In Death characters
Encyclopedia
This article describes the major and minor characters of J.D. Robb's In Death
series, excepting the two protagonists, Lt. Eve Dallas
and her husband, Roarke
.
Eve's former partner and the man who trained her, picking her up as an officer after finding her working a crime scene. He no longer works Homicide
, but is instead the captain of the Electronics Detection Division (EDD).
Feeney is a very relaxed man who likes to dress a bit messily and loves his electronics; that said, he is a very devoted cop and is apparently a good father and husband, his wife's name is Sheila. He also has grandchildren. He is often seen eating a bag of candied nuts, which he may offer to Eve when they are deep in conversation about a case.
His former partner is murdered in Ceremony in Death, a book during which Eve personally investigates the murder; he's godparent
to the man's granddaughter, who is murdered during the course of the book. Feeney fights with and temporarily breaks the relationship between himself and Eve; however, Roarke intervenes and tells Feeney that the man who raped Eve as a child was her own father, and that subsequently, Feeney is her true father figure. Of course, Wouldn't admit it.
As Eve's trainer and former partner for years, there are a great deal of Eve's personal and professional habits that mimic Feeney greatly. Roarke has observed on several occasions (in Divided in Death and others) that Eve really is just like Feeney.
Feeney is one of the few who knows that Homeland Security
covered up Richard Troy's murder by his daughter's hand.
Mavis is Eve's best and first real friend. The two met when Eve was an officer; since Eve was promoted to Detective when she was twenty-three, they met sometime between 2046 and 2051. Eve arrested her for being a con artist - several times - and the two ended up becoming friends. Eve often describes her as "Pixie-like" which leads the reader to believe that Mavis is a tiny woman, who radically changes her appearance at will. From totally different lengths, styles, and colors of hair, to eye color. She is often described wearing jewel colors, and bouncing around. Her favorite expressions are "mag" as in magnificent, and "iced" meaning "cool". She also tends to expand on these when she is excited.
Mavis is originally a singer in a club called the Blue Squirrel; it's a very low-class club where Mavis typically performed half-naked. Throughout the books, Mavis eventually gets a recording deal (she actually is quite talented) through one of Roarke's recording companies, and becomes a hugely popular rock star.
She has an almost innocent personality which belies the very real street knowledge she possesses; she is also very loyal to Eve, wanting nothing but the best for her, and always knows what Eve needs. She knows about Eve's past, but it is not clear if she knows that Eve killed her father. Nevertheless, Mavis would probably agree with the course of action.
Mavis tells Eve she is pregnant with Leonardo's baby in Purity in Death
; she marries him in the delivery room during Born in Death. Summerset offers his wife's ring, which he wore on a chain around his neck, until the time that they can find another ring. Summerset also gives her away. Shortly after, Mavis gives birth to her and Leonardo's baby girl, named Bella Eve, with the nickname Belle.
He is technically Roarke's butler. However, he used to go by the name Basil Kolchek back in Ireland in the 2030s; he had a daughter named Marlena. During the series' fictional "Urban Wars", a time of urban unrest, Summerset served as a medical aide, also working with the title doctor from Origin in Death
.
When Roarke was ten, he met Summerset and Marlena, age eight. They ran cons together; shortly after, Summerset found Roarke half-beaten to death in an alley (by Patrick Roarke); he saved him and nursed him back to health. Roarke mentions (somewhat conflictingly) later that he thought Summerset was a mark and tried to steal from him, but as Roarke said, Summerset "dissuaded him of that notion".
Patrick Roarke turned up shortly later dead in an alley, stabbed in the chest and robbed of all money and valuables - supposedly a victim of a mugging. It was a surprisingly innocuous death for a very dangerous man, and Eve realizes in Portrait in Death
that it is Summerset who in fact killed Patrick. Summerset says that he did it because he had "children to protect." Roarke does not know as of the most recent book and likely will not find out.
When Roarke was sixteen, he was running a small gambling ring; his competitors wanted him gone. They figured that the best way to deliver the message was through Marlena, Summerset's fourteen-year old daughter. The six men raped, murdered, and mutilated Marlena, then dumped her body on their doorstep. In revenge, Roarke slowly hunted those six men over the next decade, the basis for the plot in Vengeance in Death
. When he comes to the U.S., he brings Summerset with him, asking Summerset to become his home's caretaker
. He thinks of Summerset as a father.
In that same book, Eve realizes why Summerset does not like her: she says to him that he has always wanted someone like Marlena for Roarke, a sweet and innocent young girl - something Eve has never been. Summerset had not realized the basis of his dislike, and is guilt-stricken over it.In the end of Vengeance, Eve takes a hit meant for Summerset.
The adversarial relationship between Eve and Summerset is a matter of course: she often relieves her work-related stress by insulting him; she throws her jacket on a post because she knows it annoys him, and because he expects her to do so. In Conspiracy in Death, it becomes clear that Summerset is merely fulfilling the role of adversary, but has genuine concern for Eve's well-being. The heart "she didn't know he had" squeezes in empathy for her situation; he tells her that she is late for dinner simply to put the thought of food into her mind (he knows she would have forgotten otherwise); and when a pallid and depressed Eve, soaked from walking in the snow, gives a lethargic apology to one of his particularly withering comments, he goes to Roarke
and says, "I insulted her and she...apologized. Something must be done."
On several occasions, the two have had meaningful conversations over their only common interest, Roarke. In Innocent in Death, Summerset fully supports Eve over Roarke's ex-lover, telling Eve that even though he doesn't like her, Eve is the one for Roarke because she genuinely loves him.
Summerset is also very fond of Mavis and tends to cater to whatever she wants on her visits; he treats her very affectionately. Ironically, this may be some indication that Mavis was like Marlena. He gives Mavis away at her wedding, and loans her his own wife's ring, a further indication of a father-like feeling for Mavis.
Eve's police commander; her immediate superior, since Eve oddly enough does not have a captain
. He is one of the few black
characters in the series, along with the Chief of the NYPSD, Tibble. Eve respects him greatly.
Whitney is a solid, excellent police officer, and for the most part is always on Eve's side. He recognizes that she is an excellent cop; if it weren't for the fact that Eve prefers being on the street, he would have promoted her to captain himself. However, that and the fact that other high-ranking members of the police force frown on her marriage to Roarke have made the promotion more difficult, something he does not agree with.
He does not aspire to higher political positions than the one he has; he also has been a cop as long as Feeney has, and the two were apparently in uniform together (covered in Ceremony).
He has at least one daughter (a lawyer) with his wife, Anna Whitney, and endures stoically the parties his wife loves throwing. He also states in 'Reunion' that he has more than one son as well as grandchildren in another book.
In Glory, the victim was a good friend of his, a prosecutor
back from when he was on the streets. Because the prime suspects are the victim's family, he is very uncomfortable with the case and subsequently oversteps his boundaries, damaging his relationship with Eve. The relationship is still shaky in Immortal. However, when he finds out that Eve killed her father while he was raping her, he immediately tells Eve that their police department will not open the matter, effectively shutting down the possibility of Eve being indicted
for murder. He also knows that Homeland Security
left Eve to be raped by Richard Troy, and subsequently murder him.
Surprising Eve, he gets along very well with Roarke and the two have, on rare occasions, smoked and drunk together.
Channel 75 news reporter, on the crime beat.
She is the intended victim of the murders in Glory in Death
, but Eve is the one who stops the murders. She is an extremely ambitious reporter, but an ethical one; she will always protect her source (in these books, the source is Eve) and follows her cases thoroughly. The transactions between Nadine and Eve are usually the same: when Eve is in the early stages of investigating a case, Nadine will call her repeatedly, asking for information. Eve usually responds (or calls back) on the third or fourth call and gives Nadine a few key pieces of information. From there, Eve expects Nadine to do some more digging (which she does more quickly and effectively than the police), return the facts to Eve, and ultimately be rewarded with an exclusive interview when the case breaks.
When Eve's badge is taken away from her in Conspiracy in Death
, Nadine rallies to the cause with a bombardment of news clips and stories, playing on the news, about the heroic cop's badge unjustly taken away. She and Eve are good friends, and the only reporter Eve truly trusts to properly deliver select media information. In fact, Nadine was at Eve's bachelorette party.
Nadine actually acquires her own show in Memory in Death as a direct result of the story Eve fed her in Origin in Death
, which being a case about human cloning, garnered Nadine immense publicity worldwide. There is also a TV movie being made about Nadine and the case; Nadine teasingly asks Eve (but half-seriously) if they can film some of the interviews at Eve's house, to which she answers emphatically no. That said, Eve makes an appearance on the show (with Roarke watching from off-camera) in Innocent in Death, interviewing with Nadine about that book's case.
