In typical J.D. Robb fashion, the festivities begin on page 1 of Festive in Death. I love this series and have been waiting for this one to come out in paperback. It was worth the wait and, since the setting revolves around Christmas, I’ll re-read it when the holidays come around this year.
Lieutenant Eve Dallas has come a long, long way since her introduction in Naked in Death. In Festive, she and Roarke are hosting a holiday party for their friends and colleagues—a feat that could not have happened earlier in the series. Eve’s reluctant participation and the party itself add a colorful backdrop to the murder she is, as usual, trying to solve.
What is unusual about this murder, (this is not a spoiler, because it’s clear from the beginning) is that Eve’s victim, Trey Zeigler, is a true scumbag. The depths of Zeigler’s sleezy and predatory nature grow more apparent as the investigation progresses, and Eve gives him far better treatment than he deserves.
Being Lieutenant Dallas, she approaches the murder of her scumbag victim, Ziegler, in the same determined professional way she does with her other more innocent victims, though with slightly less pressure. This lightens her load just enough to allow her be more present in the festivities and truly enjoy her friends and family at the holidays. There is an interesting twist, of course, and Robb keeps it under wraps right until the end. Another great read from a creative and prolific author.
Roarke has a preference for high-end red wines, typically a cabernet sauvignon. To keep him and his cop wife company, I would recommend one of Chateau Montelena’s cabernets, such as the one pictured here. They are a little on the pricey side, but it’s a quick read, so one bottle should suffice. Enjoy and happy reading!
Shelly Wilbanks 