Golden In Death

In Death #50

by J.D. Robb

In the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas investigates a murder with a mysterious motive and a terrifying weapon.

Pediatrician Kent Abner received the package on a beautiful April morning. Inside was a cheap trinket, a golden egg that could be opened into two halves. When he pried it apart, highly toxic airborne fumes entered his body and killed him.

After Eve Dallas calls the hazmat team and undergoes testing to reassure both her and her husband that she hasn't been exposed it's time to look into Dr. Abner's past and relationships. Not every victim Eve encounters is an angel, but it seems that Abner came pretty close though he did ruffle some feathers over the years by taking stands for the weak and defenseless. While the lab tries to identify the deadly toxin, Eve hunts for the sender. But when someone else dies in the same grisly manner, it becomes clear that she's dealing with either a madman or someone who has a hidden and elusive connection to both victims.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Suspense, Futuristic

480 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2020

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s April 2061 and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody are called to the murder scene of pediatrician Dr. Kent Abner when suddenly Eve realizes that he died from a toxin released from a recently delivered golden egg. Once they’re cleared by the hazmat team, Dallas and her team get to work to track down the origin and why a beloved, revered doctor and family man was so viciously targeted.

This story had everything I love about the series! Initial inquiries led nowhere and this quickly devolved to lots of dead ends until there was another similar crime. The police procedurals were excellent and I had fun following the investigative paths. When the story shifts to the identification of the target, it was almost exhilarating to watch the case come together. Interview was so, so satisfying.

There’s also a different tone to the series that’s been developing over the past few books. Eve and Roarke’s relationship is deepening, she’s beginning to become more comfortable having the other relationships in her life and the interactions are much more meaningful and impactful. The familiar elements are all there but are shaped heartwarmingly. Eve hasn’t lost her edge, just smoothed them out a bit. It’s a natural growth that I’m loving. This was a fitting story for the 50th book in the series.

(I received an ARC from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.)

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little bit slower for me than her other books and also I wish we could see other sidekicks more in this story (like Mavis and Bella) but still in the end I liked it. :)

Ps. I need more Eve & Roarke!!! J.D.Robb, you should write more scenes with them... Pretty please.!!! :)


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#book50 and I can't wait to read this one!!
LOL yeah, I'm obsessed with this series because Roarke & Eve are the BEST couple that I've ever read... :)

An excerpt from Golden in Death.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/915f698...

Golden In Death (In Death, #50)
Expected publication: February 4th 2020


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Exclusive: Nora Roberts on her J.D. Robb In Death series getting its 50th book
By David Canfield May 13, 2019

One of America’s most popular novelists, Nora Roberts is celebrating a milestone for a series that isn’t even penned under her real name. In Death, the futuristic detective novels she pens under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, have been in print for nearly a quarter-century now. And next February, her fiftieth book in the series, Golden in Death, will hit the shelves. That’s a pretty remarkable run.

In Death began with the 1995 novel Naked in Death; set in 2058, it introduced tough, damaged cop Eve Dallas and her mysterious love interest, Roarke. “Initially, I planned the In Death series as a trilogy set in the near future — in 1994, 2058 seemed pretty far off — with a dark, damaged female homicide cop at its center,” Roberts tells EW. “Eve Dallas, the negative to every main character I’d ever written until that point, needed a world that fit her single-minded purpose. Roarke, a self-made, charming Irishman — and former thief — who basically owned the world, walked on to the page as the perfect contrast to Eve and her solitary life.”

Of course, the series developed into much more of a trilogy. “The trilogy gave me the opportunity to explore their burgeoning relationship beyond a single book, and for the characters to evolve as individuals,” Roberts continues. “By the time the third book went to press, I didn’t want to let go, to say goodbye to these people or their world. When my publisher expressed an interest in more, I jumped at the chance.” Roberts was at last revealed as the woman behind J.D. Robb in 2001, six years after the books emerged as a New York Times best-selling powerhouse.

Next year, book 50 will be published. It’s called Golden in Death, and finds homicide detective Eve Dallas investigating a murder with a mysterious motive ― and a terrifying weapon. “It’s been 25 years, and yet I’m still challenged and entertained every time I slip back into Eve Dallas’ world,” Roberts reflects. “As a writer who looks forward, it’s only on milestones like this that I sit and marvel at the run.”

Finally, she concludes: “Then I imagine another murder in 2061, tap Eve’s shoulder and we’re off again.”

https://ew.com/author-interviews/2019...

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading for buddy read!
A beautiful spring morning, a beloved pediatrician heading out for a run, an unexpected package bearing a deadly golden egg . . . and thus begins the 50th book of the In Death series. There's no doubt readers' expectations are high and after reading Golden In Death, I'm happy to say Robb stepped up and delivered. Lt. Eve Dallas and Detective Peabody arrive at the murder scene to find Dr. Abner dead from target specific, toxic airborne fumes that were released when he broke open a mysterious golden egg. As soon as the Hazmat Unit clears the area, Eve and her crew begin an exhaustive investigation into the mystery of who wanted Abner dead and why. When another unrelated person falls victim to the same cruel fate, Eve utilizes all her skills and resources to find the illusive connection between victims to stop the killer. If you're new to the series, I'll say now that I know it's daunting to begin a series with 50 books...50!...but I can say without reservation that the In Death series is worth the time investment. Yes, each book stands alone, and you'll have no problem reading and enjoying any one of them without reading previous books, but the opportunity to watch the development of each of these characters from the beginning is priceless.

As always, I found it fascinating to follow Eve's thought process as she works the case in Golden in Death - examining the evidence, setting up her murder board, chasing the vaguest of leads, exhausting all available avenues to deliver justice to the dead and their grieving families. A star studded support cast steps up to assist Eve, including her tech-savy, billionaire husband Roarke and her sidekick and partner Peabody who never fails to add a welcome dash of humor to these books. I was excited and found it fitting to see so many familiar faces make appearances in this 50th book and, as always, the character relationship development is something special. Golden in Death flows at a steady pace as the characters work this tightly plotted, cunning case. There are several special, momentous moments that tugged on this reader's heartstrings especially between Roarke & Eve. An intriguing case, humor, chemistry, fumbled cliches, marriage rules, and yes, a magical touch of romance all equal another brilliantly written addition to one of my all-time favorite series. Fans of the series will love this one!

*I received a free ARC of Golden In Death from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review. #MacmillanPublishers #readinginsidersclub

**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When J.D. Robb wrote Naked in Death in 1995 in what was then going to be just a trilogy I doubt that she had any idea of what she was creating. Fifty books later we all feel we own a little bit of Eve and Roarke and their amazing world and we are always waiting for more!

Luckily twenty five years in our time is but a few years in Eve/Roarke time. Their relationship has developed along the way and in Golden in Death they are totally happy with each other. Eve has started to live by her 'marriage rules' and is recognising when she has to give a little extra or back down rather than fight over nothing. Relationship wise this was a very comforting book.

Crime wise there was just the one very unpleasant, but important, case of people being poisoned in an unusual way. Eve was as usual quick to identify the possible murderer and then spend time in collecting enough evidence to make sure the culprit was locked up for life off planet. The wrap up at the end is particularly satisfying.

Another lovely book in a great series. I hope there are many, many more to come.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh yeah, ARC baby!
Okay, so I guess it's back-to-life time, huh? I spent December vacationing and partying like World War 3 was coming or something. Good thing nothing crazy like that is gonna happen, huh?


Dammit, 'Murica! This is why we can't have nice things!

So, assuming you are all still alive by the time this book is released, you should read it. Of course, it's a book 50 in a series, so if you haven't read the first 49, you won't have a clue so you need to read those 49 books first. We'll wait.


I don't know. He's just been sitting like this all day. I think we broke him.

The deal with this series is that it has mysteries set in the future that are written like police procedurals. There is usually a first death, followed by the investigation during which there is another one or two, then the solve. The solves aren't usually some big reveal or twist - at least not in the later books, but we just walk through it with our heroine and it's entertaining. This mystery had a poisoner as the villain. It was decent enough, but not going to blow your mind. I think by book 50 you are reading because you know and love the characters. That's what keeps me around. Because I love the series, I will always read it and enjoy it, even though I can see a few minor problems at this point in the game. What problems, you didn't ask?

Problem #1:
The biggest hook and fun in the beginning of the series was the fact that it is set in the future. The first books included some really fun ideas for future-world. Even some Jetson's level things. You all know you want an Auto Chef that makes your food at the press of a button. Plus, flying cars, off-planet stuff, virtual reality, holograms, floating beds, robot butlers, etc... That kind of stuff was the big selling point for me.


Why don't we have this yet? We have the technology. I've seen those pitching machines at batting cages. Just do that. With sandwiches.

The problem is that the cool future-stuff died out long ago. There have been no new things mentioned for many books now, and even the things that were there earlier are rarely mentioned. It is like the future-world just morphed into boring now-world and we are simply following along with a murder mystery. In todayland! I feel a little cheated here. If I wanted to just read a cop book, I would read a cop book. But, you might notice I don't read many of those. Why? They are boring. If I want cop-stuff, I get it in the only place that makes sense: Brooklyn.


That's right. I said it. Suck it, CSI's!

Problem #2:
Our billionaire book boyfriend, Roarke, has been neutered. Like, at this point, he is just Eve's lap dog who jumps at every opportunity to help her and cater to her every need while she can't even be bothered to ask him what he does for a living. She orders him around like a lackey and he's happy to be her personal assistant. It's like, what the hell happened, man? Why?


We can hope. There's always hope.
*sigh*

In the early books, Roarke was a little bit dangerous. He was cutthroat in business and in his personal life. When someone Eve's mother tried to blackmail him he basically threatened murder - and he meant it. He was forceful in a good way when it came to Eve's crap because he wouldn't let her steamroll him. We even got his point-of-view occasionally. But, somewhere along the line he just laid down and got squished. I don't know why the author decided to do this, or if she just got lazy and decided she was done writing him.


Come on, Roarke. You can walk that off. It's barely a flesh wound.

So, why do I still love the series when it's obvious that it has lost a bit of its magic? Because it had enough magic at the start to carry over for a long time. And, I keep my fingers crossed that some of that magic will come back one day. Plus, I still enjoy the books. Every single time.

Okay, I have to do my arc disclaimer now:

I have received a free copy of Golden in Death, by J.D. Robb from Macmillan in an exchange for an honest review.

[Monica (is working the heck out of · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: very lengthy and detailed review below.

Susan Erickson’s outstanding narration notwithstanding, I didn’t go into J.D. Robb’s Golden in Death expecting a fun or exciting reading experience.

This is why I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this installment. At least, I enjoyed it much more than I did the previous one.

But make no mistake, this was far from a four or five star read.

First, as has been the case with installments of the last three years or so, book 50 reflects Robb’s diminished enthusiasm for the series. This is evident in the transparent recycling of ancient themes and character-types, as well as in the perfunctory employment of the characters that once added depth, humor, and warmth to the novels.

Summerset, the Miras, the EDD detectives, Charles and Louise, the Commander, Dr. Morris, Rio, Dickhead and many of the other people we’ve come to know over the course of Dallas’s journey have brief and uneventful walk-on parts. Others, like Nadene, Mavis and Crack, are mentioned in passing. Still others, like Jamie and the various members of Roarke’s family, seem to have been completely forgotten.

Now, I know very well that there is limited space, even in longer novels like these, for multiple and detailed scenes or dialogue exchanges with all minor characters, but the sparseness of this metaphorical gathering, as Eve would put it, came down in the minus column.

And as usual, Eve and Roarke’s relationship grated on my very last nerve; see the drinking game in the updates below for why and how. Suffice it to say that Roarke has been reduced to a mere device. More specifically, he functions to emphasize Eve’s “evolution” into a more feminine, less gender transgressive woman.

There is no argument, no compromise; Eve simply goes to bed when she is told, eats what and when she is told and wears what she is told. So “developed” is she that she asks him to select gender appropriate work attire for her, right down to the “girly” jewelry at which she once balked.

The romance has a disturbing, Fifty Shades'esque feel, one that I, for one, could do without. I'm not interested in watching Eve "learn to be a better (better specifically meaning well-trained) woman" because lurve/"marriage rules" (Robb).


To continue, When Roarke isn’t taking his “stubborn” cop in hand, he is being worshiped and slobbered over by everyone else because sexy/talented/rich. I think we're all clear on his attractiveness; enough with the Roarke porn.

To be honest, the paragraphs of reverential, deep purple and recycled description that punctuate each installment have and continue to read as if Robb, more so than us readers, needs convincing re: Roarke's otherworldly beauty and unparalleled intelect and sexual prowess.

Also, his superfluous presence during nighttime fieldwork continues to be a head-scratcher. In previous installments, Roarke has either remained at home or stood in for an indisposed Peabody.

On other occasions, his presence was requested, especially when he owned the building or had E skills to offer to the team.

On other, very rare occasions, and in an effort to emphasize his role as the “romantic,” overprotective alpha-male, Robb has had him insist on accompanying his wife during early morning/late night fieldwork. This made zero sense but, for whatever reason, didn't annoy me as much as it does now.

More importantly, Eve would either clear with or disclose to her commander his involvement in police business. Now, his presence during next-of-kin notifications (to me, this has always been highly inappropriate, even if he is there in his capacity as “expert consultant, civilian”) and fresh crime scenes is a foregone conclusion. Even if you take into account Robb’s creative treatment of law enforcement procedures, this aspect of their marriage is more and more at odds with Eve’s image as the “kickass” New York homicide cop.

Over the course of the series, I've seen enough to suggest that Eve isn't superhuman that hammering it home at book fifty reads as redundant sexism for its own sake.


I also missed Eve's aprehentions of stray criminals. I guess, for whatever reason, Robb has decided that Eve has"developed" beyond the point of undertaking physical and "masculine" displays of heroism. She allows two criminals, a hopped up streaker and a mugger, respectively, to get away. These little scenes once illustrated Eve's heroism and brought some much needed comic relief to the books.

On a side note, I do appreciate that, for the most part, Robb keeps the romance to a minimum, even if I *did* have to skim through the sex and mushy at-home scenes.

To continue, I am very, very weary of Delia Peabody’s body image wangst. This has been a major aspect of her character over the years, but at book 50, I think it’s past time that she quit obsessing over the looseness of her pants. This ubiquitous preoccupation with her weight is especially problematic when you consider that part of her role in the novel is to pose as a foil for her more “masculine” partner.

As for the antagonists, I’d say that as killers go, they were much easier to despise than was the murderer in the previous book. I really appreciated that the weapon of choice was one I haven’t seen(well, I've seen poison, but the method of delivery is new) in this series ). What I *have* seen is the wealthy, prominent, sociopathic, misogynistic, spoiled, and “complicated” team of killers. Seduction, Indulgence and Leverage in Death all feature a pair of arrogant, pampered little boys who take “toys out of the pram” to new and deadly heights.

Everything from the post-arrest, interrogation room threats (I'll have your badge, you cop bitch!), to the “shake them up” visits to their respective workplaces to the protracted tales of their past cruelties is so painfully familiar that I started to feel embarrassed for Robb, most especially because her use of this character type is as recent as last year.

All that said, Golden does well as a police procedural, from the systematic uncovering of clues to the revelation of who done it. I especially enjoyed the suspect and pricy lawyer “in the box” portion of the resolution. Watching Eve and her team manipulate the suspect, seeing the reaction as the increasingly “hard to explain” evidence is piled on and hearing the murderer come apart piece by piece as the reality of the situation begins to dawn on him/her is always priceless, especially when said suspect is a rich, arrogant, and self-important asshole who thinks the rules don’t apply to him/her. The deliciousness of seeing them realize that they were stupid and are, as a consequence, going to die in a cage, defies description!

Ultimately, Golden in Death is one for the completists; while not terrible, it can hardly be called excellent. Three stars.

[PamG · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOLDEN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts) brings murder, mystery, romance and suspense to a well-written futuristic police procedural and romantic suspense set in New York City in April 2061. This is the fiftieth book in the In Death Eve Dallas series and I have read all of them up to this point.

This story starts with pediatrician Dr. Kent Abner receiving a package. When he opens the inner trinket, airborne fumes kill him. Our protagonist, Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYC police department, leads a team of homicide detectives and is soon on the scene along with her partner, Detective Delia Peabody. Questions arise while Eve calls in the hazmat team, undergoes testing and interviews those in the house. Who would kill a well-loved doctor? Was he really that innocent? What was the toxic substance? Are those that were first on the scene at risk?

It’s always entertaining to spend time with Eve, her billionaire husband, Roarke, their friends, and Eve’s colleagues. She is definitely a compelling and three-dimensional character. Her need to serve and protect comes through in every book, but the underlying impetus for this is best understood by reading this series in order. Due to the way Eve was raised, she often doesn’t understand commonly used phrases and this comes into play a few times in this book making her seem more real and less perfect. As always, the interactions between Eve and Roarke are enjoyable and bring a different facet of Eve’s personality to light.

In this novel several of the reoccurring characters play very minor roles or are only mentioned in passing. However, Peabody plays a bigger role and shows both her ability to bring thoughtful and intelligent perspectives to the case as well as actually getting assertive when a witness belittles her family, her education, and her colleague. This story managed to give more emotions and life to Delia; giving her character significant growth.

The prose is well-written, entertaining, and engaging. The plot is interesting, thought-provoking and intense. While this book has some action, it is mostly a police procedural. The case is complex and challenging with numerous suspects that have to be interviewed and researched and a motivation for murder that needs to be discovered. It is tragic in places and uplifting in others. Robb is an author that manages to embed humor in her novels, providing some much needed levity to offset some of the more serious and grim aspects of the story.

If you enjoy engaging near-future police procedurals with some romance, then I recommend this series. Overall, it is entertaining, and over time, it is like spending time with old friends. I have the next book in the series and can’t wait to read it. I recommend reading these books in order to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds.

I purchased a digital copy of this novel. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 4, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my mom's favourite series, so I have been following it for years. Every single book in it can be read as a standalone, although I have yet to meet anybody who read one and didn't decide to go back and start from the beginning.
Golden in Death is as entertaining and creative as its predecessors. It begins with the death of a kind and distinguished pediatrician Dr Kent Abner who opened a package with a golden egg, made of cheap plastic (somebody's idea of a present or a joke?) and was poisoned by toxic fumes within minutes. Leutenant Eve Dallas and Detective Delia Peabody call the hazmat team which quickly clears them. The murderer used a poison which doesn't spread beyond a few feet and clears itself in little time. A mad scientist striking random victims or more likely, somebody who had a grudge against Dr Abner? However thorough the initial investigation is, it fails to produce anything but ea few dead ends. Everybody loved Dr Abner. I could feel Eve's frustration, as she was getting nowhere with her inquieries,until... the second victim is struck. She is the wife of a Columbia University professor Jay Duran. Leutenant Dallas And Detective Peabody quickly find what connected the two victims and discover the identity of the murder mastermind.
As usual, I enjoyed the thorough method employed by Eve and Peabody. If you have been following the series, I don't need to tell you it is set in the future, April 2061 to be precise. The futuristic elements, however entertaining they might be, are there only to provide a background to solid investigative work and detective procedure. This 50th mystery is not an exception.
Eve's technology savy multi-billionaire husband Roarke is still there, dependable as rock. He makes his wife coffee, calls her darling, chooses a stylish outfit that will make the right kind of impression, makes sure she has enough pocket money, never interferes or asks for attention- swoon, swoon, swoon...but isn't he getting a bit too tame?
A great addition to the series that never fails to deliver.
Thank you to Edelweiss and St.Martin's Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Golden in Death is out on February, 4th, 2020.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, but I did expect #50 to be kinda special.

In that regard it disappointed, but on the other hand, it was entertaining and kept me busy reading for two days.

I just expected a bit MORE - not sure exactly what the MORE was supposed to be - maybe like New York to Dallas - something a little different from all the other In Death books.

Either way, I'm as into this series as I was at the beginning. And I'm game for 50 more......

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

It’s a little hard to ignore a series that has been around for 25 years. That being said, the “In Death” train is one I never boarded. When offered a freebie of this FIFTIETH book in the series with the tagline “there’s never been a better time to discover [Eve Dallas’] world than right now,” I figured no time like the present to give it a whirl. Mainly to see if my theory that readers can jump in at any time to books like this (or Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Milhone or a vast amount of others) and not be completely lost is accurate. The answer????



J.D. Robb actually spends less time than anyone else I’ve read summarizing the whos and whens of her series, so obviously she’s pretty comfortable that her fans are ones who have been invested from the start. A newbie who knows zilch before beginning would need a minute to realize that people rely on their “link” rather than their phone, but the same principal applies . . . .



And once they figure out these books are set in the future they might be like me and need another minute to realize it’s not going to be all Demolition Man . . . . .



But after those couple of minutes it’s pretty easy to settle in. The reason?????



In the case of the In Death books, they are police procedural types of mysteries with Detective Eve Dallas being the mastermind who gets the bad guy. This time around Eve is trying to figure out the whodunit behind a series of poisoned envelopes . . . .



Really the only disappointment I had was that Eve’s husband Roarke who I always thought was supposed to be a real panty-dropper came off as an L-7 Weenie who wasn’t really necessary at all unless it was to give Eve a quick fade-to-black bang session.

Many thanks to the Macmillan Reading Insiders Club for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy.

I have been missing out, y’all. I have several reading friends who told me I was by not trying the In Death series, but wow, yes, I was. The series is pure entertainment with a fierce female character, loads of tension, and twists that keep you guessing.

I was told by the publisher that these books can stand on their own, and they absolutely can, but since I’ve only read one other In Death book besides this one (which was also BRILLIANT), I am eager to learn more about Eve and see how she develops over the course of FIFTY books. Can you believe that? Fifty books? Amazing! I can’t even wrap my head around that 48 more page-turners like this one (and the other one I read!) exist. I’ll be fitting these into my TBR wherever I can.

Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the first time eleven months ago. I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed it again now!

It was amazing how much I had not really absorbed the first time round. I think each time I get a new In Death novel I probably just race through it and take most notice of the characters rather than the crime. This time I took in all the details.

Of course it is the characters who make this series so good. If you have read all 50 (yes, 50) books up to and including this one then you are probably an addict like me, who looks forward to the two new hits each year in February and September. I know it has to end one day but not yet please!

Getting back to the crime. Golden in Death showed Eve, Peabody and the rest of the team involved in all the leg work, investigation and interviewing which is involved in finding the killers and proving they did the murders. I really enjoyed watching Eve in action in the final scene. She is one smart woman.

Now to reread Shadows in Death before the next new book comes out in February.

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 50th book in the series and each one mermerizing. I hope she keeps going until a 100 or more. I love the plot and how the characters have grown. I loved Peabody's tough cop with Grange.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read in this series: I read book one a short while ago and this is the latest episode, book fifty! That’s some longevity. For those yet find their way into the pages of J.D. Robb’s books a quick overview is that it’s basically a police procedural based in a future New York City. Eve Dallas is the spunky detective charged with solving the crimes and her romantic interest (now husband) is mega-rich businessman Rourke. Here she’s required to track down a killer who dispatches his or her victims through the delivery of a deadly toxic gas - in a novel way, it has to be said.

The first thing I noticed about this book, set in the year 2061, is that time hasn’t moved on very much in this series. Despite the multitude of cases Dallas must have dealt with, only three years have passed since the very first case covered. I was now familiar with the technological advances that surprised me last time around and regular readers must be fully at home with the way people communicate with each other ('links' which seem to be a type of mobile phone with the added benefit of a live visual feed), the scarcity of good coffee and a device that can accurately date time of death to the minute. In truth, the date setting for this story, and consequently the differences in the way certain things work and get done, definitely didn’t feel as intrusive this time around.

Rather than discussing the plot – this is a whodunnit and I really don’t want to spoil the fun for future readers – I’ll simply reflect on what I liked about this book and a few things I didn’t like so much:

Likes

- Eve is a great character. She’s punchy and determined and happy to front up to anyone and though she clearly benefits from living with a very rich man she’s also reasonably unaffected by the surrounding wealth.

- The scenes where she questions ‘people of interest’ and/or confronts people who offend her are terrific, she’s astute and spikey and the dialogue is really well constructed.

- Eve has a great relationship with her sidekick Peabody, who I also really liked, and many of the scenes featuring the pair together are great fun.

- Overall, it’s capably crafted tale and kept me interested throughout, if not entirely gripped.

Not so much

- The relationship between Eve and Rourke doesn’t work for me, it’s all way too lovey dovey and I didn’t particularly enjoy their interactions. In fact, the story sometimes gave me the sense of watching an episode of Murder They Wrote in the way I felt it was canted towards the whimsical. In truth, I prefer my crime fiction a little more hard boiled than this.

- I’d go further and say the character of Rourke rather switches me off. He’s an easy get out when Eve gets stuck, seeming to have a skill set, a list of contacts or a means of resolving pretty much any problem that crops up. And for a guy who runs such a massive empire he appears to be permanently at Eve’s disposal.

- This is clearly one of those series that benefits readers who have worked through the books in order: there are many references to previous cases and the re-appearance of characters who have obviously appeared in earlier books but whose context here is insufficiently explained.

Overall I’d rate it three stars. Bits of it deserve a better score than this but for me it also provided some one star moments.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group Ltd and NetGalley for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy to read about Eve and Roarke and another good mystery!

This series is highly addictive, as you all very well know! :)

I loved the mystery part. It was well thought and well executed! The how and, most of all, the why!

Even if, after 50 books, I'm ostly used to all the futuristic features, I still enjoy them! Who wouldn't? They're all so true to what we have now that I almost call my mobile phone a 'link! LOL

I appreciate that the author gave us the usual Somerset and Eve's banter that I've missed in the previous book! And also the sweet Mr. Mira!!!

We don't have here is Mavis and Leonardo and Bella and also Nadine...

Well, not everybody can be present every time! I know that I would complain if they were all present all the time! LOL

But what is stellar in ALL the books is the dialogue! The banter, the wit! Rarely I've read better!

And, with sorrow in my hear, I'll have to wait for the next book!!!

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did note that this is Robb’s fiftieth book in the Death Series and the title is “Golden in Death”. Robb continues to amaze me by not repeating crimes. Each book is different. This time, she outdoes herself with a creative murder.

The book is well written and continues the futuristic police procedural. I enjoyed Lt. Eve Dallas and Detective Delia Peabody’s adventure while solving the crime. There is humor, action and interesting characters in the story. I wonder when one of them is going to get a promotion in rank. This is a great get-away-from-it-all book.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours and fifty minutes. Susan Ericksen does an excellent job narrating the book. Ericksen has been the only narrator of the series. She is a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - Futuristic/Crime/Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

50 books and still fabulous!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 50th in this fascinating, addictive series is just as good as the first, which was published way back in 1995; Eve has grown in many ways but she and Roarke are a definite fixture while Peabody has come into her own. In Golden in Death, Detective Eve Dallas and her civilian consultant are involved in murder – of course – but this time the victims are killed with toxic chemicals which work in a few minutes, while the residue dissipates almost immediately. Eve and her team will have their work cut out, especially as she works out motive…

I love this series and eagerly await each new one - #51 is not too far away! I hope JD Robb continues with the In Death series for a long time to come! Highly recommended.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars
Another strong entry in the In Death series. After 50 books, the author keeps the series fresh and interesting. Eve Dallas’ investigative skills are in top form as this new case twists and turns. Probably the only book/series I’d read that takes place in the future as it simply works and doesn’t seem far fetched. The method used to cause the deaths in this installment was very creative and the way the case unfolds and the mystery is solved was well done. Fans of the series will love #50 and new readers will enjoy it too although it always helps to go back and read more to best understand this enjoyable cast of characters.

Many thanks to Edelweiss, St. Martin’s Press and the author for the ARC.

Review posted on my blog MicheleReader.com

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere between 3.5 to 4 stars-- We've made it to book 50, y'all! What a journey... I feel like I've completed a marathon, and I am delighted to be officially caught up with the series. For book 50, JD Robb delivers a very satisfying mystery. There aren't a lot of crazy twists or turns, but it's exactly the kind of "crime of the week" procedural that she delivers so well, and we do get plenty of time with all the characters we know and love, particularly with Eve & Peabody. The method & backstory of the murders were particularly satisfying to unwind with our intrepid detectives this time around.
The only thing that dings this down a bit for me is that I wish for such a milestone book, we had gotten some significant event in the characters' arcs. When I saw "golden," I wondered if McNab was going to be buying an engagement ring or something along those lines. And I'm ready for Eve & Roarke to at least start talking about their longer term plans-- maybe with kids, maybe with Eve accepting a captain position, maybe with Roarke's family. I'm not sure what JD Robb sees as their future (and believe me, I'm not one of those who feels like Dallas & Roarke have to have kids to have a HEA), but I'd like to see the characters start processing some of that on page. It's been a while since we've had moments like that.
Anyways, all of that previous paragraph is just me processing some assumptions I had about this entry that weren't met. The TLDR is that if you love an In Death mystery, this will hit the spot with the usual aplomb

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very meh In Death book.
I don’t know if it’s covid, my new job is a bit overwhelming, or that this was just not doing it for me? Maybe a little of each?
There is no major character development here. Peabody seems to have gotten dumber at points; talking/acting like she’s a junior Detective. Roarke is boring and McNab is mentioned maybe twice, but no lines I can recall.
Then there’s the crime; it’s a weak motive and seems like Robb was reaching too hard. A far cry from the Icove case cleverness. We are now what, 20 books or more since Icove? At least 5 books since the movie which is last one I really remember... and so I’m not sure if this series, at book 50, has just finally run it’s course. I’m sad as it’s been a staple part of my book repertoire each year for over 15 years, as new books came out. But all good things must come to an end I suppose.
One more book as meh as this one and I might, just might be done with these quirky folks. That or I’ll keep being disappointed and wishing, hoping for the spark to return one day to our gang.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 50th book in this series and while I am reading them sporadically I am still greatly enjoying it. This murder that Dallas catches is a spouse of a prep school headmaster who receives a package with a check golden egg containing a lethal toxin that killed the man instantly. I liked this mystery that was tied to the past in such a fun way and it was a particularly satisfying interview with the bad person in the end. There wasn’t enough Roarke for me in this one, but what was there it was great as usual. This one was good but the investigation went a little too smoothly for me, but it was the distraction I wanted today.

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are up to book #50 in this series, and there’s just no new way for me to talk about it… I read the last three available books one after another and now I’m sad… cause I will have to wait for the new installments like the rest of the world ;) if you haven’t picked up this series yet, I highly encourage you to give them a try, and here are some of the reasons why in a totally random order :)

#1 Eve… our heroine is one of my all time favourite characters :) the journey she goes throughout this whole series is phenomenal… from a detective, basically without friends, to work promotions, developing all sorts of relationships and connections, facing her extremely dark and painful past… *sighs* I’m just so proud of her

#2 Roarke… tall and handsome, not to mention mysterious gazillionaire with irish accent… need I say more? ;) his relationship with Eve is phenomenal, his support for her and her work is beautiful and I just love how they are there for each other and grow as a couple…

#3 each book concentrates on a different homicide case, that is solved within that story, so even though they can technically be read as standalones and out of order I highly recommend you to read them in order, because…

#4 characters and relationships ;) the further we get into the series, the more characters are introduced… and most of them appear on multiple occasions in those books :) I love it, because in each installment, especially in the later ones, we get a small scene here and there that will mean that much more to you if you read the books in order, to see the development of all those friendships and romances :)

