In this episode of Podcast in Death, we tackle Secrets in Death and discover it's actually way better than we remembered—probably because we haven't reread it 47 times like the early books. This week's theme? TRUTH, because apparently "secrets" was too on-the-nose even for us. Everyone's hiding something, Lorinda Mars is weaponizing those secrets for cash, and Eve's over here having feelings about whether her expensive boots make her a hypocrite.

Meanwhile, DeWinter shows up ready to throw hands (verbally) and basically tells Eve she's a rude, judgmental hard-ass, which, fair. Their entire confrontation over wine is chef's kiss, ending with "I don't know why I half like you" and "back at you," which is basically how all great friendships start.

Roarke drops the truth on Eve that Mars tried to blackmail him once and he just went full "scary Roarke" and threatened to ruin her entire career. We stan a protective billionaire.

The actual murder case? Mars gets stabbed and bleeds out the same way she bled her victims dry, which is poetic, honestly, and the killer turns out to be an overprotective assistant who thought playing hero was the vibe (it wasn't, Bill). This is the book that Summerset finally sharing the truth that he killed Patrick Roarke. Summerset assumes Eve told Roarke his secret, but when he finds out she didn't, tells Roarke: "I may never have a true handle on your wife."

Apart from that, we spent like 20 minutes discussing safe mechanics because AJ worked for a safe company and has OPINIONS, debated whether Eve would watch Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (she would), and got unreasonably invested in Nadine's blue glass dragon table.

We really enjoyed this book, and we hope you enjoy this review!

With Tara off doing theater things, AJ’s joined by her daughter Caitlin, who knows just enough about the In Death series to ask all the right “newbie” questions. From Eve and Roarke’s epic romance to Peabody’s chaotic charm, they dig into why fans stay hooked after 50+ books. Plus, AJ reveals how a bored afternoon at Granny’s house started it all. There’s laughter, nostalgia, barking dogs, and maybe even a theory about Castle secretly being In Death.

It’s Halloween, and Tara can't believe we are back again after 5 years of this podcast and still managing to find Halloween themed stuff to talk about. We do it because AJ LOVES all things Halloween, and Tara confesses she likes “lacy things and witchy stuff” which then becomes the official episode title.

Join us as we imagine the Great House Project's first Halloween! complete with glitter bats, Candyland costumes (maybe). Will Roarke tell ghost stories? Will Eve lead a Halloween themed scavenger hunt? We talk about all of that including which character would choose to give out what kind of Halloween candy (Santiago is chosen to give out Jolly Ranchers because: Cowboy Hat). There’s candy debates, AJ's 20-pound treat box reveal, and enough laughter to wake the dead.

In this episode, AJ drags Tara into one of her more ambitious ideas: trying to figure out what The Universe According to Roarke (you know, that game Feeney made for Roarke) would actually look like if it were real. Cue hours of overthinking, caffeine-fueled hilarity, and way too much ChatGPT involvement.

Here’s what we came up with:

Gameplay Basics: Earn XP for solving cases, lose XP for bad coffee, and gain nothing but regret when you didn't hide your candy stash well enough to outwit the Candy Thief.
Health & Energy: Coffee gives you buffs (until it doesn’t), candy, pizza and soydogs can literally save your life, and Nadine’s baked goods might be the most overpowered healing item in the game.
THE ADMIN GATEKEEPER SYSTEM: Want to visit Dr. Mira for Emotional Stability Points? You'll need to get through the Admin Gatekeeper System First! For Roarke it's a breeze, for Eve? Not so much.
Galahad: Chaos Cat™. Might save your life. Might eat your pizza, but will probably ignore you.
Special Items: Jenkinson’s tie is now a weapon. Santiago’s loser hat gives you -10 charisma but +10 morale because everyone else is laughing at you.

NPCs We Love:

• Dr. Mira: Therapy = moral checkpoints. Ignore her too long and your emotional stability tanks.

• Dennis Mira: Offers hugs and hot chocolate for +50 morale, that's why we love him.

• Feeney: Built the game, can’t beat level 12, and blames everyone but himself.

• Summerset: The judgmental healer you didn’t ask for but desperately need.

There’s also a whole moral-choice quest about Magdalena Purcell, a health system based on The Candy Thief, and a surprising number of mechanics involving Trina-induced trauma. Basically, it’s chaos, caffeine, and character growth — just like the series.

By the end, we decided this game would absolutely exist in Roarke’s world… and Feeney would still be complaining about level 12.

In this episode of Podcast in Death, AJ and Tara tackle the good, the bad, and the absolutely unhinged reviews of Framed in Death. Along the way, they prove that the heart of this series has always been about one thing: watching Eve Dallas grow. An Eve-olution, if you will.

Sure, there’s murder, mayhem, and Roarke looking fine in another expensive suit, but beneath it all, the In Death series is about Eve slowly evolving as she learns to trust, to breathe, to connect, and to let herself be human. Every book adds another small layer of that change, and AJ and Tara are here for all of it (even if some reviewers clearly aren’t).

