Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

In Death #13

Seduction in Death

Rate this book
Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed - a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn't intended to kill her. But now that he has, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt or start hunting again. . .

354 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

1,247 people are currently reading
7,122 people want to read

About the author

J.D. Robb

229 books34.6k followers
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.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
16,125 (50%)
4 stars
11,463 (35%)
3 stars
3,968 (12%)
2 stars
388 (1%)
1 star
93 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,047 reviews
Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,827 reviews2,580 followers
March 2, 2017
The author was in top form when she wrote this one. Eve and Roarke have been married nearly one year and their relationship is pretty near perfect. They joke around, fight a bit but usually playfully and they have each others backs. Peabody and McNab are on and off all through the book but again there is a lot of humour in the situations that occur between them. And of course Eve's opinions on the matter are hilarious.
We see a gentle side of Summerset, quite a lot of the apparently over weight Galahad and there is even a mention of the Candy Thief. Will we ever find out who that is?
This episode is not a mystery. The murderers are known to the reader from the start and it is fascinating to watch Eve and her team work their way towards their own discovery of their identities.
Altogether this was a very satisfying book, full of some of Robb's best quotes and such an entertaining read.
Profile Image for Jo ★The Book Sloth★.
485 reviews448 followers
June 1, 2015
4 I Love A Good Mystery Stars

I love these books! They are interesting and fast paced and although Eve does what cops all over the world do in reality, which is investigate, not going around beating up guys until someone talks, the books manage not to become tedious.

And although I love the mystery suspect of the books, I enjoy watching Eve work, I find her fear of primping hilarious and I always have a good laugh with Peabody's and McNab's antics, there is one aspect of the book that is beginning to wear itself thin.

I'm not insensitive to the trauma Eve's past has left behind but I'm starting to get fed up with all the drama. I'm not saying that she HAS to get over it, it's obviously something you don't get over easily. But I would prefer if such big parts of the book weren't dedicated to Eve being hurt and having nightmares and needing Roarke to fight them back and making comparisons between the victim's and her situation, etc. Not because I can't take the drama but because it is the same thing in every book over and over again. 13 books in and nothing has changed in that respect so I would prefer it if the nightmare became something that is just there and doesn't need a 10 page space to be developed only to essentially prove to be just another nightmare like all the other ones before it.

Is this a deal breaker? Of course not. But it may be if this goes on for 30 more books.
Profile Image for Irene.
971 reviews114 followers
November 7, 2018
Another great installment in the "In Death" series. This time the crime was a little bit too close to Eve's past and it was very difficult for her to face it. But she came through in the end, as always.
All the side characters were present and the "mag" Trina, who I like very much because, she is the only person who really scares Eve.

I had the strangest thought cross my mind as I was reading this story so I'm going to share it with you - my friends who love this series - and for that...



So, here it is...

As always, Roarke came to the rescue of Lieutenant in various occasions, even as a civilliant special consultant, with his various gadgets and equipment and his magic hands that had me picturing him as....


Roarke, to the rescue...

... and of course that made me think of Eve as...



because, lets face it, she always is the brain who solves the mysteries. Besides, so many episodes in the same outfit? Deffinitely an Eve attribute.


Oh, I love you Roarke, you are so good to me and thanks for helping me solve another case!

And that leaves Peabody, her loyal and helpfull aid to be...


"ReportIng for duty, Sir..."

And who would that mysterious character be?



Maybe the notorious Candy Thief?

Or maybe Sommerset petting Galanger?

I leave that decision to you.
Profile Image for Cyndi.
2,443 reviews109 followers
July 22, 2018
Two young men with everything going for them look like good ideas for dates. But what if they are psychopathic serial killers? Hope EHarmony screens for these things. They might want to include on their questionnaires, "do you like long walks and drugging your date before you rape her and throw her off a balcony?"
Great book by one of the best writers in the world!


Reread July 2018 — I’ll never know how J. D. Robb aka Nora Roberts finds so many different murders. Does she have a master check list in her office where she can mark them off?
Internet dating serial killers ✔️
Profile Image for Jilly.
1,838 reviews6,569 followers
August 1, 2016
Lucky number 13 in the series and it was a good one. Eve is trying to catch two guys who are using a date rape drug to rape and kill their victim. It's a game to them where they get points.

We know who the murderers are for the whole book, but it was still a fun ride to watch the process. Even better than that is the characters and relationships between all of them. There is something to be said for long series because you really get involved in their world and feel like the characters are old friends after a while.

