J.D. Robb discussion

Haunted in Death is up next in our In Death Series Buddy Read. It's a novella that was originally published in the Anthology Bump in the Night and later released alone as Haunted in Death on ebook and audio. The Kindle version is no longer available, but the Anthology and audio versions can be purchased on Amazon. Please join us!

Synopsis/Blurb:

Number Twelve is an urban legend in 2060 New York City. The hot club in the 1960s, it is now reported to be haunted …and cursed. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called there to investigate the apparent murder of Radcliff Hopkins, its new owner and the grandson of the man who made Number Twelve a cultural icon. Several bullets from a banned gun end his dream of returning the building to its former glory.

With everyone around her talking about the supernatural, pragmatic Eve won't let rumors of ghosts distract her from hard evidence. The case becomes even more bizarre when it appears to be linked to the suspicious disappearance of a rock star eighty-five years ago. As Eve searches for the connection, logic clashes with the unexplainable. She may be forced to face the threat of something more dangerous than a flesh-and-blood killer.

Timeline: January, 2060

Character List:Eve Dallas
Roarke
Delia Peabody
Ryan Feeney
Ian McNab
Charlotte Mira
Delia Peabody
Lawrence Summerset
Jack Whitney
Dickie Berenski
Galahad
Morris
Detective Yancy
Minor & Peripheral Characters
(view spoiler)[John Massey
Maeve Buchanan
Cleeve
Cliff Gill
Fanny Gill
John Massey
Ms. Sawyer
Bobbie Bray
Lars Gavin
Hop Hopkins
Radcliff C. Hopkins III
Serenity Bray Massey (hide spoiler)]

Our read of this one starts Feb. 1! Open discussion will begin on the 8th. :)

I almost hate to say I can't remember this because as soon as I start reading it I remember. Lol.

I haven't read this one. I went through all my hardback books, e-books, and audio books. I don't know how I missed it.

You'll remember it, Michelle! lol

Wow Sharon! Hard to believe you missed this one. I have it on audio and also in paperback in the Anthology.

I'm glad we have a novella for Feb. because I know many rereaders of the series will be reading Dark in Death. Since Haunted is a short story, it won't take long or interfere. :)

I haven't read it before either.I left out all the novellas when I read the series the first time.
I bought the paperback entitled Three in Death because it gave me three of the novellas in one package:)

Thanks, Phrynne

I will order this one, since I don't follow the other authors, and it's slightly cheaper on amazon than the other anthology. I wonder if I borrowed it from a previous library, but I can't remember anyway!

Phrynne wrote: "I haven't read it before either.I left out all the novellas when I read the series the first time.
I bought the paperback entitled Three in Death because it gave me three of the nove..."

Nice deal! A great way to get the novellas.

FYI, info re the omnibus editions of the novellas are found in the In Death Series Book List. Best way to buy them if you’re not interested in the other books in the anthologies.

I bet that's where I originally got my information Jonetta:) Thank you!!!

Just finished it. For a novella it is excellent!!!

Just finished. I didn't read it before. I don't know how I missed it. I love it.

I'm doing my reread now! Glad you enjoyed it, Phrynne & Sharon!

I've begun to read it. Maybe can carve out some quality reading time this weekend.

I started it today. Of course, I'm already enjoying it.

Finished. Even though it's a novella, I really liked it.

Finished it; least favorite, only 3 stars for me.

I finished it a couple of days ago. It is quick and entertaining.

I've also finished already. And though it didn't really ring any bells I remembered the killer , sort of.

I've finished too! Open discussions start day after tomorrow (8th). :)

finished and am ready to discuss

It's time for open discussions! Feel free to share your thoughts on Haunted.

What did you think of this novella? What did you like or not like about it?

I like how everyone else around Eve and even Roarke believed in the hauting and ghosts. Eve stood her ground even though there was a lot she could not explain. I really liked the scene when she and Peabody are back at the 12 and Eve leaves Peabody alone. Then she says to Peabody "BOO" that was precious. I would have preferred to have some closure my self as to how the ghosts and voices appeared but I quess that is what the author wanted was to leave you quessing if there really are some thing as Ghost or supernatural that can not be logically explained.

