Framed in Death by J.D. Robb

Framed in Death: In Death, Book 61

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #61
Publication Date: 9/2/25
Period: Future New York – 2061
Number of Pages: 368

Sixty-one books and this series is still as fresh, new, and interesting as it was in the beginning. I continue to marvel at this author’s skill and ingenuity in creating exciting, interesting characters along with suspenseful mysteries. Thank goodness she gives us two books per year because I don’t think I could wait an entire year between books!

He was born to wealth, privilege, and an exceptional creative talent for painting. So, why do all of the gallery owners decline to feature his works? Why do they say his works are pedestrian? Well, he’ll just show them – he’ll outpaint the Old Masters and see how quickly those galleries change their minds. He’d begin tonight . . .

For a change, Eve is up and dressed when she gets the call from dispatch. She’d get all of her paperwork cleaned up before she started her day . . . but, dispatch and a vicious killer have other plans for her. When she gets a new body the next day, and the next, Eve knows she has to find the murderer before he kills again.

It’s all-hands-on-deck for Eve and her homicide squad, Roarke, PA Cher Reo, McNab, Feeny, and reporter Nadine Furst. The chase is on, and Eve and her crew always win, but this time, even if they find him, he might slip out of their hands.

I have read every book in the series, and I have also listened to the audiobook for each. The narrator, Susan Ericksen, has narrated the complete series, and she has done an outstanding job. Her characterizations are distinct for each character, and her voice conveys the emotion of the scene. You smile with her; you feel the anger; you hold your breath in suspense; you sigh with her during those softer scenes. Yes, this narrator is the perfect one for the In Death series.

Sometimes, when every work in a series is outstanding, you have to love some a bit less than others. So, while I loved this book, it isn’t one of my favorites because it has less action, less excitement, less suspense, and a slower pace than usual. As always, there is plenty of wit to cut the grim details, and we get a nice visit with Mavis, Leonardo, Bella, Peabody, and McNab in their new home. Now, I have to wait for February to get the next book.

I recommend this book, this series, and this author. If you are new to the series, I strongly recommend going back and reading at least the first few books in the series to get a feel for the characters and their development. Actually, after you read book one, you’ll be hooked and will want to read all of them!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Never Been Witched by Molly Harper

Never Been Witched (Starfall Point Book 3)Never Been Witched by Molly Harper

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Starfall Point, #3

Release Date: August 12, 2025

Alice Seastairs runs her grandparent’s antiques shop in the small lake town of Starfall Point, Michigan. She is also a witch/ghost wrangler, who along with her sister witches are trying to find the remaining Welling lock so they can ensure the safety of the ghosts at Shaddow House. Alice loves her sister witches, but lately she has been pulling away from them because she is ashamed of herself and scared of them rejecting her when they learn she has unwittingly given information about their coven to her former lover. A chance meeting with Collin Bancroft the new owner of the Duchess hotel, sets a lot of things in motion, and gives her new opportunities in not only her career, but in her love life too.

Collin Bancroft has made some bad choices in his life, but he has put his bad boy ways behind him and has purchased a hotel that was built by his family with plans to restore it to its former glory. He never expected to find romance or ghosts, but he has found both and life will never be the same! Throw in an ex-fiancée who still thinks they are destined to be together, some entitled family members and Collin will have to work hard to find his way to happily ever after.

This was a well-written, nicely paced story with wonderful, relatable characters. I loved Alice and Collin, they have both known immense grief and toxic relationships, but have each handled it differently, Alice by bowing to her nasty grandparents and Collin by becoming a “bad boy”. I loved how Alice finally stood up for herself, but I thought Collin was a little bit too beta and needed to say “No” like he meant it, but I still liked him. This was a new to me author and I jumped into the ending of a series without a clear understanding of the ongoing story in that series – but the author did a great job of filling in the backstory without losing track of the current story, so other than wanting to go back and read the previous books, I had no problem following this story.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *