4 stars

This was another good entry in the In Death series. JD Robb knows how to hook readers and keep them coming back for more. This installment saw the former IA captain murdered. Watching Eve go through this investigation was a good time. As always I enjoyed reading about the people that Eve and Roarke surround themselves with. I loved seeing more of Peabody and McNab as well.

Thank you to St. Martin's press and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three years married, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke visit his home country of Ireland for a short visit. Now back home in New York, Eve is called onto the case of an unattended death of Martin Greenleaf. Martin was a retired cop and was the captain of internal affairs. From the outset, suspects include some of the officers that had to stand before him due to misconduct.

Martin's wife is beside herself and the two had a terrific marriage. She had gone out for the evening with a friend, and Martin was going to have a visit from another police officer, who is almost immediately not considered to be a suspect.

Eve, with the help of Roarke, and her partner Peabody, dive headfirst into the case, and do the best they can to find out who killed Martin.

This book and the entire series by J. D. Robb, Nora Roberts' pseudonym, was yet another example of fabulous writing. The characters were great, the intrigue was compelling and the twists were timed perfectly.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I wanted to read books from the In Death Series and since there are so many I just picked one. I read the first one in the series a long time ago. I can definitely see why this series endure. I will read old and new ones.

Lt. Eve Dallas has just returned from an overdue vacation when she is called in to investigate a homicide. At first, it looks like a suicide. However, the further Eve investigates, the more she realizes this is murder. And it is payback! She is not going to rest until she knows what has happened to one of their own.

I am in the minority on this one! I LOVE Nora Roberts so very much. But…I DO NOT LIKE J.D.ROBB. I know, I know…makes no sense. They are one and the same…but are they??? I have tried to read several J.D. Robb books and they are just not for me.

Since I loved Identity so much, I thought I would give Robb another try. It just did not work out. And for the life of me…I have no idea why. I like police procedure, I like mysteries, I like suspense. This book was just boring to me. So, once again…do not go with what I say…read it for yourself and form your own opinion. I am in the minority!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Eve Dallas gets a call from a colleague about a former captain's death, and distrusts the scene immediately. It's not suicide, but a suspicious death. And her instincts tell her something isn't right about some of the actions of those around the family. She has a lot to unravel in order to serve justice to the dead.
This installment worked better for me than some of the recent ones because Roarke was less involved in the police aspect of things (seriously - no one is bringing their spouse along to work like this, there's too much threat of compromise the evidence). Especially because there are definitely cops that have an issue with her and are looking to bring her down.
The mystery unravels nicely, and it's a good installment to the series.

Payback in Death by J D Robb
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A former coworker of mine lent me a J D Robb book once about 14 years ago and I read it and loved it. I’ve been hooked on this series ever since! I don’t read them in order (this is the ONLY series I don’t!) and you don’t need to! I just read them as I find them.

This installment in the story of Lt. Eve Dallas has her on vacation (gasp!) with her amazing husband Roarke. But when they return home Eve is immediately requested to the scene of a homocide…..for a retired cop.

I LOVE me some Eve Dallas. She is brave, smart, a great detective, and a major badass. I love how throughout the series she has been slowly letting other people in and she has this excellent network of found family now. 💜💜💜 It warms my heart.
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4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 There was everything to love in an Eve book here, I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good cop mystery/thriller.

I'm a long time reader of JD Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) In Death series. They are fantastic on audio. In the 57th book, Payback In Death, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her homicide team are dealing with the death of a retired captain of internal affairs-- a man responsible for weeding out crooked cops. Eve quickly determines it's murder but motive proves harder to track down.

I liked seeing Eve and her partner Detective Peabody look back at old cases to be able to solve the current investigation. While this is a long-running series, the book can be read as a standalone police procedural. The time lapse of the series is only a couple of years.

Aside from the individual cases, I enjoy the series for the characters and their development plus a bit of romance. It was great to be back with the gang at the NYPSD-- New York Police and Security Department. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

Published: September 5, 2023
St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 364
Genre: Police Procedurals
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

J.D. ROBB is the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. She is the author of over 200 novels, including the futuristic suspense In Death series.

“Oh. Well.”

This was an interesting read. It is not my typical genre, but I found it well-written. I was a bit lost jumping into a series so far in process. But there was a decent explanation to help keep things on track.

The characters were well-developed and flushed out. I found the futuristic elements interesting, and that alone kept me engaged. The action was also well done, and the mystery of the story was well-paced.

This was an easy-to-read plot. The story builds steadily and maintains a forward momentum as the action unfolds.

