If you're a fan of JD Robb and her series then this is definitely a great book for you. It does not serve as a standalone novel and is actually kind of confusing to a listener who is new to the storyline. Overall it tells a very good story but wraps up very quickly at the end.

Thirty years ago, author Nora Roberts decided to try something different from her usual romance novels and wrote a mystery book using the pseudonym J. D. Robb. Sixty one novels later, the "In Death" series is still going strong. The stories are all well planned with interesting plots, and this one is no different. The title led me to believe that someone is framed for a murder, but it actually refers to an artist who dresses and poses his victims as the subjects in famous portraits. These are not mysteries, but thrillers. The reader knows the villain but is along for the ride while Eve solves the crime. The thought process of the twisted character of this killer was interesting to follow. These books are not your typical police procedural. What makes this series special is the characters. Hard boiled New York police Lt. Eve Dallas can solve a crime, but always questions idioms, and the irony she ponders is always amusing. Her right-hand Detective Peabody, her squad room, friends and her sexy Irish husband Rourke make up the rest of the crew. The characters are ones that look forward to visiting, the by-play between characters is often quite funny. The author is also capable of fantastic open door bedroom scenes that will get the reader's heart racing without being explicit. The "In Death" has been on my since I first discovered the series a decade ago. a couple years ago, I discovered that this is one series that truly earns the phrase "better as an audiobook." If I was reading a print copy of this story, I would have finished in one or two days. I was fortunate enough to get advance copies of both an eBook and and audiobook from the publisher. I will often switch back and forth between audio and print editions of a book if I can get both formats. But Susan Ericksen is such a fantastic actress that I prefer to listen as much as possible. The versatile actress can believably portray a vast array of characters. She can switch from a tough cop, to Rourke's male Irish brogue to young child, and they all sound great! Listening takes a lot longer than reading, but she makes the stories so much fun. No matter which format you enjoy, you will want to read "Framed in Death".

A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc audiobook. I am voluntarily reviewing this audiobook. This is part of a long series, I have read them all but have not gone the audio route until now. It is a difficult transition to what you hear to what you have assumed the characters sound like. Sadly, I did not like the voices or accents. She's voice was fine but the others seemed odd. For me it was a distraction. The story itself was great as always. I think I just am not an audio girl. I keep trying, I listened to half the book on normal speed and then discovered I could speed it up so I listened to the last half at 1.5. Nothing against the narrator but it is difficult to change how you think someone should sound The story is a 4.5 and the narration is a 4. I do not blame the narrator for my frustration.

A very intriguing story. My first for the series but I believe that I will need to read the rest of them now.
I’d like to know the background of the characters because there was a part of the story that they interacted and it wasn’t about the murders.
It would have been great to delve into the relationship of the killer and his mother.

Framed in Death book 61 by J.D. Robb. Another serial killer for Lt. Eve Dallas to investigate and solve. Pick up and enjoy another book in this series with mystery, suspense and a little romance. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Macmillan Audio for this Arc. This is my honest review.
Releases Sept.2, 2025

J.D. Robb once again masterfully blends suspense, psychological intrigue, and futuristic crime-solving in Framed in Death, a gripping addition to the Eve Dallas series. Set in a vividly imagined Manhattan, the novel opens with a chilling discovery: a young woman’s body posed like a figure from a Dutch master’s painting, transforming a gallery doorstep into a macabre work of art. Robb’s signature style shines through in the atmospheric detail and the profound emotional depth she brings to her characters, especially the ever-resilient Lieutenant Eve Dallas. Eve's sharp instincts and relentless pursuit of justice drive the narrative forward, making you peer around the corner in anticipation of what happens next.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its unique exploration of artistic obsession and the dark undercurrents of envy and anonymity in the art world. Robb crafts a compelling antagonist whose desire for recognition spirals into madness, offering a chilling commentary on the price of genius and the hunger for validation. The unexpected combination of high art and brutal crime adds a unique texture to the mystery as Dallas and her team unravel the killer’s twisted motives, making for a truly original premise.

As police investigation thrillers continue to grow in popularity, Framed in Death will undoubtedly attract fans of the genre. Robb expertly delves into powerful themes of identity, legacy, and the human need to be seen and valued. The character relationships are superbly portrayed, grounding the story through both the intensity of the police investigation and the vivid personal lives of the characters. Fans of the series will find this installment both satisfying and thought-provoking, while newcomers will be instantly drawn in by its standalone strength and Robb’s deft storytelling.

I can't recommend Framed in Death highly enough; I simply couldn't put it down.

I absolutely love this series! I loved this edition. The mystery was super interesting. I adore the relationships that Eve has built unknowingly.

