As usual a fantastic read from J D Robb. A murder that doesn't make sense, a round of suspects both likeable and not and a countdown to catch the killer before they strike again.
She has a formula and sticks to it to varying degrees of success but this was a solid one. I loved the method of murder and how intricate it was as well as the motive behind it.

Although I was expecting something a little different for her 50th instalment of the series it didn't feel 'special' but was still a good read.

This is the 50th book in the Author's "In Death" series ……… however recent books , with the exception of Vendetta in Death , have left me feeling slightly disappointed . The writing has almost become formulaic with an excellent start to the book , a slow middle and a rush to a climax ….. without the previous fast paced tension . I must say that , although I should not , I hold the Author to higher standards than other writes as her books are usually superb , which impacts on my reviews .

This book starts with the death of Dr Kent Abner , killed in his own home by an unusual method . Well liked by all , Kent's death is proving difficult for Eve to find a motive - that is until the next death occurs by the same method .
Further investigations link the partner's of the victims to an elite school .
The race to track down potential further victims provides for an enjoyable read , with Eve and Peabody racing round New York in their endeavours .
I will say that there was an element of 'deja vu' where the protagonist(s) is an arrogant , rich , entitled man who no one can reject - surely we have seen this before !!!

Although my review is not as high as I would like to give her normally , I will continue to read all the Author can produce - her 'not the best' is applicable to very good from someone else .

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Golden in Death in exchange for an honest review .

Having read all of the In Death books, I have to say this one isn't the best, but better than some I've read recently. Again I'm feeling slightly dissatisfied with the books. They seem too formulaic and also Eve's supporting characters are almost boring, like you know what they are going to do, no surprise or that page-turning quality of previous books. I hope her next book will have her returning to the old Eve with passion, grit and kick butt action.

As a fan of Eve Dallas I look forward to the next book. Golden does not disappoint. Twisted reasoning makes the killers motive real. Displaying how people do not always grow from high school years. Kill your enemy, they are dead but kill the person they love and they will feel pain every day until they die.
More about eve than some of the previous books but still loved it.

4* JD Robb's 50th novel follows the same tried-and-trusted formula - why change what's not broken?

I've not read an Eve Dallas tale for about 5 years, stopping when JDR changed tack suddenly and started revealing the identity of the killer at the start of the tale (ish), then proceeding to use her team and tactics to prove his culpability. I didn't like the change of MO and tbh, the tales had started getting a little stale, with the whole gamut of Eve's extended team always making an appearance, despite not being organic to the plot. This follows the original MO, which works well, and yes, JDR delivered, though the reason for the killings wasn't really the strongest. I mean, the reasons were validated, but the... catalyst wasn't very strong, or maybe wasn't painted strongly enough, and the baddie/s were very, very, very formulaic.

Yes, there was a plot and the deceased got justice, but things felt a little seen/done before, which is understandable given how long this series has been going, and some of it felt tired. For example, Eve's interactions with Summerset feel rather juvenile and no longer appropriate, given that they've learned about each other, have faced together, and that they have respect and loyalty for each other. Whilst Peabody was central to the tale, and Feeney and Berenski and Morris made appearances, as did Charlotte and Dennis Mira in cameos, none of the others did, though Mavis got a mention. That made the tale feel more to the point and authentic, but in a twist of irony, I missed the missing guys. I missed the Peabody-McNab flirting that had Eve wanting to bleach her brain and eyes. I missed Nadine not getting the inside scoop. I missed seeing Mavis, Bella and Leonardo. I missed Trina wanting to pretty Eve up, and Eve's resistance. I wanted to have my cake and eat it, but at the same time, I realised that the tale felt more organic.

Would I go on to read more? Yes, because this felt fresher and more authentic than I remember. Maybe absence has made my heart grow fonder. What I surprisingly didn't love, were the Eve-Roarke private times, which felt muted and formulaic and more often than in previous tales, and Roarke's presence and ability to help/provide resources, felt a lot more low key.

ARC courtesy of Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Golden in Death, the fiftieth novel set in New York 2061 to feature Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

When Dr Kent Abner is killed in his own home by a very unusual method Eve and the team are stumped for a motive as the doctor was extremely well liked. It’s only when a second death occurs that they can establish a link and start hunting a deadly serial killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Golden in Death which is a good mystery with a hint of light humour. I have dipped in and out of this series over the years and think that this is one of the more engrossing, less guessable offerings. I think the murder weapon is ingenuous and while I have no idea if it is possible the futuristic setting means that it doesn’t matter. In fact Ms Robb’s dystopia has become rather quaint as current technology appears to be outstripping her imagined future. I enjoyed the hunt for the killer as it held me engrossed with Eve and her ever reliable sidekick, Peabody, charging round New York applying verbal thumbscrews where appropriate. I love her take no prisoners style and dedication to the job.

