When we last left Lt. Eve Dallas, Homicide Division of NYPSD, she’d just gotten married and was trying desperately to assume the role of wife - something she never thought she’d be.

Neither did she ever entertain the thought that IF she got married, her husband would be a multi-billionaire - a self-made man who owns more land and businesses than anyone else in NY and possibly the world.

Although Eve truly loves her husband, Roarke, the one thing that bothers her about him is his past. His very shady past. While she’s more than willing to ignore what happened before she met him, his past keeps popping up to haunt them both.

Such is the case in the sixth book of the In Death Series by J.D. Robb (a/k/a Nora Roberts), Vengeance in Death.


Eve receives a jammed transmission regarding a murder. As her investigation begins, she finds the victim brutally mutilated. The autopsy reveals that the victim was alive during the torture.

As the bodies stack up, it’s made clear that every one of the victims knew Roarke when he was much younger and living in Ireland. Although he’d lost touch with them after arriving in America, they were, once, his closest friends. With each murder, his heart bleeds a bit more. It almost breaks in two when each murder investigation leads to his butler, Summerset.

Sommerset wasn’t always Roarke’s butler. He’d found Roarke when he was a young boy, gave him a home and a future. He became Roarke’s family. To return the kindness, Roarke brought him to America to live with him and care for his business. Summerset is Roarke’s butler, housekeeper, confidant and, above all, friend.

Roarke, for one minute, doesn’t believe Sommerset is guilty. Dallas isn’t so sure and is determined to find out, one way or the other.

What she finds herself asking, in addition to the normal investigative questions is this:
Why is the killer contacting her directly and how is he jamming the transmissions?



Vengeance in Death, like the others in the series, is set in the future around the year 2058.

While many new gadgets, like AutoChefs and robots are introduced, some things never change - like Dallas’ office computer. It’s forever crashing - which is a constant frustration to her.

This glitch in the NYPSD system introduces, Ian McNab, techno guru who can fix just about anything electronic. Working with EDD (Electronics Division), Ian is often called to Dallas’ office where he meets her aide, Officer Delia Peabody - and her instant dislike of him puts Dallas in a frenzy. How can she work with all this hostility going on?


As in all the books in the In Death series, the love between Eve and Roarke is predictable. It’s also hot and passionate. So are the many arguments that exist between them.

Although Roarke has made himself a hard-nosed businessman, his tender side comes out whenever Eve has one of her haunting nightmares - which is all to frequently for his liking. What’s in her past that haunts her to the point of trembling screams during a quiet night? She can’t remember and isn’t sure she wants to. Whatever it is, has her terrified to close her eyes.

You can easily get caught up in their relationship as Roarke tenderly holds her, strokes her head and comforts her after on of her night terrors. You’ll find your breath catch in your throat as they argue heatedly and then laugh as they wrestle to work off steam.

While Dallas is a serious cop, Office Peabody is a breath of fresh air. A free-ager, into picnics and home cooking, she always complains about being hungry and watching her weight. Sound familiar? Peabody greatly admires her trainer and partner and does everything in her power to be as a cop as Dallas.

J.D. Robb did an excellent job with this book. With so many twists and turns along the way, you’ll find it hard to predict the killer. And that’s just part of the fun of this book. Another thing that I find interesting in Vengeance is that more of Roarke’s past is revealed. He’s not just a hard-working businessman, his computer skills are beyond Dallas’ comprehension - as is his secret office - the one that holds his personal computer that is not just expensive but illegal since it has the capability of hacking into government systems without being noticed.

Robb’s vivid imagination surrounding each murder and each victim only brings you closer to your own relationship with Roarke and when that happens, you can’t help but feel Eve’s frustration in doing her job and comforting her husband when he loses yet another friend from his childhood.

It’s my opinion that, so far, this is the best book in the In Death Series and one I’m sure you’ll want to read.




Naked in Death

Glory in Death

Immortal in Death

Rapture in Death

Ceremony in Death






Recommended: Yes