Let's face it. J. D. Robb/Nora Roberts has to be a clever person to be able to write so prolifically and keep each one of her novels unique. That being said, Witness in Death, number ten in the In Death series, is particularly clever. Her use of a story within a story is always a fun plot device. But to use an Agatha Christie mystery to establish another murder mystery? That's genius. 

I remain surprised by how dark Ms. Robb is willing to go with this series. While we know most of Eve's childhood traumas, Witness in Death goes even darker. What's more, she can discuss such a taboo subject without glamorizing or trivializing it. Her focus is less on the act itself and more on the mental distress that comes from learning about such actions.

I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. I love how every book shows Eve becoming a little more vulnerable. She was so robotic at first, and even though we are only ten books in, she has grown so much. Friendships still baffle her, as do lavish displays of affection, but it is so satisfying to see her become almost human.