Another In Death with wonderful characters and twisted murders

J.D. Robb delivers another stunning whodunnit in Framed in Death. The main character, Lieutenant Eve Dallas, is a homicide cop in New York City in 2061. She is married to the fabulously wealthy Irish-born entrepreneur Roarke. Eve leads the homicide unit and has close relationships with her squad and colleagues at Cop Central. To her chagrin, she is accumulating more and more friends both within the NYPSD and outside it. In Framed in Death, she faces a formidable foe who has recreated a scene from a famous painting as a murder tableau. Framed in Death is a stellar entry in the series.

I have read all the In Death series and devour the books. This is the first time I have listened to one as an audiobook. To my surprise, I find that I laugh more listening to Eve’s snark than I do reading it. Susan Ericksen is masterful at making each of these wonderful characters sound different. The only one that was jarring to me was Rourke. It may be that nobody could make him sound like the fantasy that lives in my head.

The audio format is such a fantastic way to enjoy this book. I spent 3 straight hours listening while I planted my garden. Then I didn’t get to sleep until the middle of the night because I couldn’t let the story go. I highly recommend the Framed in Death audiobook. As a caution, perhaps don’t listen where others can hear you, as the cackling will make them wonder about you.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy!

An interesting plot idea for what could easily become a fairly repetitive series. Further, we get quite a bit of the take down/litigation as well as the crime solving, which I think is a nice, broad way of covering bases.

Framed is another strong entry in the Dallas & Rourke futuristic police procedural. I enjoyed following Eve across NYC as she tracks the many threads leading to the artist turned killer. The regular fun is all here - a confounding wardrobe, Galahad the cat’s food-driven antics, Peabody gushing, Jenkinson wearing horrible ties, and the sweet thief still outwitting Eve. The narrator is, as always, excellent, her accents and pacing adding to the experience and enjoyment of the story. Sure to be in high demand.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review audio. All opinions expressed are my own.

Framed in Death by J.D. Robb is another killer entry—literally and figuratively—in the long-running In Death series. Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC and audiobook. As a lifelong fan of Nora Roberts and her J.D. Robb persona, I had high expectations—and I wasn’t disappointed.

This is book 61, and the energy is still electric. A body is found posed like Girl with a Pearl Earring outside an art gallery. The killer? A delusional narcissist convinced he’s elevating murder into art by recreating iconic paintings with his victims. There’s no mystery about who he is—we see inside his twisted mind from early on. The tension comes from watching Lieutenant Eve Dallas close in, trying to stop him before his next “masterpiece.”

What makes this series work isn’t just the investigation—it’s the people. Eve’s hard-edged determination is balanced by her deepening connections with her found family. Roarke remains one of the best romantic partners in crime fiction: smart, stylish, and always in her corner. From quiet breakfast moments with their cat Galahad to unspoken marriage “rules,” their bond continues to grow.

The supporting cast shines too. Peabody and McNab, Jenkinson, and even Harvo all get their moments. Jenkinson’s dream house finally finished and celebrated with Eve and Roarke? A perfect nod to the long arc payoff that fans appreciate.

The case unfolds with strong pacing, snappy dialogue, and clever detail. It’s not about whodunit—it’s about how justice is served when power and ego try to bury it. Eve never lets that happen.

On audio, Susan Ericksen once again delivers a pitch-perfect narration. Her ability to embody the full cast—from Eve’s steel-edged sarcasm to Roarke’s Irish charm—adds so much to the experience. Ericksen’s consistent performance across 60+ books is no small feat, and in Framed in Death, she brings every moment of tension, warmth, and wit to life. Whether it’s a tense interview, a quiet moment between Eve and Roarke, or Peabody cracking a joke, Ericksen nails it. If you’ve followed the series on audio, you already know: she is these characters.

Framed in Death proves this series isn’t just surviving—it’s still evolving. Fast, sharp, emotionally grounded, and always entertaining.

4.5/5 stars

What is there to be said about this title? The continuation of Eve and Roarke's story is one of my favorites. I'm ready for Mavis to have #2! This one was just as good as the rest and Susan Erikson is the BEST. I read until I listened to HER read to me and now I'll wait on the audio every time. This was the perfect blend of all the best things about this series and I can't wait for the next one.

I had a really hard time with the narrator, I have read many 'In Death' novels by J.D. Robb and love them but the narrator and her voices really ruined this for me. As far as the story (once I sped it up) it's an engaging Dallas/Rouke solve the crime story, with these you know what you get, and this one is a good one. Recommend for easy reads! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Yes! Yes! Yes and more Yes! This is how a mystery is written! I have absolutely no idea how the author continues to make the characters, storylines and mysteries feel so fresh when she has surpassed 60 books in the series, but each book is better than the last and this one definitely hits it off the charts! Fabulous characters that are so well developed, although I do recommend starting with book 1 and going in order so you get to know the characters more fully. If you read the series in order the characters definitely get more fully fleshed out. The interactions, witty banter and relationships between the characters are always outstanding, but this book takes them to the next level. The mystery is woven throughout the personal stories of the characters as they rush to solve the mystery before another murder is committed making the story have more depth than a lot of stories. This series is a must listen series as the audio narrator makes each character unique and recognizable whether the author has written their name in or not. This makes the story even more impactful and breathes an extra layer of life into each book. I'll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for an advanced peek at JDRobb’s next In Death series book, FRAMED IN DEATH.
The saying ‘art imitating life’ is turned on its ear in September of 2061. Someone is killing LCs ( Licensed Companions), dressing them up as famous paintings and depositing them on gallery-adjacent properties. The reader learns pretty fast the killer artist is a trust fund baby with ego and narcissism issues who thinks he’s the next best thing ever.
Eve Dallas and her team are called in to investigate the first death, which rapidly accelerates to three victims in three days. Through non-stop investigative work and with everyone on the team from ME Morris down to New Detective Truheart, with ADA Reo and even Nadine Furst thrown in, the story quickly unfolds until a name is assigned to the killer.
For the first time that I can remember in an IN DEATH book, the story doesn’t end with the typical “get themin the box and get a confession” scene. For the first time, we are taken into the arraignment hearing. I admit, I liked this. I liked Eve not getting a slam dunk out of the box.
IYKYK that she will eventually, but the trip toward it is perfection.
As always, these books just keep getting better and better and everytime a new one is released I am thrilled to revisit old friends. The shared house of Mavis/Leonardo and Peabody./McNab is finally finished and getting to visit with Bella is just perfection. Since Summerset was such a big facto in the previous book, Bonded in Death, he is only featured in one scene in this book and that was fine. The full story surrounded the police team and I’m glad we got to spend so much time with them.
Another 5 star story from the Queen of Fiction.

J. D. Robb's Eve Dallas series can always be counted on to entertain. Written as a procedural, Framed in Death offers less suspense but more admiration for Dallas and her police colleagues. And, of course, for Dallas's spouse Rourke, who is unimaginably wealthy and almost unbelievably clever and knowledgeable of unbelievably too many things. Also unbelievable is the setting, about 35 years in the future. Given the pace of discovery and innovaton, I expect that we'll find many more advancements than we find in this series.. Susan Ericksen delivers her usual high-quality narration. While the story is good, the series is beginning to grow a bit tired.

JD Robb's Eve Dallas series just seems to grab me every time. In this case, licensed streetwalkers are hired to pose for a painter with disastrous results. I see that the publisher has handed me a spoiler I can share to explain why the hunt is so interesting. The painter involved kills and poses the first victim as The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer, dressing her in the costume, picking a victim who's close enough, and leading the team very quickly to an all out search with few clues. Robb and her team and lover, as usual, piece it all together in a masterful and fun to read manner. I liked this entry in the series a lot.

