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In Death #51

Shadows in Death

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10 hours, 30 minutes

Lt. Eve Dallas is about to walk into the shadows of her husband's dangerous past.

As it often did since he'd married a cop, murder interrupted more pleasant activities. Then again, Roarke supposed, the woman lying in a pool of her own blood a few steps inside the arch in Washington Square Park had a heftier complaint.

When a night out at the theatre is interrupted by the murder of a young woman in Washington Square Park, it seems like an ordinary case for Detective Eve Dallas and her team. But when Roarke spots a shadow from his past in the crowd, Eve realises that this case is far from business as usual.

Eve has two complex cases on her hands - the shocking murder of this wealthy young mother and tracking down the shadow before he can strike again, this time much closer to home. Eve is well used to being the hunter, but how will she cope when the tables are turned? As Eve and the team follow leads to Roarke's hometown in Ireland, the race is on to stop the shadow making his next move . . .

Audible Audio

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

J.D. Robb

207 books34.2k followers
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Forgotten in Death (St. Martin's Press, September 2021) is the 53rd entry in the series.

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5 stars
14,749 (59%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,991 reviews
Profile Image for Luffy Sempai.
756 reviews1,035 followers
September 29, 2020
The author is on her last legs. Knowing what I do about her, I'd say she has run out of ideas. Had I not known about her success laden trajectory, I'd say Shadows in Death is the work of a beginner with traces of talent.

Having glanced at all the reviews I've read online, I'd say, without doubt, that I'm not the target demographic for this novel. I'm under 45 and single. I think married couples share their love of the same books through those like this.

The author made puerile comments in almost all chapters in this book. She tried hard to please her readers, but I sensed her weaving the story in the background, and couldn't immerse myself in this novel.

The ending made me reread several words in disbelief. This climax was more like a low budget 80's action movie's script than a futurist procedural. The one liners were poor. The sentences ending the chapters just as. I wanted to like this book, wanted to believe my friends who gave it 5 stars.

Look, if you enjoyed Shadows in Death, fine. But though this book might make millions, its fan base is of a select few. What I'm trying to say is that this will not survive the test of time. Kudos to you fans. As for me, I have to start from square one.
Profile Image for Jilly.
1,838 reviews6,504 followers
September 11, 2020
I can't help it. Every time a new Eve Dallas book comes out my grabby hands come out.



This story was super fast-paced. I think it all took place within 48 hours, and it didn't do things I expected it to do at all.


Sometimes expected is better.

This starts with a killing in the park and the person responsible is easily found. Piece of cake. But, he had hired a professional who has evaded authorities for like 20 years. The book becomes a giant man-hunt with everyone involved in bringing the hired killer down. And, to make things more interesting, the guy is coming after Roarke next and they all know it.


Odd way of trying to kill someone, but I'll allow it.

There is a frantic pace of information coming together from all over as they try to get this guy before he gets them. The fun part of things is that everyone that we have come to know and love on the police force gets involved.


They have a lot of back-up. And a hella good a capella group I hear, although I doubt they'll need their services.

I had expected there to be some sort of new development in the world from reviews I had read, but there really wasn't. The relationship between Roarke and Eve is super solid now and I liked that Roarke wasn't as neutered as he seemed in the last book or so. He got a step-up from being Eve's errand boy. Still, I will be happy when something new happens on the personal front. I'm just not holding my breath. In the meantime, these are great police procedurals set in the future world.


It will be all of our lucky days when we get kangaroo pimps. There is no way that isn't a good idea. The future is so cool
Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,694 reviews2,500 followers
September 16, 2020
Well in my opinion Robb has done it again! Book 51 and it is at least as good as any of her earlier books and better than some. It helps of course to be a long term fan, as I certainly am.

I was pulled in instantly when I discovered that this was going to be a book about Roarke (and you can never have enough Roarke) whose colourful past comes back to haunt him from time to time. In this case it is a shadow in a crowd, someone he knows from his childhood and someone he realises is there to kill him.

