J.D. Robb fans are fanatical about New York City supercop Eve Dallas and her mysterious billionaire husband Roarke. Robb's futuristic (circa 2059) ...In Death series wages a two-front narrative war (the battle of good and evil and the battle of the sexes) and both author and readers come out winners.

When Darlene French, a maid at the Roarke Palace Hotel, is brutally beaten, raped, and strangled with a silver wire, Eve is at a loss to explain the apparently professional nature of the murder. Who would hire a hit man to kill such an ordinary woman? As she and her team of detectives (with a little grudgingly accepted help from Roarke, whose money, name, and talents can dig up a wealth of information) investigate the evidence, they find themselves in pursuit of Sylvester Yost, a vicious hired gun who's made millions in his bloody pursuit of career excellence. But it isn't until more victims appear that Eve realizes Yost's real target is Roarke himself. To discover the driving force behind the murderous campaign, Eve and Roarke will have to delve into their own pasts, which holds secrets and terrors for them both.

Robb is the nom de plume of romance writer Nora Roberts, and this series certainly delivers the same sexually charged tension and improbably gorgeous characters as Roberts's extremely popular romances. But even those readers, who generally try to steer clear of heaving bosoms and ripped bodices, will have little to fear and much to appreciate in Betrayal in Death. Eve and Roarke are impressive physical specimens, but they're also witty, gritty, and often antagonistic, irritably staking out their territories and reluctantly collaborating in the crimes that come their way (think Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in Moonlighting, or Nick and Nora Charles on steroids and in a mood). Add in Robb's surprisingly light touch with humor, and the 13th installment in the series is a lucky find indeed. --Kelly Flynn

From Publishers Weekly
This 12th installment in Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) popular and critically praised futuristic cop series, set in the year 2059, finds Lt. Eve Dallas butting heads with the FBI in a race to take down a hired killer who appears to be targeting the employees of her wealthy hotelier husband, Roarke. Adding to Eve's suspicions is the sudden and unexpected visit by one of Roarke's boyhood chums from Dublin a shady character named Mick Connelly who used to run with Roarke when they were petty thieves and con men shortly after the first murder. Eve knows Mick is not the killer; in fact, she's tussled with the prime suspect, Sly Yost, before, and his signature modus operandi, what he would call "murder with class," is unmistakable. Sly's an anal sort with a taste for fine art, classical music, rape and strangulation by silver wire. But, master of disguise that he is, finding him is virtually impossible. Since the murders all take place at Roarke's hotel, Eve allows him to assist in the investigation, a stroke of creative genius on Robb's part that plays on the strengths that brought them together way back in book one (Naked in Death), and that serves to bring out Eve's softer side. So certain is Robb at maintaining an atmospheric setting for this well-paced and expertly rendered series, followers will feel as if they have gone home to the future. (Mar. 6) Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The year is 2059, the place, New York City, and Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns with her attractive group of eager colleagues to solve a series of brutal murders that seem targeted at her wealthy and charismatic husband, Roark. First, a maid in one of his hotels is raped and strangled, then a friend of Roark's, an athletic young editor, is similarly treated. Oddly, the murderer is identified immediately as an expensive hit man, yet clues to his whereabouts are not forthcoming. Furthermore, Dallas must deal with abrasive and uncooperative FBI agents who have been tracking the murderer for years unsuccessfully. Reader Susan Ericksen is given much scope for her talent with the variety of personalities and nationalities that she is called upon to portray. She does an excellent job with the comic moments as well as with the tense ones; listeners will fluctuate between laughter and chills throughout. Recommended for all mystery collections. Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
This futuristic murder mystery about a contract killer is set in 2059, complete with communicators; high-speed, artificially intelligent computers; and lots of other gadgets. An ugly murder occurs at the Roarke Palace Hotel just days before a big benefit auction, triggering Lt. Eve Dallas, Roarke's wife and the primary investigator, along with her highly efficient team, to search for the killer. Susan Ericksen's hard, clipped tones often sound sharper than necessary. Still, she develops the characters in depth and breadth. Who would pay millions of dollars to murder a housekeeper, or was the target really Roarke, or someone else? Robb creates a twisting mystery; Ericksen keeps pace and brings the best, or worst, out in each character. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Book Description
New York Lieutenant Eve Dallas is up against a hit-man for the elite, whose next target may be her own husband, Roarke.

Download Description
"From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, comes a new novel in the futuristic series…Detective Eve Dallas investigates a homicide on familiar grounds: her husband’s hotelâ€"and finds herself up against a murderer with a passion for the finer things in lifeâ€"and death… At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndownâ€" and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. He’s Sly Yost, a virtuoso of music and murder. A hit man for the elite. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows him well. But in this twisted case, knowing the killer doesn’t help solve the crime. Because there’s someone else involved. Someone with a more personal motive. And Eve must face a terrifying possibilityâ€"that the real target may, in fact, be her husband Roarke… "

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
J. D. Robb, the pseudonymous mask for No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, adds yet another twist to her highly popular futuristic series featuring the crime-fighting, lovemaking duo of police lieutenant Eve Dallas and her sexy, crime-savvy husband, Roarke.

It's spring in the year 2059 when Eve Dallas arrives at the scene of a horrific murder. A young maid working in the upscale Roarke Palace Hotel has been brutally beaten, raped, and garroted. It doesn't take long for Eve and her colleagues to identify the killer, who rented the room in his own name and made no attempt to cover his tracks: He's Sylvester Yost, a professional hit man with a resume that covers nearly 50 years and dozens of murders. But finding Yost is another matter. That task becomes even more urgent when a second murder victim is found bearing Yost's trademark handiwork. This time it's a man who works for a publishing company that, like the hotel, is owned by Roarke.

