Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: September 7th, 2021
384 Pages
Synopsis: In the latest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas sifts through the wreckage of the past to find a killer.
The body was left in a dumpster like so much trash, the victim a woman of no fixed address, known for offering paper flowers in return for spare change—and for keeping the cops informed of any infractions she witnessed on the street. But the notebook where she scribbled her intel on litterers and other such offenders is nowhere to be found.
Then Eve is summoned away to a nearby building site to view more remains—in this case decades old, adorned with gold jewelry and fine clothing—unearthed by recent construction work. She isn’t happy when she realizes that the scene of the crime belongs to her husband, Roarke—not that it should surprise her, since the Irish billionaire owns a good chunk of New York. Now Eve must enter a complex world of real estate development, family history, shady deals, and shocking secrets to find justice for two women whose lives were thrown away… (Goodreads)
It’s hard to believe that J.D. Robb’s long-running In Death series is now up to #53, but with Forgetful in Death, here we are. In this outing there are two main mysteries to be solved: one involving a homeless woman known by many for her sweet nature and penchant for giving out origami figures, and the other which focuses on the uncovered skeletons of a pregnant woman and her infant.
As is often the case with this series, the identities of the villains are fairly easy to guess, but that’s not really important. What is, is the journey getting there and what it reveals about not only the victims and their killers, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas herself. Throughout this series Dallas has stood for the homicide victims whose cases cross her desk, no matter who they were or what their background. She leaves no stone unturned in her quest to bring the people responsible for their deaths to justice, and in doing so, allows them to rest in peace and brings closure to their loved ones. That continues to be the case here, and the way this story unfolds makes the title especially apt.
As usual, Dallas is backed by members of her Scooby gang, although this time around it’s really just the ever-dishy Roarke and her stalwart partner Delia Peabody, who play integral parts in the investigations. I never tire of the interplay and dialogue between Dallas and the people she cares about, and as I expected there are some lighter moments to break up the darkness. The ending comes with justice being delivered to some truly abhorrent individuals who never should see the light of day again, and I took great pleasure in seeing them get their just desserts.
I’m happy to say that Forgotten in Death is another winning entry in this series, and I have no doubt it will please Robb’s legions of fans. I’ve said this before about the In Death series, but it bears repeating. Every time I pick up a book it’s like greeting old friends and family. Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, and the rest, are all characters I wish I knew in real life, but alas, I’ll have to console myself with reading of their adventures twice a year.
Mae Clair said:
I’ve never read any books in this series, but I’ve always heard how wonderful it is. A late friend of mine was addicted to it. I have two of the novels on my bookshelf and another on my Kindle. I really need to make the time to meet these characters. Great review, Kim!
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend Mae. I think you’d enjoy this series.
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beetleypete said:
Glad to hear how much you enjoyed the latest in this series, Kim. For some reason, ‘Delia Peabody’ doesn’t sound right as a cop name for me. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yet it fits her so well!😁
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Jacquie Biggar said:
I LOVE this series!
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s one of my favorites Jacquie. This is coming out in less than a month.☺️
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Jacquie Biggar said:
It speaks to the strength of her writing that she can have a fifty- some series running and readers are still in love with the characters ❤️
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Exactly Jacquie! It doesn’t even matter that more often than not you can figure out the whodunnit long before the end. It’s all about the characters.
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Lashaan Balasingam @ Bookidote said:
I was going to say that this was an author that I always noticed throughout my whole life but never read anything by her. Glad to see she still delivers great stories today! Great thoughts, Kim! 😀
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
There is something to be said that a series is still going strong after two decades Lashaan.
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tamaralowery said:
This is a series I have yet to pick up. Dang, the woman is prolific! Seeing the name of Eve’s partner, Delia Peabody, makes me wonder if she’s a tribute to Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody mysteries. If you haven’t read those, they’re fun and follow a family of Egyptologists during the Edwardian Era.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I love that series!
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Carrie said:
Lovely review Kim! I keep seeing lots of friends reading this series but 53 books is quite a lot to add to my endless mountain of a TBR so I guess I’ll just have to keep feeling left out.
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