Of course Eve and her team pull out all the stops to find the killer before he attacks Roarke or Eve or any of their friends. Computers run hot analysing data and many tiny details eventually add up to reveal his location. At the end there is a delightful, if totally unrealistic chapter, where everyone ends up in Ireland to take the killer down.

It was all good fun and I loved every minute of it. Sadly I finished it in a day and now have to wait for the next one. At least I know Ms.Robb knows how to look after her fans and that that next book is already written.
Profile Image for Corina.
793 reviews2,491 followers
July 27, 2024
It’s hard to believe but I was #1 on my library hold!!! Unbelievable, that never happens. At least not with a JD ROBB book.

Book 51 - I’m diving in...



Read it in one sitting - lol



Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,694 reviews2,500 followers
February 9, 2021
Well I have finished my reread of the entire In Death series just in time for Robb's latest which is out today! That has to be the best timing ever. I enjoyed all 51 books as much the second time around as I did the first.

Shadows in Death seemed to involve, or at least mention, every character in the series and there was even a short trip to Ireland fitted in. There was lots of action and police work, but the author made plenty of time too for the lovely at home scenes, including a funny one when Eve smells of another cat and Galahad takes umbrage.

I am obviously totally hooked on these books -for me they belong on a shelf marked 'Reading Comfort Food.' I am going to sit and look at book 52 for a while and savour it:)

Profile Image for Jonetta.
2,386 reviews1,195 followers
July 26, 2024
Eve and Roarke are called from their night out at the theater to the scene of a vicious murder in Washington Square. As Eve and Peabody are evaluating the scene, Roarke sees someone from his past in the crowd of onlookers. It’s a man named Lorcan Cobbe who is a hired assassin. Just as Roarke is convinced this is his work, Eve soon becomes equally convinced that the victim’s husband hired him. Needless to say, this is a case with which the “consultant” will definitely be associated.

Oh, this is the story I needed right at this moment. I like it when Eve and Roarke work together but even more when he’s asked from the highest ranks to be part of the investigation. Lorcan Cobbe is someone from Roarke’s childhood and he’s über dangerous. Roarke’s worried for Eve’s safety and vice versa, both not understating the threat. But what really got me excited was the dual investigative paths; building the case against the husband and the search for Lorcan. One brought short-term vindication, the other all the suspense and thrills.

I thought I knew all there was to know about Roarke’s past but this story delivered much deeper insight. Getting Roarke’s point of view is always a treat but this time we see him often off balance. It has all the elements I find compelling in the series, especially the main case. I really needed to see justice delivered and loved that we got one part early and deliciously. If you’re a fan of the series, settle in and enjoy. I certainly did.

Posted on Blue Mood Café
Profile Image for PamG.
1,101 reviews754 followers
February 13, 2021
SHADOWS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts) brings murder, romance and suspense to a well-written futuristic police procedural and romantic suspense set in New York City and Ireland in May 2061. This is the fifty-first book in the In Death Eve Dallas series and I have read all of them up to this point.

This story starts with our protagonist, Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYC police department, being called to a crime scene while at the theatre with her husband (and sometimes, civilian consultant), Roarke. The victim is Galla Modesto, one of the heirs to the family-owned Modesto Wine and Spirits business based in Italy.

It’s always entertaining to spend time with Eve, Roarke, and Eve’s colleagues. She is definitely a compelling and three-dimensional character. 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. Due to the way Eve was raised, she often doesn’t understand commonly used phrases and this comes into play a few times in this book making her seem more real and less perfect. As always, the interactions between Eve and Roarke are enjoyable and bring a different facet of Eve’s personality to light. Many of the reoccurring police characters play significant roles in this book. We also get to see a different side of Commander Whitney which gives him added dimension for the first time.

