FRAMED IN DEATH by J D Robb

4* This series is inevitably predictable in ways, but it's all in the details.

So, this book is lite on the Eve-posse. It takes place over 3 nights/4 days, so there's no time for the likes of Charles, Dennis, Louise, Jake, and more to feature, although it's finally the housewarming (thank goodness the damned thing's finished and they've all moved in), so there's a glimpse of Mavis and No2, Bella, Leonardo, and of course Mira, Reo, Nadine, Dickhead, Morris, Sunmerset and Harvo play their parts later on.

There's a morally and financially corrupt bad guy who clearly has Mommy issues (we get to see those when he manipulates her), and then some, making for an ending worthy of Bette Davis herself. That was a twist I hadn't seen coming, but boy was it satisfying. 

The sleuthing, the obstacles, and Harvo's skills and part made this one of the more unusual Eve Dallas tales. I did abandon the series around book 47, in the days where it had gotten too same-same, with Eve invariably goading a suspect into hitting her, to add to their charges, but the last 6 or so have had it back in track. I reserved a copy at my local library about a month before release, and was surprised to be #1 in line. Which is kind of a little sad, as a few years ago, there'd be multiple copies and waiting lists. Maybe people have had enough of the repetitiveness? 

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