cover image Vengeance in Death

Vengeance in Death

Nora Roberts, J. D. Robb. Berkley Publishing Group, $7.99 (384pp) ISBN 978-0-425-16039-8

The publishing world might be hard-pressed to find an author with a more diverse style or fertile imagination than Roberts, writing here as J.D. Robb. As in her five earlier Eve Dallas novels, the time is mid-21st century, and tough super-cop Lieutenant Dallas continues to control New York City's chaos with faulty, outdated equipment while bringing the scum of the Earth to justice. At the moment, the scum is a high-tech serial killer who specializes in death by torture and dismemberment. Eve quickly learns that the killer's target is none other than her beloved husband, Roarke, whose own violent past is linked to the killer. Though the evidence is inconclusive, all clues point to Roarke's faithful butler and Eve's relentlessly annoying nemesis, Summerset. This latest addition (after Ceremony in Death) is a perfect balance of suspense, futuristic police procedure and steamy romance. In short, it is truly fine entertainment. (Oct.)