A Year of J.D. Robb

[Christine]

I'm hoping to finally get to this in the next day or two. I need my fix of Eve & Co.

[Dee]

i'm looking forward to you guys continuing this next year - since you aren't too far away from where I actually am in the series

[Christine]

I still have yet to get to Betrayal in Death! I will read it in the next two weeks. It's due back to the library soon!

[Christine]

Okay, so I'm four weeks behind schedule, but the next book I start (tomorrow if not tonight) will finally be Betrayal in Death!! I promise.

[Christine]

I'm also putting together the list of books for next year's series read. Books 15 - 26!!
We might even catch up in 2014, depending how quickly she puts out new books.

[Christine]

Did anyone read ?

It looks like it comes between Betrayal and Seduction.

[Kami]

I haven't read Interlude in death. They don't have it at my library. :(

[Dee]

i've listened to interlude - its fairly short - I think it was originally published in one of the anthologies - you do hear about some of Eve's past - so if you can find it, i'd recommend it

[~Leslie~]

I haven't read it either, but I will look for it. I'm excited about next year as well because my library has the books starting with #20, I think. This next one looks pretty interesting!

[Christine]

My library has which includes Interlude. And it looks like it was originally part of this anthology if WikiInDeath is to be trusted. I've been lucky that my library has had all but the first few.

[Kami]

My library doesn't have Three in Death. Out of this world is 'on order' for my library. So don't know when I will be able to get it.

[~Leslie~]

I just picked it up at B&N as an ebook for #2.99. I broke my piggy bank but I figure it's worth it.

[Christine]

I'm about 90 pages in to Betrayal. I really like the actress, Magda. I like how she interacts with Eve and I like how captivated Roarke is by her, as she was the star of the first movie he ever saw. I hope she's not involved in the plot against Roarke. But as Eve points out, Magda is an actor and they are very good at picking apart human nature so she might know just how to get at Roarke without attacking him head on. I can't figure out what she might have against him though. But Roarke's old friend Mick seems to be too obviously suspicious. He's let Roarke believe him dead all these years so why turn up now?

And I've determined that "pal" is a term of endearment to Eve. It cracks me up every time she calls Roarke "pal".

[Christine]

This line just cracked me up, describing Martin at the beauty salon: "His pecs rippled, his biceps strained, his privates bulged "

LOL! Now there's a sight I might like to see.

[Kami]

Hee Hee. Wow.

[~Leslie~]

I liked Magda as well.

[Christine]

Oh no! Peabody and McNab just had the fight over Charles that I've been expecting. I wonder how long this will drag out. They are so cute together.

[Kami]

Two days till Seduction in Death. I have my copy from the library and I am raring to go! I like trying to figure out what the book is about from the cover. Zeroes and Ones, so must be some kind of binary. Stone lion like at the steps of a library. And champagne in a picnic basket and rose petals. Hmmm.

[~Leslie~]

Christine wrote: "Oh no! Peabody and McNab just had the fight over Charles that I've been expecting. I wonder how long this will drag out. They are so cute together."
Yes, we knew that was coming. Peabody and McNab are a little dense about each other. They have great sex but they aren't friends.

And Kami - that is awesome!! I've never thought to do that. I'm ready for this as well!

[Christine]

I finished Betrayal. Finally! But, did I miss something? Who are these Napleses (spelling?) and were they just out to steal and make money or do they also have something against Roarke? Since they got away, does this mean we'll see them again in a future book?

I'm glad Magda wasn't in on it. I liked her. And I liked in this one that we saw Eve taking care of Roarke like he so often takes care of her. Overall, it wasn't one of my favorites, but as always I like the personal moments between the characters. Loved the scene with Trina!

I don't think I'll get to Seduction until the weekend.

[Christine]

Kami wrote: "Two days till Seduction in Death. I have my copy from the library and I am raring to go! I like trying to figure out what the book is about from the cover. Zeroes and Ones, so must be some kind of ..."

Detective Kami, deducing clues on mystery covers everywhere.

The binary numbers make me think banks and money or some sort of computer fraud involving lots of money. The champagne and flower petals and picnic basket go with 'Seduction' in the title. And why do lion statues make us think libraries? Or maybe college campuses? I guess it could be a law or accounting firm too? I'm leaning toward embezzlement as part if the crime.

And...I read the little blurb inside the cover and think I'm wrong. But how fun trying.

[Christine]

But Leslie! I want Shebody and McNab together gosh darn it! They better make up in a later book.

[Kami]

I don't know why lion statues would immediately make me think library but that is where my mind went. I read the blurb and I guess the binary has to do with the cyber aspect of the story.

I think McNab and Shebody will end up together. They are so cute together but right now McNab seems to care more about her than she does about him. She thinks they are just having fun hooking up. But he did make her cry when he flipped out over Charles. Which I agree with McNab was really wrong of her to act like that and not think about his feelings. I really liked how Eve tried so hard to be Peabody's friend over ice cream.

[Christine]

Yes, the ice cream scene was so funny. It's cute how uncomfortable all the touchy-feely friendship stuff makes Eve. But she still tries her best because these people really do matter to her.

