J.D. Robb discussion

Next up in our In Death Series Buddy Read is Concealed in Death. Our discussion will begin on the 8th. We'd love to have you all join in!

Timeline: Dec. 2060

In a decrepit, long-empty New York building, Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband begins the demolition process by swinging a sledgehammer into a wall. When the dust clears, there are two skeletons wrapped in plastic behind it. He summons his wife immediately—and by the time she’s done with the crime scene, there are twelve murders to be solved.

The place once housed a makeshift shelter for troubled teenagers, back in the mid-2040s, and Eve tracks down the people who ran it. Between their recollections and the work of the force’s new forensic anthropologist, Eve begins to put names and faces to the remains. They are all young girls. A tattooed tough girl who dealt in illegal drugs. The runaway daughter of a pair of well-to-do doctors. They all had their stories. And they all lost their chance for a better life.

Then Eve discovers a connection between the victims and someone she knows. And she grows even more determined to reveal the secrets of the place that was called The Sanctuary—and the evil concealed in one human heart.

Character List:
(view spoiler)[Eve Dallas
Roarke
David Baxter
Mavis Freestone
Nadine Furst
Galahad
Ian McNab
Charlotte Mira
Delia Peabody
Lawrence Summerset
Troy Trueheart
Bella Eve
Garnet DeWinter
Leonardo
Dennis Mira
Morris
Troy Trueheart
Quilla
Elsie Kendrick (hide spoiler)]

Quotes:
Peabody: "Homicide: Our day starts when yours ends. Permanently."
Dallas: "You should sew that on a pillow."
Peabody: "I’m thinking a T-shirt."
…………………...….
DeWinter took a long breath when Eve and Peabody left. “That was disturbing. It’s disturbing to be walked through murder that way, as if by the murderer.”
[Morris:] “It’s a particular skill of hers.”
“I can see them. The victims, the dead, through their bones. I can tell how they lived, how they died. But I wouldn’t like to have their killer inside my head.”
“Putting them there helps her find them.”
“I’m very glad that’s not my job.”
“And she sees them, too, Garnet. She sees the dead, just as you and I do.”
.........................
“Yeah, yeah. People are always saying shit like that,” Eve complained to Peabody. “Have a good day, have a happy day, have a peaceful day or whatever. I’d rather have a kick-ass day.”

I'm looking forward to rereading this one! Open discussion starts on the 8th!

Just ordered from library!

I have it ready. I am looking forward to this one.

One more day until open discussion! :)

Yikes 😳 I’m way behind on my reading!

This is now a spoiler zone! Feel free to openly discuss this book.

Share your thoughts anytime you're ready! I will be out of touch a few days as my husband is having surgery. I'll jump back in asap!

May the Lord be with you and your husband. I will as the church to pray for him

Thank you, Barbara! That's very kind of you, and I appreciate it so much.

Just finished. What do you think of Mavis’ pass?

I finished listening at work today. I like this one. Barbara one of the best scenes is Mavis sharing her backstory. It is sad and explains how they connected so long ago.

I love that she is so close to Eve that she shares information about Sebastian and sets up the meeting. She could dig her heels in, and make Eve work for it.

I also liked getting to know more about Mavis and her past (and present that she doesn't know about her own mother).

I always like it when Dennis Mira takes practical care of Eve; he is a father figure to her, and she shares her feelings for him with Roarke and he gets it.

The relationships between the brother(s) and sister(s) is interesting at the end.

I wonder if Garnet Winter will reappear in future stories: does she have a history with Roarke? Hope not...

It was a good installment and I liked character development for Mavis. She has never been a favorite of mine as her frivolousness tends to annoy me, so gaining this insight into her past helped me to understand her better.

The case was heartbreaking - all those poor girls having their lives ended so young. While I appreciate the resolution and understand the hows and why of it, I'm a little disappointed (as it seems is Eve) that Monty's clear mental instability means he will not be tried for his crimes.

I'm glad that Nash didn't kill his brother after because it really didn't mesh with his characterization.

I also hope we get to see more of Garnet DeWinter. She is a interesting character.

Lauren wrote: "It was a good installment and I liked character development for Mavis. She has never been a favorite of mine as her frivolousness tends to annoy me, so gaining this insight into her past helped me ..."

I feel the Monty mental health issue is realistic. It is frustrating for cops when they run across these situations. It isn't easy to get a criminal declared mentally incompetent but it happens. Not long ago, there was a local case where a young man killed his grandmother. It turned out that he was schizophrenic.

DeWinter is my least favorite character ever although she is interesting. I can't explain it.

I'm do far behind with all my reading this month. Haven't started yet. Hopefully I'll be able to this week. Sometime

How do you feel about Roarke's connection to this one? He buys the building, knocks down a wall & finds the first 2 skeletal remains...and calls Eve. And right then, imo, 12 dead girls become his - just as they become Eve's. That's all it took to make it personal for him. He wants to know their names, who they were, everything. Love that about him.

