#Book Review #Golden in Death by J.D.Robb

In the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas investigates a murder with a mysterious motive―and a terrifying weapon.

Pediatrician Kent Abner received the package on a beautiful April morning. Inside was a cheap trinket, a golden egg that could be opened into two halves. When he pried it apart, highly toxic airborne fumes entered his body―and killed him.

After Eve Dallas calls the hazmat team―and undergoes testing to reassure both her and her husband that she hasn’t been exposed―it’s time to look into Dr. Abner’s past and relationships. Not every victim Eve encounters is an angel, but it seems that Abner came pretty close―though he did ruffle some feathers over the years by taking stands for the weak and defenseless. While the lab tries to identify the deadly toxin, Eve hunts for the sender. But when someone else dies in the same grisly manner, it becomes clear that she’s dealing with either a madman―or someone who has a hidden and elusive connection to both victims.

(From the blurb)

****

My thoughts:

This is my mom’s favourite series, so I have been following it for years. Every single book in it can be read as a standalone, although I have yet to meet anybody who read one and didn’t decide to go back and start from the beginning.

Golden in Death is as entertaining and creative as its predecessors. It begins with the death of a kind and distinguished pediatrician Dr Kent Abner who opened a package with a golden egg, made of cheap plastic (somebody’s idea of a present or a joke?), and was poisoned by toxic fumes within minutes. Leutenant Eve Dallas and Detective Delia Peabody call the hazmat team to investigate the unknown substance and its harmful effects. The murderer used a poison which doesn’t spread beyond a few feet and clears itself in little time. A mad scientist striking random victims? or more likely, somebody who had a grudge against Dr Abner?

However thorough the initial investigation is, it fails to produce anything but a few dead ends. Everybody loved Dr Abner. I could feel Eve’s frustration, as she was getting nowhere with her inquieries, until… the second victim is struck. She was as lovely and innocent as Dr Abner. An only daughter of a bookstore owner, mother of two teenage boys and wife of a Columbia University professor, Elisa Duran was about to host a book club meeting, when a package with another golden egg was delivered. Leutenant Dallas and Detective Peabody quickly find the link between the two victims and uncover the identity of the evil murder mastermind.

As usual, I enjoyed the thorough police procedure and method employed by Eve and Peabody. If you have been following the series, I don’t need to tell you it is set in the future, April 2061, to be precise. The futuristic elements, however entertaining they might be, are there only to provide a background to solid investigative work and detective skills. This 50th mystery is not an exception.

Eve’s technology-savy multi-billionaire husband Roarke is still there, dependable as rock. He makes his wife coffee, calls her darling, chooses a stylish outfit that will make the right kind of impression, makes sure she has enough pocket money, never interferes or asks for attention- swoon, swoon, swoon…but isn’t he getting a bit too tame?

A great addition to the series that never fails to deliver.

Thank you to Edelweiss and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Golden in Death is out on February, 4th, 2020.

• Have you read Golden in Death or is it on your tbr? Are you a fan of the series?
• What’s your favourite detective series?