I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Calculated in Death
by
J.D. Robb
It is part of the In Death #36 series and is a romantic suspense in eBook edition that was published by Putnam Adult on February 26, 2013 and has 386 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Indulgence in Death, Treachery in Death, Kindred in Death, The Other Side, New York to Dallas, Unquiet, Celebrity in Death, Delusion in Death, Thankless in Death, Mirror, Mirror, Festive in Death, Obsession in Death, Betrayal in Death, "Wonderment in Death", "Possession in Death", Down the Rabbit Hole, "Midnight in Death", Devoted in Death, Brotherhood in Death, Apprentice in Death, Echoes in Death, Secrets in Death, Dark in Death, Leverage in Death, "Interlude in Death", Vendetta in Death, Golden in Death, Faithless in Death, Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Immortal in Death, Rapture in Death, Ceremony in Death, Vengeance in Death, , Loyalty in Death, Witness in Death, Judgment in Death, Seduction in Death, Reunion in Death, Holiday in Death, Purity in Death, Portrait in Death, Imitation in Death, Divided in Death, Visions in Death, Desperation in Death, Abandoned in Death, Creation in Death, Survivor in Death, Concealed in Death, Origin in Death
Thirty-sixth in the In Death romantic suspense series revolving around Eve Dallas, a lieutenant on the NYPSD, and her hunky billionaire husband, Roarke.
In 2013, Calculated in Death was nominated for a Goodreads Choice.
My Take
I’m bummed again. There wasn’t as much Roarke, almost no Summerset, very little of her coworkers, her friends are mostly a cameo, and the premiere was a bust. Yup, barely anything about The Icove Case premiere, and I was so looking forward to all the pre-premiere activity with Eve getting ambushed by her friends, more snark about her dress and the jewels and the…you know…what we’ve become accustomed to In Death.
Bits of fun with Dallas and Peabody’s exchanges…although there didn’t seem as many of those. It’s pretty much the same ‘ol, same ‘ol with Roarke’s help on the computers.
I did enjoy Roarke’s comment, I mean, who knew Roarke could ever get this comfortable in a cop shop:
“I’ll be playing with my friends.”
That said, it was so sad with one man too selfish to consider how his actions affect others. The trauma and loss he inflicts. It is an amazing bit of detective work. I can never figure it out, and I’m always amazed by how she gets there.
The Story
It’s a conundrum from the start with political considerations — having a judge for a relative always raises questions.
A greedy selfish man thinks nothing of having people killed because they’e become inconvenient — they may discover what he’s up to.
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is one of the best of New York City’s police. A homicide cop married to one of the world’s richest men…and the most gorgeous…Roarke. A very supportive and understanding husband who does what he can to protect her, as well as play with her friends. Galahad is their fat, fussy cat. Summerset is Roarke’s factotum with his own private war with Eve.
Detective Delia Peabody is Dallas’ partner and friend who gets a chance at some undercover work. McNab is a very colorful EDD cop and Peabody’s significant other. Morris is the chief medical examiner requested specially. Captain Feeney heads up EDD and has a cameo. The detectives in Dallas’s department include Baxter and Trueheart, Jenkinson and Reineke, and Carmichael and Sanchez. Yancey is still their sketch artist. Commander Jack Whitney is her superior. Officer Turney is first on-scene at the first murder.
Dickie “Dickhead” Berenski is the chief lab tech and very good at his job. When he can be bribed into doing it. Not a friend. Harpo is brilliant with fibers. Dr. Mira is a psychiatrist and another of Dallas’ friends. And still force-feeding Dallas herbal teas! Dennis Mira is her sweetheart of a husband. Reo is a prosecutor who works with Eve frequently.
Nadine Furst is the top reporter for Channel 75 and the author of the book on the Icove case (see Origin in Death, 21) which will premiere in this story (at last!). Eve makes scant use of her. Mavis, Bella, and Leonardo are more of a cameo in this.
Bradley Whitestone is one of three partners in a financial group, The WIN Group. Jake Ingersol and Rob Newton are the other two. Jasper Milk owns the contracting firm where the first body was found. Sasha Kirby of City Style is the designer. Her partners include Angie Carabelli, Holly, Clare, and Latisha Vance.
Alva Moonie is a former society girl who has settled down. Cicily “Sissy” Morgan is her housekeeper…and saviour.
Marta Dickenson, an accountant specializing in audits, is married to a judge’s brother, Denzel Dickenson. Judge Gennifer Yung is Denzel’s sister. Doctor Daniel Yung is her husband. Sly Gibbons is Marta’s boss. Jim Arnold and Chaz Parzarri are accountants who were in an accident in Vegas. Lorraine Wilkie is another accountant. Josie Oslo was Marta’s assistant.
Candida Mobsley is a high society idiot whose trust fund Marta was auditing. Aston is the assistant trying to keep a rein on her mouth; Tony Greenblatt is her personal finance manager.
Stuart Brewer is a senior partner of Brewer, Kyle, and Martini, and he agrees with McNab. Tuva Gunnarsson is Young-Sachs’ administrative assistant. Carter Young-Sachs has the title of chief financial officer. Ty Biden is the slightly sociopathic one. Sterling Alexander, a very self-officious blowhard, and the self-effacing Thomas Pope are half-brothers — although you wouldn’t think it to look at them or listen to them — in the real estate business. Clinton Roscoe Frye does security work and played semi-pro football. Not a particularly bright man.
Brandy Dyson is Carter’s ex, and man, can she dish the dirt! I like her. Chuckie‘s the one who became a momentary football. Mormon and Drumbowski were the ambulance attendants who got “replaced”. Milo “the Mole” Easton is a famous hacker.
Marlo and Matthew from Celebrity in Death, 34, pop in with Julian Cross and Mason Roundtree.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a bright, metallic royal blue in the upper two-thirds brilliantly showcasing the author’s name, J.D. Robb. The lower third is split between a gray-on-black diamond grid to showcase the title above a collage of events taking place in this story.
The title is a reference to the accounting, Calculated in Death.
