Copyright 2020

Published in the U.S. by St. Martin’s Paperbacks an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

This is the latest title in the series starring Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, and Civilian Consultant(aka Hubby) Roarke. Secondary characters who have helped round out the series and make it even more relatable include Peabody’s beau, Detective Ian McNabb, EDD lead Captain Ryan Feeney, Mavis Freestone, Nadine Furst, Dr. Charlotte Mira, Chief Medical Officer Morris, Lawrence Charles Summerset, and Galahad.

This novel is as action packed and suspenseful as all the rest in the series. Robb keeps death and sex scenes minimal yet impactful so those who are easily triggered may take care just in case. Keeping the blood and gore details just to what is needed to make the scenes believable is a nice change from a lot of books in this same genre. Romance is part and parcel with this series and allows the reader some breathing room while showing the softer side of the main characters, especially Eve. It makes them more relatable. Sex scenes are not graphic and are described with a romantic tinge rather than a carnal one.

J.D. Robb weaves her way through a plot from start to finish with flare, throwing in a twist here and there. She keeps the energy up where it’s needed and slows things down a bit where it makes sense so there’s no jarring. There’s no filler or fluff just to fill pages, every scene has a purpose – to further the story.

Eve Dallas open the story investigating a murder that happens as she’s out with her husband, Roarke. Roarke, a former criminal, sees someone from his past, a murderer nicknamed Blade, in the crowd surrounding the murder scene. Blade had been a bane of Roarke’s existence while Roarke had lived in Europe to the point of attempting to kill Roarke twice. Linked to hundreds of crimes in Europe but never caught, Blade has come to the States to try yet again to end the other man’s life while getting away with a murder for hire plot – or so he thinks.

He hasn’t taken into account Lieutenant Eve Dallas being assigned the case, as well as being the wife of Roarke. Both make her a more than formidable foe, and with her team fully behind her from the Police Chief on down, it’s only a matter of time before Blade is in a cage.

I really enjoyed this novel, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes murder mysteries.

See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!