Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Holiday in Death

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Liz

Very developed story line, great book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 4, 2023

Robb’s in death books are well developed and easy to read. This book was no exception. Great book and series! I love it

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Bel

Definitely NOT perfect ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 6, 2004

"Holiday in Death" is the seventh book in J.D. Robb's "In Death" series, and not one I would recommend for someone who just wants to give the series a try. If that is your case, please make yourself a favour, and read the first book in the series, "Naked in death". That book is excellent, and will give you such a good introduction to the main characters that you will enjoy the rest of the books in the series much more :)

Now, if you are still reading this review I must suppose that you already have read that book, and so you know what the "In death" series is about: a very good cop (Eve), her unlikely husband (Roarke), and the crimes they somehow end up solving together. Of course, by summing up the series in such succinct manner I leave aside a lot of the details that make the series so good but then, if I want to be concise I have to sacrifice something: nothing is perfect :)

"Holiday in death" definitely isn't perfect either. The plot is pretty simple: it is almost Christmas time, and Lieutenant Eve Dallas not only has to buy presents for her loved ones (she hates shopping!!!), but also to deal with a killer who dresses up as Santa Claus, rings the doorbell of his victims and kills them. The only link between the victims is a dating service, and so Eve decides some undercover work is in order to catch the killer, before he continues with his "special" way of celebrating Christmas. Officers Peabody and Mc Nabb will be the undercover agents, and also the protagonists of a secondary storyline that the fans of the series have been waiting for some time :)

I certainly cannot say that this is my favourite book in the series. Despite that, and strangely enough, I DO RECOMMEND IT. Why?. Well, because it has more than average "entertainment value", if you like to mix suspense, a bit of romance and an interesting futuristic spin. I want to point out, though, that the crime scenes that all the books in the series have are specially horrific in "Holiday in death", so please don't read it if you can't stand gory scenes. I don't like them, and that is the reason why I gave this book 3 stars instead of at least 4, but that's your decision to make, after weighing the pros and cons of giving "Holiday in death" a try...

Belen Alcat

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Liz

Very developed story line, great book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 4, 2023

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Robb’s in death books are well developed and easy to read. This book was no exception. Great book and series! I love it

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Larissa

A Series Review! {NO Spoilers}

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 28, 2013

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4.5 stars!

After basically years of seeing this series around and reading about this mystical Roarke, I gave in and decided to read the In Death Books. It was quite an undertaking, since when I started there were 33 books already released in the series, not counting short stories and novellas. Besides that, deciding to read this series was a big commitment in two fronts. One, I simply had to by 33 books and secondly, I would not be reading anything else until I was done. That's how psychotic I can be when it comes to book series.

December 2011 was when my journey began and by February 2012 I was done and now there is NO turning back. I am IN LOVE with this series! I not only obviously love Roarke, but I love Eve and all the secondary characters that make up this great story as well.

Yes, I have become irritated with Eve at times, but I adored being able to see her grow throughout the series. It has been quite a ride, but one I will never regret hopping aboard.

This series is a great mix of mystery, police drama and romance. I love every aspect of it, from the near futuristic setting, to the way J.D. Robb writes her prose. If there is one thing that bothers me, is that considering the series has 35 books published, the span of time that has passed is very short and I wish the lapse between books was a bit longer. But if you read the books throughout a longer period of time, it won't really matter, but reading them so close together made me wish for that longer lapse.

Eve is such a complex character. All that she has been through has made who she is, but her story is not less heartbreaking because of it. For that matter, so is Roarke's and the fact that these two found each other is nothing less than serendipity. They need each other and I am sure they would never have grown to be who they are in the series by book 35, if not for each other's presence in their lives. Not to mention the "family" they have built with their dear friends.

One of the biggest issues brought up in this series by J.D. Robb, is the Nature Vs. Nurture debate. I love it! It always makes me think and it is very satisfying to see these people that could have become something very wrong, rise above nature and blood, to become amazing people.