"How'd you know it was me?" Feeney demanded as he came inside.

"You shuffle."

"Hell I do."

"Hell you don't. You shuffle, Peabody clomps, McNab prances."


Also, Eve strides and Roarke prowls.
Each of their walking styles is indicative of their personalities. Which is why I love McNab. Plus he says stuff like this:


He's a magnificent prancing man!
Profile Image for Hulya Kara Yuksel.
1,060 reviews1,277 followers
July 16, 2018
Book 13 and J.D.Robb still continues to amaze me. I'm absolutely addicted this series! :)
Ps. I listened the Audiobook version and it was so damn good. ;)

Eve & Roarke <3
Her fingers stroked through his hair.Her lips found the curve of his throat, nuzzling against the pulse that beat for her. When he slipped inside her,she opened her eyes to find him watching her.No one, she thought as the breath trembled through her lips, no one had ever looked at her as he did.In a way that told her she was the center.
Profile Image for Katerina.
550 reviews61 followers
April 18, 2023
I know I might bore you to write the same thing after finishing an instalment of the series, but I love the In Death series and the main characters! I can't describe how much I enjoy reading it! It might not be a classic full of deep meanings, but it's an amazing series all the same!

Apart from the steamy moments between Roarke and Eve that are quite a treat, I love the way their relationship and emotions are developed and how they build a life piece by piece and form something neither of them had in the past! I love the way they support and care for each other and how the people that surround them are a kind of family figures apart from good friends!

Now, to the case!
The murders are based on the art of seduction, as the title of the book indicates, and the murderer is using it for all the wrong reasons despite justifying it to himself!
We get to know his identity early on in the story, but there are more connections to be revealed between him and an old scandal!

I'm glad that finally, the personal entanglement between Peabody and MacNab is resolved, and also a new romance blossomed through the investigation!

Another part I love in the series is the humour via exchanges from various characters!

Seduction In Death is a great addition to the series! Intriguing, fast-paced and emotional! Can't wait to read the next one!
Profile Image for Poonam.
618 reviews539 followers
September 14, 2016
3.5 stars

“Predators did not need mercy.”― Conn Iggulden

Throughout the story we as a reader know how difficult it is for Eve to deal with this case .

There are innocent women who go out on a date but do not survive the night. We as readers know the identity of the killers from the very start and it's all about Eve Dallas finding them and stopping them in their sick game!

The chapters that were from the killer's perspective were SICK!!

Eve Dallas is a kick-ass and goes all out to hunt them down!



I really enjoyed the mind-games in the last few chapters and how Eve handles it all!
The ending though unconventional, I think is appropriate.


P.S- Also liked that finally Peabody and McNab are getting somewhere...
Profile Image for Carol.
1,370 reviews256 followers
June 3, 2020
4 stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟

Yet another tasty dose of Eve and Roarke.
I cannot get enough of these two!!!

These stories are just so good....this one got a little personal for Eve (too close to home)...but nothing she couldn't handle....she's one tough cookie!!

Peabody and Mcnabb's tenuous relationship appears to enter new territory.

All in all...
A very satisfying read!!!
Profile Image for Antonella.
3,962 reviews564 followers
April 15, 2021
Delia and Ian...why couldn't they just TALK about their relationship and her nonexistent relationship with Charles.. that was so annoying!!??!!! I don't get it...
I'm so amazed how with each book we get new dimensions with Eve and Roarke's relationship...
Interesting mystery..


Profile Image for ♥Sharon♥.
985 reviews140 followers
February 26, 2017

I simply LOVE these books.

❤ the suspense.

❤ the humor.

❤ all the side characters.

Roarke and Eve

Profile Image for Aly is so frigging bored.
1,676 reviews269 followers
May 25, 2021
1st read: 30th March-15th April 2013
Best one-liners:
Eve: "Okay, now that I've let you fuck me and feed me, thereby satisfying all immediate appetites, I've got work."
...
Roarke: "Aren't you lucky to have me? A rhetorical question, darling," he said and stuffed caviar into her mouth.

I still can't get over how amazing this narrator is!

2nd read: 15th May-23rd May 2015
Profile Image for Mo.
1,397 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2017
Book 13 and it is still fresh. I still crave more of Roarke and Eve. I love them. I think I love her more than I love him. She is so strong, independent, honest.


"Dachas," she said, "is, I'm told, Gaelic for hope."