This is hands down one of my all time favourite series and I cannot recommend it enough ;) go check it out :)

disclaimer
until further notice, I will be adding this little disclaimer at the end of all my reviews… without boring you with unnecessary details I will say this… I’ve been in a writing slump for a while now… it’s happened before, but usually didn’t last very long… it’s connected to a lot of different things in my life, but all those details are personal so I won’t get into them right now… this time unfortunately it’s been already six weeks and it doesn't look like it’s gonna change anytime soon… in all this time I was unable to sit down and write reviews for the books I’ve been reading… and I don’t want to wait any longer, cause I already accumulated quite a few to do… so going forward I will be just writing a very short ones… with maybe an exception here and there if I feel like it ;) I don't want to put pressure on myself to write long and detailed reviews that I used to do for the longest time… instead I will try and add some links to other reviews here on Goodreads if I see ones that I feel share my thoughts and opinions on the stories I read… in the meantime I wish you all happy reading :)

XOXO

A

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I let my expectations run a little too wild in regards to this book. Because it’s book 50 (which is crazy, right?!) in a series, I was anticipating something mind-blowing for this installment; instead, I got fairly run-of-the-mill. And I’m so disappointed about it. In case you didn’t know, I absolutely adore Nora Roberts. She’s my ultimate comfort read. I’ve read literally everything she’s written, and I can’t think of another author so prolific (she’s written well over 200 books) that I can say that about. There’s something about her books that feels like coming home from the very first page. This is doubly true for the In Death series. Following the same characters through FIFTY books is a wild experience. Eve and Roarke and Peabody and so many others feel like members of my family that I get to catch up with a couple of times a year. If I’m being honest, these characters often feel more real to me than real people in my life. Or at least, they usually do.

“Do you know what I mean when a situation or a time can feel like the end of your world, the somehow becomes the making of it, and you?”

Golden in Death could have been (and should have been) something really special for readers who have followed the series from its inception. Instead, it felt like an afterthought, a halfhearted offering that cheapened characters I’ve come to love so much. While the sass and camaraderie were still present, they felt stilted and even a bit forced. Eve lacked the dimension she usually brings to this series. Nora simply wasn’t on her A-game here. There was absolutely nothing special about this particular story and it makes me incredibly sad.

“Death—but most especially murder—ripped so many lives to shreds. And no matter how they were put back together, they were never, ever the same.”

All of that being said, it wasn’t a bad book. It still showcased Nora’s wonderful writing and storytelling style. Even if the characters weren’t as tangibly real and captivating as they usually are, it was still nice to catch up with them. And there were a few heartfelt moments that resonated. But everything about this book, from the plot to the characters to even the romance (which is among my favorite love stories of all time) just felt…tired. The main baddie felt like such a cliché by the time they were caught and arrested. I was literally rolling my eyes throughout the interrogation. And every remotely ethnic character sounded weirdly robotic and stiff during their lines of dialogue. Also, the chapter divides seemed incredibly arbitrary and made no actual sense with the flow of the story. It really threw me.

“I can’t change what I did, only what I do.”

Will I continue reading literally everything Nora ever publishes? Absolutely. I don’t care what it is, if she writes it, I will be reading it as soon as I can lay my hands on it. But will I be rereading this particular book? Highly unlikely. Here’s to hoping Eve Dallas gets her groove back and packs more of a punch in the next In Death installment.

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this series since book #1 hit the stores many years ago and I will never stop.

Dallas is a great protagonist, Roarke has been my BBF since book #1 and all the rest of the cast of main characters are like family. The plots are always interesting, exciting, and engaging.

Best long running series I read, and may it never stop.

HAPPY 50TH BOOK!

[Sofie Hern · Rating 4 out of 5]

JD Robb’s words are so familiar to me that her books, her voice, has a form of cadence to them. Her books read smooth and precise that at times I forget that I’m even reading. It has become such a pleasure to read these books and visit with characters that have become so familiar to me. With each book, I become more attached to the In Death universe that I can’t see me not reading them.
In this 50th installment, we continue to follow kick-ass cop Eve Dallas and company as she solves yet another tough case. With golden eggs, toxins, murder and sexy scenes JD Robb continues to produce beautiful work.

Lieutenant Dallas and Detective Peabody are looking for a killer who uses toxins hidden in a golden egg. As Dallas and Peabody investigate the case, they encounter unlikable characters and memorable ones. What I love about this book is that I get to follow every lead and dead-end alongside the homicide duo and other regular characters. This one is particularly refreshing as we see Dallas finally accept that Roarke is part of her process and that with his help, her work has become a little bit easier. She still kicks ass and takes no BS, she just does it more efficiently.

In this book, we see a few beloved characters and Eve’s interactions with them. When one of my favorite characters makes an appearance, I appreciate the book even more. This one had me laughing out loud at Eve’s literal sense, and it also had me in tears with her beautiful heart and compassion. An absolute gem.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.D. Robb hits an incredible milestone with the 50th book of the In Death series. As one of my all-time favorite beloved series, I still can’t believe that Robb has been able to pen so many interesting and engaging books in one series.

In GOLDEN IN DEATH, a mysterious package is delivered to a physician who then opens it and dies of the toxins that escapes from it. The golden egg really fit the concept of this book and like I said, I find that Robb is consistently able to bring interesting concepts to this series that have never been done before. It’s an incredibly feat, considering that there are rarely ever overlaps and all the ideas are original.

