Reunion in Death

by J. D. Robb

2002

Status

Available

Publication

Berkley Pub Group (2002), Edition: Later Printing, 371 pages

Description

Fiction. Mystery. Romance. Suspense. HTML:A birthday bash sets the scene for a frightening reunion with a killer from Eve Dallasâ??s past in this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series. At exactly 7:30 p.m., Walter Pettibone arrived home to over a hundred friends and family shouting, â??surprise!â?ť It was his birthday. Although he had known about the planned event for weeks, the real surprise was yet to come. At 8:45 p.m., a woman with emerald eyes and red hair handed him a glass of champagne. One sip of birthday bubbly, and he was dead. No one at the party knew who she was, but Detective Eve Dallas remembers her all too well. Eve was personally responsible for Julianna Dunne's incarceration nearly ten years ago. And now, let out on good behavior, she still has nothing but bad intentions. It appears she wants to meet Dallas againâ??in a reunion neither wi… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
While Peabody is doing her first solo investigation into a cold case her parents turn up to visit. Meanwhile Dallas' first ever case is out of jail and looking to get revenge while playing with Dallas. One of the murders she commits brings Dallas back to where she came from where she has to
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confront the reality of her past.
When her last planned victim is Rourke and it's almost their first anniversary things heat up for Dallas.
Enjoyable. The usual fun from this pair.
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LibraryThing member msralways
After taking a break from Eve and Roarke, this one a great return to an awesome series. I thought the start was a little slow, but from halfway through the ending it picked up its pace and ended being an awesome case for Eve and her posse.
LibraryThing member foovay
This is just a good, solid series - plenty of action, mystery, suspense, a good puzzle, and just enough romance without getting soppy.
LibraryThing member MusicMom41
The 14th entry in the Dallas/Roarke canon is typical Robb—entertaining but not much new. A woman Eve was responsible for apprehending 10 years ago is out on good behavior and not only back to her murdering ways but bent on getting revenge on Dallas. The most memorable part of the book is when Eve
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goes back to Dallas, Texas and revisits the place where the trauma in her childhood occurred.
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LibraryThing member katiefeldmom
The 14th book in the Eve Dallas series did not disappoint. I enjoyed learning more about Eve's backstory as she had to travel to Dallas while looking for a woman who she helped put into prison 10 years ago but got out on good behavior. Of course she didn't stay good for long and Eve was on the
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case. I loved the exchanges between Roarke and Eve who celebrated their first anniversary as well as the fact that Peabody got a case of her own. We were also introduced to Peabody's parents.
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LibraryThing member wisdomlore
Walter Pettibone gets the surprise of his life at his surprise birthday, when after a sip of champagne, he drops dead. Julie Dockport, a woman unknown to the party goers, is responsible for the deadly drink. Detective Eve Dallas knows Ms. Dockport - aka Julietta Dunne - only too well having been
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responsible for sending her to prison 10 years earlier. Obviously Julietta is out for revenge against Dallas, and the search brings Eve and her husband to Dallas, TX - and many unfortunate memories.
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LibraryThing member KANwrites
I do so love this series. it's like visitng with old friends on ocassion--to see what they are up to.
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Most serial killers may be men, but leave it to a woman to do it in style.

When a past conviction comes back to even the score, it's Rourke who's in the killer's crosshairs - after all, what better way to punish Eve?

The ending may be a foregone conclusion, but the trip is worth the price.
LibraryThing member Barb_H
Enjoyed listening to more escapades of Eve and Roarke. This was a good one. Will continue to listen to the series as audiobooks or read them if audio is unavailable.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
Just in time for Eve and Roarke's first wedding anniversary, an old enemy comes from Eve's past determined to take away the one thing she loves most - Roarke. This woman has made a career of meeting, marrying, and killing older men. She is an accomplished liar and very adept at presenting whatever
Show More
image she needs. It is harder to track her down for this new set of killings because she has changed her pattern. She is still killing rich older men but she isn't forming a relationship with them first. The pieces of the story we get from her point of view show a thrill killer who is angry that she didn't get the respect she thought Eve owed her when she caught her the first time.

Even while her Free Ager parents are visiting and charming everyone around them, Peabody gets her first cold case to investigate and amply shows that Eve's training is developing her into an excellent police officer. She even stands up to Eve once or twice which shows that their relationship is growing more to friendship and a relationship of equals. On another relationship front, LC Charles relationship is growing closer to Dr. Louise Dimatto. Louise has a bigger role in this one as she is called in to patch Eve up after various dangerous encounters. It is also at one of her fundraisers for her clinics in poor areas of town that the book's events come to a climax.

