Quickie Review: Secrets in Death by JD robb

Years ago I used to say that JD Robb's In Death series was guilty pleasure reading. You know what, I enjoy these books and don't feel guilty at all. They are a quick and consistently fun read.

What's It About
"Social information reporter" (ie professional gossip) and TV personality Larinda Mars, staggers into the bar in a trendy nightspot, Du Vin, bleeding profusely. Eve Dallas happens to be in the restaurant meeting a colleague and tries to save Larinda but it;s too late. She bleeds out. Having literally caught the case, Eve takes over as the primary investigator. As Dallas and Peabody begin peeling away the layers of Larinda's life, they find more than they expected. Besides dishing out the dirt on celebrities on her TV program, Larinda was a highly successful blackmailer. And the list of suspects grows.

What Did I think
Bottom line: if you enjoyed the previous In Death books you'll like this one too. Despite the futuristic setting, these books are solid police procedurals and, for the most part, use techniques we recognize from contemporary proceduals—collect evidence, deep background,  interview, confirm, eliminate. Sure there are droids around and some gee whiz electronics but the post-mortem and forensic anthropological techniques are realistic.

There are elements you know you will be there: Roark continues to be ridiculously rich, perfect, and able to leave his business to crack safes and encrypted electronics; Roark will own at least two or three buildings in the story; Eve and Roark will have a minimum of two steamy sex scenes; Eve continues to misunderstand idioms; Eve continues to be amazed at the clothes she finds Roark has bought for her; Peabody will be perky requiring Eve to threaten her; there will be excellent cop banter that will yield at least six laughs; there will be reflecting on the nature of good and evil; some detail of Eve and/or Roark's early life will emerge.

Despite what seems to be a formula for the series, Robb is very good with her plots which I always think are interesting. It is interesting to note that not much time has elapsed in the series. I don't have previous books handy but I think that over 45 books, only 3 or 4 years have passed. And Robb does grow her characters. Eve and Roark used to have at least one major fight per book but are now able to communicate more freely.

So, all in all, a solid addition to a fun series. If you like the others, read this one. If you haven't read any in this series, don't start here, go back to Naked in Death. Over 45 books, Robb has carefully added layers not only to Eve and Roark but to the recurring supporting characters as well.

Secrets in Death is the 45th book in the series, the first of which was published in 1995. The latest, number 46 Dark in Death is out which puts the In Death series in the running for longest mystery series based on a single theme. Ed McBain's Eighty-Seventh Precinct series has 54 book plus short stories and Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series has 47 books plus short stories. It is a remarkable achievement on Robbs part, producing this series, when you consider that she is also romances under her real name, Nora Roberts. Secrets in Death is available from Amazon.