This book would be great if I were all caught up on the previous books. Jumping in after 50+ novels was rough. But I enjoyed the characters and the well-placed humor. It helped keep the heaviness of the twists light.

J.D. Robb's latest in her Eve Dallas series, Payback In Death, centers on her investigation into the suicide of retired Captain Martin Greenleaf. Captain Greenleaf was best known for exposing the corrupt cops in his precient. Lieutenant Dallas begins to doubt that Greenleaf killed himself once she notices the retired Captain's method of suicide is similar to the methods of two of the disgraced policemen he exposed. Lt. Dallas suspicons prove correct and the shift in her investigation leads her to a surprising amount of suspects who wanted to see the good Captain dead.

I only read a few of the early books in the series. I noticed the tone isn't as dark as those earlier books. Dallas is also more content in her life which shows in her marriage to business tycoon, Roarke. I enjoyed their scenes together especially their repartee which is a Robb specialty.

Robb also uses standard police procedure plotwise. Dallas's investigation is clean and focused. There are no sidetrack plot developments that take her out of the investigation. There is also just the right amount of suspects with motives that kept me jumping back and forth choosing who murdered Capt. Greenleaf.

I can see why the Eve Dallas series has remained popular. Robb has brought in many changes in Dallas's personal life, but her thirst for truth and justice remains entact. Payment in Death works as both an introduction or as a return to the Eve Dallas series.

3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) New York, 2061, Eve Dallas is called to investigate a colleague’s death. What looks like suicide has truly been murder.

What I love about the In Death series (a few are in my back posts), is Eve Dallas. She’s feisty, determined and works endlessly to find the truth. We get more details of the investigation than in most detective novels and Robb has a way of making it interesting. She uses her colleagues to go through info, cross off the dead ends, look in other directions and find small wins that lead to the big wins. It’s a fascinating process to read.

While entertained throughout, I did feel the chapters were very long and that the entire book was longer than necessary. The conclusion of the investigation wasn’t as shocking as some but was still interesting. And while this is in the future, there are such small references to it (prisons off planet, technology advances etc), I find myself wanting more. I recommend this series for the detective crime novel lovers!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy!

This starts out with Eve and Roarke vacationing and then visiting family in Ireland. They come home and immediately Eve gets called in to work a suspicious death of a retired cop who worked in internal affairs. It looks like a suicide but those closest to him think it was not. I love the police procedurals in this, and the futuristic tools she has. And of course Roarke’s involvement and all the recurring characters. I was very pleased with the ending. Cannot wait for the next one in February!

I love the In Death series and I’m a die-hard fan. Eve and Roarke feature among my favorite characters. That said, some of the newest installments to the series weren’t that great so I dived into this book without any expectations. I can gladly report that this time around, Payback In Death was a good addition to the series.

I loved how the book started, with some of my favorite characters and a poignant moment that tugs at the heartstrings. From there on, the book just got better. The storyline was a bit familiar but I didn’t mind. I liked the story.

It was so good to see Eve and Roarke and the rest of the gang. I loved the update on the Great House Project. The ending was a bit faster than I’d expected but I read this book in one sitting and I enjoyed it.

Payback in Death is book 537 in the In Death series by J. D. Robb and it was a twisty tale with great characterization that kept me turning the pages.
The writing is fluid and flows well. The story is suspenseful and engrossing in this intense race against the clock. A thought-provoking, intriguing, suspenseful, and engaging plot that gripped this reader immediately.
If you enjoy engaging police procedurals, memorable characters and non-stop action this is for you!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb is the 57th book in her fantastic In Death/Eve Dallas series. As I have noted previous times, I am a huge fan of this wonderful series, having read every book and novellas. I also love Eve and Roarke, who I still consider the best literary couple. Payback in Death was a fantastic addition to this series. I will never have enough of this series, and marvel how Robb continues to give us fascinating stories at 57 books later.

Eve and Roarke completed their vacation in Greece, which extended to a week-long stopover in Ireland, visiting Roarke’s family. It was nice to see the family again, as Eve was very comfortable around them; she also surprised Roarke with an anniversary painting of all the family. They arrived back home in New York, with plans to enjoy their last evening, before going back to work. Eve suddenly gets phone call from a friend, Webster, requesting her to take the lead, with retired Internal Affairs Captain Martin Greenleaf dead. Eve and Roarke go to the scene, where they meet Webster, and he explains there was a suicide note, which he feels is not real. After examining the note and layout, Eve immediately recognizes that this was a staged attempt to look like suicide.
As Eve takes control of the case, she and Peabody begin their investigation to find the real killer. The victim was responsible for putting many dirty cops away during his lengthy career; leaving many suspects who could have wanted payback. I have to say I love Eve and Peabody together, and it was nice to see her team working all together; I also love when Roarke goes with her on some interviews. I always enjoy spending time with the many recurring characters, such as Peabody, Nadine, McNab, Mira, Mavis, Feeney, Reo, Summerset, Galahad, and Eve’s entire police team.

