GOLDEN IN DEATH (IN DEATH #50)

In the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas investigates a murder with a mysterious motive―and a terrifying weapon.

Pediatrician Kent Abner received the package on a beautiful April morning. Inside was a cheap trinket, a golden egg that could be opened into two halves. When he pried it apart, highly toxic airborne fumes entered his body―and killed him.

After Eve Dallas calls the hazmat team―and undergoes testing to reassure both her and her husband that she hasn’t been exposed―it’s time to look into Dr. Abner’s past and relationships. Not every victim Eve encounters is an angel, but it seems that Abner came pretty close―though he did ruffle some feathers over the years by taking stands for the weak and defenseless. While the lab tries to identify the deadly toxin, Eve hunts for the sender. But when someone else dies in the same grisly manner, it becomes clear that she’s dealing with either a madman―or someone who has a hidden and elusive connection to both victims.

Release Date: February 4, 2020

St. Martin's Press

In Death series #50

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

The In Death series of books remains one of my favorites published...even after 50 books in the series. To say that Eve Dallas and Roarke are two of my favorite characters I've ever read is an understatement. I literally drop everything I'm reading as soon as a new book appears on my kindle. Golden in Death was absolutely no different, and I once again loved the ride.

Part of what I love so much about the In Death series is Ms. Robb keeps me guessing through much of the book. I've read mysteries for years and I love the twists and turns along the way with each new installment. I also love the banter between all the characters. I almost feel like I'm coming home and hanging out with friends as I read each story. The main cast of characters has grown so much since I read Naked in Death so many years ago, and it works for me. 

I have to say in Golden in Death, Ms. Robb kept me guessing way longer than usual. I honestly generally have an idea of who is behind the murders after the first murder, but I have to say I loved the puzzle of who was the bad guy in this story. I love how Dallas and Peabody totally have gotten to the point where they bounce ideas off each other when working on cases. So much growth in both characters and in their work relationship and friendship since they first became partners. I had so many moments of nostalgia while reading this book, which only made me love it even more.

I loved the time we got to spend with Dallas and Roarke, and their romance is still so swoon-worthy to me. I started reading this series the year in came out in 1995, so I've been reading about these characters for 25 years and OMG I love them just as much now as I did in the very first book. I love Dallas still bounces cases off on Roake and he is always there to help when needed. I also had to laugh out loud at Roarke being so concerned about her not having any cash on hand...seriously normal married couple stuff with this couple. I also love the banter between Dallas and Summerset in each book. They have such an aggressive love/hate relationship, yet both would do anything to protect Roarke. Their barbs at one another are always a favorite part of each story.

Golden in Death was everything I've come to expect from a book in this series. A mystery that kept me guessing way too long, romantic times with Dallas and Roarke, and watching Dallas and Peabody solve cases and find connections in the most random of places. I am like each time I finish a new book in this series ready to go back and read Naked in Death again, and then impatiently await the next installment in the series later this year.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

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VENDETTA IN DEATH (IN DEATH #49)

The predator becomes the prey in the newest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring homicide detective Eve Dallas.

She calls herself Lady Justice. And once she has chosen a man as her target, she turns herself into a tall blonde or a curvaceous redhead, makes herself as alluring and seductive as possible to them. Once they are in her grasp, they are powerless.

The first victim is wealthy businessman Nigel McEnroy. His company’s human resources department has already paid out settlements to a couple of his young victims—but they don’t know that his crimes go far beyond workplace harassment. Lady Justice knows. And in one shocking night of brutality, she makes him pay a much steeper price.

Now Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, are combing through the evidence of McEnroy’s secret life. His compulsive need to record his misdeeds provides them with a wide range of suspects, but the true identity of Lady Justice remains elusive. It’s a challenging case, made even more difficult by McEnroy’s widow, who reacts to the investigation with fury, denial, and threats. Meanwhile, Lady Justice’s criminal crusade is escalating rapidly, and if Eve can’t stop this vigilante, there’s no telling how much blood may be spilled…

Release Date: September 3, 2019

St. Martin's Press

In Death #49

Romantic Suspense

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's review:

Vendetta in Death is the 49th book in the In Death series from JD Robb and I'm every bit as invested in this series today as I was the very first time I read Naked in Death.

