Another winner for J.D. Robb in the In Death series! Character development and a well crafted world are the foundation of this series success.

Compelling..
The lines between fact and fiction blur in this forty sixth entry into the Eve Dallas series of thrillers. With an already perplexing killing, Eve is further stunned when a best selling crime writer arrives with explosive news. Soon enough a race against time ensues but now Eve is armed with a hefty dose of vital information. Another excellent outing in this superlative series with a well drawn and credible cast of characters and a pacy plot. Compelling.

This story of Eve Dallas and Roarke starts with murder in a showing of Psycho.
We find murder imitating art.
Eve will need all her observations and skills to unravel this series of murders.
This is a good easy to follow police procedure. Good characters flesh out Eve’s family and friends. You will find this a good page turner.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

When a fan of an author takes it too far and begins living in the story as the bad guy, Eve and Peabody have a serial killer on their hands, and they must figure out the next victim. Follow in this book to see how far she takes it.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark in Death by J.D. Robb

Revisiting Dark in Death reminded me exactly why I fell in love with the Eve Dallas series in the first place. This installment delivers a gripping blend of suspense, psychology, and procedural precision, with a chilling twist—murders inspired by fiction. As always, Eve is razor-sharp and relentless, and her dynamic with Roarke remains one of the most compelling aspects of the series. Their moments of quiet intimacy contrast powerfully with the darkness Eve faces in her investigations.

What makes Dark in Death stand out is the layered commentary on the connection between fiction and reality, and how dangerous blurred lines can become. The killer’s method—mimicking scenes from novels—adds a creepy, cerebral edge that kept me hooked from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the way the team worked together, with Peabody providing levity and insight in equal measure.

This reread not only held up but made me want to revisit the entire series from the beginning. J.D. Robb continues to deliver, combining heart-pounding tension with deeply human moments.

#DarkInDeath #JDRobb #EveDallas #InDeathSeries #RomanticSuspense #MysteryThriller #BookReview #RereadWorthy #NetGalley

Thanks to J.D. Robb, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark in Death, the 46th book in the In Death series by J. D. Robb delivers a chilling, fast-paced mystery that immediately pulls the reader into the heart of New York City’s chaos. A brutal murder during a movie screening sets off a disturbing investigation for Eve Dallas, who must unravel a killer’s twisted homage to crime fiction. The plot is clever and layered, blending classic whodunit elements with a modern, psychological edge.

Eve’s determination and sharp instincts, paired with the steady support of her husband Roarke and their cozy moments at home, add a perfect balance of grit and warmth to the story. The premise—that a killer is mimicking fictional murders—is both fascinating and terrifying, keeping the tension high and the stakes personal.

With vivid scenes, a strong emotional undercurrent, and a ticking clock feel, this novel keeps readers guessing until the end. Fans of tightly plotted crime thrillers and character-driven stories will find Dark in Death a compelling, satisfying read.

This ARC was complimentary…provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am providing my honest review.

Well done plot, characters, and writing. Lots of sex
The writing in the first chapter of Dark in Death grabbed me immediately. The description of the murder made me sympathize strongly with the victim. The character introductions were done well. There was even a cat! By the end of the first chapter I was sure I was in for a good read.
I realized I had not read this series before, which surprised me, but the author does a good job of giving background, so I did not feel at a disadvantage.
I enjoyed many aspects of the book, and for the right reader, this enjoyment will continue, but sexual references were much too prevalent, unnecessarily so, and a lot of it was vulgar. This seriously affected my pleasure in reading it. I would like to read more in the series and hope the sex is not so prominent in all of them.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

There's something deeply comforting about sinking into a J.D. Robb book — you know exactly what you're getting: a solid mystery, a little banter, a little blood, and a whole lot of Eve Dallas doing what she does best: solving murders. "Dark in Death" is no exception. It's another reliable entry in the In Death series. You'll want to pick this one up immediately if you're a fan. No deep analysis needed — just pure, familiar entertainment.

A woman was murdered with an ice pick during a Psycho screening in Times Square. As Eve and Roarke dig in, it turns out the murder isn't just a one-off — it mirrors a scene from a popular police thriller. Add in a second eerily similar crime, and it's clear someone's letting fiction bleed into reality... literally.