Eve often observes throughout the series that Nadine wears high heels, which Nadine says she wears to make her legs look good. Additionally, Nadine often bribes her way into Eve's office with large amounts of sweets, such as fudge
, doughnuts and chocolate brownie
s.
Mira is the resident psychologist
and profiler for the NYPSD; Eve comments in Naked that she could have opened a much more profitable private practice, but Charlotte wanted to work with the police.
Charlotte tells Eve that she was raped as a child by her stepfather, when she was twelve, and the rapes went on for several years before she finally admitted it. Her mother divorced her stepfather and remarried Charlotte's birth father, and her parents are happy to this day.
Charlotte has several children with her husband, Dennis Mira, and has grandchildren as well.
Eve loves Charlotte very much but has not admitted it to her face; nevertheless, Charlotte knows. Charlotte thinks of Eve as a daughter, and throughout the series has gotten Eve to open up to her more and more.
Charlotte knows all about Eve's life: her rapes as a child, her killing of her father in self-defense, her subsequent foster care, subsequent time spent in juvenile detention
, her reasons for being a police officer, and her life with Roarke. Charlotte is also one of the few that knows that Homeland Security
had a hand in covering up Eve's father's death.
Charlotte and Eve experienced some conflict of interest
in Origin in Death
, since Charlotte was friends with the true villain of the book and deeply disturbed by the man's experiments with human lives.
Temporary aide in Glory and Immortal in Death
Permanent aide: from Rapture in Death through to Imitation
Partner: Promotion to Detective, third grade in Imitation in Death.
Delia comes from a family of "Free-agers" , which is a fictional extension of the New Age
movement from the 1980s. Her family is very peaceful and pacifistic, but Delia prefers exercising justice her way - the police way. She is a very responsible and sober police officer, but as the books continue, her personality relaxes.
She dates Charles Monroe for a little while starting in Holiday in Death, but she quickly realizes that she thinks of him as a brother. Nevertheless, they continue to go out on excursions together, confusing Ian McNab.
Funny enough, Eve thinks of Delia as a little annoying sister. Not as close as Mavis but just as near!
Ian McNab is Delia's lover; she meets and clashes with him in his introduction during Vengeance in Death
. They start a sexual relationship in Loyalty in Death
, break them off in Betrayal in Death, and officially start dating in Seduction in Death. He meets her parents in Reunion in Death, they move in together and sign a lease in Visions in Death, and she visits his family in Memory in Death (they live in Scotland). She's very happy with him, but as she states to Eve once, she's fine living with him - marriage is very far off.
Eve tells Delia about her childhood and subsequent act of patricide
in Visions in Death.
Of a Scottish background, Ian is a detective in Feeney's Electronics Detection Division. He is particularly good with computers (though not as good as Roarke). Ian is also a very flashy dresser, wearing bright, spangly clothes and earrings. Feeney describes him as a known candy thief, and he has been caught at least once pilfering candy bars from Eve's office.
His relationship with Delia Peabody begins as a rocky one. At first he infuriates her, and they have exchanges much like bickering children. He repeatedly calls her "She-Body." Unaware that Delia is not actually dating Charles Monroe, Ian is incredibly jealous. His jealousy peaks in Betrayal in Death, and he fights with Peabody and breaks off his relationship with her. The two are subsequently miserable for several books. After having a fight with Charles Monroe, however, in Seduction in Death, he gets back together with her. Eventually, in Visions in Death, Peabody tells him the true nature of her relationship with Monroe.
In Purity in Death
, Ian was temporarily paralyzed and tried to break up with Peabody to spare her being stuck with an invalid. She told him where he could put that idea and remained with him, his body waking up again shortly after. He then confessed that he loved her, not wanting to miss the chance to tell her again.
Delia does eventually tell him that she never had a romance with Charles, but not until Visions in Death, in which she enjoys Ian's suffering. They are living together by then, in the same building as Mavis and Leonardo, and have exchanged proclamations of love for each other.
Another detective from Eve's division, Homicide. A very able police officer, he begins making regular appearances in Conspiracy in Death
. He was originally a member of the anti-crime division, but transferred over to Homicide well before his first appearance. He enjoys teasing Eve about anything he can, usually relating to her relationship with Roarke and associated changes; despite this teasing Roarke views Baxter as a solid cop and easygoing person. This did not, however, prevent a short altercation between Roarke and Baxter in Conspiracy in Death
; when Baxter is responsible for interviewing Eve as a suspect in a homicide, Roarke punches him in the face. Whenever Eve has a fairly large team for a big investigation, she brings Baxter in. He is a bachelor and is described as being good looking; however, he has not been romantically tied to any particular person.
In Purity in Death
, Eve urges Baxter to take Trueheart under his supervision, meaning that Trueheart serves him the same way Delia did Eve. He admits in rare moments that he's very fond of Trueheart, often referring to him as "the kid" or "the boy." His capabilities as a good cop and trainer are demonstrated through Trueheart's sharpening skills.
Baxter (almost always referred to as such) is badly stunned in the end of Survivor in Death, but with no apparent lasting damage.
, as the victim of the central case is his girlfriend Detective Amaryllis Coltraine.
Charles is a licensed companion who is good friends with the first victim of the series, another LC. Eve is friends with him, although she mostly disapproves of his profession - in turn, he doesn't approve of hers.
He starts dating Delia Peabody in Holiday in Death, but after a very short time they quickly become good friends. However, Delia doesn't tell anyone about their friendship and for several books, all other characters think they're in a relationship.
In Seduction in Death, Charles Monroe meets Dr. Louise Dimatto and immediately falls in love with her. She has no problem with his profession and the two eventually move in together. Charles served as an informal sort of consultant in the same book.
In Strangers in Death, Charles decides to retire as an LC and instead decides to start a career as a sex therapist. He also asks Louise to marry him and she accepts.
Eve's third victim is the owner of a cat; Eve takes the cat into custody. However, the victim's daughter is too distraught to take the cat, and Eve has it at her apartment, trying to find a name for it,when the perpetrator of the book has Eve at gunpoint, the cat brushes past his leg, distracting him and giving Eve the leverage she needs to fight back. Eve thus names the cat Galahad, after the Arthurian knight
, because he was her "knight in shining armor."
The cat is Eve's, Roarke's, and Summerset's pet; he is often fed by all of them and takes food as he pleases, and occasionally steals it. On occasion, Eve has had bad dreams from which she wakes up to find Galahad trying to wake and comfort her. On other occasions when Eve falls dead asleep Galahad sits on her butt. When Nixie, the title character from Survivor in Death, stays at their home, she stays mostly with Galahad, as he comforts her. When Mavis Brings Belle for a Visit Creation in Death, Galahad is scared of the baby.
Eve mentions later in Memory in Death that the cat has been neutered. The cat makes minor appearances in almost every book.
He is described as a fat, heavy and lazy gray cat with dual colored eyes, one green and one gold.
, but her first name is revealed in Glory in Death
Anna Whitney is the commander's wife; unlike her husband, she is white
, although their interracial marriage
has never been explicitly pointed out. They have several children together.
Anna mostly terrifies Eve because she is extremely put together, an extremely efficient hostess, and combined with her marriage to the commander, can highly intimidate Eve as well. That said, she is to all appearances a devoted wife and mother. In Glory, Eve finds out that she has given large amounts of cash to the top suspect because he was in gambling debt.
In Origin in Death
, Commander Whitney specifically calls Eve because his wife has asked him to ask her to keep her plastic surgery details out of the case, a request with which Eve has no difficulty complying.
Roarke's administrator, nicknamed Caro; she is his right hand at his company. She is the mother of Reva Ewing, a former United States Secret Service
agent who took a hit for the President of the United States
.
Caro is an extremely efficient and capable woman; the only time she asks Roarke for his help is in Divided in Death, when her daughter is framed for murder. Other than that, she serves as his assistant, appearing briefly in many of the books.
Richard and Elizabeth DeBlass are lawyers, and Richard is the son of Senator Gerald DeBlass, who murdered their daughter, Sharon. Richard and Elizabeth were genuinely unaware that Sharon had been molested continually as a child by her grandfather, nor did they know that Richard's sister had suffered similarly.
In Vengeance in Death
, Eve is delivered a message from the killer via a very young boy with a cat, who is abused by his mother and spends his time out on the streets. Roarke finds this information out, and arranges with Child Protective Services
for the boy to be put into Richard and Elizabeth's home. They eventually adopt him.
