Let me cut to the chase: I finished this one at 0300 during a bout of insomnia that even Ranger's snoring couldn't cure. The German Shepherd was sprawled across the foot of the bed, Linda was dead to the world, and I was wide awake watching Eve Dallas hunt killers in 2060 New York. Couldn't have asked for better company.
J.D. Robb's got a formula, and she knows how to run it. Two wealthy sociopaths decide murder is the ultimate luxury sport—crossbow through a limo driver's neck, bayonet through an escort's heart at Coney Island. The weapons aren't random. These are collectors' items, antiques worth more than most people's houses. The killers aren't after money or revenge. They're bored. Rich, connected, and bored out of their minds. As someone who's dealt with corporate executives who think rules don't apply to them, this hit uncomfortably close to home.
When the Enemy Wears a $3,000 Suit
Here's what Robb nails: the psychology of entitlement taken to its logical, horrifying conclusion. These aren't criminal masterminds. They're trust fund sociopaths playing a game, keeping score, treating human beings like safari trophies. Eve figures out the pattern early—the question becomes proving it when your suspects have lawyers on retainer and alibis manufactured by money. The frustration bleeds through every scene. You can feel Eve grinding her teeth. That same grinding tension—cop versus untouchable suspects—drives Last Trial, though the courtroom replaces the crime scene.
Roarke's involvement adds an interesting wrinkle. He runs in these circles. Knows these people. The tension between his world and Eve's badge creates friction that never feels forced. When she has to investigate people who've sat at his dinner table, the marriage gets tested in ways that feel earned. Not melodrama—just the reality of two people with very different backgrounds trying to make it work while one of them hunts killers for a living.
Ericksen's Got 31 Books of Muscle Memory
Susan Ericksen has been voicing this series so long she probably dreams in Eve Dallas's clipped New York cadence. Her Roarke still carries that Irish lilt that makes his charm feel genuine rather than smarmy. Mavis—Eve's eccentric best friend—gets this bright, almost musical quality that's instantly recognizable. The woman has logged serious hours with these characters, and it shows. Pieces of Her benefits from similar narrator commitment—when you're unraveling family secrets across timelines, that consistency matters.
One minor gripe: Peabody and Eve are starting to sound a bit too similar. They're both tough cop women, sure, but Peabody's supposed to be younger, softer around the edges. By this point in the series—we're talking book 31 here—the distinction has blurred. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable if you've been listening to these back-to-back like I have during my commutes between client sites.
The pacing works for the format. Nearly thirteen hours, but it moves. Ericksen knows when to punch the dialogue and when to let the procedural details breathe. I ran it at 1.25x without losing anything.
The Procedural Holds Up
Robb does her homework on police procedure—or at least a plausible future version of it. Evidence collection, chain of custody, the bureaucratic hoops that real investigators jump through. It's not perfect (some of the tech handwaving gets convenient), but she respects the process. Eve doesn't solve cases through hunches and lucky breaks. She grinds. Interviews witnesses, reviews surveillance, builds her case piece by piece.
The futuristic setting stays background noise rather than distraction. Flying cars and AutoChefs and off-planet colonies, but the human drama stays human. Murder's still murder. Greed's still greed. The rich still think they're untouchable. Some things don't change in forty years.
Who Should Deploy (And Who Should Stand Down)
If you're already invested in the In Death series, this is a solid entry. Not the best of the bunch, but consistently entertaining. The thrill-killer angle provides enough novelty to keep things fresh. New to the series? You could start here—Robb provides enough context—but you'd miss the relationship history that makes the Eve/Roarke dynamic land. Maybe grab "Naked in Death" first, get the origin story.
Skip if you need constant action. This is procedural mystery with romantic elements. The violence happens, but it's not the focus. If you're looking for tactical thrillers or military fiction, this isn't your mission.
Mission Debrief
Worth your time? Yeah. It's comfort food with teeth. Robb knows her characters, Ericksen knows her job, and the story delivers exactly what it promises—a smart cop hunting smart killers who think they're above the law. Ranger approved this one, though he did give me a look around hour ten that suggested I should maybe get some sleep.
Four stars. Solid execution of a proven formula. Worth the credit if you're a fan, worth the wait for a sale if you're testing the waters.
