The latest book in J.D. Robb’s futuristic In Death series, Bonded in Death, centers on a dapper Italian man whose story began decades earlier during the Urban War. Giovanni Rossi is found poisoned to death in the back of a limo. He is clutching Eve Dallas’ business card which has a cryptic note on the back. Eve Dallas soon discovers that the message references The Twelve, a secret group of freedom fighters who were instrumental in ending the Urban War in Europe. The threat ties back to their last mission during which two of the twelve died when they were betrayed by one of their own. Now someone is after those who still live.
I had a much more visceral reaction to Robb’s depiction of the Urban War today than I would have had a year ago. Given the current political climate in the USA and globally, it seems rather prescient that the war Robb imagined decades ago spans the early-to-mid 2020’s. The book gave me a stronger image for the worst-case scenarios running through my mind. The experiences of The Twelve were a reminder of the risk, sacrifices, and hardships that come with fighting the dark forces of the world. In all honesty, I’m not really clear on who was fighting and why from this book though it may be stated more clearly in early books, and I just don’t recall. What is clear is that I’m on the same side as The Twelve given that Summerset, Roarke’s beloved father-figure and Dallas’s butler nemesis, shares unbreakable bonds with the team.
I have read every In Death book which in retrospect seems like a big commitment given that this is the 60th book in the series. Bonded in Death reveals the prime suspect fairly early on, so this book is less of a whodunit and more of a catch-the-killer story. I think you could enjoy this on its own, but you would miss all the tiny updates on the many recurring characters that make the series worth coming back for. Much of the supporting story is familiar as Dallas works to solve the case alongside Roarke, Peabody, McNab, Feeney, Nadine, and the rest of the crew. The new characters are compelling, each with their own personality and voice. They are particularly interesting in what they reveal about Summerset. One of the reasons I always look forward to a new J.D. Robb book is that each one advances one or more characters in meaningful ways making them feel alive. So, I will definitely be back for number 61.