Even the investigations of crimes at New York City building sites are interesting when J.D. Robb writes about them. Forgotten in Death, the 53rd book in the Eve Dallas series is a riveting story that kept me up until I finished it. Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas isn’t going to let victims be forgotten, not on her watch.

Three corpses in two closely connected building sites? When a construction crew at a Singer construction site find a body stuffed in a dumpster, they call the police. Once Eve reports to the scene and unwraps the body, the two beat cops recognize the dead woman. They call her CC for Concerned Citizen because the woman, a “sidewalk sleeper” does have rules. If anyone violates the rules such as littering, she writes their violation down in her little book. She’s known for making origami flowers and animals out of trash, and giving them away. But, it will take Eve, a team of police, and Eve’s husband, Roarke, to identify the woman and discover her story. It’s a story that breaks Eve’s heart because she identifies with some of the woman’s past.

Dallas doesn’t even get to leave the area before she’s called to another construction site, this time on property owned by Roarke. There are two victims there, victims that had buried there for years, a young woman who was possibly pregnant with the fetus that is in the hole with her. And, Dallas will use all the resources of the police department, and her husband’s computer skills to find the killers of her three victims. Eve Dallas will always stand for the victims.

And, victims pile up. Eve and Roarke are on the scene immediately after another murder. It’s an investigation that will lead to shady deals in the construction industry, family stories, and into the past. Eve, her team, and her husband will put in long hours to find the truth.

I never like to reveal spoilers, and I certainly won’t for one of J.D. Robb’s books. So, I’m going to discuss an essential element of the series, and one that is stressed in this novel. It’s the concept of home. Forgotten in Death is a story of contrasts. It starts with a victim who lives on the streets and has no home. It’s Eve’s job to learn why she’s living there. What home did she flee? Eve’s friends, including her partner, Detective Peabody, are boring Eve to death as they discuss every aspect of the remodeling of their new home. In the Singer construction family, there’s quite a contrast between the homes of family members. And, then there’s Roarke and Eve’s home. It’s their refuge, the place they can both turn to at the end of the day to escape their jobs. But, the true reason it’s home for them is that the other person is there. That means home. As you read this book, you recognize the safety, the security, the love they share that makes their home.

Forgotten in Death is a solid police procedural. Eve Dallas stands for the victims, and, at times, identifies with the victims. It’s riveting, as these books always are. But, if you read the book, think about the significance of home.

J.D. Robb’s website is http://www.jdrobb.com

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb. St. Martin’s, 2021. ISBN 9781250272812 (hardcover), 384p.

Once in a while, a book connects with a song for me. Of course, I love the following video, “May the Road Rise”. It’s set in Ireland, a place I love. I’ve been to many of the sites mentioned in it. But, one stanza in particular reminds me of “home”. Consider “May the Road Rise”, performed by Nathan Carter and The High Kings, a tribute to Roarke’s Irish heritage.

“Oh the troubles of our world
We’ll leave them at the door
We’ll raise a glass to friends who’ve passed
Remembering them once more
May the luck of the Irish
Be with you every day
Who knows what tomorrow brings
Let’s live for today.”

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent an ARC of the book, hoping I would review it.