Thank you for the audio ARC. I enjoyed this narrator and found she did a great job with her accent as well. The story was a bit drawn out at certain points but overall, an enjoyable listen.

A failed artist starts hiring prostitites to turn into art.

I liked the story, but the narration was a little annoying. The narrator is was a bit too forceful in the voice she used for the characters. The mystery kept my interest and I liked the interactions between the characters. The story gets 5⭐️, but the narration 3⭐️, so overall 4⭐️.

J.D. Robb delivers another compelling installment in the In Death series with Framed in Death. In this gripping mystery, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is once again drawn into a complex case that weaves together murder, deception, and justice. In this installment, Dallas investigates a macabre crime: a young woman is found dead at a gallery entrance, meticulously costumed and posed to resemble a subject from a painting. As the murders continue—each styled after historical artworks—the case deepens into a chilling masterclass in art‑driven serial killings.

What I loved most about this book was how quickly I got pulled in—the plot was strong right from the start and kept my attention throughout. The story was both intriguing and engaging, keeping me guessing with each new clue. As always, the character dynamics were fantastic. Eve and Roarke continue to be a powerful duo, and Peabody adds her usual charm and humor. Her funny one-liners are such a highlight and always bring a smile, even amidst the intensity of the investigation.

Honestly, I had no major dislikes with this book—it hit all the marks for me as a fan of the series and of crime fiction in general.

The audiobook narration by Susan Ericksen was excellent. She brings each character to life with distinct, expressive voices, making it easy to follow conversations and immerse myself in the story. Her performance enhances the experience and captures the tone of the novel perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another excellent installment in the In Death series! I don't know how J.D Robb does it, but she keeps writing compelling stories 60+ books in! I really liked the mystery in this book, it kept me guessing throughout, and I really liked the little twist at the end! I also liked the personal moments between Eve and Roarke, as well as those with our favorite side characters.
As always, the narration is excellent and brings the story to life!

A string of murders all have a very unique signature, and Lt. Eve Dallas is determined to identify the killer and to prevent any more from dying.

In the year 2061, when sex work is entirely legal, a painter embarks on an unusual quest. He hires a Licensed Companion to pose for his next painting, unaware of his intentions. This sets the stage for Eve’s newest case, which plunges her and her partner, Sergeant Delia Peabody, into the vibrant art scene. As a married woman to the wealthy billionaire Roarke, Eve is no stranger to fine art.

Perhaps due to my love for books, certain famous paintings mentioned in the story were instantly recognizable to me. This added an extra layer of realism to the narrative, making it easier to visualize the paintings that were referenced. However, what truly captivated me was the fact that Framed in Death is the 61st installment in this captivating series. All 61 books in the series have been expertly narrated by the talented Susan Erickson, and I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, just as I have been with every book in the series.

As engaging as this story was, the mystery was intriguing. The clues that Eve and Peabody were gathering led to a stunning crescendo. I particularly enjoyed the ending, as Eve refused to give up until justice was properly served.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

A WELL-CRAFTED AND INVENTIVE STORY


SUMMARY
Early one morning, Lt Eve Dallas is called to the front doorsteps of the owners of an art gallery. There, Eve is horrified by the murder scene on display. A woman has been costumed and painstakingly arranged to duplicate the model in the famous portrait "Girl with a Pearl Earring," painted by Johannes Vermeer in 1665. The unfortunate victim is a licensed companion. Evidence is collected and the family is notified. Eve and her team work tirelessly throughout the day, following every lead they can find.

But the next morning, another large and famous portrait is staged and left in front of an art gallery. This time, the oil portrait is Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, painted in 1770. This victim is also a licensed companion. They now know they only have less than 24 hours before the narcissistic killer will strike again. Can they find the murderer before an victim is found?

REVIEW
Framed in Death is an intriguing murder mystery set in 2061. Even with the advances in forensics, flying cars, and communication devices, it still takes time to solve the crimes, and there is always paperwork to be done.

The writing was well-crafted, and the story is inventive and suspenseful. The star of this thriller is the experienced and delightful homicide detective Eve Dallas. Eve is married to the handsome and charming Irish billionaire Roarke. Eve’s partner is the energetic and loyal Sergeant Delia Peabody. The writing evokes the anxiety felt by the homicide team and the bumpy pace of the investigation.

The author effectively captures the reader's attention from the outset. And doesn’t let go until the last page is turned. Readers will appreciate the race to find the killer, great dialogue, and interesting characters. The narrator was Susan Ericksen, who delivered a strong performance with clear voice differentiation.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed here are my own.



Publisher Macmillan Audio
Published September 2, 2025
Narrated Susan Ericksen
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

4.5 out of 5 stars!! Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to listen and review this book! I honestly squealed with delight when I was chosen for this book as an ARC! I have read this entire series with my mom and every single book is better than the next! I love Eve, she is my spirt animal lol I have nothing negative to say about the story it is amazing as ever with such plot and keeps you entertained the entire way through. The only reason I could not give this a 5/5 stars is I absolutely do not like the narrator! I actually had to stop listening to the book a few times because of how much the narrator bothered me.

Fans of the bestselling futuristic In Death series will welcome Installment 61 Framed In Death. Lt. Eve Dallas gets an early phone call of a body found dressed as the girl in the painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring. The next day, another body is found that is dressed as The Blue Boy. Eve and her team must investigate because things become chaotic in the art world.

With this many installments in the series, as well as her 100+ romance novels under her name, Nora Roberts, It should be obvious that these novels are not particularly deep or well-thought out; while they are bestsellers, they are most likely purchased by those who don’t care about the literary aspects, and whether they are well-written or not. This novel includes plenty of unnecessary profanity, as well as fairly graphic love scenes. She does, however, do a fairly good job of developing the main characters. Eve Dallas is likeable character that does an excellent job as a lieutenant. Her life is shallow, and will appeal to readers who are shallow.

