Golden in Death by J.D. Robb

3/16/2020

SYNOPSIS

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.

Synopsis from Goodreads

PERSONAL REVIEW

I truly hope that Robb's In Death series is one that goes on forever...and she's been fulfilling this wish with two new books a year, constantly giving us more of Dallas and Roarke. The biggest pitfall to a series that goes on this long (this is the 50th book in the series!!) is that it's easy for the characters or plot to go stale. Robb does a good job balancing the history with the characters.

Such a Scary Way to Murder Someone
One of my takeaways from this book is what a terrifying way to murder someone these killers come up with. We are a generation of online orders, so it would be so easy for an unknown package to arrive at our door and the majority of people to simply open it - I know I would! Reading this book really drove home for me how vulnerable people are.

Doesn't Stand Out From the Pack
When I think of this series, my favourite books are the ones where there is a massive change in character relationships or lives - something that helps both the case Dallas and Peabody are trying to solve and moves characters forward. While a good story, Golden doesn't do much to stand out from the many other cases that Eve solves. It's neither amazing or awful, it's simply a nice story in the Dallas series.

Overall, this is a nice addition to the In Death series but it's probably not going to be the most memorable one you read. While the nod to the 50th book in the title (Golden in Death for the series golden anniversary, maybe??) made me smile, this was simply an easy continuation of the series without really changing anything. I'd recommend this book to love who love the series and are always looking for more Eve and Roarke!

FINAL RATING: 3.5/5