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In Death #62

Stolen in Death

Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26
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A violent death and a vault of stolen treasures has Eve Dallas struggling to solve crimes old and new in the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

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.

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 3, 2026

12597 people want to read

About the author

J.D. Robb

177 books35.3k followers
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Stolen in Death (St. Martin's Press, February 2026) will be the 62nd entry in the series.

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5 stars
136 (54%)
4 stars
88 (35%)
3 stars
21 (8%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
396 reviews99 followers
October 2, 2025
Omg, I got the ARC copy of Stolen in Death!!!! See me jumping for joy?? Anyway, we have another great story in the Eve Dallas anf Roarke story, and I am here for it. This murder was a good whodunit with se shockers and blasts from the past. It brings in all the great characters you love and appreciate, I highly recommend this series. It could read as a stand alone, but I believe you get far more out of it if you read the series.

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Linden.
2,111 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2025
Eve gets a call about a murder during a robbery, but not just any robbery. A wealthy collector who is dead had a secret vault where he hid illegally purchased stolen treasures. Someone was able to open the vault and make off with some priceless gems which had originally been in the Tate. The homeowner who had recently learned of his father's illegal acquisitions and was planning to return them is found dead at the scene. Were the murder and the theft connected? Eve isn't so sure. Roarke is helping, but he has inside knowledge of the original theft, a fact that Interpol keeps mentioning. The story builds to an exciting conclusion. Thanks, JD Robb--it was a pleasure to review this advance copy for Netgalley. I'm amazed that your books are still great reading at #62.
Profile Image for Stacee.
3,032 reviews758 followers
August 25, 2025
An interesting plot line with loads of history and a little twist I didn't see coming.

As always, I love seeing this group rally around and support Eve. The last few chapters were especially fantastic and wildly satisfying.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
Profile Image for Tiffany.
782 reviews19 followers
December 27, 2025
Review to come! But I love a good heist
----
This was my first In Death book and I'm going to have to go back because the relationship between Eve and Roarke is at it's peak and I want to know how it started!

Stolen in Death opens up with a multibillionaire murdered in his own secret vault that holds priceless items that were all stolen from museums years ago. All of the items are accounted for BUT for a set of jewelry with emeralds and diamonds, known as the Royal Suite. It was worth a quarter of a billion.
The thing is that Nathan's family is adamant that he was trying to figure out how to get the items back. Minimal people knew about the vault and the items in there, so Eve and Roarke are under pressure to figure out who not only murdered Nathan but also who knew about the vault, how they got in and where is the Royal Suite before it disappears again.

I love how this book is set in the future, 2061, and there are slight mentions as to how things are done during this time but not too futurist.

Thank you to St Martins Press for the physical ARC and the digital copy via Netgalley.
Profile Image for Biblio Files (takingadayoff).
609 reviews295 followers
September 30, 2025
First time reading J.D. Robb. I went in not knowing anything about the series. I was surprised to find that it takes place in the future, this book in 2061. Things seem to be pretty recognizable in this near future, the main changes seem to be in vending machines, which make it possible to get a fresh cup while in your car on the road. Stolen in Death is a straightforward police procedural and most of the book has our hero Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the New York Police and Security Department interviewing suspects and talking out possible scenarios with colleagues. It's a well done mystery and resolves with surprising twists and satisfying resolutions. Still, I don't plan on returning to the J.D. Robb's near future in my near future. I didn't leave the story wanting to know more about the regular characters or wanting to spend more time with them. I felt the same way about Frieda McFadden's books -- I read one without having a desire to read another. Give me more Tana French, Elly Griffiths, Ruth Ware, but I'll pass on another J.D. Robb, thanks. (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.)
Profile Image for Rivka.
1,209 reviews248 followers
November 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