The prose is well-written, entertaining, and engaging. This time Roarke’s past intertwined with the storyline. The plot is thought-provoking, but there was a scene near the end that never should have occurred. I understand why it was in the book, but it detracted from the good police work that had occurred before it. I was disappointed that the author would include this in the book. The ending location and action was also unbelievable. While this book has some action, it is mostly a police procedural. It is tragic in places and uplifting in others. Robb is an author that manages to embed humor in her novels, providing some much needed levity to offset some of the more serious and grim aspects of the story. There is a steamy scene or two in the novel as well. Themes include love, respect, isolation, family dynamics, animal cruelty, child abuse, greed, murder, jealousy, obsession, hatred, pride, and arrogance.

If you enjoy engaging near-future police procedurals with some romance, then I recommend this series. Overall, it is entertaining, and over time, it is like spending time with old friends. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

I purchased a digital copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was September 8, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Profile Image for Mara.
1,835 reviews4,205 followers
September 21, 2020
It's getting so hard for me rate books in this series because the reality is... nearly any book in the In Death series is going to be a fun reading experience for me. I love the characters, I love the way the plots tend to work- basically, I love the general cozy feelings that this series gives me, which is a weird thing to say, I know, based on how grisly plot elements can get. That said, while I had a lovely time reading this, I don't think this was one of the best in the series. Particularly, I think some of the "hurt one of our family, hurt us all" elements just came across as kind of cheesy & improbable. I also am just uncomfortable that there is so much extrajudicial violence that continues to be perpetuated by the police in this series. I know that we're supposed to know that Eve & her team are "the good ones," but it's 2020. I think it's time to let fantasies of police taking justice into their own hands (e.g. allowing a suspect in their custody to be beaten in an act of personal revenge) go. It always takes me out of the story & mars what is otherwise a fun book.
Profile Image for ✰  BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰.
2,911 reviews12 followers
August 24, 2020
Copy received via Hachette Australia for an honest review

If you had told me 25 years/50 books ago that I would be loving book 51 in a series as much as I loved book 1, I would have laughed at you.

So many series I have read have fallen away as the number of books in the series has risen, however to me that is definitely not the case with the In Death series.

I am as eager for book 51 as I was picking up book 1.

JD Robb/Nora Roberts had me at the first "Darling Eve". Sigh... oh Roarke how I love you.

This installment went a little different to normal - the main murder is solved quite quickly, and we are left on the trail of someone from Roarke's past who has come to the present day to cause trouble.

It was great delving more into events from the enigmatic Roarke's past. I adore the way Roarke and his Eve work together, and this time I felt there was a lot more emotion between them, the worry they have for each other, the love they have for each other.

It was also great the way Eve and Roarke's worlds work together. It was like we got to see a bit of everybody at the precinct working together.

And I love the way Eve and Summerset's relationship has grown to where it is now.

Gah, I just love everything about this book.

Now I need to go find a Roarke of my own, as I am sure Dallas won't give up hers.

I can't wait for book 52!


Smokin Hot Book Blog Email
Profile Image for Brenda.
4,650 reviews2,893 followers
September 7, 2020
Woweee! Brilliant! I’m not sure how J.D. Robb continues to come up with the plots and intriguing conspiracies that she does, but I’m not complaining! Shadows in Death is up there with the best of the best…

A killer from Roarke’s past shows his face at the murder in Washington Square Park in New York which interrupted the night of theatre that he and Lieutenant Eve Dallas had attended. Roarke immediately knew he was the killer, bragging about it to his old nemesis. As Eve and Roarke, along with the whole team, including the Commander, conspired to take the killer down, the depth of their investigation took Roarke back to his days in Dublin as a child. His past was a cruel one, but this current day with the killer in it was worse. He was after Roarke, Eve and anyone else close to Roarke – he would kill them all. It was up to Eve and the team to stop him.

Shadows in Death is #51 in the In Death series by phenomenal author J.D. Robb and it was fantastic. Fast paced, intense, twisted – well written and executed, the In Death series is one I hope never ends. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Mo.
1,392 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2022
I LOVED this one ... I think it might have been because there was a lot more about Roarke and his early life.


Shadows everywhere ...


