Category: Part of a Series

Framed in Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Audiobook, Barb's Reviews, Futuristic, Mystery, Part of a Series2 Comments

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.

View all my reviews

Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Rom Com, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Ghost Business (Boneyard Key, #2)Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Boneyard Key, #2

Release Date: September 9, 2025

As a long-time resident of Boneyard Key, Florida, Sophie Horvath is no stranger to the paranormal, in fact she runs a Ghost Tour for tourists, where she shares the stories of the ghosts of Boneyard Key to preserve the past and for a bit of extra income. Alone since her aunt passed away, Sophie spends time with her friends and has pretty much given up on finding a HEA for herself. But a random meeting with Tristan Martin, at The Haunt, a local spot, has her re-thinking that idea – that is until she realizes the super-hot guy she met has come to town to start his own Ghost Tour and shut down her business! Game on! There is an advantage to being a local in a tourist town and Sophie isn’t about to give up her business to an out of towner who is making up stories about her town! But when their tours meet and words are exchanged, a viral video changes everything. A winner takes all bet is made and a truce is called. And as much as she wants to hate him, Sophie finds herself falling for Tristan, but fears that he will be like everyone else in her life and leave.

Tristan Martin is the co-owner of Ghouls Night Out, a Ghost Tour business he founded with his best-friend, Eric. They have tours in several major cities and Boneyard Key was supposed to be the crown jewel, the tour that would put their business firmly in the black by his father’s October 1st deadline, thus proving to his father once and for all that he can run a business, because the alternative is unthinkable – closing down his tours and working for his dad. Tristan is shocked to learn that there is another Ghost Tour in town – run by the cute girl he met at The Haunt. He knows the town isn’t big enough for two tours – even though they are very different – because she seems to think ghosts are real! But he can’t give up and when a video of their argument goes viral – he is even more determined to make it work, even when things don’t go as planned and he finds himself falling for the girl he can’t have.

I really enjoyed this cute story by a new to me author! Sophie and Tristan were great characters who were easy to like and relatable. Their slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance was paced nicely, and I loved the “locals” for first sticking up for Sophie and then eventually accepting Tristan as one of their own. That said there were a couple of things that didn’t hit right, one was the lack of ghosts – yes, there were some, but for a romantasy, it was pretty light on the “fantasy”, the second thing was Tristan’s sexuality, it didn’t feel genuine, it felt like a box that had to get checked off and that made it feel gratuitous – it could have been done better. Overall, this was a fun read filled with witty banter, emotion, hurricanes, warm love scenes, wonderful secondary characters, healing and finally a sweet happy ending. I have not read the previous book, but I will definitely be checking that out, as well as keeping my eyes open for future Boneyard Key books!

*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. *