62 books into this series and every time I start one, it’s like coming home.
Not gonna lie, I was worried for a while because at this point, we usually get one of the past characters to show up and help with the case. This time, we got better! We got previous villain nobody saw coming. Book when Magdelana first gets introduced is one my favorite so it was nice to see this final ending for her.
I felt like the first 70% were a little too stretched out but it’s okay because the ending really paid off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Gail.
969 reviews
Read
December 22, 2025
I have long been a fan of Nora Robert’s, but have never read any of her J.D. Robb series. Starting at #62 seemed a bit odd, but I got the chance to read it through Net Galley so couldn’t pass it up. I’m sure I missed some connections and relationships that have grown through the books, but this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. It felt like a Nora Robert’s book with all the things I love, but put into a crime novel. If I read another one, I will start with #1!
Profile Image for Anita.
2,647 reviews219 followers
Want to read
September 21, 2025
My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,177 reviews119 followers
September 24, 2025
Stolen in Death is the latest book in this fascinating series featuring Eve Dallas.
While attending a benefit gala, Lieutenant Eve Dallas gets called to a possible Homicide.
Eve is used to these calls, but this particular case involves her husband and rich man Roarke.
This investigation pushes Eve to the limit, and I love following her on her investigations.
Profile Image for Katherine.
479 reviews38 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 28, 2025
I am always so excited to read a new entry in this world, and I was especially excited for this one because I got it months before it releases to the public! This story was one of the best I've read so far, I think. A man dies, a character from the past resurfaces. There is death, thievery, billions of dollars in jewels and art in this story, plus all the glitz and glamour that you would expect from Eve and Roarke. Five beautifully shiny stars, and I cannot WAIT to see what comes next!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Becky.
520 reviews28 followers
September 28, 2025
I just finished the last book in this series two weeks ago, and was stunned to get an early copy of this one! I put everything aside to dive in. I’m so excited that I did. Five stars for the 62nd book in this series, and what is now officially my favorite one!

Eve is called away from a charity gala to - no surprise - a murder scene. She finds that the deceased is a beloved husband, father, and brother - Nathan Barrister. She also finds a vault filled with stolen treasures. She begins the search for his killer. And trust me, no one sees what’s coming.

I’m just going to say this from the start - there is a twist in this one that I never saw coming - and I loved it. I’m going to be very careful not to spoil it because I hope you have the stunned reaction to it that I did. That twist earned 5 stars on its own!

The whole family - and that is what the characters in these books are - is here to help Lieutenant Dallas solve this one. The mystery is twisty and surprising at every turn. I cannot believe that after 62 books, this series just gets better and better. But that is why this author is the Queen.

A big THANK YOU to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book! I am so grateful, and as always, I cannot wait for the next one. This book releases on February 3rd of 2026. Preorder it now!
Profile Image for Natalie.
2,099 reviews
June 20, 2025
Received an ARC courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss.plus

This was one of the In Death novels where the reader does not know the culprit right away. I did figure out some of the mystery early, but I have read all 62 books and the novellas. I would not recommend this as a stand-alone as I think readers would benefit from knowing about relationships/characters from all the previous books.
313 reviews14 followers
October 27, 2025

I enjoyed this In Death novel more than the last couple books. Eve seemed lighter, happier - at least till she finds out who’s behind the theft. I don’t remember her laughing at something, at anything before - grinning or smirking maybe - not laughing. I liked this side of Eve - and hope to see more of it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Profile Image for Lyn *Nomadic Worlds.
517 reviews57 followers
November 14, 2025
Read the e-ARC.
This one was a long time coming - enjoyed it! RTC closer to publishing date.
Profile Image for Dianne.
1,846 reviews158 followers
December 22, 2025
OMG! I have either turned into Eve Dallas - minus the billionaire sexy husband and living in the future or Ms. Robbs books have become a bit predictable (at least this one and Framed In Death)!

Although I found it a little predictable, there was a great twist that had me flipping through many past books to recall who this other person was. If it helps, it was book 24 wayyy back in the past! I finally had to Google it. And thank goodness for Google or I would be re-reading the series yet again! This novel brought Magdelena back into play, and since Magdelena knows and was involved with Roarke in his heyday we have to read this book worrying if he is finally going to have to face his past.

