Loyalty in Death

J.D. Robb
(aka Nora Roberts)

Terrorism in New York City? Who would have guessed? (OK, so sarcasm falls flat.) This book was written before 9/11/01, though. It deals with the threat of terrorism to a public, historic, significant building in about 2059 or so. The threats are domestic, rather than international, and appear linked to a group that destroyed the Pentagon in a terrorist attack about 30 years earlier.

Eve Dallas gets involved when a woman kills her significant other with a drill to the chest. Although the case appears open and shut, something more is lurking in the background. She then receives an anonymous message addressed to her, starting "Dear Comrade". When she follows through, one of Roarke's abandoned buildings is blown up. He had slated it for building rehab. Fortunately it was empty at the time of the explosion. Then they threaten a public building while innocent people are in it.

Now Dallas, her assistant Peabody, and Roarke are involved in a case that threatens thousands of lives and numerous historical public buildings in New York City. Should the political prisoners mentioned in the demans be released? Or can Dallas catch the terrorists before they strike again?

I really enjoy this series. Once again I was sucked into the dark future of Eve Dallas and Roarke. These mysteries have a edge to them, but are lightened just a bit by the personal relationships that are ongoing throughout the series. Loyalty in Death is timely now because of the attack in September, but even when it was published, acknowledged the very real possibility of the vulnerability of New York City. It is well done, and while we are led to the terrorist leader as Dallas discovers clues, the only reason I thought I may have identified the person was because I knew it had to be a character we had met rather than someone out in left field. Robb uses the characters involved most of the way through the book for her antagonists. I had one question hanging when I finished the book before I left for work in the morning. About two hours later I looked up from my desk and said, "Oh, of course! That what that (machine) was for!"

Notice: Graphic violence; Strong indecent language; Strong sexual content

Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
"Midnight in Death" Silent Night
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgment in Death
Betrayal in Death
Seduction in Death
"Interlude in Death" Out of This World
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Remember When (written w/ Nora Roberts)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
"Haunted in Death" in Bump in the Night
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
"Eternity in Death" in Dead of Night
Creation in Death
Strangers in Death
"Ritual in Death" in Suite 606
Salavation in Death
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
"Missing in Death" in The Lost
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
"Possession in Death" in The Other Side
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death

False Impressions by Jeffrey Archer