Reviewed: 19 January 2024

Random in Death

by: J.D. Robb

Eve Dallas - Book 58

Rating: (4.5/5)

“It’s what we do”, Eve out

As a fan of the series since Naked in Death, book one of the In Death Series, I was on pins and needles waiting to read the latest installment.

Lt. Eve Dallas, her partner, Det. Peabody and the rest of her crew, stand for the dead. In this case, the dead are teenage girls seemingly targeted and harmed for no reason. The victims float through the worlds of Eve’s friends and family making things complicated as she searches for the person responsible. Roarke, civilian consultant, husband to Eve, is on hand to help as well.

The method used on the victim is way worse than I would have ever imagined. The combination is overkill causing some head scratching. One or two would do the job, right?!

The brief respite with Mavis, Leo, Peabody, McNab, Roarke, and Mavis/Leo’s daughter was adorable how she tells Eve she needs a nap. It was a perfect rest point to give the reader a chance to catch up and digest all that had happened to that point.

All of my favorite characters were included without it feeling like there were too many. The confession gave me chills it was so well done.

A witness asks Eve, “You’re going to get them aren’t you?” And she replies, “I’ll repeat. It’s what we do.” I think that says it all.

Bonus: Roarke shirtless, Roarke in jeans and a tee, and Eve “Boss Cop” in tee and vest showing how badass she is. Power couple at its best.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

Release Date: 23-January-2024

Audiobook, Female Sleuth, NetGalley, Mystery

Plot Summary

In the new crime thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling J.D. Robb, a small and easily concealed weapon wreaks havoc, and the killer is just a face in the crowd.

Jenna’s parents had finally given in, and there she was, at a New York club with her best friends, watching the legendary band Avenue A, carrying her demo in hopes of slipping it to the guitarist, Jake Kincade. Then, from the stage, Jake catches her eye, and smiles. It’s the best night of her life.
It’s the last night of her life.

Minutes later, Jake’s in the alley getting some fresh air, and the girl from the dance floor comes stumbling out, sick and confused and deathly pale. He tries to help, but it’s no use. He doesn’t know that someone in the crowd has jabbed her with a needle—and when his girlfriend Nadine arrives, she knows the only thing left to do for the girl is call her friend, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

After everyone on the scene is interviewed, lab results show a toxic mix of substances in the victim’s body—and for an extra touch of viciousness, the needle was teeming with infectious agents. Dallas searches for a pattern: Had any boys been harassing Jenna? Was she engaging in risky behavior or caught up in something shady? But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old, passionate about her music, would be targeted.

And that worries Dallas. Because if Jenna wasn’t targeted, if she was just the random, unlucky victim of a madman consumed by hatred, there are likely more deaths to come.