Holiday in Death

In Death, Book 7

By: J. D. Robb

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York's most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lt. Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours. Eve soon enters an elite world of people searching for their one true love - and one killer searching for his next victim.Crack another case with Eve Dallas.©2006 J. D. Robb (P)2006 Brilliance Audio

". . . My True Love Gave to Me . . ."

In the midst of preparations for Christmas 2058, a murderer begins killing people. There is a murder each day, and each corpse is decorated with jewelry depicting a day from the Christmas carol : a partridge in a pear tree, etc. By the time of the 4th murder, it is clear that clients of an exclusive and expensive computer dating service are being targeted.

Meanwhile, back at the Roark estate, Roark is really getting into the holiday spirit, planning a huge Christmas party, decorating everything in sight, and buying gifts -- many gifts. He has not had a festive holiday since he was a youngster living with Somerset in Dublin. Eve has never had the experience, so she doesn't understand all the fuss. And she has a problem -- what can you give to the richest man on earth? When she finally has an idea, Somerset helps her obtain the gift -- after Eve saved his life, there has been a truce between them for the holiday season. Not that they're friendly, just not so openly hostile.

As usual with the "In Death " books, the best part is the development of characters and relationships. When the team on the murder case includes McNabb, Peabody protests -- she really dislikes him. Of course, Roark sees and informs Eve that McNabb "is sweet on " Peabody. The relationship between Eve and Peabody has deepened enough to survive a rather serious difference on a personal level. Eve and Roark grow closer and their love deepens and matures as they begin to establish their own personal holiday traditions.

Once again, Susan Ericksen delivers an excellent performance in her narration. Her familiar and distinctive voices for each of the characters have become old friends.

I really enjoyed this 7th installment of the Eve Dallas adventures. My only quibble with the story was that the identity of the killer seemed to come out of left field, with very little information to establish a motive or explain a neurosis. That is unusual in this series. Even so, I am eager to read the next book, but will try to wait a bit in order to get full enjoyment from each adventure.

Loved it.

To write how much I loved this story and the reading of it could never actually describe the fabulousness of the overall experience of it. I don't like giving out details from my J.D. Robb reads because, I believe that they're such well told stories that it would take some joy and surprise away from the new reader of these books. I love each and every one I can hardly stop reading and listening once I get started. Amazingly visual as always.

hooked, look forward to next book as always<br />

enjoyed it. look forward to more. like the plots and twists. enjoy the author .

Performer

I really enjoy this performer. She does an excellent job keeping the characters separated. Recommend the book to audio book lovers.

Plenty of Naughty and Nice to go around

Lt. Eve Dallas has already lost her holiday cheer--she simply has no idea what to buy her gorgeous, richer-than-Croesus husband, Roarke. What is a woman to buy the man who has absolute everything? However, this problem pales in comparison when bodies begin showing up around the city and apparently--Santa is the killer! Can Eve find the serial killer before everyone's holiday spirit suffers a permanent set-back?

After the intensity of the previous "In Death" installment, this volume is an enjoyable, slightly more light-heated episode in the lives of Eve and Roarke and their close friends, as is fitting with the holiday theme. The murder mystery remains as intriguing as ever, but more attention falls to Eve's relationships--particularly her dance with Roarke as they develop a rhythm as husband and wife, and her blossoming friendships with Peabody and Nadine.

An enjoyable story and a thorough pleasure to listen to as Susan Ericksen continues on as narrator in this series.