It’s finally time!
We can talk about Bonded in Death freely in this space.
What did you think of the 60th entry in this series? Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!
If you haven’t read it yet, there will be spoilers in the comments so tread lightly.
Laura
I loved it. Eve investigation into The Urbans and the twelve. Enjoyed getting more of Summerset’s back story. The respect he and Roarke have for each other is amazing. The story is fast paced and keeps you wondering what’s on the next page.
I enjoyed this book very much as well. It was different from the others, not only in the way it started, but the fact that Eve and Roark worked more as a team from the beginning of the investigation and Somerset was involved without any of the usual bickering or juggling for power. I loved having the remaining members of the 12 involved and staying at the house. I like the ending where they were able to watch the takedown and then the interrogation. Good job / kudos on this one.
I just finished it and I really loved it! Going back to the Urbans, which took place in our present, was very cool. I wonder if the frost between Summerset and Eve will thaw a bit more. Of course, they’ll always throw barbs at each other. 😊
Received it a few days before the publishing date Its so different and very interesting
I am 3/4 the way thru
I think it’ll be a good one to re-read also
Thanks Nora for bring another in death to us, grateful. May all your stars shine bright bright brightly ✨✨✨
I really loved learning more about Summerset and his history, we have always gotten bits and pieces but this is a great story. Two sets of heroes from different times looking for justice! Loved it.
This one was a hard read for me or I should say listen to. Having forged the same bond between a group of my best friends in the Marine Corps as we were fighting a war with no end sight. I forged the same bond Somerset did with his his friends. forged in war strengthened later through the years through the trauma of war. I don’t know if you ever experienced such a bond like that Nora, but you wrote about it perfectly. Thank you for bringing us another piece of eve Dallas, and thank you for giving us the origin of Somerset
Is this the Richard that served in Afghanistan? Where the bullet hit the book and it saved your life? I just wanted to tell you God bless you and thank you for your service
It is and thank you. It was my honor and serving my country. I regret nothing and would do it all over again. I posted a picture of the new book with the book with a hole in it on JD Rob‘s Facebook page.
Thank you so much for your service to our country. I am honored that you legit put your life on the line for this country and its citizens.
I am a veteran as well, but my calling was stateside in the Medical Command Center in Montana with the Montana Air National Guard, so thank you once again.
Post it again! I missed seeing that!
Seriously? The post is still up. If you click on the name of the blog, the home page will come up. It’s the third post down.
Laura
I am 75% done with it and I love all the history of this group of heroes. I can’t wait until Dallas gets Shark in the cage. I’d let the remaining 12 have a go at him before he gets sent off to merry old England. I’ll find out soon enough.
Great as always.
I absolutely loved this one!
Favorite line so far: “So say we all” from Santiago. From the Battlestar Galactica reboot show.
Which reappears from Harry near the end!
I have ordered the books from you a couple of times but last time I received it at after 6pm… I did appreciate getting it signed But this time I went to Barnes & Noble. In the past they had a Big section in the front with the new release. I was Very disappointed they didn’t today & I actually had to Search for “Bonded in Death” I found it on a desk in the back with only 5 copies. They definitely need to step up their game. Next time I will be ordering from You Again.
I loved it. I especially appreciated the development and revelations about Summerset’s character.
I’m 122 pages into Bonded. Twice now they’ve mentioned someone with a time device from one of Eve’s previous cases. I don’t remember that. What book was it?
Ivan Draski in Missing in Death — a novella in The Lost.
Laura
Thank you!
Thank you!
I came on to find the answer to this exact question! I vaguely remember a ferry scene but couldn’t remember the details. Thanks!
I had to stop reading and find Missing in Death since I don’t remember this time device.
Thanks! I was thinking it was Time of Death (since he manipulates time). I vaguely remembered reading it, so now want to re-visit. A lot of us don’t re-read the novellas as often as the 1-60.
Literally came here looking for this answer — thank you!
Thank you. I could not remember which book.
Thank you as well 🙏🏻
Thank you! It’s been driving me crazy trying to remember what book he was in. I have all of them, but, sheesh, my memory failed me. Loved this book. As others have said, it was great to get Summerset’s backstory.
