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In Death #7

Holiday in Death

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Librarian's note: This is an Alternate Cover Edition for ISBN10: 0749934166 ISBN13: 9780749934163.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is on the trail of a serial killer and has made a discovery - all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours, New York's most exclusive dating service. As the murders continue, Eve enters into a world of people looking for their one true love - and a killer searching for his next victim.

Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

1,671 people are currently reading
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About the author

J.D. Robb

236books34.7kfollowers
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Forgotten in Death (St. Martin's Press, September 2021) is the 53rd entry in the series.

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5 stars
22,121 (49%)
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3 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,535 reviews
Profile Image for Apoorva .
166 reviews232 followers
November 12, 2021
Okay I'll say it this way:

What I loved-

1. I knew the killer in like 6th chapter and I know it shouldn't be that obvious and maybe it wasn't, it was just an instinct for me but since it pleased me that I guessed it, I am happy, and I don't care about anything else, sometimes we need predictability with a dose of unpredictability and this gave me that.

2. McNab and Peabody- gotta love those two! The enemies to lovers slow burn thing between them is so nice to read about amidst murder and gore. I'll pitch a fit if they don't get it on on the next one. (By that I mean, put them together on ten cases and then see what happens)

3. Eve and Roarke- that's it.

4. Charles and Crack made an appearance- my life is set for the next few weeks.

5. Summerset was a lil better than before. You'd think the man would be more grateful to someone who saved his life but in retrospect, that would really disturb their equation and I won't have enough excuses to half dislike and half snob at him. What can you do?

My only problem: We didn't get to see her giving Roarke his Christmas present just like we didn't get to see the wedding. Okay, I hadn't mentioned that I was pissed off at that, but now it's out of the way. Clean slate. And onto the next.........
Profile Image for Mo.
1,397 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2016
Another fabulous read. I love Eve and Roarke. Eventhough they are not really together much in the books -she is off solving murders and such. But the times they spend together are so sweet and so special. Sigh. Beautiful


Eve is my type of girl. Happy to potter around in jeans and boots and t-shirts. Hates wearing dresses and having to socialize! LOL. Not into make-up. Well, I am into make-up. At my age, I need it.


This is set in the future. I should be running a mile but I am not.

At times like this when she was alone, when her spirits were low, she wondered how they had ever come together - the straight-arrow cop who believed unwaveringly in the lines of the law, and the slick Irishman who'd tangled with and over those lines all of his life.




"Bloody hell, I love you."


Yeah, I think Hugh is my Roarke.


"There's a memory for the box - and a tradition. Merry Christmas"



I think I still have about 754 books to read in this series. LOL. Maybe not that many, but a lot.


Profile Image for Kat.
Author13 books577 followers
February 28, 2022
Eve Dallas is recovering from an injury incurred in her last investigation. In her first case back on the job, she faces a killer using a dating service to find his victims. Even worse, he’s getting dressed up in a Santa suit to commit the murders—talk about creepy. I continue to love this series for the main character Eve, and all the side characters. The romance between Eve and Roarke is delicious and the tightly written police procedural storyline makes this one of my favorite series.
Profile Image for Katerina.
553 reviews61 followers
January 1, 2023
If the first book of 2023 is any indicator of how my reading year will be, it will be awesome!

Holiday In Death is the seventh book of the In Death series, and as the previous six it didn't disappoint!

The murder case is interesting and quite in the Christmas spirit! It is fast-paced, intriguing and disturbing!

It's fascinating to follow Eve's character development throughout each installment and in Holiday In Death we she how she handles the picking of her Christmas for those closest to her heart!

Her moments with Roarke are steamy, funny but also emotional and always delightful to read!

Friends and colleagues make their appearance and add playful but also help with the case or help Eve find her balance between work and personal life!

