Memory in Death (J. D. Robb) Chapters 7-11

The introduction of two key characters, Bobby and Zana, further displays the author’s considerable skill at creating believable personae.  Their reactions to the news of Bobby’s mother’s murder seem so authentic that we have a hard time keeping them on our list of suspects.  When Eve questions Bobby, she cleverly fishes for signs that he might be involved:  ‘”I’m giving you the facts, Bobby.”  Cruelly, she thought but the cruelty could take him off the suspect list.  “I’m asking who she trusted enough, cared for enough to work with on this.  The only ones you’re coming up with are you and your wife.”’

Although this story is set near Christmas and mentions Christmas in multiple ways, it would be a stretch to think of it as a Christmas story.  But Eve’s attitudes about the holiday season and the obligations of gift-giving, shopping and visits really resonate with many of us, particularly me!  ’Now she’d have to visit.  Sit around, drink something, make conversation.  Exchange presents.  The last always made her feel stupid, and she didn’t know why.  People seemed to have this unstoppable need to give and receive stuff they could easily afford to go out and get for themselves anyway.’ [Exactly!]  ‘She happened to know Peabody had already bought three – count them, three – presents for Mavis’s baby, and the kid wasn’t due to be born for over a month.  What the hell did you buy for a fetus, anyway?  And why did nobody else think that was kind of creepy?’

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that I appreciate it when a plot takes a sudden swerve that changes where we thought it was leading us.  Here I was, all set to see just what kinds of mayhem Trudy was going to cause our heroic couple, and she turns up dead, the object of the murder investigation that is now driving the plot.  Then, just as we’re beginning to wonder if Bobby and/or Zana are involved in the murder, Zana is abducted and threatened by a man who identifies himself as the killer.  Or is this a ruse devised by the young couple in order to throw the investigation off their scent, hmmm?  Well, this is a murder mystery, after all, so the resolution is likely to be a big surprise.  I’m certainly not counting it out at this point.

The secondary character of Delia Peabody is a huge bonus in this story, and, one assumes, the other books in this series.  I keep visualizing Tina Fey in the role, if she’s not already too old, and the lines coming from the character keep working beautifully for that actress.  The veneer of air-headedness disguising a really quick and brilliant mind seems tailor-made for her:  ‘”… I’m nervous.  No, not nervous.  Terrified.”  “Of what?”  “Of meeting your family – all at once.  Of being the one you bring home for Christmas, for God’s sake.”  “Jesus, Peabody, who the hell do you want me to bring home for Christmas?”  “Me, you idiot…” … He just stared at her in the baffled way men had stared at women across the ages.’  The last statement, written by a woman author, is just another small example of her deep understanding of human relationships!

The minor surprises are a lot of fun – Eve is talking to her billionaire husband on the ‘link:  ‘”… Gotta do some media spinning so I’m tagging Nadine.  Appreciate the assist if you manage it.”  “Not a problem.  Squeeze some food into your schedule.”  “I’m having lunch with Nadine at some stupid place.”  “Scentsational,” Peabody told him, leaning over enough to get a glimpse of his face on the ‘link screen.  “Well, now, the world’s full of surprises.  Let me know what you think of it.”  It only took Eve a beat.  “Yours?”  “A man’s got to keep his hand in.  I’ve a lunch meeting myself.  Try the nasturtium salad. It’s very nice.”  “Yeah, that’s going to happen.  Later.  That’s flowers, right?”  She asked Peabody when she ended transmission.   “Edible ones.”  “In my world, flowers aren’t on the menu.”’






Next week:  Chapters 12-16
Week 4:  Chapters 17-21