It was a the novella Missing in Death.
Haven’t read it yet. Waiting for hold at Library and then will buy the paperback. However, in reading the description, I realized that I forgot the Urban wars were in the 2020s. Was Nora prescient? We appear to be heading for some major clashes.
I loved this installment in the series!!
Not done yet but had a great laugh when the cat got into the autochef for the food…..loved how eve was like he opened the door.
Yes! That was greatness.
I loved Roarkes reaction. He was almost proud that there was another cat burglar in the house.
I read this one in hitches. Got it last night, 11PM central time. Read for an hour. Slept as I’m a substitute teacher. Then read it through the day today. Finished tonight! This one was super fast paced and kept me totally engaged the entire book. Summerset has become a character favorite of mine in the series and this was a lovely segue into his past. To see the respect this case has engendered between him and Eve now, I look so forward to that continued respect (and snark) in the future.
OMG! Nora Roberts did that! This one pulled me in from the first and kept me on the edge of my seat. So wonderful to get some back ground on ‘Someshit’ and his wife. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really needed this distraction.
The nice part of being retired is being able to read the new In Death books in one sitting! It took three or four hours to get through it (I’m a fast reader). Some of the titles are just a notch above the others. This was one of the special ones. The heightened emotions of our heroes make the difference. It’s up there with Faithless and Desperation in my book. The growth in the relationship between Eve and Summerset was very touching, and I loved meeting more of his old friends. It was especially nice to see Ivan, from one of my favorite novellas.
One comment, however, regarding the cat. I won’t say that it’s impossible to find a cat who craves maple syrup. But I’ve had more than a dozen cats over the last 46 years, and sweet stuff just isn’t a cat thing, other than melted vanilla ice cream. But in that case it’s the dairy they’re after. (Which isn’t good for them. Unless a cat was born on a dairy farm, don’t give them milk! They’re lactose intolerant.) Other cat lovers might disagree, but I really think Galahad would find bacon more appetizing than pancakes.
The only cat I ever had who would lick things like plates was a stray who’d been nearly starved before she fell into my care. She would eat almost anything. She would lick things like plastic wrappers, indicating that she rummaged through garbage before I took her home. She lived a long and happy 17 years, and ruled the house.
I had a cat that loved guacamole so you never know.
Well, I had a cat who would kill for cantaloupe, so I could see Galahad going after maple syrup.
I believe we have evidence in the series that Galahad also loves bacon. And while many cats don’t go for sweets, one of my husband’s cats loved maple syrup and raspberry jam. So there are some …special… cats out there!
I had a cat who loved maple syrup and would complain loudly if he did not get the plates to lick. But then, he was a Canadian Kitty lol!
Laura, I can’t remember how you worded it, but I got it that you enjoyed this story. That made me look forward to it even more. It’s been a loooong day of reading, but I finished it and loved it. I didn’t know I was waiting for this particular story, but I loved every page. Now, I’m staggering to bed, but I’ll be re-reading this one very soon. Kudos all around.
Enjoying it, but it grates whenever they refer to Dame Wright not Dame Marjorie. All Dames are referred to by their first name see Dame Agatha (Christie) and Dame Judi (Dench).
Thank you for pointing that out it grates on me too. I would accept it from Eve or Peabody because they wouldn’t know any better, but not Abernathy.
In what book do we first get introduced to the scientist who created the Lost Time thing?
The novella Missing in Death. -Laura
This was great.
Though now I’m confused: What exactly IS Summerset’s real name?
I noted that! and I don’t think we’re ever told.
I’d love to know the reason why he chose the names he did, why Kolchek and what did it signify. I can understand Lawrence Summerset – it’s a nice dignified name.
Well, in reality, I chose the name, and it doesn’t signify anything. I just liked the sound of it!
well, yes, but that’s the Doylist explanation. I was looking for the Watsonian one.
(Doylist – real life, Watsonian, in the story universe)
Made me think of Kolchak, the Night Stalker, from an old TV series!
I liked how he was going to “insert” himself into King’s College med school. Always a bad@$$
I loved this one! It took me a bit longer than normal to read this one but that was because my blood sugar kept tanking so I had to stop and fix it( does it not know I had important work to do!) and then I got a migraine so I needed a nap and the nap was five hours long! Such is life though!
