Random in Death, In Death #58, by J. D. Robb
ISBN: 9781250289544 (hardcover)
ISBN: 9781250289551 (ebook)
ISBN: 9781250328816 (digital audiobook)
ISBN: 9781250328809 (audiobook on CD)
ASIN: B0C3PQ535C (Audible audiobook)
ASIN: B0C1X8GDPV (Kindle edition)
Page Count: 368
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: January 23, 2024
Genre: Fiction | Romantic Suspense | Suspense | Police Procedural
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.
New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are back in the 59th addition to the “In Death” series, Random in Death. The rock band Avenue A is holding a free concert at a local New York bar for teens. The bar isn’t serving alcohol that night and there is adult supervision, some parents as well as the owners of the bar. One musically inclined teen is excited because of the possibility of passing her demo to Jake Kincade, one of her musical idols. She does meet Jake but it is fleeting as she has been injected with a deadly toxin and dies in Jake’s arms. Jake’s significant other, the crime reporter and best-selling author Nadine “Lois Lane” Furst quickly calls her friend Eve Dallas to the scene. This death is quickly followed by another seemingly random death the next day. The victims have nothing in common other than being teen girls. What could be the motive for these senseless deaths and who is responsible? Eve, Roarke, Peabody, McNab, Feeney, and assorted coworkers are working to beat the clock on these cases. Will they be able to identify the vicious killer before someone else dies?
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, the “In Death” series is one of my favorite series. I look forward to the annual releases adding to this series. Random in Death is the 59th release in this series. I enjoy the growth of the relationships between Eve and Roarke’s family, friends, and co-workers. Each book provides more insight into the characters and all of their relationships, family, friends, and work relationships. Random in Death has the requisite murders and murder investigations, but it is the interaction between Eve, Roarke, Eve’s coworkers (Peabody, McNab, Feeney, Drs. Morris and Mira, Baxter, Trueheart, APA Cher Reo, and more), their friends (Nadine, Jake, Dr. Dimatto, Charles Munroe), and family (biological [the Brodys and Lannigans in Ireland] and chosen family [Summerset, Dr. Mira, Feeney, Mavis, Leonardo, and Bella]) that stands out for me. Although I enjoyed Random in Death and found it to be a relatively fast-paced read, there were parts of the story that had a decidedly “been there, read that” feel. This didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. If anything, it had me trying to remember which previous books in this series had something similar (similar but not exactly the same). If you’re a fan of the “In Death” series, you’ll definitely want to read this one.
If you haven’t delved into the joy of reading the “In Death” series, I hope you’ll take my suggestion seriously and begin with the first book, Naked in Death, and continue through to Random in Death. I enjoyed Random in Death and appreciated the continuing development of the characters, their relationships, and their careers. I eagerly await the next release in this series later this year.
Happy Reading, y’all!
Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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