Wonderfully written and highly recommended!
Profile Image for Beanbag Love.
566 reviews241 followers
December 4, 2013
In this installment of the wildly popular "In Death" series we find a madman dressed as Santa ringing doorbells and then raping and murdering the person who answers. It's Christmas and Eve Dallas is cranky. She doesn't need this.

Let me just get this out of the way. I find Eve Dallas to be one of the most loathsome female characters in any successful series going today. She is verbally and emotionally abusive to anyone who cares about her, including her hot husband. If I worked for her I'd request a transfer. If she was my friend I'd screen her calls.

At one point she says something completely horrible, insulting and humiliating to Peabody -- her friend and subordinate. Peabody reads her the riot act: "You can say what you want on the clock but not when we're on personal time" kind of thing. Well, apparently Eve was saying it from a personal standpoint and not as Peabody's boss. So, Eve gets her feelings hurt over Peabody's rant. And, apparently ... according to the author ... we're supposed to take Eve's side in this. Peabody's in the wrong. WTH!!? Infuriating. If professional what she said should have gotten her written up as harassment. If personal what she said should have permanently lost her a friend.

But not in the world of In Death where Eve Dallas can abuse and disrespect every single person with whom she comes in contact and all they do is freakin' admire her.

I'm not sure why this series is so popular, frankly. I think it's Roarke. He's definitely a great hero, but in this installment he's reduced to a therapeutic sex toy. Which would be fine if he wasn't so much more interesting than the heroine.

I was bothered by the previous book because it was so Eve-centric when the mystery should have had the book focused much more on Roarke. And in this one he's pushed even further into the background. I'm sorry, but Eve Dallas is simply not a likable enough heroine to sustain interest in this series. Why would I buy a book just to see the protagonist beat up on the people who, for some unknown reason, care about her?

The mystery was okay, but therein lay another wall banger. We have everyone talking about what a great cop Eve is but her impulsive nastiness led her down the wrong path multiple times. She blames herself for missing clues but then everyone else assures her it's not at all her fault. It IS her fault she missed clues because she was busy ruining everyone else's Christmas with her bitchy attacks on everything from work to play to tradition to personal choice. She's a nightmare.

And after all that ... spoiler warning ... The author was sweeping that huge event under the rug in favor of some weak epiphany for Eve. It was insulting and just cemented my feeling that Eve is not at all a good cop and probably needs to find another line of work. And she's not a good friend, either.

Do they get better? I really liked numbers 4 and 5 but then things crashed and burned for me with this series. Please tell me they do get better, otherwise I'll never understand how this series has gone to over thirty installments.
Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,840 reviews2,587 followers
July 3, 2016
It has been years since I first read this book and still it was oh so good! The dialogue between Peabody and Eve made me laugh and it made me cry. Ditto that between Roarke and Eve. I loved every single word in this book and enjoyed every precious moment!
Each book in this series builds upon the character of Eve and it is very hard not to love her as much as the author obviously does. In this book she is coming to grips with the Christmas holiday and having to buy gifts for her ever increasing circle of friends. It is both funny and sad to see her as she struggles with something which is second nature to those of us who have had normal family relationships for the whole of our lives. Roarke and Eve both have to start laying down their own customs and traditions as they both led deprived childhoods.
This is another brilliant episode in this amazing series. I am so much enjoying my second read through!
Profile Image for Jilly.
1,838 reviews6,575 followers
July 11, 2016
It's Christmas in July for this girl! And, this book is celebrating it with a serial killer who decorates his victims with the Twelve Days of Christmas theme. It makes my holiday rituals seem a little boring. The only thing dying during our holiday gatherings is the idea that seeing those long-lost family members again is a good idea. I mean, really, we don't see them all year for a reason...


I'm still pissed off at them over that one. I do NOT have a chocolate problem! We get along just fine.

And, what else does the Christmas Spirit bring to people? That's right, simmering rage and violent eruptions of emotional pain. Eve gets really into the Christmas spirit in this book. She is in a mood so bitchy that even those homeless guys who scream at cars on the street are telling her to calm down a notch. She is absolutely horrible to everyone. But, I guess nobody can complain that she showed favoritism in her gift-giving. She gave them equal shares of insults, yelling, and cursing.