On the crime fighting aspect of the series, I find that Robb uses two types of narrative. Sometimes she carries more of a "Monk" style, where the perpetrator is clear if not early on, but soon. The other one is where we get a punch in the face when we finally find out out who it is. I really enjoy that she doesn't have only one style, since that always keeps me guessing =D

I LOVE this series and if you have yet to check it out, please do so! The first few books might not compel you completely, but keep reading! You won't regret it!

3 people found this helpful

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D. Blankenship

Not the best in the series but never-the-less a good read.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 17, 2017

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This book, Holiday in Death is about number seven in the series which numbers in the 40s as this review is being written. It is nice if you can read this series in order of publication but honestly, each book can be read as a stand-alone as the author is pretty good about placing tidbits here and there keeping the reader informed as to what is going on...for the most part.

The work being reviewed here has Eve, Roarke and the rest of the regular crew going up against a serial killer during the Christmas season. The killer dresses as Santa and strangles women and men in their homes after he brutally rapes them. Ugly premise for a story I grant you and I must warn readers that there are parts in this one that will be just a bit upsetting to most readers.

Some of the books in this series are great and others not so great. This one falls sort of in the middle. I suppose that this was not my favorite of the bunch due to the fact that the author seems to have lost her way in this one as to characters; in particular that of Eve and Peabody. Eve, to be quite frank, is not all that likeable in this brutal tale and in fact we see a side of her that is pure bully. Peabody has become sort of a shadow of herself and acts more as a whipping boy – or in this case girl, than anything else and is at times just a bit silly.

I had to agree with a couple of other reviewers here that Eve has taken on the characteristics of individual suffering from a bi-polar disorder in that she can switch from an adoring wife madly in love with Roarke and then on a turn of a dime act like Conan the Destroyer when dealing with him both mentally and physically. It is difficult to follow her thinking and thought process.

Bottom lime is that I would have not liked being around the Eve in this book and would have sent Peabody back to Jr. High.

The story was well developed though and this one kept me reading straight through to the end. Most of the novels written before this one were better and many, many of the novels following this one were also better. That being said I did enjoy this one and found it difficult to put down once I got started.

3 people found this helpful

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Paula Paulson

Great author

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 19, 2022

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It’s a great book I like the way this author writes about everything and the price is right for these books.

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Sheila M

On the First Day of Christmas

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 24, 2018

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FINAL DECISION: My favorite of the holiday mysteries. This one is a good crime mystery. Creepy and strange and what is better than a murderous Santa?

THE STORY: It's almost Christmas time and Eve is struggling with getting gifts for all the people in her life and wonders if it was better when she was alone. At the same time a murderer has decided to make victims of people searching for true love. Taking inspiration from the song the Twelve Days of Christmas, the killer is hunting for a true love, killing them and leaving them decorated for Christmas with tokens of love. Eve has to work fast because this killer is quickly working through twelve loves.

OPINION: This is one of my go-to holiday reads. The story is really creepy and sinister in its crimes but it is nicely balanced by the innocence of Eve getting Christmas gifts. Although she has a hard shell, she is quite sweet when trying to do her holiday shopping.

I also enjoyed this one because the sexual violence brings more development of Eve's personal story. She is growing and changing and healing from the horror of what happened to her as a child. While violent and horrible as crimes, this is a very intriguing and intense crime. The days are going quickly and the pace of the killers crime is especially draining for Eve who is fighting her personal demons along with trying to solve the crimes and stop anyone else from dying.

There is also quite a bit of chemistry between Peabody and McNabb as they are circling one another.

For me, I really enjoy the iconic characters involved in this case. The characters and the crimes are one that are memorable and the situations and solutions feel important and high in tension.

WORTH MENTIONING: The novella MIDNIGHT IN DEATH is a companion to this because it also occurs during this same holiday season and is closely related to this book as it deals with the aftermath.

