I am so excited to share one of my favorite authors, J.D. Robb, pseudonym for Nora Roberts.  Under J.D. Robb, Roberts has published the “in Death” series.  This series is a romantic suspense and a futuristic science fiction.  The books in the series feature NYPSD detective Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke and are set in a mid-21st century New York City.  What I find most intriguing about this series is that the overall theme is the development of the relationship between Eve and Roarke.  I’m a romantic at heart and I enjoy how in each book Robb showcases their relations hip in a realistic way in the midst of solving crimes.

The first book in J.D. Robb’s #1 NY Times bestselling series is “Naked in Death” and was originally published in 1995.  And of course, reading mid-21st century in 1995 was much more futuristic than now, in 2020, but it still works.

A blurb from the author’s website: “Eve Dallas is a NY police lieutenant using her instincts to hunt for a ruthless killer.  And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire – and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation.  But passion and seduction have rules of their own.”  The story is set in the early part of the year 2058 and Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called in to investigate the brutal murder of a high profile “Licensed Companion.”  The victim is the granddaughter of a powerful Senator, which complicates the investigation.  Her instincts warn her not to get involved with a man who potentially could be a murderer…duh.  But the attraction between the two is too strong for her to ignore.

Both Eve and Roarke are complex characters which leads to the success of this first book and the series.  Eve has such a passion for the law and an insistence on standing for the dead since they can’t stand for themselves.  She does not care about the persons’ socioeconomic standing, stature in society, or who they know.  Eve lives for her job, thus she doesn’t have a social life nor very good interpersonal skills.  Simply put, she’s a no non-sense woman and not girly girly or glamorous.

Roarke is a great romantic hero, and one of my favorites.  He is mysterious, as well as his background.  Right off the bat you understand he is magnetic and extremely wealthy and handles it all with grace and ease.

The interaction between Eve and Roarke is very entertaining and holds your attention.  Robb also introduces several key reoccurring characters that are a mainstay throughout the series.  They help set the setting and they change and grow along with Eve and Roarke throughout the series.

To date there are 52 books in the series and I literally can’t wait for the next one…it just doesn’t get old.  Thankfully, Robb releases 2 books a year, so by the time you finish one you don’t have long to wait for the next one in the series.

Enjoy and be on the lookout for the review of book 2 in the series, “Glory in Death”.