This mystery centers on an old enemy of Roarke's from his childhood in Dublin. It begins with the murder of a woman in a park. While Eve is investigating, Roarke spots an old enemy in the background. He knows that Lorcan Cobbe has become a paid assassin.

It doesn't take Eve long to prove that the woman's husband is guilty of hiring Cobbe to murder his wife so that he can get revenge for her daring to have an affair and so that he could inherit her substantial wealth. Eve's willing to make a deal on the sentence if the husband will turn over information on Cobbe.

The main thrust of the book is trying to track down Cobbe before he can get his revenge on Roarke by killing everyone he loves and then killing Roarke. Eve's detectives are quick to join in on the hunt because they consider Roarke to be one of their own. Also, Cobbe has a previous history of murder in New York which was never solved but which Commander Whitney and Captain Feeney worked. They both want to catch Cobbe and throw in their expertise too.

I enjoyed all the details of the investigation to find Cobbe. I liked the strong relationship between Roarke and Eve and its contrast with the life of Cobbe. Cobbe was jealous of Roarke when they were kids and always claimed that Roarke's father was his father too and that he was the older son who should be his heir. That jealousy is leading him to make mistakes in the case Eve is investigating that will allow her to finally capture him.

I both read the Kindle version and listened to the audio version of this book. It is the first I've listened to. I thought the narrator sounded a little too old to be Eve and didn't think Roarke sounded Irish enough. Otherwise it was an engaging experience to listen to. ( )

A bit disappointing for me. Lots of talking, quite slow, not the best installment in the series. Still a good book and I enjoyed it, but not my favourite. Four stars. ( )

Rourke's past comes back to haunt him when a familiar face pops up at a murder. A psycho from his childhood has Rourke & Eve on the case to catch a contract killer who has eluded authorities for 20 years. Investigating a murder and tying in past murders has Eve and her team along with an agent from Interpol helping out. Well thought out mystery of connecting the dots to box in the killer ( )

Robb does a good job of building an exciting, enjoyable read and Erickson is a good narrator. The main characters, Eve Dallas and Roark make a good couple and you get hooked on them. This is a mature book and contains language and some sexual content. There are about 60 books in the series, but they (so far) seem to stand alone - no real need to read in order, thank goodness!

FROM AMAZON: In the new novel in the number-one New York Times best-selling series, Lt. Eve Dallas is about to walk into the shadows of her husband’s dangerous past....

While Eve examines a fresh body in Washington Square Park, her husband, Roarke, spots a man among the onlookers he’s known since his younger days on the streets of Dublin. A man who claims to be his half brother. A man who kills for a living - and who burns with hatred for him.

Eve is quick to suspect that the victim’s spouse - resentful over his wife’s affair and poised to inherit her fortune - would have happily paid an assassin to do his dirty work. Roarke is just as quick to warn her that if Lorcan Cobbe is the hitman, she needs to be careful. Law enforcement agencies worldwide have pursued this cold-hearted killer for years, to no avail. And his lazy smirk when he looked Roarke’s way indicates that he will target anyone who matters to Roarke...and is confident he’ll get away with it.

Eve is desperate to protect Roarke. Roarke is desperate to protect Eve. And together, they’re determined to find Cobbe before he finds them - even if it takes them across the Atlantic, far outside Eve’s usual jurisdiction.... ( )

Shadows in Death
4 Stars

A woman is murdered in Washington Square Park and Roarke, catching a glimpse of the suspect in the crowd, recognizes him as a vengeful foe from his past. Soon the race is on for Eve and her team to stop a vicious killer who has acquired a new target - Roarke.

This is one of a handful of books in the series in which the villain's identity is revealed almost at once. While this is not usually my preferred setup, in this particular case, the early reveal is essential for both plot and character development. That said, it is unfortunate that his character has no foundation in any of the previous books as springing him fully-fledged on the reader at this point detracts somewhat from the story.

The investigation itself relies on solid police work and the excellent relationships that Eve and Roarke have with the people in their lives. From Charlotte and Dennis Mira to Commander Whitney and Eve's loyal team to Summerset and Roarke's Irish relatives, it is a pleasure to see them all rally around and express their respect and loyalty to Roarke in both words and deeds - it was definitely not a given.