Lets get the negatives out of the way. Nope, it is not! It has been more than 30 years since I studied Irish in the classroom but some words stay with you. Didn't even have to google this one. The Irish/Gaelic word for "hope" is "Dóchas"! Nora, if you want to hire me as your Irish expert and give me a share of the book profits, I don't mind!


."You're back early."
"A bit. Hello, Lieutenant."
At the sound of his voice, that subtle and rich lilt of Ireland, everything inside her tumbled. Then he smiled, just the faintest curve of his lips, and she took a step toward him.



"It is he that saith not Kismet."
"It is he who knows not fate."



Roarke seems to be more involved in Eve's investigations now, with the blessing of Whitney and Feeney. Peabody and McNab!

"You pompous, egotistical, ignorant fuckhead."


I love Eve. Have I said that already?


The Irish in it occasionally gave her a strange thrill, along with misty images of warriors and fragrant fires. And poetry, she supposed ...



I see Ms Robb is releasing Book 41 or 42 next week and folks are still engaged. Well done to her.

Another solid read.

"I love you.
Darling Eve."

Profile Image for Shawna.
3,714 reviews4,734 followers
September 5, 2017
4.5 stars - Romantic Suspense/Futuristic/Romantic Thriller

Wow! Thirteen books in and I don't see myself tiring of this series. With a smart, gruff, edgy, tough, and not always easy to like heroine, Eve Dallas, fabulous secondary characters, my all-time favorite swoonalicious hero, Roarke, interesting and unique futuristic New York setting, and dark, well-written police procedural suspense, In Death continues to deliver. I'm still overwhelmed by how many books there are in this series, but I've got a reliable go-to when I need a good romantic suspense (and Roarke) fix!

Here are my favorite casting possibilities.

Eve Dallas:

Stana Katic
 photo c69a3780be478f2a9b7e3b5a465e155e_zpsxwjhkgzi.jpg

Jennifer Garner
 photo alias-jennifer-garner-sydney-bristow-dvdbash30_zpsmdiqgv2k.jpg

Jaimie Alexander
 photo ea4d5eb553178d73e035af835eaa3877--jaimie-alexander-haircuts_zpszuyulhrs.jpg

Sandra Bullock
 photo 8957797a3335d16a59c295a246f3c3b2--dark-eyes-sandra-bullock_zpsujiim6hd.jpg

Roarke:

David Gandy
 photo c4ea9a460fd104c470e4ef84911395b1--david-gandy-death_zpsmf1gyi38.jpg

 photo 90ba3e055929dcd00115bdda2f6bf100--black-dagger-brotherhood-brotherhood-series_zpskzvpioma.jpg

Michael Fassbender
 photo michael-fassbender1_zps5zr42q1i.jpg

Hugh Jackman
 photo hugh-jackman_zpswzp4pukh.jpg

Henry Cavill
 photo ae89690bca4869ea6789f4cbd163bf14--black-jackets-biker-jackets_zps4fs717v3.jpg
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews466 followers
June 26, 2017
I'm amazed how Ms. Roberts manages to write such a different, but Always interesting, crimes! WOW!!!

And I'm amazed that these crimes are always a possible ones! Human idiocy and bloodthirst will never cease to astonish me!!!

Here we have two killers. Young, rich, pampered. And totally out of their minds crazy!!!

Here the concept of romance is used as a deadly game! How crazy is that???!!!

I'm also amazed by the author's ability to insert witticisms, smart remarks in a very serious moments thus defusing its seriousness! I rarely incountered this in crime/mystery books and it is so very appreciated here!!!
Profile Image for Al *the semi serial series skipper*.
1,659 reviews816 followers
January 8, 2018
Here we have two friends playing a game by raping women and killing them and Eve tries to find them before they kill more women. At this point of the series I don't know what else to say, the entire series is an experience you don't want to miss. I love it.

Profile Image for Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog).
1,027 reviews480 followers
February 8, 2015
I read the previous 13 novels in the "in Death" series as well as the two short stories and I still haven't gotten enough of the main characters, Eve and Roarke. In this latest installment, Lt. Eve Dallas is investigating the serial murder of women who participated in on-line poetry chat rooms, each the apparent victim of romance gone horribly wrong.

This novel is a little different than most of the others in the series in that you know early on whodunit. The suspense comes in wondering if Eve will figure it out before anyone else is murdered and in hoping Eve can beat the killer at his own game.

