LOVED this latest installment of the In Death series. Such a great storyline and loved how it tied into Summerset's past during the Urban Wars. Super engaging, fast paced, kept me on my toes, and this found family of characters continues to be my favorite!

Rating: 4.5 stars

In this installment of the "In Death" series, Eve Dallas is investigating the death of Giovanni Rossi, an elderly Italian gentleman who dies within minutes of arriving in New York. Digging into his past leads her to Summerset, a member of her own household, and to events that happened decades before. Finding his killer and preventing him from killing again, which he has plans to do, will be challenging on both a personal and professional level, and she will have to stay one step ahead of one of the worst villains she's ever faced.

I like this series. It doesn't require a lot of thought or concentration, and it's always fast-paced and action packed. There is always really cool technology that I wish we had in today's world, and the characters are fun to revisit book after book. This book is especially satisfying because of the look we get into Summerset's background. Long-time fans of this series will love getting to know something of this enigmatic character's past, but new readers won't feel out of the loop either. Having not read this series in complete order, I will say that there was some character development, and in particular some mention of names of characters, with which I was not familiar, but it didn't detract from the overall story. I think readers could jump in here and be okay if they chose. I recommend this series and this book specifically to mystery buffs, technology lovers, and those looking for a quick, fun read from a long-running series that will keep you coming back for more.

The narrator did a fantastic job. I enjoyed how she tried to separate the voices and protray the characters emotions. The team works to get to figure out who the murderer is leading the to Summersets past and colleagues. The new characters add a touch of history and help us better understand Summerset.

The past becomes prologue in the 60th book in the amazing IN DEATH series by JD ROBB.
During the Urban Wars in 2024-6, a group of 12 revolutionaries and patriots, called the 12, fought the resistance. Code names were all suited to them. Fox, Wasp, Magpie, Camelion,, Fawn, and more. One of the team, like Judas, betrays them. This sets the stage for the opening of the story is 2061.
Was has been summoned to NY by one of the 12, and because of an oath they all took, comes, no questions asked. Unfortunately, he is tricked and then murdered. Who has killed him is the question Eve Dallas needs to answer.
When it is revealed that Somerset, Roarke's defacto father and majordomo, was one of the 12, his backstory is told with great care. Eve knows they are now targeted by someone who wants them all dead. The remaining members of the team are summoned, and all arrive in NY, where an exhaustive search for the person who is killing them off is made.
With the steady and funny Peabody at her side, and along with Dr. Mira, Cher Reo, and the rest of the crew in Eve's command, you know how the story will end.
But the fun part is getting to the end.
Each one of the IN DEATH books is better than the last, which in itself is an accomplishment (60!) and this one was a story that was very dear to my heart. I have always liked Somerset even though he and Eve run noses like two prizefighters, caged. This story allowed her to find out about him as a man, a victim, a husband.
I think their animosity is now going to be curbed significantly.
I wish I could give higher than 5 stars, but that's the rating we are dealt! Bravo to another fabulous tale told with style and attention to detail no other author today exercises.
Thanks, NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and of course, JD Robb, for a sneak peek at what is sure to be another major award winner for the author!

Book 60…….it is an awe inspiring number of books in a series. And for me, personally, I have read every single one in this series. And own a copy of them all as well.
This book gives us a little deeper dive into Summersets past. While we know who Eve is chasing from early on I feel like it doesn’t take anything from the story.
I received an ALC of this title, all opinions are my own!

I've read a couple of books by this author, but not for many years, but remembered liking them so thought I'd try something from this series. First, I realize I am jumping in at book 60(!), so have no context for the characters or previous plotlines. Second, I didn't read closely enough to know the story is set in the future! That said, I really liked the story and generally enjoyed the characters, but wish I'd read instead of listened to it. I did not care for the narration at all, and feel like the narrator's choices made me like Eve Dallas less than I would have in text form. She gave her a really abrasive tone and decided Eve was always shouting at everybody. A couple of the secondary characters had super goofy voices, especially Peabody (who was always pronounced as Pee-buddy, to my annoyance). With the narrator's voice for her, she sounded like a total doofus rather than a competent cop.

However, I was very into the plot, which referred back to events in our near future (global wars, which seem depressingly likely right now) when a group of operatives were betrayed by a double agent who is now seeking revenge for his downfall. In the current timeline of the novel (2060s), Eve and her colleagues are trying to stop an assassination attempt. It' s a fairly standard crime/procedural novel, but the future setting added some interest and whimsy--but not too much. I liked how things worked mostly similarly to the way they do now, with some nice little upgrades in tech: searching online or in databases seems like sophisticated AI queries, there is a food and beverage generator thing instead of a microwave, and there are robots to do the dishes and other cleaning. Who wouldn't like a robot cleaner? I'll probably go back and read more of this series, but will bypass the audiobooks.

I used to enjoy the occasional Nora Roberts read, back before indie books were so prevalent … do I’ve been meaning to check out Robb for ages. Not sure this was the best read to start with, as it was pretty slow-paced.

I tried to get into this, but it was just too dull. Not for me.

2 stars.


🎧 Audio:
The narrator was okay, her voice was pleasant enough, but she sounded a bit too robotic
for my tastes. Would prefer to avoid this one going forward but … I’ve heard worse. 3 stars

I am an avid fan of this series; this addition does not disappoint. Solid plot, predictable and familiar characters. Yes, formulaic, but I believe that is what makes this series a success. I can generally, and accurately, predict that the capture and successful interviewing comes in the last hour (audiobooks) and no, that's not a spoiler. This is the truth for every one of these 60 books. I would have liked to have seen a little more about the suspect, I feel like we just see him commit his crime and not a lot of the 'why'. The thing I am enjoying with the latest volumes might not be what everyone else enjoys, but I find that the 'gratuitous sex' has been toned down (no, I'm not a prude, but it doesn't add anything to the story for me) and the chase and capture of the suspect is less violent (no, I'm not against violence in these books.....). Perhaps we're seeing a bit of aging in Eve and Roarke? Regardless, I enjoyed this book as well as all 59 previous books. The primary reason that I will always read/listen to the books in this series is the consistency of the types of stories and the incredible narrator that has, in my opinion, helped to make the audiobooks a success.

My audiobook ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

Giovanni Rossi responds to an urgent summons received from an old compatriot from his time during the Urban War as part of a secret organization called The Twelve. But once he lands in New York and eases into the waiting car it leads to his death.

When Lieutenant Eve Dallas begins working the case she realizes that it has a connection to the Urban War and that Summerset may know something that may be helpful. But seeing his shock and grief proves to be very personal.

It becomes obvious that someone plans to take out the remaining members of The Twelve. Eve, Roarke and her team are just as determined to prevent that from happening.

Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb is the latest installment in the Eve Dallas police procedure series by beloved author Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb.

In this book Dallas, her husband Roarke, and the regular cast of characters, Summerset, Peabody, McNabb, Feeney, Calendar, and Morris band together to find the killer of members of The Twelve, a group of spies who operated during the Urban Wars.

Even though we know that Dallas will eventually get her murderer, it's always a joy to follow along. The relationships between the characters is always spot on and believable, and I really enjoyed in this book how much the detectives and officers in Dallas' squad are so involved and even come to her and Rourke's home - it's really all hands on deck in this book.

As always, Roarke is the best husband ever and Summerset is a pain her butt, with Galahad there to give headbutts and love when needed.

Susan Ericksen is, as always, superb in her narration of this audiobook. Her voice is now synonymous with Eve Dallas in my mind and she gives such inflection to the story and also gets into the heart of each character she portrays.

I loved this book and can't wait until the next book. You'd think the characters would get boring after fifty plus books, but they don't and I always look forward to the next novel in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillen Audio for this advanced audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I came late to the Eve Dallas books, at least to the desire to grab and read them as they come out. I think I read some early ones. Bonded in Death is a story of "The Twelve," a group of European underground activists who ran important, dangerous missions during the Urban, a war that took place in the period we live in now,: Years from 2024 to 2026 get mentioned as we learn of this back story. It has the flavor of a group of anti-Nazi resistance groups, with the Twelve largely based in Britain but from, I think, four different countries. I won't spoil things, although this might be referenced in a book I never read, but someone known to Dallas and Rourke had a connection to the group. So, there are personal ties that are interesting as well.

We know early on that the group of twelve people, each with a code name, were quite close to carrying out an exceptionally dangerous mission that would free compatriots. Then, just in time, and at a great loss to the group, they found out there was a traitor in their midst. There were deaths. Fast forward to 2061, the present. We learn that one member of the group, who comes from Italy, has been called to New York by another member who moved there. He receives a plane ticket and a note. Things are so secretive that he merely tells his beloved wife that he took an oath to always be there when this old friend needed him. We become emotionally connected to him, learning he is a lovely, gentle soul who worked in IT and now revels in his retirement with his extended family. His trip becomes the starting point for quite a thriller and a lesson in history about heroes and traitors and psychopaths.

I read the audio version of Bonded in Death. At first, I felt mixed about the narrator's choice for Eve's voice, but as I regained information about her character I came to admire it. All of the accents and other voices rang true to me from the start and I definitely think the narrator, Susan Ericksen, is excellent. I enjoyed the intrigue, the characters, the setting and the resolution; just terrific!

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is initially baffled when she has a murder victim who has recently arrived from Rome. Who would want to kill Giovanni Rossi in a country where he had no connections?

This is my first time reading the In Death novels through audiobook - the narrator was particularly gifted at differentiating the characters through her accent work. I also really enjoyed the focus on recurring character Summerset. His backstory has always seemed fascinating and I loved getting a chance to hear more of it.

I would recommend this to any fans of urban fantasy, and of course, those who love Nora Roberts

When I say I was super excited and dying to read this book, I was not kidding. The In Death series is one of my favorites, and while I enjoy every installment, I particularly love the ones where the characters have an emotional connection to the case. And knowing this book was about Summerset's past, I was itching to read it. And Nora Roberts, as always, never disappoints. I absolutely loved this book! The case was interesting and suspensful, and I was hooked right from the beginning. I loved getting some more insight into Summerset, and the new characters we met were fabulous. 60 books in, Eve Dallas remains one of my top female main characters of all time.

The audiobook narration was amazing as always. Susan Erickson always does such a good job narrating Eve, as well as all the others. Her distinct character voices are always a pleasure to listen to!

OK, I’m definitely late to this series (number 60! Are there any other series with that many books? James Patterson?), but I was also late to reading Nora Roberts (and loving “The Lost Bride Trilogy”). Omigod, how does this author do it? Another of my favorite authors, Catherine Coulter, does romance and police procedural novels, so I dove right into this audiobook. The narrator, Susan Ericksen is fantastic — I’ve heard her before when she narrated Patricia Cornwell, Sara Paretsky, and Coulter books. Ms. Ericksen is as prolific a voice actor as Ms. Roberts/Robb is an author.

I knew only a little about Eve Dallas, but I so appreciated the prologue about The Twelve and the Urban Wars at the beginning. After that, I fully embraced Eve and Roarke and the obviously other regulars in a neatly plotted police procedural (I love this genre). Books in long series always reassure me that the main character might get hurt, but she’ll live to be in the next installment. This was entertaining and kept me interested to the end! 4 stars!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy!

I feel like a hater but I just don't enjoy this series anymore, I find the main character Eve completely grating and her character made this story an overall 3 star for me. I did enjoy the mystery and I like that each story finishes with a nice little bow on top but the villain was one note for me and sort of diminished the overarching story.

I listened to this on audio tho and this four star rating is for the narrator. She narrated her ass off with all the different accents and voices for every character, of which there were many, and made this experience an enjoyable one for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this eAudioARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Just when I think this series couldn't possibly get any better, it does! I adored seeing Sommerset as a larger part of this story and the backstory was poignant. Eve is growing as a person and watching her work is always a delight. It was a one-sitting listen and Susan Erickson absolutely nailed the voices and accents, as always. Listening was a joy!

I received an ARC in audio form.

Having no prior experience with this series beforehand, I was apprehensive since it was book 60. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was able to follow along absolutely 100%.

The narrator of the book was great. Her accents were on point and she kept my attention.

I want to go back and get familiar with the other 59 books now!

Dallas, Peabody, and all the usuals are on the trail of revenge and murder dating back to the Urban Wars. Not only did I enjoy the glimpses into the Wars of 2024, but Robert’s also included an intriguing look into Summerset’s early life and companions. Eve does the best interview since The Closer. As always, Susan Ericksen deftly narrates, providing some very humorous moments with an excited Peabody. The large cast of characters are clearly differentiated and pacing ebbs and flows with the plot. This is probably my favorite in the series so far and is sure to be in high demand. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.