So, again, I need to ask the question that I ask every book: why the hell does Roarke like Eve? There isn't a pleasant bone in her body. Her favorite thing to say to him is "kiss my ass". She treats Peabody like an abusive parent treats their kid when they're drunk. She even storms into a police officer's Christmas party on Christmas Eve and freaks out that he isn't working.

"Where the hell are my reports? Where are my results? What the fuck's going on around here?"

"Hey, it's Christmas Eve. Lighten up."

Her hand snapped out, grabbed him by the shirtfront, and yanked him off the table. "I've got four bodies and a woman in the hospital. don't you fucking tell me to lighten up, you little cross-eyed son of a bitch. I want my test results."


Wait a minute. This sounds familiar. Aunt Eve? Is that you? Stupid family holidays...

Seriously, though, someone get this woman a Xanax. Stat!

Profile Image for Jo ★The Book Sloth★.
485 reviews448 followers
April 28, 2015
This was my least favorite book so far, not because of the mystery aspect, I quite liked Santa Killer, but because Eve was acting like a bitch with Nadine, with Peabody, with Charles and generally with everyone at some points.
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,800 reviews260 followers
February 19, 2024
Santa has come to town and brought Dallas her first homicide since she was on leave after an injury on the job. I really liked this one and thought the mystery was super interesting (even if the creepy twins were a bit unsettling). I thought this one was a bit twistier than some of the previous ones I’ve read. I also liked the little bits of Christmas thrown in, like Dallas struggling with shopping for Christmas presents. I also loved that this one has Charles come back, he is a super fun character and I hope he keeps popping in. Dallas is called to a homicide where a woman was raped and murdered and a check of the security discs shows that she was attacked by a man dressed as Santa Claus carrying a giant silver box that she let in. The killer is leaving a gift behind for each victim for the 12 days of Christmas so Dallas is on a tight timeline.
Profile Image for Mo.
1,397 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2025
I usually like to dip into a 'Christmassy' book in December and what better one to re-read than Eve and Roarke celebrating the festive period.





***

A reread/listen. I have no time to check out new books so I head back to the old favourites. It's been about six years since I read it so I reckon I was due to get back to it ... I still love Eve and Roarke. As I have said before, usually Irish characters annoy me in books - not Roarke - he is perfection.

Any excuse to quote W.B. Yeats ...

Profile Image for Cyndi.
2,443 reviews109 followers
June 25, 2018
Eve and Roarke's first Christmas. I go overboard at Christmas myself, but Roarke is more Christmas crazy than I am, even. I really, really, really want the hologram showing during their party. "The floor to ceiling windows showed not the nasty sleet that hissed over the city, but a hologram of a dreamy snow scene where couples skated on a silver pond and young children raced down a gentle slope on shiny red sleds." How cool would that be? Add to that, more wonders from my favorite house in literature. The holo room? I've wanted one since I saw it on Star Trek Next Generation.
Then, the library, *sigh*. "The walls of the two-level room were lined with books." and more, "the rich smell of leather from the bindings, the glossy look of the spines as they marched along the dark mahogany shelves. There were two generous seating areas, more leather {I would actually rather have cloth covered chairs and sofas} in the wood-trimmed deep burgundy sofas and chairs." There are also lamps with jewel toned shades, wood cabinets and window seats with thick pillows. All of the books are organized on a computer system that is tucked into a cabinet. Ahhhh! I may even like this one better than the one in Beauty and the Beast.

Reread June 2018 � A murderous Santa who finds his victims in a dating service. Remember, don’t open your door to strangers. Even if it’s a guy in a red suit bearing gifts. 🎅🏻
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,286 followers
December 30, 2019
5 Facing the Demons Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
As I read this series, I am so amazed at how Ms. Robb has taken ideas fresh from the '90s and made them real and current for 2058. I think this is one of the reasons I am so enjoying this series.

However, the main attraction for me is the ever-evolving relationship between Eve and Roarke. With each entry, we are able to see them grow, be challenged and recover just in the way they should.

Eve has so much to overcome.
She has done a magnificent job in doing so, creating this person she is...but underneath this amazing cop, tough and strong, is the girl who was tortured and treated like an animal. Eve is coming to terms with what she is finally remembering from her childhood and during this investigation, her personal experiences are causing repercussions.

Eve also is learning how to behave as a friend to others. She has to deal with the concept of buying gifts for Christmas. She is learning how to let others in.

Roarke is solid, the man is a wonder and I want one just like him. Period.

The storyline has a solid base with the policework and I was caught up in it throughout. I felt the urgency and terror.

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
When you get started with Robb...You can't read just one!

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Profile Image for Bren fall in love with the sea..
1,845 reviews407 followers
September 20, 2020
“[Peabody:] "Bite me."
Though Eve managed to swallow a chuckle at her aide's use of her own standard response to annoyances, she didn't quite make it over McNab's cheerful, "Where?�
� J.D. Robb, Holiday in Death

Review..9/19/2020

What a read this was! I originally wrote a few short lines about this book but I am adding to it because I did a reread and found it better or as good as the first time.


This was the first "in death" book I ever read and it was such a good one. How could any mystery lover resist a book about a killer masquerading as Santa? And targeting people who use a dating service? Around the Holidays? It absolutely caught my eye.

So I originally read it many years ago and after I joined GR, I decided to find it only I could not even remember the name of the book! Luckily, GR library pointed me toward it. I have not been all that familiar with the "in death" series and only read one other.

So I was thrilled to find it again. And how I adored it! This was a fast and furious read for me. It is still great. And I sort of forgot who the killer was. I did not guess it the first time I read this either.

It's a gritty read,a crazy page turner, with the gritty street fell combined with Holiday Festivity that Eve cannot feel due to the tinge of horror at a killer roaming free.

You feel right there in the streets, trying to solve the murders with Eve, with the blinking Neon signs all around and the frantic pull of urgency as more bodies pile up caused by a deadly killer playing a deadly game. And the killer is turning Santa into a nightmare for many, back lit against the touching story of Eve and Roark and a quirky cast of characters.

So for a mystery fan? Great reading. Very clever writing and a wonderful to read a second time. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Brenda.
4,821 reviews2,941 followers
October 31, 2017
Lieutenant Eve Dallas headed in to the station early after the usual recurring nightmare had disturbed her sleep once again. But on the way, she was summonsed to a disturbance in a nearby apartment block. The murder scene was horrific � made worse by the festive season decorations surrounding the victim.

And so, the beginning of a terrible run of murders for Dallas as the Twelve Days of Christmas played out with a sadistic killer on the loose, searching for his “one true love�. Santa had a lot to answer for as 2058 drew to a close � and Dallas was determined to stop him in his tracks�

Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb is 7th in the series, and is another excellent mystery � a re-read for me, and as exciting to devour this time as it was last! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for ˥S󲹰Dz˥.
985 reviews140 followers
January 6, 2017

I know what you are thinking. Another 5 star review, she has to be a bit bias. I guess I am. I have an awful crush on this character Roarke. Silly of me I guess. Especially at my age but seriously ladies this guy does it for me.

He is tall dark and handsome and loves like no other. I know I am repeating myself but I don't care. I will say it a thousand times over. I LOVE how he LOVES Eve. It isn't your typical fairy tale love story but when it comes to Roarke and Eve it is perfect. �

J.D. Robb has something fabulous here. I know there are many more books in this series that I will love and I can't wait to get to all of them.

ROARKE � �



Profile Image for Antonella.
3,977 reviews571 followers
March 15, 2021
loved Roarke!! what's new!!
Peabody and McNab are so funny..I hope they will get together..
Eve is dealing with some shit in this book...
but let me just say that those twins are awful, creepy, and yuck ...

Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews466 followers
January 20, 2020
Re-read 17/01/2020

Another great story! :)
All the books are written in the same way:
1) Eve has an investigation involving Death;
2) Eve investigates;
3) Eve discovers suspect/s (wrong ones!)
4) Eve work like a dog until she exshausts herself
5) Roarke feeds her, make her relax (with inventive sex!!!)
6) Eve gets hurt while catching the (right) suspect
7) Roarke save her

Looking at the above, you'll think I should be bored to tears, but NO, absolutely NO! :)

I love each and every one! Why?

Because the crimes are interesting and the villains are sometimes to be pitied, sometimes to be hated, sometins you want to kill them (slowly and painfully)!

It's like Criminal Minds: every episode is similar, but you cannot NOT loved the series! LOL
Profile Image for Irene.
971 reviews114 followers
August 3, 2017
It's Eve and Roarke's first Christmas together. It was fun watching how the season's festive spirit seemed to make her grumpier than usual. This story is full of tension, the murders hit a rough spot on Eve's psych being sex-crimes.
It has it's funny moments as always, the whole gang is present and I like McNab's addition to the team-after 2 books he seems like a permanent figure.
The characters are all amazing and the relationships that form between them, just getting stronger and stronger with each book.
Profile Image for Lana *Best left alone with books and snacks*.
696 reviews156 followers
November 21, 2018
I was always weirded out by the whole sit on Santa's lap tradition. I mean why would I want to sit on some stranger and tell him my deepest wish, that's just asking for trouble. With that attitude killer Santa wasn't that big of a stretch, guess I'm not getting on the good list this year.





Over and out
Profile Image for ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎.
1,717 reviews159 followers
August 6, 2019
Read May 2014

Re-Read Nov. 2016
I really enjoyed the fun moments in this book. Of course felt bad for the lost of life but you have to love Peabody and her shopping ideas. She's just to funny and loved the gift from Eve to Roarke it was an aww moment and so special but she needed help and she had to ask her "friend" Summerset. hahaha, it was a great moment between them. LOL. I really enjoy there banter but love the Roarke and Eve moments as well. Really love how Roarke takes care of Eve and of course how he spoils her.
Profile Image for Wonda.
1,146 reviews8 followers
September 26, 2022
Christmas snuggle up mystery, by far! Also had a set of crazy twins...are they always crazy? Again great cast of characters and a good case! Love Dallas!
Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,375 followers
December 18, 2018
Suspense 4 stars / Romance 3.75 stars

Merry freaking Christmas�
I felt so sorry for the victims, especially for he 1st woman. Damn, life is unfair!


Romance. No ex for Roarke, but adoration of his good looks by almost all women incl. Eve’s BFF and aide razzes me�

Poetic handsome� *yawn*

Profile Image for Duchess Nicole.
1,274 reviews1,565 followers
November 7, 2014
Ack, Robb's villains in this series are so skeevy. This guy was a really nasty piece of work, and the fact that it muddled Eve's mind due to how personal it was for her was not a new idea. However, it still stirs up a lot of pity from the reader...namely ME. I hope that Eve seriously addresses her issues soon. I love this series but something I just thought about while listening to this installment is how Eve is the one with all the problems. Girl is messed up. And I suppose entering into a relationship with Roarke and allowing all of these new friendships into her life are a big step in the right direction for her. Still, I would like to see some healing start to take shape.

