Book # 20...Survivor in Death

Eve had never had any experience with children and finds Mavis’s pregnancy alarming, especially as her friend expects Eve to be a birth coach.

When she takes a young girl, the only survivor of a home invasion, into her home, she is out of her element.

The little girl’s situation is not the same as Eve’s, for she knew and has lost a loving family. The detective can’t help but compare, and knows too well what the girl’s life will be like if there is no one to take her and she has to enter the foster care system.

Summerset has been a parent and childcare duties fall into his hands, but having a child in the house proves to be an eye opener for Eve and Roarke, as neither have ever known what family life is like.

The case proves much more complicated than just a home invasion and Eve feels the burden of responsibility...caring for an orphaned child, Peabody returning to duty after her injuries (Book #19) and cops killed in the line of duty.

One of the things I really like in this series is the interconnection between books. More than just a quick reference to what happened in he previous book, characters are introduced who would seem to only have a role in that particular plot, but I like the surprise of meeting them again. In this book there are characters from the first book making their reappearance.

The A-Z Blog Challenge

This is the third year I have signed up for the A-Z Blog Challenge and I was the 1358^th participant to do so, with still five days left to register.

If you’re unfamiliar, this event takes place every April, and the challenge is to write 26 blogs, one for every letter of the alphabet, which will, excluding Sundays, take in the month to complete.

The blog writers who participate are varied, and if you go to their site you can see the list, and are encouraged to read a few daily. www.A-Zblogchallenge.com

I started the first year with a theme “these are a few of my favourite things”. Last year I decided to wing it, but the original theme seemed to hold, with a bit of a trip down memory lane. I think this year will be more of the same. 

Book #19...Visions in Death

Women are being grabbed in the city’s parks, beaten and raped. The manner in which the bodies are left make the detectives think, as the victims have a physical likeness, that the killer is, in his mind, killing the same woman over and over again. They speculate that he was most likely abused by this woman as a child.

Eve becomes angry, telling Peabody that being abused is no excuse to do evil. The partners have reached a level of trust and acceptance, and Eve finally tells the detective about her childhood.

The visions in this book are from a psychic who comes forward after ‘seeing’ one of the murders in a dream. Eve, of course, is skeptical.

Not to spoil what happens, but Roarke and McNabb have a meaningful conversation about what it feels like to be the one waiting at home, never knowing when or if there will be that dreaded knock at the door.

Peabody and McNabb are moving in together, their new apartment in the same building as Mavis and Leonardo. 

Book #18...Divided in Death

Eve and Roarke, both suffered an abusive childhood, but that is a very general term, not descriptive at all of what they endured. While Roarke’s father beat him and forced him into a life of crime, he was still able to make friends, and once he met Summerset he had a kind of family.

Eve was raised by an abusive father too, but she was kept isolated, moved from place to place so that she knew next to nothing of the world outside whatever dismal place they currently lived in. She had only herself to rely on, and that attitude never changed until she met Roarke.

Their differences are never more apparent than when they stand on opposite sides of that line, what is justice and what is revenge. (See book #6...Vengeance in Death)

In this book, Caro, Roarke’s very able Administrative Assistant, calls him for help when her daughter, also a Roarke Enterprises employee, is accused of the murder of her cheating husband and his lover. It is discovered that the daughter, Reva, was working on a high level security project and was targeted by Homeland Security (HSO) for information on his company’s research.

Roarke does a secret computer search of HSO files and finds a connection between his father and Eve’s, both international career criminals and Max Ricker (book #11...Judgement in Death). He discovers that HSO had Eve’s father under surveillance and the decision was made to take no action, the case being more important than the welfare of the child.

Roarke wants to take his revenge, and feels strongly that the agents involved need to pay for their neglect, for the pain and suffering of the child, and the adult plagued with horrendous nightmares. This is true Roarke, the Dublin street rat whose code of justice is ‘an eye for an eye’.

Eve wants it set aside, and so they find themselves on opposite sides of this moral dilemma. 

Angels in My Window

A number of years ago I added to my angel collection with the purchase of three stained glass angel ornaments. They were small and though two of them may look like Christmas tree ornaments, the third could definitely be for a window.

I decided each ornament represented a grandchild and hung them in my living room window, in the children’s birth order. The original two pieces were made by the same artist, and I liked the use of prisms and the silver wings. I never found any of her work again and had to go to stained glass ornaments to complete my collection.

