The In Death series of books by Nora Roberts under the pseudonym J.D. Robb is set in the mid twenty first century in New York City. They follow the career of Eve Dallas, a police lieutenant, and her husband, Roarke.
The stories regularly include other characters such as Captain Ryan Feeney, Detective Ian McNab, Detective Delia Peabody, and Dr. Charlotte Mira.
Starting in 1995 the series has become very popular and there are now 68 books in the series. Each book is a standalone mystery, but there are regular characters in the series, so character development does occur.
About The In Death Series
The In Death series of books by J.D. Robb began in 1995 with the first Eve Dallas novel called Naked In Death. Since then the author has produced multiple books each year.
The stories are romantic suspense novels but with a heavy leaning toward mystery crime thrillers.
The novels are futuristic, set in the mid 21st century, so there are some off-planet tales too. However, the series is mostly centered around the relationship between Eve and her husband, Roarke.
Three apparently unrelated suicides, all died with smiles on their faces.
Eve Dallas investigates the possible cause and finds evidence of burns on their brains. Her instincts are proven right she is led to the world of virtual reality games.
Can something used for fun also be used for more sinister purposes?
Eve Dallas is investigating the death of a fellow police officer and is treading on dangerous ground. She has to put professional ethics before her personal loyalties.
A dead body placed outside her home gives Eve cause to think this is personal. This could be the most dangerous case of her career.
Eve Cassidy has made it to a Christmas list, but this is not one she would want to be on. A serial killer that she put behind bars is out for revenge and has Eve firmly in his sights.
With her husband at her side, Lieutenant Eve Dallas has to stop the killer from exacting his vengeance.
A serial killer that operates with the precision of a surgeon has Eve Dallas involved in a cat-and-mouse game. But with few clues, it will be a struggle. And to cap it all suddenly her job is on the line.
In this story, Eve Dallas is both a witness to and investigator of a murder.
An actor is killed on the opening night of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, right in front of the audience. It doesn’t help that Roarke, her husband, owns the theater where it happened.
A cop is bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat in an uptown strip club. The motive is a mystery and Eve Dallas is going to need all her skills to get to the bottom of this murder.
Her investigation uncovers a private club called Purgatory, and it’s not a pleasant place.
Pros
The plot brings out some conflicts with the main characters
A surprise birthday party ends in tragedy when a woman with red hair and green eyes hands the guest of honor a glass of champagne. Within minutes, he’s dead. And nobody at the party knows who the woman was.
But Eve does, and it looks as if they’re fated to have a reunion.
A man who has spent three days staring at his computer screen flies into a rage when someone knocks on his door. He kills his visitor with a baseball bat.
When a second victim dies in the same way, Eve begins to think this is a computer virus that can spread to humans.
A copycat killer is murdering women in the style of infamous murderers.
Dressed as Jack the Ripper he murders a prostitute, leaving a note for Eve inviting her to play his ‘game’. She now has to find him before he mimics another murderer and kills again.
A story that spans decades. An antique dealer living in a different century is visited by an old associate of her con-man father with a cryptic warning.
Moments later he is run down in the street. The event will have consequences for Eve Dallas decades in the future.
Pros
A different approach to the Eve Dallas series
An intriguing mystery in its own right
Cons
Could be confusing for those not familiar with the other books in the series
A former member of the Secret Service and later security expert for Roarke Enterprises is found with the bodies of her husband and best friend. What looks like jealous rage may not be the real answer.
Eve and Roarke work together to find the hackers behind a deadly computer virus.
A seemingly ordinary family is murdered in their beds with military precision. State-of-the-art security technology was breached, but the killers made the mistake of leaving a survivor.
Now Eve Dallas has to protect this witness, a nine-year-old girl, and find her family’s killers.
When the owner of a purportedly haunted nightclub is murdered it spooks a lot of people. But Eve Dallas doesn’t believe in ghosts and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Finding the bones of a famous missing singer behind a wall she has to find out who murdered both of these victims.
Investigating a double homicide Eve Dallas is asked by her friend Mavis to look into the case of a missing woman from her birthing class. Working on both cases she relies on the help of her husband Roarke.
A history teacher is poisoned with ricin, added to the packed lunch his wife lovingly prepared for him.
Eve has to find out who would poison someone so pleasant and inoffensive. Meanwhile, an old flame of Roarke’s is back in his life and Eve is consumed with jealousy.
Can she focus on the case long enough to solve it?
A body is found in the park, bearing signs of prolonged torture. This catapults Eve back nine years when four women in fifteen days were killed in a similar fashion.
Everything about this latest victim is somehow connected to Roarke, including the killer’s intended next victim, his wife Eve.
Pros
Authentic page-turner
One of the series’ creepiest villains
Cons
Focused less on personal relationships between the characters
A prominent businessman is found strangled while tied to his bed. Meanwhile, everyone with a possible motive seems to have a solid alibi including the man’s wife and nephew.
Eve has to find out what they’re hiding from her and from each other to get to the bottom of this murder.
Pros
Engaging plot
A strong addition to the series
Cons
Quite predictable
Final Thoughts
Nora Roberts’ pseudonym allowed her to reach a different kind of audience with the series of In Death books.
Previously known for her romance novels, her new persona of J.D. Robb provided her with the opportunity to develop new characters and write for a slightly different genre.
The police lieutenant Eve Dallas, her husband, and colleagues have proven very popular with readers. In fact, Robb often produces two or three of these books every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many In Death Books Has J.D. Robb Written?
The In Death series of stories features 68 books to date. There are also some short stories and novellas which are occasionally presented as a single book.
Do You Have To Read The In Death Series Of Books In Order?
No, the stories can be read as standalone mysteries, but there is a development of the main characters throughout the series which would be missed by not reading them in order.
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