Promises in Death

J.D. Robb
(aka Nora Roberts)

Murder is a violation. It's worse when it's in your own family. When Detective Amaryllis Coltraine is murdered, the New York police pull together. It's bad enough she's a detective, but she was also special to Li Morris, the medical examiner. They had been an item since shortly after she had moved to New York from Atlanta. Eve Dallas is angry from the moment she turns over Ammy's body and recognizes her.

Li is one of Eve's friends and she will solve this crime as much for him as she will for Ammy. The problem is figuring who wanted her dead. None of her cases presented the type of situations that could endanger her. She had left her apartment with her own police equipment to meet someone she knew. When her body was found, her stunner, badge, jewelry, and all other personal items were gone. But Eve knows it wasn't a mugging. Ammy was set up.

As the NYSPD gears up and investigates, Eve and her husband Roarke discover a link from Ammy to their own past. Is it possible that the location of her murder chosen so that Eve would be assigned the case? Ammy's ex-lover from Atlanta is also in New York, Are all these factors linked together?

Promises in Death is another good mystery in the In Death series. Robb can't always get the mystery mixed well with the personal stories of the characters. Sometimes the books that focus more on the personal aren't as strong (they're still good, in my opinion). Promises in Death has an excellent balance of both the mystery and the personal.

Li Morris has been a recurrent background character throughout the series. This book focuses on him and Eve's friendship with him. There's also the wedding shower for Louise D'Amato, another recurring character. It's a great chance to laugh at the non-feminine Eve explore her girly side.

The follow through of the murder investigation is also well done. The follow through is solid and the trail is believable. The twists make the book better.

How many of these books are there? Robb puts out two a year, plus her books under her real name, Nora Roberts. Yet the series stays strong and enjoyable. Which is why I still try to buy and read these within the first week the In Death books are published. Promises in Death is worth it, too.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence; Strong indecent language; Strong sexual content

Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
"Midnight in Death" Silent Night
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgment in Death
Betrayal in Death
Seduction in Death
"Interlude in Death" Out of This World
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Remember When (written w/ Nora Roberts)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
"Haunted in Death" in Bump in the Night
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
"Eternity in Death" in Dead of Night
Creation in Death
Strangers in Death
"Ritual in Death" in Suite 606
Salavation in Death
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
"Missing in Death" in The Lost
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
"Possession in Death" in The Other Side
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Celebrity in Death