Meanwhile, the reviews are... a lot. From readers who think trials make good fiction (they don’t), to those who insist Nora Roberts is secretly powered by AI (she’s not), this episode is part roast, part therapy session, and all entertainment.

• “Give me a trial!” said no one who’s ever sat through one.

• AJ turns into a one-woman legal team to prove Eve did not break the law.

• Tara defends Bella’s baby talk like a champion: “She’s TWO. Calm down.”

• Reviewers who want Eve to “get pregnant” or “adopt a puppy” get the roasting they deserve.

• AJ and Tara remind everyone (again): This is a police procedural, not a mystery series.

• Nora Roberts: still writing better dialogue before breakfast than AI ever will.

• And through it all, Eve continues her quiet transformation — learning empathy, balance, and what it means to have a family of choice.

• Eve’s Mantra Mug: “Fuck this. Fuck this. Fuck this.”

• Penny Pig Glassware — because whiskey just tastes better in a shot glass with a logo.
  Find it all at https://podcast-in-death-merch.printify.me/

This week on Podcast in Death, AJ and Tara stay up way past their bedtimes to tackle a surprisingly deep (and surprisingly hilarious) question:

If you could read one “In Death” book entirely from a supporting character’s point of view, whose would it be, and which book?

What starts as mild confusion on AJ's part (“I have absolutely no idea what you’re saying”) quickly turns into one of the best discussions yet. Because let’s face it, that’s just how we roll.

• Roarke: Which book would we love from his POV? AJ wants Divided, Tara says New York to Dallas, and both agree that whatever he’s thinking, he’s wrong but hot.

• Feeney: Gotta be Ceremony. Also: flashback series where he trains Rookie Eve? YES PLEASE.

• Galahad: Justice for Galahad! Promised caviar, got kibble. His villain origin story begins in Naked.

• Jenkinson: Picking out ties specifically to offend Eve is honestly, king behavior.

• McNabb: AJ wants Purity (for angst), Tara wants Vengeance (for chaos). Both involve Peabody, obviously.

• Dr. Mira: Sassy Mira appreciation hour. Also, she’s got excellent legs in case you forgot.

• Morris: Promises in Death = sad but inevitable. Bring tissues.

• Summerset: Bonded, Vengeance, Innocent...basically, if he’s being snarky and emotionally damaged, we’re in.

• Trueheart: Our own baby cop deserves protection. And probably therapy.

• Whitney: We’d read Purity from his POV, but also: give us an Urban Wars Era buddy cop book with he and Feeney as partners. "The Adventures of Lightning & Hound" Anyone?

Plus: AJ and Tara go off about Yahoo Search conspiracies, how Peabody haters clearly need more friends, and the eternal struggle of recording when your brain has hit “low battery mode.”

Highlights:

This week on Podcast in Death, AJ and Tara dive into Nora’s latest, Framed in Death. Spoiler: the killer is basically an overgrown toddler with a trust fund, a mommy who thinks he poops gold, and a portfolio that belongs in the “Shit Universe,” as Peabody so eloquently put it.

We discuss:

• Eve’s Softer Side™: Apparently, wanting a cookout doesn’t cancel out her “kick-ass” status. Growth, people.

• Pathetic Killer Vibes: He’s rich, entitled, and thinks rejection is a hate crime. Also, no one cares about your sad paintbrush collection, Jonathan.

• Peabody the Secret Art Nerd: Who knew she could name-drop Vermeer and whip out a sketchbook like Bob Ross in a murder investigation?

• Candy Conspiracies: Eve’s eternal war with the bullpen candy thief escalates—complete with googly eyes and thoughts of laxative revenge. Protect and serve? Maybe. Protect and snack? Definitely.

• Nepo Babies, Theater Mommies, and Disney Daddies: Somehow, we connect this wannabe artist’s tantrums to nepotism at Disneyland and Drew Barrymore. You’re welcome.

• Pageant of the Masters: Nora may have taken inspiration from Laguna Beach’s “living paintings” event… except, you know, without the corpses.

Also featuring:

• A random lady who assaults her husband with a frying pan because he demanded breakfast (iconic).

• Galahad’s ongoing bacon entitlement.

• Rourke casually “reacquiring” a $400 million Vermeer because crime, but make it classy.

• Bella demanding everyone wear ribbons in their hair, because toddler dictatorship is real.

By the end, Eve’s planning a wholesome backyard barbecue while Jonathan Harper Eversole is sulking in a cell, writing his autobiography about how nobody understands his genius. Spoiler: we do understand. It’s just trash.

This week on Podcast in Death, AJ admits she texted Tara the night before with “absolutely no idea what we’re going to talk about.” Somehow that turned into a two-hour deep dive on first impressions in the In Death series.