I adored this twist, but the murderer was who I thought it was and for exactly why it was done.

I adored that in these last two books, the best writing that Robb does has me on the edge of my seat, chewing my fingernails. Eve is a formidable person at the best of times, but reading about her having these horrid people in the interrogation room and making these selfish psychopaths finally get their comeuppance tickles me to death! Md Robb is just phenomenal at making the scenes so real to me.

This was an excellent addition to this series, even though it didn't start as many of her past books; vividly and horribly.


*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/Macmillan, the author, and NetGalley.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
603 reviews44 followers
November 28, 2025
I'm no stranger to the In Death series by J.D. Robb but it's been a few years since I've picked one up. When I had the opportunity to read this through NetGalley as a preview, I eagerly accepted. The author gives enough background about the characters that you can easily read this as a one-off and be engaged, but the series really shines best when read in order as they are written chronologically with a large character-base. In the near future, Eve Dallas is a homicide detective for NYPSD and this story also includes a caper tangled into the murder investigation. Eve is still a strong heroine who can hold her own, but she does rely on her soulmate/husband to keep her grounded. I enjoyed getting to solve two crimes for the price of one and Eve's world is one worth visiting. That being said, Eve figures out her cases by heavy analysis so there isn't much action in this week. It does ramp up a bit when the baddies try to foil Eve's plans to solve the case. It's a solid addition to the In Death series.
558 reviews5 followers
September 25, 2025
Another fascinating read by Ms Robb. Who would have thought that reading about Eve, Roarke, and the rest of their friends and colleagues would still be interesting after so many books and time. The premise of this story captures your imagination. You can’t help but like and feel bad for the victim and his family. This crime brings back the past and not in a good way. I love the professionalism and the friendship between everyone in Eve’s department and with their superiors. Even though the crimes can be horrific, reading the “In Death” series feels familiar and like reuniting with old friends.
Profile Image for OutlawPoet.
1,800 reviews68 followers
October 9, 2025
So this is literary comfort food. You slide right into some of your favorite characters and no real surprises.

The crime is interesting enough, though the 'who' of everything was just fine. I did like how it all ended - very satisfying.

A super fast read sure to please fans of the series.

I do think I need just a hint more possibility of danger to our standard crew. It's not that I want to lose any of them. I just feel like I need something to add suspense.

Otherwise a good read.

* ARC via Publisher
Profile Image for Annette Geiss.
502 reviews30 followers
October 18, 2025
This book kept my interest but not having read any of the books in the series, was a bit of a drawback. Eve is definitely a “bad ass” cop and excellent and Rourke is a complicated character and a good guy. Together they make a great team. A little soupy where he is constantly wanting to make certain she is fed or have her rest up or have her relax with a swim and a glass of wine. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #StoleninDeath, #St.Martin’sPress, #NetGalley, #Goodreads.
Profile Image for Jenn.
4,988 reviews77 followers
September 25, 2025
If you'd told me that I'd not only be reading the 62nd book in a series, but I'd still be loving them, I wouldn't have believed you. But here we are! This time, an incredibly expensive set of jewelry is stolen from a secret vault and the owner is killed. Eve and company are on the case. But this case will have a personal connection with Eve via Roarke. Can they find the killer and keep her family safe?
Profile Image for Teresa.
96 reviews15 followers
September 29, 2025
Many thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley, my most favorite series.

This is the 62nd book in the series and I love them more and more with each new release. Ms. Robb excels at creating characters to love and to hate. In this installment, she gave us, through the history of the theft, a chance (again) to watch her protect Roarke as she unravels the crime. It made me want to go back and read the first book, where Eve meets Roarke and they fall for each other. This book is as good as every book in the series. Ms. Robb is a master and I cannot wait for #63!
Profile Image for Carol Dass.
Author 1 book20 followers
November 3, 2025
I have read every book in this series and loved them all. I always look forward to the next one wondering what new twist it will contain. In this story there was a danger of some of Roark’s past as a thief coming to light, particularly one woman who has not been able to let him go. A good plot as always.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,776 reviews5,299 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 17, 2025


In this 62nd book in the 'Detective Eve Dallas' series, Eve investigates a robbery and murder.