It always surprised me how much the grandkids loved to see these angels, and when they were at my place visiting they would always ask me to go over which ornament belonged to who and would lovingly touch the one that represented them.

I thought it was a little bit of whimsy on my part, but being the proud grandmother, I too would look at the grouping and think of my “angels”.

It’s been almost two years since I moved and for some reason I hung the angels in the bedroom window instead of the larger picture window in the living room. I think I liked to see them as I come and go, as the window is right beside the door.

The other day my son’s children were leaving and caught sight of the ornaments in the window. We went through the familiar who’s who, and I was delighted that even at their young age they had not forgotten.

They did remind me that there were only six, and that I have gained a new and seventh angel. I guess I’ll be going ornament shopping and see a day trip to some craft shops in my future.

Book #17...Imitation in Death

It’s the summer of 2059 and people are being murdered, by a copycat using the style of famous serial killers. The killer looks at it as a game, leaving letters for Eve at every crime scene.

Roarke is still dealing with the fact that he has a family in Ireland. He always thought he’d been abandoned by the woman he believed to be his mother. It’s a lot to deal with, the guilt that his father murdered his mother and the grief for the birth mother who loved him that he was denied a chance to know.

All these emotions about mothers cause Eve to have a flashback of her mother, a lost memory.

We see more interaction with Eve’s squad, with Detective Baxter and his trainee Officer Trueheart. There is a growing kinship between Medical Examiner Morris and Eve, with their dedication to finding the truth for the dead. Another story development is Peabody’s relationship with McNabb. She is studying for the Detective’s exam and is afraid she’ll fail and disappoint Eve.

Eve and Roarke are two strong and independent people trying to deal with troubling emotions alone, to protect the other. Roarke has all this self blame and grief he tries to hide, and Eve keeps the disturbing memories that haunt her secret.

You just know the tension will build between them, at the same time as the murder case is coming to a close. These two will have to find their way back to each other, learning another of those Marriage Rules as they work together to get the job done.

Book # 16...Portrait in Death

Book number sixteen and this one is full of surprises. So much of what we’ve learned about Roarke’s background has been about his criminal beginnings and about his relationship with Summerset. In this book we find out that everything Roarke believed to be true about his very early years was a lie.

Roarke has funded a home for abused women, called Dochas, which is Gallic for hope. He is touring the facility and meets MOIRA O’BANNION, a social worker who tells him she knew him as a baby, knew his mother. Except the mother she talk about is not Meg Roarke but SIOBAHN BRODY, an innocent young woman who had the bad luck to get involved with PATRICK ROURKE. The woman has a photo of mother and child and there is no doubt of the child’s identity.

Summerset was set to go away on holiday and has a fall, which has him at home recovering, and he’s as bad a patient as Eve ever was. The seriousness of the accident leaves Roarke reeling with emotion, for Summerset is more father than the father he had. To have these two events happen at the same time, Roarke reacts badly and shuts everyone out until he can come to term with everything.

He finally tells Eve what he has learned and decides to Ireland, alone, and meets up with his old friend Brian. They discover the truth, Siobahn Brody was really his mother, and she was murdered by his father. He travels to the country to inform her family of the death, even though it happened a lifetime ago, for he feels he owes them that closure.

He finds a welcome there and is overwhelmed, expecting to find anger and hate. He has all this family and they don’t seem to want anything from him. Eve puts the case aside and travels to Ireland to be with him, arriving at a time when Roarke badly needs her. Eve constantly talks of Marriage Rules, and it’s evident she has learned the most important one.

Previous characters have a more meaningful reappearance that further develops their relationship with Eve. Not to spoil the murder plot but we see a different side of Crack, the sex-club owner, and the young rookie Officer Trueheart.

The murder plot is entertaining enough, but we have these interesting characters with old secrets revealed, new truths and relationships that change and deepen.

Book #15...Purity in Death

Computers are being used to kill, taking out criminals who have avoided paying for their crimes.

Eve and Roarke again find themselves straddling that fine line of right and wrong. She sees things in black and white, the letter of the law. It doesn’t matter that the victim preyed on children; her job is to stop a killer.

Roarke is more into shades of grey, the victim deserved to die for his crimes. The conflict between their past, their experiences and values are once more an issue.

We meet Jamie again, the young computer genius whose sister and grandfather were murdered in a previous book. Roarke is guiding Jamie’s education with the hope that the young man will come and work for his company. But Jamie wants to be a cop like his grandfather, and his godfather, Feeney.