Honestly I loved ever moment of Vendetta in Death. I love I can get my Dallas and Roarke fix every 6 months and I literally go without sleep to read each new installment as quickly as possible. I will say I figured out who Lady Justice was extremely early in this book, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story. I love to see how Eve's mind works as she figures out who the killer is in each new story.  I was totally in sync with Eve on figuring who did it before knowing all the reasoning behind everything.

One of my favorite things about this series is how many friendships Eve has developed over the course of the 49 books. Vendetta in Death we got to see Eve work with Peabody and the rest of the crew, and little updates about the other detectives, which I always love. Mira helping with the profiling, and making sure Eve was handling this case since it dealt with men who both sexual and physically abused women. I love the deep relationship Eve and Mira have now. Special time with Mavis and Bella, and working once again with Nadine gave me happy sighs. Of course, Roarke and Eve working together and being together always is my favorite part of any In Death book. 

I know it sounds a bit crazy, but Vendetta in Death gave me so many happy feels. Yes there were brutal murders in the story, but the mystery was solid and the characters remain as engaging as ever. The In Death series of books remains one of my absolute favorites, and Ms. Robb gave her readers a fabulous story with Vendetta in Death.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

SECRETS IN DEATH (IN DEATH #45)

A new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series: Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.

The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.

The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.

Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…

Release Date: September 5, 2017

St. Martin's Press

In Death #45

Romantic Suspense

Liza's Review:

Once again J.D. Robb has pulled me back into her In Death world with some of my favorite characters ever written. Seriously my biannual Dallas and Roarke fix really isn't enough, but I'll take what I can get each and every time.

Let me just say right up front, I guessed the killer the moment Eve met this person, but thought I was wrong because it seemed way too obvious. I didn't have the killer's motivation correct, but knew this person did it. That being said, I loved watching Eve's mind work to figure out each step along the way. I also loved how much Eve got to work with Roarke on this case. He always helps out a good bit, but many times it is on the edge. Since it occurred in his restaurant, he was in on it from the very beginning.

I also loved we saw the softer side of Eve when it came to her friends. When she makes an offer to Peabody because she can tell she and McNabb need time away, it made me feel all squishy inside. Eve is normally such a hardass even around her friends. It was refreshing to see her in this new light. She is fiercely protective of her friends, and we saw her anger at discovering her friends and Roarke being on the list of possible blackmail marks as she investigated Larinda Mars' death. I love that her anger helped keep her going much of the time.

I now must wait another six months for my next In Death fix from J.D. Robb. With each new release I always say I'm going to savor and take my time reading, and then find myself up at 3 in the morning knowing the alarm is going off in 2 hours for work. Secrets in Death was the same and is once again another winner from Ms. Robb.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

APPRENTICE IN DEATH (IN DEATH #43)

Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns in a fast-paced new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb.

Nature versus nurture...

The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.

Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD, but never one like this. After reviewing security videos, it becomes clear that the victims were killed by a sniper firing a tactical laser rifle, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the locations where the shooter could have set up seem endless, the list of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.

Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil...

Release Date: September 6, 2016

Berkley Penguin Group

In Death #43

Romantic Suspense/Futuristic Romantic Thriller

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

Apprentice in Death is the 43^rd installment in the In Death series and I loved it every bit as much as I did Naked in Death, which is the 1^st book in the series. Seriously I have mad love for this series and it hasn’t diminished after 43 books.

I adore the romance between Roarke and Eve. Their relationship has grown so much since the first book and I love watching them work through the every day issues in their marriage and come out stronger in each book. I also love how much help Roarke gives to each and every one of Eve’s cases. It is so sweet to watch him worry over how hard she works and how much she gives of herself to every single victim.

I also loved getting to spend so much time with Eve’s team as they searched for the newest killer. Yes they had the names of the people they were looking for pretty early on, but it still took lots of teamwork to find locations to search. We don’t always get enough time with Eve’s team and friends, but I loved getting to spend so much time with so many favorite characters. I know part of the reason I continue to love this series is because of the ensemble cast. As much as I absolutely love Roarke and want to be Eve Dallas when I grow up, I love how the relationships and friendships have grown so strong over the course of this series.

I love even with all the ugliness of murder in each book, we always get something sweet in each story. Mavis and Leonardo’s daughter Bella’s birthday party had me smiling from ear to ear. I absolutely love watching Dallas and Roarke interact with this little girl and be so far outside their comfort zones.

