Trigger warning: Sexual assault

I've sporadically read books in this series. I think this could be read as a standalone novel, but it may work best if you've read prior books in the series. The characters were "meh." Peabody was just annoying. Some details were "fluff," like it was added just to increase the page count, not for necessary information. The ending was very abrupt. The dialogue, as a whole, just seemed a bit corny for the genre and storyline. Hopefully it's not an accurate depiction of humans in the future.

I, really, liked this one and was grateful to be given an early copy! My only qualm; I've never read this series before so I don't know the characters!

Young women are dying. They're being injected with a lethal cocktail of drugs and it seems the killer has no pattern. Why Is someone doing this, and why these young women? I was on the edge of my seat watching the case unfold. A great suspense thriller, make sure you pick up a copy of this one!

Jake Kincaide and his band, Avenue A, have returned to Club Rock for one of their twice-annual shows. A young teen named Jenna has been waiting her whole life for this concert, and the opportunity to maybe give her demo to Jake, her idol. Instead, Jenna ends up dying in Jake's arms outside the club, after having been injected with a dirty needle full of drugs and contagion. Jake's girlfriend, Nadine Furst, knows there is only one person to call, and that's Eve Dallas. Dallas is very disturbed by the vicious and callous nature of the crime. She feels like this killer isn't nearly done, and she must rush against the clock to stop them.

Even after 58 books, this series still feels fresh and new to me. The banter is legendary and Eve, Roarke, Peabody and the rest of the gang are practically family to me now. I really enjoyed the tension and pace of this one, it's a rollercoaster. Take a trip to the future with Eve Dallas and you won't come away disappointed. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to review this advance copy. Random in Death is available for purchase everywhere you buy books now!

When the pool of potential victims is vast and the killer’s method of picking targets seems random, Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her team won’t rest. Random in Death is fast-paced, tense, and engaging. There’s no down time for Eve, Roarke, Peabody, or McNab as they try to form a profile of a killer who selects their victims at random.

The In Death series can be roughly divided into stories that are primarily case-centric and those that are mainly character-centric. This story is the former, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be invested in it. I loved watching Eve and company put together the clues to form a picture of the villain. The deaths in this book weigh heavily on Eve, as all the victims she stands for do, and to see the innocence snuffed out was heartbreaking. I really enjoyed seeing the pieces of the puzzle come together as Eve and her team (with the help of their civilian consultant, Roarke) work tirelessly to form a picture from not much. And the picture is that of a psychopath with a brilliant mind.

Even with the timeline of the cases being so tight, we still get to see the characters we know and love over the course of the story. Roarke continues to watch out for his cop, the “great house project” of Mavis, Leonardo, Peabody, and McNab moves along, some other fan favorites have a small role to play, and we get to see more of Nadine’s boyfriend, rock star Jake Kincade. You can read this book pretty much as a standalone, but you’d be missing out on the characters and relationships if you aren’t at least familiar with the series.

Regardless of whether you’re a longtime fan of the In Death series or are just looking for an interesting mystery to get caught up in, Random in Death is sure to please. With fifty-eight full-length novels in this series and counting, J.D. Robb shows no sign of slowing down – and with a mystery as solidly entertaining as this one there’s no reason to. I thoroughly enjoy every outing with Eve and Roarke and Random in Death is no exception.

Random in Death is the 58th book in the In Death series. This is the first book I have read in this series and can be a stand-alone read. This was a tough one for me. I liked the story, but this was centered around teens using a lot of slang which took away from the story.

Jenna, a sixteen-year-old girl is with her friends at a club that has teen night. No drinks allowed, just groups that perform music. While there she feels a sharp jab in her arm. She feels the side effects very quickly and repeats he jabbed me while holding her arm. Needing fresh air she goes out the back and collapses into Jake's arms. He recognizes her from seeing her in the crowd. Jake sees that she is in trouble, calls 911, and tries to do CPR but without success. Jake feels responsible for not being able to do more.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called to the scene by Nadine, her friend and girlfriend to Jake. After arriving and interviewing everyone it becomes clear Jenna was injected with something that killed her.

Dallas is determined to find the person responsible, but she will have to work fast as more girls are in danger.

I liked the plot and the characters, but I would have loved it without all the slang. Here and there okay, but for me it was just too much.

I'm so not the type of person who will read book after book of the same character unless those characters are between the pages of a In Death book. For some reason I never get tired of them Each book I feel like I get to know Eve more and more. There is just something about her and Roarke that I need a dose of at least once a year. So, I was happy to start the year off with a new book in that series.

Up this time is Random in Death and I have to say that the death's in this story really crushed me. Robb's ability to weave a story is so good that I spent so much of this book watching to cry or kick someone's butt. She did a great job of making you feel like you are in the moment with these girls. You want to reach through the pages and hold them in their last moments. Like you could make it easier on them.