The tension escalates with so many possible suspects, and especially after the son is also attacked within the family home. Eve, early on suspected some neighbors, from the beginning, but until closer to the end, she finally found the evidence that she needed to set the trap. I absolutely love how Eve, and at times Peabody interrogate the murderer and get them to reveal themselves. Amazing.

What follows is an intense, exciting, non-stop action filled race to find out who the real killer was; with edge of your seat suspense. J.D. Robb once again gives us another masterpiece to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come. Payback in Death is another masterpiece to this amazing series, which is always so very well written by J.D. Robb.

Eve and Roarke have just gotten back to New York after a well-deserved vacation. They have barely settled in when she gets a call to investigate a possible murder. Martin Greenleaf, retired from Internal Affairs is found dead, and at first glance, it appears to be a suicide. But things aren’t as they appear, and Eve is on the hunt for a killer. No surprise that Martin was not popular with the police he investigated, but who might have carried their grudge against him even after he retired?
Hard to believe that this is the 57th book in the series. By now, I’m sure of several things. We will see Galahad and Somerset, Roarke will provide assistance to Eve, Mavis will appear however briefly, oh, and Eve will figure out whodunnit. She always gets her man or woman.
The In Death series continues to, well, just work. There is always a new murder, and Eve continues to grow as a person who overcame an extremely traumatic childhood. I always enjoy the time I spend in this futuristic police procedural set in New York. So far, the author has been publishing two books a year in this series, and I’m looking forward to the next book.

Eve Dallas finally takes a vacation and is not back home long before she is called in to investigate what seems to be a suicide. Things don't add up, the suspense builds, and we have another case with this great cast of characters. If you have not discovered this series yet, you are missing out. The cases are intense and the humor between the characters is on point and will have you laughing out loud at times. The development of the characters since the first book is what makes this series so special to me. I look forward to what is next for Eve and Roarke.

Death, suspense, action, and drama immediately pull readers into Payback in Death by J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts). This well-written futuristic police procedural is set in New York City (NYC) in the summer of 2061 and features Lieutenant Eve Dallas with the NYC homicide police department. After three weeks of vacation, Dallas and her husband Roarke have returned home. Before they get unpacked, a retired internal affairs police captain is found dead and Dallas is called to the scene to investigate. Is it foul play or not?

Time spent with Dallas, Roarke, Delia Peabody (Eve’s partner), and Eve’s colleagues is always entertaining. The main characters are compelling and three-dimensional. She’s honorable, honest, has strong moral principles, and has a sense of duty to victims and their families. Eve’s need to serve and protect comes through in every book, but the underlying impetus for this is best understood by reading this series in order. As always, the interactions between Eve and Roarke are enjoyable and bring a different facet of Eve’s personality to light. Roarke is complicated, fascinating, and generous, but he can also be irritating. I also enjoyed seeing Delia continue to take on more responsibility in this story line. Additionally, Detective Jenkinson plays a more significant role in this book. Readers get to see a bit of the private lives of Peabody and her significant other, McNab.

The prose is well-written and engaging. The plot is twisty, thought-provoking and tragic. While Robb usually manages to weave humor into her novels, providing levity to offset some of the more serious and grim aspects of the story, this one had less of it than usual. The author brings strong characters, great plots, wonderful relationships, and excellent pacing to the series. Woven through the novel are threads of caring for others, standing for victims, friendship, relationships, ego, careers, leadership, love, respect, and trust.

Robb is an excellent storyteller who combines a creative plot with suspenseful scenes and some action. The writing is fluid and there are many suspects to investigate. Besides the investigation, Dallas’s relationships with her friends and colleagues drive the narrative. It has the right balance of mystery, police investigation, romance, and creative twists. There is one steamy scene late in the novel.

Overall, this novel was a twisty tale with great characterization that kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy engaging near-future police procedurals, then I recommend this series. This is the fifty-seventh book in the In Death Eve Dallas series and I have read all of them up to this point. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

St. Martin’s Press and J.D. Robb provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for September 05, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

J.D. Robb takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the world of dirty cops and death in the fifty-seventh In Death mystery, Payback in Death. Fans of the series and the characters won’t want to miss this one.