We learn Mavis and Leonardo are expecting a baby, the very thought of which scares Eve more than facing down any killer.

Officer Trueheart, the young rookie cop we met previously is now assigned to Baxter as a trainee.

Time moves on, people experience change in their personal and private lives. I think that is one of the things I like the most about this series, the ever changing relationships, reflecting the ups and down of life.

I mean, come on, Mavis pregnant? I didn’t see that one coming and it’s been interesting to see the more serious side of this quirky character. What will happen next?

A Rude Awakening

The phone rang at 2:33 A.M. abruptly waking me from a sound sleep. Stumbling the few steps to answer, my thoughts were in overdrive with the immediate concern for my family, my heart racing as I feared for the worst. I grabbed the phone; unable to see the call display in the dark had I even thought to look.

My “Hello?” was given no response and I realized the caller had disconnected. I sat down and fumbled with the new phone I’ve not quite mastered to find the number on the call display only reads ‘Private Number’.

Was this a crank call? Some kids having a sleepover and playing tricks? Do they even think about what that playful moment does to the person on the receiving end of such a call?

It took me a few minutes to calm down, and I was still too restless to sleep. I grabbed my book and read for awhile, hoping the story would distract me, but still, in the back of my mind, I was thinking about that call.

I try to relax, but can’t, and now I’m that cliché, wide awake at 4 A.M. lying in the dark.

Lights on, read some more, occasionally closing the book and my eyes but sleep is still elusive. Now it’s after six, dark still since the time change...spring forward and all. A trip to the bathroom, a drink of water and I’ll try once again to settle.

As I laid in the dark my mind went to writing this, words coming fast and furious, too easily forgotten if not immediately written down. So, lights on, notes made, and now I see the light of dawn shining through the window. It’s morning. This dreary night is done and I try to sleep.

I must have slept for it’s after eight when I’m awakened, not by the phone but by noises outside my door. I’ve heard that sound too many times these past few months...the sound a snow shovel makes scraping across the pavement.

Snow! It’s spring for goodness sake.

I can’t be bothered to look, but pull the covers up and snuggle in to sleep. Maybe it will all be gone by the time I get up. One can only hope.

Book #14...Reunion in Death

When Eve was in uniform and partnered with Feeney they put away a murderer, a Black Spider kind of woman, who was marrying rich and killing her spouses to inherit their wealth. That woman is out of prison, having fooled the parole board into thinking she was no longer a threat to society. But she is, and she’s an even bigger threat to Eve.

She wants revenge because she feels Eve disrespected her when she was arrested, and now she has a new agenda, murdering men in Eve’s proximity, not for money, but to get to Eve.

Eve has to trace the woman’s past which means a trip to Texas, where her own roots are found, in Dallas, the city she was named for. Her memories of that time and place are now complete and she and Roarke visit there in the hopes that facing her past will rid Eve of the nightmares that still plague her.

The relationship between Eve and Roarke is a difficult one, each being stubborn and with a strong protective nature. Eve needs her husband to get her through this trip into the past, but then tries to shield him when it becomes apparent that the killer has Roarke in her sights.

Roarke goes to the Commander with a plan, which angers Eve as she feels he has undermined her authority when he went over her head, behind her back. Let the battle begin.

Is it a romantic bit of make-believe that every person has a soul mate? How many people ever really meet that person they were supposedly destined to be with?

Marriage is hard work, and not every person is prepared to make the effort, to put their needs second, to hang in despite the hurts and tough times, and to persist when the other tries to shut them out. Eve and Roarke are not a perfect couple, they fight and argue, on occasion turn away from each other, but they always find the path that leads them back to each other.

Book #13...Seduction in Death

Many of the murders that occur in this series are sexual homicides. In this book there is a Casanova Killer, seducing and killing young women.

Because of the sexual component to the murder, Eve is constantly bombarded with situations that trigger bad dreams and flashbacks of her childhood. I suppose it might be written this way to allow for Eve’s past to again be told...for the first time reader who picks up a book mid series.

What helps to make the retelling fresh is that Eve’s memories are changing, in that she’s remembering more, questioning more, and feeling more. We have yet to get her whole story.

She has Roarke, who suffers almost as much as her when she dreams, and Doctor Mira for support.

