Smitchy's Reviews > Encore in Death
Encore in Death (In Death, #56)
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I enjoyed this as a fast, easy read. I used to really enjoy this series but as the series progressed the sameness of the plots did my head in. This one is number 56 and it has been several years since I last picked one up so when a ARC appeared at work I was a bit excited to give it a go.
A farewell party has left a man on the floor dead from cyanide. Eve Dallas is on the case and there are more than a few twists and turns before the culprit is in cuffs. But of course, Eve has suspected the right person from the very beginning. Massive spoiler has been hidden: (view spoiler)
I want to say it was a fun, easy crime read but even the space of several years didn't stop this from feeling formulaic: Eve Dallas has become a collection of quirks in a grumpy but pretty police costume. McNab is still a bundle of brightly coloured energy. Peabody, in spite of being by now a senior and experienced detective, still seems to treat every pronouncement from Eve as if from on high. Roarke is still master of the business world with seemingly endless time to help his grumpy, workaholic wife.
I am sure the fans will still love this; Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb has a way with a story, but it is no longer enough to cancel out the cliched sameness, for me at least. The other thing that struck me as I was reading is that this the least diverse cast of main characters in any fiction book I have read in ages. Nearly everyone is straight,cis, and white (there are the odd mentions of different skin tone but you wouldn't know if they had a different culture from how the characters are written or how they relate to the world). While the story is set in the 2050's but it may as well be the 1950's. This might be part of her appeal for some demographics. This is really 2.5 stars as I did enjoy as some undemanding escapism and I keep hoping Roberts will one day do some real character development and shake this series up a bit.
A farewell party has left a man on the floor dead from cyanide. Eve Dallas is on the case and there are more than a few twists and turns before the culprit is in cuffs. But of course, Eve has suspected the right person from the very beginning. Massive spoiler has been hidden: (view spoiler)
I want to say it was a fun, easy crime read but even the space of several years didn't stop this from feeling formulaic: Eve Dallas has become a collection of quirks in a grumpy but pretty police costume. McNab is still a bundle of brightly coloured energy. Peabody, in spite of being by now a senior and experienced detective, still seems to treat every pronouncement from Eve as if from on high. Roarke is still master of the business world with seemingly endless time to help his grumpy, workaholic wife.
I am sure the fans will still love this; Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb has a way with a story, but it is no longer enough to cancel out the cliched sameness, for me at least. The other thing that struck me as I was reading is that this the least diverse cast of main characters in any fiction book I have read in ages. Nearly everyone is straight,cis, and white (there are the odd mentions of different skin tone but you wouldn't know if they had a different culture from how the characters are written or how they relate to the world). While the story is set in the 2050's but it may as well be the 1950's. This might be part of her appeal for some demographics. This is really 2.5 stars as I did enjoy as some undemanding escapism and I keep hoping Roberts will one day do some real character development and shake this series up a bit.
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Reading Progress
October 13, 2022
–
Started Reading
October 13, 2022
– Shelved
October 15, 2022
–
Finished Reading