Like with all of the In Death books Eve doesn't solve the murders on her own. She and the rest of the wonderful characters do their part. To be honest they are part of the reason these stories are so good. There is such a great balance of them working the case and their lives away from work. As much as the books are about the crimes, they are more than just that. We get glimpse into the personal lives of some of the characters and the relationship between Eve and them.

The murders in Random in Death have many twists and turns that will keep you wondering throughout the story. From the first death you feel the rush of fear that the characters have for the next victim. They work hard to make sure there isn't a next.

I will say one thing that I feel about this series. I would read it in order. You can pass on the novellas, but the other books should be done in order. I feel that way because of the growth of the characters. It's wonderful to see how Eve and Roarke become close and how Eve interacts with the other characters and their work/friend relationship grows. If you skip around in the series, you might miss something when it happens. Otherwise read away.

In this new book of the series Eve Dallas must figure out who is killing young girls while they are attending large events. The killer stabs them with a needle filled with a deadly mix of drugs ending their lives before they have really begun. She soon realizes that the targets are random making finding the killer that much harder. Will Eve be able to put enough clues together to lead her to her killer? Follow along as she does everything in her power to stop a murderer and bring justice to the victims of this uncaring killer. This is such a fabulous series that I have been reading since.I was in high school. It only gets better with age and you can't help but get attached to the characters within. I always look forward to each new book and to each new story!

Random in Death is a strong addition to the Eve Dallas series, with action, intrigue and our favourite characters.

Random in Death is book 58 in the Eve Dallas series, and it had me gripped just as tightly as the first one. I Love the Eve Dallas books because I know what I’m going to get: some steamy interaction between Eve and Roarke, a cunning mystery and a cool near-future world. Random in Death delivers on everything I love about this series. As a note, even though this is a very long series, you don’t have to read them in order. I always recommend you read Naked in Death, the first in the series, just so you understand the worldbuilding, but I think you could also just dive into this one if you felt like exploring the world. There just may be a few things you don’t understand and characters you don’t know, but you pick up on it quickly.

Firstly, I love that there was a lot of pagetime with the whole cast of characters; of course have Eve and Roarke on the page, but we also get Peabody and Nadine and Mavis and their significant others. The relationships and secondary storylines about their lives always adds a layer of humanity to a police procedural type story. Eve and Roarke are, of course, still a fabulous main couple. Their romance and marriage is strong in this story. I think, after 58 books, that Roarke is probably my favourite romance story billionaire husband: he’s strong, and powerful and has the world at his fingertips, but is such a partner to Eve, and does everything in his power to be better for her. God that’s sexier than guys just throwing around their money because they can, you know?

I really enjoyed the storyline of these random teenage girl deaths. When a killer tracks an individual and has a clear motive for a killing that’s scary. But to be randomly selected for arbitrary reasons and have your life just ended for the killer's fun. That’s completely terrifying. This murder spree feels almost ripped from the headlines with the random transit murders that have made the news over the past couple of years. As a detective, how do you even start to find a killer that is seemingly operating randomly? I enjoyed watching Eve and her team figure this mystery out. Eve and her team are running against the clock to try and figure out who the murderer is before he or she kills again and again. This story is fast-paced, and I couldn’t put it down. I read it basically in one sitting because it had me so gripped.

After 58 books, Random in Death still feels fresh and relevant and is an excellent read for the Eve Dallas fans and newbies alike.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young girl is murdered at a concert where she planned to give her demo tape to the band leader. Injected with a mixture of drugs, she never had a chance and no one saw the killer, except for the girl. NYPSD Detective Eve Dallas is called to the scene and will stand for the young girl as she has for so many. Eve’s husband Roarke, a civilian consultant and wealthy business man, supports her as he has many times before. Painstakingly, Eve and her partner Peabody follow the evidence. When another girl is murdered in the same manner, Eve knows that time is running out as they must stop the killer before he targets a third victim. Eve uses the resources of her entire squad and department, those that she has worked with over the years, who are determined to find and stop the killer. Eve is exceptional at confronting killers and learning everything she needs to lock them away forever. A must-read series and one of my favorites; the continuing cast of characters, Eve’s often sarcastic and humorous questioning of human behavior and her determination to get justice for the victim. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

I've read and loved the first ten novels in this series and I was so excited to get an early copy of this book, not realizing how far the series has grown! This is book #58!! I'm so glad they're written in a way that can be read as standalones. There were some details and characters that I didn't recognize, but they didn't seem to affect the plot or my enjoyment of the story. This time Eve Dallas and her tech savvy husband Roarke are on the hunt for a killer that chooses his victims seemingly at random. They rely heavily on Roarke's skills as they sift through mountains of data to narrow in on a profile. As always, the connection between Eve and Roarke sizzles on the page in the small moments they find together during the action. Eve is such a smart and tough cop character, I just love her!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Random in Death by J. D. Robb is a new compelling crime thriller.
This novel was a twisty tale with great characterization that kept me turning the pages.
The characters are well-crafted and so well developed.
I loved how Random in Death was an intense, exciting and surprising experience. The action was nonstop from start to finish.
The plot was as unique and interesting as always, but overall the cast is what makes these books so good.
The writing is what I've come to expect for JD Robb, it's an enjoyable story that keeps me fully entertained.