The novel is told entirely from Eve’s point of view so it’s easy to get stuck in and enjoy the ride. The reader makes the same discoveries she does and can make the same deductions although I have to admit to being led there. There is barely a quiet moment, bar a couple of unnecessary sex scenes, so I just carried away in the narrative without having time to think about where it was taking me.

Golden in Death is a fun, light hearted read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Absolutely loved this Eve Dallas story. Fast paced, cleverly written and keeping you in suspense from the beginning. The relationship between Eve and gorgeous Roarke is so well written.
Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy, I coudnt put it down.

Absolutely slick... Fast paced and typical Eve Dallas 's kick ass attitude makes it such a fun read. Not a boring moment in this one. Thank you to the author and publisher for the amazing opportunity to review one of my favourite series of all times.

Well written as always and the story grips you from the start.

Eve is a great protagonist and is still fresh even after all this time.

The only slight downside for me are the sex scenes, I’m a bit of a prude!

I thought that for the 50th book in this series J.D.Robb would have thought about a special plot or something similar, but no, just a normal mystery book where our favorite lieutenant finds out the culprit behind some deaths. As usual, I am already waiting for the next installment....

Pensavo che per festeggiare il 50° libro della serie, l'autrice avrebbe scritto una storia speciale, ma invece niente di nuovo, la nostra Eve deve scoprire il colpevole dietro a degli omicidi apparentemente senza movente. Io mi metto, nel frattempo, ad aspettare il prossimo libro.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC!

Absolutely enjoyed this novel by an extremely talented writer. She weaves a twisted net and the reader immediately gets wrapped up in it. Can’t recommend it enough

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I have recently reread the first book in the ‘in death’ series by JD Robb and over the years have read many of the books in the ‘in death’ series. Each and everyone of them is a masterclass in futuristic storytelling from the author JD Robb/ Nora Roberts. The standard maintained in all of the Eve Dallas series is absolutely amazing and of such a high standard it is just unbelievable.
Golden in Death by JD Robb is such a good story that you the reader are immediately spellbound and mesmerised by the storyline and Eve and Roarke’s relationship and how Eve Dallas has a network of friends whom she cares for and who in turn care for Eve Dallas. Having read the first book again recently who knew the characters would be where they are now.
Highly recommend the whole of the series.

Dr Kent Abner a much loved paediatrician is found dead by his husband Martin Rusty, headmaster at a very expensive private school. Kent’s death is mysterious. He was found dead on the floor of his kitchen next to him was a golden egg. lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner detective Peacock are given this case. The first thing Eve notices is that his eyes were swollen and he had expelled various body fluids. She immediately fears that Dr Abner has been poisoned, but how? It looks very much like a toxin was in the egg Dr Abner had dropped. They also notice that there is a package, that maybe the box and egg were delivered in. Then another egg is delivered to the wife of another teacher at the same school, she had also been killed by toxic poison. The story continues to get more tense. I really enjoyed the partnership between Eve and Peacock, and Eve and her husband Roarke. My only problem with this book is although it is written as taking place now, it is actually taking place in the future, this totally confused me. However, I still really enjoyed it.

The 50th book in this series following Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke still surprises with the weapon of death. You will enjoy following Eve in her methodical use of technology from the 21st century to examine her victims lives. Using her ingenuity she follows the clues in this baffling case where at first there seems no connection for the murders. There are plenty of popular characters who add to the exciting story and make this a beloved series you can see carrying on for another 50 books.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I’ve read in this series: I read book one a short while ago and this is the latest episode, book fifty! That’s some longevity. For those yet find their way into the pages of J.D. Robb’s books a quick overview is that it’s basically a police procedural based in a future New York City. Eve Dallas is the spunky detective charged with solving the crimes and her romantic interest (now husband) is mega-rich businessman Rourke. Here she’s required to track down a killer who dispatches his or her victims through the delivery of a deadly toxic gas - in a novel way, it has to be said.

The first thing I noticed about this book, set in the year 2061, is that time hasn’t moved on very much in this series. Despite the multitude of cases Dallas must have dealt with, only three years have passed since the very first case covered. I was now familiar with the technological advances that surprised me last time around and regular readers must be fully at home with the way people communicate with each other ('links' which seem to be a type of mobile phone with the added benefit of a live visual feed), the scarcity of good coffee and a device that can accurately date time of death to the minute. In truth, the date setting for this story, and consequently the differences in the way certain things work and get done, definitely didn’t feel as intrusive this time around.

Rather than discussing the plot – this is a whodunnit and I really don’t want to spoil the fun for future readers – I’ll simply reflect on what I liked about this book and a few things I didn’t like so much:

Likes

- Eve is a great character. She’s punchy and determined and happy to front up to anyone and though she clearly benefits from living with a very rich man she’s also reasonably unaffected by the surrounding wealth.

- The scenes where she questions ‘people of interest’ and/or confronts people who offend her are terrific, she’s astute and spikey and the dialogue is really well constructed.

- Eve has a great relationship with her sidekick Peabody, who I also really liked, and many of the scenes featuring the pair together are great fun.

