Book review: Bonded in Death by JD Robb

Bonded in Death by JD Robb opens with a prologue set in 2026 as the Urban Wars neared their conclusion… which started a few years earlier (ie about now in JD Robb / Nora Roberts’s world so let’s hope she’s not psychic). We don’t spend much time in the past however before moving to the present (40 years later) in Robb’s futuristic series. And for those who’ve been following the series for a long time, it’s pretty easy to guess that this book will hit close-to-home for NYPD cop Eve Dallas and her mega-wealthy husband Roarke… given their majordomo-cum-father-figure-to-Roarke (Summerset) often talks about his work with the Resistance during the Urban Wars.

Lt. Eve Dallas is back with a murder case with its roots in loyalty, treachery, espionage and the long shadow of war...

His passport reads Giovanni Rossi, retired businessman. But decades ago, during the Urban Wars, he was part of a small, secret organization called The Twelve. Responding to an urgent summons from an old compatriot, he returns to New York. To his death...

We quickly learn of The Twelve, their respective code names and a little about the expertise they each brought to the Resistance as one of the remaining members is killed with a warning note to the rest. I was surprised Robb unveiled the culprit of this so early, thinking it would have played out more excitingly if we didn’t (in fact) know who the traitor was, but guess the twist on offer is that the accused is supposed to be dead… but Dallas delves deeper (accidental alliteration but I’ve decided to keep it!).

As usual Robb gets the balance right here – between the investigation and the private world of our characters. I often comment on this In Death series being a ‘guilty pleasure’ but I don’t actually feel any guilt about reading them. I think what I mean is that they’re a comfort read. I know what I’m gonna get and Robb almost always delivers. Here as well as the very solid (now very developed) Dallas and Roarke, we’re offered the usual strong support cast as well as the survivors of the The Twelve, the latter adding some flavour given they’re all very healthy 60-80+ year olds in a future world where most people live well past 100!

This is a very satisfying read as good prevails over evil with Dallas only bending the rules slightly to get the result she needs.

I’ve missed the last four books in this series but I’ve mentioned before that Roberts writes them as if they follow on from one another so time moves very slowly in In-Death-land; nevertheless I must catch up as there’s a gap in bookshelf real estate allocated to JD Robb.

Bonded in Death by JD Robb will be published by Piatkus (Little Brown Book Group) in early February 2025.

I received an electronic (advance) copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.