Overall, Shadows in Death is an engaging addition to the series, and having the focus shift to Roarke was an inspired choice by Robb. Looking forward to the next book.





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The latest installment of the In Death series has a someone from Roarke’s past come back to get revenge for old grudges. A hired killer on a job in NY decides to go after Roarke after completing a murder that becomes Eve’s case. This one one brings in all the characters that work for the department once they realize he is a suspect in an old case of the Chief and Feeney’s. The conclusion gets to be a bit hopping but in the end Eve with the help of Roarke and all their police friends win against the bad guy. A good solid entertaining read as always.

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This one took longer that anticipated to read. Not sure if I enjoyed it as much as the other In Death books, but it was decent. Wonder how many more can be written that will hold the readers attention and give the "WOW" never saw that coming feeling? ( )

51 books into this series and I still adore reading/listening to these books. They're like candy. ( )

A murder in Washington Square Park takes Eve and Roarke away from a play they had been watching and to a killer whose history crosses with Roarke's. Lorcan Cobbe, as a boy, wanted to claim the name Roarke as he was convinced he was Patrick Roarke's son. When he sees Roarke at the crime scene where he has just completed his contract, his desire to kill Roarke and take his name is renewed. Eve begins to bring together her resources in order to find and capture Cobbe. One thing she learns is the Captain Feeney and Commander Whitney had a run-in with Cobbe years ago at which time he evaded their capture, making them almost as interested in seeing Cobbe brought to justice as Eve and Roarke are.
The strength of Shadows in Death is the personal connection to the case being investigated by Eve and Roarke. We know the killer right at the beginning of the book, so much of the rest is the procedural investigation which leads to family and friends, especially Summerset. The opening of An Didean is included in the story, which lends a balance between dark and light. However, the ending seemed somewhat anticlimactic and made me wish for a bit more action. Overall, though, this is another excellent In Death story, drawing the reader in right at the beginning and not letting up until the very last page. ( )

Better than the last couple. Highlights are some memories of Feeney and Whitney's time working together, and a trip to Ireland to see the family. ( )

I've read this series in the past though I am not sure I've read all of them--and I know I haven't read them in order. I suspect I've missed some because I don't remember Roarke's Ireland family who appear at the end of the book.

In this installment, we get a glimpse of Roarke's past--some of his growing up years and how he and Sommerset met. I don't quite know how Roarke found family in Ireland (probably in one of the books I didn't read).

I like the "family" idea--that all of Eve's friends consider Roarke as part of their family and are willing to put in overtime for him and put their lives on the line for him, just as they would for Eve.

WARNINGS: there are several sex scenes within the pages (so probably not appropriate for younger age readers). ( )

As usual, J.D. Robb excels with Eve and Roarke. Amazing to see the evolution of the entire cast of characters and the depth of their universe. ( )

51 books into a series, you know what you are going to get: a crime (a woman is knifed to death this time around) in New York (in spring 2061 by now), Eve Dallas catching the crime, Roarke being there to help and the whole set of secondary characters making an appearance in way or another with someone being in a bit of a danger sooner or later. But that becomes an unusual book pretty fast - a man from Roarke's past resurfaces, the woman's death is solved quickly - except for catching the actual knife-wielder - the same main from the past, now graduated to international killer for hire. And the chase is on - from New York all the way back to Ireland, where everything started -- almost turning the series on its head at the end (especially if someone gets a certain action out of its context).

Despite the unusual twist, the book falls into the expected patterns - which is what I enjoy about this series. More doors to the past were open (both in New York and in Ireland), more good deeds were done, we even have a nightmare showing up again (not Eve this time though...).

If you had been reading the series, this one will probably suit you. If you are not - don't start with this one. It is not one of the strongest in the series but it is a good addition. The series is probably getting a bit too repetitive in places but... it feels like that old t-shirt that had moved with you probably 10 times and you still wear it because it feels like home. ( )

Listened to audio narrated well by Susan Ericksen. I have come to really enjoy her narration of the In Death series and love the varied accents, bringing uniqueness to each character.

Eve's latest case of a murdered heiress might be quickly figured out but the capture and arrest isn't so simple.

A flash from Rourke's past puts everyone he and Eve care about in danger and the team must find him before he takes his twisted revenge out on one of them.