- Overall, it’s capably crafted tale and kept me interested throughout, if not entirely gripped.

Not so much

- The relationship between Eve and Rourke doesn’t work for me, it’s all way too lovey dovey and I didn’t particularly enjoy their interactions. In fact, the story sometimes gave me the sense of watching an episode of <i>Murder They Wrote</i> in the way I felt it was canted towards the whimsical. In truth, I prefer my crime fiction a little more hard boiled than this.

- I’d go further and say the character of Rourke rather switches me off. He’s an easy get out when Eve gets stuck, seeming to have a skill set, a list of contacts or a means of resolving pretty much any problem that crops up. And for a guy who runs such a massive empire he appears to be permanently at Eve’s disposal.

- This is clearly one of those series that benefits readers who have worked through the books in order: there are many references to previous cases and the re-appearance of characters who have obviously appeared in earlier books but whose context here is insufficiently explained.

Overall I’d rate it three stars. Bits of it deserve a better score than this but for me it also provided some one star moments.

As usual another fantastic addition to the In Death series. As always, great chemistry between Dallas and Peabody as well as Dallas and Roarke. The only negative is that I would liked to have seen more of Nadine, McNab and Feeney but overall a great installment.

Golden in Death is the 50th book in the In Death series. As usual with all of J.D. Robb/Bora Roberts books, it’s not hard to fall into to the story and be involved as the investigation evolves. It’s a familiar family for me, which I absolutely love. The characters are all familiar to me by now and still they manage to surprise the reader on how much they have grown over the years of this amazing series.

The villain/criminal was a surprise, which is always the best part and the side characters continue to be entertaining, and I simply love Eve’s literal sense, it makes me laughing out loud. The personal relationship between Eve and Rourke continues to be sweet and Eve’s acceptance that she needs him more than she wants to admit, is just lovely and shows the grow in the character.

As usual, I fell in love with the story and can’t wait for the next one.

Arc generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Novel:
In the 50th novel of Robb’s acclaimed In Death series, Dr Kent Abner, universally liked and lauded paediatrician, is murdered in what appears to be a motiveless crime. As the bodies pile up, Eve must race to identify and apprehend the killer before he strikes again.

The Characters:
Robb is a master at creating realistically flawed and complex characters with whom the reader cannot help but identify. My relationship with Eve has always been tricky, however perhaps it’s because I’m paying closer attention due to it being the 50th book, or perhaps Robb is, but the growth evident in Eve’s character is astounding. She’s massively more self-reflective and aware of the emotions felt by herself and others. This is attributed early in the novel to her relationship with Roarke, but honestly, it’s a pleasure to see her grow and change and become easy within herself and her relationships. A lot of the rougher elements of her dealings with others have smoothed out, and while she is still certainly the kick-ass character we all love, she appears a lot more open and understanding.

Peabody is another character who showed tremendous growth. Her character was presented as more independent, self-assured , and willing to defend her roots, friends and Lieutenant. The reader also has the pleasure of getting to know Harvo better. While reading Robb’s cast pf secondary characters is like a meal with old friends- joyous and comfortable, I am happy that the world is expanding, and hope to continue to meet new characters in Eve’s circle and maybe a few of Roarke’s too.

The Story:
In this novel, Robb follows her usual formula, beginning the novel with the first murder, and winding her way to Eve and Roarke. The pacing is excellent, and Robb always does an excellent job of varying the big reveal- here there are seemingly no credible suspects until three-quarters of the way through the novel, and when the identity is revealed, it is unexpected. This allows the suspense to build and maintains mystery, but also means that we spend little time with the antagonists, where I would have liked to look more into the killer’s motivations and thinking.

One concern I had going into the novel was that it would be a best hits album, taking us through all the key moments and characters so far. Instead, Robb did not change up the formula or make any dramatic changes. Instead, it was business as usual, but with subtle differences to entice the long-time reader. This lack of interaction with every major character will be a disappointment some readers and a relief to others; I must count myself among the latter; I love Robb’s secondary characters, and as a long-time reader, these interactions enrich every novel, but to spend too much time with them would be at the expense of the plot, so I am grateful to Robb for keeping to her excellent storylines.

The Writing:
Robb’s writing style is wonderfully rich, with a cadence and rhythm not only unique to her, but one that is brilliantly adapted to her characters, with the difference between a police officer, doctor and teacher evident in their speech, and characterisation. There are surprising bursts of humour for new and old readers alike, and inside jokes which will only make sense to long-time fans. The sex, as is usual for Robb is not graphic, but still steamy, and the characters written as beautifully as ever. That is the crux of this book- it is not the best Robb has written, nor the worst, but more of the same, and as someone who has enjoyed the 49 previous book, that is what makes this book a pleasure to read.

This book would be an excellent standalone read, but the experience is vastly improved if one has read some of the other novels.

Rating:
4/5. This was an excellent read from one of my favourite authors. I look forward to reading more works by Robb.

Declaration:
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review.