Lieutenant Eve Dallas must solve the murder of a seemingly ordinary family, and protect one small, terrified survivor in this novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series.No affairs. No criminal connections. No DNA. No clues. Lieutenant Eve Dallas may be the best cop in the city—not to mention having the lavish resources of her husband Roarke at her disposal—but the Swisher case has … disposal—but the Swisher case has her baffled. The family members were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night vision to find their way through the cozy middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. The only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the dark in the kitchen…
Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan—and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas’s strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs to solve this case. Not only because of the promise she made to Nixie. Not only for the cause of justice. But also to put to rest some of her own darkest memories—and deepest fears. With her partner Peabody on the job, and watching her back—and with Roarke providing the kind of help that only he can give—Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead-set on finding out who’s behind them.
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Survivor in Death is the twentieth book of J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Each book has a different homicide case that Eve Dallas and her team have to investigate. This case in Survivor in Death is going to hit close to home with Eve and Roarke. They will end up doing something that takes them out of their comfort zone.
Storyline/My Thoughts: This time around, this book involves a whole family being murdered. The only survivor being the 9-year-old daughter who was supposed to be murdered, too. It’s up to Eve and her team to keep their witness/survivor from being kidnapped, or worst, killed. Instead of Eve allowing Child Services to take Nixie, the 9-year-old survivor, she takes her into her home. Summerset immediately helps make Nixie comfortable and protects her as his own child. On the other hand, Eve is confused about how to take care of Nixie. Thank goodness for the rest of her team on the force that can assist her.
Eve, Roarke, Peabody, McNabb, Feeney, etc., are determined to find the shadowy men that killed Nixie’s whole family. They are not sure who would want to murder Nixie and her family. They are confused about where to start until they finally make a break, but it’s much later in the book. Roarke is the most determined to find someone who can take care of Nixie. The family that was supposed to take her in decided to change their minds. It was a difficult decision for them to make, but there is a reason they did in the book. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read this book.
It took me a little longer to finish this book, unlike the previous books. The murder of Nixie’s whole family and her best friend took a back seat most of the time. The book was mainly focusing on having Nixie in Roarke’s and Eve’s house. It was funny at times to see Roarke and Eve trying to interact with a child. They are definitely not ready to have children. Poor Eve! She had a lot of issues interacting with Nixie. She tried to avoid Nixie as much as she could, but Nixie did not allow it.
I wanted the story to focus on finding the killers. It also felt rushed at the end when they did find the killers of Nixie’s family. This is why I gave the book 3.5 stars. I felt for Nixie in this book because of what she went through and will continue to go through. I’m happy that she does get some closure at the end of this book, and she does get to live with a family that will take care of her. This book may not be a favorite, but I still enjoyed being back with my favorite characters. I feel like all of them are family. =)
Standalone or Parts of Series: It’s part of the In Death series by J.D. Robb, and I would recommend reading in order.
Triggers: Murder/Death (family, children, law enforcement, etc.); Torture; Kidnapping
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I always will recommend the In Death series to readers that enjoy the Romantic Suspense genre. In each book, I fall for each character that J.D. Robb has created in this series. I love each character for different reasons. I want other readers to fall for the characters, too. =) I’m so glad I started reading this series in 2020 for the #InDeathReadAlong Challenge.
Wonderful story and love the introduction of Nixie Swisher. JD Robb keeps building a world of primary and secondary characters you’d like to know.
Always a good murder mystery when you pick up a JD Robb.
Love these books, Eve and Roark!
I have liked all the books in this series. Did not disappoint.
Eve and Roarke are caretakers of a lone survivor. Eve relates to her survivor and it makes it difficult to know what is real and how to keep from getting involved. Emotions run high and can be distracting, but you must find out who the killers are…
LOVE her Death series!!! Eve & Roarke have a great partnership and there’s always a deadly villain to be caught in a twisting story that keeps you guessing ” who done it “?
Have read every book in the series to date. Waiting for the next!!!!
I have read and reread every book in this series. Thoroughly enjoy the characters; very entertained by the banter between any/all of them. Reading in order helps build continuity, but not necessary.
Nora Roberts is a genius. The “Death” series is endlessly satisfying.
JD Robb books are a treat to read
I love be JD Robb books have all of them mostly in hard books
She is one of my favorite authors!!! Have every one of in death series except the ones not yet released!!!! Paperbacks, hard covers and Kindle!!!!!
Love this series.
Love all of the Eve Dallas/ “—in Death” books. Don’t know how Nora Roberts comes up with these stories, but I wouldn’t miss any of them.
J.D. Robb (by any name) ALWAYS delivers. The only reader that may not benefit from her books are those that read to fall asleep. That will not happen here, especially with this series!
I love JD Robb
Can hardly put down an “In Death” book until it’s all done!
one of my favorite series–have read them all!!!
Loved it as well as the whole series.