Conspiracy in Death

After the novella interlude, Eve Dallas is back in Conspiracy in Death, book eight in the In Death series by J. D. Robb. In many ways, it feels like the novella and its exploration of Eve's growing humanity gave Ms. Robb the license to start making Eve's trials more emotional and almost traumatic. I say this because what Eve faces in Conspiracy in Death is brutal and something she could not have endured without breaking down in the first few books.

The murder mystery is complex and creative, but it is Eve's potential loss of job where the heart of Conspiracy in Death lies. Almost all of Eve's identity is with her badge, and to have that taken away from her is like taking away her soul. One cannot exist without the other, and the old Eve show more wouldn't have been able to. Once again, Ms. Robb highlights the growth of her character without banging readers over the head with it. The subtlety used in this part of the story is masterful.

Conspiracy in Death is the first novel in the series where Ms. Robb uses the murders to explore Eve's emotional state more fully. Through the threat of job loss, Eve cannot hide behind the badge but must find the fortitude to become someone without it. As I said earlier, it is a scenario Eve would not have been able to handle in the first few books. In upping the ante for Eve, Ms. Robb made Conspiracy in Death richer and more fulfilling. show less

I know I've been rating all the books in this series pretty high, but so far, for me at least, they've deserved it.

And this one was one of the best.

My heart broke for Eve in this story. So very much of who she is as a person is wrapped up in being a cop, and when that's taken away, it all but breaks her. Seeing her so fragile and brought so low was a difficult thing, but it made it all the more satisfying when she made it through the sadness and moved onto anger and resolve to solve her case no matter what.

And right there with her you had Roarke. Steadfast, supportive, yet still ready to give her the kick in the ass she needed to get her out of her funk and stir that motivation to fight back.

I also loved seeing the way Eve's friends show more rallied behind her while all this was going on as well.

So far this series shows no signs of slowing down for me. Hopefully that continues to be the case. show less

In this eighth book of the IN DEATH series which is absolutely one of my favorite romantic suspense series, Detective Eve Dallas is hunting a serial killer who preys upon the unsheltered people living in the streets of New York. This killer seems to have medical training and is creepily harvesting their organs with the precision of a surgeon. When Eve checks for similar cases in other cities, she discovers it isn’t the first time the killer has struck. I love all the books in this series for the great pacing and wonderful cast of characters. This one was especially a treat because of the great mystery to figure out and also the subplot involving another cop that Eve gets into a disagreement with, resulting in an internal investigation show more after things go in an unexpected direction. show less

Called to investigate the death of a sidewalk sleeper, Lieutenant Eve Dallas discovers that someone surgically removed the victim’s heart. It’s not long before she finds similar cases in other cities: indigent citizens with organs removed. But while the killer plays a desperate game of cat-and-mouse with her, Eve suddenly finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of a colleague. Now she must fight, not only for the victims for whom she’s vowed to stand, but also for her own career.

In this, the eighth outing for Eve and company, Doctor Louise Dimatto and police officer Troy Trueheart play pivotal roles. Along with these two, all the expected folks . . . Roarke, Lawrence Summerset, Commander Jack Whitney, Captain Ryan Feeney, show more Detectives Delia Peabody, David Baxter, and Ian McNab, Lieutenant Donald Webster, Medical Examiner Li Morris, Doctor Charlotte Mira, Nadine Furst, Mavis Freestone and Leonardo . . . appear as well. As with previous In Death books, the stand-alone story is perfect for readers new to the series, but reading the earlier books provides the opportunity to see how the characters grow and change as the series progresses.

The compelling, well-defined characters and a strong sense of place give the In Death stories a solid foundation; as with all the stories in the series, the plot twists and turns as Eve works the case. Here, too, readers have a unique opportunity to see Eve in a different light in a difficult situation that brings a new dimension to many of the characters. Fans of the series will find it nearly impossible to set this one aside before turning the final page.

Highly recommended. show less

In this story, Eve Dallas faces her worst fear - losing her badge. The story centers around the deaths of various homeless and lower society people that have various organs removed from their bodies. The removal of the organs points to someone that is a very skilled surgeon. This leads Eve into the world of medical research. She soon discovers that there is a lot of politics, power and corruption involved in the medical profession.

As always the supporting cast integrates into the story well. But Conspiracy also introduces a past lover and a new character Dr. Louise Dimatto.

Really enjoy the series and book #8 continues the tradition.

What can I say about this book that I haven't already said a million times before? In case it's not obvious, I'm in the midst of re-reading the series, and I really didn't want to re-read this one. Not because it's bad, but because it's so emotionally intense. But I'm a bit anal, so skipping it wasn't an option. To blunt the impact, I started out reading a chapter at a time, then switching to another book for a while. That lasted until about 1/3 of the way through the book, then I couldn't put it down.

For those who haven't read the series, or who haven't re-read them often enough to be able to identify them from the titles, Conspiracy in Death has homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas investigating murders that involve the precise surgical show more removal of diseased organs. She collides with a disgruntled "problem child" cop who's intent on making Eve's life miserable. When that cop is brutally murdered, Eve's a suspect, and as such, has to turn in her badge.

Particularly on a re-read, I cringed at Eve's every interaction with Bowers, the disgruntled cop. Eve was her usual abrasive self, made moreso by both Bowers's complaints and the roadblocks being thrown up by the local medical community, who don't want to believe one of their own could be responsible. But while part of me is screaming at Eve to try to defuse the situation, another part is cheering, because her actions are utterly true to her character, and she couldn't behave any differently and still be the same character. She's since (in later books) grown and changed to the point where she'd have reacted differently, I think, but at this point in the series, it's who she was.

The loss of her badge, to someone whose entire identity has been wrapped up in it, is very well done, as are the effects of her slowly-widening circle of people she cares about and who care about her, and that's the core of the story--how she's broken down, and builds herself back up with a little help from her husband Roarke and her friends. For that, I forgive the idea that a cop at a murder scene can tell at a glance that a heart or liver is missing from a body.

Other memorable bits include the introductions of officer Troy Trueheart and Dr. Louise Dimatto, and Internal Affairs lieutenant Don Webster, and Eve's reaction to discovering that Roarke had opened bank accounts for her when they married.

Conspiracy in Death is the 9th story (8th full-length book--there was a novella just before this one) in the series, and while you could no doubt enjoy the mystery without having read the previous books, I strongly suggest reading the series in order, to get the full impact. Unlike some mystery series with static detectives, the characters in the In Death series grow and change throughout the series, and you'll miss that by skipping around. show less

Lt. Eve Dallas and her assistant Delia Peabody, are called to a crime scene by Officers Ellen Bowers and Troy Trueheart where a sidewalk sleeper named Snooks is found dead. Snooks was killed when his heart was removed by what appears to be a very skilled surgeon. When Dallas digs a bit further, she discovers that this crime is connected to another committed in New York City where an aged licensed companion died as the result of her liver being removed. After even more digging, Dallas discovers a case in Chicago and one in Europe that were all similar.

Unfortunately for Eve, trouble is also coming from within the police force. Officer Ellen Bowers is obsessed with Eve. She keeps a journal about all the terrible things that she believes show more Eve has done. One night Bowers is attacked and killed. The blame is quickly placed on Eve, who is stripped of her badge and goes into a deep depression. Only Roarke can bring her back, and help her figure out why four people are dead, and what motivated these murders.

I really enjoyed Conspiracy in Death because it showed Eve at her most vulnerable. Her tough exterior is softened with situations out of her control and she must accept help from Roarke and those close to her. Conspiracy in Death is a great addition to this popular futuristic mystery series. show less