Betrayal in Death

by J. D. Robb

2001

Status

Available

Publication

Berkley (2001), Edition: 1st, 368 pages

Description

Fiction. Mystery. Romance. Suspense. HTML:In this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Detective Eve Dallas' investigation of a homicide at her husbandâ??s hotel leads to a murderer with a passion for the finer things in lifeâ??and in death... At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndownâ??and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. Heâ??s Sly Yost, a virtuoso of music and murder. A hit man for the elite. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows him well. But in this twisted case, knowing the killer doesnâ??t help solve the crime. Because thereâ??s someone else involved. Someone with a more personal motive. And Eve must face a terrifying possibilityâ??that the real target may, in fact, be h… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
The initial murder in this book happens when Eve is at a glittering function with Rourke, the links to the next murder aren't very obvious, except the method. A visit from an old friend is muddying the waters.

I got at least one of the twists fairly early on but it is an interesting read and finding
Show More
out all the chains in the links was interesting. Peabody and McNab's relationship, along with their superior's attitudes provides plenty of chuckles along the way.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rocalisa
Roarke finds himself facing a series of distractions when he wants to be focussed on hosting the year's biggest charity auction. The arrival of an old friend from his youth in Ireland is surprise enough, but when a young maid in one of his hotels is brutally murdered by a known assassin, he finds
Show More
he is being personally targeted, although neither he nor Eve knows why or by whom.

As the murders escalate in intensity as well as personal closeness to Roarke, Eve goes all out to find not only the murderer, but whoever is paying him. His methods stir her own childhood demons and she must face those as well as the difficulties of the case. And although neither Eve nor Roarke is prepared to admit it, both are aware that as the victims become closer and closer to Roarke, then Eve becomes more and more a potential target.

It's a while since I read this one, and I have to admit that I don't remember a lot of the details. It's not that this was a bad book - I enjoyed myself thoroughly while reading it - but it doesn't seem to have been particularly memorable. All the same, I always enjoy a visit with Eve and Roarke and this one was no exception.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Darla
This is #... what? 11th, I think, story in the series. And I've read it... 3 times? 4? I donno. So what's left to say about it? The last time I read it, I gave it 5 stars, but I didn't say why.

There is a lot to love in Betrayal in Death. We've got a professional assassin, which is always fun, and
Show More
we meet somebody new from Roarke's past, and there's a big ol' speedbump in the middle of the road to romantic bliss for Peabody and McNab, which made me (and Eve!) want to smack them both upside the head, but it was just so realistic, I could feel for both of them. And there's betrayal (you could probably guess that, given the title) and redemption. Very satisfying.

What keeps it from being 5 stars, at least on this re-read, is that I just can't buy the motive.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MusicMom41
This was not one of the strongest entries in the series but I’m enjoying the series enough that I want to read all of them. The interaction between the main continuing characters is still fun and we get to meet another charming character from Roarke’s Irish past. In this story Eve is on the
Show More
track of a serial killer who is a professional assassin specializing in torture and rape of the victim before strangling with a silver wire. He has been doing this for hire for over 40 years and no one has come close to even locating him much less capturing him. The FB is also involved in the investigation. Roarke is busy helping a “Grand Dame” of the theater and movies, Magda Lane, to set up a gigantic auction of her acting memorabilia, the money from which she plans to use to start a school to help aspiring but poor actors learn their craft. Meanwhile a friend from Roarke’s past whom he thought had died in a bar fight years ago shows up for a visit and becomes a houseguest at Roarke’s mansion. Unfortunately the characters that are specific to this novel are not as well developed as they are in Robb’s best stories so the book was a little flat—but I had no trouble finishing it. I did discover that J.D. Robb has about as much affection for the FBI as Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe) had.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mccark
Note to author and editor. Cornwall is not in the north of England.
LibraryThing member gogglemiss
In between trying to nab a paid assasin who is killing, rather unpleasantly Roarke's closest associates, Eve has to cope wirth those interfering FBI who also want to collar him.. The comedic highlights were of the exasperated Eve, playing agony aunt, over ice cream, to Peabody and her spat with
Show More
jealous McNab. As to the main story, as always, graphic and chilling.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Kaetrin
Good story, strong narration, great characters. I did wonder slightly at Eve's sympathy for the "villain" in this book - his crimes were pretty nasty I thought - I don't think I would have been so generous.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
BETRAYAL IN DEATH is the twelfth book in the In Death Series. As the cover states, it deals with betrayal in many situations. Eve is at a party at one of Roarke's hotels when she is called to the murder of a chambermaid in the same hotel. The murder is brutal and was clearly done by a professional.
Show More
It looks like the murder was done to hurt Roarke. Eve is determined to find the killer and protect her husband.

