Ella-Loo and her boyfriend Darryl had been separated by the State of Oklahoma after he was caught trying to steal money for an engagement ring. Now back together, they will never be separated again. Ella-Loo has plans and those plans lead them to New York and Lieutenant Eve Dallas' territory. They may be a couple DEVOTED IN DEATH, but Dallas isn't having any of that in her jurisdiction.

As they cut a path across the country they accidentally find a lifestyle that brings them the excitement and devotion they believe they deserve. In the act of stealing another car they kill the owner and Ella-Loo find the experience brings out a wild desire for Darryl - a desire to do it again.

When Dallas examines a victim with extensive injuries in a downtown alley, she almost misses a clue. Carved into the skin is a heart with an E and D inside. The lieutenant, her bullpen and her billionaire husband by her side, race to catch the killer before another victim is taken.

DEVOTED IN DEATH is another intense page turner by Nora Roberts' alter ego J.D. Robb. In this In Death series, Ms. Robb tends to write where we follow along and try to solve the mystery, or we already know and Dallas takes us through her process of solving the case. This is the latter. While we watch how it all unfolds, we are also given deeper insight into the goings on of the bullpen and the varied personalities that stand by and behind Lieutenant Eve Dallas. Despite the gravity of the situation, there are also a number of light moments, including Jenkinson's obsession with his silly ties and a trip to the wilds for Carmichael and Santiago. Added to the mix is a peek at an irritated Roarke who gets snappy at Eve, who handles him very well, and a change in the life of Trueheart with Baxter becoming a basket case.

As always Ms. Robb offers her readers, devoted or new, an astonishing read with remarkable characters with hits of humor and touches of real life that will have you savoring this one as well as anticipating her next In Death book.