JD Robb Books in Order

Eve Dallas is one of the longest-running heroes in crime fiction. She’s a tough New York homicide detective in the 2060s, and her husband, Roarke, is a billionaire with a shady past. Together, they’ve solved murders across more than 60 novels and a long list of novellas.

The author, J.D. Robb, is the pen name of romance legend Nora Roberts. She started the In Death series in 1995 and still releases two books a year. Here are the JD Robb books in order, with novellas, upcoming titles, and tips for new readers.

JD Robb Books in Order

Quick Facts

Detail Information
Author J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)
Series In Death
First book Naked in Death (1995)
Latest book Fury in Death (2026)
Next book Perfect in Death (2027)
Main novels 63 so far
Setting New York City, 2058 onward

Who Is J.D. Robb?

J.D. Robb is the pen name of Nora Roberts, one of the best-selling authors in the world. She chose the name J.D. from her sons, Jason and Dan, and Robb from Roberts. At first, the pen name was a secret. Now, both names appear on many covers.

Roberts has written more than 200 novels, but the In Death series is her longest-running work.

J.D. Robb In Death Series in Order

Reading the J.D. Robb In Death series in order is the best way to follow Eve and Roarke’s relationship. Here’s the full main series list.

# Title Year
1 Naked in Death 1995
2 Glory in Death 1995
3 Immortal in Death 1996
4 Rapture in Death 1996
5 Ceremony in Death 1997
6 Vengeance in Death 1997
7 Holiday in Death 1998
8 Conspiracy in Death 1999
9 Loyalty in Death 1999
10 Witness in Death 2000
11 Judgment in Death 2000
12 Betrayal in Death 2001
13 Seduction in Death 2001
14 Reunion in Death 2002
15 Purity in Death 2002
16 Portrait in Death 2003
17 Imitation in Death 2003
18 Divided in Death 2004
19 Visions in Death 2004
20 Survivor in Death 2005
21 Origin in Death 2005
22 Memory in Death 2006
23 Born in Death 2006
24 Innocent in Death 2007
25 Creation in Death 2007
26 Strangers in Death 2008
27 Salvation in Death 2008
28 Promises in Death 2009
29 Kindred in Death 2009
30 Fantasy in Death 2010
31 Indulgence in Death 2010
32 Treachery in Death 2011
33 New York to Dallas 2011
34 Celebrity in Death 2012
35 Delusion in Death 2012
36 Calculated in Death 2013
37 Thankless in Death 2013
38 Concealed in Death 2014
39 Festive in Death 2014
40 Obsession in Death 2015
41 Devoted in Death 2015
42 Brotherhood in Death 2016
43 Apprentice in Death 2016
44 Echoes in Death 2017
45 Secrets in Death 2017
46 Dark in Death 2018
47 Leverage in Death 2018
48 Connections in Death 2019
49 Vendetta in Death 2019
50 Golden in Death 2020
51 Shadows in Death 2020
52 Faithless in Death 2021
53 Forgotten in Death 2021
54 Abandoned in Death 2022
55 Desperation in Death 2022
56 Encore in Death 2023
57 Payback in Death 2023
58 Random in Death 2024
59 Passions in Death 2024
60 Bonded in Death 2025
61 Framed in Death 2025
62 Stolen in Death 2026
63 Fury in Death 2026
64 Perfect in Death 2027 (expected)

In Death Novellas

Robb has also written shorter stories set in the same world. Most first appeared in anthologies with other authors. They’re optional, but fans love them.

Title Year Rough Placement
Midnight in Death 1998 After Holiday in Death
Interlude in Death 2001 After Betrayal in Death
Remember When 2003 Part two is an Eve Dallas story
Haunted in Death 2006 After Memory in Death
Eternity in Death 2007 After Innocent in Death
Ritual in Death 2008 After Strangers in Death
Missing in Death 2009 After Kindred in Death
Possession in Death 2010 After Indulgence in Death

Some collections also include shorter pieces like Big Jack (2003). Placements are approximate. You can skip the novellas without missing the main story, but they add fun moments with the cast.

The World of In Death

The series takes place in a future New York City, starting in 2058. Guns are banned, flying cars are common, and droids work in homes and offices. Still, the crimes are very human: murder, revenge, greed, and abuse.