'In Death' is like comfort food, I know I can count on an enjoyable read with all my favorite characters, I can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

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This gets a passing grade, but I give it reluctantly.

Most of the book is decent. It's not stellar; the premise is on the tired side, the killer's motivations didn't ring true for me, and many of the elements that made the early books sparkle for me are just gone. That said, I do have a soft spot for the way Eve has evolved in her relationships; I enjoy the fondness she and Summerset have developed for each other beneath their posturing, and this entry had that in spades.

Where the wheels came off for me was in the last 50 pages or so. Even before the controversial parts of the ending, the whole premise seemed increasingly dubious and farfetched. Still, I was willing to play along for old times' sake, and because I'm also fond of some of the characters the ending let us visit. But then we get to the fight scene at the end. The character I enjoyed in the beginning was someone who had clearly defined boundaries and a sense of what it meant to be a good cop. The idea of her beating up a suspect unless she was defending herself was not something that fit into that vision. Her clean record was important to her. But in the past few years, that's begun to change--how many of the recent books have ended with her fighting suspects, not because she had to, but because she could and she felt good doing it?

I'd really hoped this was a plot point that would eventually come to fruition. That something would happen to shake things up and force her to confront her actions and the fact that she's becoming what she hates. Instead, we get her commanding officer witnessing her allowing her husband to fight a suspect because "this is family" and "he needs it", and when he's challenged, Whitney replies that he'll cover the whole thing up and no one will believe that lone dissenting voice. So not only is she crossing the line, but now the series has said quite clearly that no one is going to do anything about it. As long as Eve believes it's justified, the people around her are just going to stand back and cheer her on.

Long story short--it gets a passing grade because the bulk of the book was enjoyable enough and reminded me of what I used to love about the series. But the ending's disturbing enough that I think this may be my exit point. ( )

I enjoyed this book, but I always forget the stories take place in the future...which generally, I don't care for. In this case, as with others I've read in this series, being in the future really doesn't play a big factor in the story line, in fact why have that as the setting?
Back to the basics, my review. Good solid murder mystery. Eve and Roarke are called to a murder scene. A weathly young woman has been brutally murdered. While checking the scene, Roarke looks up only to see a face from his distant past. Roarke sees his nemesis, one who claimed to also be the son of his father, one who resented Roarke since he was the real son. I'm now blanking on his name, so bad. This guy hated and was jealous of Roarke. Fast forward all these years and he's let his hatred fester as he becomes a sought after hit man. The stakes ramp up and he vows to get rid of Roarke once and for all, but not before going after everyone that Roarke cares about. ( )

This is my 6th "In Death" book, and the 51st in the long-running series, and I think it's the best I've read so far, which is saying something, since they've all been terrific. This one is fast-paced and emotionally resonant, with all the familiar touches fans expect and crave: the malapropisms, the irritations, the bluster, the touches of romance, and of course the tightly-plotted and intricate mystery. Highly recommended. ( )

I liked that neither Roarke or Eve were damaged in this book. Rather they figured out who the enemy was, worked together to figure out how to get him, and then got him. Well-written as always. Suspenseful but not over the top with rape and torture. ( )

Dallas and Roarke are back with another difficult case to solve.

Roarke's highly questionable past occasionally comes back to haunt him and Eve in awkward ways. The latest is exceptionally awkward. A rival and enemy from his hard childhood years in Dublin has arrived in New York and intends to kill him--after first killing everyone else who matters to him.

And Lorcan Cobbe is a skilled, professional assassin.

Cobbe claims to be Roarke's older half-brother, but Patrick Roarke, while employing him as an enforcer, never acknowledged him as his son. For all the elder Roarke's abuse of him, he did acknowledge the younger Roarke as his son. And that's what Cobbe, obsessed with Patrick Roarke as his hero and idol, can never forgive the boy that Patrick did acknowledge.

That hatred has burned for a long time, but now Roarke has achieved a level of wealth and success that's far beyond Cobbe. When he comes to New York to kill a woman whose husband finds divorcing her would not serve his interests, he does that job quickly and efficiently, but the trip morphs into a mission to finally eliminate Roarke.

