BONDED IN DEATH, the 60th book in J.D. Robb’s futuristic police procedural series, is one of her smartest and most enthralling thrillers. It delves into personal themes such as loyalty, honor and betrayal while also delivering a tense and suspenseful read.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the Homicide Division of the New York Police and Security Department is called to the scene of an elderly man who was found dead in a car and holding a business card that bears her name. The death is suspicious, and the card is an obvious fake, but Eve needs to know how she is connected to this crime.

"BONDED IN DEATH is a touching, thrilling and clever story that you will not want to put down for a minute."

The deceased, Giovanni Rossi, recently arrived in New York City from Rome to keep an oath he made. Unfortunately, his widow in Italy has nothing more to offer. As usual, Eve brings her work home and creates a murder board, hoping that her husband, Roarke, can help her make sense of the evidence she has so far. She also believes that Summerset, Roarke’s surrogate father and their household manager, will have some particular insights. He was in Europe during the Urban Wars of the 2020s and may be able to offer some information about the murder victim.

When Summerset sees Giovanni’s photo, he pales in shock. He recognizes the man as Wasp, a member of an elite undercover organization that he joined while serving as a medic during the wars. Summerset has always been hesitant to talk about that time in his life, but his experiences with the group are essential to Eve’s investigation.

With the help of her team, Eve interviews the surviving members of The Twelve. What they learn takes them down a trail of twists and turns that leads across international boundaries. With the cooperation of Interpol and other foreign agencies, they discover a complex web of deception and subterfuge that reveals a killer who is desperate for revenge. Eve embarks on a high-risk mission to thwart a kidnapping plot and another potential murder, culminating in a cunning interrogation scene that serves as the novel’s dramatic climax.

Eve, Roarke and Summerset are quite the team here. Summerset always has been an important person in Roarke’s life. Despite their strong personalities, Eve and Summerset have tolerated each other as they have one thing in common: their love for Roarke. However, as the investigation evolves, Eve’s relationship with Summerset deepens as she works to protect and honor his past and present life while bringing the murderer to justice.

BONDED IN DEATH is a touching, thrilling and clever story that you will not want to put down for a minute.