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Quick answer: If you like J. D. Robb, read Nora Roberts's other work and the first In Death book, then Kay Scarpetta's Postmortem, Deja Dead, The Surgeon and Kiss the Girls. All are gripping police and forensic thrillers with strong women and a touch of romance.
J. D. Robb is Nora Roberts's pen name for the In Death series, which follows New York police lieutenant Eve Dallas in the year 2060 and her billionaire husband Roarke. The books mix futuristic detail, procedural plots and a long love story. The books below offer similar crime stories with tough heroines and strong characters.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked in Death | J. D. Robb | Adult | the series start |
| Northern Lights | Nora Roberts | Adult | romantic suspense |
| Postmortem | Patricia Cornwell | Adult | forensic thriller |
| Deja Dead | Kathy Reichs | Adult | forensic anthropology |
| The Surgeon | Tess Gerritsen | Adult | Rizzoli and Isles |
| Blindsighted | Karin Slaughter | Adult | gritty small-town crime |
| Kiss the Girls | James Patterson | Adult | fast crime |
| Night Sins | Tami Hoag | Adult | rural crime |
| The Face of Deception | Iris Johansen | Adult | forensic suspense |
| Stealing Shadows | Kay Hooper | Adult | psychic suspense |
| Mr. Perfect | Linda Howard | Adult | witty romantic suspense |
| The Bone Collector | Jeffery Deaver | Adult | forensic puzzles |
| Altered Carbon | Richard K. Morgan | Adult | noir and mind transfer |
| Rivers of London | Ben Aaronovitch | Adult | police and magic |
| One for the Money | Janet Evanovich | Adult | comic mystery |
1. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb
Eve Dallas hunts a killer and meets Roarke. The best place to begin.
Best for: the series start.
2. Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
A former Baltimore cop becomes police chief in an Alaskan town. Atmospheric.
Best for: romantic suspense.
3. Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell
Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta chases a serial killer in Richmond. The series start.
Best for: forensic thriller.
4. Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs
Temperance Brennan investigates dismembered bodies in Montreal. Science-heavy.
Best for: forensic anthropology.
5. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Detective Jane Rizzoli hunts a killer with a surgeon's precision. Unsettling and fast.
Best for: Rizzoli and Isles.
6. Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
Sara Linton helps solve brutal murders in Georgia. Dark and character-driven.
Best for: gritty small-town crime.
7. Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
Alex Cross hunts a collector of women. Short chapters and quick pace.
Best for: fast crime.
8. Night Sins by Tami Hoag
A child disappears in a small Minnesota town. Tense and emotional.
Best for: rural crime.
9. The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen
A forensic sculptor helps a detective find a missing girl. Fast and gripping.
Best for: forensic suspense.
10. Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper
A woman with psychic abilities joins a team to catch a killer. Moody.
Best for: psychic suspense.
11. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
Women compile a list of an ideal man, and then someone starts killing the men on it. Funny.
Best for: witty romantic suspense.
12. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
A quadriplegic forensic expert guides a young officer through crime scenes. Clever.
Best for: forensic puzzles.
13. Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
A soldier is resleeved to solve a murder. Gritty and fast.
Best for: noir and mind transfer.
14. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
A young constable becomes an apprentice wizard in modern London. Funny and grounded.
Best for: police and magic.
15. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum becomes a bounty hunter. Fast, funny and light.
Best for: comic mystery.
How to Choose
For the series start read Naked in Death and continue in order. For more romantic suspense choose Nora Roberts, Linda Howard or Kay Hooper. For forensic crime pick Cornwell, Reichs or Gerritsen. For future-set crime try Altered Carbon. For humour read One for the Money. Robb's books are quick and comforting, so these picks suit readers who love a long-running series. The In Death series has run for decades with dozens of novels, and Robb publishes several a year, so there is always something new. Audiobooks, narrated by Susan Ericksen, are popular.
Related: Printable List Of J.D. Robb Books In Chronological Order · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is J. D. Robb?
The pen name of Nora Roberts for the In Death series.
Where should I start?
With Naked in Death.
When is the series set?
In New York in the 2050s and 2060s.
Do I need to read in order?
It helps because of the ongoing relationships.
How many In Death books are there?
More than fifty. Check current listings.
Is the series romantic?
Yes, with a strong love story.
Is it violent?
It deals with murder, but is not overly graphic.
What should I read next?
Try Northern Lights or Postmortem.
Which book here is best for forensic anthropology?
Try Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs, which suits readers looking for forensic anthropology.
Which book here is best for fast crime?
Try Kiss the Girls by James Patterson, which suits readers looking for fast crime.
Which book here is best for psychic suspense?
Try Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper, which suits readers looking for psychic suspense.
Which book here is best for noir and mind transfer?
Try Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, which suits readers looking for noir and mind transfer.
Which book here is best for romantic suspense?
Try Northern Lights by Nora Roberts, which suits readers looking for romantic suspense.
Which book here is best for Rizzoli and Isles?
Try The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen, which suits readers looking for Rizzoli and Isles.