In this book, J.D. Robb re-introduces us to Charles Monroe and Dr. Louise DiMatto (tertiary characters from previous novels) and continues their character development. Peabody and McNab are also at it again with verbal sparring and miscommunication abounding. "Seduction" is infused with taught suspense, laugh-out-loud wit, bad guys you love to hate, and a little romance thrown in for good measure.
Profile Image for Diane.
677 reviews30 followers
April 10, 2019
What a despicable pair of spoiled brats, with one being so much worse than the other. And sadly, even though this is set in the future, it's not beyond the realm of actually happening.

Louise and Charles meet in this book - gotta love that couple. Ian and Charles get into a good knock around fight with "Dishy Dimato" cooling them off!

McNab and Peabody get back together and this time exclusively!

Two thumbs up and 5 stars!
Profile Image for Kjen.
490 reviews36 followers
March 23, 2013
Another wonderful re-read...Loved Roarke's reaction to Eve being sick and her learning to deal with it. (Thanks to Summerset!) Lots of character growth...Roarke is getting more involved in the case. Eve is still extremely annoyed, but letting him. Progress on the Peabody/McNab front, as well. "We're a couple." "A couple of what?" Vintage Eve. Loved Eve's rant in Whitney's office...and his reaction. On to the next!
Profile Image for Chan.
769 reviews50 followers
August 10, 2020
Another great edition to the In Death series.

It's funny how Roarke is becoming more and more involved with Eve's police work. Someone who ran from the law is now very much a part of the law.
Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,372 followers
December 18, 2018
Suspense 4.25 stars / Romance 4 stars

The title says it all.
Interesting crime trope. But the villains were clear in the middle of the story.
I like the tension till the end.

Romance. Eve and Roarke almost perfect.
McNab - mega a§§hole and Peabody was pathetic. He slept with many OWs, threw it in her face and she just took him back? Give me a break!!! This installment ruined Peabody's character for me.
Profile Image for Lena.
1,201 reviews330 followers
January 9, 2019
D1C34540-E259-4FEB-B5FB-E33507A01060.jpg
Tag team rapists are far from my favorite topic of entertainment violence. While it was a well paced procedural it was far from fun.

And Peabody and McNab got on my last nerve. I would have had them reassigned... to Jersey.
Profile Image for Anita.
2,486 reviews206 followers
March 7, 2018
Romantic, well read, poetic, drop dead gorgeous - every woman's dream man, right? Except this guy is nothing but a well planned illusion to make a woman do anything he desires. As always, this installment of the "In Death" series delivers a great plot and Eve and Roarke.

Dante finds his targets in cyberspace and carefully plans his "date" with her weeks in advance. Candlelight, music, roses, wine. Wine that is laced with a date-rape drug designed to make her lose all her inhibitions and do whatever he wants her to do. When she ends up on a sidewalk, 12 stories down, she becomes a victim and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team will not stop until they find out how it happened and why.
Profile Image for Ann Lou.
564 reviews87 followers
July 3, 2017
We have young and innocent women who gets seduced thru the net with poetry, travel and romance. They end up meeting said Romeo and don't survive the night. It is up to our kick ass cop to find the sick and twisted killer.

As usual, Roarke is being his perfect self. Eve is in her usual bitchy but tenacious self. Mavis and Trina's appearance were mag! I am so glad Peabody and McNabb are together for real.
Profile Image for Obsidian.
3,099 reviews1,098 followers
July 5, 2022
"Seduction in Death" (4.5 stars)-This one takes place in the summer of 2059 and we have Eve going alone for a bit since Roarke is in Ireland for a funeral/wake. The case is dealing with the murder of women in this one and the why behind it is kind of gross/awful. We do have some more character development in this one. McNabb and Peabody are not doing great and are fighting with each other and making everyone miserable. This of course comes down to her relationship with Charles. And what makes me smile a bit is this one has Louise in it, and this is the book where she first meets Charles and sparks fly. Honestly I like it just for that and forget about the whole murder plot in this one. 
Profile Image for Leanne.
585 reviews16 followers
May 18, 2023
4.5⭐️

Roarke - “My heart. You’re my heart.”

Picking up the next book in the In Death series always brings a smile to my face. There is always so many touching moments between Eve and Roarke but I also love the humour with them as well.

Eve is tasked with finding the Casanova killer. A killer courting his victims on line before drugging them and killing them on their first dates. All the team are back together with Charles and Louise playing more of a part in this book. Eve won’t stop until she gets the killer in a cage.

13 books in and it’s still just as good as the first book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,047 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.