Most brutal In Death book to date. Desperation In Death tackles the gut wrenching topic of sex traffic, starting off with the murder of Mina, one of two young girls who managed to escape the vicious human trafficking prison known as The Pleasure Academy. Lt. Eve Dallas concludes sex trafficking was the basis for the murder and quickly realizes another girl is involved. Given the nature of the crime it’s no wonder everyone around Eve who knows of her childhood trauma is worried about how she will deal with the case as she delves deeper into the Academy. Timeline wise it’s been a little over 3 years since Eve and Roarke meet and she’s recovered her memories of childhood sexual abuse. It’s completely absurd to think she’s got over it already and won’t have bad days where her past trauma gets retriggered by a case she’s working on. She clashes with Roarke, and at times with Dr. Mira and Peabody, over the emotional toll a case causes her when she’s triggered, but they are always a rock for her when she becomes overwhelmed and feels like she’s sinking. They fight for her, they don’t turn away from her. Isn’t that what true love, what true family, is?

13 year old Dorian, the girl who escaped, is badly injured and suffering from temporary amnesia, and ends up finding shelter with the enigmatic Sebastian. Mavis, one of Sebastian’s former street kids, acts as a mediary for him when Dorian very reluctantly agrees to speak with Eve. Mavis surprises everyone by standing up to Eve’s anger over his involvement. Sebastian kept Mavis safe when she needed his help and helped her hone street skills (grifting) to survive. Eve’s stubborn insistence that Dorian needs to trust the system is super hypocritical given the terrible time she herself had in foster care, and then there’s the fact that the entire basis of Roarke’s business empire is rooted in his youth as a pickpocket. Mavis kicked verbal butt in her scenes in this book. With Roarke’s help, Eve circumvents normal police procedures to relocate Dorian and her new friend Mouser to An Didean for safe keeping, thereby offering both abused kids a golden ticket to a safe and supportive environment few lost kids would have the opportunity to attend. Other highlights include Eve encouraging Jenkinson to go up for the sergeant’s exam and the entire team coming together to take down the Academy. And of course Roarke arranges for a much welcomed meal for Eve and her team, who have become as much an extended family to him as they are to Eve.

Overall, this was a great book, in part due to the brilliant narration of Susan Erickson. Sigh, if only Erickson could narrate all the audiobooks I listen to. I don’t think Desperation In Death is one I can listen to again, or at least not in its full entirety, given the disturbing nature of the crimes and the all too harsh reality of sex trafficking. Hoping the next book will be a little lighter than this one, and maybe feature Roarke’s family, who I absolutely adore.