Prego.....It's In There.

Or maybe it isn't.

.............................................................

Having trouble coming up with a quirky title for this review.

Just finished reading New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb.  And it was good.  Too good.

Guess I'm having trouble coming up with some quirky things to say as well.  Ok, well......

I found this to be the best In Death book so far by miles.  Miles and miles.  And it's really hard to pinpoint the reason(s).  This one has all the drama, love, death, sex, pain, tears (some were mine), frustration and sweet victory that they all have had, but it is so different.

But why??

Wait.... I think I just came upon it..... It's not what's in there, it's what isn't.  Since this books mostly takes place in Dallas, TX, there's no "New York."  No Peabody, McNab, Feeney.  No Summerset, Mavis, Nadine, Mira.  Hell, there isn't even any Baxter, Trueheart, Louise, Charles, etc. etc. None of Eve's bad driving, vending machine traumas, and candy bar thefts.  None of Roarke's "shenanigans," foreign travel or world domination.  And seriously this list goes on and on.  In short, there is no relief, comic or otherwise.  No shopping trips, no concerts, parties.  You  know, that stuff that usually makes Eve's skin crawl, but ends up doing her a world of good.  And we all love her for it.  But there isn't any time to breathe, for the characters or the readers.  I literally finished this book in hours.  Like 3.5 hours.  Okay, okay, maybe like 4 hours.

But, I don't know that I missed the "New York" in this book.  I don't know that it needs it.  (And there's the light bulb for the blog title.)

I admit I have this freakish habit of making the characters real people in my mind's eye.  And Eve and Roarke are 2 of my most favorite people in there.  So when I had to leave this book just when Eve and Roarke discover the true identity of the partner, it seriously left me in a bad mood.  I had to play mom for a bit and drive the youngest to preschool, then go grocery shopping of all things, and for 2.5 hours all I wanted to do was get home and finish the damn book.  I mean, how dare real life intervene just when the gettin' is good??? :)
Needless to say, I bow down to the greatness that is Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb.  I don't have any idea how she can just keep popping them out, book after book, and have them all still be awesome.

So I give this book 5 out of 5 *whatchamacallits*.  (Still working on that rating system.)

Kiwi

PS I know a few people who aren't as into these books as I am.  I think I will suggest they have a go at this one, might change their minds a bit.