There's something going on between Peabody and McNab, and I'm loving that angle of the story. I have a feeling their romance will play out slowly, so it will be great fun to watch that unfold. The series seems to get a little sexier in this book. Roarke is awfully randy for his wife, and I'm okay with that :D

Another great listen! Love the narrator. The story was, of course, very good. I just read awhile back about how this author has no plans to give Eve and Roarke a child...like, EVER. And I'm really bummed out about that. I think it would add an element to their relationship (and the series) that it needs. Give it some levity in a different direction than the same ole badass cop, hot husband thing. I'd love to see Eve as a mother. But woe is me...never gonna happen. I'll get my kid fix somewhere else, I guess.
Profile Image for Hulya Kara Yuksel.
1,062 reviews1,278 followers
March 13, 2018
WOW another fantastic book from J.D.Robb! <3 And I can't wait to read other 40 books soon. :D LOL I know, I know this is going to be a very long journey but I'm 100% sure it will be worth it!
Because Roarke & Eve... I love them so, so much. <3

He held there, buried deep, panting as he blinked his vision clear to look at her. The fire that blazed in the hearth across the room shot flashes of light and shadow over her face, glinted into her hair, flickered in her eyes, which had gone dark and blind with what they brought to each other.
"It's me who has you." He drew back, thrust again. "Always." He shifted, lifted her hips with his hands. "Go up again," he demanded and began to destroy her with long, hard strokes.
She fisted her hands in the bedclothes as if to anchor herself. In the firelight she could see him over her, dark hair gleaming, eyes too blue to be real, muscles sleek, skin pale gold and dewed with sweat.
Need rose like a flood, and pleasure swamped her. Her vision blurred, turning him into a shadow, gilded at the edges. She heard herself choke out his name as her body shattered.
"And again." He lowered himself, taking her mouth with his, linking his fingers with hers, pounding his body into hers. "Again," he managed, as his blood rioted. "With me."
And it was "Eve" he said, just "Eve."



Profile Image for Somia.
2,065 reviews167 followers
February 5, 2019
A Firm & Happy 4 Stars

This is the 7th book in the series, and there is a particular formula that the author uses, one that I was clearly aware of well before this book, but such an awareness has in no way diminished my enjoyment of the books. It’s the unfolding relationships between the characters, their bonds, that make this series so appealing and so addictive, J.D. Robb has done wonderfully in creating characters you come to care for, and characters you want to know more about.

In this book it's Eve and Roarke's first Christmas together, and well the holiday season isn't going to be a quiet one. Again, seeing these two interact was fab, as was the development we see of secondary characters like Peabody.

Profile Image for Rivka.
1,087 reviews251 followers
January 20, 2023
The one with Santa

This was a hard one. But still very good
Profile Image for Diane.
677 reviews30 followers
March 4, 2019
I didn't mind this book - it had everything I like: police procedural, serial killer, lots of Eve and Roarke plus they share their first Christmas together - Peabody meets Charles, McNab feels Eve's butt, Eve and Peabody have a falling out - Eve and Roarke place a memory in their new memory box!

A couple of things (besides getting the words wrong to the 12 Days of Christmas) stand out to me. Roarke says he will put the lights on after they decorate the tree - who does that? Lights go on first, then the other decorations. And secondly, cold contracts, heat expands - Roarke says he likes his showers cold because it opens the pores, sorry Roarke, you got that wrong, but I can let that slip.

Two thumbs up and 5 stars - not a bad read.
Profile Image for Ann Lou.
564 reviews87 followers
June 23, 2017
It's the Holidays in this installment. We have a controlled, calculating and organized killer who drugs his victims.

Eve is being bitchy again. What she said to Peabody was uncalled for. Sometimes I think she's too much and her methods are too much but then I remind myself that her cool professionalism doesn't mean a lack of heart. One thing I can't fault though is how she fights for the dead. They are not just names and numbers to her. She wants to give them justice and tries hard to achieve it.

Roarke is perfectly delicious. *yum* If you are too busy with work Eve, I will always make time for Roarke. LOL
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,321 reviews248 followers
October 25, 2022
Holiday in Death is the seventh book in the In Death Series. Once again J.D. Robb keeps her readers entertained with another page-turner. I still have a lot of books to read in this series, but from the reviews, I’ve read this series gets better as it goes along. Looking forward to reading the next book.
Highly recommended.
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