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
Thankless in Death
by
J.D. Robb
It is part of the In Death #37 series and is a romantic suspense in eBook edition that was published by Putnam Adult on September 17, 2013 and has 402 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, Calculated 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-seventh in the In Death romantic suspense series which is set in a futuristic New York City and revolving around Eve Dallas, a Homicide lieutenant in the NYPSD.
My Take
Oh, god. This was just nasty — the main villain, that is. And totally reflects the quote from Shakespeare: “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth…”
I do love this series, but it’s getting too comfy for Eve. She’s accepting so much care from Roarke, a concern that she no longer battles against. She’s getting comfortable in her own skin as well as we discover when Whitney tells her to suck it up and accept the medal — Roarke’s getting one too — based on their actions in Delusion in Death, 35. Comfortable enough with her answer on that promotion. Comfortable enough to try something new per the Marriage Rules…wooo-oooo…
Oh, yes, I can just see the memo now: Pink is banned in Homicide!
I keep trying to feel sorry for Joe. And I just can’t.
Wait. Until. You get to Jerry’s explanation of how it all really happened. I wasn’t sure if I should be rolling on the floor, trying to wire my jaw back in place, or trying to kickstart my brain back into action.
“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.”
– Francis Bacon
Character-wise. Where were they? We barely see Dr. Mira. The whole Roarke family is over from Ireland and we only get a blip or three of them? Mavis appears over on the sidelines — if you stand on tiptoe, you might see her. We got a bit of the fun of the squad room with the tie battle, but where were Baxter and Trueheart? Jenkinson gets the most facetime, well, his tie does. The banter with Peabody was largely missing — except for the pink comments at the start. Feeney got more time than McNab, and that wasn’t much. And I kept hoping for some fun at the Thanksgiving dinner…and kept waiting and waiting and… I enjoyed Nixie’s prayer…made me tear up. But I was expecting repartee, conversation, a meeting (and conversing) among friends.
The moments with Roarke were few and lacked that warmth I’ve come to expect between them. They’re becoming an old married couple.
Ya know, if J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts needs to take a year off to bring back the vim and vigor of Eve and Roarke, I’ll moan and groan about it, but I’d rather wait longer for that old magic…
The Story
A spoiled, selfish, snot of a man runs amuck when his parents keep nagging at him about getting a job. Something within him snaps, some brake on impulse, and he goes after those whom he feels done him wrong.
It’s a heartbreaking case for so many and Eve and Roarke’s plans for Thanksgiving aren’t helping. At least not with the idea of all those people showing up, wanting to spend time with Dallas. It’s the actuality that makes it right.
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is in charge of Homicide for the New York City Police & Security Department (NYPSD) and is married to the world’s richest — and most gorgeous — man, Roarke. Summerset is their major-domo, I guess. He’s been Roarke’s father-figure in the past, and he’s still caring for Roarke, for both of them. Galahad is their cat.
Detective Delia Peabody is Eve’s partner, and she’s still with McNab, a cop with the e-Division. Captain Feeney is in charge of EDD and is the man who trained Eve. Callendar is one of his.
More of Eve’s cops:
Baxter and Trueheart are partners, then there’s Sanchez, Jenkinson who starts off the ugly tie contest, and Carmichael who also falls into the tie-off.
Commander Jack Whitney has a few things to say to Dallas. Dr. Mira is the police psychiatrist and profiler. Dick Berenski is the chief lab tech; Harp is the expert on hair and fiber; Birdman is new and knows his sharps; Kyung is still not a jerk, even if he is the PR man for the police; and, Tibble is still chief of police.
Officer Cardininni once walked a beat with Peabody. Officer Stanski is in Fraud and Financial Crimes.
Guests at the Eve and Roarke Thanksgiving dinner table include:
Richard and Elizabeth DeBlass will be coming with their son, Kevin, and Nixie Swisher from Survivor in Death, 20. A little girl anxious to see Dallas again. Charles Monroe, the sex expert, and his pretty wife, Dr. Louise, are also coming. Besides this feast, Nadine Furst, a crime reporter and Eve’s friend, Mavis and Leonardo with baby Bella, Caro, Reo, Jamie Lingstrom, and Roarke’s family show up for the ceremony.
Sinead is Roarke’s mother’s twin sister, and she takes a proprietary interest in his well-being. Sean is her grandson. Uncle Paddy cheats at soccer and Aunt Maureen is horrible. Keela is the newest baby.
Jerry is a good-for-nothing layabout who thinks the world owes him a living. His parents, Barbara and Carl Reinhold, hadn’t helped this attitude as they catered to him too much, but they were decent people who tried. Sylvia and Walter Guntersen are the Reinholds’ next door neighbors and good friends.
Lori Nuccio is the now ex-girlfriend who booted him out her door. Getting beat on will do that to a girl. Jerry’s friends with whom he went to Vegas include Malachi Golde, a computer programmer who kicked Jerry out for not paying his share of the rent; Joe Klein is a jerk of a friend, always bragging and scheming; and, Dave Hildebran who figures Jerry is angry with the world. Ms. Crabtree is Lori’s neighbor.
Ms. Farnsworth has retired as the high school computer teacher and is much loved by her dog, Snuffy, and neighbors like X (as in Xavier Paque) and Brad and Margot Peters. Wayne Boyd is Jerry’s old Little League coach. Marianna is his wife, and their kids, Flynn and Sari, are in town for Thanksgiving.
Roarke’s people
Joleen is manager for The Manor. Juana Printz isn’t one of his people, yet, but Eve wants him to give her a job for her part.
Anton Trevor is a new client for Joe, and he seems to be rolling in it.
The Cover and Title
The cover is consistent with previous covers with a solid metallic orange covering two-thirds of the top with the author’s name centered in it while the bottom third is unevenly split between a black ribbed upper background which showcases the title and a collage of events from the story: a baseball bat, wine, a knife in someone’s back, a building at night with a few lights on, cars, and a police medal.
The title is Jerry all over, and I suspect he’d even be Thankless in Death.
