Maybe it's just because I've been reading the series back to back, but I'm beginning to find that the same things happen in every book. It's like they're all written with a formula.

the killer is introduced in the first chapter, eve gets called on a case, she leaks info to Nadine, she argues a little with Peabody, her and Roarke go over the case, someone on her team gets hurt, then eve finds the killer.

I don't know if other people are getting a little tired with the books.. or if its just because I've been reading them one after another.

Any thoughts?

It might be because you've been reading them back to back. I've been reading them for years, maybe if I read them back to back I might feel differently. Eve has to solve cases, that's her job and there's alot of character development and growth. I haven't read the earlier books for a few years, but I thought that most of the cases were different.

Yeah, the cases are different. I mean I still enjoy reading the books, and looking through my ratings of them I've always given a 4 or 5. I think I'm going to take a little break before continuing on.

I don't want the fact that I've been reading them continuously to ruin the books for me.

That sounds like a good idea, read different some books and then come back to the series. I was disappointed with the last book and i'm hoping that Promises in death is much better.

It's happening to me, too, Jess. I started the series some months ago and read one book every 2 weeks, sometimes one after another. I was only at Witness In Death when I began to lose the thrill. It was same old, same old by then. So I've stopped and won't go back until I've taken a long breather. I just hope I don't lose interest completely seeing I bought the entire series except for the latest as I was going to wait for the mass paperback to come out.

aww.. I'm sure you'll go back to it eventually. I just got tired of the same story line. And they are really good books. Although some of the ones in the middle are questionable!! I have one more book here that I will read (born in death) and then i'm going to take a breather.. then go back to them.

I can't stop reading about Eve and Roarke.. I love the characters too much.

Now that you gave that set up, I can see it. Like there is a formula. I've gotten to where I am pretty much reading the books for the character development.

They are formulaic. I compare them to eating popcorn. Each bite will taste the same, but I will love each bite. I tend to read these for relaxation, though, not for challange, so the formula works for me.
In my opinion, J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts books have never been brilliant storytelling as much as she creates great characters (and even some of them are formulaic.) It is the characters that keep me coming back.

I agree with Jennifer that she does create great characters and that is what grabs me. I love the characters and the way they interact.

I just finished my 8th & am starting to feel a little like Jess. I don't believe I'm reading them too close together, as the last one was a month ago. I still enjoy these books, and have to say I agree with the above comments regarding Nora Roberts' books. They aren't highly intellectual, but fun to read! That's what is important to me. Keep me interested, give me a little intrigue and excitement! You really feel like you know these characters.

I've been reading her books for years, and the first couple of books were very formulaic, ie, there was always three deaths before the killer was stopped. But now JD Robb/Nora Roberts has began to expand on her formula, like the last one which only focused on one death-Det Coletrain. I mainly relate to her books by what happens to the characters-Eve and Roake get married; Peabody and McNab get together or move in; or Eve has a blow out with Finney. I also love hearing about the secondary characters-Louise and Charles getting married, or Mavis having a baby. This is one of my favorite series.

The books have definitely branched out and it's nice to hear more about the other characters and what's going on in their lives. I love this series! I got my brother and sister hooked on it!

If so, I don't care. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Can't wait for the next one and I hope Roberts (or whoever writes them) doesn't mess too much with a good thing.

Maybe there is a little overlap at times, but that would be the same in any series type books and she does develop the characters and that's a huge plus. Also, there are so many great characters and yet not too many. I have to agree with Lola4 - if so, I don't care. Even the books that are not as good as some of the other ones are great reads because of the characters

Does anyone have a hang-up about the fact that it takes place in 2058 on? I recommended this series to someone in another thread and the future time line aspect kind of turned them off, although I told them it really pays a minor role, compared to the story and characters themselves. After reading all the books, I just have been accustomed to the auto-chef, vertical cars, drying tubes, and legalized prostitution. I don't really think about it anymore and sometimes it does add humor and interest. I'd certainly like to hear other peoples' opinions on this.

Vanessa wrote: "Does anyone have a hang-up about the fact that it takes place in 2058 on? I recommended this series to someone in another thread and the future time line aspect kind of turned them off, although I ..."

Personally I love the futuristic-ness. It's funny when Eve won't use a vending machine because she thinks it's talking to all the other vending machines and they're against her. And in Promises in Death it was funny when Roarke gave Eve her own vechicle and she was like a kid with a new toy.

I think that the future aspect plays a minor role. And in talking to some geek friends many of the future gadgets and things they use are in the works or working right now just on a much smaller scale as they are refined. It is just one of those things that is there but is secondary. It is all about character development.

I totally agree with both your comments, Shannon and Diana. Compared to the characters and plot, it does play a more minor role, but I also find that it does add to the humor. The vending machine thing is so great, and the humor that comes when everyone goes to Roarke's place and are so thrilled with all the "real food." It's pretty funny.

The books havent seemed repetitive to me and I've read them back to back for the first time this year. The series reminds me of any other murder mystery where there is always a case to solve and the main characters team works together to solve the case. As some of you mentioned, character development is huge and adds more to the books as they go on and each book has a very different case. There are many books when someone on her team does not get hurt. Eve does find the killer in each book but she has gone over cold cases implying that she wasnt able to solve the case in the past, if that makes a difference. Anyways, I love this and many other mystery series.