The #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a gripping new thriller that pits homicide detective Eve Dallas against a conspiracy of exploitation and evil…

Desperation in Death by J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts) brings murder, suspense, and anguish to a well-written futuristic police procedural set in New York City during the spring of 2061. What happens when children are abducted and exploited?The prose is well-written and engaging. This time Eve’s passion for justice and those that need help pushes the story beyond finding a single murderer, to taking down those that prey on children. The plot is thought-provoking and tragic. While this book has some action, it is mostly a police procedural. The action is concentrated at the beginning and the ending. It is appalling in places and uplifting in others. As much as the plot is structured in such a way that longtime readers can connect it to Dallas' past without problems and thus develop a whole set of expectations with respect to a more intimate development in the relationship between her and Roarke, what unfortunately remains, at the end of the book, is a murder mystery, nice and I have no problem to admit it, but still just a murder mystery. Nothing to remind me one of those books of the past, in which the mysteries to be solved were just a side dish to the relationship of the two main characters.... Too bad, but I won't stop hoping, even after book #55. Unfortunately, they didn’t get away fast enough. Now Dorian is injured, terrified, and wandering the streets of New York, and Mina lies dead near the waterfront while Lt. Eve Dallas looks over the scene. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of this concept, so this book isn’t my favorite of the series. However, I do think that Robb did a good job of bringing Eve’s past and her experiences into it as well. Of course, the story is written well and in an interesting way where we know who the bad guys are, but we don’t know everything about them. As the story unfolds, more truths are revealed.

The storyline is very much reminiscent of the slew of cult documentaries and religious based indoctrination schools and camps of this modern day where wealthy men buy little girls who have been groomed for them. After seeing so many of todays GOP legislate for child marriage, it’s quite plausible that they don’t need to snatch them off the street when they just raise them to believe that God wants them to marry and be fruitful starting at 12 years old. This book pushed my belief that they’d need to keep it a secret when it’s happening very much out in the open right now. Another entry that follows the formula that’s worked pretty well for the past 54 books so no big surprises that the story is about Eve Dallas figuring out who did what to who and why, along with her team that never seems to have anything else to Dothan work on her case of the moment. So good to catch-up with so many of the beloved cast of friends gathered throughout this installment in the In Death series. Sebastian, who first caught my attention in #38 Concealed in Death, is once again featured. Although his character is slightly questionable, I like him and hope to see more of him in future installments. And Baby Bella is growing up so fast and her sparkling interactions with Eve and Roarke just up the desire to see them start a family – but it may not be in the cards. There was a little friction exchanged between the Mr. & Mrs. this go-round – and those “marriage rules” be damned! Finally, an emotionally positive “talk” between Eve and Summerset. With two girls having been abducted, and one escaping, Sadly, as the girls were escaping, one of them died. Detective Eve Dallas is in a frantic race against time to find out who abducted the girls. It doesn't take long for Eve to realize that exploitation is behind the abductions and Eve cannot help but remember her tragic past when it comes to said abuse.

This is a heavy topic and a very serious one, but there is still opportunity for some very funny one liners between Peabody and Eve. The author never loses sight of her characters and they stay true to themselves at all times. As usual the police work is thorough and interesting. Altogether a well balanced and very well written book which is totally absorbing, but what else would we expect from this experienced and talented author. Mina and Dorian, two young girls trapped in an horrific situation, and desperate enough to plan an escape. The plan was a sound one, but when they were out on the streets, Dorian fell and suddenly Mina was running, leading them away from Dorian, so she could escape. But Mina didn't have the same fortune as Dorian, and it was her body that Lieutenant Eve Dallas stood over, feeling a fury building inside. Robb continues to deliver expertly paced, cleverly plotted, and snappily witty suspense." - Booklist Add to that the usual Fifty-esque diet and clothing scenes and you've got an installment that, while much better, doesn't quite hit the five-star mark. This story starts when Mina Cabot and Dorian Gregg, abducted teenagers, attempt to escape the Pleasure Academy where they have been imprisoned for months and trained for a life of service and exploitation. Unfortunately, the plan isn’t the success they desired.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a gripping new thriller that pits homicide detective Eve Dallas against a conspiracy of exploitation and evil… Intense! Desperation in Death is not the easiest read. There are many triggers, so readers beware. (My tags should show what many of the triggers are, but this novel in particular will have many triggers.) High Fives to Robb on another wowzer! Desperation In Death was just as amazing as I had hoped -- fully satisfying. Superbly well-drawn, fast paced and filled with chills, spills and thrills. Could not put it down. From the beginning, things just don’t add up for Eve. This child had to have been well cared for, but she’s been missing for several months. Her hair is perfectly styled with expensive products – even her nails are perfectly manicured. But then, there is the sexy undergarments. Why would this young girl be wearing expensive silk underthings? When Eve identifies the girl as Mina Rose Cabot, a child missing from Devon, Pennsylvania – a child who was much loved – Eve knows she isn’t just looking for a murderer – she’s looking for a child abductor. There is a second set of bloodstains on Mina, and they belong to Dorian Gregg, a runaway from Freehold, New Jersey. Is Dorian lying dead somewhere and just hasn’t been found yet? Is she injured? Was she recaptured? Or, is she the one who took Mina’s life?

This remarkable series grows stronger and stronger with each book. This is the 55th book, and the setting has progressed three years. Eve and Roarke are going strong and, as has been done in the past more than once, he is more than helpful as Eve tries to learn who is abducting these young people and to bring them to justice. OMGoodness! This 55th addition to the series is just as fresh, thrilling, engrossing, and suspenseful as the first one. The characters are some of the most intriguing and interesting I’ve ever read and they grow personally and professionally with each new book. You also couldn’t ask for a better cast of supporting characters – from the hard-hitting reporter, Nadine Frist, to the ebullient singer, Mavis Freestone, to the cops in Eve’s squad at Cop Central, they are all outstanding. I really enjoyed this story because all of those supporting characters – and more – played key parts in solving the mystery and taking the bad guys down. I have read every book in the series – some of them several times – and there isn’t a clinker in the bunch!