Nora Roberts was a constant presence in my home growing up, with many of my earliest memories of my mom reading involving one of her paperbacks in hand. Despite being well aware of her work, I had never actually read one of her books myself. Under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, Roberts has been writing the In Death series for decades, and as a fan of murder mysteries, I figured this long-running series would be the perfect place to start. When her publisher offered me a copy of Bonded in Death, the 60th installment, I was excited to finally take the plunge.
Decades ago, Giovanni Rossi belonged to a secretive organization known as The Twelve. The Urban Wars were a time of chaos, but Rossi had long since left that life behind, settling into a peaceful existence in Rome with his wife. Yet, his ties to The Twelve were never truly severed. When an urgent call from an old comrade came, he had no choice but to answer. Rossi landed in New York, stepped into a waiting car—and was dead within minutes.
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is baffled by the case. There’s no clear evidence, no witnesses, and even the most advanced technology turns up nothing. She’s at a dead end until a link to the Urban Wars of the 2020s surfaces, leading her to an unexpected connection—Summerset, a longtime confidant and former wartime medic.
Summerset’s reaction to the crime is immediate and deeply personal. He confesses that he, too, was once part of The Twelve, a past he has spent decades trying to forget. But now, with a killer methodically hunting down its former members, he has no choice but to confront old ghosts. A chilling message makes one thing clear: others have already fallen, and the mission isn’t over yet.
As I began reading Bonded in Death, it quickly became clear that I had some catching up to do if I wanted to fully appreciate J.D. Robb’s long-running In Death series. Set in a futuristic world brimming with advanced technology and urban innovation, the novel offers a setting that modern-day investigators could only dream of. While Robb provides enough surface-level context for new readers to follow along, I couldn’t shake the feeling that having prior knowledge of the characters and their relationships would have deepened my connection to the story. That said, I was immediately drawn into the mystery at the novel’s core. The blend of espionage, suspense, and a seemingly impossible case made for a compelling read that kept the plot moving at a steady pace.
What surprised me most was the humor woven throughout the narrative, bringing moments of levity even amid high-stakes tension. The novel ultimately builds to a satisfying conclusion, even if the resolution isn’t entirely shocking. While jumping in at book 60 may not have been the ideal way to experience this series for the first time, I can see why these characters and this world have captivated readers for decades.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 12)
My mom got me started on Nora Roberts too. I haven't read one of her books in a while though and I usually like them.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I'll continue this series, but I do plan on exploring more of her writing!
DeleteI read the first few of this series, years ago, and I felt overwhelmed by how many books were already out - never mind that it's on book 60 now lol
ReplyDeleteI've read a lot of her romance novels too but nothing recently.
Yeah, 60 is hard to catch up with!
DeleteI did try one, and now I am like 40 books behind lol
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I'll never get caught up with this one.
DeleteBook 60!? That seems like such a daunting task. I do love when authors are able to add humor to tense situations. It eases my anxiety a bit. 😅
ReplyDeleteI'm astounded at how long this series has gone on for...and with no signs of stopping any time soon!
DeleteIt's impressive how many books she's written! I've never read any of them, but I've certainly been aware of them. And I love when there's humor to offset the suspense in books like this. :D
ReplyDeleteThe humor was such a pleasant surprise!
DeleteWell, I just learned something. I had no idea Roberts wrote under other names, and wow! Book 60. Roberts is a writing machine. I am also surprised to hear this book has a good dose of humor. I wouldn't expect that given that it's a crime drama.
ReplyDeleteShe's quite prolific!
DeleteHappy to hear you enjoyed the story even with jumping in at book 60! I read the first few books of this series and then never got back to it. I think I enjoy Nora Roberts' mystery/thriller/romantic suspense stories a bit more.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try her other stuff next!
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