Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: September, 2016
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible | BN
Description: Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns in a fast-paced new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb.
Nature versus nurture...
The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.
Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD, but never one like this. After reviewing security videos, it becomes clear that the victims were killed by a sniper firing a tactical laser rifle, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the locations where the shooter could have set up seem endless, the list of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.
Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two; one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil...
My Thoughts: As a reader, I am reaping the rewards of the imagination J.D. Robb has, though dark and twisted it might be. Her ability to take one moment and weave a complex and edgy story around it takes serious talent and skill. For me an active shooter case always fills me with terror and dread. It can happen anywhere to anyone with no warning. The only thing separating society from the monsters is our ability to use rational thought to problem solve our differences and make informed choices.
Unfortunately, not everyone follows this logic and reverts to monstrous behavior. When an active shooter incident happens in Central Park, Eve and her gang begin their investigation, having no idea just how heinous this crime is and how much worse it will get. Eve learns that not all the victims were random; some were deliberate and definitely connected. I was shocked to learn not only who the killer was but horrified at who the apprentice is and the reason behind the killings. Random or deliberate, it sent a chill down my spine thinking about how fleeting life is and how important it is to make every moment count. Tomorrow is certainly not guaranteed to anyone.
My Final Verdict: There isn’t a whole lot more that I can say about this series that hasn’t already been said. Each story packs a punch, but this one really hits hard. I love the methodical way Eve tackles the case. She is excellent at organizing her board and compartmentalizing the details for easier recall later on. Her team works together perfectly like peanut butter and jelly. The storylines ring true and relevant, the characters are realistic and it’s so easy for me to relate to them all.
Most importantly, the conversations Eve has with those around her are priceless. She comes across as impatient, bossy and grouchy, actually she isn’t coming across that way. She really is impatient, bossy and grouchy, for the most part and that’s what makes her such an amazing character. She has all of these flaws that should make the head-shrinkers at NYPSD recommend her removal from a position of authority, but instead the top dogs of NYPSD defer to her knowledge, experience and abilities to investigate the cases in a way nobody else can. She’s just getting started and we all can expect much more from our amazing cop.
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