The Book Was Better

  It's hard to believe that this is JD's (and my) 62nd edition of Dallas and Roarke. I've been following this journey since the beginning and I love the character arch that spans the whole series. Formulaic? Yes. But this one added in a few unexpected surprises.  Dallas, with her expert civilian consultant, is called away from a charity gala to the home of another wealthy family, where there appears to be a burglary gone wrong. Eve and Peabody's investigation reveals a dead body and a host of secrets, including a hidden vault filled with more questions than answers.  The callbacks and personal connections were a treat for a series that had gone a little stale in recent editions. Whodunits are my jam and even I gave a little gasp at the culprit. This book feels fresh and new, with the friendships and soulmates we've all come to adore. Only request: More Peabody. She's smarter than anyone gives her credit.  Stolen in Death: ★★★★3/4

What I liked about this book:  Ryland's self-deprecating humor  The "science for dummies"  The flashback structure  The relatable narration  Ryland and Rocky's relationship  What I didn't love about this book:  Ryland and Rocky's relationship  Relatable-ness to the point of absurdity  Over-science  Full disclosure: I am not a sci-fi person. I thought that this book would be more "realistic sci-fi" in feel, similar to The Martian . The same light-heartedness-around-a-heavy-topic was there, but sorry...you lost me at aliens.  Yes, Ryland and Rocky's relationship is on both lists. I enjoyed their "bromance" and their deep desire to understand each other. But seriously? Let me just send a sample of my ship to this unknown vessel and then let the alien board me? I get that Ryland is a pretty chill dude, but c'mon. In fact, I felt the mental eye roll about most of Ryland's reactions, including waking up from a coma (wow, I'm rippe...