It's 2061 and people communicate via video links, travel in semi-flying cars, and have personal food dispensers that resemble vending machines.



Lt. Eve Dallas is a capable New York detective married to Irish billionaire Roarke - a handsome devil with wild blue eyes. Real estate magnate Roarke also functions as an expert consultant to the New York Police and Securities Department (NYPSD), and is especially helpful with financial crimes.



A robbery and murder bring Lt. Dallas and Roarke to a New York mansion in a ritzy gated community.



The recently deceased owner, centenarian billionaire Henry Barrister.....



.....left the home to his son Nathan, who moved in with his wife Eileen and their two daughters, who are away at Harvard.





Nathan is now CEO of the family company, a lucrative multinational organization, and his sister Joy is the CFO.



While Nathan and Eileen were renovating an office area on the mansion's main level, a hidden vault-room was revealed - a large chamber containing paintings, sculptures, statues, jewelry, and other artifacts stolen from museums and collections all over the world.







The horrified couple realized patriarch Henry bought these pilfered treasures, worth billions of dollars, and hoarded them for his own pleasure.

Nathan and Eileen knew exposure of Henry's perfidy would cause a TREMENDOUS scandal, blacken Henry's reputation, and blow back on the entire family. So rather than inform the authorities, the Barristers wanted to quietly give back the stolen items, which required working with lawyers, curators, art collectors, and so on.



Before the treasures could be returned, however, a thief broke into the vault, took 'The Royal Suite' (a collection of emerald and diamond jewelry) worth a fortune, and killed Nathan Barrister, who apparently caught the burglar in the act.



The murderer hit Nathan in the head with a huge ornamental amethyst that sat on a lighted table in the office, apparently a weapon of convenience.



Eve's job is to catch the killer, and to do that, she must figure out WHO KNEW about the hidden vault. Henry kept it secret from his children and grandchildren, and presumably didn't confide in friends or acquaintances either.



Eve and her team at the NYPSD, including her hippy-dippy partner Sergeant Delia Peabody, learn Henry had a soft spot for beautiful young women.



Henry was married four times, was serially unfaithful, and had numerous girlfriends. Did Henry reveal his criminal hoarding to one of these women? Eve's squad works very hard to find out.



The book has a VERY slow start as the detectives talk and discuss and theorize and try to identify a thief. They also must suss out accomplices, brokers, buyers, etc. Once Eve and her team hone in on likely suspects, they make plans to capture and prosecute the wrongdoers.



Unfortunately for Eve and Roarke, there's a huge problem with all this. It turns out Roarke - who had a rough childhood and started out life as a thief - stole 'The Royal Suite' from the Tate Museum when he was a teenager. The job was commissioned by a broker, and Roarke got a generous payday that started him on the road to success.



Exposing the current day thief/murderer might draw attention to Roarke, who's been on Interpol's radar for a long time. Thus Eve must walk a fine line, exposing Nathan Barrister's robber/killer while not drawing attention to her husband.

In their personal lives, Eve and Roarke seem to be in a perpetual honeymoon phase. At home, they dine on meals like meatballs and spaghetti or pizza, swim in their pool, and enjoy each other's company. Roarke is an attentive spouse who picks out Eve's clothes, designed a lightweight Kevlar vest for her, and takes care of her bumps and bruises.



It's fun that everyone in Eve and Roarke's home, including the butler Sommerset, is very attentive to the cat Galahad - who seems to rule the roost.



Any long series will have its ups and downs and, in my view, this book is a mediocre addition to the Eve Dallas series. I found the first part of the novel repetitive, slow-moving, and boring, and was glad when things picked up in the later chapters. Still, fans of the series might enjoy visiting with characters they know and like.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Susan Ericksen, who does a fine job, especially with Roarke's Irish accent.