I have to admit that I’ve enjoyed reading these books again in sequence. It’s like one long story as each book makes references to the previous story and very little time has elapsed from one book to the next. As I haven’t been as well this last month, I apologise that I’ve been reading and not taking notes as was my purpose. I have made some observations for the next few books in the series, and after that I’ll try to pay more attention.

Mom's Grocery List

When my daughter was here the other day she made fun of my shopping list, written out on a magnet pad on my fridge. The items were spaced out all over the page, something she thought strange.

“My mother made her shopping list that way,” I told her. “Like items are listed together, where they’re found in the store. It’s easier, less running around and you’re less likely to miss an item.”

It’s funny the small, inconsequential things we learn from our parents. When my Mom made out her list she had a column down the right side with the days of the week and the meals she had planned. From that she made her grocery list.

I never thought of my Mom as being that kind of ‘Susie Homemaker’ organized. She wasn’t a June Cleaver kind of Mom, and you’d have to be old to get that reference. Mom was an artist, and cleaning house and baking cookies were not her strong suit.

This little stroll down memory lane just served to remind me that we all have our strengths, our talents and our needs. Being a creative Mom myself, I often put my creative needs aside for the greater need of my family. It’s what you do, for those you love.

It was nice to remember this little bit of my Mom, and what she taught me. I wonder what my children will remember of me in some chance moment when I’ve been long gone and am just a memory?

The Wind Effect

My place felt cold this morning when I woke. I pulled the cover up over my shoulder and snuggled in, not yet ready to get up. I could hear the wind blow in the rattle of the screen door, the movement of the trees and the faint notes of my neighbour’s brass wind chimes.

We’ve had above freezing temperatures and clear days, enough that I’ve felt no need to check the weather channel for the forecast. It felt dreary, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to get up and see snow on the ground, winter’s last hurrah.

My place is on a court, but behind me is the corner of the property, marked with a border of tall evergreens. When the wind moves between my unit and the one next door there’s a ‘dead ended canyon’ sort of effect. With nowhere else to go the wind swirls back and aims right for my front door.

All winter long it’s been this way, with snow blowing and piling up at my door, when my neighbours’ entries are blown clear. It was the same in the fall as the leaves accumulated in my space. In the summer I’ll be glad to have that breeze blow in my window, but for the fall and winter it is a royal pain.

At least when I finally got myself up and dressed, it was to discover blue skies and no snow, windy, but not so cold that wind chill is a scary prospect.

We’re at a change of seasons, but winter always has a few tricks to play before it reluctantly gives way to spring. I wish she’d just get it over with and go away.

Repurposed Yarn Stash

Finally I found a use for all those bits and pieces of yarn...appliques.

I love all these friendly little faces and such, and think they’d make a great addition to a crocheted hat. I’ll just set them all aside and see when and where I might use them.

Why is it that I feel better about storing these bits of appliqué than I do the bag of leftover yarn? It could be the cute factor, but I think it has more to do with being productive.

Maybe I’ll make some hats through the summer, add the appliqués and donate the finished product to charity. I’m sure there are some children somewhere that would like a hat with a friendly pup, cat or bunny on his/her hat.

Now that is being productive.

Book #12...Betrayal in Death

This book opens at Roarke’s fancy hotel, where he is hosting an event for a famous actress, a preview for the auction of her movie collectables, the proceeds to be given to charity.

The first murder is an employee of the hotel, the next a friend and another employee of Roarke’s. It is Eve’s first thought that since the only connection between the victims is Roarke, he must be the ultimate target. More people close to him, including Summerset, are being attacked.

It’s the same old story for these two, Eve wanting to protect her husband, and his wanting to deal with his own safety.

Their work lives are constantly connecting, little wonder as Roarke owns so much New York real estate, and his checkered past keeps coming back to haunt him. In one of the previous books the killer went after Roarke’s childhood friends from Ireland, and another friend was mentioned, thought to be dead. Mick Connelly reappears, alive and well, and inserts himself into Roarke’s life.

Eve finds the friend’s sudden appearance suspicious, and once again she and Roarke are at odds. He has suffered too much loss in recent months and to have his friend back is very important to him.

I think it is hard for Eve to understand that Roarke’s chums were his family, and that he has a strong bond of survival with them, and some guilt that he walked away and made a new life for himself, a very successful life. Eve was kept isolated in her early years; her only contact was with her abusive father. When she entered the system, raised by the state, she avoided relationships as her only goal was to be a cop. Her friendship with Mavis is the only one she’s allowed herself.