Cobbe, driven by emotion rather than money this time, can't resist taunting Roarke--showing himself briefly to ensure Roarke knows he's there, and then other little taunts and challenges, and of course threats of what he'll do to Dallas before he kills Roarke.

Cobbe thinks Roarke is weak, because he's not a killer, and had the chance to kill Cobbe years ago and didn't It doesn't even occur to him that Dallas could really be dangerous.

Dallas, Roarke, and the NYPSD are not usually all one team, what with Roarke's criminal past and discomfort around cops even though he's married one. Roarke can't handle this threat on his own, though. Doing things entirely his way would hurt Eve, and maybe break their relationship. Working with them will also give him the help of men and women who, even though they're cops, he likes and respects, and who can bring real resources to the effort. And Eve knows that Roarke can't just set aside his old instincts and attitudes entirely in this direct and personal threat--a threat to him, but also to her, and Somerset, and his family back in Ireland.

It's a bit of a hurdle for both of them, when it means also working with Interpol, in the person of an English investigator who has been hunting Cobbe for six years.

It's a tense and exciting story, and we're reminded again how much these two have grown since they first met, in a case where Roarke looked like a possible suspect.

Content warning: A sweet little cat dies very nastily, as part of one of Cobbe's taunts.

I loved this book, and strongly recommend it, for a good mystery, good relationships, and being true to the characters we've come to know and value.

I bought this audiobook. ( )

It could have been a five star read, but I deducted 1/2 point for unnecessary animal torture/death. I cannot abide even fictional cruelty to animals. It almost ruined the book for me. I skipped the pages. The rest of the book was a great police procedural. While working a homicide in Central Park, Eve and her husband Roarke get pulled into Roarke's past, by a professional assassin named Cobbe, who claim's to be Roarke's older half brother as well as the true heir of the long dead Patrick Roarke. Cobbe is on a mission to kill Roarke and everyone whom Roarke hold's dear. Eve and Roarke with the NYPSD and Interpol are intent upon bringing Cobbe to justice in a story which stretches from the streets of New York City to the fields of rural Ireland. ( )

This mystery centers on an old enemy of Roarke's from his childhood in Dublin. It begins with the murder of a woman in a park. While Eve is investigating, Roarke spots an old enemy in the background. He knows that Lorcan Cobbe has become a paid assassin.

It doesn't take Eve long to prove that the woman's husband is guilty of hiring Cobbe to murder his wife so that he can get revenge for her daring to have an affair and so that he could inherit her substantial wealth. Eve's willing to make a deal on the sentence if the husband will turn over information on Cobbe.

The main thrust of the book is trying to track down Cobbe before he can get his revenge on Roarke by killing everyone he loves and then killing Roarke. Eve's detectives are quick to join in on the hunt because they consider Roarke to be one of their own. Also, Cobbe has a previous history of murder in New York which was never solved but which Commander Whitney and Captain Feeney worked. They both want to catch Cobbe and throw in their expertise too.

I enjoyed all the details of the investigation to find Cobbe. I liked the strong relationship between Roarke and Eve and its contrast with the life of Cobbe. Cobbe was jealous of Roarke when they were kids and always claimed that Roarke's father was his father too and that he was the older son who should be his heir. That jealousy is leading him to make mistakes in the case Eve is investigating that will allow her to finally capture him.

I both read the Kindle version and listened to the audio version of this book. It is the first I've listened to. I thought the narrator sounded a little too old to be Eve and didn't think Roarke sounded Irish enough. Otherwise it was an engaging experience to listen to. ( )

There is no way that I could ever give any of the 51 books in this series less than 5 stars. They are as close to the absolutely perfect crime story, police procedural and romance as any book can ever hope to come. You must start at the beginning and watch Eve and the team grow and develop into the best that NYC has to offer. See Eve and Roark become one of the most endearing couples in today’s literature and watch Peabody in her pink coat, become everything…as a person and as a police detective… that Eve always knew that she could and would be. Of course Galahad...the cat...gets fatter and more adorable with each book and Eve carries on her ongoing verbal battle with Sommerset who she really adores and would protect with her life if need be. This book will just take its rightful place as a part of the one of the best series in print today. About twice a year I and all the fans of this series…get to visit with these very good friends and see what’s happening in their lives. J.D Robb, (Nora Roberts), makes it a marvelous experience every single time. 100 of these books...1000 of these books... would never be too many. ( )

Eve and Roarke's evening out is interrupted by a murder (isn' it always ;-) While at the scene, Roarke sees a face from his past in the crowd. Lorcan Cobb is a contract killer who has evaded global authorities for 20 years. But his personal grudge against Roarke will cause him to make mistakes - mistakes Eve is counting on.