Eve is also starting to be willing to look into the past that has mostly haunted her nightmares since she was a child. When the case takes them to Dallas, Eve is forced to relive the time when she killed her father and escaped with a broken arm in the city. They find the hotel where she killed him and are surprised to find that it has undergone gentrification. The scenes where Eve and Roarke retrace Eve's steps are some of the most emotionally intense scenes I have ever read.

This episode also sees Mira becoming more of a confident than just a colleague as Eve goes to talk to her and urges her to talk to Roarke too.

This series has chilling villains and intriguing plots, but the best part for me is watching the relationships. I think watching Eve and Roarke build a strong marriage and relationship is the core of the series for me. This is, however, one of those series that has to be read in order. Yes, there are lots of books. But I recommend beginning this series and getting to know Eve and Roarke.
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LibraryThing member rocalisa
As always, I enjoyed my visit with Eve and Roarke. However, I didnt' find myself as involved with this book as I have with some of the others. I find this interesting, as Eve faces some huge personal challenges here as she deals with the closeness of Peabody's family and finally returns to Dallas
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and the hotel room where she killed her father as a child. Roarke goes with her, and his pain as he watches her relive that awful night, is strongly written. So I'm not sure why this chapter in Eve and Roarke's lives didn't resonanate with me as much as usual, but for some reason it didn't. This isn't a bad book, but for me it wasn't a brilliant one either.
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LibraryThing member Sheila1957
I love Eve and Roarke. This time an ex-con is after Eve because Eve disrespected her. I like knowing who the villain is and watching Eve try to pre-guess her moves so Eve can arrest her before another murder happens. Good story.
LibraryThing member JohnFair
After a holiday, Eve is horrified to find that New York hasn't thrown up a murder to get her teeth into but the peace is rudely shattered as a successful business man is killed by cyanide in his birthday champagne and Peabody's parents make a visit to their daughter. As the case unfolds, Eve
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realies she's met the killer once before and hoped she'd been put away for good but it becomes personal when Eve realsies that the killer's next victim will be Roarke, Eve's multi-billionaire husband and old ghosts from her past are raised...
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LibraryThing member TheGrandWorldofBooks
I’m happy to read this book, because it made an honest attempt to break free from the rut that this series has been in for the past few books. Yes, Roarke is once again the target of a bad guy (or, rather, girl), but the rest of the story definitely has its own feel to it. And especially towards
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the end, it got pretty exciting.

I really liked the addition of Peabody’s parents in this book, as well. It adds more to Peabody as a character, and I found them likable as their own entities. I do wish they had played somewhat bigger roles, though, so that we could have gotten to know them a bit better, and found out even more about Peabody’s history. But this book also really rounded out Peabody’s character more in other ways as well, and she came a long way.

Eve deals with a lot in this book as well. And it’s a very rough ride. A VERY rough ride. I was ready to put the book down for good at one point, because it was getting so intense. This book deals HEAVILY with Eve’s past, so if these things are going to be at all triggering, it may be best to skip this book, or at least read with caution.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, though. Perhaps not the strongest book in the series thus far, but certainly, compared to several of the books before it, a stronger addition to the series.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
At exactly 7:30pm, Walter Pettibone arrived home for his surprise birthday party. The biggest surprise of the night was yet to come. Walter and the men that followed him were just a stepping stone for who the killer really wanted - Eve Dallas.
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
This is the fourteenth book of the In Death series, set in 2059, and featuring Eve Dallas, a lieutenant in the New York Police Security Department. She and her husband, wealthy billionaire, Roarke, have just returned from a two week vacation. Eve is feeling more relaxed that we've ever seen her
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until she is assigned to the homicide of Walter Pettibone who was poisoned at his birthday party. After Eve eliminates all the obvious suspects like the trophy wife, the ex-wife, and the grown children, she discovers new evidence that the killer was Julianna Dunne, a woman she arrested nine years ago for poisoning three of her husbands.

It starts to look like she intends to murder Roarke as some sort of revenge against Dallas. She manages to stay just out of Eve's reach and poisons several other wealthy men. Her search for Julianna takes her all over the country, and even to the city of Dallas, where Eve has to cope with some terrifying memories.