When comparing the two murders, the only common denominator Eve can find, other than the killer, is Roarke. Fearing he is the killer's ultimate target, she steps up her investigation, which brings a couple of proprietary FBI agents down on her case. As usual, Roarke manages to provide some assistance to Eve, even while he's managing his empire and trying to coordinate a billion-dollar auction at his hotel. Also as usual, this collaboration ignites plenty of sparks between the two of them, some of them romantic, others not. Adding fuel to the fire is Roarke's unexpected house guest, a master thief and con artist who knows Roarke from the days when they were young lads running a few savvy cons of their own. Eve is far from pleased at this reminder of Roarke's colorful past, but she has little time to worry about it as she races against the clock and the persistently interfering feds, hoping to stop Yost before he kills again.

The witty repartee between Robb's characters is as entertaining and attention-grabbing as are her many plot twists. Plus, Eve's gutsy, no-holds-barred attitude makes for a refreshing change of pace. The pace is snappy, the story line sizzles, and while the crime descriptions tend to be rather dark and gritty, there's plenty of comic relief to balance things out. Death should always be this enjoyable. (Beth Amos)

Beth Amos is the author of several novels, including Second Sight, Eyes of Night, and Cold White Fury.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, comes a new novel in the futuristic series￯﾿ﾽDetective Eve Dallas investigates a homicide on familiar grounds: her husband￯﾿ﾽs hotel -- and finds herself up against a murderer with a passion for the finer things in life -- and death￯﾿ﾽ

At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndown -- and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. He￯﾿ﾽs Sly Yost, a virtuoso of music and murder. A hit man for the elite. Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows him well. But in this twisted case, knowing the killer doesn￯﾿ﾽt help solve the crime. Because there￯﾿ﾽs someone else involved. Someone with a more personal motive. And Eve must face a terrifying possibility -- that the real target may, in fact, be her husband Roarke￯﾿ﾽ

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This 12th installment in Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) popular and critically praised futuristic cop series, set in the year 2059, finds Lt. Eve Dallas butting heads with the FBI in a race to take down a hired killer who appears to be targeting the employees of her wealthy hotelier husband, Roarke. Adding to Eve's suspicions is the sudden and unexpected visit by one of Roarke's boyhood chums from Dublin a shady character named Mick Connelly who used to run with Roarke when they were petty thieves and con men shortly after the first murder. Eve knows Mick is not the killer; in fact, she's tussled with the prime suspect, Sly Yost, before, and his signature modus operandi, what he would call "murder with class," is unmistakable. Sly's an anal sort with a taste for fine art, classical music, rape and strangulation by silver wire. But, master of disguise that he is, finding him is virtually impossible. Since the murders all take place at Roarke's hotel, Eve allows him to assist in the investigation, a stroke of creative genius on Robb's part that plays on the strengths that brought them together way back in book one (Naked in Death), and that serves to bring out Eve's softer side. So certain is Robb at maintaining an atmospheric setting for this well-paced and expertly rendered series, followers will feel as if they have gone home to the future. (Mar. 6) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

The year is 2059, the place, New York City, and Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns with her attractive group of eager colleagues to solve a series of brutal murders that seem targeted at her wealthy and charismatic husband, Roark. First, a maid in one of his hotels is raped and strangled, then a friend of Roark's, an athletic young editor, is similarly treated. Oddly, the murderer is identified immediately as an expensive hit man, yet clues to his whereabouts are not forthcoming. Furthermore, Dallas must deal with abrasive and uncooperative FBI agents who have been tracking the murderer for years unsuccessfully. Reader Susan Ericksen is given much scope for her talent with the variety of personalities and nationalities that she is called upon to portray. She does an excellent job with the comic moments as well as with the tense ones; listeners will fluctuate between laughter and chills throughout. Recommended for all mystery collections. Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile

This futuristic murder mystery about a contract killer is set in 2059, complete with communicators; high-speed, artificially intelligent computers; and lots of other gadgets. An ugly murder occurs at the Roarke Palace Hotel just days before a big benefit auction, triggering Lt. Eve Dallas, Roarke's wife and the primary investigator, along with her highly efficient team, to search for the killer. Susan Ericksen's hard, clipped tones often sound sharper than necessary. Still, she develops the characters in depth and breadth. Who would pay millions of dollars to murder a housekeeper, or was the target really Roarke, or someone else? Robb creates a twisting mystery; Ericksen keeps pace and brings the best, or worst, out in each character. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Internet Book Watch

In May 2059, New York Police Department Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her spouse wealthy billionaire Roarke take a rest between cases. Since Roarke worked both sides of the law, he has enemies from his past wanting him dead as well as some new foes who also prefer he no longer breathes. Thus, he is not surprised when a paid assassin brutalizes, rapes, and kills an employee in one of his hotels, but he personalizes the ugly incident.Eve is assigned as primary investigator on the case. When a second homicide occurs with the victim being a close friend of Roarke's, he and Eve conclude that someone wants to hurt and distract the businessman. The police know the identity of the killer, but have no earthly idea where the hitman is hiding. However, the dynamic duo knows the main event is coming soon.Not since the "silver age" of Neal Adam's Green Lantern and Green Arrow has a crime duo won the hearts of readers as Eve and Roarke have. The current tale contains a well-executed mystery with many puzzle pieces that need placing together to obtain the full picture of the plot. Although the who-done-it remains the primary story line, the love story subplot between the lead protagonists provides cross genre appeal to romantic suspense fans. The audience will find this exciting novel impossible to put down until all the questions are answered.