They are seen again in Survivor in Death in the case of the child found in that book. Nixie Swisher had guardians, but after their own daughter's death, they refuse to take her in. Nixie's only remaining relatives are unsuitable; left out of options, Roarke and Eve again contact the DeBlasses, who come to talk to Nixie and take her into their custody. They are accompanied by the little boy from Vengeance.
Their current lives are in trying to give the two children they have adopted good lives and alleviate all of their tragedies.
The owner and proprietor of a club known as the "Down and Dirty"; it's an extremely dirty and grimy club, but illegal activity is somewhat low. His nickname comes from the sound that heads make when he rams them together. He becomes friends with Eve after initially mistaking her for a stripper. He is described as being very dark-skinned and large in stature, with a face that a mother would have trouble loving. He tends to favor a loincloth type dress, and silver clothing. After some initial meetings where she would pay him for information (in both Glory and Immortal), he occasionally helps her out by letting her have private meetings with other cops, informants, and Nadine Furst in his club's back rooms. He typically refers to her affectionately as "skinny white girl."
In Portrait in Death
, his younger half-sister, a medical school student, is murdered; Eve takes him to the morgue to view her body, comforts him, and she and Roarke plant a tree for his sister in Central Park
. After this, Crack says that she will never pay him for another favor again Origin in Death
. Eve seems just as fond of him as he is of her.
Eve's bachelorette party is at Crack's club in Immortal in Death
.
Leonardo is a famous clothing designer and Mavis's husband, marrying her in Born in Death shortly before she delivers their daughter, Bella Eve. He is an enormous man (6' 5" according to Immortal in Death), possesses Native American
heritage, detests violence and is very peaceful. In Conspiracy in Death he is described as having the spirit of a seven-year-old boy on the first day of school. They currently live together in Eve's old apartment.
He designed Eve's wedding dress; Eve is very fond of him and approves of him as a good match for Mavis.
Berenski, almost always referred to as "Dickhead" is the Chief Tech at the NYPSD's crime lab. He has an egg shaped head and thinning black hair as well as spider-like fingers. He is not above, and indeed often seems to expect, bribery in exchange for quick lab work. This, and his somewhat oily personality contribute to his unaffectionate nickname. Nonetheless he is highly respected for the quality of his work. He appears, albeit briefly, in most books after his first appearance.
Jamie shows up as the grandson and brother of two of the victims in the book; he's a teenager who attempts to break into Eve and Roarke's home in order to express to them his desire to find the truth about what happened to his family. His computer skills are such that he actually makes it into the yard, though Roarke quickly catches him. Much to Roarke's annoyance, he sneaked over the garden wall with the help of a modified portable gaming system, one that Roarke actually manufactures.
He hero-worships both Eve and Roarke. In the end of Ceremony in Death, Jamie kills the murderer of his sister with an athame
; Eve takes the blame and pretends she did it in order to spare him from a murder trial.
In Purity in Death
, Roarke brings him in as a technical assistant due to his very good computer and programming skills. He makes another appearance in Kindred in Death; he is now a university student who was good friends with one of the victims and offers Eve help where he can.
The most naive character in the series; like his name, he is a young, honest, innocent, and enthusiastic young officer (in "Witness in Death" he thanks Eve for giving him the mission of standing outside in the cold all night long). He has a single mother whom he loves very much, and who makes a brief appearance in Witness in Death when he is badly injured (by other police officers) while chasing a suspect. It is also mentioned in this book that he is twenty-two.
In Purity in Death
, Trueheart is taken under by Baxter, who agrees to train him at Eve's request. In this same book, Trueheart discharges his stunner, which turns out to be the final step in killing a victim under attack by the villains of the novel. Trueheart is kidnapped in Portrait in Death
by the murderer; he manages to stay conscious enough to give Eve and Baxter directions to his location.
Trueheart is well liked by virtually everyone—except, ironically, the officer with whom he was working when he was introduced (Ellen Bowers, one of the murder victims in Conspiracy in Death).
Louise is serving as a doctor in a clinic in the slums of Canal Street; she comes from a very rich family of important doctors, but rather than becoming an important doctor with a high salary, she works in the worst parts of NYC. Louise does have a trust that she lives on, and occasionally supplemented the clinic with her own cash.
She is a witness of sorts in Seduction in Death to a body being tossed off a balcony. In addition, she serves as an informal consultant and informer to Eve in this book, Reunion in Death, Origin in Death
, and others; Eve also prefers her treatment to that of other doctors, so she treated Eve's wounds in Reunion.
Louise takes a large bribe from Eve for half a million to help her with the case, as Eve is not in possession of her badge at the time and it is technically illegal. The half million is for Louise's clinic; Eve finds out in Seduction that Louise actually received three million, the other 2.5 being on condition that she contract her services to a women and children's abuse shelter, Dochas. This clinic is of Roarke's founding, and Louise spends half her week there as of Portrait in Death
.
Webster is assigned to NYPSD Internal Affairs, and is one of Eve's former lovers. Although they only spent one night together, Webster never forgot about Eve, and retained a great deal of affection for her. This leads to an argument and fistfight with Roarke in Judgment in Death. Eve is baffled by Webster's feelings for her, and infuriated by both his and Roarke's actions.
Dennis Mira is the husband of Dr. Charlotte Mira. He seems to be a very absent-minded fellow, walking around with his shirt buttons mismatched. However, he is a very kind man; Eve is very fond of him and finds it easy to talk to him. He is very nonthreatening to her; however, he is intelligent, and as Charlotte says, very good at separating what is good and evil.
Eve sees him in Memory in Death, and before she knows what's happening, she breaks down weeping. She is mostly sad because she wonders what a difference it would have made to her tragic life if she had had just one person like Dennis Mira who would have loved her (like a parent). Eve likes him very much and in the same book, buys him a scarf. He believes Eve to be a very determined and good person with a necessary dark streak in her that he respects.
Yancy (No first name yet revealed) is an Ident Artist working for the NYPSD. He is handsome and mild mannered, and is described by Dallas as the best imaging artist there is. He is adept at bonding with witnesses and drawing out all of the details that they can remember about a suspect, and will not allow Dallas or anyone else to rush his work when he knows a witness needs a break.
Harvo is a female tech at the crime lab, specialising in hair and fibre analysis, describing herself as the "Queen of Hair" and "Princess of Fibre" on meeting Dallas and Peabody. She has very white skin with spiked red hair and green eyes the colour of spring grass. She shares the general opinion of Dickhead that the other characters have, although admits that he is a brilliant tech.
Callendar is another of Feeney's "boys" (all of Feeney's e-cops are his boys, regardless of gender) and is a friend of Peabody and McNab. She is introduced as part of the large taskforce working on the "Groom" serial killer case. Described by McNab as almost as good as he is, she has dark hair, burnt honey skin with sloe eyes and impressive breasts. In Promises in Death
she is excited to be sent to the Omega Colony, her first off-planet assignment, to gather evidence against Max Ricker.
or memories
.
Richard Troy is Eve's biological father; from when she was about five or six, he began raping her, continuing until the night of his death when Eve was eight years old. Eve kills him with a kitchen knife while he is drunkenly raping her, in Dallas, Texas, but he breaks her arm during the process.
He is present in every single book, as he is always the spectre of Eve's nightmares. Typically, he appears in her nightmares to tell her that no matter how many people she finds justice for, there will always be more monsters like him, waiting to do more evil to innocents like the little girl she was.
His first name is revealed in Judgement in Death; his last name is found by Roarke in his file on Homeland Security Organization
's files in Divided in Death. He was working as a kind of informer for HSO, despite the fact that he was a criminal with a minor child, Eve (at eight years old).
Richard Troy was raising Eve - who is definitely his biological child - with the intent of using her for child prostitution. Mira concludes and tells Eve in Reunion in Death that Troy was probably not a pedophile himself, but preferred adult women, something that Eve does vaguely remember. In Interlude in Death, Roarke realizes that his father, Patrick Roarke (see next) had business in Dallas, Texas, with Troy, the same week of Troy's death.
This business is fully realized in Divided in Death; Eve remembers her father telling her in Reunion that she was finally going to start working (or rather, being raped for her father's profit). That Patrick Roarke was there, with cash, on his own business, indicates that Troy was going to sell Eve to Patrick Roarke.
For the record, HSO was perfectly aware that Eve murdered Troy, but cleaned up the body and had the case unsolved, as they had themselves recommended she not be taken out of Troy's custody.
