult others and work the case. I especially liked that Eve was torn between suspects and her reasoning kept me switching back and forth as well.

At fifty-nine full-length books into the series, Eve and Roarke are fairly settled into their marriage but that doesn’t mean things are less interesting. I love watching them grow together and this case puts them in a more reflective mode over marriage and partnership. J.D. Robb doesn’t bring us any dramatic highs or lows in this story and that’s just fine by me. The longer I sit with it the more I like this story.

Most of the In Death books can be read on their own, but I will warn that if you don’t like spoilers then you should be up-to-date before starting Passions in Death as past cases (and whodunit) are mentioned. I admit, being a longtime fan is also why I so enjoyed the quieter character moments, the bonds of love and friendship weaving throughout the background of this story. It’s not just Eve and Roarke who continue to grow, it’s their circle as well. Any time spent in the world Robb has created is a delight and this trip was no exception.

A joyful pre-wedding party celebration turning into a murder scene will immediately pull readers into the story in Passions in Death, the fifty-ninth book in J. D. Robb’s well-written futuristic police procedural set in August, 2061 in New York City. This series features homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, and her husband, Roarke, along with an assortment of regular secondary characters. The two brides, Erin Albright and Shauna Hunnicut, and their friends are having a girls’ night out five days prior to the wedding. One bride has a surprise for the other and has rented a private room to prepare for the big reveal. However, someone has a surprise planned for her. Dallas and Peabody arrive on the scene, but useful witnesses are hard to find. Can they find the murderer?

Time spent with Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, and their colleagues and friends is always entertaining. Eve is honorable, honest, a detailed planner, has strong moral principles, and has a strong sense of duty to victims and their families. Her need to serve and protect comes through in every book, but the underlying impetus for this is best understood by reading this series in order. Her ability to think through scenarios and latch onto the most likely one is uncanny and fascinating to see unfold. It’s compelling to see how Eve’s mind works getting a better and better picture of the killer.

As always, the interactions between Dallas and Roarke as well as with their friends and her homicide team are enjoyable and bring different facets of her personality to light. I thought the scene between Dallas and Roarke when he was angry about a work-related issue added insight into how far their relationship has come during the series.

Murder, suspense, and drama immediately pull readers into the storyline. The author continues to use prose to elicit a strong emotional response from readers. She also is skilled in using humor to bring out character personalities as well as to offset some of the more serious aspects of the story. Complex plots, strong characters, excellent pacing, and delightful relationships are a constant in this series. Woven through the novel are threads of friendship, standing for victims, complicated relationships, ego, justice, trust, anger, found family, jealousy, manipulation, and much more.

Robb is an excellent storyteller who combines a clever plot with gripping scenes, lots of solid police investigation, and engaging characters with depth. Besides the investigation, Dallas’s strong investigative techniques and her relationships with Roarke, her friends, and her colleagues drive the narrative. It has the right balance of mystery, police investigation, romance, and creative twists. While it was a little too easy to discern who the killer was, the full motivation took some time to become apparent.

Overall, this novel was an emotional and twisty tale with great characterization that kept me engaged throughout the story. If you enjoy intriguing near-future police procedurals with a strong female lead, then I recommend this series. I can’t wait to read the next book.

St. Martin’s Press and J.D. Robb provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for September 03, 2024.

So this is the 59th "In Death" book. I honestly have to say when Robb just focuses on "small" murders the series really works better. I think having Eve go "international" and always catching some serial killer who has eluded people for decades just doesn't work anymore. At this point, you think the feds would be begging her to join and or have her do cold cases or something. Ahem. I digress.

"Passions in Death" has some really great parts. We have the return of Crack and Rochelle. They are honestly my favorite couple in the series at the moment. We rarely see Charles and Louise anymore. And I am heartily sick of Nadine and whathisface. So with "Passions" we have a double bridal party at the Down and Dirty, one of the brides turns up murders which makes things all kinds of personal for Crack and also Eve and Peabody.

High points, honestly all of the characters sing in this one. You just feel like you are getting more time with everyone. And for once everyone is doing their duly appointed jobs. You don't have Eve just going by to give face time to Mira. Mira is actually there to point out what the profile is saying and what she thinks because Eve is (shockingly) stuck between thinking two people could have murdered one of the brides. And honestly you are left guessing almost to the end (which one again thank you!).

