Faithless in Death
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Awesome bestseller this month. I lucked out again for February. One of my favorite book series put out number 52 Faithless in Death by JD Robb.
I didn't remember this book was coming out this month. So, you got a blog on how much I like JD Robb as one of my must buy authors. Now you get to hear me gush on the newest book.
As always, I try to steer away from spoilers. That’s especially important this time, as my guy hasn’t finished listening to the audiobook.
I’ve always found it so disheartening to come up with a first line. They teach writers it must sizzle off the page and Velcro itself to a book buyer's mind. There are great first lines out there. Honestly, Anne Bishop hit it out of the park with “I wouldn’t have known about the dead man if I hadn’t walked into the kitchen at the exact moment my one and only lodger was about to warm up an eyeball in the wave-cooker.” That one sticks with me. Centers you before you ever get into the story. It’s hard to beat.
“Paperwork could kill.”
This book opened with three words. “Paperwork could kill.” All of us can relate to paperwork. I’ve read all the books in the series, so I know from that first line Eve Dallas is attending to one of her most hated parts of being a lieutenant. I’m grounded and ready to see what’s happening in this future world that still has dull and frustrating paperwork and flying cars.
After I finished the book, I went over to amazon to make sure I had the book number and title correct. I perused the reviews. Several readers took the time to say they didn’t appreciate the topical references that so clearly mimicked what is happening in the United States. Pretty sure I’ve mentioned in the past, this author never lets your views impede her story. She writes it as she sees it.
I’ll also remind folks this book was probably scheduled out several years ago. Some issues in society never seem to get solved. She’s used this fictional world to speak on it. It wasn’t heavy handed enough to get my back up.
Now that’s out of the way.
The mystery was epic. It reminded me of Origin in Death. Deep and twisted. You’ll never see it coming until BAM right in your face. I enjoyed this one.
We see a few cameos. Most of the buffet of rotating side characters makes an appearance. There is a sweet B story that should be balm to those of us who like to see what these characters have been up to. I’ll be honest, there wasn’t much play with them.
“Mavis stood on the porch. Her hair, cotton candy pink, fountained out of a topknot. She wore over-the-knee clear boots. What, Eve wondered, was the point of see-through boots”
This book is all meaty mystery. A police procedural. Roarke is on scene to make everything smooth. Summerset delivers. All of them are wrapped around the case.
I don’t want to give stuff away. It’s hard because I want to talk about it. Chatter back and forth about how things could get so messed up. Humans are supposed to be above animals socially and intellectually, but I got to tell you, dolphins are smarter and manage not to carve each other up for fun. You’ve got to watch Joe Rogan’s special “Triggered.” Hysterical. I like his theory on dolphins.
“Kicking ass is better than sleep.”
Julia Kicova
Sometimes a mystery delivers on all the senses. You can feel the outrage at how characters are killed or taken advantage of by criminals. You’ve got a few warm moments of side characters. The fragrance mentioned in the middle of a complicated operation makes you stop and redress the scene in your mind. I swear I hear the car noise whenever Eve is in her flying car.
Not sure what you have planned for your weekend, but if you can, spend some time with Eve Dallas. You won’t regret it.