It was so much fun learning about Summersets back ground and what he went through in the Urbans and he was a spy! I would have never but him as a spy. I figured he did some covert stuff but not that! What happened to his wife just oh it made me feel sympathy for him. But for him to go through that and still be who he is today is amazing. I want to think he and Eve have a new understanding. And I really think this book shows he does care for her in his own way! But please please let them keep insulting each other it’s my favorite part of the books plus it’s their thing!
One of the fun parts for me was early on i figured out who it was, by accident! I was like it’s the guy who betrayed The Twelve but then I was like no he is dead he died in prison, surely he couldn’t have faked his own death in this advanced age! Plus he was in a maximum security prison! But it kept nagging at me and even when Eve and up with it I was like no Nora is having us on and she is joshing us! So when it was confirmed I was shocked and then it became okay how is she going to get the team to catch this guy because it’s going to be good! 10/10 was not disappointed!
Just finished! Allll the feels and loved this. Summerset is one of my fav characters, so to learn more of him and his comrades and what they went through was wonderful. Watching them interact with Eve’s team was entertaining as well. Their respect for each other is immense and I love their interactions. They will never be buddies and it’s hilarious.
Too many good parts to mention, but this was an absolute gem! Robb/Roberts never disappoints on the In Death books, though I have some personal favorites. This one is in the top 3.
This one was one of the really good ones – I’m retired so I was able to read it all the way through. I loved learning more about Summerset and the remaining Twelve.
I couldn’t keep track of the various names of The Twelve and their specialties – it didn’t really matter, Nora is too good a storyteller for that, but next read through I may write it down.
I’m glad that my ereader lets me take notes, because I took a bunch of them – my daughter was teasing me about that, but I wanted to be able to remember some things like Roarke wearing a not-black or not-gray suit – As I recall, it’s specified as a dark navy.
This is the story I hoped Nora would write for years. Summerset is so mysterious and quiet about his past and the Urbans. I wanted to know more. I loved it from the first page to the last. I thought Roarke knew all of Summerset’s secrets, but even he was surprised. What a wonderful addition to the series.
Somerset’s almost automatic “I was a medic” when it was first put to him that he was involved in covert activities, and then his realization that he needed to spell out what happened and to acknowledge the covert activities he took part in (although he still did not reveal too much!) It was in the vein of “I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you” spy level. I know that Roarke helped with the change from Kolchek to Somerset (in Vengeance in Death, I think that was referenced), but to now know that he was not born Kolchek is a new twist!
I loved it. I always knew there was more to Summerset and the Urbans. A really great read. And all the rules
I agree in my top ten of in death books. Would kid to have seen Nadine write a book about the Twelve
Should have read “would love to have seen”
I think JDR set that up well – a future Nadine Furst book ((and movie?) about The Twelve.
I LOVE when Eve and Sommerset interact. I have just started this book and I am already hooked and can’t put it down!
Thank you for writing this. Loved it. And this plus his daughter’s death really makes his hatred for cops for so much of the series so understandable. It really adds to the development of his relationship with Dallas. The fact that you can keep us enthralled with these characters through so many books is incredibly impressive. It is also amazing that a new reader can start anywhere in the series and still not feel lost. My first was “Innocent in Death” and I was totally hooked.
I hadn’t even placed the fact that his dislike for cops could stem from this. Good spot!
I loved this book! I understand why Laura didn’t do teasers for this one, too likely to end up being spoilers.
All 12 of the Urban Wars group are listed by name and what they did…except Hawk. If you list them he has to be the mechanic, but never says so????
Just curious
I’m reading now when Summerset first sees the board. He tells her Hawk was the mechanic.
Loved It!!
Excellent work, Nora. My new favorite! I’m going to start a reread as soon as I wake up, because I read all night. Thank you.
Loved it. In which book did Draski appear. After 60 books and 25 odd years, I can’t remember!
In the Missing in Death novella. It was first published in The Lost anthology. Reprinted in Time of Death. -Laura
Oh thanks. Got the book so need a reread!
Missing in Death a novella. Part of Time of Death.
