Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Secrets in Death
In-Death series – Book #45
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: September 5, 2017

Secrets in Death Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.

The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.

The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.

Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…

Review:

Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb is amazingly the 45^th book in her In- Death series and this does not include all her novellas. Bravo to J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) that 45 books later, I still cannot get enough of Eve & Roarke and the fabulous team that surrounds them.

Secrets in Death begins with Eve meeting Dr.DeWinter (forensic anthropologist) at Du Vin (a fancy nightspot) to try to clear the air between them and get on better terms. Just when they come to an agreement, and get ready to leave, Eve hears a crash and runs to help someone falling. As blood gushes everywhere, Eve is the first on the scene of a murder.

The murdered woman is Larinda Mars, a gossip reporter, who was truly an evil witch. She was not liked by those who have dealt with her, and Eve will find that she had many enemies. When Eve, Roarke and Peabody search for clues in Mars house, they find out that she has been blackmailing many people, in fact over the years she has made herself a fortune in millions. Eve upon interviewing those listed in Mars computer and paperwork, discover how despicable she was. Larinda Mars had a big list of those she watched, which included those close to us; Eve, Roarke, Nadine, Mavis, just to name a few…this too angered Eve. Eve must try to maintain the need to solve this crime, even if she knows the victim probably deserved her punishment. But Eve Dallas always stands for the dead..no matter how awful they are.

I will say that Secrets in Death was a bit different then most of the previous books. Though there is murder, the intensity and violence was not evident through most of the book. It was more of a slower investigative pace, which was very well done. It was also a bit introspective, especially after interviewing those being blackmailed that brought back memories for both Roarke and Eve, as they reflected on things from their past.

Even with this change of pace story line, it was a fantastic ride, as we spent so much time with Eve and Roarke. I say this over and over. There is no better couple in the literary world then our Eve and Roarke. Of course, everyone wants a ‘Roarke’ in their lives. I also loved seeing some of our secondary character favorites, such as Nadine getting a bigger role in this book; the snarky and cute fun between Peabody & Eve; and seeing Mavis and Bella again. J.D. Robb always manages to give us a break from the murder, giving us fun with Peabody, or the beautiful romance between Roarke and Eve. It takes a master writer who can do that so deftly. The moment when Eve finds out that Summerset left for vacation, and they were alone in their mansion was totally classic. Loved it…..

Secrets in Death was another fantastic mystery that has us guessing until the very end. Though I have to admit there was one person I wanted it to be. The victim was so unlikeable and evil that we kind of felt sorry for those who had so many reasons to kill her. J.D. Robb does it again with another wonderful story. I can’t wait for the next book, and never ever want this to end.

Reviewed by Barb

Save