The pacing here isn't quite as sharp as some other entries in the series. There are moments when it feels just a little slower than the fast-paced momentum fans might expect. Still, if you love Eve, Roarke, and the never-ending adventures, "Dark in Death" won't let you down.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Chanel Rylan was enjoying an afternoon at the movies watching the classic Psycho when she is murdered. The killer was in and out without anyone noticing. Eve is on the case and is surprised when an author comes forward saying the young woman was killed just like a character in one of her books. Eve doesn't know if she agrees until she finds a previous murder where the victim was killed like a character in one of the authors other books. She knows she must find the murderer before someone else ends up dead like another character. Follow along and see where the investigation takes Eve, will she be able to put all the clues together and find her killer or will they get away with murder.

Interesting story idea, I loved the case. Just didn't feel as fast paced and tension-y as I expected.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

This book was a lot of fun because of the plot. I enjoyed the idea of the villain recreating fictional murders and improving on them, avoiding the mistakes that resulted in the storybook villains getting caught. I also liked that the goal was for the villain to triumph. This particular villain was their own special kind of "whack" (as Peabody would say) and possessed a versality that presented quite a challenge for Lieutenant Dallas and her colleagues.

In this installment of J.D. Robb’s In Death series, Eve Dallas investigates killings that mirror the murder scenes from a popular mystery series.

The killer has a grudge against the author of the series and feels like her own talent as an author isn’t appreciated. She is unremarkable but wants to be seen and respected.

I’ve read many of the series but realized that I hadn’t read this one yet. As always, JD Robb knocks it out of the park. The mystery is compelling, and the side characters aren’t just one-dimensional window dressing; they add to the story and the scenes. For me, it’s a perfect mix of the genres I read most: mystery, romance, and sci-fi. The futuristic world that J.D. Robb(Nora Roberts) has created is always so riveting to read.

J.D. Robb delivers yet another gripping installment in her long-running In Death series with Dark in Death, a clever, twisting murder mystery that blends futuristic crime-solving with chilling psychological thrills. The story kicks off with a seemingly random murder in a movie theater. But nothing is ever quite that simple when it comes to Lieutenant Eve Dallas. As she and her ever-loyal partner, Detective Peabody, dig deeper, they uncover a chilling pattern: the killer is reenacting murder scenes from a popular mystery series—fiction turned fatal. The villain isn’t just a murderer but a reader—one who’s twisted fantasy and fiction into a deadly blueprint. Robb, as always, excels at mixing grit with warmth.

During the movie screening someone kills Chanel. Her friend has a hard time believing it because it looks like what’s happening on the movie screen. Eve tries to figure out what has happened, gets a tip from a book author and then tries to find a pattern. Hunting for clues takes the entire team. A wonderful story!

Continuing the series, J.D. Robb creates another adventure for Eve! This one does not disappoint! Follow her as she finds the killer and be prepared to be creeped out!

Eve and Roarke continue with their devoted marital relationship,
Eve is a cop with a difficult past including abuse and Roarke the ultimate super rich businessman.
Together they click as they slowly meld their lives and often work together to solve murders.
A murder in a movie theater while watching a classic murder scene is not just coincidental.
Eve tries to untangle all the knots between actors and authors.
The enticing part of the book is the fact that Roarke’s majordomo is on vacation and they have the castle to themselves.
The games ensue as Eve leads Roarke on a chase through their home to share fun intimacy.
Always the connection between the two is compelling and a page turner.
Eve is able to find the murderer and solve the case.
Good ending is inevitable with the two of them.

I liked this, but it wasn’t my favorite. Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Mavis, and Co. are still awesome and compelling. And I do think the antagonist was developed pretty well. But some of the language was pretty dated, which is more understandable for a book written in 1995, but not 2017. I also don’t love books that make mentally ill people the villain (not really a spoiler; it’s talked about throughout in the book).

This was a more middle of the road entry.

You really need Eve's detective skills and experience to solve this one and take down the perpetrator. She does it with such ease. I loved the book so much I found it hard to take my mind away from it. The crimes are believable but disturbing. I enjoyed the police procedural and I can't wait for more.

Loved this book! I really liked the parallel storyline of the current murders aligning with a suspense authors murders in her books. As always, Eve works her magic, and incredible detective skills to bring down the perpetrator. Love Roarke and Peabody too!!

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dark in Death feels like there could be some autobiographical content in it. Dallas is after a killer who is acting out the murders that occur in a crime novel series.

The wannabe writer/killer submits a manuscript to the female write of crime fiction--Blaine DeLano. Per her agent and lawyer's instructions Blaine always rejects manuscripts unread to protect herself from litigation. Coincidentally, the next novel in her series that is printed, mirrors the killer's manuscript. This causes the killer to snap and begin acting out the murder scenes from DeLano's books as a way to get back at her.

Dallas with the help of Peabody, Roarke, McNab, Feeney and the crew work tirelessly to track the killer down. As always, an enjoyable read.