Thanks to Netgalley, J.D. Robb, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
Profile Image for Courtney.
154 reviews
October 12, 2025
Eve Dallas and Roarke are on the hunt to find a killer. This is book #62 in the series and continues with the cast of characters from previous books. It works as a stand alone, but the reader does need some background to understand some of the finer details of the characters.
Profile Image for Andy Krahling.
668 reviews12 followers
September 29, 2025
#62 in the series? Yikes. I'd read none of them, so, when this was offered on NetGalley, I grabbed it. I was totally lost for the first 10% the book, and felt like I was barley catching up for the rest of the book. Set in the near future, in a NYC that feels pretty much the same, Eve and Roarke are on the heels of a murdering art thief.

I just couldn't get into this -- clearly the author knows what she's doing -- she's one of the best, but this just didn't appeal to me.

The twist was good.

Will I read more from the author? Hmm, I'm not sure. As someone who didn't know the series, I felt totally out of my depth with all the characters and all the backstories that were thrown into the first chapter. I always felt a little left out.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
Profile Image for Teresa.
54 reviews
October 18, 2025
Awesome story, as always, for the In Death series with Eve and Roarke. J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) has made this series and characters close to perfect, believable, and relatable. Obviously, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it and the full series. I thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I was so excited to receive a copy as I've read the entire series!
Profile Image for Heidi Gorecki.
942 reviews49 followers
November 1, 2025
DNF at 23%. I really tried to keep going on this since it’s an ARC but just couldn’t.

The cadence on this was so weird and didn’t flow well at all. Half the time it felt robotic or forced. There was almost no tone in the dialogue, and there was hardly any indication of who was talking so I was constantly confused on who was in the conversation. Weirdly, all the female officers were referred to as “sir” which seemed like a bizarre typo to use constantly.

There were so many characters that came from previous series books with hardly any introduction or context, and between the characters, dialogue, weird “future” words and slang, and the odd cadence, etc, I was so confused. It was incredibly frustrating to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
Profile Image for Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews).
453 reviews78 followers
September 25, 2025
This installment featuring our longtime friends
Is ANYTHING but a ‘golf clap!’, and I will admit
to a quick participation with them as our team
watch Magdalena be escorted to what will be
her new, permanent address!
As with each story, the NYPSD goal, and this
time things ar well laid out: *
Find Killer (s)* *FindThieves* *Find Emeralds,*
and their goals we’re dangerous but as we all
hope, fruitful for the team.
Some nice updates on everyone came with
U.S. still waiting for Mavis’ baby, and, of
course, Peabody is so in love with her new
house, along with her honey!
I don’t go into the details,of the meat here
because I think we all deserve to have a
fresh experience from beginning to end!
This is an absolute jewel.
My thanks to St Martin’s Press via
NetGalley for the download copy of
this book for review purposes!
Profile Image for Monnie.
1,625 reviews790 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 25, 2025
Since I started my book blog in 2013, I’ve logged 16 reviews of books in this series. This is the 62nd, and I’m certain I’ve read most of them since it’s one of my favorites. Well, make that a favorite character for sure; the somewhat mysterious, hunky Irish Roarke, husband of police lieutenant Eve Dallas, has long ranked No. 4 on my list of Top 10 all-time favorite book heroes (No. 1, if anyone cares, is Israeli spy Gabriel Allon (by Daniel Silva), followed by Boston private investigator Spenser (originally by the late Robert B. Parker), and British 007 agent James Bond (Ian Fleming).

To be sure, Roarke has mellowed over the years (in his younger days, he was an ace thief, a fact that plays a major role in this book). And for a time, he stomped on my feminist nerves when he crossed over the line just a titch from loving to controlling. But now he’s back – and the two lovers are still lovers; instead of looking for treasures to steal, Roarke already owns far more than his share and serves as a consultant for the New York City police department at which Eve is considered a superstar. The story takes place in 2061 – one of the reasons I love the series, in fact. It’s close enough to the present that some of the intriguing gadgets that pop up – like AutoChef machines that spit out coffee and fancy meals just by programming in what you want, pills for instant sobering up or killing pain and cars that can “go vertical” when necessary - are believable (and fun to dream about).