Eve and her husband Roarke celebrated their third anniversary in Greece, and then in Ireland with Roarke’s family. She’s still enjoying the relaxation when a call comes through requesting her attendance at a scene. Captain Martin Greenleaf was retired from the Internal Affairs Bureau. At first glance, his death appears to be a suicide. But, his friend, Lieutenant Webster, found him, and went through all the proper channels to ask for Dallas to take the case. He believes it was murder, and, it doesn’t take long for Eve to feel the same way.

Dallas and her partner, Peabody, follow all the proper steps. They look at ex-cops who may have threatened Greenleaf or his family. Then, they look at cops who might have committed suicide. Does a family member view Greenleaf’s death as payback for the loss of someone who committed suicide, someone Greenleaf, in the killer’s mind, might have driven to suicide?

Although she’s doing everything by the book, an out-of-control IAB detective blames Dallas for everything, and accuses her of trying to cover up Greenleaf’s death. It’s one more distraction as she deals with a complicated investigation. Eve Dallas has one question. Why did someone want Greenleaf dead?

Payback in Death is everything readers have grown to expect in an In Death novel. Eve Dallas and her team poke and prod at every clue. She drags Roarke into the case, with his knowledge of financial workings. It’s a solid police procedural. But, what truly makes these books special is the family Eve has built, her team at work, her assorted friends, her life at home. She’s reluctant to acknowledge it, but when she looks around at the people who are special to her, with their idiosyncrasies, their passions, she knows she has something special. So do the fans of this series.

Payback In Death is book #57 in the long running In Death series written by Author J.D. Robb (an alias for Author Nora Roberts). This series is a futuristic police procedural based in New York City and set around the year 2061. To those who may be turned off by the "futuristic" label, please don't allow that to stop you from enjoying these books. While those aspects are interesting, they're really only window dressing to a well written, highly engaging, character driven series featuring outstanding writing with puzzling murder cases to be solved in each book. The character development and intricate investigations and suspense are always front and center with a sprinkling of humor woven throughout elevating the mood. Futuristic elements such as Auto Chef's and Hover Cars appear secondary at best and in no way distract from the quest to solve a murder. And actually, are we really that far away from having flying cars? Maybe not so futuristic after all.

Payback In Death opens with Roarke and Eve enjoying the last days of a two week Greek vacation that is extended with a week-long stopover in Ireland with Roarke's family where Eve has prearranged her anniversary gift presentation to Roarke. Fans of the series know that any down time is rare for this couple so it's nice to enjoy their more personal, intimate side and interactions with family. Arriving back in New York on a Sunday, their plans are to enjoy one last intimate evening of vacation time before hitting work again early on Blue Monday. Unfortunately, those plans fly out the window when Eve's link signals with an unusual request from Webster that she take the lead at the scene of an apparent suicide of the man Webster considered a father figure. Roarke accompanies Eve, and they're off and running again.

The apparent suicide of retired IAB Captain Martin Greenleaf quickly turns into a murder investigation when Eve steps on the scene and recognizes signs of a staged suicide. While Eve has never been a fan of Greenleaf, he becomes one of hers as a murder victim and she begins meticulously working the murder scene. As always, there're several red herrings muddying the water challenging readers and Lt. Dallas to sift through the evidence, find the motive and track down the killer. The plot line is creative and well-crafted as are all of the series books, and I enjoyed the manner in which Robb wove the "payback" revenge theme throughout the story. The main series support characters make appearances with Peabody by Eve's side as they work the case which is always a delight as Peabody's larger than life personality never fails to add a dose of humor to an otherwise dark subject.

While every single title in the In Death Series stands alone, you're missing one of the most important elements of the series if you don't read these books in order of publication. The In Death series features characters that carry over from book to book with an overall character story arc starting with the hero and heroine, Roarke and Eve. From their first meeting in Naked In Death to the present with this newest release, each character - individually and together - evolves, strengthens and stands the test of time as does the support cast. Start at the beginning and by the time you're a few books in, you'll feel like you know these characters personally - they'll become your friends and neighbors and you'll look forward to each new chapter in their life with every new release.

Payback In Death is a challenging police procedural with tension increasing in time with Eve's handling of the case as the plot unfolds. Eve is bold, brash and unrelenting, as always, as she turns every clue over time and again until it finally clicks into place on her murder board and in her own mind. Some of her best scenes occur near the end when she finally gets a murder suspect into an interrogation room where she does some of her finest work. Strong characters and relationships, unique plot lines and tight pacing make this a must read series for fans of crime and police procedurals. I highly recommend Payback In Death to fans of the In Death series and to everyone who enjoys a challenging mystery and police procedural.