I really loved this book. The pacing, as always, is on point, never letting up until the very last page. I have enjoyed the journey that Eve has gone through and find that I can relate to her the most out of all the heroines I’ve read about. And of course, there is Roarke, who is simply one of my favorite heroes of all time. I just adore how understanding and supportive he is of Eve and her career. It’s so inspiring to see their love grow and see their cooperation as they work on various cases together.

The mystery and romance is balanced well and there’s enough suspense to keep readers on their toes. This series continues to get better and now, I can’t imagine my bookshelves without Eve and Roarke on them.

Read my review on Fresh Fiction

[Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say the 50th book in the series fell flat for me.

It used to be when a Dallas book came out, I was clamoring to read it. Now, not so much. There were a few other books I one click on the same day and I read those first.

While the story was okay what made this series great was Eve. But her character which was the shining star is now flat, no real growth.

The struggles with living a rich life are eye rolling to me now. I get it’s been a few years for Eve, but it’s been over a decade for me.

It’s either time to end the series or shake Eve’s life up.

She needs a life altering event to spruce up the series. This event has to happen directly to her and not the side characters to spruce up the series.

There are really only two options. The death or Rourke or Eve getting pregnant. I’m not sure the fans would stand for the first. I know the author said the second would never happen. So end the series.

Otherwise let it happen. I know women don’t need to have a child to be fulfilled in real life or fiction. But this is fiction and Eve needs something earth shattering to happen to make things interesting again. Anything else, like a brush with death or a pregnancy scare as has happened in this series will only affect one book or two.

Eve needs something that will carry the series for a while. And other book series cops have had kids. Working mothers are a thing and certainly would spice up Eve’s character arch.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
It is very rare that I finish a book and immediately turn around and read it again. However, I did so with this latest installment in JD Robb's 'In Death' series.
There was something about this one that struck a chord in me. Oh, the mystery was good, the investigation believable; there was a sufficiency of bad-ass-ness from Eve Dallas, as well as a marvelous outburst from Peabody. This time, though, the murder victims were genuinely good people and the author made a point of how their deaths broke the hearts of the families and friends left behind. It was all very poignant; even more so as the baddie's petty motive is revealed.
The past few books in this series have been rather hit or miss for me. This one wrapped around my heart, which maked it a winner.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had put off reading this one when it first came out (actually, I am not even sure if I was up to date with the series when it was released, so I am probably talking 'shite' (as Roarke might say)). It wasn't getting the five star reviews that I was sort of expecting for such a pivotal book. It is Book FIFTY in the series ... think about it - book feckin' fifty. Ridiculous really that this series had kept my attention for fifty books. I was wary to start the series ... I think I explained my reasons when I reviewed book ONE, Naked in Death. It is set in the future, it has a character called Roarke, who is Irish ... I was convinced that the author would make a hames of it (as Roarke might say). It was a 4.5 star read for me ... eventhough the 'button' did not make an appearance.


I will complain, like others, that there is not enough "moments" between Eve and Roarke, be it romantic or otherwise ... ok, the 'tree' scenario was lovely but I WANT MORE.

“Darling? Spare a minute?”
She came back, her ’link pressed, screen down, to her chest. And hissed, “Don’t call me darling when I’m talking to cops.”
“Sorry, Lieutenant Darling.”
She rolled her eyes. “What?”

I have said it before, "I LOVE EVE". She is one of the best heroines I have ever read ... No wonder Roarke adores his "cop".

At the end, at his limit, he said her name.
Like a prayer, a plea, a demand all in one.

I follow a Facebook group for all things IN DEATH ... some people put up their pictures of what they think the characters look like ... look, there is only "one ROARKE lookalike" (Mr. Jackman) - take it or leave it and anyone who begs to differ can feck off.


As I said, the fact that Roarke is Irish put me off a bit in the beginning and I wondered if Nora could pull off all things Irish ... she could. And I will also give a shout out to Susan Ericksen, the narrator of the books, she does a great job with Roarke and his accent ... OK, it might be a bit 'twee' at times but, overall, not a bad rendition.

"We don't have high school, so to speak, in Ireland."

Indeed, we don't Roarke ... we call it "secondary school" over there.

If you didn't love New York, she thought, you didn't belong there.

"... parents who protect fuckhead kids from fuckhead behavior often promote fuckhead adults."

Gotta love her logic ...


If you ever get the chance to meet me please don't worry that I will bombard you with swear words - honestly I don't swear in public - I leave the "bad language' to my reviews and usually use it with my husband and sons. I don't think anybody in my office has ever heard me use bad language ... I am a paragon of virtue really.

“He’s shattered, and he’s trying to remember if he kissed her goodbye that morning. Did he say he loved her, did he kiss her goodbye, because she’s gone. And I thought, I was pissed, and I walked out. I didn’t kiss you goodbye. I didn’t tell you I love you. And damn it, who knows better than I do that everything can change, can break, and you never get that chance again?”

“My darling Eve.” He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips.

“It’ll happen again. It may be you who’s pissed and walks out. So I want to say when it does happen, either way, to remember this right here.” She cupped his face in her hands, kissed him. “Just remember.”

“And you.” He kissed her back”

My aim is to collect as many of the Hardcovers that I can but some of them are quite expensive and I don't have Roarke's money, so not sure if that dream will be achieved ... I have about 15 of them so not doing too badly ... only another 40 to go.

'Tis education forms the common mind;
Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined.
- Alexander Pope