Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: In Death #51
Publication Date: 9/8/20
Number of Pages: 368

OMGoodness – how can the fifty-first book in a series be as exciting, action-packed, adrenaline-fueled, and riveting as the first book? This series just never gets old for me and I definitely hope the author doesn’t get tired of writing them. This author has to have one of the most creative and imaginative minds around because some of the technology she writes about, some of the social issues… Well, she just comes up with some really good stuff.

When a shadow from Roarke’s past turns up at a murder scene in Washington Square Park, things get really personal – really fast. This crime isn’t just a shadow into Roarke’s past, it is also a shadow into Feeney and Whitney’s past as well. It doesn’t take Eve and Roarke long to decide who the murderer is, but it will take Eve’s entire team and some help from Interpol to catch him. With more than twenty years of experience and hundreds of professional kills under his belt, this killer now has his sights set on Eve and Roarke and maybe even Somerset.

While Roarke and Eve are attending the theater, Eve catches a murder case and they leave for the scene of the crime. The victim, a lovely, wealthy, young wife and mother has been brutally murdered. Nothing is missing – her money, credit cards, phone – everything – are all still in place — someone wanted the young woman dead – very badly. As Eve is tending to the business of securing the crime scene, dispatching officers to interview witnesses, Roarke is standing by – scanning the crowd. Roarke sees a face from his past – one he could do with never seeing again. He made quite sure Roarke saw him and Roarke immediately knows that the man is the assassin who murdered this young woman.

Even knowing who the perpetrator is doesn’t make it easy to find and apprehend him. He is very wealthy now and has all the assets he needs to disappear – except he really doesn’t want to disappear. He wants to taunt Roarke, torture him, and make him suffer before he finally kills him as well. Eve and all the resources of the NYPSD will do whatever it takes to see that doesn’t happen. Roarke is one of their own now and they’ll take care of him.

I love that each new book humanizes Eve a little more and we learn more about Roarke’s past life. I love that Roarke’s and Eve’s love and passion for each other hasn’t diminished – it has grown.

You can’t go wrong if you choose to read this excellently-written, imaginative, well-plotted book – and the rest of the series as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read the books in this series and I never get tired of reading and re-reading them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.