This is the 26th book in the In Death series.
Sports Goods Tycoon Thomas Anders is murdered in his own bed. He is tied up with velvet ropes and there are other sex-toy paraphernalia around the body and in the bedroom. A kinky tryst gone bad? Eve doesn't think so. At first glance maybe, but looking at the body and other evidence in the room, it looks like a carefully planned murder to NYC's top murder cop.
As Eve track's back through the victim's life she bumps up against a grieving wife, a nephew who was more like a son and legions of friends who can't possibly believe what they are hearing. The scandalous details of Anders' death leak and people are appalled, yet titillated by the rumors and his family humiliated. While the evidence and answers of friends and family say one thing, Eve's gut is saying another.
Because I love this series so much, I pretty much went and bought the book without so much as looking at the book jacket. Even when an author is a autobuy for me, I ...more
This is the 26th book in the In Death series.
Sports Goods Tycoon Thomas Anders is murdered in his own bed. He is tied up with velvet ropes and there are other sex-toy paraphernalia around the body and in the bedroom. A kinky tryst gone bad? Eve doesn't think so. At first glance maybe, but looking at the body and other evidence in the room, it looks like a carefully planned murder to NYC's top murder cop.
As Eve track's back through the victim's life she bumps up against a grieving wife, a nephew who was more like a son and legions of friends who can't possibly believe what they are hearing. The scandalous details of Anders' death leak and people are appalled, yet titillated by the rumors and his family humiliated. While the evidence and answers of friends and family say one thing, Eve's gut is saying another.
Because I love this series so much, I pretty much went and bought the book without so much as looking at the book jacket. Even when an author is a autobuy for me, I still will at least read the blurb to see what the story is about. But I don't have to with JD Robb and Eve Dallas. The series is 26 books strong and is still a quality read. So when I settled in to read it, I was immediately caught up with my favorite and familiar characters.
Having not read anything about the book, it took me awhile to figure out the significance of the title. I kept waiting for the stranger angle to kick in. It wasn't until Eve was having her conversation with Mrs. Tibble (whom I picture to look like Iman), that it clicked. Strangers on a Train. Like Witness in Death was a nod to Agatha Christie and Innocent in Death was a nod to Lillian Hellman, this one is a nod to Hitchcock. I loved the twist and once I figured that out, of course I figured out who had to be the stranger. Other readers will too. The fun here isn't figure out the whodunit, since the ...In Death series isn't designed to read as a series of whodunits, no, the fun is figuring out how Eve will match wits with and eventually stick it to the murderer.
Other thoughts:
1) Eve is still Eve. She is tough, tenacious and focused. Her relationship with Peabody has such a rhythm and a flow that it leaps off the book. In book-series time, Eve and Peabody have only been together for 2 years. But their ease with each other and their affectionate/funny (Peabody) and sarcastic/biting (Eve) banter is so familiar, it feels like they've been together really for the 13 years Robb has been writing this series.
2) Roarke is still Roarke. Sexy, sexy and more sexy. He works as more of a sounding board for Eve in this one, which is fine. Again Robb changes it up so that each book isn't cookie cutter. I do like the fact that Eve seems to be finally settling into her marriage and her feelings for her husband more easily. She seems more comfortable with admissions and expressions of love. I also like the fact that they finally put the money issue on the table. I agree with Roarke that Eve's refusal to take/use his money for her personal use at this point is just plain old stubbornness. Everybody in the world knows Eve didn't marry him for his money. she married him for his coffee.
3) Nice tie in with Baxter and Trueheart!. Truthfully, it was a no brainer to figure right from the beginning that their murder which had them completely stumped would eventually march with Eve's somehow. Anyone who didn't figure this out hasn't been paying attention to the last 25 books. I've railed against the fact that sometimes Eve will come upon two seemingly disparate cases, in totally random, non-connected ways (Loyalty In Death, Born in Death) and they will end up being connected with the same killer. But this time, that was the whole idea so they needed to connect.
4) The Charles/Louise subplot was great. My personal George Clooney and Kate Winslet couple moved forward. I have always been of the same mind as Eve regarding Charles' profession and Louise's acceptance of it so easily. So I am glad the Robb solved that issue neatly, much to Eve's and my own satisfaction.
5) I was reading this book last week (late March) the same time of the year this book takes place. Coincidentally, it was freezing where I live (Finger Lakes area in NY) still in later March!@#$!!?! (and I have been going around grumbling about it being friggin' 25 degrees when it is almost April and for God's sake when is Spring coming?) Well I ADORE the fact that our first glimpse of Peabody is of her wrapped up in a hat, mittens and a full on winter coat asking when is Friggin' Spring gonna come and it is March 18. 2060 for Friggin' sake. Loved it!!
And finally, I continue to love the fact the New York of 2060 is another character in this story. Robb adds color and flavor and atmosphere using NYC as her backdrop. She makes the city that Eve love's so much very much part of the series. I also appreciate that throughout this entire series she has created a diversity of characters that rings true for NYC of 2060....less
Strangers in Death (In Death Series, Book #26) 