These two characters are very intense and complicated. With each book we learn more about them, their background and how they cope, with the past and each other. It keeps each book interesting, murder story aside, as nothing is more boring than stagnant characters.

Throughout these last few books some of the lighter moments are the found in the budding relationship between Detectives Peabody and McNabb. Both Eve and Feeney are concerned because a relationship, and its potential demise, do not make for a cohesive work environment.

Book #11...Judgement in Death

The roots of Roarke’s financial empire were buried deep in illegal activities. Even at a young age he had ambition to pull himself out of the streets of Dublin, but even though he wanted success and power, there were limits to what he was willing to do for a profit.

He once worked with a man named Max Ricker, but broke off their association, something Max has never forgotten or forgiven.

Now Max is back, and causing trouble, and a suspect in Eve’s new case. Cops are being murdered, and the question becomes...were they dirty and working for Ricker? And what is Ricker’s end game?

Eve and Roarke are both stubborn, each wanting to be in control. Eve feels, as she has the badge, that she should be in control. Roarke, of course, feels that this is his issue to deal with, as he is the one with the history, the knowledge of Ricker’s criminal organization. They face each other across that invisible line again, and once more put their relationship to a test, proving how much they love each other and how far they would each go to protect the other.

We meet Lieutenant Don Webster, with Internal Affairs, a man who has a history with Eve both personal and from the academy. 

My Personal Ice Jam

Spring may be in the air, but I’m a little concerned with the floods that may come with it. The pile of snow is still a good two feet deep in front of my place, and across the courtyard the pile resembles a small hill.

As I was coming in my door the other day I felt a plop of water drop on my head and looked up, only to see the eaves trough with a continuous drip. This is the source of that slippery patch I keep finding in front of my door. The sun shines on the snow in the morning, melts some of the snow, it drips on the sidewalk and freezes when the temperature drops at night.

Only this time I looked above the eaves and was surprised to find about eight inches of solid ice covered in another eight inches of snow. The eaves trough is still in place but the weight may prove too much if it loosens from the roof. I looked about at the other units and no one else seemed to have the same buildup of ice.

Then I realized it’s all about direction and the movement of the sun. No, I’m not becoming a science nerd, but even I know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

I get morning sun on my front door, but only for a short time as the sun is positioned low in the sky and passes behind the roof too quickly. I suppose it’s just enough sun to start the melt in these milder days, but not enough to soften the ice to where it would slide off. Some of the units that get more sun have no ice and very little snow remaining on their roof.

I guess I should let the property manager know, so he can break up the ice before it causes any damage to the eaves trough or the roof. And to be sure, I’ll be looking over my head before walking out too far, just in case.

Book #10 Witness in Death

The murder takes place on centre stage, on opening night, in front of cast, crew and the full house. Of course Roarke owns the theatre, and he and Eve are sitting in the owner’s box watching the play.

It’s a play within a play. If you are a fan of old black and white movies you might be familiar with Witness for the Prosecution, taken from the book of the same title by Agatha Christie. I remember this movie, watched it as a kid with my Dad as it was one of his favourites.

I like how the play in the book stays true to the original story as I remember it. The murder plot weaves in and out, as the roles played out on stage are reflected in real life.

I enjoyed this look at the production from behind the scenes. I once worked with an amateur theatre group (sets and stage crew) and remember how there was something special about each and every play. The mood of the play has influence, but it is also that it is a once in a lifetime gathering of that particular cast and crew. Different plays mean different roles, and even though actors and crew may have worked together before, that exact group would never be the same.

In this book, these actors have worked together in other plays, and their history is a major part of the story.

The Cost of Books

I love books...the feel of them...and the look of them in display on my bookshelves. You miss out on that with an E-reader, and I imagine for some buying a book in E format doesn’t seem real. It took me a while to get used to my library being contained in one small colourless, portable container.

I like being able to carry my reader with me. It’s convenient, and easily slips into my purse. If I traveled, it would be much easier to take my reading with me than to carry and pack a number of paperbacks. I also find it easier to read in bed, as lying on my side holding as hardcover book is tiring.

When I was in the store the other day I noticed that the new J.D. Robb book was out in hardcover, at a Canadian price of $32.99. Sometimes there is a 30 or 40% discount on new titles, but not this time. It could be a year at least before that title comes out in paperback, at a more reasonable price of $10.99. I admit it, I hate to wait.