Eve Dallas leads the investigations. She grew up in foster care after a horrific childhood. Roarke, an Irish-born tycoon, falls for her in the first book. Their marriage is the emotional heart of the series.

Key Characters

  • Eve Dallas: A lieutenant with the NYPSD homicide division.
  • Roarke: Eve’s husband, a billionaire with a criminal past.
  • Delia Peabody: Eve’s partner and closest friend on the force.
  • Summerset: Roarke’s butler, who loves to tease Eve.
  • Mavis Freestone: Eve’s best friend, a singer with a wild style.
  • Dr. Charlotte Mira: The department’s psychologist and Eve’s mentor.
  • Ian McNab and Captain Feeney: Experts in the electronic detective division.

Should You Read the JD Robb Books in Order?

Yes. Each book has its own murder case, so you could jump in anywhere. But the characters grow a lot over time. Eve and Roarke fall in love, marry, and face their pasts. Peabody rises from aide to detective. Reading the JD Robb books in order lets you watch these changes unfold.

New readers can start with Naked in Death and keep going. If 63 books feel like too many, you can sample a few early ones and then jump ahead.

Best In Death Books

Fans often name these as favorites:

  • Naked in Death: The start of Eve and Roarke’s story.
  • Conspiracy in Death: A dark case that tests Eve’s career.
  • Portrait in Death: A case that digs into Roarke’s family past.
  • Born in Death: A tense story tied to Mavis’s pregnancy.
  • New York to Dallas: Eve faces a killer tied to her own childhood.
  • Leverage in Death: A gripping case of blackmail and bombing.

The Newest Books

In 2026, Robb released Stolen in Death and Fury in Death, books 62 and 63. Perfect in Death, book 64, is expected in 2027. Robb has kept a steady pace of two novels each year for more than two decades, which is rare in publishing.

Audiobooks

Susan Ericksen has narrated most of the In Death audiobooks for years. Her voice for Eve has become part of the experience for many fans. The audiobooks are a great way to work through such a long series.

Tips for Tackling a Long Series

  • Read in small batches. Try five books at a time, then take a break.
  • Use a checklist. With 63 novels, it’s easy to lose track.
  • Try the novellas between books. They make quick, light reads.
  • Pair the series with other long thrillers. If you love long-running heroes, try the Mitch Rapp spy thrillers. Here’s our guide to Mitch Rapp Books in Order.

Why Fans Love In Death

The series blends crime, romance, and science fiction. The murders are tough and dark, but the bond between Eve, Roarke, and their friends brings warmth. Fans feel like they know the cast. That loyalty has kept the series on bestseller lists for 30 years.

A Quick Plan for New Readers

Reading the JD Robb books in order can feel like a big project, but a simple plan helps. Start with the first ten books to meet the core cast. Then decide whether to keep going one by one or jump to a fan favorite. Most readers who finish the first ten keep going.

Here’s one more tip: the JD Robb books in order are easy to find at libraries, since many branches stock the whole series. Library apps also carry the ebooks and audiobooks.

How Long Does It Take to Read Them All?

If you read one In Death book a week, it would take more than a year to finish the main series. Many fans reread the JD Robb books in order every few years, which shows how much they love the characters.

Is the Series Ending?

There’s no sign of an ending. Roberts has said she enjoys writing Eve and Roarke, and new books keep coming twice a year. The JD Robb books in order will keep growing for the foreseeable future.

Final Thoughts

The JD Robb books in order take you from 1995 to today, with more than 60 novels and a handful of novellas. Following the J.D. Robb In Death series in order lets you grow alongside Eve Dallas and Roarke as they face killers, ghosts from the past, and their own scars.

With Perfect in Death coming in 2027, there’s no end in sight.

Key Takeaways

  • The JD Robb books in order begin with Naked in Death (1995).
  • J.D. Robb is the pen name of Nora Roberts.
  • There are 63 main In Death novels as of 2026, with Perfect in Death (book 64) expected in 2027.
  • The newest books are Stolen in Death and Fury in Death, both from 2026.
  • Novellas like Midnight in Death and Interlude in Death are optional but fun.
  • The series is set in New York City starting in 2058 and follows Eve Dallas and Roarke.
  • Reading the J.D. Robb In Death series in order helps you follow how the characters grow.