Roarke and Eve ... not much to say about them really - the perfect couple? I think so ... I love them. I have said it before, Eve is one of the best heroines I have ever read. Strong, loyal, a cop to the core. We had a lot of interaction with her team ... Peabody, Feeney, Morris, Whitney. Even the button ...

Roarke pulled the strap from his hair, slid it into his pocket. And with it, he felt the little button, Eve's gray button he carried for sentiment and luck ...



A blast from the past - from Roarke's past. Takes us full circle and it was quite the ride - engaging and exciting.

"Eve. for all my life before you, and had fate been so cruel as to deem I'd never meet you, I'd have nothing ..."


I am not one for sentimental drivel and 'lovey/dovey' talk and terms of endearment but, seriously, I just swoon when Roarke sprouts such sentiment to Eve ... she is not one for the terms of endearment either (maybe that is why I love her so much).


"I adore you."
"Shut up," she muttered, "just shut up about it."


Granted when he is in Cop Central using these terms of endearment, I don't blame her for telling him to shut the fuck up.

Of course I am a little bit biased as Roarke's family is from County Clare (my home county) ...

... a picture I took of the lake near my home village while I was there during Christmas ...




"Show the bleeding jackeen what a Clare man's made of."

"Our boy's more Clare man than Dubliner, and make no mistake of it...


Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

- William Butler Yeats



At one stage I felt I was in the middle of a scene from The Quiet Man.


He paused at the big tree, one rioting with pink blossoms - and she knew why.



"You're the heart of me."



Another one I have on the bookshelf ...

Profile Image for Anna lost in stories *A*.
1,021 reviews182 followers
September 20, 2020
You guys, we are at book #51 in this series… at this point I’m not really sure what else is there to say about it… I feel like most of you already know why it’s so amazing, even this far down the line, but for some of you who might just happen upon it, let me share a few things :)

The main character of this whole series is Eve Dallas :) we meet her in that very first book as an NYPD homicide detective… it’s set around 40 years in the future, so technology is on a whole other level :) Eve at the beginning of the series is quite different from the one I now know ;) she’s much more solitary and closed off, and it’s very rewarding to see how she grows and changes within the span of the series… she meets and befriends more people… she marries a phenomenal and supportive man, she gets a great partner at work… I mean… *sighs* :) each book focuses on a different cast and that case is always resolved by the end of it, but I do highly recommend you to read this series in order… mainly because of all the secondary characters in it… we see them multiple times, and if you will just read random books out of order, you will miss out on forming of all the relationships, both romantic ones and friendships :) those little scenes where all of those dynamics shine are always my favourite in each installments, and they just won’t hold as much value if you don’t understand the significance of them :)

We are so far into this series, and the quality is consistently amazing in them… obviously I like some of them more than others, but each and every one is always a great entertainment :) I highly recommend you pick it up if somehow you have never read them :) I hope we will get many, many, many more installments in this series :) if it wasn’t obvious already, I gave this one 5 stars ;)

XOXO

A
Profile Image for Jenn.
4,630 reviews77 followers
May 5, 2020
Eve and Roarke are interrupted at an evening out for the murder of a young mother. But in the crowd, Roarke sees an old enemy and knows that he's to blame.

I love that this is the 51st book in this series and there's something new! I also love that the tension in these books has nothing to do with romantic main character couples fighting, yet there is plenty of romance. This is absolutely one of my favorite series.
Profile Image for Flannery.
307 reviews
September 25, 2020
Listen, we're at #51 in this series. There is nothing new here, but this is the first time I've gotten really annoyed by the protagonist and perhaps it's because of the political atmosphere right now. I've always enjoyed the police camaraderie in this series--detectives, medical staff, reporters, etc. working together and not being blights on the reputations of their jobs. Eve, the main character, is always working for justice for the victims of the killers she tracks down. Whatever. But in this one, "COP justice" includes catching a killer and then literally everyone turning a blind eye as he's released to fist fight the lead detective's husband? Gross. This use of power is disturbing and made me think so much less of not only the lead characters but also all the supporting characters who had to watch and pseudo-sanction such a stupid display of selfishness. I don't care of it was "personal" for the characters, you're still supposed to do your job: catch the criminal, follow process and let the justice system run its course. Anyway, 85% of this book is like every other Eve Dallas book. The last 15% tanks the honesty and reputation of most of the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jean.
1,774 reviews774 followers
September 28, 2020
This is book 51 of the Death series and I think Robb is getting bored.