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

This is the 58th book in the In Death series and, sadly, I haven't read nearly enough of them. I've really enjoyed the J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts, aka Jill March, aka Sarah Hardesty) books, but have read more written as Nora Roberts. She is a prolific writer and I can't keep up! I will say that every single book I've read by her, under any name, has been a good read and I felt worth my time.

Description:
Jenna’s parents had finally given in, and there she was, at a New York club with her best friends, watching the legendary band Avenue A, carrying her demo in hopes of slipping it to the guitarist, Jake Kincade. Then, from the stage, Jake catches her eye, and smiles. It’s the best night of her life.
It’s the last night of her life.

Minutes later, Jake’s in the alley getting some fresh air, and the girl from the dance floor comes stumbling out, sick and confused and deathly pale. He tries to help, but it’s no use. He doesn’t know that someone in the crowd has jabbed her with a needle—and when his girlfriend Nadine arrives, she knows the only thing left to do for the girl is call her friend, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

After everyone on the scene is interviewed, lab results show a toxic mix of substances in the victim’s body—and for an extra touch of viciousness, the needle was teeming with infectious agents. Dallas searches for a pattern: Had any boys been harassing Jenna? Was she engaging in risky behavior or caught up in something shady? But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old, passionate about her music, would be targeted.

And that worries Dallas. Because if Jenna wasn’t targeted, if she was just the random, unlucky victim of a madman consumed by hatred, there are likely more deaths to come.

My Thoughts:
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is a great detective character and it was fun to follow her methodology as she investigated this class with so very little to go on. I found the plot interesting and kept wondering what if something like this were really happening, how would anyone even begin to solve it, how many people would it affect before the person was caught. I fell for the character, Jake Kincade, who seems such a kind-hearted passionate guy. My heart went out to the victims who were so seemingly random and were just out having fun when they were attacked with no warning. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication January 23, 2024.

This is a Lt. Eve Dallas police procedural and one of the best that I have read! In this book, Eve is called to the scene of a teen who died mysteriously at a concert in a social club. When her method of death is discovered, there is a slight panic since death was caused by a needle prick with an unknown poison, administered during the chaotic scene at the club. No suspects, no clues as to motive or whether he/she will try to kill someone again or if the young Jenna was targeted for a reason. Eve and her team are in rare form in this book as they brainstorm ideas about the killer and try to keep the city safe from a killer who may strike again at any time. There is some steam portrayed in the relationship between Roarke and Eve, but if you are a fan of this series, you know that this is a normal part of the book and relieves some of the pressure of some difficulty crime scenes. As usual, the futuristic part of the crime procedural attracted my attention and kept me riveted to the action. There is a great deal of imagination involved in the solving of crimes by Eve and her team as their methodology does not actually exist in today’s world, but it would surely help our current police work go faster if it did. I enjoyed the banter between Peabody and Eve and how Eve depends on Roarke to try to solve part of the mystery. Fans of the “in Death” series will really enjoy this book as it has some new elements to it not seen before and if this is a first one for the reader, it will not disappoint as each of the books in the series can be read as a standalone. This is a solidly entertaining addition to the series with excellent character development and a fast-paced plot along with some surprising twists and a satisfying conclusion.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I am way behind on reading this series, but that's ok as this book stands alone with no problem.

Someone is killing young girls in New York and there's nothing that ties them together. Just a little sting, and it's done. Eve Dallas and her team have their work cut out for them with this case.

Wow!! What a rollercoaster ride! I felt like I never took a breath after I started reading this book. The action, suspense, and danger was non-stop. I flew through the pages until I was done. It's fast-paced and the words just flow. One of my favorite parts was trying to decipher the teenage slang. I'm so gonna start using "dooser" to refer to, well, doosers!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Macmillan and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

A storyteller. J.D. Robb is a storyteller with each book being different. Random in Death is the 58th Eve Dallas, In Death novel, but it’s as fresh as the early ones. The beloved characters are all there, individual and memorable. I love her characters, her stories. If you’re looking for a solid police procedural, don’t forget to look at this series.

Jenna’s been waiting for this date for three years. She finally gets to attend Club Rock It’s event for teens, and the sixteen-year-old musician plans to take full advantage of it. She admires Jake Kincade, and hopes to hand her demo to the guitarist for Avenue A. Jenna does make an impact on Jake, when she dies in his arms in the alley outside the club. It’s Jake’s girlfriend, Nadine Furst, a crime reporter, who calls Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

Jake’s account, and the eyewitness reports from Jenna’s two friends worries Dallas. As she investigates, she can’t find any reason the teen would have been targeted. The coroner’s report indicates a toxic substance was injected in Jenna’s body. Now, Dallas worries that Jenna may have been just a random victim. When there’s a second girl killed at another music venue, Dallas has to call on all of her resources to find a killer before there’s a third victim. If these are just random victims, Dallas knows the killer will want to do it again.

Like other readers, I love the relationship between Dallas and her husband, Roarke. He’s supportive, and there for her and her team. It’s the team that I truly admire, both the personal circle Dallas has around her, and her team in the police department. They all work together to investigate. Dallas is supported at all turns by hard-working people who devote hours to find a killer, or to assist her personally with their knowledge and love.

Eve Dallas’ motto is, “I stand for the dead.” Every time I read that, it reminds me of the importance of her investigation. Eve’s quirks include her lack of understanding of some cultural terms. But, she truly cares about representing the victims, and speaking for them and their families. Even when the victims seem Random in Death, Eve Dallas and her team will stand for them.

The nightmarish manner of death the killer uses is enough to give you nightmares, and make you never want to go into a crowd again. In the latest thriller featuring Lt. Eve Dallas, you are taken in the deep, dark recesses of a troubled mind.

When a young teenage girl, Jenna, goes to a concert by her favorite band, she is living high and has a bright future ahead of her. When she feels a pinch in her arm, she turns to see a young man grinning at her like the Joker. She is puzzled for a few moments before she starts feeling the effects of a toxic blend of drugs that he has just injected in her arm. She is dead within minutes. Lt. Eve Dallas and crew are called to the scene of the crime. The crime is brilliantly executed. The weapon is easily hidden, the crime happens in a crowded room and the killer is able to slink away without anyone realizing what just happens. The forensics will be a nightmare to sift through. Eve knows they have their work cut out for them as this is not your average killer. After questioning her friends and family, Eve is very concerned that killer is just killing for pleasure and does not care who dies, which makes him even more hard to identify and more deadly.

This was actually my first Eve Dallas book, but it will not be my last. I cannot believe I have been missing out on this fantastic series with an interesting cast of characters and intriguing mysteries. Eve Dallas is a woman on a mission who takes her oath to protect and serve very seriously. I knew I was going to like this character when I saw how emotionally invested she was in dealing with the victim's families. She truly cares and wants to obtain justice for their daughter. I enjoy reading police procedurals, and I also enjoy reading a serial killer mystery. This book fit in both categories for me. The ending was by far my favorite part as the cat and mouse game is played to perfection.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I haven't read an "In Death" book since 2011 and not because I didn't like them. I was waiting for the next one, and other books caught my eye, and here we are 13 years later, and I decided to pick up book 58. And not surprisingly, I still quite enjoy Eve, Roarke, Peabody, and the gang. I enjoy the futuristic fun (although it really isn't all that far in the future anymore). I still love Eve's thought process and how she works things out. She is a true bad ***, and I'm here for it. I have about 25 books to get caught up on, but you can bet I'm going to give it the old college try. You can read this without having read previous ones. You may miss some back story, but the police procedural is still a great read.

Another great book in this long series that I hope keeps going. Characters are well written and good story lines through the series. I like the mix of futuristic technology with old fashioned detective work.

Random in Death by J.D. Robb is the 58th book in the Eve Dallas series taking place in a futuristic version of New York City. I love Eve's partner Detective Peabody and how well she and Eve work together. I actually wish there were more scenes with Peabody, but often Eve sends her home and works with her husband, Roarke, who frequently consults for the police department. They of course work well together, too, but I am always hoping for more Peabody! 

The case in this book is both intriguing and scary as young women are being singled out in public places and killed. I was very engaged in the investigation as Eve and her team close in on the creepy killer who seems to be one step ahead of them. Unlike most traditional procedurals, a big part of this series is the romance between Eve and Roarke. The couple love each other completely and their love scenes are steamy. I've read most, but not all of the prior books in the series, and this is an excellent addition to the series and would rate it 4.5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

I'm more than a little late to the game as far as this series goes. I've read Nora Roberts for years, but I just recently found that I like this futuristic detective series that she writes as J.D. Robb. I knew the writing would be just as exceptional.

I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. There is enough back story given on the teenage girls that are targeted by the murderer that you feel a connection to them. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is her usual hard as nails self and goes about solving the homicide with the help of her co-workers and her life partner, the handsome and ridiculously rich Roarke. The story is very fast-paced and engrossing. I loved it!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for thevgifted copy. All thoughts are my own.