Abandoned In Death is the 54th book in JD Robb’s In Death Series. It is currently the most recent book in the series until the next release Desperation In Death will be released on September 6 2022. So check out everything to know about Abandoned In Death here!
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All About The In Death Series
The In Death series is written by author JD Robb (a pseudonym for New York Times Bestselling author Nora Roberts). The series started in 1995 with Naked In Death with book one that introduced us to Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke. The books are romantic suspense novels but with heavy aspects of a mystery crime thriller.
The books are futuristic and are set in the mid-21st century New York City. Eve Dallas is a NYPSD detective who along with her colleague Detective Delia Peabody (and under the mentor of Captain Ryan Feeney) who work in the police and security department and solve crimes in the city. Early on in the series Eve meets Roarke, a handsome and charming billionaire with a possibly shady past. Despite Eve’s misgivings and with her trying hard to resist Roarke is relentless in his pursuit of the detective and they end up in a relationship. There is a new crime to be solved in each book but the overarching story is the relationship between Eve and Roarke.
Since it’s beginning in 1995 there have been 54 books published and there are two more planned releases with the next year (Desperation In Death will be released on September 6 2022 and Encore In Death will be released on February 7 2023). This gives a grand total of 56 books in the series so far!
Abandoned In Death – Book 54 In Death Series
Three young women have gone missing. They’re all pretty, mid-twenties – someone clearly has a type. But no one links their disappearances until the first – Lauren Elder – is found lying peacefully on a bench in a children’s playground. She is neatly dressed with a wide black velvet ribbon covering where her neck has been precisely slit. Also her hands are folded over a childish sign on which is written in black crayon – BAD MOMMY.
Full Official Synopsis
Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance—in Abandoned in Death by New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb.
The woman’s body was found in the early morning, on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong—like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child.
Eve Dallas turns to the department’s top profiler, who confirms what seems obvious to Eve: They’re dealing with a killer whose childhood involved some sort of trauma—a situation Eve is all too familiar with herself. Yet the clues suggest a perpetrator who’d be roughly sixty years old, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge?
When Eve discovers that other young women—who physically resemble the first victim—have vanished, the clock starts ticking louder. But to solve this case she will need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the cold depths of a shattered mind.
Detailed Description
It’s June 2061 and women are being abducted and murdered in a downtown Manhattan neighbourhood.
The first victim is a bartender, Lauren Elder who vanished on the street as she walked home. Her body is found ten days later on a park bench in perfect sight. The victim’s hair, clothing and make up are immaculate. Her throat had been slit but it was carefully stitched up and hidden with a ribbon. But everything about Lauren’s appearance is not as normal as it would first seem – the clothes she is wearing are decades out of date and there are piercings and tattoos that she didn’t have previously. And there is a note attached to the body. “Bad Mommy” is scrawled in crayon, almost as if it had been written by a child.
Lt Eve Dallas and Detective Deila Peabody are first on the scene and are assigned the case. Dr Mira, Eve’s profiler tells Eve that the perpetrator is someone who has undealt with childhood trauma and that they are highly likely to kill again. All the clues lead to suggest someone who would be in their sixties but there are no records of any crimes with a similar MO before, so why would the perpetrator start now?
Eve and Delia soon learn of Anna Hobe, a worker at a nearby karaoke bar has also gone missing under similar circumstances. Anna’s physical appearance is also similar to the first victim. A race against time begins to find Anna before the killer also murders her. There were ten days between Lauren going missing and her body being found and Anna has already been missing for five days. The clock begins to tick louder when another young woman, Mary Kate Covino, goes missing again with the same circumstances as the other women and also of similar physical appearance as the other victims.
With McNab, Baxter and Feeney on board, aswell as Peabody the team begin to investigate every possible avenue. When it seems that nothing is turning into viable leads – the dated clothes and makeup, hair and nail product used on the first victim turn out to be fairly common and easily available to purchase. Eventually the investigation has the team looking into leads of missing women or abandoned children. When something pops, Eve and her team need to track down the whereabouts of a young mother and child but it is many years later and they are proving hard to find.
With the clock ticking time runs out for another victim when again a body is found in the playground. The woman is arranged the same way as the first victim, with the same styling and the same gash to the throat. But this time there is more evidence left that gives the team some leads to follow. They set about trying to track down the deranged killer before they strike again.
Our Review
This book is another stellar installment in JD Robb’s In Death Series. The story is narrated from multiple points of view. As well as seeing from Eve and her team, we also see from the point of view of the killer, the killer’s mother and the victims. This results in creating a huge amount of tension.
The book is also told from two timelines, one in the present (albeit a 2061 present!) and also in the past, from the viewpoint of the killer’s mother. This serves to give us more insight into the mind of the killer and creates a pulse-pounding read.
Of course Eve’s husband, Roarke is also involved as he is her soundboard when the killer’s childhood trauma triggers memories for Eve and she and Roake discuss their own traumatic childhoods and family relationships. The investigation hits some very raw nerves for Eve but she is as determined and focused as ever to solve this case and find the missing young women before the killer strikes again.
And the rest of the familiar crew are back. As ever Delia Peabody proves herself to be more than a sidekick but a solid partner with brains and ideas and suggestions of her own. We also see progression in her and McNab’s relationship as they prepare to move in together.
This is a book that puts a lot of focus onto the victims and as ever Eve’s evolvement. This is an exciting page-turner addition to the amazing In Death series and definitely a worthy read!
Frequently Asked Questions
What comes after Abandoned In Death?
The next book in JD Robb’s In Death series after Abandoned In Death will be Desperation In Death which will be released on September 6 2022.
How many J.D. Robb In Death series books are there?
There are currently 54 books in the In Death series, with two more on they way, which gives a grand total of 56 In Death Series books – Desperation In Death will be released on September 6 2022 and Encore In Death will be released on February 7 2023.
Is J.D. Robb ending the In Death series?
No, J.D Robb isn’t ending the In Death series at the moment, with 54 books published in the series and two more on the way there is still a lot left to look forward to from Eve and Roarke. The next two titles due for release in the series are Desperation In Death which will be released on September 6 2022 and Encore In Death which will be released on February 7 2023.
Are there any movies based on J.D. Robb In Death series?
No, there are not currently any movies based on J.D. Robb In Death series.
What is the latest J.D. Robb In Death series?
The latest book in the J.D. Robb In Death series in Abandoned In Death which was released on February 8 2022. The next book will be Desperation In Death which will be released on September 6 2022.
Is there a new J. D. Robb book?
Yes, there is a new J.D Robb book, the newest book in the J.D. Robb In Death series in Abandoned In Death which was released on February 7 2022. The next book will be Desperation In Death which will be released on September 6 2022.
Do you have to read J.D. Robb In Death series in order?
J.D. Robb’s In Death series doesn’t necessarily have to be read in order as the crime in each book is solved within that book. But in terms of the relationships and character development it would make more sense to read the books in order.
