Category: Futuristic

Random in Death by J.D. Robb

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Random in Death (In Death, #58)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #58
Publication Date: 1/23/24
Period: Future (2061) New York City
Number of Pages: 362

It is all-hands-on-deck in this exciting, action-packed, edge of your chair, can’t put it down, 58th addition to the In Death series by J.D. Robb. One might think that a series with that many books would begin to drop in quality and excitement – but one would be wrong. This author has the ability to elicit strong emotions and reactions from the reader, yet she also uses bits of humor to dampen down some of those really intense moments. We always come to know both the victim(s) and the villain(s) – sometimes, we admire the victims (as in this book) and sometimes we wonder why someone didn’t kill them earlier. We also always know that whether the victim is admirable or not, Lt. Eve Dallas will give her all to finding who took their lives.

This story’s victims are girls just on the cusp of womanhood – in the 15-16-year-old range. Lovely, happy, young women with their whole lives before them. Yet, that life has come to an abrupt and very painful end. The first victim, Jenna, had a life planned. She knew what she wanted and she had the talent and intelligence to make it happen. Then, she died in her hero’s arms in an alley behind the club where she wanted desperately to get a copy of her demo tape to Jake from the band, Avenue A.

Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, McNab, and the rest of the crew begin their investigation wondering if Jenna was specifically targeted or if she was just a random choice. When there is a second murder – same method, same signature – they become more and more sure the victims are chosen randomly. Evidence is scarce – the villain is extremely intelligent (yet somehow naïve) – and there is no way for Eve and the crew to predict who the next victim might be. They do know there will be a next victim – and soon.

I believe everyone from the ‘Dallas’ ensemble makes an appearance and contributes to either the solution /or consoling the grieving parents. Every small clue adds to what they know – and the villain’s profile emerges – but – who would believe it? Yet, Eve is sure of the profile, she just has to find some clues leading to the identity before yet another young lady is victimized. They’ve weeded through thousands of random clues and have little to go on – until – the right clue at the right time brings it together.

Can they apprehend the villain before he claims another victim? Will he escape capture? You’ll have to read this excellent book to find out.

I have recommended this series to a multitude of friends, acquaintances, and even strangers with whom I’ve chatted, and all of them have tried it – and all of them have loved it. I know it is a long series, but I sincerely recommend reading the books from the first one. The relationships are built and developed from one book to the next, and you can certainly better identify with all of the relationships between the characters – and the characters themselves – much better if you read them in order. I hope you’ll choose to read this book and this series and love it as much as I do.

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

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Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Futuristic, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Payback in Death (In Death, #57)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #57
Publication Date: 9/5/23
Period: Future New York City – 2061 or so
Number of Pages: 368

WOW! This long-running series is one of the best I have ever read, and I hope it continues for a long time to come. This fifty-seventh book is just as fresh and engrossing as the first one was. I’m not one to re-read books, but I have re-read the first three books in this series many times – just because those are the books that establish Roarke and Eve as a couple and set up the characters and background for the rest of the series. Also, don’t let the fact that it takes place in the future keep you from giving the books a try. Yes, the setting is in the future, but that is just an auxiliary fact – window dressing – to a superbly written mystery with wonderful characters and a tad of wit and humor sprinkled throughout to add to your enjoyment. Then, there is the romance – goodness – romance writers take note – if you want to write a toe-curling, heart-singing, sizzling romance read these books for the ultimate example.

Eve and Roarke are in for a crashing end to the vacation they took to celebrate their third anniversary. After long, romantic, sunny days on an island and then the beautiful, lush greens of Ireland, they return to the heat of crowded New York. Eve enjoyed her vacation, but she loves New York and her job as a Homicide Lieutenant in the New York Police and Security Division. She’s darn good at that job – probably the best there is – and that is how she came to be specially requested to handle the case of an apparent suicide. Lieutenant Donald Webster, Internal Affairs Bureau, is sure his old friend and mentor, retired Captain Martin Greenleaf, did not kill himself and he wants to assure justice for his friend.

Within minutes of arriving on the scene, Eve is also convinced that Martin Greenleaf did not kill himself. Martin had a warm, loving family – so – could the murder have something to do with work? He’s been retired for years, so that isn’t likely – or is it? As head of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Martin had a reputation as a by-the-book, no-gray-areas cop that many didn’t like, but most respected. Those who didn’t respect him were those who had broken their oaths to protect and serve.

We all know Eve never gives up, but this case frustrated her. Every thread she pulled led nowhere. She just knows the answer is buried somewhere in his past, but can’t find any connections. Until she does. Then she and her team are off and running to bring the villains down. With a villain who is so supremely self-confident that there is no way the NYPSD can ever link them to the victim, the interview room at cop central gets pretty heated.

I can definitely recommend this book! This author! This series! Each book is an exciting, perplexing case that can be read as a standalone. However, to truly understand the dynamics among the characters, the location, etc. (and to get some of the humor), you’ll definitely want to read at least the first three (maybe four) books first. If you are looking for excitement, suspense, mystery, and romance this is the book for you!

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

View all my reviews