All told, this is a series that won’t appeal to readers who appreciate good writing; the writing isn’t bad, and the storytelling is easy to follow, but it is tabloid-like and will be immediately picked up by those who believe what they read in the tabloids. This is not a novel that builds much suspense, and the unique futuristic aspects are okay, but not particularly enticing.

Readers who choose to purchase the audio version will be very happy with the narrator; she does an excellent job and is very easy to follow.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

My favorite times of year is when we get to visit the world of Eve and Roark and company - and JD Robb doesn’t disappoint with Framed in Death! Eve and Peabody, with help from Roarke, Rio, and many others we’ve come to know and love, race against the clock to find a serial killer referred to as “the artist”. The killer is targeting street workers and dresses them up to mirror famous paintings before killing them to enhance his art. Eve needs to stop him before any others will die. We also finally get to see the big reveal of the remodeled house where Mavis and family, along with Peabody and McNab, will live. I loved that part of the book too! Highly recommend!!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an early copy of the book!!

As far as the murder mystery and Lt. Eve Dallas' smarts and wit, this was a good and interesting read. I enjoyed the art aspect of it and felt invested in finding the serial killer. I really didn't think any of Eve's personal life stuff added anything to the story. Although, I guess if you follow Lt. Eve Dallas more that may be something interesting or useful to the character. If reading as a standalone just didn't care for it. Overall a captivating and good quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc.

I have been reading this series since high school. The love I have for this forged family is pretty huge. To say I grew up alongside these characters wouldn't be a lie, and for the first time in years, I can say that this story felt different. The characters have evolved, changed, and grown in the 20 odd years we have been following along. However, the storyline hasn't aged much, we've been watching this story unfold in slow motion. What's decades for us, has barely been a few years for the characters (3 or 5, I can't recall exactly). In this story, we finally get to see Eve make it to the otherside of her childhood trauma. At first, we hear it in her head, then we see it in her actions. That willingness to accept that she has a family, my heart sighed, I love this character. It's been so heartbreaking, and infuriating, to witness her hesitation. We know they love her, but she just couldn't understand how it happened, and would be so confused and angry. For me, the best part of the story is the character development. The murder mystery is great, too. This has been a long, heart feeling all of the feelings, journey and I couldn't have loved it more. I always look for the next one in the series, and that won't ever change.

In this 61st book in the 'Detective Eve Dallas' series, Eve is on the trail of a demented would-be artist. It's 2061 and people communicate via video links, travel in semi-flying cars, and commit crimes.....just like current times. Lt. Eve Dallas is a capable New York detective married to Irish billionaire Roarke - a handsome devil with wild blue eyes.

As the story opens, a portrait painter in New York City - convinced of his brilliance - is frustrated and enraged by his lack of success. Determined to make an impression on the art world, the thwarted painter conceives a diabolical scheme. He will recreate portraits done by famous artists, with a twist.

For the artist's first project, 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' (1665) by Johannes Vermeer, the painter hires a sex worker - called a Licensed Companion (LC) in 2061 - to pose for him. The painter makes over the LC to look like the girl in Vermeer's painting, takes photos, and begins a portrait. The artist then drugs and kills the LC, and leaves her body in front of an art gallery, posed like Vermeer's painting.

The next day, the artist hires a male LC to pose for him, and makes the man over to look like 'The Blue Boy' (1770) by Thomas Gainsborough. The portraitist repeats the process described above, then leaves the LC's body near the home of an art gallery owner, posed like Gainsborough's painting.

Lt. Eve Dallas and her hippy-dippy partner, Sergeant Delia Peabody - who's a craft artist herself - get the case. The police know the perp won't stop, and they work day and night to catch the killer. The cops aren't fast enough to stop a third murder though, a woman LC made over to look like 'Self-Portrait In A Straw Hat' (1780s) by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun.

The detectives get a break when a forensic examiner determines the clothing used to dress up the victims are custom-made garments sewn from fabrics authentic to the time periods of the portraits. The tailor-made clothing would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and would have to be made by specialists. Dallas and Peabody immediately start calling fabric manufacturers and clothing makers to ask if anyone ordered the fabrics or garments on the murder victims. EVERY MANUFACTURER cites client confidentiality, and Eve and Delia feel thwarted. However billionaire Roarke lends a hand here. Roarke phones clothiers and says he's giving a costume party, and needs references to choose a clothing maker for himself and his wife. The clothiers name clients who bought costumes that emulate 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' and 'Blue Boy', and this turns out to be more clients than you might think.

Eve and Delia close in on the killer bit by bit, by tracking purchases of materials - fabric, paint, brushes, glue, wigs, etc. - needed for his 'displays'. It turns out the murderer is a spoiled rich boy who thinks he's going to be world famous.

The serial killer theme is grim, but there are light moments in the book as well. For example, Eve discovers someone stole her hidden candy bar, and thinks about coating the next one in laxatives; Eve meets an art gallery owner who's so snooty he 'out-snoots' Roarke's uppity butler Sommerset; and Delia Peabody and her friends show off their newly remodeled house, which Peabody calls "abso-mag"

Once the killer is nabbed Eve and Delia worry about getting him convicted, which makes an interesting finale to the novel.

The novel is engaging, but there are too many interviews with the victims' families, friends, and acquaintances; redundant phone calls to fabric makers, clothing manufactures, and artist supply stores; and excessive talk about the upcoming plea deal or trial. It almost feels like the author didn't have enough of a plot. That said, the mystery would probably appeal to Eve Dallas fans.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Susan Ericksen, who does a fine job, especially with Roarke's Irish accent.

Thanks to Netgalley, J.D. Robb, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

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.