And I liked when Peabody started telling her about places she and McNab had sex and Eve really freaked out. And then Eve had to share with Feeney so she wasn't suffering alone.

[~Leslie~]

I think they will be together but they had sex before the relationship developed, and so now they have to go back and fix it. The mom in me is shaking her head. I have this conversation with my YA daughter's all the time. But poor Peabody is so confused between her head, her heart and another part of her anatomy it may take awhile!
And the ice cream scene with Eve trying so hard to be a friend and letting Peabody tell her stuff was priceless.

[Kami]

Yeah, I'm going to have to take team McNab on this one, Peabody is not being very kind. She thinks she is in a friends with benefits kind of relationship instead of having a boyfriend.

[Kami]

I am on page 80. Rather disturbing subject matter, drugs, rape and murder.

Peabody is really suffering. And Eve tells Peabody to sleep with Charles that it will make her feel better. I think this is the worst advice Eve has ever given. Peabody should work it out with McNab and stop seeing Charles, in my opinion.

[Kami]

So I thought about it and I am thinking the reason this story is freaking me out so much is because someone once slipped me a date rape drug. I was dosed with Ectasy and GHB. I had a really bad reaction and I was throwing up in the street and sent to the Emergency Room.

And I think I was right about the stone lion statue on the cover symbolizing a library.

[Christine]

Poor McNab. It's been clear for a while that he's far more into their relationship than Peabody is. I think Peabody is just dense when it comes to him. He's the annoying coworker who bothered her from the day they met but turns out to be good in bed. I don't think she's really looked at him as just a man with whom she could have a relationship.

I hope she doesn't listen to Eve and sleep with Charles. I think that would ruin that relationship, not to mention what it would do to McNab.

[Christine]

Wow, Kami! What a scary experience. Did you know who did it?

Personal experience definitely colors our reaction to a book.

[Kami]

No, not sure who did it. So I am finding this subject matter disturbing.

[Kami]

I am on page 226 and feeling better since Lieutenant Sugar is closing in on the killers. I am having a problem with Roarke, he seems awfully controlling and arrogant. More than is acceptably cute. He just threw a robe at Eve and hit her smack in the face. I don't think that is funny. And the way he fights her to force feed her drugs. I am kind of over that. If she doesn't want to take a pill because she has a headache than she shouldn't have to. There is a point where his choosing to take care of her when she won't take care of herself crosses a line.

[Kami]

On page 244 now. McNab confronted Charles. Funny. I'm going to have this finished tomorrow. Go Lieutenant Sugar!

[~Leslie~]

Kami wrote: "So I thought about it and I am thinking the reason this story is freaking me out so much is because someone once slipped me a date rape drug. I was dosed with Ectasy and GHB. I had a really bad rea..."


That's a really difficult memory, Kami! I also have several things that happened to me as well. And I agree, Christine that it definitely affects how we react to certain books.

I am only on page 14 as I didn't start until late today. I obviously have alot of catching up to do.
And I completely agree, no sleeping with Charles!! Bad advice.

[Kami]

I am done. I am giving this one three stars since I didn't like it as well as some of the others.

[~Leslie~]

I'm on page 136. I like it so far. The bad guys are real creepy. One of them creepier than the other. It's always interesting to me how someone can change their personality and be so influenced by another person. But you see it in crime scenarios alot. They seem to need that sycophantic relationship.

[Dee]

IIRC this one was a total mind fuck

[~Leslie~]

So I am a little confused right now. How did Eve even hear about the third victim. All of a sudden she's getting a call. Why would they call her? (view spoiler)[At this point all they have is a woman who OD'd. Why would they call Eve. What connected it to her. This is not explained. (hide spoiler)]

[Kami]

Bryna was drugged and then someone threw her out of her window. Grace was dead when they found her and drugged with the same drug: Whore which is extremely expensive. (view spoiler)[I guess they called Eve about Moniqua because she was also drugged with Whore? The doctor said he had heard the media reports on the other two victims so I guess as primary Eve was notified by the hospital that there was a woman who was found naked and in bed with a very rare and expensive illegal drug in her system. (hide spoiler)]

[~Leslie~]

Kami wrote: "Bryna was drugged and then someone threw her out of her window. Grace was dead when they found her and drugged with the same drug: Whore which is extremely expensive. [spoilers removed]"
I don't know, Kami. It would take a lot more time than that to get back a toxicology report. I always get bogged down in little details like this when I'm reading RS. But the woman calls down to her concierge, the concierge calls an ambulance and she is taken to hospital. So far, I can't see it. No biggee, just one of those nagging details.

[~Leslie~]

Just finished. I gave it 4 stars. I liked this one. Tough subject but I thought the story was strong.
I agree about Roarke forcing medicine on her. That is difficult. I had medicine forced on me when I was a child (they literally had to hold me down - several people) and force my mouth open. I had to take Quinine because my brother came down with Malaria. Anyway, I still have a problem with pills to this day. But I guess Eve will not allow anyone to care for her since she never had any nurturing and so Roarke has to push past her barriers. And she is in obvious need of nurturing.
(view spoiler)[It also seems like she should have been aware of the possibility of him sneaking in to see Kevin. (hide spoiler)]But that's a minor issue. I always have minor issues with her stories.
I loved how the whole McNab/Peabody/Charles thing worked out. The scene between McNab and Charles was awesome. But then once it was resolved, we never heard from the two of them again for the rest of the story.

