Review by Kayleigh
Series Name: In Death #61
I love the classic J.D. Robb books and her 61st reads like them. Filled with intrigue, unique murders and a lot of friends and love, Framed in Death is a fast and fun read.
Favourite Quote:
Death was his art.
For too long he’d waited for recognition of his gift, even – yes – the adulation his extraordinary talent deserved. He wanted his due, and had worked and suffered to share his vision, his genius with the world, only to see lesser talents rewarded while he faced rejection.
Rejection, criticism, and worse, tepid, patronizing, infuriating advice.
Book Synopsis:
Manhattan is filled with galleries and deep-pocketed collectors who can make an artist’s career with a wave of a hand. But one man toils in obscurity, his brilliance unrecognized while lesser talents bask in the glory he believes should be his. Come tomorrow, he vows, the city will be buzzing about his work.
Indeed, before dawn, Lt. Eve Dallas is speeding toward the home of the two gallery owners whose doorway has been turned into a horrifying crime scene overnight. A lifeless young woman has been elaborately costumed and precisely posed to resemble the model of a long-ago Dutch master. Can Eve unravel the twisted mind of a serial killer before he strikes again…
Review:
In Framed in Death, we meet an artist who can’t seem to have his talent recognized. It’s truly not fair. And then he finds that in death, he finds his muse. And a way to get back at the people who wronged him. Eve, of course, is on the case, which thrusts her into the glamour of the art world, and the dirt of the street walkers who are targeted by the artist. Throughout the book, we visit some of our favourite secondary characters including the charming Peabody and Mavis. We finally get a tour of their finished houses, which wraps up a long running storyline, and serves to remind Eve of the power of her found family.
As always, J.D. Robb touches on the modern news cycle in her In Death series. In this read, she leaves us with a commentary of the absolute power that the very wealthy in the world have, and how they expect to be above the law in response to their actions. While the In Death series has been publishing for 30 years it still feels fresh and relevant. As always, you don’t have to read these books in order to understand the story – they can be read as standalones. However, once you start, be ready to be sucked in!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
