Naked In Death: A troubled detective. A ruthless killer.

Finally, I read the first book in what has become a fantastically long series. Set in the near future Eve Dallas is a New York detective called in to a super secret murder investigation. A licensed companion (prostitute) has been murdered with a vintage weapon, she is also the granddaughter of a powerful conservative US Senator. Eve's murder investigation focuses on the victim's clients but she is also aware that the victim had a very public dinner with what could be the world's wealthiest man, Roarke (no other name like Madonna). Then two other licensed companions are murdered in near-similar circumstances and Eve has a serial killer on her hands, but the murders bring some personal issues front and centre, just as Eve and Roarke's growing attraction could jeopardise her investigation. I enjoyed the story and the novelty of setting a gritty suspense novel in the future. I did find Roarke's alpha-male refusal to hear the word 'No' problematic, two or three times Eve said she wanted to leave and Roarke refused to let her go, I know she was running away from her feelings in some cases but what was probably viewed as strong and powerful and romantic in 1995 when the book was first published is now troubling. 2020 sensibilities aside, I did enjoy this foray into a genre that I stopped reading quite a few years ago because I found the stories got more and more gruesome and disturbing as the writers tried to out do each other and their last books. I will certainly read the next one but I'm not sure that I will read the entire series.

Naked In Death is the first book in the popular In Death series by American author, J.D. Robb. New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas is assigned to investigate the cold-blooded murder of a Licensed Companion (prostitute), but because the victim’s grandfather is a powerful right-wing US Senator, it’s to be done very much under the radar. Sharon DeBlass was shot by a Smith & Wesson .38 which, by 2058, is already thirty-five years obsolete, so Eve is looking at gun collectors, of which an attractive but enigmatic Irish-born billionaire, Roarke is one. And Roarke doesn’t have an alibi. But he’s not the only one with access to such a weapon: among others is the woman’s grandfather, Senator Gerard DeBlass and some members of the Police Force. Disturbing is the indication that this only the first of more planned killings, and when the second occurs, another Licensed Companion, Roarke still doesn’t have a cast-iron alibi, although Eve is now wishing he did. Her gut tells her he’s not involved; the rest of her is busy trying to fight her attraction to him. Lots of leaking of confidential information is happening, so Eve isn’t sure quite whom she can trust. By the time a third LC is murdered, though, it’s clear that Roarke is no longer a suspect: he has just about the best alibi possible. He also has a very good reason (or two) for wanting to help Eve discover just who this serial killer is, and he has resources and skills that allow her to bypass any leaks to the perpetrator. Robb gives the reader one protagonist who is smart and gutsy, but damaged by childhood trauma; the other is intelligent, successful and arrogant with it, but capable of compassion and loyalty. There’s plenty more to learn about each, and the secondary characters, who include an accidentally heroic cat. The story starts with enough intrigue to start the pages turning and the plot has a few red herrings and a twist or two to keep the reader guessing. Those astute enough to pick the perpetrator might still be in for a surprise before the final resolution. It’s an interesting exercise to read, almost thirty years after it was written, a novel set, at time of writing, over sixty years into the future: how could Robb have known, as she wrote, that the series might still be read decades later? She could hope… So obviously there wasn’t an Urban Revolt in 2016, the French government wasn’t overthrown by a Social Reform Army in 2018, and it really doesn’t look like the gun ban will be happening in 2022 or 2023. Some of the technology featured has already been surpassed, some we are on the cusp of in 2022. Setting all that aside, excellent crime/romance from an author highly skilled at both. Glory In Death eagerly anticipated.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'd bought this book a while ago but couldn't quite get into it, so I put it to one side. However I've just recently read Remember When & I think that helped me want to start reading this series. I've become addicted to the characters & I'm curious to see how the relationships develop....... Nora Roberts fans..... You've probably just discovered well over 60 more books & whatnot that you should enjoy reading. Some parts are a bit explicit & some parts do make for uncomfortable reading, However, I find it more to keep in with the gritty storyline rather than for shock & awe.