This was an odd "mystery" as they knew right away who the killer is and the book is mostly Eve and Roarke trying to catch him. And I do mean Eve and Roarke - Peabody is almost completely sidelined. Other familiar faces from the force do participate, and seeing them galvanize around Eve and Roarke was great. And, I love how they have grown as a couple, so having more interaction was entertaining. However, it also made for a very weak story/plot.

I still enjoy the In Death series, but have switched to borrowing from the library as I just can't justify the cost anymore. The books are getting shorter, and the mysteries less developed. I think Robb needs to stop with 2 a year; maybe a break is needed to revitalize the creative juices. A quick, fun read worth my time but not worth thr tetail price. ( )

Murder interrupts an evening at the theater for New York Police and Security Department’s homicide detective Eve Dallas. She and Roarke meet her team at Washington Square Park where Roarke glimpses a shadow from his past in the crowd. Suddenly, the case takes on a new . . . and ominous . . . twist.

Along with the murder of the young mother, Eve must track down Roarke’s adversary before he can strike down the man she loves.

This, the fifty-first [!] book in the series, works well as a stand-alone for readers new to the series, but it’s at its best when readers have experienced the growth and change of each of the characters. Anchored by the strong sense of place [both in 2061 New York City and in Ireland], the unfolding narrative brings Roarke’s past careering into Eve’s case and ultimately forces everyone she works with to take a stand in the ensuing investigation that is less a murder to solve and more a police procedural in capturing a supremely elusive criminal.

The plot takes some surprising twists as Eve and company tirelessly work the case. The underlying tension ramps up the suspense and keeps the pages turning. As always, the characters’ interactions are at the heart of the story; readers will find it impossible to set aside this unputdownable book before reaching the denouement.

Highly recommended. ( )

OMGoodness – how can the fifty-first book in a series be as exciting, action-packed, adrenaline-fueled, and riveting as the first book? This series just never gets old for me and I definitely hope the author doesn’t get tired of writing them. This author has to have one of the most creative and imaginative minds around because some of the technology she writes about, some of the social issues… Well, she just comes up with some really good stuff.

When a shadow from Roarke’s past turns up at a murder scene in Washington Square Park, things get really personal – really fast. This crime isn’t just a shadow into Roarke’s past, it is also a shadow into Feeney and Whitney’s past as well. It doesn’t take Eve and Roarke long to decide who the murderer is, but it will take Eve’s entire team and some help from Interpol to catch him. With more than twenty years of experience and hundreds of professional kills under his belt, this killer now has his sights set on Eve and Roarke and maybe even Somerset.

While Roarke and Eve are attending the theater, Eve catches a murder case and they leave for the scene of the crime. The victim, a lovely, wealthy, young wife and mother has been brutally murdered. Nothing is missing – her money, credit cards, phone – everything – are all still in place -- someone wanted the young woman dead – very badly. As Eve is tending to the business of securing the crime scene, dispatching officers to interview witnesses, Roarke is standing by – scanning the crowd. Roarke sees a face from his past – one he could do with never seeing again. He made quite sure Roarke saw him and Roarke immediately knows that the man is the assassin who murdered this young woman.

Even knowing who the perpetrator is doesn’t make it easy to find and apprehend him. He is very wealthy now and has all the assets he needs to disappear – except he really doesn’t want to disappear. He wants to taunt Roarke, torture him, and make him suffer before he finally kills him as well. Eve and all the resources of the NYPSD will do whatever it takes to see that doesn’t happen. Roarke is one of their own now and they’ll take care of him.

I love that each new book humanizes Eve a little more and we learn more about Roarke’s past life. I love that Roarke’s and Eve’s love and passion for each other hasn’t diminished – it has grown.

You can’t go wrong if you choose to read this excellently-written, imaginative, well-plotted book – and the rest of the series as well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read the books in this series and I never get tired of reading and re-reading them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )