Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #63
Publication Date: 9/8/26
Period: Future New York – 2061
Number of Pages: 368
Another outstanding addition to the In Death series! I think I say this with every review, but it is true—every single time! At sixty-three books into the series, it is still as fresh, innovative, interesting, and engrossing as the very first book. I honestly hope this series continues for another thirty years!
In the Prologue of Fury in Death, we meet the antagonist—and, surprisingly, we come to like him. Yes, we have a sympathetic antagonist this time, and his story is absolutely heartbreaking. I thought this was one of the book’s most interesting aspects. His circumstances and the people who manipulated and used him make it difficult not to feel sympathy for him, even as he becomes a murderer.
I especially loved Eve’s response to him. She understands what happened to him without excusing what he has done. Her determination to bring him to justice is matched by her determination to find the people who created the circumstances that turned him into the murderer he has become. Eve’s dogged pursuit of justice for everyone involved is one of the things I love most about her. She can see the person behind the crime, and this time that understanding leads her to some particularly difficult and uncomfortable questions.
I also appreciated the more introspective Eve we see in this book. As she works through the case, she is forced to think about the choices people make, the circumstances that shape them, and where responsibility ultimately lies. Watching that thought process—and seeing how much Eve has grown over the course of the series—was wonderful. Even after sixty-three books, there are still new facets of Eve’s character for us to discover.
And, of course, we get more of Peabody and McNab and their families! I was delighted to spend more time with Peabody’s Free-Ager family, who have descended on New York for the housewarming of the large, happy home that Peabody, McNab, Leonardo, and Mavis have created. They are such a wonderful, sometimes chaotic, group, and I always enjoy the glimpses we get into the personal lives of Eve’s extended circle. With Mavis and her ever-expanding crew also settling into the new home, there is certainly no shortage of personalities, opinions, and opportunities for Eve to be exasperated!
Meanwhile, Eve and her team are racing to solve the murders before more people can be executed. Once again, Dallas and her intrepid team from NYPSD are up to the task, following the clues, sorting through the financials, and working tirelessly to uncover the truth.
I was completely engrossed from the moment I read the first words, and apparently once wasn’t enough because I immediately went through the book a second time in audio. I always enjoy Susan Eriksen’s narration of this series, and she once again does an outstanding job. Her pacing is perfect, her distinctive voices make it easy to identify each character, and she makes you feel as if you are right there in the room with them. She brings out the humor, horror, suspense, tenderness, and sheer joy in the story so beautifully.
There is something rather amazing about reaching book sixty-three in a series and still feeling that sense of anticipation when a new book arrives. I care about these characters, I enjoy spending time with them, and I continue to be impressed by how much new life and depth J.D. Robb brings to a series that could so easily have become predictable by now.
I loved the mystery, the character development, the relationships, and especially Eve’s determination to seek justice—not only for the victims, but also for someone whose life had been so terribly damaged by others. Fury in Death is another winner for me, and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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