J.D. Robb discussion

We move forward with our series buddy read with book #49 Vendetta in Death. Open discussion begins on the 8th. Feel free to join us!

The predator becomes the prey in the newest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring homicide detective Eve Dallas.

She calls herself Lady Justice. And once she has chosen a man as her target, she turns herself into a tall blonde or a curvaceous redhead, makes herself as alluring and seductive as possible to them. Once they are in her grasp, they are powerless.

The first victim is wealthy businessman Nigel McEnroy. His company’s human resources department has already paid out settlements to a couple of his young victims—but they don’t know that his crimes go far beyond workplace harassment. Lady Justice knows. And in one shocking night of brutality, she makes him pay a much steeper price.

Now Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, are combing through the evidence of McEnroy’s secret life. His compulsive need to record his misdeeds provides them with a wide range of suspects, but the true identity of Lady Justice remains elusive. It’s a challenging case, made even more difficult by McEnroy’s widow, who reacts to the investigation with fury, denial, and threats. Meanwhile, Lady Justice’s criminal crusade is escalating rapidly, and if Eve can’t stop this vigilante, there’s no telling how much blood may be spilled…

Sandra we are almost caught up!!
How will we survive to reading about Eve and roaevery month. Lol.

Looks like we've been building up to this book. Sounds like it will be good case.

I know Michelle! Can you believe it!! Two straight series read throughs has really taken a lot of time - years! lol It'll be a bit strange not to be reading one every month. But we'll always have the 2 new books each year to look forward to. As long as Robb keeps writing them.

Long may she live ❤️❤️

Can't we start again? ;)

I hope we start again love this series💕💕💕

I'm in.

Anyone finished? I'm not. I'll be back!

I'm in the middle of Vendetta now. Is anyone else reading this one?

I finished it last week.

Just started and I seriously cannot believe I only read it a year ago. I don't remember what happens!

hi everyone! this is awesome , I actually did not read the last books since this one. so I will be reading it the first time here:)

Fantastic Ness! There's nothing like the first time reading any of these books.

I'm almost finished with Vendetta. Should be able to start discussion tomorrow.

Let's get the discussion started as this is now a spoiler zone.

How did this case play for you? I ask that first because it's one of few in this series that I wasn't intrigued by.

I enjoyed the case right up until the revelation of the killer's identity. Then it fizzles because the focus is more on evidence collection than identification.

There are also two problems for me in terms of the killer's identity:

First, it plays on the woman scorned trope, which is misogynistic, and second, her actions are explained away as being due to mental illness. Once again, this plays into the idea of the hysterical woman trope and also reduces her culpability. I do not accept that thekiller did not know right from wrong. She did know and she chose to kill anyway.

Lauren wrote: "I enjoyed the case right up until the revelation of the killer's identity. Then it fizzles because the focus is more on evidence collection than identification.

There are also two problems for me ..."

Lauren - I think you've nailed it! I knew something bothered me about the case...it lost steam for me and just bothered me. Don't think I understood why until you shared your thoughts. I agree.

Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: " I knew something bothered me about the case...i"

Lol! I had a long think after I finished reading to try and pinpoint what exactly bugged me about it. I feel that Robb was too quick to let Dara off the hook with the whole "she snapped because her husband left her". To me, that is no different than excusing a man for killing a woman because she rejected him. We don't accept the 2nd, so why would we accept the 1st?

Not one of the best books nothing special I thought. However there was more Peabody in this one. More of Peabody taking control and doing more. I like the progression of Peabody

Lauren wrote: "Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: " I knew something bothered me about the case...i"

Lol! I had a long think after I finished reading to try and pinpoint what exactly bugged me about it. I feel t..."

Agreed!

Susan wrote: "Not one of the best books nothing special I thought. However there was more Peabody in this one. More of Peabody taking control and doing more. I like the progression of Peabody"

Peabody is one of my favorite support characters. I love her interactions with Eve.

Big news from Mavis in this one! Thoughts?

How about Roarke as a "fanboy" of Eloise?? Speaking of Roarke - I like the continued progression of his involvement with the "geek" squad from IT in NYPD! He's settled in and even more - they've accepted him. Love the scene where he says something about joining "his mates" meaning McNab, Feeney, etc. How far he's come! Also the scene where he's able to break through the locks, alarm, etc. on the door when the others couldn't - their awe of watching him work. Priceless!

Have to start by saying this was a first time read for me. Thank you Lauren. You've hit the nail on the head for me as well. This case was just meh. We've had a few books we we know the killer from the beginning. ( wasn't the last one the father daughter killers?) so I know it works. But as you say Lauren she just having a screw loose? The ending just wasn't convincing enough for me.

Lol! I so disagree:) I really loved this one despite the fact that Robb told us who the killer was. I am more into these books for the characters than the mystery so I was very happy with Eve and Roarke and the fun dialogues. Second read for me and I loved it as much as the first.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Peabody is really growing as a detective. But so is Trueheart. I love the touches of Eve and her sqaud. We really are getting to see her leadership role as the LT.

I love Peabody so much. The scene with her standing by Eve? 🍳

As for Roarke? I don't know if we mentioned when it happened. It was in a previous book were the rest of the team made up a story of why and how it was Roarke broke into wherever they were. He really has become part of the team.

Phrynne wrote: "Lol! I so disagree:) I really loved this one despite the fact that Robb told us who the killer was. I am more into these books for the characters than the mystery so I was very happy with Eve and R..."

Totally understand the appreciation for the characters, but as a plot driven reader, the mystery is always an important element for me and a problematic one can sometimes overshadow the character development.

Michelle wrote: "Peabody is really growing as a detective. But so is Trueheart. I love the touches of Eve and her sqaud. ."

Agreed!
Sometimes I wish we could get a book from the POV of one of the other characters. I would love a Nadine book!

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Peabody is really growing as a detective. But so is Trueheart. I love the touches of Eve and her sqaud. ."

Agreed!
Sometimes I wish we could get a book from the POV of one of the ..."

Oh I would read that.

Lauren wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Peabody is really growing as a detective. But so is Trueheart. I love the touches of Eve and her sqaud. ."

Agreed!
Sometimes I wish we could get a book from the POV of one of the ..."

Great idea!! It would be interesting to get the POV of any of several support characters.

Phrynne wrote: "Lol! I so disagree:) I really loved this one despite the fact that Robb told us who the killer was. I am more into these books for the characters than the mystery so I was very happy with Eve and R..."

This is what makes our discussions so interesting! I love getting the different view points!
I'm a character driven reader too. But this case actually bored me and I don't think I've ever said that about another of these books before. My attention actually wandered while I read this one. :(

Phrynne wrote: "Lol! I so disagree:) I really loved this one despite the fact that Robb told us who the killer was. I am more into these books for the characters than the mystery so I was very happy with Eve and R..."

I agree. I just finished this one and really loved it. Not the case per se, but all the interactions with the characters. I just love Bella with Eve...And I'm really enjoying how Roarke is working with the IT guys. You can tell he's having so much fun.