I loved this book! Having read all of your In Death books your development of the different personalities is amazing. Thank you!
Reading this, I just wondered whether Nora had read Wasp, by Eric Frank Russell, also published as The Space Willies, but don’t let that title scare you off. It’s great classic science fiction.
I can see The Twelve pulling some of the heroes’ stunts during the Urbans.
Hello from England!
I really enjoyed the book- lovely to meet some new characters and find out more about Summerset. I did miss Mavis and family!
I was SHOCKED though when Roarke provided what he said was a “British meal” of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding but then the vegetable was MUSHY PEAS!!! I am Welsh, have lived in many many English places, visited Scotland many times- and NEVER EVER had or cooked mushy peas with anything except fish and chips! A roast meat meal comes with garden peas…
I am now going round asking all of my friends if they have ever had mushy peas with a roast- maybe it’s an Irish thing!!
It’s my turn to choose the book for our next book club, I am thinking of starting the members off on the fab Eve Dallas series with the first book…
Well-written book as always, with a gripping story.
It’s so impressive to have kept up this quality of writing over so many years and books!
Thanks JD Robb- looking forward to the next adventure.
I enjoyed how it started, it gave me the start of how the twelve became. It held my attention thru out the book. I just read off and on until I finished the book, it was so great. Thanks again Nora Roberts(JD Robb) for a wonderful story.
Just a question, as I can’t remember. In what book was Lost Time and Ivan, and what did Lost Time do?
He was in Missing in Death — a novella in The Lost and reprinted in Three in Death.
According to Roarke: “Not your conventional stunner, but one that renders the target incapacitated through an optical signal rather than the nervous system. It sends a signal, through light, that shuts down certain basic functions. Essentially, in a theory not that far from your mass hypnosis, it puts the target into a kind of trance.”
Laura
Thank you, Laura.
Wow! Thank you for one absolutely fabulous read! I loved learning about Summerset and The Twelve and what they did during The Urban Wars. Galahad getting into the autochef was the perfect comic relief (cats can be amazing). Eve and Roarke, and the entire squad plus Whitney working together was great story telling. Eve, Reo, Peabody and Mira interrogating the Shark was written beautifully – woman power! I loved this one.
I believe we have evidence in the series that Galahad also loves bacon. And while many cats don’t go for sweets, one of my husband’s cats loved maple syrup and raspberry jam. So there are some …special… cats out there!
I absolutely loved Bonded in Death, unfortunately yet again gone in 2 days can’t put it down. One thing that stood out was that “Harry” escaped criminal and on the FBI most wanted list (let go by Eve) shook the hands of the Commander and Commissioner of Police with no mention little alone apprehension. I guess they were forgiven and forgotten lol.
Ivan was the escaped criminal, and he traveled to New York under an assumed name. I don’t know what name Eve put on her board for him, but Peabody knew about Ivan from the research she had to do. I do not know whether Whitney and Tibble decided to overlook that particular aspect of the situation in order to get Shark.
Roarke’s role in all this was interesting to me. The seven would be a force to reckon with and his “handling” of them was masterful. Dealing with Focused Eve, who is in charge, with several others who are used to being in charge, or at least DOING, and yet NOT taking over himself.
Loved this book. Finding out about the Urban Wars and Summerset’s involvement was a nice touch. Got the audible book on Tuesday finished it today.
So much info but all of it we needed to know. Thank you JD for your hard work.
As usual I was prepared to speed read through this one but I had to stop a couple of pages into the prologue and re-read it aloud. Beautiful writing. Moving emotionally.c. Thought provoking. Fabulous. Poetic.
Excellent read! Love when we learn more of Summerset, especially the other urban warriors!
I’ve finished Bonded in Death and want to read it again soon! I loved every part of the story; the Twelve were written as real believable people and the use of years 2025 and 2026 was great.
So much more information about Summerset and the others but let’s not forget everyone in the police system that Eve works with; great folks all.
Loved, loved, loved this story. I enjoyed all the characters and the interactions. I had just finished rereading the series from the beginning and timed it so I was only off by a couple days when Bonded was released. Somehow I missed the novella missing in death so now my dilemma is do I start all over or just read (listen to)the one. LOL Also, I am a fan of Susan Ericksen who has narrated all the in death books.