Troy also had business dealings with Max Ricker, the villain of Judgement in Death, and stole money from him. Ricker knew he had a daughter, but over twenty years later, does not make the connection between Troy and Eve.
Troy was under surveillance by the HSO the day he died. He was recorded as having returned to his hotel room at 2:00 a.m. in the morning; in Eve's memories, he begins beating and raping her immediately after his return, during which she kills him. Therefore his time and date of death is shortly after 2:00 a.m., May 13, 2036.
The father of Roarke
. Patrick Roarke was a criminal who had the Irish police in his pocket, as he wielded some minor power. He came to the US in 2036 to ruin Max Ricker's gun-running operation in Atlanta, a situation in which he double-crossed Max Ricker and the police officers, who were paying him to be an informant.
Siobhan Brody ran away from him with their son when Roarke was a baby; upon her return, Patrick Roarke killed her and threw her in the river with the assistance of some friends. He then raised Roarke by having him steal throughout the day and bring back money to him.
With the information that Eve's father was going to start selling her in Dallas, it is to be concluded that Richard Troy was going to sell his daughter to Patrick Roarke.
According to Roarke, Patrick Roarke should have died in 2035 (when he was twelve), but there is a continuity error. See: Roarke. Going by information in Divided in Death, Patrick Roarke dies sometime in Ireland, 2036, at Summerset's hands.
Patrick Roarke leaves an uneasy legacy behind for Roarke with the experiences of a policeman named Skinner, who held Patrick (appropriately so) responsible for the death of thirteen police officers in an attempt to arrest Max Ricker. Decades later, Skinner has transferred the grudge to Roarke in Interlude in Death.
The biological mother of Roarke
and one of twins with Sinead Lannigan, Siobhan originally was from County Clare
, part of a farming family. She came to Dublin at eighteen, hoping for the excitement of a city life. She met and was charmed by Patrick Roarke (see above), and bore his child out of wedlock
. He abused her, but she repeatedly asked him to marry her, and in her social worker's words, give Roarke a true father.
She eventually ran away from Patrick and took her son with her to a shelter, but went back, believing she shouldn't take her son away from his father. Subsequently, Patrick Roarke beat her to death and threw her in the River Liffey
. Patrick Roarke's real wife, Meg Roarke, then raised Roarke (abusively) until he was about five, whereupon she left.
Roarke resembles his father almost identically, but Siobhan's twin tells Roarke that he has inherited the shape of his eyes from his mother.
Stella is Eve's biological mother; the evidence for this is that Eve remembers seeing her own eyes reflected in her mother's face in a flashback in Imitation. Eve's mother was a prostitute and a drug addict; in addition, she was abusive. In the flashback, she finds Eve trying on her wigs and reacts badly, grabbing Eve by the hair and beating her. It is in fact Richard Troy that pulls the child away, telling Stella to instead "take a hit", promising her that this child will earn them a lot of money in subsequent years. Eve is about four years old in this flashback and had not yet been raped.
In New York to Dallas Stella is a main character: she is working with Isaac McQueen who ends up killing her.
In Death
The …in Death series of novels, written by Nora Roberts under her pseudonym J. D. Robb, features NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke and is set in a mid-21st century New York City. The stories also regularly feature other characters, including Captain Ryan Feeney, Detective Delia...
series, excepting the two protagonists, Lt. Eve Dallas
Eve Dallas
Eve Dallas is the main character of the In Death series, a futuristic romance-mystery series by J.D. Robb, pseudonym for author Nora Roberts.- Character Basis :...
and her husband, Roarke
Roarke
Roarke is a fictional character from the series In Death. He is the husband of Lt. Eve Dallas and together, they are the main characters of the futuristic romance-mystery series by J.D. Robb, pseudonym for NY Times best-selling author Nora Roberts...
.
Major characters
Consists of characters that typically appear in every book, whether their role be large or small, and are part of Eve's immediate circle of acquaintances. Characters are in order of appearance.Captain Ryan Feeney
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Eve's former partner and the man who trained her, picking her up as an officer after finding her working a crime scene. He no longer works Homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
, but is instead the captain of the Electronics Detection Division (EDD).
Feeney is a very relaxed man who likes to dress a bit messily and loves his electronics; that said, he is a very devoted cop and is apparently a good father and husband, his wife's name is Sheila. He also has grandchildren. He is often seen eating a bag of candied nuts, which he may offer to Eve when they are deep in conversation about a case.
His former partner is murdered in Ceremony in Death, a book during which Eve personally investigates the murder; he's godparent
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to the man's granddaughter, who is murdered during the course of the book. Feeney fights with and temporarily breaks the relationship between himself and Eve; however, Roarke intervenes and tells Feeney that the man who raped Eve as a child was her own father, and that subsequently, Feeney is her true father figure. Of course, Wouldn't admit it.
As Eve's trainer and former partner for years, there are a great deal of Eve's personal and professional habits that mimic Feeney greatly. Roarke has observed on several occasions (in Divided in Death and others) that Eve really is just like Feeney.
Feeney is one of the few who knows that Homeland Security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
covered up Richard Troy's murder by his daughter's hand.
Mavis Freestone
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Mavis is Eve's best and first real friend. The two met when Eve was an officer; since Eve was promoted to Detective when she was twenty-three, they met sometime between 2046 and 2051. Eve arrested her for being a con artist - several times - and the two ended up becoming friends. Eve often describes her as "Pixie-like" which leads the reader to believe that Mavis is a tiny woman, who radically changes her appearance at will. From totally different lengths, styles, and colors of hair, to eye color. She is often described wearing jewel colors, and bouncing around. Her favorite expressions are "mag" as in magnificent, and "iced" meaning "cool". She also tends to expand on these when she is excited.
Mavis is originally a singer in a club called the Blue Squirrel; it's a very low-class club where Mavis typically performed half-naked. Throughout the books, Mavis eventually gets a recording deal (she actually is quite talented) through one of Roarke's recording companies, and becomes a hugely popular rock star.
She has an almost innocent personality which belies the very real street knowledge she possesses; she is also very loyal to Eve, wanting nothing but the best for her, and always knows what Eve needs. She knows about Eve's past, but it is not clear if she knows that Eve killed her father. Nevertheless, Mavis would probably agree with the course of action.
Mavis tells Eve she is pregnant with Leonardo's baby in Purity in Death
Purity in Death
Purity in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the fifteenth novel in the In Death series, preceding Portrait in Death.-Plot summary:...
; she marries him in the delivery room during Born in Death. Summerset offers his wife's ring, which he wore on a chain around his neck, until the time that they can find another ring. Summerset also gives her away. Shortly after, Mavis gives birth to her and Leonardo's baby girl, named Bella Eve, with the nickname Belle.
Summerset, Lawrence Charles
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
He is technically Roarke's butler. However, he used to go by the name Basil Kolchek back in Ireland in the 2030s; he had a daughter named Marlena. During the series' fictional "Urban Wars", a time of urban unrest, Summerset served as a medical aide, also working with the title doctor from Origin in Death
Origin in Death
Origin in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the twenty-second novel in the In Death series, preceding Memory in Death.-Plot summary:...
.
When Roarke was ten, he met Summerset and Marlena, age eight. They ran cons together; shortly after, Summerset found Roarke half-beaten to death in an alley (by Patrick Roarke); he saved him and nursed him back to health. Roarke mentions (somewhat conflictingly) later that he thought Summerset was a mark and tried to steal from him, but as Roarke said, Summerset "dissuaded him of that notion".
Patrick Roarke turned up shortly later dead in an alley, stabbed in the chest and robbed of all money and valuables - supposedly a victim of a mugging. It was a surprisingly innocuous death for a very dangerous man, and Eve realizes in Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the sixteenth novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:Lt. Eve Dallas is celebrating the shortly-to-start vacation of Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, when he trips over the cat and falls down the stairs, breaking his leg...
that it is Summerset who in fact killed Patrick. Summerset says that he did it because he had "children to protect." Roarke does not know as of the most recent book and likely will not find out.
When Roarke was sixteen, he was running a small gambling ring; his competitors wanted him gone. They figured that the best way to deliver the message was through Marlena, Summerset's fourteen-year old daughter. The six men raped, murdered, and mutilated Marlena, then dumped her body on their doorstep. In revenge, Roarke slowly hunted those six men over the next decade, the basis for the plot in Vengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death is the 6th novel in the "....in Death" series written by J. D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. The novel continues where the previous Ceremony in Death left off.- Plot introduction :...
. When he comes to the U.S., he brings Summerset with him, asking Summerset to become his home's caretaker
Property caretaker
A Property caretaker is a person, group or organization that cares for real estate for trade or financial compensation, and sometimes as a barter for rent-free living accommodations...
