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In Death #7.5

Midnight in Death

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The number-one New York Times best selling In Death series explodes with intrigue, passion, and suspense. Now, Nora Roberts, writing as J. D. Robb, propels you into the darkest night of Lieutenant Eve Dallas' life - when a killer comes to call.

Eve's name has made a Christmas list, but it's not for being naughty or nice. It's for putting a serial killer behind bars. Now the escaped madman has her in his sights. With her husband, Roarke, at her side, Eve must stop the man from exacting his bloody vengeance - or die trying.

90 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

1,316 people are currently reading
7,449 people want to read

About the author

J.D. Robb

236books34.7kfollowers
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Forgotten in Death (St. Martin's Press, September 2021) is the 53rd entry in the series.

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5 stars
10,540 (44%)
4 stars
8,317 (35%)
3 stars
4,046 (17%)
2 stars
499 (2%)
1 star
96 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 909 reviews
Profile Image for ˥S󲹰Dz˥.
985 reviews140 followers
January 6, 2017

Picking up where #7 left off this was a perfect extension of that book.

LOVED Roarke
LOVED Eve

I'm still enjoying all the side characters too.

Feeney and his bags of nuts. Got to love the guy.
Peabody and her dry humor. She is the perfect partner for Eve.
McNabb is new and I like him. I'm figuring he will get tangled up with Peabody. But I could be wrong.
Dr. Mira is wonderful. I love their relationship.
Mavis wasn't in this one but is her BFF and these two couldn't be any more different which is perfect.
Summerset still drives Eve crazy. These two barely tolerate each other. But there is something there. I can feel it. A change is coming. :)

And last but not least Galahad the cat. �

Profile Image for Kat.
Author13 books577 followers
January 20, 2024
In MIDNIGHT IN DEATH, an exciting IN DEATH novella, detective Eve Dallas is on the hunt chasing a notorious serial killer who has escaped prison. She put him behind bars years before, and now he wants revenge on her and all the other people involved in his case. This was an interesting novella, though one of her more graphic ones. I definitely had to skip ahead in a few places where the murders were described. I love the main characters and side characters in this series. Peabody, Sommerset, Mavis. Such great characters!
Profile Image for Jo ★The Book Sloth★.
485 reviews446 followers
July 29, 2015
5 Well Deserved Stars

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are very few authors whose novellas I enjoy. Most of the time they seem incomplete or uninteresting. I'm happy to say that JD Robb didn't disappoint on that aspect of her writing.

This novella was just as good as her full novels. The story was cohesive, the mystery interesting and the killer worthy of attention. This author can really do no wrong.
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews466 followers
January 20, 2020
Re-read 17/01/2020

Very good for a rather short story!
Obviously all the characters are present and excellent as Always!
Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,843 reviews2,587 followers
August 2, 2016
Short but sweet novella which picks up immediately from where the last book finished. Poor Eve and Roarke seem to have every holiday disrupted by yet another murder! Not that they let it get them down. They still manage to enjoy some very close moments in between the police work.
I really enjoyed this little taste of In Death land and it left me keen to get on with the next book:)
Profile Image for Mo.
1,398 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2025
Quick relisten as it was a follow up to the Christmas one and still set around the New Year ...
Still a good listen.


This one was a novella, but read like a longer book. Enjoyed it. Took up straight after the previous book finished. Eve and Roarke ... what's not to love?


For a moment that was all there was. The taste of him, the feel of him pressed against her, the need they created in each other time after time erupting inside her.



"We don't have a thing for New Year's, do we? No party or anything?"


LOL. Love how Eve is not the party animal ... my kind of girl.


"You're what I want, Eve, the woman who leaves her home to stand over the dead. And the one who knew what a copy of Yeats would mean to me."


Profile Image for Irene.
971 reviews114 followers
August 7, 2017
This is a novella taking place between Christmas and New Year.
Eve chases a serial killer who has escaped prison and is after the one's who put him away in the first place, including Eve and Dr. Mira. It is intense but nothing like her full length novels.
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,286 followers
January 6, 2020
5 Ho Ho Bad Guy Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
This was a surprise, as I didn't know I was going to get this special treat. Got to see if Eve's Christmas Gift for Roarke worked, got to see how much Eve is developing as a person who is learning she cares about those around her.

