Another solid mystery in the Eve Dallas series.

This 50th book in the series is still wonderful to read. As I opened this book I wondered if I would still enjoy it the way I had the 49 before it. Yes, I did!

Dallas and her offsider and protegee, Delia Peadbody, are called to a death of Dr Abner Kent, a paediatrician. It is quickly apparent that he has been killed by a toxic gas sent through the parcel post. Why anyone would want to kill such a well loved and popular man is a mystery. Dallas and Peabody develop several theories until a second murder puts them on the right track. Long term marriages become a vital clue and theme for Dallas to reflect upon.

I'm not sure if the murder mystery or the development of Dallas' relationships is now the primary theme. They are perhaps equally important to long term fans. Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD is a cop to the bone. After an abusive and lonely childhood, her drive to be a police officer was the motivation to survive. She didn't thrive, however, until after meeting Rourke, her now husband, multibillionaire and (according to Dallas) able to buy a small planet. Rourke also came from an abusive background but he took a more illicit road out. The conflict caused by their very different paths has mostly been resolved. The two of them have been married a few years now and are working on their own Rules of Marriage.

Her relationship with Peabody is a strong theme in this book. It is a delight to read and their banter had me laughing out loud. This contrasts beautifully with the empathic and humane way they combine to manage the grief of the victims' families.

Altogether a lovely read and highly recommended. Great for long term fans or newcomers.

It is difficult to believe there are 50 books in this series, but I never quite get enough of Dallas and Roark --- or any of the supporting cast for that matter. The murderer sends golden eggs to his victims in one of the best plot lines of this series. Peabody is one of my favorite characters and I was happy to see more of her. The chemistry and word play between Eve and Roark is always a pleasure to read. I can barely wait for the next book!

Standard Eve Dallas fare. A tad tired, but that's to be expected after 50 books in the series. Interesting murders, even if I didn't completely buy the petulant, spoilt reasonings behind it. Might be time for the characters to evolve a little, but overall, you can rely on Robb to deliver consistent and familiar storylines.

I remember this one…not exactly who the killer is, but it goes back to a school experience. I think. Pretty sure. The first victim is a doctor, but the revenge is against his husband, a teacher…wanted him to suffer.

LOL

Moments later, through the static on the intercom, somebody demanded, “Who is it?”
“NYPSD.”
“Yeah, right.”
“NYPSD,” Eve repeated, and held her badge up to the Judas hole.
“I’m calling in to check that before I open the door.”
“Dallas, Lieutenant Eve; Peabody, Detective Delia, Cop Central.”
“Yeah, right again.”
Eve waited, waited. Actually heard a squeal from inside, then rising female voices before locks began to clunk. She heard the distinct metal slide of a riot bar before the door popped open. The two women who stood gaping hit about the same age. One was tall, busty, blond, the other just hitting average height with a small build. A mixed-race brunette. Both had big blue eyes.
“Holy shit,” they said in unison. “You look just like Marlo Durn did in the vid,” the blonde continued. “Or Marlo, I guess she looked like you. We saw it twice.”
“Great.” She should get used to it, Eve thought.
She’d never get used to it.

Eve and the Marriage Rules

Because she was late—really late—she didn’t expect the looming Summerset.
But there he stood, tall and bony in black, his cadaverous face set, his dark eyes arrowing their stare at her face.
She reached into her bag of insults, but he spoke before she could pull one out.
“He’s worried. He’ll pretend otherwise, but he heard about your exposure to a toxic material.”
“I told him I was fine. I’m fine.”
When Summerset only continued to stare, she had a bad feeling the former Urban War medic intended to do his own exam. Big no.
“Have they identified the substance?”
“I don’t know. I’m going up to check. I’m fine.” Irritable now, she dragged off her jacket, tossed it on the newel post.
“Make sure he knows.”
She started to snap she already had, but that seemed pointless. Instead she paused on her way up the stairs. “Do you think I’d come home if there was any chance, any, I carried something with me that could hurt him?”
“Absolutely not. Which is why, as it’s after nine, he worries.”
Damn it, damn it, of course he did. “I had to— Shit. Where is he?”
“Your office, of course. He knows you’re home. He set an alert.”
She jogged up. She’d followed the Marriage Rules, she thought. And still she felt as if she’d screwed up somehow.
He sat on the sofa in her office, the fire going low, the fat cat across his lap. He had a book in one hand, a glass of wine in the other.
And yes, he looked at her in that way—but she saw relief bloom over it.
“And there she is,” he began, with that wonderful whisper of Ireland in his voice.
“I’m sorry.”
Even as he put the book aside and rose, she walked to him, wrapped around him, held hard. “I’m sorry.”
“For being late?” Now she heard surprise as she burrowed into him. “Come now, Lieutenant, that’s part of the job, isn’t it?”
“For not making a hundred percent sure you knew I was okay. For not making sure you weren’t worried I wasn’t.”
“Ah.” He brushed his lips over the top of her head, drew her back. “That’s part of the job as well. My part. There will be worry, darling Eve. But now…” He skimmed his thumb over the shallow dent in her chin, leaned in to kiss her—long and warm. “You’re home. So sit a moment with the cat, as Galahad’s had some concerns of his own. I’ll get you some wine.”
No bitching, no guilt trips, just wine and welcome. And a fat cat. So she’d sit for a minute, because he didn’t just bring trips to Italy, real coffee, superior sex, and all manner of things into her life.
He brought this, the balance.

Love the breakfast conversation where Roarke talks about Eve guest lecturing at An Didean (page 44)