. He thinks of Summerset as a father.
In that same book, Eve realizes why Summerset does not like her: she says to him that he has always wanted someone like Marlena for Roarke, a sweet and innocent young girl - something Eve has never been. Summerset had not realized the basis of his dislike, and is guilt-stricken over it.In the end of Vengeance, Eve takes a hit meant for Summerset.
The adversarial relationship between Eve and Summerset is a matter of course: she often relieves her work-related stress by insulting him; she throws her jacket on a post because she knows it annoys him, and because he expects her to do so. In Conspiracy in Death, it becomes clear that Summerset is merely fulfilling the role of adversary, but has genuine concern for Eve's well-being. The heart "she didn't know he had" squeezes in empathy for her situation; he tells her that she is late for dinner simply to put the thought of food into her mind (he knows she would have forgotten otherwise); and when a pallid and depressed Eve, soaked from walking in the snow, gives a lethargic apology to one of his particularly withering comments, he goes to Roarke
Roarke
Roarke is a fictional character from the series In Death. He is the husband of Lt. Eve Dallas and together, they are the main characters of the futuristic romance-mystery series by J.D. Robb, pseudonym for NY Times best-selling author Nora Roberts...
and says, "I insulted her and she...apologized. Something must be done."
On several occasions, the two have had meaningful conversations over their only common interest, Roarke. In Innocent in Death, Summerset fully supports Eve over Roarke's ex-lover, telling Eve that even though he doesn't like her, Eve is the one for Roarke because she genuinely loves him.
Summerset is also very fond of Mavis and tends to cater to whatever she wants on her visits; he treats her very affectionately. Ironically, this may be some indication that Mavis was like Marlena. He gives Mavis away at her wedding, and loans her his own wife's ring, a further indication of a father-like feeling for Mavis.
Commander Jack Whitney
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Eve's police commander; her immediate superior, since Eve oddly enough does not have a captain
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
. He is one of the few black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
characters in the series, along with the Chief of the NYPSD, Tibble. Eve respects him greatly.
Whitney is a solid, excellent police officer, and for the most part is always on Eve's side. He recognizes that she is an excellent cop; if it weren't for the fact that Eve prefers being on the street, he would have promoted her to captain himself. However, that and the fact that other high-ranking members of the police force frown on her marriage to Roarke have made the promotion more difficult, something he does not agree with.
He does not aspire to higher political positions than the one he has; he also has been a cop as long as Feeney has, and the two were apparently in uniform together (covered in Ceremony).
He has at least one daughter (a lawyer) with his wife, Anna Whitney, and endures stoically the parties his wife loves throwing. He also states in 'Reunion' that he has more than one son as well as grandchildren in another book.
In Glory, the victim was a good friend of his, a prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
back from when he was on the streets. Because the prime suspects are the victim's family, he is very uncomfortable with the case and subsequently oversteps his boundaries, damaging his relationship with Eve. The relationship is still shaky in Immortal. However, when he finds out that Eve killed her father while he was raping her, he immediately tells Eve that their police department will not open the matter, effectively shutting down the possibility of Eve being indicted
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
for murder. He also knows that Homeland Security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
left Eve to be raped by Richard Troy, and subsequently murder him.
Surprising Eve, he gets along very well with Roarke and the two have, on rare occasions, smoked and drunk together.
Nadine Furst
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Channel 75 news reporter, on the crime beat.
She is the intended victim of the murders in Glory in Death
Glory in Death
This is the second book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Naked in Death and preceding Immortal in Death.-Plot introduction:Lieutenant Eve Dallas must find out who is killing a series of high-powered women before he can kill again....
, but Eve is the one who stops the murders. She is an extremely ambitious reporter, but an ethical one; she will always protect her source (in these books, the source is Eve) and follows her cases thoroughly. The transactions between Nadine and Eve are usually the same: when Eve is in the early stages of investigating a case, Nadine will call her repeatedly, asking for information. Eve usually responds (or calls back) on the third or fourth call and gives Nadine a few key pieces of information. From there, Eve expects Nadine to do some more digging (which she does more quickly and effectively than the police), return the facts to Eve, and ultimately be rewarded with an exclusive interview when the case breaks.
When Eve's badge is taken away from her in Conspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the ninth novel in the In Death series, preceding Loyalty in Death.-Plot summary:...
, Nadine rallies to the cause with a bombardment of news clips and stories, playing on the news, about the heroic cop's badge unjustly taken away. She and Eve are good friends, and the only reporter Eve truly trusts to properly deliver select media information. In fact, Nadine was at Eve's bachelorette party.
Nadine actually acquires her own show in Memory in Death as a direct result of the story Eve fed her in Origin in Death
Origin in Death
Origin in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the twenty-second novel in the In Death series, preceding Memory in Death.-Plot summary:...
, which being a case about human cloning, garnered Nadine immense publicity worldwide. There is also a TV movie being made about Nadine and the case; Nadine teasingly asks Eve (but half-seriously) if they can film some of the interviews at Eve's house, to which she answers emphatically no. That said, Eve makes an appearance on the show (with Roarke watching from off-camera) in Innocent in Death, interviewing with Nadine about that book's case.
Eve often observes throughout the series that Nadine wears high heels, which Nadine says she wears to make her legs look good. Additionally, Nadine often bribes her way into Eve's office with large amounts of sweets, such as fudge
Fudge
Fudge is a type of Western confectionery which is usually very sweet, and extremely rich. It is made by mixing sugar, butter, and milk and heating it to the soft-ball stage at , and then beating the mixture while it cools so that it acquires a smooth, creamy consistency...
, doughnuts and chocolate brownie
Chocolate brownie
A chocolate brownie is a flat, baked square or bar introduced in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century and popularized in both the U.S. and Canada during the first half of the twentieth century. The brownie is sliced from a type of dense, rich chocolate cake, which is, in texture,...
s.
Dr. Charlotte Mira
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Mira is the resident psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and profiler for the NYPSD; Eve comments in Naked that she could have opened a much more profitable private practice, but Charlotte wanted to work with the police.
Charlotte tells Eve that she was raped as a child by her stepfather, when she was twelve, and the rapes went on for several years before she finally admitted it. Her mother divorced her stepfather and remarried Charlotte's birth father, and her parents are happy to this day.
Charlotte has several children with her husband, Dennis Mira, and has grandchildren as well.
Eve loves Charlotte very much but has not admitted it to her face; nevertheless, Charlotte knows. Charlotte thinks of Eve as a daughter, and throughout the series has gotten Eve to open up to her more and more.
Charlotte knows all about Eve's life: her rapes as a child, her killing of her father in self-defense, her subsequent foster care, subsequent time spent in juvenile detention
Youth detention center
A youth detention center, also known as a juvenile detention center , juvenile hall or, more colloquially as juvie, is a secure residential facility for young people, often termed juvenile delinquents, awaiting court hearings and/or placement in long-term care facilities and programs...
, her reasons for being a police officer, and her life with Roarke. Charlotte is also one of the few that knows that Homeland Security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
had a hand in covering up Eve's father's death.
Charlotte and Eve experienced some conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
in Origin in Death
Origin in Death
Origin in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the twenty-second novel in the In Death series, preceding Memory in Death.-Plot summary:...
, since Charlotte was friends with the true villain of the book and deeply disturbed by the man's experiments with human lives.
Officer (Detective) Delia Peabody
First Appearance: Glory in DeathGlory in Death
This is the second book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Naked in Death and preceding Immortal in Death.-Plot introduction:Lieutenant Eve Dallas must find out who is killing a series of high-powered women before he can kill again....
Temporary aide in Glory and Immortal in Death
Immortal in Death
Immortal in Death is the third book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Glory in Death and preceding Rapture in Death.- Full Summary:...
Permanent aide: from Rapture in Death through to Imitation
Partner: Promotion to Detective, third grade in Imitation in Death.
Delia comes from a family of "Free-agers" , which is a fictional extension of the New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
movement from the 1980s. Her family is very peaceful and pacifistic, but Delia prefers exercising justice her way - the police way. She is a very responsible and sober police officer, but as the books continue, her personality relaxes.
She dates Charles Monroe for a little while starting in Holiday in Death, but she quickly realizes that she thinks of him as a brother. Nevertheless, they continue to go out on excursions together, confusing Ian McNab.
Funny enough, Eve thinks of Delia as a little annoying sister. Not as close as Mavis but just as near!