Other years, and with other novels, I solved the problem by reading the library’s copy, satisfying my need to be current with the series, and then I’d buy it in paperback when it came available, to reread at my leisure.

Once I was back home I looked the title up on Amazon and saw the E-book was available for $14.99. Should I buy it, should I wait? I looked over at my bookcase and saw the books crammed in and realized I have no available space, so I had my answer. Besides, it’s my birthday and why shouldn’t I buy myself a present?

So, I bought it, but won’t read it just yet as I’m in the process of rereading the series from the beginning. It’s enough to know it’s there, waiting for me when the time comes. And after the snow storm yesterday, winter is not done with us yet. I figure there will be a few more evenings spent reading in the comfort and warmth of my place before we see spring.

I’ll catch up quickly (I’m currently reading book #16), and won’t have to wait long to see what new challenges await Eve and Roarke.

Book # 9 Loyalty in Death

The relationship continues to strengthen between Eve and Roarke as they fight a terrorist group threatening New York.

The threat is very real as well known landmarks in the city are destroyed by bombs.

The book was written in 1999, but takes place in the year 2059. Some of the historic landmarks are well known, such as the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and the Statue of Liberty.

The mention of the Twin Towers was particularly noted, as who would ever have imagined, in 1999, what happened on September 11, 2001. I got the same sense of loss reading about them as I do when I watch some older movie or TV show that shows the New York skyline, dominated by the Twin Towers.

I suppose as this story was also about terrorists it made it all that much more heartfelt.

Winter's Final Fling

We had a few days of sun, some days where the temperature hovered for a few hours above freezing. It is amazing how it lifts the spirits, to realize we are more out of winter than we are in.

I walked along the road at my place on the weekend, one that circles through this end of the complex and therefore gets limited traffic, and it was completely covered in snow, smoothed and compacted by the many runs of the plow. The main roads may be clear, but not here.

Yesterday I could actually see pavement on the road after the sun and milder temperatures. It would be nice to have the road clear, and not have to be so cautious with every step I take, but if it stayed mild, I’m afraid what might happen when the mountains of snow piled up here and there in the court begin to melt. Flooding is going to be a major concern this spring.

Today it is dull and grey, no sign of the sun, and it has snowed off and on all day, enough to cover the road again. The wind is blowing and makes it look like a blizzard out there and I’m quite content to stay inside where it’s warm and dry, put my feet up and amuse myself with crocheting.

Not over yet, but the end is in sight.

Book # 8 Conspiracy in Death

By this point we think we understand how important it is to Eve to be a police officer. This book sees her suspended from duty, and she is devastated. Roarke and her team rally round to support her, and solve the case, and a murder of which she is not investigator but suspect.

We meet DETECTIVE WEBSTER, from Internal Affairs, a man Eve has known from the Police Academy days. We also meet DOCTOR LOUISE DIMATTO, a doctor at the free clinic.

It’s a story full of emotion, a test of relationships and dedication to duty.

We also meet OFFICER TRUEHEART, a young and naive man with dreams of being a detective. As she did with Peabody, Eve recognizes his potential and gives him an opportunity to prove himself.

Book #7 Holiday in Death

As much as Eve would like to keep her husband out of her police work, it seems impossible for a number of reasons. First is that he is on the fringe of almost every case just because of his immense wealth. Victims live in buildings he owns, products are manufactured by one of his companies etc. It’s embarrassing for Eve, though his cooperation cuts through red tape when she wants information.

Eve likes to talk over her case with Roarke because, with his background in illegal activities, he understands both the criminal and the police sides of things and is a good sounding board.

Their last case was very stressful as it involved Feeney and the death of his old partner. He’s taking advantage of Roarke’s generosity and has taken his family to Mexico, to Roarke’s villa. In his place we meet DETECTIVE IAN MCNABB, from the EDD Division.

Tension develops between McNabb and Peabody, a mixture of attraction, sexual tension and a competitive streak regarding their roles within the investigative team.

The sexual homicides are difficult for Eve, as she continues to have dreams and flashbacks to her abusive childhood.

This book takes place during the Christmas season, Eve’s and Roarke’s first holiday together. Neither of them ever had a real Christmas, not one with traditions, family, friends and the giving and receiving of gifts. They start what will be an annual event, the decorating of their personal tree and the hosting of a holiday party.