I continue to enjoy the Eve Dallas series and the crew of recurring characters that make the stories richer and more entertaining than just regular crime novels. I appreciate how the author has added the life changes for the main characters in addition to the murder and investigation. I always love the banter and the team work in bringing justice to whomever is dead. We know who the killer is quite early in the book and how Eve and her crew find the individual is fun to follow. The 'surprise' ending was nice. As the book deals with some classic art I was thrilled when I recognized a painting being described.

Susan Ericksen is the narrator and her voice is familiar to those who listen to this series. She continues to provide a consistent representation of the various characters from book to book which I appreciate. Her Bella dramatization is always great!

'I'm your mommy now.' (Eve's dialogue is always funny and smart.)


Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy books about art and artists so I was drawn to this title. I didn’t realize it had a sci-fi vibe, taking place in the 2050s when sex workers are regulated as licensed companions (LCs). Much of the rest of the novel is about regular police detecting and finding a criminal who is killing LCs and posing them as famous paintings for his art. I enjoyed the gruesome plot very much and went back to read the first book in the series for backstory. Interestingly, compared with the first book published some 30 years ago, this was less spicy. But perhaps that’s to be expected after 30 years, LOL?! The main characters were on a surer footing with each other, yet Eve still seems a bit insecure in her relationship with Roarke. Back to this novel: I found the plot interesting, the detective work engaging. I particularly enjoyed the ending, as it wasn’t over when an arrest was made. The narration was good, but a little breathless at times.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #FramedinDeath for review purposes. Publication date: 2 September 2025.

Every time I pick up a new book in this series, it feels like coming home. Eve and Peabody are the kind of friends we all wish we had—sharp, loyal, and hilarious. I find myself turning to them like comfort food, and I love how each book brings the whole crew back together in a way that feels familiar but never stale.

What keeps me coming back is the perfect balance of emotion, humor, and suspense. I laughed out loud in parts, and in others, I wanted to throw my fists in the air (or throw the book!). I’m also really enjoying how the past is starting to intertwine more deeply with the future—it adds a whole new layer to the storytelling.

Once I got into the mystery, I couldn’t stop listening. And when the killer was finally revealed? Ugh, I wanted to slap them! This series just keeps getting better, and I already can’t wait for the next one.

Highly recommend for fans who love a strong mix of character-driven stories and compelling crime plots.

I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first time to listen to a JD Robb book. I enjoyed listening to it. Although as a southern person it took me a minute to get us to the New York accent. Framed in Death was an excellent suspenseful story. I enjoy the snark of Eve Dallas. Her relationship with Roark is a great one.

I always look forward to September and February for the new In Death books! At this point, it’s a given that we’re going to get a great story! I enjoyed catching up with the gang and the new murder mystery. This one was pretty creepy with the murders involving famous artwork recreations!!

Even though Framed in Death is the 61(!!!)st book in J.D. Robb's In Death series, whenever I read a new book I still find myself engaged from start to finish. While some of them have similar plots it never feels repetitive. This book is no exception. From the opening scene, I was hooked.
Also—Susan Ericksen continues to be one of the best audiobook narrators out there! Every character she does feels unique and I look forward to listening to this series because of her.
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!

Love the story line of the killer and motivation. I think it’s time to retire the series. Also, the voice actor should not be doing people of color sometimes it becomes a stereotype and a bit offensive.

Thank you you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to the review copy.

JD Robb is the best. I loved this audio so much, it alwyays hits. I am so happy I was able to listen to this early!

A talentless artist who comes from a privileged life feels that all those who have rejected his talent will soon realize their mistake. So he comes up with his own "designs" of what he considers art.

But when he begins to leave his "designs" throughout the city, Lt. Eve Dallas and her team along with some assist from consultant Roarke, they do what they do best!

Loving the Peabody character.
Great narration, great characters, great story.
GREAT ENDING.

The fact this is book 61 in a series and I didn’t even notice until I put it in Goodreads is wild. Now I want to go back and start from the beginning.