I have recently entered renovation hell. I live in a rowhouse and could no longer stand hearing noise filtering through from the neighbours’, most notably low-frequency bass, which I swear is enough to turn me into Grendel’s mother, on a bad day, not when she’s trying to lure unsuspecting Beowolf into her lair!
But in order to soundproof the common wall, I had to pack up my many belongings, truck them down to the basement, and stack and plastic wrap my furniture out of the contractors’ way. This included my many, many, many books. One good thing to come out of this, though, while pulling out enough TBR’s to last me a few months, I came across two older anthologies containing J.D. Robb stories from the In Death series featuring Eve Dallas and Roarke. The perfect quick and easy light reading when all else around you is total chaos.
I shamefully admit I willingly buy these anthologies in order to have a complete set of J.D. Robb titles, but never read the other stories in them. Well, maybe someday. For now, here’s what’s been happening with Eve and Roarke:
In Ritual in Death, the story contained within Suite 606, which I think may have purposefully been released around Halloween, Eve must find the people who viciously murdered Ava Marsterson during a Satanic ritual in Suite 606 (so close to 666, get it?) of one of Roarke’s posh hotels. As you can imagine, the fact that Roarke’s people and property have been targeted doesn’t sit well with the billionaire and sparks fly between husband and wife as each pursue differing angels to catch the killers. A very fun Eve and Roarke story to say the least! Micro J.D. Robb always tides one over while waiting for the next book in the series to be published.
While touristing on the Staten Island ferry with her family, Carolee Grogan visits the ladies and disappears, leaving nothing behind but a whole lot of blood – that belongs to another female victim. Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD must figure out how Carolee disappeared and who the owner of all that blood is. With nearly 4000 passengers and no way off the ferry, people don’t just disappear, yet somehow a killer managed to spirit himself, the body and Carolee Grogan, the only witness from the scene of the crime.
A pretty decent Eve Dallas story, though not as riveting or as well plotted out as Ritual in Death, still, Missing in Death is a pleasurable read on a hot summer’s day.
Till next time, happy reading!
L J