While attending a charity gala (dressing to the nines is far from Eve’s comfort wheelhouse, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do), she gets called to a murder scene. The victim, Nathan Barrister, is an ultra-wealthy guy (we’re talking billions here, folks) who’s been bashed in the head with one of his works of art. The atrocity happened in a room that has a secret vault – the door to which now inexplicably stands open to reveal an eye-popping display of priceless works of art. Problem is, all of them are stolen goods. The goodies, Eve learns, belong to the victim’s late father, a known womanizer – and now a confirmed buyer of stolen trinkets, much to his family’s chagrin. But only one is missing – and whoops, it’s one that, very early on, was a treasure originally stolen by none other than Roarke.

The victim’s family claim to have zero knowledge of not only the treasures, but the room itself, until quite recently; since then, they’ve been quietly working to return them to the original owners. Early-on investigation by Eve and her team confirm that to be true. Still, how could anyone but an insider know exactly what was in the vault, and why was only one item taken? The even bigger question, of course, is who is the thief and killer? And are they, in fact, the same person?

Everything seems to center on the dead guy’s proclivity for young, beautiful women – one in particular. Problem is, no one knows who or where she is. Until, that is, they do – and that brings up an even bigger problem that could shake Eve’s marriage – and Roarke’s future – to the very core. It’s nonstop action, bolstered by colorful characters loyal readers know and love (and let’s not forget all those futuristic gizmos). All told, it’s an engrossing tale that can stand proudly among its predecessors in this highly entertaining series.
Profile Image for PamG.
1,297 reviews1,040 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 28, 2025
J.D. Robb returns with the sixty-second book in the In Death series, Stolen in Death, set in New York City in 2061. This book features Lieutenant Eve Dallas with the NYC homicide police department, her husband, Roarke, and her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, along with an assortment of regular secondary characters.

Roarke and Dallas are at a charity gala when Dallas gets notification of a death They head to the murder scene. Nathan Barristers is dead from a blow to the head and a nearby vault door is open. It’s filled with stolen treasures. Roarke, who spent his youth as a thief, recognizes a couple of them. The scene suggests a burglar caught in the act and making a hasty escape. Only one items seems to be missing.

The vault belonged to the victim’s deceased father, and no one knew it was there until a recent renovation project discovered it. The family claims they were looking for a way to return the stolen goods so they had not contacted the police about them. Who could have known about the vault?
Time spent with Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, and their colleagues and friends is always entertaining. Eve is smart, tenacious, determined, focused, and believes in what she does. It’s been a journey through these novels to see how she adapts socially. It’s compelling to see how her mind works as she gets a better picture of the killer. Roarke plays a large role in this novel in the series. As always, the interactions between Dallas and Roarke as well as with their friends and her homicide team are enjoyable and bring different facets of her personality to light. There are several reoccurring characters that develop and gain depth over the course of the series.

The storytelling is excellent with clever and intriguing plots, a couple of intense action scenes, and plenty of solid police investigation, and engaging characters. It is a compelling and morally complex story. The narrative has the right balance of mystery, police investigation, romance, and creative twists. This is a favorite series of mine and the author continues to deliver outstanding stories. Adding in personal moments like that of the gala and the pond scenes continue to add depth to the characters. For those who have faithfully read the series, the book started somewhat slowly with the charitable gala. However, if someone is jumping into the series, it introduces several of Eve’s and Roarke’s friends. Woven through the novel are threads of friendship, standing for victims, connections, jealousy, revenge, justice, trust, secrets, murder, family, and much more.

Overall, this novel was a tale with great characterization and a solid plot that kept me engaged throughout the story. It is both insightful and moving at times. If you enjoy intriguing near-future police procedurals with a strong female lead, then I recommend this series. I can’t wait to read the next book. J. D. Robb is a pseudonym for author Nora Roberts.

St. Martin’s Press and J.D. Robb provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for February 03, 2026.
------------------------
My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
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