The book is well written. It is fast paced and the plot is interesting. What I miss are all the fascinating characters. I know she does not put all of the characters in every story but she usually rotates them. In the last few books, the majority of the interesting characters have been missing. To me, it is these unusual and exciting characters that make the book. I do realize this story is primarily about Roarke’s childhood. The book is a good –get- away-from- it- all. Susan Ericksen’s narration really makes the story move.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours and 30 minutes. Susan Ericksen does an excellent job narrating the story. Ericksen is an actress and award-winning audiobook narrator.
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews459 followers
September 14, 2020
I know: I'm addicted to this series! LOL

Here the crime solving was not as complicated as in the other books, as Eve knows since the beginning who did it! ;)
But the writing is so good and easy the I enjoyed it all the same!

What I appreciated is the the relationship between Eve and Roarke was not the main point or overdone. It is still sweet and loving with their usual banter, but it was not toothachingly sweet as in the Fatal series by Marie Force! It is just their way!

The evil bastard was slightly overdone and deeply stupid, but it was nice reading how they reeled him in!

I'm looking forward to the next one hoping the mystery/crime will be much more complicated and inetersting!
Profile Image for Readaholic Jenn .
358 reviews132 followers
November 22, 2022
Another great In Death book. I love seeing more of Roarke's past and I absolutely love how the whole team comes together for Roarke and Eve.
Profile Image for Obsidian.
3,031 reviews1,080 followers
October 12, 2020
Honestly, this was not very good. You know who the murderer is within a couple of pages, things are resolved on that fairly early on. Most of this book is Roarke being angry and Eve keeping him under protection. The so-called serial murderer is probably one of the dumbest human beings ever and I got nothing more to say about him. The whole book read as bad filler.

But the worst thing is what a lot of reviewers pointed out towards the end of the book that is allowed to happen. Look, I am a black woman, I still like to read mystery and thrillers and like books where the protagonist is a law enforcement officer. Heck, I love Harry Bosch books! The reason why is the majority of the books I read have the protagonist knowing how easy it is to slip over the line and to not do it. As Bosch says, either everyone counts, or no one counts. Meaning every death/murder should be investigated and the victims given justice. The ending of this book left a bad taste in my mouth. I am just over the Eve and Roarke face zero consequences for the the fact that they go over into the gray line all the damn time. And what galls me is that we had Eve, Eve of all people acting like an asshole towards a colleague cause they stole a dog that was being abused.

I had high hopes for Roberts when she took on a different type of plot with Connections in Death that looked at a different New York than the one that Eve was used to viewing with her billionaire husband. She sees a New York where gangbangers are thriving and harassing and raping those who want to do better. She realizes that the cops were complicit in a sense for not stopping what was happening right in front of them and instead leaving people to just deal with it. You have her guilt and her doing what she can to bring down the whole gang as well as get justice for those who were murdered. Heck, I even gave it up for Peabody in Golden in Death who for once wasn't a comic foil for Eve and not an insensitive ass. But this book was just a mess for me from beginning to end. I really need serial killers to quit going after Eve and Roarke. You would think that they would send each other messages like, tried, lost, don't bother. Also it's not interesting after the 30th time. This is the 51st book, I want something different.
Profile Image for Donna.
544 reviews228 followers
October 15, 2020
There’s no kind way to put this, so I’ll make this quick. This 51st book in the series was a dud. The criminal mystery part was nonexistent since the killer and the person who hired the killer were known from the beginning by both the reader and the police force. So strike one, two, and three for a lack of suspense, no anticipation of a puzzling investigation, and for the author cheating the reader out of any kind of brain teasing clues. I kept hoping for some twist to make up for this, but nope, none whatsoever came along. The hunt for the known killer just dragged on and on, with the author going into way too much detail that involved little more than the meticulous tracking of the killer.