I had a few ideas about the bad guy early on, and was glad to see I had part of it right. Although I was off on one aspect, I still found the mystery part of the story solid. I have to say I love watching Eve’s brain works as she breaks down each and every detail of the case. She has a way of seeing so much so fast and I love trying to keep up with how her mind works. 

I highly recommend the In Death series to any readers who love the romantic suspense genre. Apprentice in Death is an amazing addition to the series and I believe both old and new fans will fall in love with this book.

BROTHERHOOD IN DEATH (IN DEATH #42)

Sometimes brotherhood can be another word for conspiracy...

Dennis Mira just had two unpleasant surprises. First he learned that his cousin Edward was secretly meeting with a real estate agent about their late grandfather’s magnificent West Village brownstone, despite the promise they both made to keep it in the family. Then, when he went to the house to confront Edward about it, he got a blunt object to the back of the head.

Luckily Dennis is married to Charlotte Mira, the NYPSD’s top profiler and a good friend of Lieutenant Eve Dallas. When the two arrive on the scene, he explains that the last thing he saw was Edward in a chair, bruised and bloody. When he came to, his cousin was gone. With the mess cleaned up and the security disks removed, there’s nothing left behind but a few traces for forensics to analyze. 

As a former lawyer, judge, and senator, Edward Mira mingled with the elite and crossed paths with criminals, making enemies on a regular basis. Like so many politicians, he also made some very close friends behind closed—and locked—doors. But a badge and a billionaire husband can get you into places others can’t go, and Eve intends to shine some light on the dirty deals and dark motives behind the disappearance of a powerful man, the family discord over a multimillion-dollar piece of real estate . . . and a new case that no one saw coming.

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Berkley Penguin Group

In Death #42

Review copy provided by publisher

I really don’t know how JD Robb continues to keep things fresh 42 books into the series, but she does and Brotherhood in Death is one of my favorites in the series.

I would love to say I don’t devour the In Death books as soon as they are in my hands, however that would be a lie. At some point maybe I’ll find a way to slowly read these books, but it so didn’t happen with Brotherhood in Death. I was pulled in from the very first page.

I have always adored Dennis Mira, Dr. Charlotte Mira’s husband. There is just something about his absent minded professor image that puled me in from the moment we first met him. I also think him being so sweet to Eve totally baffles her, and that makes me like him even more.

I loved that Eve immediately dropped everything to check on Dennis Mira when Dr. Mira called her. The fact that someone had attacked him made me so mad. Dennis Mira is the sweetest man on the face of the planet. When Eve realized his cousin, Edward Mira was attacked as well and missing, Eve knows they have limited time to find Edward alive.

I have to say when Edward’s body was found with the note “Justice Is Served”, I suspected right away it had something to do with a sex crime. As more of Edward’s friends started to disappear, I quickly realized it was way uglier than I had first envisioned and knew this would be a super hard case for Eve.

I love that Eve always has Peabody, Dr. Mira, and Roarke in her corner to deal with ugliness that makes her fall back into the nightmares of her past. Eve Dallas is hands-down the strongest character I’ve ever read. I loved that Eve didn’t want to have to interview Dennis Mira about his cousin’s death, but followed the rules to the letter so no one could say she didn’t follow procedure. I loved even more that he made her real hot chocolate and completely understood why she had to push so hard.

As the pieces started to fall together for Eve, we learn the sex crimes spanned years. This story had very tough subject matter to read since it involves not only rape, but gang rape of many women who were drugged. I really felt like Ms. Robb did a great job with such a tough subject matter.

As I’ve said before, I’ve always loved Dennis Mira, but when Eve shared her past with him thinking Dr. Mira had already shared it, I lost my heart to him completely. The Miras look at Eve as a part of their family and her pain is their pain. Seriously my love for Dennis Mira is only rivaled by my love for Roarke in this series.

While I understood the need to take justice into their own hands, only going through the actual court system could the men involved actually be punished. I love how hard Eve and her team worked to make sure the surviving men would face the harshest sentences possible for their crimes. Seriously bawled my eyes out reading what they did to those women. It also broke my heart for their family members to have to learn the type of men they truly were once their crimes came to life.

While Brotherhood in Death was a tough read at times, it also was one of the best stories in the series so far. I know picking up a series when there are 42 books in the series to date is a daunting task. However, I think it is totally worth the time to read this series. I’ve read each and every book, but have also listened to a few on audiobook, and find listening to audiobooks a great way to catch up on a series.