This was a fast paced novel with an interesting plot and some great characters. It addressed some of the issues that happened in Eve's past and continues to solidify the relationship between Roarke and Eve. One of the funniest parts of this book was a visit from the new age parents of Eve's aide, Delia Peabody. I really enjoy this series and am trying to read one or two every month. It will still be a long time before I get to the one that was just released, Echoes in Death, Book #44.
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LibraryThing member wndy2011
Eve is visited by a former villain she helped to take down several years ago. And now she must fight to save what is hers, what she has come to love above all else...Roarke. Men are dropping like flies due to a poison they ingest, and it sure looks like someone from Eve's past is out to get her.
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Reunion in Death
4 Stars

In her latest case, Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the poisoning of a wealthy business man. After ruling out the obvious suspects, Eve realizes that the victim was targeted by a newly paroled prisoner - a killer that Eve was responsible for incarcerating. With vengeance
Show More
in mind, the killer has set her sights on Eve and is determined to fulfill her deadly agenda.

The mystery in this installment is interesting, mainly due to the sociopathic nature of the villain who always seems to be one step ahead of our intrepid heroine. Nevertheless, much of the book actually focuses on the continuing character development and growth as Eve confronts some of her personal demons, Roarke accepts some difficult truths, and Peabody is put to the test when she is given responsibility for investigating a cold case and interrogating a suspect.

The dramatic scenes in which Eve and Roarke travel to Dallas highlight the emotional and psychological depths of Robb's writing as Eve takes the first steps in dealing with the horrific events of her past, and Roarke fully comprehends the enormity of what happened to her.

In addition to this trip down memory lane, the story also includes a visit from Peabody's New-Ager parents. While Sam Peabody is another father figure in the same vein as Feeney, Whitney, Mr. Mira and even Summerset, his wife is another matter. Phoebe Peabody has that protective mother vibe, but she is also somewhat creepy and perhaps even a lot scary. She's not someone you would want to mess with.

All in all, another action packed book in the series, but also one with some intense introspection on the part of the characters. Looking forward to the next one.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
After a day at his World of Flowers business, Walter Pettibone arrives home to a “surprise” birthday party. But one sip from a cyanide-laced flute of champagne ends Walter’s life.

NYPSD homicide detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows the woman who killed Walter. She’s Julianna Dunne, a woman
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Eve helped send to prison a decade earlier. But a reduced sentence for good behavior earned her an early release and now Julianna’s embarked on a killing spree, targeting wealthy older men. Despite her perverse respect for Eve, Julianna’s has her sights set on killing Roarke to punish her. Can Eve put an end to Julianna’s murderous rampage? Can she keep Roarke safe? And can she track down the elusive candy thief?

In this, the fourteenth entry in the “In Death” series, all the expected characters are in place. Peabody’s parents have come to visit and managed to finagle their way into staying with Eve and Roarke. Characters continue to grow, revealing more of themselves, realistic and believable, their relationships intertwining, all of them intriguing and interesting.

Eve’s investigation necessitates quite a bit of travel, including an apprehensive trip to Dallas and a visit to New York City’s seedy underground. The cat-and-mouse game between Eve and Julianna builds the suspense; Eve’s difficult visit to her childhood home town is tense and heartbreaking. As the plot twists and turns, there’s witty repartee, romance, and despair . . . all wrapped up in a layered, nuanced story that reveals its depth as it slowly unfolds.

Readers new to the series will appreciate this narrative as a stand-alone; fans of Eve, Roarke, and the gang will find this to be a perfect addition to the canon.

Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Reunion in Death
4 Stars

In her latest case, Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the poisoning of a wealthy business man. After ruling out the obvious suspects, Eve realizes that the victim was targeted by a newly paroled prisoner - a killer that Eve was responsible for incarcerating. With vengeance
Show More
in mind, the killer has set her sights on Eve and is determined to fulfill her deadly agenda.

The mystery in this installment is interesting, mainly due to the sociopathic nature of the villain who always seems to be one step ahead of our intrepid heroine. Nevertheless, much of the book actually focuses on the continuing character development and growth as Eve confronts some of her personal demons, Roarke accepts some difficult truths, and Peabody is put to the test when she is given responsibility for investigating a cold case and interrogating a suspect.

The dramatic scenes in which Eve and Roarke travel to Dallas highlight the emotional and psychological depths of Robb's writing as Eve takes the first steps in dealing with the horrific events of her past, and Roarke fully comprehends the enormity of what happened to her.