I loved it. I liked learning a little more background to the Urban wars & Summerset’s background including his wife. And Eve giving credit to Alice for taking down Potter was great.
I did read the novella with Ivan in it. Eve let him go but I can’t remember if it was known that he was the killer.
He killed an assassin, and saved multiple lives doing it. AND, thwarted HSO, so he was their target.
I think this is probably my favorite of all the In Death books and I’ve read them all – at least once! It kept me riveted from the get go. As I’ve gotten older I’ve struggled a bit with the violence but this one was all about mind games. Loved it!
And to Richard – although I am Canadian through and through – thank you for your service and thankful the book was there at the right time.
GREAT book! I always look forward to entries of this series, but this one in particular was fantastic. The plot, pacing, characters… all great, but I wanted to say I am still in awe at how this series can make me laugh out loud. Be it Jenkinson’s continued creative use of the Fbomb or the frustrated repeated use of the word “at” when Eve talks about being shot (at at at!!). For such a heavy book jammed with deep references to the series and to politics, I got ton of laughs out of it. What a talent the author has!
And Roarke’s response to “shot at!” is “shot!” (Ie There’s blood, you got shot!)
I’m loving it, especially Summerset’s telling his story to Eve – they’re finally civil with each other! I hope he’s not in danger.
Eve realized that Summerset knew the victim, was in shock, and treated him as a “witness/target”, and got the information from him but in a gentle way, which she does with witnesses. The way she got information from all the remaining 7 was masterful, including when she asked Summerset at the end what exactly he did to Shark back in the day. All I can say is “go Summerset!”
I’m super happy with this release; it strays away from the typical formula and I loved the detailed characters of the 12. Does anyone else feel like Mavis had been preggo forever though? Really hoping the new little makes their debut in the next book.
Mavis was pregnant for over 6 years – IRL – with Bella. We’re only getting to 9 months in the In Death world so I think we have a little more to go. -Laura
Nope, not yet. And this should be a lesson for everyone out there who insists Eve needs to get pregnant! But somehow, it never gets through.
Good story, good getting more background on Urban Wars, and tying that to the present. Great ending. Love seeing a criminal who thinks he has figured the angles get his. I am just a little hung up on Kolchek, Eve said something about letting that slide and I didn’t understand what there was to let slide..
There’s a story or a reason he changed his name to Summerset. Something he didn’t want to talk about. Eve felt it was unlikely to be relevant to this investigation, so she let it slide.
At least that’s how I read it.
Exactly. Why he changed his name wasn’t relevant to the investigation. So, let it slide.
In Vengence in Death the killer uses Summersets name to get victim to come to New York. Now again in Bonded in Death
Wow what a great story and I loved how Eve investigated the Urban War and the shadowy players during that time. It was touched on in a few other novellas/novels but I liked how in depth Bonded was especially with some new faces and characters to enjoy. It’s one of the best ones so far IMHO.
GREAT book. I can’t imagine how she does it, but every six months I can rely on receiving my Eve & Roarke fix. And each and every time the book is a keeper and one that I will re-read over and over again. I love the procedural, always exciting, and I love the way the characters grow and interact.
I’m so appreciative of her work and so excited to inhabit, for however short a time, whatever world she creates. From futuristic NY to present day Appalachia – I’m in! Thank you Nora! Loved Bonded in Death!
Exactly! Nora, please know that Marisa expressed what a gazillion of us feel. Thanks!
Not finished yet but I think he target Alice especially because she rejected him and Summerset humiliated him.
He was fixated on her
Then he uses her name as his pretend wife while talking to the realtor
When he kidnapped the little boy I almost stopped reading. I was afraid he was going to kill him. Happy that there were not more murders.
Also, glad the women were not dumb enough to go to the restaurant
Thank you so much for another great book. Love that there’s only 1 death 😀 and you didn’t let Potter killed the boy, I was praying that you’ll save and return him safely to his parents. Love every single chapter of this book, love the Twelve ,every one of them .
