While Stolen in Death was as complicated and terrific as any of J.D. Robb’s books, the sixty-second in the series was also an uncomfortable one. Roarke’s youth in Ireland as a thief comes back to haunt him, and haunts Eve Dallas even more.
Eve and her husband Roarke are at a charity gala when she’s summoned to the Barrister house where Nathan Barrister has been murdered, struck from behind by a piece of amethyst. There’s a vault door open, and it appears to be a burglary and killing. Roarke identifies some of the art in the vault as stolen pieces, and it appears there’s one valuable piece missing, a set of emeralds and diamonds called the Royal Suite, stolen years earlier from The Tate.
When Nathan’s father, Henry, died the previous year, Nathan became CEO of Zip Global. It was only when he and his wife were redecorating the house that they found the hidden vault, filled with priceless stolen artwork and jewelry. The family had no idea the vault or the collection was there, and they were trying to work out how to return all the stolen goods to their rightful owners. Dallas suspects that someone in the household inadvertently let the wrong person know about the artwork and the vault.
With Roarke’s help and assistance from an old connection in Interpol, Eve and her team search for someone who didn’t care if they killed a man in the process of burglary. Lieutenant Eve Dallas cares. As she assures Nathan’s daughter, “I work Homicide because the dead can’t speak or stand for themselves, so I speak and stand for them.”
That statement is worked into all the In Death books, and it’s one of the reasons I appreciate these crime novels set in the not-so-distant future. Stolen in Death is set in September 2061. But, I also appreciate these stories for the relationship between Eve and Roarke, a marriage built on trust and love and caring for each other. That’s important in this case, one with a difficult background for Eve to handle. But, there’s also wry humor to alleviate the tension. I certainly needed that as I read this one.
I still find it remarkable how J.D. Robb manages to write books with unique plots, and, in this case, one written before the theft at the Louvre that is so timely. Fans will welcome the latest in this riveting series.
J.D. Robb’s website is https://jdrobb.com/
Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb. St. Martin’s, 2026. 355p.
FTC Full Disclosure – The publicist sent a copy of the book, with no promise of a positive review.
Thank you for another terrific review, Lesa. I love this series for all the very same reasons you mention. I love how she keeps this series fresh and interesting and keeps us all waiting for the next one. This was another good one.
It’s hard to believe, Kaye, that she’s written 62 books in this series, plus all of her Nora Roberts ones, and they are all still fresh with new plots. She’s amazing!
Jackie feels the same. She’s read them all from the beginning and will continue to do so.
Jackie, Kaye and I are right, Jeff. (smile)
I agree with you about this series, Lesa, and also about this book. I was lucky enough to get to read an advance copy and I also was laughing about the coincidence before the Louvre theft. Hope she keeps writing these. Think there will be one in the fall for sure. I have read each and every one and loved them. Isn’t it interesting how time has passed and the time of these books is not nearly as far in the future as it used to be – ha!!
Oh, yes, Kay. It always seemed as these books were set so far in the future. Not any longer. And, it was the Tate robbery that reminded me of the Louvre, but so much smoother. Of course that was the thief (smile). She’s written 250 books under both names. I guess I could read for the rest of my life, and not finish all of her books.