In addition to this trip down memory lane, the story also includes a visit from Peabody's New-Ager parents. While Sam Peabody is another father figure in the same vein as Feeney, Whitney, Mr. Mira and even Summerset, his wife is another matter. Phoebe Peabody has that protective mother vibe, but she is also somewhat creepy and perhaps even a lot scary. She's not someone you would want to mess with.

All in all, another action packed book in the series, but also one with some intense introspection on the part of the characters. Looking forward to the next one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
Just in time for Eve and Roarke's first wedding anniversary, an old enemy comes from Eve's past determined to take away the one thing she loves most - Roarke. This woman has made a career of meeting, marrying, and killing older men. She is an accomplished liar and very adept at presenting whatever
Show More
image she needs. It is harder to track her down for this new set of killings because she has changed her pattern. She is still killing rich older men but she isn't forming a relationship with them first. The pieces of the story we get from her point of view show a thrill killer who is angry that she didn't get the respect she thought Eve owed her when she caught her the first time.

Even while her Free Ager parents are visiting and charming everyone around them, Peabody gets her first cold case to investigate and amply shows that Eve's training is developing her into an excellent police officer. She even stands up to Eve once or twice which shows that their relationship is growing more to friendship and a relationship of equals. On another relationship front, LC Charles relationship is growing closer to Dr. Louise Dimatto. Louise has a bigger role in this one as she is called in to patch Eve up after various dangerous encounters. It is also at one of her fundraisers for her clinics in poor areas of town that the book's events come to a climax.

Eve is also starting to be willing to look into the past that has mostly haunted her nightmares since she was a child. When the case takes them to Dallas, Eve is forced to relive the time when she killed her father and escaped with a broken arm in the city. They find the hotel where she killed him and are surprised to find that it has undergone gentrification. The scenes where Eve and Roarke retrace Eve's steps are some of the most emotionally intense scenes I have ever read.

This episode also sees Mira becoming more of a confident than just a colleague as Eve goes to talk to her and urges her to talk to Roarke too.

This series has chilling villains and intriguing plots, but the best part for me is watching the relationships. I think watching Eve and Roarke build a strong marriage and relationship is the core of the series for me. This is, however, one of those series that has to be read in order. Yes, there are lots of books. But I recommend beginning this series and getting to know Eve and Roarke.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
REUNION IN DEATH by J.D. Robb is the fourteenth in the series. As with the previous thirteen books, it provides another opportunity to see Eve Dallas face her fears and embrace her emotions. And, while the idea of one of Eve's former collars coming back to exact revenge may sound familiar, her
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response to the threat this time is quite different.

One of the best parts about REUNION IN DEATH is that it occurs around Eve and Roarke's first anniversary. Despite an ongoing murder investigation, Ms. Robb takes the time to show her heroes taking the night off to celebrate and reflect. It is a beautiful scene. More importantly, it shows how much they've grown over the past year.

Another scene of note in REUNION IN DEATH is Eve's trip back to Dallas. Here, Ms. Robb is delicate, showing Eve confronting her past and remembering hidden memories without delving into specifics. We feel Eve's emotional state more than we get the details of what happened to her. It is one of the most difficult scenes to read but one that is very necessary for Eve's well-being.

Julie Dockport, as Eve's nemesis in REUNION IN DEATH, is a great foil. Her toxic femininity is downright scary. Even better, however, is how well it showcases the idea that our past does not have to define us. Given her past, Eve could have gone down a very different path than the one she chose, and the same holds true for Julie.

As always, Susan Erickson is a delight to listen to. As I've said before, by this time, she is Eve Dallas for all intents and purposes. I don't think I could watch a movie or TV show of the In Death series (should they ever choose to make one) simply because her voices are the characters. No actor will ever be able to match Ms. Erickson's performance.

I know I say this in every review, but I feel that REUNION IN DEATH is the best book in the series to this point. Between the trip to Dallas, their anniversary, and some of the smaller but still vital scenes between Eve and Roarke as they maneuver their way through another dangerous confrontation with Eve's foe, I suspect REUNION IN DEATH contains some of the most important events in Eve's growing humanity.
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Awards

P.E.A.R.L. (Nominee — 2002)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2002-03-05

Physical description

371 p.; 8.43 inches

ISBN

0425183971 / 9780425183977

Barcode

1600692
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