Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death #62
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
Date of Publication: February 3, 2026
No. of Pages: 368
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead―while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband, Roarke―who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy thief―recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard. The crime scene suggests a burglar caught in the act. But only one item seems to be missing.
Then it’s revealed that the vault had actually belonged to the victim’s late father―and no one in the household knew it was there until a recent remodeling project exposed it. To protect the family name and business, they explain to Eve, they’d been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police. But now the police are all over their elegant house, and have a bigger, bloodier mystery to solve.
By all accounts, Nathan Barrister was a good man, a generous employer, a devoted husband and father. As for his father―he clearly had secrets. Now it’s up to Eve and her team to find out if those secrets got Nathan killed―and if it was a crime of passion or revenge.
MY THOUGHTS:
Nathan Barrister, a prominent multibillionaire, was brutally murdered, struck over the head with a block of amethyst. This gruesome act of violence unveiled a surviving trove of evidence that might have remained hidden otherwise. Detective Eve Dallas, accompanied by her wealthy husband Roarke, arrived at the scene immediately. Eve’s keen observation led her to discover an open vault brimming with an array of treasures, including priceless artworks and exquisite jewelry. This revelation could potentially unsettle Roarke, as more than one the artworks are all too familiar to him.
Roarke, a highly esteemed billionaire, had proven to be an invaluable asset to the police during several of Eve’s investigations. However, his connection to some of the stolen artworks deeply troubled him. These pieces stirred up a past that Roarke would undoubtedly prefer to forget. As a youth, Roarke was definitely on the wrong side of the law, and This makes this most recent murder case particularly challenging and sensitive for Eve.
This 62nd book in the In Death series, yes, 62nd! — maintains the same freshness and intricate writing as each previous book. While some readers may not have read all the full-length books and novellas, there are cleverly placed references to both Eve and Roarke’s pasts. Moreover, other familiar protagonists in this series have perfectly fitting roles. This installment delves into art history, incorporating references to painters and artists that might resonate with the reader.
For those unfamiliar with this series, it’s worth noting that it is set in the year 2061, midway through the 21st century. I find this setting particularly intriguing because it incorporates elements of a slightly futuristic world. This dynamic undoubtedly enhances the flavor of yet another delightfully written police procedural story.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. After a school career that included some time in Catholic school and the discipline of nuns, she married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland.
She worked briefly as a legal secretary. “I could type fast but couldn’t spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever,” she says now. After her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate.
Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn’t reading or making up stories. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981.
Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they’ve expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together
Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.
Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.”
