REVIEW: Indulgence In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Indulgence in Death (In Death, #31)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Publication Date: November, 2010
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Rating: 10/10

Description: When a murder disrupts the Irish vacation she is taking with her husband, Roarke, Eve realizes that no place is safe — not an Irish wood or the streets of the manic city she calls home. But nothing prepares her for what she discovers upon her return to the cop shop in New York City. . . .

A driver for a top-of-the-line limousine service is found dead — shot through the neck with a crossbow. The car was booked by an executive at a venerable security company whose identity had been stolen. Days later, a stunning, high-priced escort is found killed at Coney Island, a bayonet stuck in her heart. And again, the trail leads to a CEO whose information has been hijacked.

With a method established, but no motive to be found, Eve begins to fear that she has come across that most dangerous of criminals, a thrill killer, but one with a taste for the finer things in life — and death. Eve does not know where or when the next kill will be, or that her investigation will take her to the rarefied circle that Roarke travels in — and into the perverted heart of madness. . . .

My Thoughts: When I grow up, I want to be Eve Dallas. In addition to her quick wit, razor sharp intelligence and ability to zero in on the perpetrators of a crime faster than you can say “whodunit,” Eve happens to be married to the richest man on the planet, who is Irish and gorgeous and talks pretty and takes her on vacation to the Emerald Isle. Even better, this lavish fairytale lifestyle Eve lives hasn’t spoiled her or changed her. She still gets her hands dirty and, much to Roark’s annoyance gets herself bloodied on occasion as well.

Indulgence opens with Roark and “his cop” on a much deserved vacation visiting Roark’s family in Ireland. I absolutely love it when Roark’s family makes an appearance. There are so many of them, there’s no way to remember them all and they are loud and boisterous and full of life and love. I also love how Eve is overwhelmed and out of her element when she is around them. She has never had any family so she struggles with how to interact with them. Roark never knew his family for most of his life either, but he adapted much quicker than Eve did. Unfortunately, murder doesn’t stay in New York and when a murder occurs not far from the family farm, Eve’s instincts kick in and she indirectly assists the local law enforcement, much to the happiness and delight of one of Roark’s young cousins who idolizes Eve. Fortunately, the case is resolved quickly and Eve and Roark resume their relaxation.

Back home in New York, there is no rest and relaxation and Eve is going full steam ahead upon her return when she is called to investigate the murder of a limo driver killed in a most unusual fashion…by a crossbow. Not long after that, another murder occurs. This time, the victim is a high priced highly successful escort who is found dead at Coney Island. As the body count piles up, all of the victims seem unrelated to one another, but the common denominator is how the trail leads Eve and her crew to different CEO’s whose identities have been stolen and used to perpetrate the crimes.

Once again, I found this story riveting. Different unrelated victims murdered by extreme methods but Eve manages to connect the dots and does so quickly. While I’m still trying to process and absorb the scene unfolding around me and how the victims are connected, Eve has already focused on a prime suspect. I don’t know how Peabody manages to keep up, but she does so I’m the only one struggling trying to put it all together. I’m still amazed at how this series has evolved. Still entertained and still connected to the characters. It doesn’t feel like a book when I am hanging out with Eve, Peabody and the rest of the gang. J.D. Robb is a master at bringing these characters to life without making them predictable or boring. Now that I’m nearly caught up with this series, I don’t know how I am going to manage the waiting period between each book. It will be torture, but since the series does not show any signs of slowing down, the torture will be minimal.

Indulge yourself…read this series, but start at the beginning and watch the magic unfold…