I won't lie, I skipped the house talk/renovation anytime it was mentioned. McNabb and Peabody were actually okay, once again, because you get to see them at work and you can see the sweetness between them (there's a sweet scene where Eve seems them walking and holding hands). It's very reminiscent of how Eve won't let Roarke kiss or touch her near the other cops.

Even Summerset had some funny parts (he and Galahad man).

The secondary characters we get to meet via the brides were great too. I don't want to spoil, but once again, I think that it's great how Robb is incorporating a lot of things going on right now into her futuristic books and I appreciated it a lot.

The flow was great and the setting of New York in 2061 doesn't feel that far away anymore. Even though we don't have all of the tech that Eve and Roarke do.

There's a side story that is tossed in about Roarke's work that was really not necessary (sorry, not sorry) and there's another side story about buying Mavis baby gifts that made my eyes glaze over. That still wasn't enough for me to knock this down because this is one of the latter series books that I can see myself reading again and again. I just kept going I needed one more scene with the murderer and or to see things five years in the future because I loathed the person that much.

Murder at a bachelorette party? At the Down and Dirty? Oh yes. Who would want to kill the bride? Why would they want to? There are plenty of questions but not many answers as Dallas and Roarke go to meet Crack at his request (because you know, Crack knows who to call!) to find the murderer. There are plenty of suspects, but none of it make much sense. But never fear, Dallas and Peabody are on the case and it’s just a matter of time before it will be cracked open and solved, but it is a surprise! Totally recommend this book, especially for fans of Dallas and the sexy Roarke.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title for an honest review.

I love this book. It’s a little different in that Dallas has some problems finding the killer. This book doesn’t have as much of the relationships of Dallas “tribe” which I missed. We haven’t seen much of Mavis & family, Trina etc. I really liked the storyline of this book, it feels personal. #PassionsinDeath #NetGalley

I have followed this series for many years and enjoy the futuristic setting and characters. Eve is a strong FMC, and I adore her partner, Peabody. Their banter is so funny, and I laughed out loud several times. I cannot get enough of Eve's relationship with her swoony husband, Roarke. And I loved that Crack returned in this one. Getting to visit these characters is always a treat.
The setup of this mystery intrigued me initially, and I genuinely tried to love it, but it just fell flat for me a little bit. Much of the dialogue and the rehashing of the suspects and motives were repetitive, and there was little action, so it went around in circles somewhat. It's still enjoyable but not my favorite of the series. However, I am still a devoted fan and will read anything J.D. Robb writes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

*3.5 rounded up

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - June 24, 2024
Publication Date - September 3, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @jdrobbauthor, @stmartinspress and @netgalley!

Passions in Death is an enjoyable, slower-paced mystery! I did find that there are lots of acronyms that people unfamiliar with police or medical terminology might not know. If you are used to mysteries and thrillers, you shouldn’t have a problem following along. My favourite part of this book was any time Roarke and Eve spent time together. I liked their relationship and how they bounced off each other. The pace picked up more in the second half of the book and a lot more started to happen. Even though I guessed who did it early on, solving the case was still satisfying and everything wrapped up nicely!

If you like mystery, 2SLGBTQIA+ rep and female investigators, you should give Passions in Death a try!

Get excited to read Passions in Death, available September 3! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

You can never go wrong with the In Death series IMHO. I attribute J.D. Robb's writing skill to a little frustration we the reader felt, as we were feeling Eve's frustration trying to decipher how and who killed a bride to be at her bridal shower. Having it take place at the Down n Dirty - Cracks place, in the same room Eve was assaulted is just more angst on top. The icing as always is family, Eve's cop family, her family with Roarke, her friends she let in over the years and watching them all grow in their own universe within Eve's is a win. Thank you for the opportunity to read the book early. I freely share my thoughts and opinions. #PassionsinDeath #InDeath #J.D.Robb #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

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I found this novel to be very interesting and an insight into police investigations. The plot revolves around the murder of a woman at her pre wedding celebration with friends. Once Eve Dallas gets involved, the intrigue begins as we learn about the backgrounds of friends and business associates of the deceased. However, I found this process dragged on and on and was just too long and drawn out.
I thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.