Secrets in Death by J D Robb

Secrets in Death (In Death, #45)

by J D Robb

"A new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series: Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people's secrets is silenced. The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it's not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that's exactly what happens one cold February evening. The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described "social information reporter," or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she'd find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone's done the same to her, literally--with a knife to the brachial artery. Eve didn't like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she'll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn't want to know..."--

Reviewed by EBookObsessed on

4 of 5 stars

Share
Eve and Roarke are always a favorite.

We first met Larinda Mars, Channel 75's entertainment reporter, in Glory in Death when she passed some gossip onto Eve for her investigation in exchange for a party invitation.  The last time we see Larinda is when she is having drinks at an club uptown where Eve is meeting with Dr. Dewinters.  Even though Eve is right on scene, there is nothing she can do save Mars nor was she able to stop the killer from getting away.

Someone let Mars bleed to death and as Eve soon learns, it might have been poetic justice since Mars had a habit of bleeding the rich and famous.  Blackmail is an ugly business but it was a hobby Larinda was very, very good at.  And when the excitment of cash payoffs no longer excited her, she started to squeeze her victims for secrets so she could increase her blackmail list.

The more Eve investigates the more victims she finds, the longer her list of potential suspect grows.  If only one of them had come to the police instead of grabbing their checkbook, Larinda would be in a cage instead of the morgue.

Things get a little too personal after Eve finds files of potential new victims bearing the names of her friends as well as herself and Roarke.  Mars has been trying to squeeze Eve's friends and acquaintences for something to blackmail her on.  Too bad she didn't try because Eve won't be a victim ever again.  Eve is angry but it won't stop her from bringing a murderer to justice.

I am always up for an Eve Dallas story.  Even though we are 45 books in, I still am excited to get the next book.  I did notice that since the body count was low, Eve had several consults from her detectives on other disturbing murders to keep the shock value high.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 13 August, 2017: Finished reading
  • 13 August, 2017: Reviewed