Amarylis Coltraine may have recently transferred to the New York City police force from Atlanta, but she’s been a cop long enough to know how to defend herself against an assailant. When she’s taken down just steps away from her apartment, killed with her own weapon, for Eve the victim isn’t just “one of us.”
Dallas’s friend Chief Medical Examiner Morris and Coltraine had started a serious relationship, and from all accounts the two were headed for a happy future together. But someone has put an end to all that. After breaking the news to Morris, Eve starts questioning everyone from Coltraine’s squad, informants, and neighbors, while Eve’s husband, Roarke, digs into computer data on Coltraine’s life back in Atlanta. To their shock, they discover a connection between this case and their own painful, shadowy pasts.
The truth will need to be uncovered one layer at a time, starting with the box that arrives at Cop Central addressed to Eve containing Coltraine’s guns, badge, and a note from her killer: “You can have them back. Maybe someday soon, I’ll be sending yours to somebody else.”
But Eve Dallas doesn’t take too kindly to personal threats, and she is going to break this case, whatever it takes. And that’s a promise.
The In Death books fall into two different categories for me: Not Enough Roarke and Just Enough Roarke. Promises fell into the Just Enough Roarke (but I could have taken more) category. I’ve seen somewhat of a pattern in the last few releases of the In Death books. One book will be almost strictly suspense with a teeny bit of Eve/Roarke goodness thrown in and the next one will be an emotional suspense with lots of Eve/Roarke goodness.
The book starts off sad, with the death of Detective Amarylis Coltraine. Not only is she a cop, but she was involved with Morris. Morris is my favorite ME, in books and TV. He just rocks. We only ever got to know Coltraine (or Ammy) through Morris. The reason this book was so emotional is not so much b/c of Ammy’s death, but more the affect of her death had on Morris. It was just so incredibly sad.
Unfortunately for Eve, the murder forces her to look into Coltraine’s past. Though she doesn’t want Coltraine to be a dirty cop, it’s something she can’t overlook. Looking at any cop with suspicion is something that no cop wants to do, but it can’t be avoided. It’s while she’s looking into Coltraine’s past that she finds a connection to Max Ricker, someone that despises both Eve and Roarke. Before Coltraine transferred to New York from Atlanta, she was involved with Max’s son, Alex. Eve can’t find anything that points to Coltraine being a dirty cop and she soon crosses that off her list.
The saddest part of the book was when Eve had to go tell Morris that Ammy was dead. While it’s always been hard for Eve to tell people that their loved ones were dead, never has it hit as close to home as with Morris. Morris is one of the few people that Eve has let herself get close to. She is so unprepared to deal with what needs to be done, which is so Eve. Yet she ends up being exactly what Morris needs.
This book would have been a complete downer if it wasn’t for some fun thrown in. Eve is supposed to host Louise’s bridal shower, something she blocks out whenever it comes to mind. But as the day draws near, Eve can’t put it off any longer. This is an exchange between Eve and Roarke when Eve realizes that she has to get Louise some sort of gift.
“Oh shit, oh shit, stupid shower present!”
Now she did pull her hair as she made the dash to her office.
Roarke sat in her visitor’s chair, comfortably involved with his PPC. He glanced up, let loose a regretful sigh. “You changed. And I didn’t have any time to ogle you in your uniform.”
“I have to go shopping!”
Staring at her, Roarke pressed his fingertips to his temple. “I’m sorry, I believe I must have had a small stroke. What did you say?”
That is so Eve and Roarke. I just love them.
I continue to be amused by Eve’s reaction to Mavis’ baby. If there are any readers worried that Eve is going to get pregnant thus ending the series, you only have to read the scenes with the baby. She is just so clueless. I loves it.
Promises in Death was much better than Salvation in Death. It’s the emotion involved that makes me like the books. When it’s personal, it’s so much better no matter how sad.
4 out of 5.
This book is available from Putnam. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Thanks for the review. I’ve been eyeing this one and drooling. I just knew it was going to be one of the ‘great” ones. *Like you, I find the In Death books tend to fall into 2 categories. For me they’re good, and Great. LOl
I loved this one. It struck just the right balance for me. There was enough mystery to keep me interested in the crime itself and just enough face time with everyone to keep me caught up and involved in their lives again.
I LOVED, Peabody’s and Eve convo on sexual fantasies about co-workers. Roarke’s response was the icing on the cake. There were lots of great LOL moments. I think its one of the best books of the series. Great review.
Thank you Casee!
The In Death books fall into two different categories for me: Not Enough Roarke and Just Enough Roarke.
I take it there can never be too much Roarke 🙂 I must catch up – I still have to read Salvation In Death – especially if Peabody and Eve have a conversation on sexual fantasies and co-workers!
I am a great fan of In Death series but this is one of my least favorite. Just too much pontificating and “I’m more righteous than thou’s.”