Dark in Death by J D Robb
In Death series #46. Futuristic police procedural murder mystery.
It’s February in New York and while the lucky may curl up in front of a warm fire, not everyone is so inclined. In midtown, the police are called for a death in a movie theater. Someone sunk an ice pick into the neck of a woman, while her friend briefly went out to take an emergency phone call. When a popular author tells the police the scene was in her last book, they find it’s not the first killing copied. Detective Eve Dallas and her regular crew is on the case and working to prevent another murder. Can they figure out the next victim before it’s too late?

As usual, absorbing and nail biting.
I enjoyed the visit of Leonardo’s family to the precinct. The child is getting older and at the current age, very precious. Peabody at the fabric store was amusing. ( )

On a snowy February evening, Eve is the first one home and is just settling in by the fire with a glass of wine when she is called out. A young actress has been murdered while watching an old movie with a friend. Eve, Peabody and McNabb all converge on the theater to begin their investigation of the death of Chantal Rylan. But thing aren't adding up. Chantal doesn't have any enemies. She was pretty and popular, friendly and kind. There are no jealous lovers. No jealous rivals for parts. But the crime isn't random. It was too carefully planned and too well executed.

Then Eve's friend reporter Nadine brings in a lead in the person of author Blaine DeLano who has written a series of books whose crimes are seemingly being acted out by the killer. Chantal's death is from the second book. Eve finds that her guys recently investigated the death of a young sex worker whose death mirrored the crime in DeLano's first book. Eve hasn't read the books. She's more of a vid girl. But Roarke has them all in his wonderful home library since he's one of the minority who still reads print books.

Some research leads Eve to a deranged fan of DeLano's work who goes crazy after DeLano sends back the fan's opus unread. The fan is determined to rewrite DeLano's books so that evil triumphs. Eve and her people need to do investigating to discover the identity of the fan and to track the fan down before the crime in the third book becomes real. The third crime takes Eve deep into the club scene with drugs and rock and roll. Nadine's new boyfriend is a famous musician. Well, famous to everyone but Eve whose narrow focus doesn't include rock stars.

I love this series. I like the relationships Eve has built through this series. I love her relationship with Roarke which is one of the most wonderful in all romantic suspense books. They complete each other and make each other a better, stronger person. I like the dialog which is crisp and witty. Despite being at book 46, this series is still fresh and engaging. I can't wait for the next episode. ( )

On a snowy February evening, Eve is the first one home and is just settling in by the fire with a glass of wine when she is called out. A young actress has been murdered while watching an old movie with a friend. Eve, Peabody and McNabb all converge on the theater to begin their investigation of the death of Chantal Rylan. But thing aren't adding up. Chantal doesn't have any enemies. She was pretty and popular, friendly and kind. There are no jealous lovers. No jealous rivals for parts. But the crime isn't random. It was too carefully planned and too well executed.

Then Eve's friend reporter Nadine brings in a lead in the person of author Blaine DeLano who has written a series of books whose crimes are seemingly being acted out by the killer. Chantal's death is from the second book. Eve finds that her guys recently investigated the death of a young sex worker whose death mirrored the crime in DeLano's first book. Eve hasn't read the books. She's more of a vid girl. But Roarke has them all in his wonderful home library since he's one of the minority who still reads print books.

Some research leads Eve to a deranged fan of DeLano's work who goes crazy after DeLano sends back the fan's opus unread. The fan is determined to rewrite DeLano's books so that evil triumphs. Eve and her people need to do investigating to discover the identity of the fan and to track the fan down before the crime in the third book becomes real. The third crime takes Eve deep into the club scene with drugs and rock and roll. Nadine's new boyfriend is a famous musician. Well, famous to everyone but Eve whose narrow focus doesn't include rock stars.

I love this series. I like the relationships Eve has built through this series. I love her relationship with Roarke which is one of the most wonderful in all romantic suspense books. They complete each other and make each other a better, stronger person. I like the dialog which is crisp and witty. Despite being at book 46, this series is still fresh and engaging. I can't wait for the next episode. ( )

Dark in Death
4 Stars

This installment in the series is less of a "who-dun-it" and more of a "why-dun-it" as Eve and her team track a killer who is reenacting murders from a series of bestselling novels.

As with the other books in the series, the police procedural elements are well-written, and it is fun to follow along with Eve's investigative process. Nevertheless, the real highlight of the book is the not-so-subtle critique of aggressive fandom and the idea that readers have the right to make demands of the author and dictate their writing decisions.

This is hogwash! Authors owe readers nothing, and if a reader dislikes the direction of a book or series, they don't have to read it. Attacking authors, publishers or other readers is childish and unacceptable. OK, rant over. Back to the book . . .

Robb's characterization is excellent as always, and it is a delight catching up with Eve and Roarke and the rest of the secondary cast. The scenes with Nadine and her new love interest, Jake Kincaid, are particularly appealing, and I would definitely read a book that focuses on their romance.

All in all, this is one of the more insightful additions to the series and the inclusion of realistic concepts it an added bonus. ( )

Good case with a crazy killer. ( )