Encore in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel: 56

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I was late to the game in reading the “In Death” series … was always putting it off: not even sure why – well, I was sort of sure why. She risked her life, her health, her dreams every time she took those pills, washed them down with vodka. It’s almost midnight, so Eve texts Peabody to let her know they are going to Brooklyn in the morning to interview the nephew before they put Debra back in Interview and she and Roarke go to bed.

Sometimes the crimes aren’t that interesting, but I really love Eve and Roarke and will happily read any new book in this series. Eve gets in touch with one of the primaries on Rose’s death, Chief Wimbly, and learns that the general consensus is that Debra Bernstein is a piece of work and that Debra found a way backstage before the show despite not being invited by Rose. A famous actor raises a glass of champagne as a toast to his wife, takes a sip and crashes to the ground.Roarke says he would have been 12 twenty-five years ago when Leah Rose died from an overdose: "I've failed in my duty to know all about all, even what happened in New York when I was roughly twelve and in Dublin. She says she will cut people to bloody ribbons with her tongue given the motive and opportunity, she’ll feed the gossip sheets nasty (but only true, otherwise they come back to bite you) tidbits to humiliate people, and she once punched a director who thought she wanted a part bad enough to let him grope under her skirt, but she kept the part and he didn’t try that again, and then a year later she revealed what happened; since she wasn’t the first or last, he became a pariah and it ruined him. Maeve took to reminding Lane that she was only there because Leah was in the morgue, and has had a few barbed things to say about the revival, how at least this time when she’s stepping into her shoes, Spindal is still wearing hers.

She tells Eve she will pay for this, and Eve tells her she does get paid for this “but this is one of those times I’d do it for free. Greene, for Debra, and she lucked into a judge who allowed her to post bail (also paid by Spindal), so Bernstein is free and back at the hotel. Gorgeous, cranky guy hates Christmas, gets stuck in a small town for a couple of weeks during the season, finds love with small-town girl - maybe the local vet with a sweet, frisky puppy - and the true meaning of Christmas.We also got some hints about Eve and Roarke taking a vacation to Greece soon and there 3 year anniversary is coming up. Another factor that put me off a bit was the fact that it was set in the ‘future’, the mid-21st century. Lane invited Vera because if she didn’t there would be talk – there would be talk either way, so "take the high road" plus she’s a draw.

Peabody gives Eve the basics on Novak, and Eve says she will poke around at home, since they have arrived at Vera’s Upper East Side penthouse.She thinks Rose chose poorly, and she's sad for what might have been, but doesn't blame anybody for her death, although if she had to pick somebody it would be Rose's mother for not taking care of her, and for getting Rose the pills.

She shocks Eliza with that one, who eventually admits to that but says it was just to give her (Eliza) the chance to headline opening night, not to kill her (Rose).Eve sees that Eliza’s stalker was released two months ago and looks like a psychopath: “shaggy brown hair and the eyes of a puppy who might decide to take a quick bite at any moment. Eve asks if there’s anybody who doesn’t want the revival of Upstage to happen, and they think of Maeve Spindal, who played Lily Bright in the original production; she has a grudge against Eliza, thinks that Eliza got lucky with Leah Rose dying, but is starring in a play in London. He tried to get her help - he had a family member who was a recovering alcoholic, so he knew the signs.