Ian McNab is Delia's lover; she meets and clashes with him in his introduction during Vengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death is the 6th novel in the "....in Death" series written by J. D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. The novel continues where the previous Ceremony in Death left off.- Plot introduction :...
. They start a sexual relationship in Loyalty in Death
Loyalty in Death
Loyalty in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the tenth novel in the In Death series, preceding Witness in Death-Plot summary:...
, break them off in Betrayal in Death, and officially start dating in Seduction in Death. He meets her parents in Reunion in Death, they move in together and sign a lease in Visions in Death, and she visits his family in Memory in Death (they live in Scotland). She's very happy with him, but as she states to Eve once, she's fine living with him - marriage is very far off.
Eve tells Delia about her childhood and subsequent act of patricide
Patricide
Patricide is the act of killing one's father, or a person who kills his or her father. The word patricide derives from the Latin word pater and the Latin suffix -cida...
in Visions in Death.
Detective Ian McNab
First Appearance: Vengeance in DeathVengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death is the 6th novel in the "....in Death" series written by J. D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. The novel continues where the previous Ceremony in Death left off.- Plot introduction :...
Of a Scottish background, Ian is a detective in Feeney's Electronics Detection Division. He is particularly good with computers (though not as good as Roarke). Ian is also a very flashy dresser, wearing bright, spangly clothes and earrings. Feeney describes him as a known candy thief, and he has been caught at least once pilfering candy bars from Eve's office.
His relationship with Delia Peabody begins as a rocky one. At first he infuriates her, and they have exchanges much like bickering children. He repeatedly calls her "She-Body." Unaware that Delia is not actually dating Charles Monroe, Ian is incredibly jealous. His jealousy peaks in Betrayal in Death, and he fights with Peabody and breaks off his relationship with her. The two are subsequently miserable for several books. After having a fight with Charles Monroe, however, in Seduction in Death, he gets back together with her. Eventually, in Visions in Death, Peabody tells him the true nature of her relationship with Monroe.
In Purity in Death
Purity in Death
Purity in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the fifteenth novel in the In Death series, preceding Portrait in Death.-Plot summary:...
, Ian was temporarily paralyzed and tried to break up with Peabody to spare her being stuck with an invalid. She told him where he could put that idea and remained with him, his body waking up again shortly after. He then confessed that he loved her, not wanting to miss the chance to tell her again.
Delia does eventually tell him that she never had a romance with Charles, but not until Visions in Death, in which she enjoys Ian's suffering. They are living together by then, in the same building as Mavis and Leonardo, and have exchanged proclamations of love for each other.
Detective David Baxter
First Appearance: Vengeance in DeathVengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death is the 6th novel in the "....in Death" series written by J. D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. The novel continues where the previous Ceremony in Death left off.- Plot introduction :...
Another detective from Eve's division, Homicide. A very able police officer, he begins making regular appearances in Conspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the ninth novel in the In Death series, preceding Loyalty in Death.-Plot summary:...
. He was originally a member of the anti-crime division, but transferred over to Homicide well before his first appearance. He enjoys teasing Eve about anything he can, usually relating to her relationship with Roarke and associated changes; despite this teasing Roarke views Baxter as a solid cop and easygoing person. This did not, however, prevent a short altercation between Roarke and Baxter in Conspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the ninth novel in the In Death series, preceding Loyalty in Death.-Plot summary:...
; when Baxter is responsible for interviewing Eve as a suspect in a homicide, Roarke punches him in the face. Whenever Eve has a fairly large team for a big investigation, she brings Baxter in. He is a bachelor and is described as being good looking; however, he has not been romantically tied to any particular person.
In Purity in Death
Purity in Death
Purity in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the fifteenth novel in the In Death series, preceding Portrait in Death.-Plot summary:...
, Eve urges Baxter to take Trueheart under his supervision, meaning that Trueheart serves him the same way Delia did Eve. He admits in rare moments that he's very fond of Trueheart, often referring to him as "the kid" or "the boy." His capabilities as a good cop and trainer are demonstrated through Trueheart's sharpening skills.
Baxter (almost always referred to as such) is badly stunned in the end of Survivor in Death, but with no apparent lasting damage.
Chief Medical Examiner Li Morris
Chief Medical Examiner Morris is the ME Eve requests on all of her high-priority cases. He is probably of mixed race background, as he is mentioned as having 'oddly exotic almond-shaped eyes', and sports a small tattoo of the Grim Reaper on his left pectoral. He is a snazzy dresser much like a rock star; he has a long black ponytail which he often ties back with fasteners that match his clothes. He plays the saxophone and sometimes plays gigs at various clubs. He listens to music while performing autopsies and calls Eve his prize pupil for her quick-witted deductions. He plays a major role in 2009's Promises in DeathPromises in Death
Promises in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the 28th novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:On being called in to investigate a dead body, NYPSD homicide detectives Eve Dallas and Delia Peabody discover that the woman is a fellow officer, Detective Amaryllis Coltraine, who worked out of...
, as the victim of the central case is his girlfriend Detective Amaryllis Coltraine.
Minor characters
Consists of characters who typically play small roles and will go many books without occurring again; however, they may play larger roles on the rare occasion. Listed in order of appearance.Charles Monroe
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Charles is a licensed companion who is good friends with the first victim of the series, another LC. Eve is friends with him, although she mostly disapproves of his profession - in turn, he doesn't approve of hers.
He starts dating Delia Peabody in Holiday in Death, but after a very short time they quickly become good friends. However, Delia doesn't tell anyone about their friendship and for several books, all other characters think they're in a relationship.
In Seduction in Death, Charles Monroe meets Dr. Louise Dimatto and immediately falls in love with her. She has no problem with his profession and the two eventually move in together. Charles served as an informal sort of consultant in the same book.
In Strangers in Death, Charles decides to retire as an LC and instead decides to start a career as a sex therapist. He also asks Louise to marry him and she accepts.
Galahad
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Eve's third victim is the owner of a cat; Eve takes the cat into custody. However, the victim's daughter is too distraught to take the cat, and Eve has it at her apartment, trying to find a name for it,when the perpetrator of the book has Eve at gunpoint, the cat brushes past his leg, distracting him and giving Eve the leverage she needs to fight back. Eve thus names the cat Galahad, after the Arthurian knight
Galahad
Sir Galahad |Round Table]] and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. He is the illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic, and is renowned for his gallantry and purity. Emerging quite late in the medieval Arthurian tradition, he is perhaps the knightly...
, because he was her "knight in shining armor."
The cat is Eve's, Roarke's, and Summerset's pet; he is often fed by all of them and takes food as he pleases, and occasionally steals it. On occasion, Eve has had bad dreams from which she wakes up to find Galahad trying to wake and comfort her. On other occasions when Eve falls dead asleep Galahad sits on her butt. When Nixie, the title character from Survivor in Death, stays at their home, she stays mostly with Galahad, as he comforts her. When Mavis Brings Belle for a Visit Creation in Death, Galahad is scared of the baby.
Eve mentions later in Memory in Death that the cat has been neutered. The cat makes minor appearances in almost every book.
He is described as a fat, heavy and lazy gray cat with dual colored eyes, one green and one gold.
Anna Whitney
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
, but her first name is revealed in Glory in Death
Glory in Death
This is the second book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Naked in Death and preceding Immortal in Death.-Plot introduction:Lieutenant Eve Dallas must find out who is killing a series of high-powered women before he can kill again....
Anna Whitney is the commander's wife; unlike her husband, she is white
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, although their interracial marriage
Interracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
has never been explicitly pointed out. They have several children together.
Anna mostly terrifies Eve because she is extremely put together, an extremely efficient hostess, and combined with her marriage to the commander, can highly intimidate Eve as well. That said, she is to all appearances a devoted wife and mother. In Glory, Eve finds out that she has given large amounts of cash to the top suspect because he was in gambling debt.
In Origin in Death
Origin in Death
Origin in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the twenty-second novel in the In Death series, preceding Memory in Death.-Plot summary:...
, Commander Whitney specifically calls Eve because his wife has asked him to ask her to keep her plastic surgery details out of the case, a request with which Eve has no difficulty complying.
Caroline Ewing (Caro)
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Roarke's administrator, nicknamed Caro; she is his right hand at his company. She is the mother of Reva Ewing, a former United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agent who took a hit for the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
Caro is an extremely efficient and capable woman; the only time she asks Roarke for his help is in Divided in Death, when her daughter is framed for murder. Other than that, she serves as his assistant, appearing briefly in many of the books.
