Lt. Eve Dallas is back and this time she’s investigating the death of one of her own.
New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb has delivered another cracker of a crime novel with her latest installment of the In Death series. Payback in Death is book #57 and fans of futuristic detective Eve Dallas will not be disappointed. Once again, Robb delivers in spades.
In this installment, we are introduced to Eve Dallas and her eccentric, tycoon husband Roarke as they holiday first in Greece – think island sunsets and sex, followed by a wholesome Irish farm stay with family. This is classic Nora Roberts territory, giving readers that warm insight into the private familial relationships behind the professional facades of our loved-up couple. It’s a chance for us to catch up on where this duo has landed since the last book, but also a chance for new readers to quickly gather the necessary backstory intel.
Yet nothing is quite as simple as it seems and before long, we are back in the hard-edged world of police procedurals. Lt. Dallas is tasked with investigating the death of one of her own – a retired police officer who’s found dead in his home. The victim is Martin Greenleaf, former Captain of Internal Affairs. At first glance it looks like suicide, but Eve thinks there could be more to this carefully laid scene than meets the eye. An unlocked open window, a too-perfect suicide note… Eve’s gut says it’s a homicide. After all, Greenleaf put a lot of dirty cops away during his forty-seven years in Internal Affairs. It very well could be payback in death – and bam, we’re hooked!
The scene is set for some clue-bending twists and unexpected turns that deliver satisfying results. The mystery becomes: which of the many enemies Greenleaf toiled to bring to justice has turned the tables on him for good?
Robb is a master of weaving complex plot with utterly believable characters. From the very first page, it’s clear we’re in the hands of a seasoned storyteller. That writer is of course Nora Roberts, bestselling author of romance and family dramas, as well as the queen of crime fiction, writing under the pseudonym J. D. Robb. With over 250 books under her belt, Roberts shows no signs of slowing down which is good news for all of us fans!
The In Death books do not have to be read in order and yet, character relationships do develop over the course of the entire series. As a fan, I recommend doing yourself a favour and start at book one, Naked in Death, which was published in 1995. You’ll be hooked!
Payback in Death is J. D. Robb at her best, delivering a tightly paced, character-driven, page-turner of a book. You won’t want to stop reading until you reach the climactic end of this heart-thumping thriller!
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