Just finished. Like it but like the fact that everyone but Eve believes is ghosts. Like the way Eve threaten Peabody and Roarke tells her they can disagree and still be in love.

I liked the story, but it is my least favorite so far. I just don't like paranormal stuff, so that's the reason.

I can hardly wait to sink my teeth [ not a vampire reference :-) ] into the next full-length book.

I'm a big fan of the character development & growth and I don't think we see as much of it in Haunted as we're accustomed to in most of these books. I enjoyed the story, but didn't love it.

How did this case/murder play out for you?

And considering it dips a little into the "paranormal" - how do you feel that aspect of the story was handled?

I liked it but I don’t think it will be one of my favorites. Probably because it was short and, I agree, Sandra, it didn’t really have character development which I love.

I’m not a huge fan of PNR, so that aspect didn’t win me over.

But you have to love the way Eve flatly refuses to have anything to do with ghosts whatsoever! So like her to be so single minded even in the face of all her favourite people being believers.

The paranormal elements didn't bother me as I like this genre.
One thing that I thought about while reading was the idea that if ghosts exist then perhaps Eve's fear that her father might be haunting her is real - not a fan of THAT idea!

Oooh! I didn't think of that, Lauren. That's a horrifying thought for sure!

Phrynne wrote: "But you have to love the way Eve flatly refuses to have anything to do with ghosts whatsoever! So like her to be so single minded even in the face of all her favourite people being believers."

She's firmly based in the real world, isn't she?! I enjoyed the interaction between the characters even though I didn't think it moved things forward a great deal. Still, I think Eve now gets that people can disagree, even have different beliefs, and yet still love each other. And that it's okay. As always, I love Peabody!

I loved Peabody in this one too! And I really enjoyed the fact that Eve doesn't believe in ghosts. She definitely is a person that believes in facts.

I can't say that it is one of my favorites, but I enjoyed reading this one. I purchased to audio after reading it. I will listen often when I have shorter road trips. It is a quick read.

I like the superstitious Roarke juxtaposed to "only the facts that I can explain" Eve. Eve knows that Roarke believes in the paranormal and that is a big part of his Irish background, but she still tries to convince him he's wrong.

Peabody is another character whose background opens her to the paranormal, after all her father is a sensitive and who knows how to classify her mother's gifts. I love how it all still baffles Eve.

Lauren wrote: "The paranormal elements didn't bother me as I like this genre.
One thing that I thought about while reading was the idea that if ghosts exist then perhaps Eve's fear that her father might be haunt..."

Good insight Lauren. I didn't think about that although he does come back to her often in her dreams. I think that is why she has a hard time shaking them.

Sharon wrote: "I can't say that it is one of my favorites, but I enjoyed reading this one. I purchased to audio after reading it. I will listen often when I have shorter road trips. It is a quick read.

I like th..."

Sharon, I had forgotten about Peabody’s tie to paranormal due to her father and mother.

Sharon wrote: "I didn't think about that although he does come back to her often in her dreams. I think that is why she has a hard time shaking them."

Totally!

Eve was very black and white about ghosts and also very uncomfortable with other areas of the paranormal. I think this harks back to her total defensiveness and not allowing anyone near her emotionally growing up and she still feels uncomfortable about people being close to her even now.
Additionally when you think about it, if you had parents like hers would you like to think they could come back and haunt you, taking over someone's mind to torture you again?
If I remember rightly there have been a couple of sensitives that have commented on her own ability in that area that she refuses to acknowledge, she puts it down to training and a touch of instinct.

I didn't like this one as much as usual. I don't even really know why. It felt less 'believable' if you like, not in the sense of the storline as such, but in the exaggeration of the characters. I didn't like any of the characters involved in the case much either. They all annoyed me, I think because they were too typical and 'plastic' in some ways. The mental instability shown on both sides of the family a reason for the murder is too pat.
The paranormal aspect of the case didn't grab me either.