Promises in Death

A friend is hurt, a cop is dead, Eve has been threatened. Lt. Eve Dallas does not take kindly to threats. She is determined to break this case and that is a promise. This one in the "In Death" series had it all. I really find Eve's terror at the smallest everyday things quite amusing. I'm usually pretty good at fingering the bad guy but this one came as a complete surprise. Another very good read from J.D. Robb

I don't know how J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts does it, but she consistently writes novels with just the right mix of emotion, sexual tension, wry humor, and mystery to keep me riveted every darn time! "Promises in Death" had me flipping the pages as fast as I could read to try and figure out 'who done it' and feed my Roarke fix.

This time the death is personal...not because the vic is a cop, but because she's the cop that Li Morris (coroner extraordinaire) was seriously involved with, and Li's pain is difficult for Eve to face because he's one of 'hers'. When the clues reveal ties to an old enemy of both Eve and Roarke, it seems too good to be true...and it may well be.

The mystery was intricate and well-plotted and I didn't figure out the bad show more guy til the author led me to it. There were twists that I didn't expect, and they all linked together in a tightly woven plot. Eve and Roarke were 'mag' as were the rest of the supporting cast which seemed to include all of Eve and Roarke's friends from earlier books. The scenes regarding the bachelor party and bridal shower had me laughing out loud and wishing I were there to watch.

I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that this is my favorite 'in Death' so far...at least until the next release! show less

The happily-ever-after for New York City’s chief medical examiner, Li Morris, abruptly vanishes with the murder of New York Police and Security Department Detective Amaryllis Coltraine. A recent transfer to the city from Atlanta, she met her death only steps from her apartment, leaving Lieutenant Eve Dallas to stand for her, to find the answers.

But a box, delivered to Cop Central and holding the detective’s badge, guns, and identification also contains a note from Ammy’s killer, threatening Eve. But can she find the answers she seeks when they’re the ones connected to Roarke’s past . . . and to her own?

Twenty-eighth in the “In Death” series, the narrative hits close to home for everyone. Raw and emotional, the intriguing show more plot holds its information close and readers will find it difficult to identify the killer before the reveal. But the bridal shower and shopping, both of which panic poor, shuddering Eve, provide some moments of humor to break the sorrow hanging over all of the characters who’ve banded together to help their friend.

Here, perhaps more than in any of the previous books, readers are at an advantage for having read what came before because, although the story holds together as a stand-alone, it is in the relationships between the characters that the story is at its most brilliant. Readers should grab a box of tissues before starting this one, but, fear not, everything that makes an “In Death” story special graces the pages of this story.

Promise.

Highly recommended. show less

Eve is called in to solve the murder of Morris's girlfriend Detective Amaryllis Coltraine in the 28th episode in the In Death series. She is also really trying to avoid having anything to do with Louise Dimatto's wedding shower despite it being held at her home and having to buy a present for her too.

Clues draw in the Rickers. Eve was responsible for Max Ricker being imprisoned off-planet and serving several consecutive life sentences. Now, she learns that Coltraine had a previous relationship with Max's son Alex but broke it off to move to New York where she fell in love with Morris.

Clues seem to be focusing on Alex having something to do with the murder but Eve isn't convinced. She sees Max still pulling strings from prison to cause show more trouble for his son and for Eve and Roarke. Eve is even convinced that there is a bad cop in Coltraine's department who is likely involved.

This story brings up the whole topic of what we inherit from our fathers since all the main characters including Eve and Roarke are dealing with things from theirs as is Alex and as is the killer.

This is the story where Roarke provides Eve with a new vehicle to replace her wrecked department ride. He's made a customized vehicle for her. It's unobtrusive in appearance -even a little ugly - but with all sorts of bells and whistles on the inside. show less

A very solid entry in the long-running series that never seems to flag. The crime/investigation in this one was interesting, but the best part of it were the times when Eve is thrown out of her comfort zone. The whole thing was a very satisfying read.

I loved everything about this addition to the in Death series, including the coral cover which just screams...It's summer...read me! Whereas I was quite disappointed in the previous release, Salvation in Death, this one satisfied on all fronts. Eve seems much more comfortable being a wife, yet much still baffles her about life and relationships. The connection between Eve and Roarke was much more focused on with Eve experiencing a series of revelations or conclusions about herself and their relationship. I felt Eve really grew in this novel as a person and as a cop.

In Salvation in Death I thought the book lacked on the emotional front. Well, Promises in Death more than makes up for it. Eve responds to a call and finds the body of show more murdered Detective Amarylis Coltraine, the woman that her friend Medical Examiner Morris had been dating for the past year. I reread the first 20 pages of the book a few times and it made me want to break out crying every time. Although the story focuses on a devastating event there were a lot of funny moments too. Especially Eve describing the goings on at Louise's bachelorette party. There seemed to be more snarling, witty, and snappy dialogue than usual too, a feature I have come to anticipate from every Robb novel.

Promises in Death deals with a deeper and more complex crime involving a criminal from Eve and Roarke's past. Robb ponders the sins of the father and what a son or daughter make of their life with the family they have been dealt. I think "Promises" in Promises in Death means Eve's promise to Morris to find Coltraine's killer...Eve's and Roarke's promise to each to always communicate and for each to make the right decisions even when those decisions are difficult. I thought this was one of the best in Death books. Would have liked a final subconscious conversation from Eve between her and Coltraine after she brings down the murderer. I'm interested to see where Robb takes the series from here and plan to read the newest release Kindred in Death.

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While every book in the In Death series builds upon the other regarding Eve's evolution with her personal growth and growing circle of friends, PROMISES IN DEATH is the first one that directly connects to a criminal from a previous murder/book. While there is a bridal shower to lighten the tension of the story and remind readers what is most important in life, the overarching murder and its aftermath cast a dark shadow, one I suspect will come back to haunt Eve at some point in the future.