This is the 6th book in the In Death Series.It is Late Autumn/Early winter in the year 2058. Eve Dallas is summoned with a riddle. Easily solved, she hurries to a grisly crime scene. A man has been eviscerated in his own home and left for Eve to find. It turns out the man was an old acquaintance of Roarke's during the days when he lived in Dublin.The killer, taunting Eve with riddles sends her another. This time she is mere minutes late as she finds yet another gruesomely killed man left to die in an vacant home that Roarke owns. Like the first, this man is an old acquaintance of Roarke's.It is obvious that the killer is taunting Eve with the knowledge that his ultimate victim will be Roarke. Since the case has ties to Roarke's criminal past Eve has to walk a very tight line to keep the investigation by the book but to somehow keep Roarke's past out of it.I really liked this entry into the series for several reasons:1) It builds on the information we learned in the 3rd book, Immortal in Death, about Roarke and Summerset's past. The past is now the present and the vengeance and judgment that Roarke visited on the men who raped, tortured and Murdered Summerset's daughter is now being visited on the people who helped him.2) The visit to Ireland where Roarke confronts his own past and we see him in the environment that formed him.3)I love the fact that Roarke has absolutely no remorse about his criminal past and that he is a murderer. My big problem in romance novels is how they pretty everyone up. In a traditional romance, we would find out that Roarke didn't kill anyone at all, that he walked away and left them to be killed by other people or that it was done in self defense. Not here. I like the fact that Roarke's past is ugly and he doesn't apologize for it because it is what made him what he is. And i like the fact that Robb doesn't flinch and saying that her alpha hero is a stone killer. So there!5)We meet Mcnabb! Yes! Another of Eve's inner circle and recurring characters in the book is introduced. When I first read this book, I had the sinking feeling that McNabb was gonna be another Jake Casto (Immortal In Death) or maybe Jake Casto was supposed to be what McNabb is before Robb turned him bad. At any rate, I love McNabb and his interactions with She-body are great.6) Eve and Summerset enter a new phase in their relationship. The hatred is at an all time high in the beginning but there are great developments in the course of the story.I take a star off this book because in re-read I really am tired of the female authority figure who messes up a guy's head angle. Robb uses that a lot.
This is the only ongoing series I read that features the same couple in every installment: NYC Homicide Lt. Eve Dallas and the sexy, complex, brilliant and dangerous Irish tycoon known only as Rourke. But these 2 characters are SO worthy of this distinction!! :) Eve and Rourke both come from ugly, abusive childhoods. Sexual/physical/emotional abuse…it’s more accurate to say they didn’t really have childhoods! But Eve and Rourke managed to find peace with one another and their story is compelling enough to keep millions of readers hooked. Their relationship and new marriage is stressed in Vengeance in Death after Rourke’s long time friend & butler, Summerset, becomes the prime suspect in a series of murders tied to Rourke’s dark secrets from his younger years rising up in the rough streets of Dublin, Ireland. When Eve takes Summerset into questioning with Rourke acting as his representative and Eve brings up private information that she’s only privy to through her relationship with Rourke, I just about died with shock. It was definitely a "*sucks-in-air* Oh, no she didn't!!” kind of charged moment *g* In addition to the relationship/sexual tension within this story, this killer taunting Eve and making her solve puzzles to find the victim (not always in time) kept me hooked and as always, the futuristic aspects were just sprinkled in and never overwhelming. Naked in Death and Glory in Death (Books 1 and 2) are still my favorites of this series; I’ve re-read them both more times than I can count. But Vengeance In Death was damn good and right up there with these favorites. It’s intimidating to read a series that I’m so incredibly behind on…what is J.D. Robb writing right now, including the short stories, “In Death” book #30? But it says a lot about a series when your friends that are current still love the series and encourage you to hurry and join them. And that’s what I’m going to do~
Do You like book Vengeance In Death (2015)?
Woo-Hoo! And another great book. This one was really good. I liked the look into the past, although painful, a lot of bridges were crossed and some good humor kept it from being depressing. I loved the characters, some new brought in, from the colorful to the 'colorful'. ;) This is another book I wouldn't mind reading again and adds more strength to the family. Some rough seas were weathered and everyone seems to come out stronger than ever. Super great and pulls you in, plenty of twists, emotions, humor, suspense, a little action, and a good ending. Can't wait to get my hands on the next. Gotta love the Irish in this one, Brian is a treasure. Frigidly Enjoy!
—Caro
A dangerous religious fanatic is out there, hell bent on vengeance. And this time the latest series of murder case is getting closer to Roarke's past. It seems that Eve is once again put in a difficult position on toeing the line between doing her job as a cop and trying to clear her husband and this time the uptight butler Summerset. I simply love how Roarke and Eve work out the balance in their marriage no matter how many times Eve's job threatens to tip that balance. Finally Eve have admit it out loud to her superior that she was willing to lose her badge if ever she is put in the position to choose between her job and her marriage. I've always wondered what her reaction would be if it ever comes to that, and now we know. Being a cop means her whole life to her and to acknowledge that Roarke place first in her life when it comes down to it, that made me happy. And I know that Roarke will move heaven and earth and other planets if he can to protect Eve and at the same time support her in her job. Now if only Eve will only allow her ungodly rich husband to upgrade her shitty car and office computer...which i think she eventually got those. I continue to have a good laugh with the rapport between Peabody and Eve...this two works like a charm. I am also glad that whatever personal demons that Roarke is struggling with about his past is finally laid to rest. And I hope that Summerset will really treat our dear lovely cop Eve much better. At least be a less uptight with her. But i think Eve loves antagonizing him every time she gets home. Over all a very entertaining and compelling read.
—LailaBC
Sandra wrote: "I will at some point but I have about 60 unread books at home atm which I kinda wanna read before I continue shopping."I totally understand. :-)
—❆ Crystal ❆
