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
Passions in Death
by
JD Robb
police procedural in a Kindle edition that was published by St. Martin's Press on September 3, 2024 and has 363 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Connections in Death, Encore in Death, Faithless in Death, Payback in Death
Fifty-ninth in the In Death police procedural series set in our new future revolving around Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her ever-increasing group of friends in New York City. The focus is on a couple about to be married.
My Take
While Passions in Death made me cry, it is not one of Robb’s better writings. It feels as though she’s going through the motions in this with the expected dips into the beginnings of Peabody and Ian’s and Mavis and Leonardo’s move into the new house — although that Bella is too, too cute. There are mentions of Dallas’ Homicide team, a brief encounter with Whitney, a quickie visit with Morris and Summerset, and the usual interactions with Roarke — and all without heart. Robb does get a bit more forthcoming about Dallas’ issue with sayings. Salt, anyone?
In Death still has that accepting heart with this pair of women about to get married. For the most part, the world of Eve Dallas accepts same-sex couples and considers women the equal of men. Unfortunately, there are always those idiots who hold out.
There is some fun snark as cops chime in on what a Murder Face looks like, if you can walk away from good sex, and I did grin at that cop who makes the remark that the perp doesn’t know Dallas. Of course, Dallas still gripes about Roarke owning everything, hmm, but not parking lots.
Wow, Dallas and Roarke have only been married for three years. They’ve sure fit a lot in. Robb also fits in a lot of reminiscing.
Jenkinson and Reineke’s solution of that cold case was satisfying.
As usual, I’m confounded as to how Dallas will figure it out, and it is fascinating to follow her mind as Robb uses third person protagonist point-of-view from Dallas’ perspective.
When the truth behind those clues drops, dang, that is just cold!
It’s a story about friends. Shauna and Erin’s. Erin’s family is so giving and amazing! The ever-expanding circle around Dallas. The joys of being married.
The Story
The ladies are having a BLAST at the Down and Dirty, celebrating the upcoming marriage of Shauna and Erin. They’re happy, their friends are happy. Life is wonderful!
Until it’s not.
The Characters
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is the head of Homicide at Cop Central in New York City. Roarke is her supportive gazillionaire husband. Galahad is their “starving” kitty with an attitude. Summerset is their major domo.
The New York City Security and Police Department (NYPSD)
Detective Delia Peabody is Dallas’ partner. The flashy Detective Ian McNab is with EDD and Peabody’s significant other. Other homicide detectives include David Baxter, Troy Trueheart, Carmichael and Santiago, and Reineke and Detective Sergeant Jenkinson of the assaultive ties.
Captain Ryan Feeney is the head of the Electronic Detective Division (EDD). Detective Callendar is another of Feeney’s “boys”. Commander Whitney is Dallas’ boss. Dr Li Morris is the medical examiner. Dr Charlotte Mira is the PD’s chief profiler; Dennis is her lovely husband. We’d first met Don Webster in Conspiracy in Death, 8, who is now with Darcia and off-planet. Cher Reo is an APA. Harvo is the Queen of Hair and Fiber.
Dallas and Roarke’s tribe includes the pregnant Mavis and Leonardo with their toddler Bella; August is Bella’s bodyguard/nanny. The Great House Project is the home Mavis, Leonardo, Peabody, and McNab are redoing. Trina is the stylist of whom Dallas is terrified. Nadine Furst is an on-air reporter and award-winning author. Charles and Louise.
Erin Albright is a street artist who loves bold and color. Her fiancée is the more conservative Shauna Hunnicut who works as the manager at Fancy Feet — those pink shoes, sigh. Shauna’s and Erin’s friends have become their friends. Shauna’s are Rebecca “Becca” DiNuzzio (who’s living with Greg), an executive at a Madison Avenue marketing firm; Angie Decker; Marcus Stillwater, who is a publicist for Fordam Publishing, had been a bounce buddy; Jon Rierdon runs a home goods store; Simon Pugh; Greg Barney had been her high school love — Shaunbar were The Couple — and manages a high-end clothing store, On Trend; Jodi (who’s dating Clint Wetz); Chloe; Margo; Tricia Pilly is a caterer; Maura Lang is a bartender; Chassie Gordon works at the Met (and is the daughter of Bondina Gordon who owns a maid service); Kaydee, an intern, had an ER rotation at Midtown West; and, Wanda Rogan is a singer. Erin’s particular friends include the bitchy ChiChi Lopez, a stripper at Delights, who has anger issues (Gia is a fellow stripper) and Glenda Frost, who manages SoHo Arts. Artists with whom Erin had shared a studio include the self-obsessed Anton Carver, who does commercial art; Donna Fleschner, who had transitioned five years ago; and, Roy Lutz, who does murals and waits tables at Cuchina.
Donna’s sister, Alyce, had a baby boy, Quentin James MacAbee, at the Lady Madonna Birthing Center. I’m guessing Andrew Minor works for the cleaning service where Erin picks up work. Cynthia and Walter Barney are Greg’s traditional parents. ChiChi’s abuela (and family) are doing well with Lopez Family LLC; their restaurant, Abuela, has good food — just ask the mayor. Anna Maria Delgato had married Juan Lopez. Mae-Lu is an assistant manager at Fancy Feet. Roxy also works there. Essie works at SoHo Arts. Client interactions include Stenner, Dale Wisebrenner, Mr Gibbets, and Wilfred. There are a few who have a lot to say and include Julian Prowder from high school and LeRoy Vic and Sharlene Wilson from work. Liza, Hanna, Bill, Tricia, and Dora, who is a receptionist, all work at Fordam. Roderick Henrich? works at On Trend.
The Down and Dirty is a sex club owned by Crack, a.k.a. Wilson Buckley, who has been a friend of Dallas’ and Roarke’s for some time. He’s been with Dr Rochelle ”Ro” Pickering since Golden in Death, 50, and she’s been the head of An Didean (Connections in Death, 48). Renee is working the stick. Pete is another employee who’s been there for three years and is working on his MBA. Big Tiny is a bouncer. Clientele that night had included Wade Rajinski, who considers himself a player.
Polumbi’s is the pizza place where Eve had her first slice. Tippler’s is a bar. Lilibeth Warsaw is an art patron. Jin, Lea, and Paulie are members at the gym. Daralee had been Wade’s spin of the moment at Tango, a less raw and real bar. The Couple in Peabody’s high school years had been Lauren Beals and Denny Parker. Dorian had been a victim in Holiday in Death, 7. Tom, a.k.a. Mouser, is also doing better (Golden in Death, 50). Sebastian had been the “Artful Dodger” in Concealed in Death, 38. Dr Rene Koons is a shrink. Stefan Michael is a masseur. Off Duty is the bar Roarke took from Stone and is rehabbing for Dallas (Abandoned in Death, 54). Jack is the stinky crook. The Blue Line is a cop bar. Alyce Avery had worked for Roarke until she betrayed him. Allisandra Charro is a personal shopper. Peabody has two aunts, Gracie and Lottie, who’ve been together for over forty years.
Back in Immortal in Death, 3,
Casto had been a crooked cop. Eve had been having her hen party at the Down and Dirty with Dr Mira, Nadine Furst, Peabody, and a few others.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a deep blue with a bit of lightening at the bottom as the glow of city lights halos the city skyline at night. At the very top is a pale turquoise info blurb. The author’s name is below this in a bright turquoise with the title in white and filling most of the bottom three-fourths. Crossing through the title, twisting around some of the letters, is a silver piano wire.
The title is all about passions, Passions in Death.
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