[Kami]

(view spoiler)[ I agree with Lucius sneaking in to see Kevin. I thought Eve should have had better security on him. Or laid a trap for him. (hide spoiler)] Yeah, I just didn't like Roarke in this one. Too controlling for me. I don't like the idea of someone taking away someone else's choice, even if it is "good for them". (view spoiler)[ Glad that Peabody and McNab worked it out and are going to have an actual relationship. (hide spoiler)]

[Christine]

Starting this one tonight. It's a struggle, but I'm resisting clicking on those spoilers until I get into the story.

[Christine]

Leslie wrote: "So I am a little confused right now. How did Eve even hear about the third victim. All of a sudden she's getting a call. Why would they call her? [spoilers removed]"

I just assumed that the pink rose petals on the bed were a tip off that the third victim was connected to the others cases. They had a drugged woman on a bed of pink rose petals. They would probably treat that as connected until they determined otherwise. And the hospital is probably quicker with a tox screen than the morgue because they need to know what they are dealing with to manage treatment. Does that help?

[Christine]

Man, I just read the scene between Peabody and McNab in which McNab is commenting about her relationship with Charles not going anywhere and she thought he was talking about their (Peabody and McNab) Relationship. And of course she became mad at him and they had another fight. I really dislike it when people in books have stupid fights over simple misunderstandings. Now, I could have gotten behind her being mad that McNab commented that it was obvious their (Peabody-Charles) relationship wasn't going anywhere. That's just rude and mean. But to have her misinterpret and assume he means his relationship with her? Geez. I hope they resolve this by the end of the book. I think she's starting to figure out she feels more for McNab than she realized, so I hope she gets there soon.

[Christine]

And I forgot to add that I'm also tired of the way Roarke forces drugs into Eve. Of course, my prime objection is that I've tried to force drugs into toddlers and it just isn't that easy. It would have to be even harder with an adult like Eve. Sure, she should take the meds, but if she doesn't want to she is an adult and it's ultimately her decision. Plus, she obviously has some deep seated emotional reasons for not wanting to take them. It's not just that she's stubborn.

[Kami]

Any time I tried to force medicine into my son, he would spit it out in my face or gag so hard that he would vomit. I agree that it isn't easy to force drugs into a child. I just don't like how Roarke immediately does it. He makes her choice for her. Maybe if she was in danger of death or something, but just because she is exhausted or has a headache? And the scene in this book she is crying by the end of it. Just seems cruel to me.

I also didn't like the misunderstanding between McNab and Peabody. If he would have just said what he meant and if Peabody didn't immediately jump to conclusions...

[Christine]

If I had a dollar for ever ml of medicine we wasted trying to get it into our youngest, I'd have enough to pay for a month of his preschool!

I got the the big medicine you were talking about. Geez! That was brutal. It would have worked better for me if Summerset had asked Roarke to leave the room so he could have his little chat with Eve BEFORE they forced the meds into her. Yes, she doesn't want to take the meds, but at the same time she is fairly reasonable. Summerset did get through to her, making the point that her being sick is difficult for Roarke. In the end, she did get it and she took the rest of the meds willingly. So why not have that chat first before forcing the meds on her?

[Christine]

I finished Seduction and I have to wonder, does the author have something against mothers? There has been a trend in several of the books where the bother was either nasty and turned the child into a monster she controlled, or the child for some reason turned against a mother that spoiled him or ignored him or whatever. And now these two winners: one whose mother all but ignored him and one whose mother smoothered him. Poor little rich boys who never learned wrong from right. It's a common theme, but it get's very tiring. Especially when it's played as though the child's behavior is all the fault of how the mother treated him. Yes, parents have a big impact in behavior, but there is also innate personality that's born in them. I could tell all three of my boys had different personalities from the day they were born. And now I see the behaviors they've learned from their parents, friends, and each other. And what about all the other kids out there who had the same parents or the same 'type' of parents who turn out to NOT be serial killers.

At the same time, I suppose this is just meant to be an entertaining mystery and not a deep exploration of the psychology of a killer.

I'm really hoping for a different type of murder in the next one. The sexual murders that throw Eve back into her past are starting to wear on me.

[~Leslie~]

I think it's more about forcing her to accept his taking care of her. Because of the abuse and lack of relationships in her life, she doesn't understand about people wanting to care for you. So if he lets her win in this, she can build a wall that says she doesn't really need him. When people have been so damaged by abuse, they build layers and layers of defenses that keep people away. I think it's Roarke's nature to blast through those layers, even though it's uncomfortable.
I have uncontrolled HBP at the moment and have to take 7 pills for it. Because of childhood issues, it's difficult for me to take them and I am a huge whiner and complainer. If my husband could somehow pull a Roarke, trust me he would!! Saying all this though, it still makes me very uncomfortable when Roarke does this. But I have intimacy issues LOL!