Roarke is busy arranging with actress Magda Lane to hold an auction of her movie memorabilia to fund a foundation to assist young actors. The memorabilia could bring in around one billion credits. Eve is concerned about the security surrounding the auction but that is quickly overshadowed first by the chambermaid's death and then by the death of another of Roarke's employees who is also killed in a property Roarke owns.

One of Roarke's old friends - long thought to be dead - arrives to visit Roarke too. Mick Connelly was one of the people that Roarke grew up with in Dublin. While Roarke has cleaned up his act, made a lot of money, and married Eve, Mick is still a very charming criminal. Eve worries about what he wants from Roarke.

The hired killer's viewpoint is also given. He is a sociopath who lives for the finer things in life like opera, fine foods, clothing and wine. He is utterly creepy and terrifying. As Eve hunts for the him, she learns that the murders are part of a much larger plot.

For the more personal part of the story, Roarke and Eve are still adjusting to each other in their marriage. While they are great with each other, they are coming from very different backgrounds and sometimes that takes adjustments from both of them. Mick is a focus that highlights their different reactions. Eve also deepens her friendship with Peabody as she attempts - despite her strong desire not to get involved - to act as a relationship counselor when Peabody and McNab have a falling out.

I love this series. Each episode deepens the relationship between Roarke and Eve, which I think is one a fiction's great romances, and each finds Eve expanding and deepening her circle of friends which is a sign that she is finally overcoming the horrible experiences of her childhood. Sometimes the mysteries take a backseat to the relationships but, in this case, the mystery and relationships were integral to each other.
Show Less
LibraryThing member msralways
It think this was that this was the book that took me the most time to finish,but only because I was too busy to get to it. Once I had the time, I read the whole thing in a couple of hours.

Now to the review: again another sensational story and plot. I really like when the case gets jumbled with
Show More
Roarke. McNab and Peabody had some great scenes together and what happened between them was a long time coming for me. Eve was a lot more sweet and she's beginning to see why Roarke has this insatiable need to care for her and doesn't like to see her suffer. Incredible.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Sheila1957
I love Dallas and Roarke. In this tale a maid is murdered at one of Roarke's hotels. Then an editor at one of his publishing houses is murdered. Their only link is Roarke. Eve figures Roarke is the target but he won't agree to her plan to keep him safe. An old friend from Ireland, believed to be
Show More
dead, comes to visit Roarke.

I like the suspense and I like how Eve figures out what is going on as Roarke does the same. This time it is not who is the murderer but who is behind the murderer. Love this series!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
This is the twelfth book in J. D. Robb's popular “In Death” series. It begins with Eve and her husband, the wealthy and handsome Roarke, hosting a party at one of Roarke's hotels. During the party, one of the hotel maids is found brutally murdered. The next day, a friend and colleague of
Show More
Roarke's is found murdered too, and Eve begins to think an assassin is after her husband.

Soon the FBI is trying to take over her case, but the reader knows there is no way Eve will put Roarke's life in danger by not finding the killer herself. She soon discovers the assassin is Sly Yost, and he's a master of disguise. Finding him will be almost impossible. Adding to Eve's stress is the sudden appearance of Mick Connelly, an old friend from Roarke's shady past.

This was one of my favorite books in the series. The Sly Yost character was very well written, and the secondary characters, especially Peabody and McNab, are always interesting. Roarke and Eve have a great relationship and in this book we see a bit of Eve's softer side. Each book deepens the relationship between Roarke and Eve, which I think is one a fiction's great romances, and I'm not even a fan of romances. I'm a novice to the series, currently at 44 books, but I'm going to make it a priority next year to read many more.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AddictedToMorphemes
Betrayal in Death
#12 In Death series

Murder at Roarke Palace Hotel by a known killer for hire. Lt. Dallas has to track down his location, but more importantly, track down who hired him and why--because it looks like her husband, Roarke, may be on his list of targets.

Enjoyable as always, but I'm
Show More
noticing more and more in this series that Eve seems to have an abnormal ability to know exactly what the killers are thinking and what they are going to do next with very little evidence about the crime(s). She's always been shown to be especially skilled, but it is starting to become a little less believable.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Betrayal in Death
4.5 Stars

Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas's latest case hits particularly close to home when a vicious assassin begins targeting Roarke's employees. The investigation is further compounded when the FBI attempts to take over and the true motive for the crimes is revealed.

