New J.D. Robb Thriller Brings Art Heist and Murder to 2061 New York

A Deadly Discovery in the Future

Lieutenant Eve Dallas gets called away from a charity gala to a murder scene where multibillionaire Nathan Barrister lies dead from a blow to the head . The weapon: a block of amethyst, and nearby sits a vault filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures . What starts as an apparent burglary gone wrong quickly becomes something far more complex in J.D. Robb's latest installment of her beloved In Death series.

Set in New York City in 2061, "Stolen in Death" is the 62nd book in the futuristic police procedural series . The story features Lieutenant Eve Dallas with the NYC homicide police department, her husband Roarke, and her partner Detective Delia Peabody, along with familiar secondary characters . Roarke, who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy thief, recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard and his expertise becomes crucial to the investigation .

The vault belonged to the victim's deceased father, and no one knew it was there until a recent renovation project discovered it . By all accounts, Nathan Barrister was a good man, a generous employer, and a devoted husband and father . As for his father—he clearly had secrets .

Family Secrets and Hidden Treasures

To protect the family name and business, the family explains to Eve, they'd been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police . Nathan, after discovering the vault, was trying to return the items to the original owners quietly . But only one item seems to be missing from the collection .

The missing piece is a set of emeralds and diamonds called the Royal Suite, stolen years earlier from The Tate . That detail becomes the linchpin in unraveling a web of secrets, betrayal, and greed . Someone had to know about the vault to plan this robbery, so either it is family or staff, or someone they told .

The adjacent vault filled with priceless treasures sets the stage for a thrilling investigation that spans decades and continents, with the author's ability to weave old crimes with new motives creating a layered narrative that keeps readers guessing .

A Series That Continues to Evolve

This 62nd entry in the In Death series still has a lot of bite and was a whole lot of fun with just a bit of angst to give it spice . This installment delivers a twist at the end that readers absolutely never saw coming, with fans in for a delightful surprise that makes "Stolen in Death" stand out even among the In Death books .

The story was a bit slow at first but readers had no idea they were in for a long-awaited conclusion—a very satisfactory one, with J.D. Robb building up this new case in such a way, giving die-hard fans a gift that longtime fans who remember the previous books will totally understand . Library Journal called it "an intricate thriller that explores echoes of its characters' pasts" with "narrative that is artfully crafted and perfect for In Death superfans or those picking up the series for the first time" .

Though it's set in the future, the series blends a strong female lead, gripping police investigations, a touch of romance, deep friendships, and a sense of found family—all the elements that make these books such a joy to read . Eve Dallas works Homicide because "the dead can't speak or stand for themselves, so I speak and stand for them," and readers also appreciate these stories for the relationship between Eve and Roarke, a marriage built on trust and love . As the series moves forward, it continues to prove that even 62 books in, there are still fresh mysteries to uncover and new depths to explore in this futuristic world.