Highlights include:

• Roarke’s Mugshot Glamour Shot: Eve basically thinks, “Wow, this man could kill without breaking a sweat,” and we all agree that’s both terrifying and… kinda hot.

• Feeney’s Rumpled Charm: He looks like a stubby ginger teddy bear, but Eve lights up when he appears. Then he tells her she looks “beat,” but we understand he's just concerned for his former partner.

• Peabody, Sass-Master: Competent, sarcastic, and irritated with parade duty. Tara calls her a "Sass-Master" and she's not wrong. When Eve orders her to look stern, she deadpans: “I was born looking stern.” Iconic.

• Somerset’s First Shade: He gingerly handles Eve’s bloodstained jacket like it’s diseased, setting the tone for decades of sniping.

• Galahad, MVP of Cats: Galahad waddles in like the fat gray MVP he is, immediately claiming Eve as his human.

• Mavis the Walking Disco Ball: She bursts in with glitter, perfume, and the promise of “dinner, dancing, and debauchery.” Eve's not about it after the day she's had, but honestly, we all need a Mavis.

• Dr. Mira = Tea + Therapy: AJ admires her “bulldozing over Eve," and giving her tea she doesn't want. Tara points out Mira and Mavis basically had the same thought: “This bitch needs me.” And they weren’t wrong.

• Crack’s Grand Entrance: Tattoos, bulge, banter. Both Tara and AJ love Crack and his growth in the series.

We wrap it all up with the timeless truth: not all humor is for all people. (But if you don’t laugh at Peabody’s deadpan, we can’t help you.)

This week on Podcast in Death, Tara’s off doing theater things, so listener Dana fills in to help AJ dig through a long document full of our favorite "Scary Roarke Moments."

We kick things off with Naked in Death, where Roarke decides the best way to show affection is to lurk in Eve’s dark apartment like a sexy burglar. AJ sums it up: “He’s fucking lying here, but, you know, he knew she wouldn’t check him.” Dana calls it both creepy and scary, which really sets the tone for the rest of the episode.

Other highlights include:

• The Dick Twist Special (Rapture in Death): Roarke locks Eve out of her own office and “interrogates” Jess Barrow in ways that had AJ wondering, “Was he wearing stretchy pants? How did that even work?” Some mysteries are better left unsolved.

• Trudy Lombard Failed Blackmail Attempt (Memory in Death): Trudy tries to blackmail Roarke for “two million dollars, USD, of course.” AJ gleefully points out, “I love that he’s fucking with her. That’s US dollars, right?” Spoiler: her “compensation” was not being murdered.

• Holiday in Death: Peabody Unleashed: After Peabody decks a groper, Roarke beats the guy up and Feeney gets misty-eyed about Roarke’s brogue: “Listen to the music of it,” while Eve is stuck shouting “Maintain! That’s an order!” and we realize how few times Eve actually has control of an op.

• The Murder Menu (Vengeance in Death): Roarke rattles off his six revenge killings without remorse. Dana deadpans, “He had variety.” AJ adds, “Yeah, he’s like: 'ChatGPT: tell me the worst ways to kill people.’”

• The Neener, Neener Move (Delusion in Death): Eve wants Roarke to stay intimidating but not terrifying, so he pulls off what we now officially call the Neener, Neener Move: sitting in someone else’s office chair just to prove he can. Subtle, smug, effective.

• Peabody’s Word Art (Devoted in Death): Peabody goes full-on scary cop, tossing out gems like “twisted twat” and “sick psychopathic sluts.” Eve gives her high marks for style and alliteration.

• Jenkinson’s Fashion Crimes: We also take time to appreciate the tie so loud Potter could “see it from space”: a glittery purple rat in a silver cage on a field of emerald green. Iconic.

By the end, we cover everything from creeper Roarke to scary-light Roarke, with plenty of side tangents (Harry Potter references included). As AJ notes, “If Roarke ever says something softly, that's when you know you're in trouble.”

This week on Podcast in Death, AJ and Tara dive into the endless amusement that is the Goodreads review section. This time for Echoes in Death.

Highlights include:

• The new sacred rule: Never say the “G-word” (ghostwriter). It’s basically Voldemort for book reviews.

• A reviewer flexing their massive vocabulary with the word “interiority.”

• The mystery of the “sparkly strappy purse” that… doesn’t actually exist. (Someone owes us an apology for this fanfiction-level slander.)

• People who hate the series so much… that they keep reading 44 books of it. Make it make sense.

• One star reviews from folks who don’t like Sherlock Holmes-type books… while reading a murder mystery novel literally titled Echoes in Death. Sir, the math isn’t mathing.

• The eternal question: why do people act like remodeling at "Casa Roarke" is a crime worse than murder?

• Plus, a completely necessary tangent about Bill & Ted, the overuse of the word heinous, and the controversial idea of whether movie sing-alongs should be mandatory or punishable by death.

Basically, if you’ve ever hate-finished a book just so you could toss it across the room, this episode is for you.