It should go neither unnoticed nor unremarked that the publishing of OBSESSION IN DEATH marks the release of the 40th book in 20 years in the Eve Dallas series. These novels are remarkable in a number of ways, the first of which is their mid-21st-century setting that seemed a lot farther away when the series started than it does now. Author J. D. Robb’s future is familiar enough for readers to ease into while maintaining a number of exotic elements to serve as reminders that the setting is just a bit different.

The series has attracted a high readership among women, including those who ordinarily don’t read mysteries in general or police procedurals in particular. Part of this is due to Lieutenant Dallas herself, a smart, no-nonsense detective who is grudgingly likable, at times in spite of herself. Another part of the attraction is Roarke, Dallas’ enigmatic husband who seems to own (almost) everything and has connections on both sides of the law. There are book clubs that spend a great deal of time discussing Roarke, in all of his dimensions and assets, and his relationship with Dallas, which provides a strong-running subplot to the always intriguing mystery that anchors each and every book.

"One of the noteworthy elements of the series is that newcomers can generally jump on at any point with a minimum of confusion and pick up the thread of what has gone before. This is also true of OBSESSION IN DEATH, an extremely worthy addition that signifies not only a high-water mark in the series’s history but also in Robb’s craftsmanship."

And that brings us to OBSESSION IN DEATH. The last several books in the series have taken readers through the holiday weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2060. In this latest installment, New Year’s Eve approaches and brings with it a grisly tableau with a personal meaning for Dallas, aimed directly at her. Leanore Bastwick was a defense attorney who had clashed with Dallas in court on a couple of occasions in high-profile criminal trials. Bastwick’s murder in her home is all the more noteworthy due to the grisly message to Dallas written on Bastwick’s bedroom wall. The killer expressly states that the murder of Dallas’ courtroom nemesis has been performed to balance the scales, so to speak, because Bastwick failed to show Dallas proper respect. The execution is “for” Dallas, with admiration and understanding, an act performed by a “true and loyal friend.” The setting is chilling, to say the least; intentional or otherwise, one can hardly help but be put in the mind of a loyal cat who brings its owner the catch of the day.

The investigation of the murder becomes a top priority for Dallas. What makes her involvement in the case even more complicated is that the murderer wants to be acknowledged and appreciated by her. The killer begins upping the ante when Dallas demonstrates that she is anything but grateful, which potentially puts her and her loved ones in danger from a very motivated and smart killer who maddingly seems to be one step ahead of her at every turn. Roarke, as always, provides invaluable assistance, even as Dallas becomes consumed with catching a murderer who is obsessed with her and won’t stop until she acknowledges his actions...or dies in the process.

One of the noteworthy elements of the series is that, while each volume builds on the last, newcomers can generally jump on at any point with minimum confusion and pick up the thread of what has gone before. This is also true of OBSESSION IN DEATH, an extremely worthy addition that signifies a high-water mark not only in the series’s history but also in Robb’s craftsmanship.