On the plus side, there was some welcome humor, as always, and some warm hearted moments to break up the tedious parts of the story. It just could have been so much better. I should know. I’ve read nearly all the books in this series, and I usually rate them an average of four stars. So I don’t know what happened this time. My hope is the author will slow down and take her time to think things through for the next book and hopefully include an actual mystery in it. And I hope she won’t play it quite this safe next time. There was only one heart stopping moment in this book involving a beloved character, and as much as that scene had me holding my breath, that wasn’t enough for me to get excited about this book.

As usual, the narrator, Susan Ericksen, did a five star job with the audio version. It’s my preferred way to read this series these days with her colorful repertoire of voices, making each character distinct and memorable.
Profile Image for Barbara Rogers.
1,692 reviews194 followers
August 23, 2020
Series: In Death #51
Publication Date: 9/8/20
Number of Pages: 368

OMGoodness – how can the fifty-first book in a series be as exciting, action-packed, adrenaline-fueled, and riveting as the first book? This series just never gets old for me and I definitely hope the author doesn’t get tired of writing them. This author has to have one of the most creative and imaginative minds around because some of the technology she writes about, some of the social issues… Well, she just comes up with some really good stuff.

When a shadow from Roarke’s past turns up at a murder scene in Washington Square Park, things get really personal – really fast. This crime isn’t just a shadow into Roarke’s past, it is also a shadow into Feeney and Whitney’s past as well. It doesn’t take Eve and Roarke long to decide who the murderer is, but it will take Eve’s entire team and some help from Interpol to catch him. With more than twenty years of experience and hundreds of professional kills under his belt, this killer now has his sights set on Eve and Roarke and maybe even Somerset.

While Roarke and Eve are attending the theater, Eve catches a murder case and they leave for the scene of the crime. The victim, a lovely, wealthy, young wife and mother has been brutally murdered. Nothing is missing – her money, credit cards, phone – everything – are all still in place -- someone wanted the young woman dead – very badly. As Eve is tending to the business of securing the crime scene, dispatching officers to interview witnesses, Roarke is standing by – scanning the crowd. Roarke sees a face from his past – one he could do with never seeing again. He made quite sure Roarke saw him and Roarke immediately knows that the man is the assassin who murdered this young woman.

Even knowing who the perpetrator is doesn’t make it easy to find and apprehend him. He is very wealthy now and has all the assets he needs to disappear – except he really doesn’t want to disappear. He wants to taunt Roarke, torture him, and make him suffer before he finally kills him as well. Eve and all the resources of the NYPSD will do whatever it takes to see that doesn’t happen. Roarke is one of their own now and they’ll take care of him.

I love that each new book humanizes Eve a little more and we learn more about Roarke’s past life. I love that Roarke’s and Eve’s love and passion for each other hasn’t diminished – it has grown.

You can’t go wrong if you choose to read this excellently-written, imaginative, well-plotted book – and the rest of the series as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read the books in this series and I never get tired of reading and re-reading them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kara.
55 reviews12 followers
April 16, 2022
Liked the beginning of the story well enough, but it all felt a little too easy and perfect for Eve to kick off her investigation. Oh Eve with the lesser resources of the NYPD is so much better than Interpol!! And all the other organizations with better training! She's the best cop ever (really it's her husband's resources that gives her the leg up let's be real)
But I could not stand the end.
So all these good cops and the Interpol guy are all fine with basically police brutality against a prisoner??? Because Eve the best cop ever with integrity says this is FAMILY! So normal rules and protocol don't apply? Revenge is more important than integrity? One guy objects but everyone else does what she wants because she is right and in charge.
After what has happened this year in America and the broader understanding of acab I could not stand this blatant example of how even good cops are complicit in the culture of protecting their own no matter what. No matter what rules and ethics they break. I cannot see Eve from the first few books doing this, but now her ethics are above the law when she sees fit.
I generally really enjoy this series but I guess i can no longer stand police violence (Yes it was Roarke but he was acting as part of the NYPD and doing so with Eve's express consent).
Really wonder if Roberts is gonna change these books up at all otherwise I just see this series slowing going downhill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ira.
1,112 reviews120 followers
September 10, 2020
This is a fabulous showcase of Eve and Roarke’s romance! 😘
Probably this is not your typical romance read, lol.
But so much love in here ❤️.

