Holiday in Death

Book seven in the In Death series by J. D. Robb takes us to Eve's and Roarke's first holiday season together. Holiday in Death surprised and impressed me. I expected the brutal murders, but I wasn't expecting a killer Santa. Nor was I expecting the use of The Twelve Days of Christmas as a calling card. Still, it was all within the normal scope of a typical Eve Dallas investigation.

Where Holiday in Death got me was with the non-murder investigation scenes. The scenes where Eve buys presents for her friends had me cackling with laughter, but the scenes of Eve and Roarke creating holiday traditions tore apart my heart. They are beautiful moments of healing for both of them that drove home how much they lost with their terrible childhoods show more and are more effective than all the nightmares or flashbacks.

I did have an issue with how Eve used Peabody to help capture the murderer because it seemed so unlike her. Given her background, I struggle with how she would be willing to put Peabody into that situation. Even with all the precautions and safety measures in place, Eve did not think of the psychological ramifications of what Peabody would face. As I said, given Eve's childhood this situation didn't sit right, but it did show how far Eve is willing to go to catch a killer.

I feel like these stories keep getting better. Every book shows Eve softening ever so slightly, healing just that tiny bit more. While it doesn't seem like much per book, if you look at the series as a whole, the character development throughout the first seven books has been phenomenal. I can't wait to see what happens next! show less

Much like this reviewer, NYSPD Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas is not a fan of Christmas or the season itself. Too many people, too many massive crowds, too much chaos. It is the final weeks of 2058 and now she is very annoyed to discover she is supposed to select gifts for other people, including her husband who is so rich he can buy and sell entire planets.

She is out and about with time to do some things before her shift when she hears a police radio call for a nearby location. The call is for a domestic dispute, which is never a good thing. The actual scene is far worse as it is a murder scene.

Marianna Hawley, mid-thirties, will not see Christmas this year. The naked woman was strangled and left cleaned up and posed on the bed. show more Wrapped in silver garland with a small ornament pinned in her hair just above her right ear, the killer has left behind his calling card. Not to mention the brand-new tattoo on the victim that reads, “my true love.” Her assistant, Officer Peabody, makes the obvious connection between the newly done tattoo and the ornament in the victim’s hair. The race is on to find a twisted killer who has his own agenda and deathly plans for the holiday season.

All the usual caveats apply again in this read that is part police procedural and part romantic suspense. There will be POV shifts, sometimes several times in a paragraph, Roarke will always be a perfect stud in and outside the bedroom, and Dallas and Peabody will confront danger and put themselves in harms way again and again. Fortunately, it is 2058 and medical services are awesome. All in all, another fun read as long as you do not take it too seriously. These books are not deep. They are pleasantly entertaining as one is immersed in the story.


My copy came via the good folks at my branch, Lochwood Library. Scott, once again, made the Libby App work for Dad.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2021 show less

“[Peabody:] "Bite me."
Though Eve managed to swallow a chuckle at her aide's use of her own standard response to annoyances, she didn't quite make it over McNab's cheerful, "Where?”
― J.D. Robb, Holiday in Death

Review..9/19/2020

What a read this was! I originally wrote a few short lines about this book but I am adding to it because I did a reread and found it better or as good as the first time.

This was the first "in death" book I ever read and it was such a good one. How could any mystery lover resist a book about a killer masquerading as Santa? And targeting people who use a dating service? Around the Holidays? It absolutely caught my eye.

So I originally read it many years ago and after I joined GR, I decided to find it only I show more could not even remember the name of the book! Luckily, GR library pointed me toward it. I have not been all that familiar with the "in death" series and only read one other.

So I was thrilled to find it again. And how I adored it! This was a fast and furious read for me. It is still great. And I sort of forgot who the killer was. I did not guess it the first time I read this either.

It's a gritty read,a crazy page turner, with the gritty street fell combined with Holiday Festivity that Eve cannot feel due to the tinge of horror at a killer roaming free.

You feel right there in the streets, trying to solve the murders with Eve, with the blinking Neon signs all around and the frantic pull of urgency as more bodies pile up caused by a deadly killer playing a deadly game. And the killer is turning Santa into a nightmare for many, back lit against the touching story of Eve and Roark and a quirky cast of characters.