Lt. Eve Dallas and her familiar entourage return in this 61st volume in J.D. Robb’s “in Death” series. Set in Manhattan’s world of expensive art, Framed in Death features an unappreciated artist who is determined to get the attention he feels he deserves. Selfishly, to achieve his goals, his plans involve selecting, paying and posing models so he can paint his own recreations of famous portraits, and then killing his subjects and staging their bodies afterwards for discovery. As Dallas and her police team collect “threads” that might be tugged to reveal clues about the murderer, the reader learns, along with them, some fascinating aspects about paint, artists and the art scene. The story moves at a fast pace, as the artist seems obsessed in his quest to replicate multiple celebrated canvases. The crime team must race in their efforts to identify and track the killer in order to spare another victim, and Robb has woven many great, anxiety-provoking scenes into the pages. Usually, when I read well-constructed mysteries or thrillers, I enjoy sensing variations in the level of tension created by the author’s choice of words. Unfortunately, I felt that this audiobook version made everything sound excessively gripping and equally dramatic. This approach made it difficult for me to experience crescendos in suspense as I moved through the book, although the narrator, Susan Ericksen, is clearly talented at crafting unique voices for the characters, and has followers who enthusiastically applaud her style. Well-written with crisp dialogue and clever plot development, Framed in Death is certain to please the author’s many fans, and leave them once again, waiting for the next book!

Thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

J.D. Robb delivers again with Framed in Death—a gripping, emotionally rich addition to the In Death series that blends suspense, heart, and razor-sharp dialogue. Eve Dallas is at her best here: relentless, intuitive, and as compelling as ever. The plot twists kept me hooked from start to finish, and the balance of gritty police work with personal moments made this one of the most satisfying installments yet.

The audiobook narration by Susan Ericksen is nothing short of stellar. Her performance brings every character to life—each voice distinct, full of personality, and perfectly in sync with the tone of the story. She is Eve Dallas at this point, and her ability to embody Roarke, Peabody, and the rest of the cast only enhances the immersive experience.

If you're a fan of the series, this is a must-listen. And if you're new to Eve Dallas, prepare to be pulled into a world of high-stakes crime solving with characters you’ll never want to leave. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this recording. This is my honest review.

Framed in Death is the 61st book in J.D. Robb's In Death series. JD Robb keeps the books fresh even on the 61st book. While it can be read as a stand alone it's helpful to start at the beginning. From the opening scene, I was invested in the story, Eve and Peabody are a force, and sometimes the interactions between them provide some comic relief.
Also—Susan Ericksen is the voice of Eve Dallas for me. She is one of the best audiobook narrators, doing some really great accents.
If you’re an old—or new—fan of the In Death series, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Framed in Death by J.D. Robb is the 61st (!!) in the In Death Series and it amazes me that the author still has fresh ideas, keeps the characters engaging, and has me looking forward to the next in the series before I'm even finished with the one I'm currently reading.

In Framed in Death Eve Dallas and her detective squad with help from Roarke and the usual team of friends ,solve the mystery and live their lives as normally as possible WHILE solving the crime. A murderer is killing people and posing them like famous works of art and it's up to Dallas and her team to solve the crime.

Each book is like visiting old friends and Eve and Roarke's relationship is goals, respect, love, and a bit of lust thrown in along with genuine admiration for each other - that never gets old to read about/listen to. Peabody and McNabb are in their new home and are starting to settle down in their own way. They always seem to me what Dallas and Roarke could have been if their early years had been different - they are the light to the older couples dark.

I had the pleasure of listening to this book as an ARC from the publisher and Susan Eriksen is superb, as always. She epitomizes Dallas in my mind and she loses herself in the characters and gives each of them such a distinct voice. I know any book she narrates will be excellent and this is no different.

If this is your first J.D. Robb book, you will be hooked. If it's your 61st book, you'll love it. You don't have to read the others to enjoy this, but why not read them all?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a really solid and engaging read. While there were definitely parts that felt like they dragged a bit, I was still fully invested the entire time. The mystery was creative and creepy in all the right ways, and I loved how everything came together at the end—it was clever and satisfying. The narrator did a good job overall, though their voice made the main character sound older than expected. If the pacing had been a little more consistent throughout, this would’ve been a perfect 5-star read. Still, a great book and well worth the listen!

This was another fantastic read! The idea of someone making art out of death, a bit from causing that death, is pretty horrifying, especially when we got the killer's perspective, and their analysis of their talent. I was really looking forward to the interrogation when they break!

I will note, this is the first time that I'd consumed this series in audiobook format. So while I know, for example, that Roark has an Irish accent, it was so weird to hear it, because when I read, I don't really remember accents. If I have access to an audiobook in the future first, I will read it that way, whichever method lets me read the book sooner!

One thing that I really enjoyed about this one was that it was a bit like a one two punch, where we got to see a bit of the court part of the proceeding after Eve and co. catches the bad guy, which if we have seen before (and I can't remember if we have, but I don't think so) which was really interesting to read!

Plus this book has one major update-the house project is about finished, and they move in! So I really enjoyed the house tour, seeing how everything came together, that was such a delightful update! These characters are really dear after all these books and I always want them to be happy!

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for whatever comes next in the series!

Loved reading and listening to the engaging and amazing story. When a serial killer uses LC's on his canvas, Eve and her husband, Roarke, Peabody, and the NYPD work together to solve the case before a fourth person is murdered. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written full of suspense and mystery, and another must read riveting stories by the phenomenal author, J.D. Robb.