I don’t bloody care about the villain, or the storyline to be honest, just so happy to see lots of Eve and Roarke, here. 😍😍😍

❤️❤️❤️

I read too fast, now I will reread again, much slower this time 😘.
Profile Image for Annie .
2,486 reviews945 followers
June 26, 2020
Read this review on Fresh Fiction

J.D. Robb can literally do no wrong! In the latest installment in the In Death series, Ever and Roarke are once again presented with a nasty murder in Washington Square Park, they are forced to work together to catch a killer. What’s interesting about this case is that Roarke seems to have caught a glimpse of the killer and he’s a man that he doesn’t want to mess with.

Tasked with finding out of these two are linked somehow, Eve will have her hands full. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only did it delight me to see Eve and Roarke together, but having this strange shadow in the background added another sense of mystery to the plot. I can honestly say that this book blew me away. I have no idea how Robb is able to come up with unique stories with so many books already in the series, but I always look forward to a new In Death book and can’t recommend it enough to others. SHADOWS IN DEATH definitely proves how talented a writer J.D. Robb is.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
3,846 reviews535 followers
September 22, 2020


I've been a loyal fan of this series and its author since the In Death series began. So, even though things have started to feel a little slow and stale, I can't turn my back on continuing on. However, with that being said, things are not what they used to be. Fifty-one books and we've only moved on three years and that just seems wrong. The crimes are even becoming boring and same ole for the most part. It's time for progress and moving on. Something needs to change and cause a stir in the otherwise fairly stagnant storylines. Maybe more interaction with those Irish family members and add something fresh -- maybe bringing Sean Lannigan to NYC to become a member of the household and liven things up a bit as he continues his intrigue with Eve and her chosen career. Create some upheaval in Roarke's house and let's see how Eve and Roarke handle "parenting" skills.

This one grabbed my attention primarily with its hint of more from Roarke's past and the trip to Ireland and the family ties there. Otherwise, there wasn't must sizzle, spark or newness to #51.

So, I didn't hate it nor did I love it. The writing was still as expected from JD/Nora -- always good and finetuned -- but it just doesn't thrill and chill and bring out the oohs and aahs like it did in days gone by.
Profile Image for Patricia (Irishcharmer) Yarian.
347 reviews14 followers
January 4, 2021
As usual Eve and Roarke have done it again! Worked hand in hand to bring justice to a cold-hearted, calculating ,stone-faced killer...we all know the hand cuffs will come out and be slapped on the wrists of the "perp". That's nothing new.
I also know there's several (a lot) of people out here in the reading world, that don't much care for Robb/Roberts writing. And that's ok! I am a fan. Just like I am a fan of Robert Parker -especially his Jesse Stone series, and David Balducci and his Stone character..so! Will you like this one? I don't know! But I did..Is it worth your time? I can't answer that either...but I thought so..Will you think it's worthy of a 5star rating if you do decide to read it? Again, I can't answer that for you either--but I gave it 5stars! Bottom line, I am a fan...Cheers!!!
Profile Image for Katie Reus.
Author 152 books3,160 followers
September 16, 2020
It's impressive that 51 books in, I'm still invested in this series and crew. Robb (aka la Nora) has such a gift and it was pure joy to be able to revisit some of my favorite characters and the whole crew! I needed this book in 2020. As always, Susan Ericksen nailed the narration. She's so consistent and never disappoints!
34 reviews
September 21, 2020
This series has jumped the shark...