So for a mystery fan? Great reading. Very clever writing and a wonderful to read a second time. Highly recommended. show less

Opening Sentence: ‘…She dreamed of death…’

The 7th in the ‘In Death’ series – HOLIDAY IN DEATH opens two weeks before Christmas when a serial murderer launches into action. He gains access to his victim’s homes dressed as Santa Claus bearing a gift. The victim is then drugged, raped and killed, decorated like a tree, tattooed with the words ‘My True Love’ and a little piece of jewellery that matches a line from ‘On the first day of Christmas’ is left on the body. The first victim has a partridge in a pear tree, the next night the second victim receives two turtle doves and on the third night the body is decorated with three French hens.

With the prospect of a murder each night until Christmas, Lieutenant Eve show more Dallas, the vulnerable yet tough futuristic New York cop, has to find the murderer quick smart. All the victims have one thing in common – they have all been registered at a dating service and they are all connected to the theatre in some way.

As usual the book sets off at a terrific rate – and doesn’t let up until the end. This matches Eve – because time is short she is actively investigating until she just about drops. I didn’t guess who the murderer was until Eve did – and it made sense once it was, and the motive was sound and believable – very edge of the seat stuff.

The books in this series, so far, are a perfect blend of romance, mystery and science fiction, with the reader learning more about the two main characters as the series progresses.

This is Eve and Roarke’s first Christmas as husband and wife, her Eve’s first Christmas where she actually has a family and is surrounded by people she cares about. It was very touching, and at times funny, to watch her struggle with buying gifts and dealing with Roarke’s fanatical Christmas decorating. show less

My Review:

Holiday In Death was a pretty quickly paced read actually. I normally have done this series so far in audio but I haven't really enjoyed the voices for Eve or Peabody so decided to read it on kindle instead and I liked it way more. So I think I will be physically reading this instead of doing it through the narration. I am still on the fence on Eve, I honestly don't know how I feel about her to be honest. Sometimes I feel like she is growing and then she goes crazy and her unresolved issues come to the surface and she just treats everyone around her so horribly. And even though Roarke is a alpha male and can take it.....I just hate her abuse of him. I really hope we see better character development for her soon because I am show more not sure how much long I want to invest in the series to be honest. The plot was pretty decent, not my favorite from this series, but not horrible either. I did like how easy it was to read here and I was able to read through it pretty quickly. Roarke though as always was brilliant and the more I read in the series the more I fall in love with him. show less

Holiday in Death
4 Stars

In her latest case, Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas is on the trail of a sadistic serial killer who dresses up as Santa and finds his victims at an online dating service.

An exciting installment with several red herrings to keep the reader guessing.

Eve's complex and prickly nature make her one of those characters that evoke strong reactions in readers. While one cannot help but admire her strength and resilience in overcoming childhood trauma, she does have the unfortunate tendency toward allowing her personal demons to influence her investigative focus, which ultimately leads her down the wrong path.

Furthermore, there are times when Eve's harsh words and hurtful actions toward those closest to her can be show more grating. That said, it is clear that she is slowly coming to understand she is no longer alone in the world and that she needs to let people in.

In terms of the murder case, the symbolism associated with the 12 Days of Christmas is entertaining albeit underutilized. The links between the symbols and corresponding victims could have been used to better effect.

The secondary characters are wonderful as always. The developing love/hate relationship between Peabody and McNab is a highlight, and it will be interesting to see where this goes (if they don't kill each other first).

Overall, the In Death series is engaging, exciting, and entertaining. A definite must for lovers of romance and suspense. show less

It's Christmas in 2058 New York and someone is celebrating the season by killing, using "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as his inspiration. The only link between the victims is a dating service named Personally Yours. To help solve the murders, Eve puts Peabody and McNab undercover as clients of the exclusive dating service. In addition to hunting down a serial killer, this is Eve's first Christmas with her new husband, and where she actually is surrounded by people she cares about. I was amused to watch her struggle with buying gifts and join Roarke in the tree trimming. Eve and Roarke struggle to find the balance between past and present, so that they can go on with their future and start new traditions together.

The suspenseful show more mysteries that bring the character of Lt. Eve Dallas to life keep the reader captured until the very end. Whether you have read the first in this series or the very latest, you will not be disappointed. show less