Art and murder, I will take it! This book was great from start to finish! The characters are well developed and even though it is a large series that I hadn’t read I was able to be right in place like it was a stand alone book!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. My opinions my own

Author: J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

Genres: Fiction/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: In Manhattan’s flashy art world, one overlooked artist vows to make the city notice him. By morning, a young woman is found dead, posed like a figure from a Dutch painting. Now, Lt. Eve Dallas must uncover the killer behind the chilling display.

Tropes & Themes: hunt for a serial killer, revenge, using killing as artistry, enabling behavior, entitlement, justice and morality, privilege of life, and impact of scientific technology.

Character: Why is Roarke so smart? He is very knowledgeable, and he is always able to provide resources for Detective Eve's cases. He really brings a good balance to the book.

Thoughts: I really loved this book. I was able to request the ARC audio from NetGalley. I was truly not and will never be disappointed with the "In Death" series. First, the narrator was amazing, and I loved the way that she was able to distinguish each character's voices. I appreciate the appropriate tone and mood of the narration, which really brought the book to life.

Second, J.D. Robb is just an amazing writer when it comes to this series. She knows how to keep one turning the pages and this is one book that I would love to purchase when it is released. One of the themes that resonated with me is as parents, often times we can and will enable certain behaviors in children. The killer really had an entitled mindset due to his mother's enabling. Obviously, he grew up not being held accountable for his actions in which his parents just used money to make problems go away or make things happen. In the end, I was shocked when his mother knowingly enabled behavior. Money cannot fix everything! Overall, it was definitely a five-star read for me.

I don't know how she does it. Book #61 and as fresh as the first. The love of the characters really comes through in this book. Eve is mellowing and her circle of friends is tight. Roark is his wonderful self and I think he has moved to my top 5 heroes.
This was a terrific audiobook, the narrator does an excellent job. There is a lot of description of clothes and furniture that I probably skim when I read, but appreciated as I listened.
The murders were not as gruesome as usual, but the aftermaths were a little visually weird. The villain was someone you can cheerfully hate, and what Eve does to him was very satisfying.
The plot is about a rich, mediocre painter who believes is is great and nobody appreciates him, so he decides to recreate some masters (Vermeer, Gainsborough and others) down to the authentic costumes, which proves to be his downfall.
A very exciting ending and Eve proves her brilliance again.
I presume no one is going to start with the first book out of 61, although that is what I did about 20 in, because the relationships build through the years. The first book came out in 1995 and was the year 2058,and I began reading in 2013. The year is now about 2061, and Robb has slowly been updating the technology. It truly is brilliantly done. I highly recommend this futuristic detective genre, with several wonderful l9ve stories thrown in. There is a lot of humor, some beautifully described love making and great mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. These are my honest opinions. Read these books!

This is quite possibly my favorite series. I have loved watching the characters grow, and I think all the relationships are awesome. The case this time was interesting, but not my favorite. It was a procedural rather than a mystery. The killer is a POV character, he’s despicable and therefore, not fun to read. I would not suggest starting here if this is your first introduction to JD Robb. The first book, Naked in Death is the way to go. The narrator is fantastic!

Framed in Death by J.D. Robb read by Susan Erickson (In Death #61) 5 stars

With this book, we leave behind international intrigue, terrorists and celebrities. We have a psychopath serial killer on tap and a classic police procedural which showcases the mundane and tedious day to day work of the police. We have countless witness interviews, requests for information and the elimination of suspects. Throughout it all, Susan Erickson shines with the voices of the main characters and the distinct voices of all the witnesses and informants. I really enjoyed this audiobook and look forward to Stolen In Death (In Death #62) next year.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC.

I love this amazing, well crafted, just complicated enough, engaging and thought provoking story.
It’s amazing to me that these stories continue to rise to the highest levels and are always something
I Look forward to with excitement.
This story has some highlights to mention: Peabody and McNab finally move into their home,
which I mention only because Delia is an art&crafts person, and her knowledge is helpful to
the case.
This story features an entitled, pampered, failed artist who decides that he has a way to be on
the way to fame and fortune. His methods are simply horrible, taking advantage of the street
workers (the LC’s who are licensed to provide sex in the City) with money and lies of fame and
fortune.
The “artist” provides what turn out to be life saving clues about his materials and the team
hunt all,over the world to match the fabrics as paints to him, and limit the murders to 3.
The other suspect will be the mother of the murderer, as he is a child of privilege and
is living in luxury and his mother is taken in and not having any pesky NYPSD folks after
her son,. She’s shocked to find herself in enough trouble as well.q
I recommend this book to everyone. Now, having read the entire series, I feel comfortable
suggesting it’s just as good as a standalone. You miss the decades of history, but the plot
lines are strong and it’s easy to understand, so it should be fine.
My copy,of,the book is an audible one, and it’s about 13 hrs, which is the usual. I find it
to be just perfect.
My thanks to Macmillan Audio audio for the download copy of the book for review purposes.