CONNECTED BOOKS: HOLIDAY IN DEATH is the seventh book in the In Death series. The mystery is entirely separate and can be read as a standalone. Because there are overarching character story lines, I think it is better to read these in order, but this is one in the series that works on its own.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

7 people found this helpful

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A Raye

Can't get enough of Eve Dallas

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 30, 2022

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I love this series. I started it all over again. I read a few while i was in prison. But, I have started them from the beggining. Love, love love it!! I wish she would make it into movies. It would be awesome to watch.

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Vegas

Very Good Author

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 28, 2013

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Midnight in Death was the first book that I've read by J.D. Robb. I liked it so much that I searched for other books written by this author. It was then that I realized Midnight in Death was part of a series. Naturally I needed to start at the beginning, so I purchased Naked in Death, then Glory in Death, Immortal in Death, Rapture in Death, Vengeance in Death,Ceremony in Death, Holiday in Death, and then Conspiracy in Death. These were all read within a 2 week period.

All the characters are interesting, and stories are well written. However, now that I've finished my ninth book, I am sorry to say that I am disappointed that the author never completely finished with personal events that happen in the book. For example, when Eve was thinking of the perfect Xmas gift for Roarke, she became frustrated because Roarke already had all the books by that certain author in his library, Summerset tells Eve he knew where a book could be purchased by the author, and later the book was purchased. Unless I fell asleep and missed it, no where in the story does the reader get to learn of Roarke's delight in receiving such a book. Nor does the reader get to learn what Roarke purchased for Eve, or what Eve purchased for Peabody, ...

Another example is when Eve offers Louise half million for improvements to the clinic if she'll help secure certain information. While Louise is in the hospital recovering from an attack, Eve and Roarke break into the clinic, Roarke mentions how it'll take more that amount to bring it up to date. At the end of the story, the reader can guess that Louise will recover, but it would have been nice if the author told a little more. For example, did Louise fully recover? Did Roarke decide to up the amount? What improvements were made to the clinic? ...

I'll probably purchase the next book, but if it leaves me hanging ,it'll be my last.

2 people found this helpful

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PAT

Came on time

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 5, 2022

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It’s entertaining very true to her style. A great Read

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Sandra Harris

Perfection

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 1, 2022

What's to dislike?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 24, 2011

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No,#7 Holiday ID

In the 7th book "Holiday in Death" futuristic romance/thriller, NYPSD Lt.Eve Dallas... is on the tail of a Serial killer Terrorizing the the City of NY, During the Holidays. the main thing linking them is "Personally Yours" a Dating Service. Eve and Peabody and Peabody's Nemesis Mcnab and Who Else but Roarke (Eve's Very Sexy husband) the killer wearing a costume that lacks imagination....Eve uncover's Secrets that links the victims and Secrets that involves Clients and owners of the Dating Service. which might be worth killing for.the killer who is using {The Twelve days of Christmas} as a theme for his heinous rape and murder spree....

Mcnab is getting the hot's for Peabody he Get's jealous when they both go under cover on this case he doesn't like how she dresses when they go under cover) he watches her every move, trys to talk Eve out of letting her go under Cover....

Love All the main Characters, more and more as they Develop and the Occasional ones as well "Crack" the Strip club owner, Charles Monroe the Hot LC, the Nick names they have given Eve, White Girl & Lt.Sugar ....lol makes me laugh out loud ......

Roarke is So, So....in love with Eve this is their First Together, he Goes and Get's Real Trees for their home and one Special one for their Bedroom which they Decorate Together he let's Eve put on the First ornament after he does the lights...Roarke is So Romantic!!

Wowwww!! Peabody Puts Eve in her place BIG TIME!! when Peabody Shows up at their party With Sexy Charles Monroe LC, That Was "Absolutely Frigid"!! Points For Peabody!!

Another Great installment in the IN DEATH Series!

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