Richard and Elizabeth DeBlass
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Richard and Elizabeth DeBlass are lawyers, and Richard is the son of Senator Gerald DeBlass, who murdered their daughter, Sharon. Richard and Elizabeth were genuinely unaware that Sharon had been molested continually as a child by her grandfather, nor did they know that Richard's sister had suffered similarly.
In Vengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death
Vengeance in Death is the 6th novel in the "....in Death" series written by J. D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. The novel continues where the previous Ceremony in Death left off.- Plot introduction :...
, Eve is delivered a message from the killer via a very young boy with a cat, who is abused by his mother and spends his time out on the streets. Roarke finds this information out, and arranges with Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Some states use other names, often attempting to reflect more family-centered practices, such as "Department of Children & Family Services"...
for the boy to be put into Richard and Elizabeth's home. They eventually adopt him.
They are seen again in Survivor in Death in the case of the child found in that book. Nixie Swisher had guardians, but after their own daughter's death, they refuse to take her in. Nixie's only remaining relatives are unsuitable; left out of options, Roarke and Eve again contact the DeBlasses, who come to talk to Nixie and take her into their custody. They are accompanied by the little boy from Vengeance.
Their current lives are in trying to give the two children they have adopted good lives and alleviate all of their tragedies.
Wilson Buckley (Crack)
First Appearance: Glory in DeathGlory in Death
This is the second book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Naked in Death and preceding Immortal in Death.-Plot introduction:Lieutenant Eve Dallas must find out who is killing a series of high-powered women before he can kill again....
The owner and proprietor of a club known as the "Down and Dirty"; it's an extremely dirty and grimy club, but illegal activity is somewhat low. His nickname comes from the sound that heads make when he rams them together. He becomes friends with Eve after initially mistaking her for a stripper. He is described as being very dark-skinned and large in stature, with a face that a mother would have trouble loving. He tends to favor a loincloth type dress, and silver clothing. After some initial meetings where she would pay him for information (in both Glory and Immortal), he occasionally helps her out by letting her have private meetings with other cops, informants, and Nadine Furst in his club's back rooms. He typically refers to her affectionately as "skinny white girl."
In Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the sixteenth novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:Lt. Eve Dallas is celebrating the shortly-to-start vacation of Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, when he trips over the cat and falls down the stairs, breaking his leg...
, his younger half-sister, a medical school student, is murdered; Eve takes him to the morgue to view her body, comforts him, and she and Roarke plant a tree for his sister in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. After this, Crack says that she will never pay him for another favor again Origin in Death
Origin in Death
Origin in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the twenty-second novel in the In Death series, preceding Memory in Death.-Plot summary:...
. Eve seems just as fond of him as he is of her.
Eve's bachelorette party is at Crack's club in Immortal in Death
Immortal in Death
Immortal in Death is the third book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Glory in Death and preceding Rapture in Death.- Full Summary:...
.
Leonardo
First Appearance: Immortal in DeathImmortal in Death
Immortal in Death is the third book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Glory in Death and preceding Rapture in Death.- Full Summary:...
Leonardo is a famous clothing designer and Mavis's husband, marrying her in Born in Death shortly before she delivers their daughter, Bella Eve. He is an enormous man (6' 5" according to Immortal in Death), possesses Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
heritage, detests violence and is very peaceful. In Conspiracy in Death he is described as having the spirit of a seven-year-old boy on the first day of school. They currently live together in Eve's old apartment.
He designed Eve's wedding dress; Eve is very fond of him and approves of him as a good match for Mavis.
Chief Tech Dickie Berenski
First Appearance: Immortal in DeathImmortal in Death
Immortal in Death is the third book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, following Glory in Death and preceding Rapture in Death.- Full Summary:...
Berenski, almost always referred to as "Dickhead" is the Chief Tech at the NYPSD's crime lab. He has an egg shaped head and thinning black hair as well as spider-like fingers. He is not above, and indeed often seems to expect, bribery in exchange for quick lab work. This, and his somewhat oily personality contribute to his unaffectionate nickname. Nonetheless he is highly respected for the quality of his work. He appears, albeit briefly, in most books after his first appearance.
James (Jamie) Lingstrom
First Appearance: Ceremony in DeathJamie shows up as the grandson and brother of two of the victims in the book; he's a teenager who attempts to break into Eve and Roarke's home in order to express to them his desire to find the truth about what happened to his family. His computer skills are such that he actually makes it into the yard, though Roarke quickly catches him. Much to Roarke's annoyance, he sneaked over the garden wall with the help of a modified portable gaming system, one that Roarke actually manufactures.
He hero-worships both Eve and Roarke. In the end of Ceremony in Death, Jamie kills the murderer of his sister with an athame
Athame
An Athame or Athamé is a ceremonial dagger, with a double-edged blade and usually a black handle. It is the main ritual implement or magical tool among several used in the religion of Wicca, and is also used in various other neopagan witchcraft traditions. It is variously pronounced or...
; Eve takes the blame and pretends she did it in order to spare him from a murder trial.
In Purity in Death
Purity in Death
Purity in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the fifteenth novel in the In Death series, preceding Portrait in Death.-Plot summary:...
, Roarke brings him in as a technical assistant due to his very good computer and programming skills. He makes another appearance in Kindred in Death; he is now a university student who was good friends with one of the victims and offers Eve help where he can.
Officer Troy Trueheart
First Appearance: Conspiracy in DeathConspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the ninth novel in the In Death series, preceding Loyalty in Death.-Plot summary:...
The most naive character in the series; like his name, he is a young, honest, innocent, and enthusiastic young officer (in "Witness in Death" he thanks Eve for giving him the mission of standing outside in the cold all night long). He has a single mother whom he loves very much, and who makes a brief appearance in Witness in Death when he is badly injured (by other police officers) while chasing a suspect. It is also mentioned in this book that he is twenty-two.
In Purity in Death
Purity in Death
Purity in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the fifteenth novel in the In Death series, preceding Portrait in Death.-Plot summary:...
, Trueheart is taken under by Baxter, who agrees to train him at Eve's request. In this same book, Trueheart discharges his stunner, which turns out to be the final step in killing a victim under attack by the villains of the novel. Trueheart is kidnapped in Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the sixteenth novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:Lt. Eve Dallas is celebrating the shortly-to-start vacation of Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, when he trips over the cat and falls down the stairs, breaking his leg...
by the murderer; he manages to stay conscious enough to give Eve and Baxter directions to his location.
Trueheart is well liked by virtually everyone—except, ironically, the officer with whom he was working when he was introduced (Ellen Bowers, one of the murder victims in Conspiracy in Death).
Dr. Louise Dimatto
First Appearance: Conspiracy in DeathConspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the ninth novel in the In Death series, preceding Loyalty in Death.-Plot summary:...
Louise is serving as a doctor in a clinic in the slums of Canal Street; she comes from a very rich family of important doctors, but rather than becoming an important doctor with a high salary, she works in the worst parts of NYC. Louise does have a trust that she lives on, and occasionally supplemented the clinic with her own cash.
She is a witness of sorts in Seduction in Death to a body being tossed off a balcony. In addition, she serves as an informal consultant and informer to Eve in this book, Reunion in Death, Origin in Death
Origin in Death
Origin in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the twenty-second novel in the In Death series, preceding Memory in Death.-Plot summary:...
, and others; Eve also prefers her treatment to that of other doctors, so she treated Eve's wounds in Reunion.
Louise takes a large bribe from Eve for half a million to help her with the case, as Eve is not in possession of her badge at the time and it is technically illegal. The half million is for Louise's clinic; Eve finds out in Seduction that Louise actually received three million, the other 2.5 being on condition that she contract her services to a women and children's abuse shelter, Dochas. This clinic is of Roarke's founding, and Louise spends half her week there as of Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death
Portrait in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the sixteenth novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:Lt. Eve Dallas is celebrating the shortly-to-start vacation of Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, when he trips over the cat and falls down the stairs, breaking his leg...
.
Lieutenant Donald Webster
First Appearance: Conspiracy in DeathConspiracy in Death
Conspiracy in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the ninth novel in the In Death series, preceding Loyalty in Death.-Plot summary:...
Webster is assigned to NYPSD Internal Affairs, and is one of Eve's former lovers. Although they only spent one night together, Webster never forgot about Eve, and retained a great deal of affection for her. This leads to an argument and fistfight with Roarke in Judgment in Death. Eve is baffled by Webster's feelings for her, and infuriated by both his and Roarke's actions.
Dennis Mira
First Appearance: Reunion in DeathDennis Mira is the husband of Dr. Charlotte Mira. He seems to be a very absent-minded fellow, walking around with his shirt buttons mismatched. However, he is a very kind man; Eve is very fond of him and finds it easy to talk to him. He is very nonthreatening to her; however, he is intelligent, and as Charlotte says, very good at separating what is good and evil.
Eve sees him in Memory in Death, and before she knows what's happening, she breaks down weeping. She is mostly sad because she wonders what a difference it would have made to her tragic life if she had had just one person like Dennis Mira who would have loved her (like a parent). Eve likes him very much and in the same book, buys him a scarf. He believes Eve to be a very determined and good person with a necessary dark streak in her that he respects.
Detective Yancy
First Appearance: Portrait in DeathPortrait in Death
Portrait in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the sixteenth novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:Lt. Eve Dallas is celebrating the shortly-to-start vacation of Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, when he trips over the cat and falls down the stairs, breaking his leg...
Yancy (No first name yet revealed) is an Ident Artist working for the NYPSD. He is handsome and mild mannered, and is described by Dallas as the best imaging artist there is. He is adept at bonding with witnesses and drawing out all of the details that they can remember about a suspect, and will not allow Dallas or anyone else to rush his work when he knows a witness needs a break.
Ursa Harvo
First Appearance: Visions in DeathHarvo is a female tech at the crime lab, specialising in hair and fibre analysis, describing herself as the "Queen of Hair" and "Princess of Fibre" on meeting Dallas and Peabody. She has very white skin with spiked red hair and green eyes the colour of spring grass. She shares the general opinion of Dickhead that the other characters have, although admits that he is a brilliant tech.
Detective Callendar
First Appearance: Creation in DeathCallendar is another of Feeney's "boys" (all of Feeney's e-cops are his boys, regardless of gender) and is a friend of Peabody and McNab. She is introduced as part of the large taskforce working on the "Groom" serial killer case. Described by McNab as almost as good as he is, she has dark hair, burnt honey skin with sloe eyes and impressive breasts. In Promises in Death
Promises in Death
Promises in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the 28th novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:On being called in to investigate a dead body, NYPSD homicide detectives Eve Dallas and Delia Peabody discover that the woman is a fellow officer, Detective Amaryllis Coltraine, who worked out of...
she is excited to be sent to the Omega Colony, her first off-planet assignment, to gather evidence against Max Ricker.
Nonappearing Characters
These characters are for the most part deceased, but play an important role by figuring strongly into the minds of Eve and Roarke and may frequently show up in flashbacksFlashback (psychological phenomenon)
A flashback, or involuntary recurrent memory, is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual has a sudden, usually powerful, re-experiencing of a past experience or elements of a past experience. These experiences can be happy, sad, exciting, or any other emotion one can consider...
or memories
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
.
Richard Troy
First Appearance: Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
Richard Troy is Eve's biological father; from when she was about five or six, he began raping her, continuing until the night of his death when Eve was eight years old. Eve kills him with a kitchen knife while he is drunkenly raping her, in Dallas, Texas, but he breaks her arm during the process.
He is present in every single book, as he is always the spectre of Eve's nightmares. Typically, he appears in her nightmares to tell her that no matter how many people she finds justice for, there will always be more monsters like him, waiting to do more evil to innocents like the little girl she was.
His first name is revealed in Judgement in Death; his last name is found by Roarke in his file on Homeland Security Organization
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
's files in Divided in Death. He was working as a kind of informer for HSO, despite the fact that he was a criminal with a minor child, Eve (at eight years old).
Richard Troy was raising Eve - who is definitely his biological child - with the intent of using her for child prostitution. Mira concludes and tells Eve in Reunion in Death that Troy was probably not a pedophile himself, but preferred adult women, something that Eve does vaguely remember. In Interlude in Death, Roarke realizes that his father, Patrick Roarke (see next) had business in Dallas, Texas, with Troy, the same week of Troy's death.
This business is fully realized in Divided in Death; Eve remembers her father telling her in Reunion that she was finally going to start working (or rather, being raped for her father's profit). That Patrick Roarke was there, with cash, on his own business, indicates that Troy was going to sell Eve to Patrick Roarke.
For the record, HSO was perfectly aware that Eve murdered Troy, but cleaned up the body and had the case unsolved, as they had themselves recommended she not be taken out of Troy's custody.
Troy also had business dealings with Max Ricker, the villain of Judgement in Death, and stole money from him. Ricker knew he had a daughter, but over twenty years later, does not make the connection between Troy and Eve.
Troy was under surveillance by the HSO the day he died. He was recorded as having returned to his hotel room at 2:00 a.m. in the morning; in Eve's memories, he begins beating and raping her immediately after his return, during which she kills him. Therefore his time and date of death is shortly after 2:00 a.m., May 13, 2036.
Patrick Roarke
First Appearance: has only been discussed, starting in Naked in DeathNaked in Death
Naked in Death is the first book of the In Death series by J. D. Robb, preceding Glory in Death. This book originally had a cover flat produced for it with the name "D. J...
The father of Roarke
Roarke
Roarke is a fictional character from the series In Death. He is the husband of Lt. Eve Dallas and together, they are the main characters of the futuristic romance-mystery series by J.D. Robb, pseudonym for NY Times best-selling author Nora Roberts...
. Patrick Roarke was a criminal who had the Irish police in his pocket, as he wielded some minor power. He came to the US in 2036 to ruin Max Ricker's gun-running operation in Atlanta, a situation in which he double-crossed Max Ricker and the police officers, who were paying him to be an informant.
Siobhan Brody ran away from him with their son when Roarke was a baby; upon her return, Patrick Roarke killed her and threw her in the river with the assistance of some friends. He then raised Roarke by having him steal throughout the day and bring back money to him.
With the information that Eve's father was going to start selling her in Dallas, it is to be concluded that Richard Troy was going to sell his daughter to Patrick Roarke.
According to Roarke, Patrick Roarke should have died in 2035 (when he was twelve), but there is a continuity error. See: Roarke. Going by information in Divided in Death, Patrick Roarke dies sometime in Ireland, 2036, at Summerset's hands.
Patrick Roarke leaves an uneasy legacy behind for Roarke with the experiences of a policeman named Skinner, who held Patrick (appropriately so) responsible for the death of thirteen police officers in an attempt to arrest Max Ricker. Decades later, Skinner has transferred the grudge to Roarke in Interlude in Death.
Siobhan Brody
First Appearance: Portrait in DeathPortrait in Death
Portrait in Death is a novel by J. D. Robb. It is the sixteenth novel in the In Death series.-Plot summary:Lt. Eve Dallas is celebrating the shortly-to-start vacation of Summerset, Roarke's majordomo, when he trips over the cat and falls down the stairs, breaking his leg...
The biological mother of Roarke
Roarke
Roarke is a fictional character from the series In Death. He is the husband of Lt. Eve Dallas and together, they are the main characters of the futuristic romance-mystery series by J.D. Robb, pseudonym for NY Times best-selling author Nora Roberts...
and one of twins with Sinead Lannigan, Siobhan originally was from County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, part of a farming family. She came to Dublin at eighteen, hoping for the excitement of a city life. She met and was charmed by Patrick Roarke (see above), and bore his child out of wedlock
Wedlock
Wedlock may refer to:* Marriage* Wedlock , an album by Sunburned Hand of the Man* Wedlock , directed by Lewis Teague* Billy Wedlock, an English footballer* Fred Wedlock, an English folk singer...
. He abused her, but she repeatedly asked him to marry her, and in her social worker's words, give Roarke a true father.
She eventually ran away from Patrick and took her son with her to a shelter, but went back, believing she shouldn't take her son away from his father. Subsequently, Patrick Roarke beat her to death and threw her in the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
. Patrick Roarke's real wife, Meg Roarke, then raised Roarke (abusively) until he was about five, whereupon she left.
Roarke resembles his father almost identically, but Siobhan's twin tells Roarke that he has inherited the shape of his eyes from his mother.
Stella
First Appearance: Judgement in Death; named in Imitation in DeathStella is Eve's biological mother; the evidence for this is that Eve remembers seeing her own eyes reflected in her mother's face in a flashback in Imitation. Eve's mother was a prostitute and a drug addict; in addition, she was abusive. In the flashback, she finds Eve trying on her wigs and reacts badly, grabbing Eve by the hair and beating her. It is in fact Richard Troy that pulls the child away, telling Stella to instead "take a hit", promising her that this child will earn them a lot of money in subsequent years. Eve is about four years old in this flashback and had not yet been raped.
In New York to Dallas Stella is a main character: she is working with Isaac McQueen who ends up killing her.