Even though
Show More
the identity of the killer is revealed early on, this is still one of the most exciting and action packed books in the series mainly due to the exceedingly dark and gritty depiction of the murders and the fact that the villain is truly insidious and malevolent.

In addition to the mystery, there are some compelling character developments when a friend from Roarke's past arrives on scene. The dynamic between the two not only provides some intriguing insight into the enigmatic billionaire, but also exposes a potential conflict of interest with Eve.

Peabody and McNab's romance also hits a snag although this one has been a long time coming. While Peabody is a favorite of mine, it must be said that she has not handled the situation at all well, and McNab's reactions are more than justified.

The love/hate banter between Eve and Summerset is another highlight, and he is all the more endearing for the small gestures that show his growing affection for "Roarke's cop".

In sum, definitely one of the darker and more subdued installments perhaps due to the monstrous nature of the crimes and the relationship issues. Nevertheless, it is an excellent addition to the series and I look forward to reading the next one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
The murder of a maid at Roarke’s Palace Hotel puts NYPSD homicide detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas in the midst of a case in which she knows the killer, a hit man for the elite. But catching Sly Yost may be more complicated that Eve expects since there’s someone else involved . . . someone who
Show More
has a sinister motive and may be targeting Roarke.

And the candy thief strikes again!

Twelfth in the “In Death” series, has some gritty moments as the team tracks down the killer. As the story progresses, the slowly-unfolding plot leads to the motive behind the murder and here the intrigue is not in identifying the culprit but in the process of capturing him. The now-expected witty dialogue, sprinkled throughout the telling of the tale, offers a bit of humor along with the revealing insights into each of the characters. Friendships continue to grow in the character-driven narrative and the strong sense of place anchors the story.

There are some unexpected twists as the story unfolds, but astute readers will identify Roarke’s nemesis before the reveal. There’s sufficient backstory for readers new to the series, and, as always, the relationships between the characters remains one of the highlights of the series. Readers, both returning and new, will find much to appreciate in this suspenseful addition to the “In Death’ canon.

Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Betrayal in Death
4.5 Stars

Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas's latest case hits particularly close to home when a vicious assassin begins targeting Roarke's employees. The investigation is further compounded when the FBI attempts to take over and the true motive for the crimes is revealed.

Even though
Show More
the identity of the killer is revealed early on, this is still one of the most exciting and action packed books in the series mainly due to the exceedingly dark and gritty depiction of the murders and the fact that the villain is truly insidious and malevolent.

In addition to the mystery, there are some compelling character developments when a friend from Roarke's past arrives on scene. The dynamic between the two not only provides some intriguing insight into the enigmatic billionaire, but also exposes a potential conflict of interest with Eve.

Peabody and McNab's romance also hits a snag although this one has been a long time coming. While Peabody is a favorite of mine, it must be said that she has not handled the situation at all well, and McNab's reactions are more than justified.

The love/hate banter between Eve and Summerset is another highlight, and he is all the more endearing for the small gestures that show his growing affection for "Roarke's cop".

In sum, definitely one of the darker and more subdued installments perhaps due to the monstrous nature of the crimes and the relationship issues. Nevertheless, it is an excellent addition to the series and I look forward to reading the next one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
It seems like with every novel, I say that it is the darkest book yet in the In Death series. That trend holds once again with Betrayal in Death. I've concluded that any story that touches on Roarke's past is bound to be dark. In this twelfth book in the series, we not only learn more about his
Show More
past but also meet some of his friends from that era. It's quite the discovery, and his friends were quite the characters.

I love that we see Eve taking care of Roarke for once. To me, it is a turning point in their relationship as it shows she recognizes that she needs to give as much as she gets. The other thing I enjoyed about Betrayal in Death is watching Roarke and Eve work together professionally. They've always collaborated, but it is the first time we see Roarke openly welcomed into one of Eve's investigations. I see it corroborating the idea that they are a tremendous couple, perfect for each other in every way.

Seriously, Susan Erickson can do no wrong as the In Death narrator. I love her voices. I love her performance. She captures Eve so much better than I ever could. Plus, I am especially fond of her Roarke. The combination of Ms. Robb and Ms. Erickson is as good as it gets.
Show Less

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2001-03-01

Physical description

368 p.; 4.19 inches

ISBN

0425178579 / 9780425178577

Barcode

1600583

Other editions

Page: 0.7827 seconds