How do you feel about this case? Who did you suspect? When & how did you figure it out?

One of the most touching, telling scenes involves the last girl...#12...the one Eve & Roarke can't identify. The similarities between this girl and the lost, lonely little girl that was Eve when she had no name is haunting. I loved that Roarke tells Eve that they should give her a name. He suggests "West" as a surname and she gives her the name of "Angel" as a first name - Angel West.

The compassion these 2 people have in spite of their horrible beginning in life is simply amazing.

One of the characters I liked most in this one is the girl, Quilla ...she kept sneaking in to talk to Eve at the home. Always full of info and ended up giving Eve some valuable information. She was kinda funny - rattling on & on to Eve and was like "duh!" a couple of times when Eve asked something Quilla thought was obvious. And I loved Quilla crushing on McNab!! Eve takes note that she even glossed her lips! lol

I loved Quilla. I kind of hope she shows up in some future books as an adult.

Roarke play a small part on this one. Quills is one of my favorite

Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: "One of the characters I liked most in this one is the girl, Quilla ...she kept sneaking in to talk to Eve at the home. Always full of info and ended up giving Eve some valuable information. She was..."

Quilla is my favorite new character. I see Quilla & Angel West as the two sides of Eve. Angel West is the young, battered, lost child that they found in the alley in Dallas.

Quilla is the stronger, more aggressive young woman she must become before she is the Lt. Eve Dallas in the series. Eve said she always knew she wanted to be a cop. I can see Eve as a teen, solving mysteries in the same way Quilla snoops around to get a scoop. It lays a foundation for the future.

Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: "How do you feel about Roarke's connection to this one? He buys the building, knocks down a wall & finds the first 2 skeletal remains...and calls Eve. And right then, imo, 12 dead girls become his -..."

I love how Roarke takes on the girls found as his own. He helps Eve with information, and the transportation to the psychiatric facility. Those quick rides in the jet-copters always make me laugh. Eve is so brave until she flies.

Another favorite scene is when Eve names the abuse shelter that Roarke is planning. She asks what is Irish for Refuge. He immediately responds, then we will. Roarke enjoys getting input from Eve.

The fact that he found the bodies as he starts the project is a solid foundation and proof that he is doing the right thing. Before he decided what to do with the project he talked to Mira. It is one more time that their lives and friends are overlapping. I love that.

I love it also, Sharon! For me, this story is all about the characters. The past, the present, and the future is there. We see where some came from & how they took a horrible start in life & turned it into a positive. We see parallels between characters. We see family & friends growing ever more closer. We meet new characters. Loved it all!

Also have to mention Dennis Mira & his role in this story. Such a shining example of what a father should be. I love the way Eve gets around him.

I also loved Summerset in this one - but then, I always do. He knows Eve will get justice for these girls.

Sandra

I love Dennis Mira too. He gets Eve in such a loving way. He is comforting and loving which gives her peace when she needs it.

I hated Summerset until the fourth book then my feelings for him changed 180 degrees. Summerset gives Eve something different to focus on, even if it is only a few minutes going toe-to-toe with the barbs. She gives as good as she gets from him.

I love Roarke's "the warmth of homecoming" comment. Their banter makes me laugh.

I definitely agree, Sharon! I think of home, warmth, & comfort when I think of Dennis Mira. And yes...peace.

And Summerset & Eve definitely go head to head both coming out equal, I'd say. I look forward to their banter in each book. And I truly believe they respect what each brings to the table - especially for Roarke.

Sharon wrote: "I feel the Monty mental health issue is realistic."

Yes, it is and under the circumstances, it made sense that he would never be tried or convicted.

Sharon wrote: "DeWinter is my least favorite character ever although she is interesting. I can't explain it."

She reminded me a bit of Temperance Brennan from Bones. She has the whole forensic anthropologist / vigilante vibe going for her.

I hadn't thought of that, Lauren, but your Temperance Brennan reference hits the spot for me.

Lauren wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I feel the Monty mental health issue is realistic."

Yes, it is and under the circumstances, it made sense that he would never be tried or convicted.

Sharon wrote: "DeWinter is my l..."

I'm a Temperance Brennan fan. To me, DeWinter comes across as an adversary to Eve. She wants things her way regardless of how it impacts the investigation. I suspect she is going to weave her way into Eve's inner circle. Personally, I like her as an adversary. I enjoy books with a character I love to hate. LOL

Even though these crimes were so sad (families not knowing what became of their loved ones), I enjoyed how this case was solved. I've always really enjoyed Mavis and seeing this side of her was so interesting.

And Dennis Mira...I just want to wrap my arms around him. Love him.

Karen ♐ wrote: "Even though these crimes were so sad (families not knowing what became of their loved ones), I enjoyed how this case was solved. I've always really enjoyed Mavis and seeing this side of her was so ..."

Dennis Mira always warms my heart.