ARC Review: Random in Death by J. D. Robb

Jenna’s parents had finally given in, and there she was, at a New York club with her best friends, watching the legendary band Avenue A, carrying her demo in hopes of slipping it to the guitarist, Jake Kincade. Then, from the stage, Jake catches her eye, and smiles. It’s the best night of her life.
It’s the last night of her life.

Minutes later, Jake’s in the alley getting some fresh air, and the girl from the dance floor comes stumbling out, sick and confused and deathly pale. He tries to help, but it’s no use. He doesn’t know that someone in the crowd has jabbed her with a needle—and when his girlfriend Nadine arrives, she knows the only thing left to do for the girl is call her friend, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

After everyone on the scene is interviewed, lab results show a toxic mix of substances in the victim’s body—and for an extra touch of viciousness, the needle was teeming with infectious agents. Dallas searches for a pattern: Had any boys been harassing Jenna? Was she engaging in risky behavior or caught up in something shady? But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old, passionate about her music, would be targeted.

And that worries Dallas. Because if Jenna wasn’t targeted, if she was just the random, unlucky victim of a madman consumed by hatred, there are likely more deaths to come.
I'm so not the type of person who will read book after book of the same character unless those characters are between the pages of a In Death book. For some reason I never get tired of them Each book I feel like I get to know Eve more and more. There is just something about her and Roarke that I need a dose of at least once a year. So, I was happy to start the year off with a new book in that series. 

Up this time is Random in Death and I have to say that the death's in this story really crushed me. Robb's ability to weave a story is so good that I spent so much of this book watching to cry or kick someone's butt. She did a great job of making you feel like you are in the moment with these girls. You want to reach through the pages and hold them in their last moments. Like you could make it easier on them. 

Like with all of the In Death books Eve doesn't solve the murders on her own. She and the rest of the wonderful characters do their part. To be honest they are part of the reason these stories are so good. There is such a great balance of them working the case and their lives away from work. As much as the books are about the crimes, they are more than just that. We get glimpse into the personal lives of some of the characters and the relationship between Eve and them. 

The murders in Random in Death have many twists and turns that will keep you wondering throughout the story. From the first death you feel the rush of fear that the characters have for the next victim. They work hard to make sure there isn't a next. 

I will say one thing that I feel about this series. I would read it in order. You can pass on the novellas, but the other books should be done in order. I feel that way because of the growth of the characters. It's wonderful to see how Eve and Roarke become close and how Eve interacts with the other characters and their work/friend relationship grows. If you skip around in the series, you might miss something when it happens. Otherwise read away. 





Comments

Popular Posts