Eve is a complex character. She’s tough, strong and really kickass. She also has a strong sense of right and wrong and a deep well of compassion that isn’t always evident at first glance. The different facets of her personality are what make this a readable series. Especially after almost 40 books.
The last few entries have felt kind of..tired to me. There’s no more growth to the characters, no more changes. It’s almost like they’ve all reached their pinnacle. Like they’re saying “This is it, this is the best we’re going to get.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that in the general sense, but the reality is without growth, without strife, the series is stale. Roarke has become a doormat – a placeholder character with no real purpose or sense of direction. Even his business dealings are mentioned few and far between. He’s mostly become an e-cop.
Louise and Charles, Peabody and McNabb, Mavis and Leonardo..all of these characters are happy and well settled. Sure, they have tiffs now and again, but where’s the spice? Where are the raging arguments or the suspicious murders that could be linked to them or..any number of other things that brought the series out of its shell and made it stand out?
I haven’t read Treachery in Death
I also wonder how I feel about it if she is. On the one hand, I’ll be sorry to see them go. I’ve come to love these characters and the future in which they live. They’ve become like close friends for me, and knowing I wouldn’t be seeing them again would really break my heart.
On the other hand, I wonder where she can go from here. Make Eve a captain and give her a baby? While that might work in the short-term, the long-term wouldn’t allow for much. Do I want to read about an Eve who has a kid? I don’t know..Do I want to read about a desk-jockey Eve? Not even a little bit.
Despite the sadness I fell that the series might end, I almost think it would be better if it ended now, on a high note.
What do you think? Is the series going stale? Do you think Robb is getting ready to end it? Do you want her to?
Hey Holly,
I don’t think it’s the end of the series. This is what I read on her website: “New York to Dallas(hc/new) – a brand new full-length In Death that will follow Treachery. It’s a one time name change for what’s sure to be an exciting book!”
I don’t know, the way it was said, one time name change tells me there is going to be more. Although the change in the release schedule is interesting.
Do you really think that if the series ended now, it would be on a high note? I personally don’t think so. If Ms Roberts ends it now, it’s going to feel really abrupt. Yes, she has many characters settled and happy, but it’d be out of nowhere. I have no objections for Ms Roberts to end the series, but I’d like to have some build up to it. Perhaps this is the start of that build up.
Hey Nath,
I guess I didn’t explain myself well..I’m wondering if this is the beginning of the end. It seems like she might be gearing up to close out the series. Not w/ this next book, but soon.
If she ended it right now, it might feel abrupt, but I think it would depend on how she did it.
GASP!!! Say it ain’t so. I am only half-way through the ‘In Death’ series and cannot imagine not having any more books to look forward to. Hopefully Ms. Roberts can find some happy medium where the storylines stay fresh but remain true to the characters.
On the other hand, I cannot imagine the pressure of having to produce quality books on a regular basis and keep all readers happy…I would say that feat is nearly impossible.
I am keeping all my ‘In Death’ p/bs so I can revisit these great characters anytime I want on the off-chance that the series is going to be coming to an end.
I haven’t read an In Death book since Mavis gave birth, so maybe I shouldn’t be allowed to comment (I really should get back to the series). But even with that book I felt there was a lessening of conflict. Eve started out with only Mavis as a friend because she was so emotionally damaged. Now she seems to have tons of friends and seems to have a much better handle on her emotional pain.
I really love all of the characters, so I hope the series doesn’t end. Perhaps a different type of conflict would freshen the stories. Such as, Eve gets fired and has to become a private investigator, working without all the resources she has now as a cop. I also think a spin off series would be interesting, with one of the really minor characters becoming the main character, and Eve and the others as minor characters.
Holly – I’ve felt the same as you, like the series is getting tired. Of course, I’m one of those sickos who is happiest when Eve and Roarke are fighting. Divided in Death is my favorite.
That being said, I read Treachery in Death and quite enjoyed it. Mostly because this is Peabody’s case, Eve is supporting and guiding. So we get to see Peabody grow as a detective. Plus, the big bad in it is awesome.
I’d recommend you give it a try and see what you think.
As one disillusioned In Death reader to another, I think you might be surprised.
I gave up on the series and Nora Roberts along time ago. :p All of the books seemed to have the same formula for me and it got boring. I keep finding new favorite authors because my old ones keep letting me down so I have to go find something new to interest me.
God, I NEVER want to see Eve with a baby! Not all women want them or need them, and Eve just isn’t the kind of woman for motherhood. I’ve always loved that about her, and I think it’d ruin her character.
It is time to end the series I think. Nothing good can last forever.
An end to In Death, oh please, never! While I think the 2 books a year schedule is probably too much and does affect quality that doesn’t stop me from buying and listening to them. And I’ve only ever listened to them – never read them in print and I think the audiobooks put a different spin on the books – so much fun to listen to Susan Ericksen “do” Eve and Peabody (and everybody else). These are comfort listens for me, I know what I’m getting and where we are heading and sometimes… well, you just need that.
And I agree with the previous commenter, I love when things are not smooth with Eve and Roarke and maybe that’s what the series needs … a little time apart for those two! And then we can choose a “side” in the breakup, just like with our real life friends – and then feel way stupid when they get back together!
Oh, oups ^_^; In that case, I do think she might be… As long as it’s well done, I don’t really mind 🙂
Well, it seems like I’m in the minority here but I still love the series. I haven’t read Indulgence or Treachery in Death yet – the last one I read was Fantasy in Death. I’m just waiting for the MMP’s to be released in Australia otherwise I would have read them already.
I enjoy the interactions with the characters and I enjoy the way the cases affect Eve and how she works through those feelings with Roarke. I’m not at all bored with the series and I hope the stories keep coming.
I can see your points Holly but those things haven’t affected me the same way.
I think that New York to Dallas will be about Eve’s past and so it may be pretty angsty but I haven’t heard any rumours about the series ending.
I’m happy enough with no babies for Eve & Roarke – it would put an end to the series and I can’t see Eve actually wanting a child.
Hmmm…
Interesting.
As someone who hasn’t been less than thrilled with a few of the latest installments (Kindred and Fantasy mostly) I shouldn’t have had strong feelings when thinking of the end of the series happening soon (or soonish).
And yet, my instinctive reaction was a heartfelt “hell, no!” 😀
I think you’ve hit on something. While I like Eve and Rourke together, I haven’t read the last few. Like you, I feel that the characters aren’t growing.
I’m with you, Kaetrin, I still love the In Death series and haven’t gotten tired of any of the books. I’ve enjoyed the recent books and I see growth in all the characters, especially in Eve and Roarke and their “two year” marriage 😉 . I also loved Treachery, it was well done and suspenseful even though we knew the “bad guys” from the beginning. Peabody was great as “primary” 🙂 .
If you check out NR’s forum, ADWOFF, you’ll find this blurb for New York to Dallas:
“Twelve years ago, Eve Dallas was just a rookie NY cop when her instincts led her to the apartment of Isaac McQueen, a man she discovered to be a sick murderer and paedophile, who was keeping young girls in cages. Now a homicide Lieutenant, Eve is one of the most distinguished officers in the city – and then she learns that McQueen has escaped from jail. Bent on revenge against Eve and with a need to punish more ‘bad girls’ McQueen heads to Dallas, Texas – the place where Eve was found as a child, the place where she killed her own abusive monster when she was only eight years old. With Eve and Roarke in pursuit of McQueen, everything is on the line and secrets from Eve’s past are about to be shockingly revealed.
And also on the SQs (Stoopid Questions) thread NR herself explains the “one-time title change” plus the release date changes (hopefully to stop any wild speculations or rumors):
“It’s a one time name change, and no worries. I’m not ending or winding down the series. The title was my editor’s idea, to take Eve out of her comfort zone–NY–and I agreed if I could come up with a suitable storyline. I did. So Eve will have a case–involving the bad guy from her first, career-making bust while fresh out of the Academy–come back to pull her out of NY and to Dallas. There, she and Roarke will have to work with the local cops and the Feds rather than their usual team, and Eve will have to face the place that haunts her.
Nora”
With Treachery at #1 on the week of March 13th NYT Fiction (HC) list plus #1 on the new Combined Print & E-Book Fiction List it would appear the series is alive and flourishing 🙂 .
@Kathy – thanks for the additional information about From New York to Dallas.
I have to say, while I, too, would be sad if the series ended, I still wonder how much life is left in it.
As for Dallas having a baby – no. Just no. I can’t imagine her getting pregnant. I can, however, very easily see her and Roarke adopting a kid..maybe one found in Dallas?
@ Holly – yes, I agree – I think it’s far more likely that they would adopt a child – either one around the same age as Dallas was when she was found or a teen.