This is my favorite book so far (well I have a list of my top 10 books of In Death series and the 1st place changes from time to time ) . This is my 3rd listening and still love it ,still find new details that I missed from previous listening. One again,thank you for a great book, a great series.
It was awesome to learn more about Summerset! The book and the characters always suck you in and make you want more. As always, timing is everything, Nora’s snark always comes out at an unexpected times and is HYSTERICAL! My favorite scene is the argument between Dallas and Roarke-SHOT AT SHOT AT! Marriage Rules. Hoisted by her own petard…. I was dying. Thanks!
I zipped through this one at my usual breakneck pace. Then I get to re-read slowly to savor. This was one of my favorites. I’m delighted to get to share these with my college bff of 40 years and can’t wait until she dives in. So very grateful for Nora’s creative brain and ability to weave a story that takes you to somewhere else.
I loved this book and I are finding out more of Summersets background was a plus. Especially about his wife Ann.
On a side note I love dark chocolate and peppermint so I had to find out what made the Fry’s Peppermint Cream so special. I got 3 bars from Amazon today and Wowee! I am in love with them. The cream is so smooth and pepperminty it is now my special treat!!
I loved this book and I are finding out more of Summersets background was a plus. Especially about his wife Ann.
On a side note I love dark chocolate and peppermint so I had to find out what made the Fry’s Peppermint Cream so special. I got 3 bars from Amazon today and Wowee! I am in love with them. The cream is so smooth and pepperminty it is now my special treat!!
This was a wonderful read. And it’s incredible to know you’ve created sixty(!) of these (on top of all the NR’s). We readers are so damn lucky you continue to craft life a few decades ahead of “now.” And I think I speak for a large percentage of your readers when I plead: For the love of all that’s holy, happy and bright, please don’t EVER retire.
I am about 3/4 of the way through and I’m loving it so far. It’s interesting to learn more about Summerset’s history. Did anyone else’s heart melt just a bit when, towards the beginning of the book, Summerset gets home and asks the computer “Are the children home?”. 🥰 They always snip at each other, and would never admit it to the others face, but Eve and Summerset really care about each other.
About halfway through Bonded. What book was Ivan Draski in? Thanks.
The novella Missing in Death. -Laura
I had to go back and order the Three In Death and Lost so I could read the novellas and add them to my collection. Now I can reread to my heart’s content.
While I love the book’s cover and backing acknowledging 60, I hope it’s not an indication of the quality of the next books. I was on page 10 and the binding started to crack. The book is a great read.
I have nothing to do with the packaging or binding. I just write the books. I think if your book’s defective, you should contact the publisher. I’m sure they would address this issue.
I have read All of the In Death books and i ONLY JUST realised that it is Feeney not Freeney whilst re-reading Bonded – Whaaaat?!
Call me crazy ~ why hadn’t i noticed? 😁
First I am a die hard fan of the in death series but the discrepancy in the characters age really thru me off the story. According to this book, Marlena was born during the end of the Urban Wars but Eve and Rorke were both born after the war was over. Yet Marlena was 2 years younger than Rorke when she died.
I loved this book! It was great to learn more about Summerset’s history. I also loved the respect Eve showed him. Unlike some of you, I find the snark very disrespectful and very unbecoming. The negativity leaves a bad taste, distracting from otherwise excellent writing. Surely by this stage of story development, their relationship would have evolved into a more civilized state.
Maybe it is my Southern roots: My family taught me that manners were the cornerstone of a civilized society. I understood the insults at first, but it has seriously gotten old, worn out, nasty, extremely childish and distasteful. Nora is too good of a writer to depend on such a sad crutch. I’ve loved watching Eve grow and have her form relationships with other characters. All of her relationships have evolved, except for Summerset. After this book, a return to that snide behavior would be a slap in the face – to both Summerset and your loyal readers.
Every reader will react differently to a book, or elements of one. Nora will continue to write Eve and Summerset as she sees fit.
Laura
I disagree, it is part of the dynamic that is Eve and Summerset. It is what makes them who they are. They have a deep respect for each other, always have. They just have different ways of resolving issues that sometimes cause a clash of wills. They both love Roarke with everything they have and to me that is all that matters and makes the byplay between them very enjoyable.