Spoiler Alert
I've loved this series for 50 books now and was glad to see J.D. Robb had gotten a little more into this story instead of the formula approach that was used for the last 5 books. I was really enjoying this book until the last chapter when Eve Dallas, the most by-the-book cop ever written, set loose a suspect who was already in custody and in restraints so Roarke could beat the crap out of him. Because Roarke "needed it." With the whole squad and Commander Whitney watching. And when the Interpol agent complained, they falsified the report, then Eve bullied him to go along with it all. WTF?!?!?!? Is this a nightmare? Did I wake up in an alternate dimension??

It has ALWAYS been the central theme of these books that Eve has NEVER, EVER compromised her position as an officer of the law, almost to the point of fanaticism. It was a point of pride that she never let her past or her personal life interfere with the job. Eve is not the most likable person but I always respected her work ethic and gave her a pass on some of her more annoying personality traits because of it. But Eve breaking the rules, covering it up, and bullying someone to go along IS JUST SO WRONG!! So wrong...

Maybe I wouldn't have reacted this way 4 years ago, but with all the recent incidents of police brutality and politicians changing the rules to benefit themselves and so many people believing the rules don't apply to them... I can't just brush it off anymore. Robb had Eve cross a line that I would have bet money she would never do and it has ruined the character for me. Dallas used to deserve all the praise she got in the books, even if it was over the top sometimes. Not anymore. I wish I had never read this book. I'm done with this series.
Profile Image for Annika.
1,374 reviews98 followers
September 11, 2020
Audiobook review

So I caved... kind of figured I would too, but I thought I’d hold out a little bit longer.. But then I saw that this book connected to Roarke’s past and I just couldn’t resist. I do have a weakness for him, or not him per se, just knowing more about him. He has a fascinating past and is a fascinating character so I had to listen to this book.

There has been another murder in New York City and Eve is on the case. The killer is known from the start, and he’s not only known, but is a ghost from Roarke’s past. And it’s someone who’s never had any love spared for him, in fact just the opposite. And now he has his eyes set on killing Roarke once and for all, and making it hurt as much as possible. The majority of the book deals with the manhunt for the killer, following one clue after the other. As the killer hunts for them, they hunt for him and it was intense and only a matter of time before one party would make a possible fatal, mistake.

We’ve been on a long journey with these characters, spent countless hours and pages with them, some stories have been revisited, some more than once. We know them, know what makes them tick, where they come from, their personalities and how they connect to one another. But that’s also the negative aspect of the last I don’t know how many books. It feels like Robb counts on the readers to know the characters and expects us to fill in the blanks. I mean I finally figured out why I’m not over the moon over the books anymore. The characters feel flat, almost cardboard and Robb counts on the reader or listener to know them so well that adding descriptions aren’t necessary. The snark is gone, as is Eve’s clueless-ness to human behaviour, and Peabody’s eagerness – the sniping between Eve and Summerset. It’s all basically gone. The odd comment doesn’t a personality make. It used to be ingrained all throughout the novels, it gave them character. And I miss it.

I would say that one of the major reasons why I can still partly enjoy these books is due to the narrator Susan Ericksen. Her talent for voice acting is awe inspiring. She has so many different voices, credible ones. I mean I’d have a problem maintaining two voices and sound credible and I’ve lost count on how many she has. And from a personal standpoint I also like her deeper voice. I find that many female narrators have this high pitch - which is not kind on my migraines. But when I listen to Ericksen I can just forget about RL and spend time in 2061 NYC hunting for a killer that needed to be behind bars sooner rather than later. So all in all I did end up enjoying this book, and will most likely pick up the next one – and the next.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for RachelW (BamaGal).
746 reviews74 followers
July 11, 2020
Any series that’s gone on for this long will have its ups and downs; but for me personally, this was one of the better books. A solid investigation, two properly sleazy bad guys, and the always fun Eve take-down during interview. The big plus here - some great character personal touches throughout. More time than usual was spent setting up the character(s) background. A good case and a good Eve/Roarke story. Always a win-win for me in my favorite comfort food series.
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