Roarke is The Man...with all his talents...there are many and his Love for Eve above all else prevails.

Off to the next one.

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Oh, How I hate it when Robb ends her tales so abruptly...I had so many questions to be answered at the end of Holiday in Death...Lucky Lucky Me...She did a continuing novella to do just that...Whoopee!!!

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Profile Image for Cyndi.
2,443 reviews109 followers
June 30, 2018
Read this with the J. D. Robb group. Love this story!!! Making a short story this entertaining is a gift. And, Nora/J. D., has it. She manages to intro characters and still put an exciting story in it. Putting one of my fav characters in jeopardy was terrifying!

Reread June 2018 � This book dives into the middle of the action just days after the Christmas attack on Peabody. Eve is facing a serial killer who escaped from prison. She already put the guy away once and now he’s back to finish his work. This time he plans to torture the people who put him in prison, including Eve and Dr. Meara.
Profile Image for Ann Lou.
564 reviews87 followers
September 11, 2017
Another old adversary of Eve is back. A mentally defective killer who has his own private chamber of horrors. Okay, so this one is a novella but it still packed a punch. Love everything about this series. :)
Profile Image for Els.
327 reviews4 followers
April 3, 2021
Nice short story.
Profile Image for Veronique.
1,331 reviews219 followers
December 5, 2019
Haven’t read an “In Death" book for eons but this short story was available in audio, and in my magpie mood (head hurting so not thinking straight), I thought I’d give it a try. Actually, it was pretty good. Let’s face it, Robb can write suspense very well, as well as set atmospheric scenes and create believable baddies. Being a short story, it all happens ‘quickly� and yet it felt satisfying.

Actually, I really should try to read a few more of these. It does boggle the mind - a series of 49 books (not counting the short stories) with the same leads! There are a few secondary characters, Peabody, Mira, the tech guy whose name escapes me, who do feel like they are going to be allowed to grow.
Profile Image for Lauren.
2,486 reviews159 followers
November 3, 2018
Midnight in Death
4 Stars

The first novella of the series, Midnight in Death begins in the aftermath of the events of Holiday in Death when a killer from Eve's past escapes and begins taking revenge on those he holds responsible for his conviction. He starts with the judge and prosecutor, but it is Eve who is his ultimate target.

A solid and comprehensive read, but it fails to answer some of the questions left unanswered after last book; especially the aftermath of the attack on Peabody, which is glossed over very quickly.

The case is well developed despite the shorter length and the information revealed about Eve prior to the beginning of the series demonstrate her growth both as an investigator and as a woman. Nevertheless, the climax and resolution are somewhat anti-climactic given the build up of tension surrounding the killer's motivations and actions.

In terms of character development, Eve and Mira's relationship is taken to another level as finally Eve admits just how much Mira means to her and there are some wonderfully sweet and humerous moments as Eve shares Christmas gifts with Roarke and Peabody. Looking forward to the next full length installment.



Profile Image for Elvan.
684 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2013
One of the few novellas I like to reread. Three serial killers in a row but this book is different than the others. Eve knows how Daved Palmer operates so she goes into this murder(s) better prepared. I kind of like Palmer for his evil creative mind. What is really impressive is how much crime solving and action occurs in only 10 chapters. Above all, we see the mother/daughter relationship developing between Eve and Dr. Mira. Good stuff!
Profile Image for Stacee.
2,949 reviews748 followers
May 14, 2021
I love a good novella and this one was one of the best. Fast paced, creepy bad guy, and loads of Eve/Roarke moments.
Profile Image for Annie .
2,493 reviews943 followers
August 20, 2011
Posted on

Eve is on someone’s Christmas list....

Didn’t matter that book was shorter than all the rest. The fact is that Robb has written a damn good story with just a quarter of the word count. Not many authors can pull off novellas, but J.D. Robb can.

This story takes place right after the previous one where the Christmas holidays are in full spring. But Eve and Roarke can’t enjoy it because a man who Eve had the pleasure to catch before has escaped and is killing once again. But this time, his ultimate target is Eve. So much for having a Happy New Year.

