Three AM, couldn't sleep. One of those nights where the brain won't shut off—old missions, old faces. Ranger was snoring at the foot of the bed, Linda was out cold, and I figured I'd pick up where I left off with Eve Dallas. Fourteen hours later, I'd burned through the whole thing during a drive to Houston and back for a client meeting.
Let me cut to the chase: this one's solid. Murder by cyanide-laced communion wine during a funeral Mass? That's a hell of an opening. The priest drops dead at the altar, and within hours Eve Dallas discovers he's not Father Miguel Flores at all—the body shows knife scars, a removed gang tattoo, and evidence of plastic surgery. Identity theft in a Roman collar. Now we're talking.
When the Victim's Already Dead Twice
The hook here is deceptively simple, but Robb (that's Nora Roberts for the uninitiated) does something smart with it. We're not just solving a murder—we're solving who the victim actually was. The fake priest angle opens up gang connections, cartel history, and a deeply personal revenge motive that takes the whole book to untangle.
Eve's discomfort with the religious setting adds texture too. She's a cop who's seen the worst humanity offers, but all that "holiness flying around" genuinely throws her off balance. Nice character beat that doesn't get overplayed.
The second murder—and I won't spoil where or how—knocked the investigation sideways in a way I didn't see coming. And I usually see these things coming. Twenty-five years of assessing threats and reading people gives you a certain radar for plot twists. This one got me.
Ericksen Runs This Operation
Susan Ericksen has been narrating this series for what, forty-plus books now? And it shows—in the best possible way. She's got Eve Dallas's voice locked in so tight that switching to Roarke (Eve's billionaire husband with the Irish lilt) happens without a hiccup. The supporting cast—Peabody, the various priests and gang members and witnesses—all get distinct treatment. You know who's talking without the "he said, she said" tags.
What impressed me most was how she handled the church scenes. There's a reverence in the liturgical moments that contrasts sharply with Eve's internal skepticism. Ericksen walks that line perfectly. She's not mocking the faith, but she's also not letting Eve become suddenly comfortable with it. That's acting, not just reading.
I've seen this scenario play out in real life—not the poisoned communion wine part, but the identity theft, the hidden past catching up to someone. Echo Burning worked the same way—Reacher tracking down someone who'd disappeared into a new identity, every detail feeling tactically sound. Robb clearly did her homework on gang culture and the particular dynamics of how someone might disappear into a completely new life. The details felt right. No "clip" versus "magazine" moments here.
The 2060 Tech Stays in Its Lane
It's 2060 in Eve's world, and the tech is advanced but not distracting. The investigative tools help the plot move without becoming the plot. Eve still has to do actual detective work—interviewing witnesses, reading body language, making intuitive leaps. The gadgets just speed up the forensics. I appreciate that. Too many futuristic thrillers let the technology do all the heavy lifting.
At 1.25x speed, the pacing held up well. Thirteen and a half hours is a commitment, but there wasn't much fat to trim. A few domestic scenes with Roarke could've been tightened, but they serve the character development fans of the series expect. New listeners might find them slower, but by book twenty-seven (yes, twenty-seven), you're either invested in the relationship or you've already bailed.
Deploy or Stand Down?
If you're already in the In Death trenches, this is a strong entry. If you're new to the series, it's actually not a bad starting point—the case is self-contained and you'll pick up the character dynamics quickly enough. Mystery fans who like their procedurals with a sci-fi edge will find plenty to enjoy. Religious readers should know the Catholic elements are treated respectfully, even if Eve herself stays skeptical throughout.
Who should skip? Anyone who needs constant action. This is investigation-heavy, dialogue-driven detective work. There are tense moments, but no extended shootouts or chase sequences. If you want explosions, look elsewhere. Linda was right about my preferences, but even I can appreciate a well-constructed mystery when the craft is this solid.
Debrief Complete
Ranger approved this one—he sat through the whole Houston drive without complaint. The twist at the end regarding the true murderer landed clean, the narration was professional-grade throughout, and I never once wanted to throw my phone out the window in frustration. Vanishing Man earned the same reaction—solid mystery work that respects the listener's intelligence. That's high praise from me.
Worth your time? Strong mystery, excellent narrator, satisfying resolution. Not the flashiest entry in the series, but a reliable performer that does exactly what it promises. Sometimes that's all you need.