Although there isn’t much character development in this novella, there’s plenty of suspense and action. The last few pages were particularly engaging, but that’s no surprise as it is with all of her books.

Eve’s still badass. Roarke is still too good to be true. And Peabody is still my favourite sidekick that any could have.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
305 reviews160 followers
January 11, 2016
** 2.5/3 stars **
Probably this is not the first time I'm going to say that I don't really enjoy novellas. In my opinion, what happens is that the plot has to be worked out very fast and the overall deliverance is compromised. That being said, I still enjoyed , it was a fairly good plot with enough angst. But it was just one more crime story that Eve had to solve with the help of her team. As often is the case in the series, the crimes were very close to Eve and she had, as expected, Roarke working right along with her. I feel like I need to put this series aside for a spell, before I get bored with it. I wonder if I will get back to it in the future, possibly.
Profile Image for Lena.
1,201 reviews326 followers
April 19, 2018


David Palmer has escaped! The worst serial killer that Eve ever brought down is back and looking to avenge himself.

This is a short story but it would have been difficult reading a full length novel about a young man this twisted.

Profile Image for Somia.
2,065 reviews167 followers
February 6, 2019
A good little novella, writing flowed and I didn't feel like the author was trying to rush to the end, as I sometimes feel when reading a novella.

This novella picks up immediately from where the last book finished, and again Eve and Roarke's plans are disrupted, by murder yes, but murders committed by an escaped convict that has his gaze locked on Eve and someone close to her.
Profile Image for Madhan.
80 reviews16 followers
October 1, 2020
This was a short story, to be precise it's part 7.5 in the series. I like to read in order but for the first time, took it up in between.

The book is set in the future & follows lieutenant Eve Dallas. I was astonished by the futuristic setting from autochef to Jarvis type computer to off planet transpo etc..

Coming to the story, it's about an escaped psycho killer David Palmer who starts killing the people who were responsible for his imprisonment🤯

Eve is the main one in the list of 6 & Dave starts the killings from Christmas🎄

Eve's husband Roarke, a millionaire computer genius plays a pivotal role & their fling was noteworthy..!😍 He helps in tracking Dave but there's something missing..😒

Dave takes down half of the list & captures the fourth one Dr Mira who is important to Eve. Will Eve get Dave for the second time or will it be too late..🤔

Since I didn't know the back story, I was missing most of the emotional connections..

The ending felt rushed, was expecting more.. However, it was well written & makes me want to take up from the start. Hopefully in future🤞🏻
Profile Image for Anastasia.
2,042 reviews97 followers
June 14, 2016
Midnight in Death by J.D.Robb is a short novella in the In Death series set after Holiday in Death. A serial killer whom Eve had captured 3 years earlier has escaped and is targeting those responsible for his conviction. Another terrific addition to the series with all the usual characters and plenty of sizzling romance.
Profile Image for Kathy.
2,976 reviews45 followers
December 10, 2020
Really liked this little holiday story, oh the things that happen in the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, especially in NYC. I missed Mavis, Leonardo and Bella, and there certainly wasn't enough of Peabody, but all the Eve and Roarke essentials were there.
Profile Image for Sophia.
Author5 books390 followers
June 18, 2018
Midnight in Death happens hot on the heels of the previous book, Holiday in Death with a case that interrupts Eve and Roarke's Christmas and threatens to end her before the New Year's.

Midnight in Death is a novella and the story moves along swiftly, but the author didn't neglect background or development as it went. A torturing, insane serial killer has some of Eve's closest associates including herself on a vengeful hit list. She wants to get him badly since she put him away the first time and now he's threatening people she holds dear.

There is a ruthlessness to Eve's work because she delves deep and feels each case. I enjoy the balance of Roarke in her life to grab hold of her at times before she slips under and drowns. Peabody, Feeney, and McNab make their appearances as well as Dr. Mira. This one worked to whet my appetite for what comes next in the series.
Profile Image for Laura.
730 reviews54 followers
February 19, 2017
In typical novella fashion this enfolded at a lightning pace, with a too quick wrap up. I enjoyed the mystery, and I believe it was full book worthy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 909 reviews

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