I can't believe VENDETTA IN DEATH is already book #49 in the In Death futuristic mystery series by the fantabulous Nora Roberts. Wow. This series reeled me firmly in with book 1 and has not let up since. Eve Dallas is a hard-nosed homicide lieutenant who stands firmly for justice. I adore Eve and her prickly self. She's got a heart of gold but that heart is well guarded except for those she has let through her well-constructed emotional barriers. Part of the beauty of Eve has been watching her emotionally mature as the series progresses. Eve's husband is the uber-rich Roarke, a businessman who seems to own half of the properties in existence both on and off-planet. Their interactions are so supportive and nurturing- it's a true joy to read about. I do find it weird that Roarke so readily gives up his own time, which has got to be at an absolute premium given his massive business empire, just to help Eve interview suspects and do investigative work. But I shrug it off in the interests of letting the stories flow on.

The In Death series has a whole host of comfortably quirky characters that I have grown to love over time. For such an insular character at the beginning of the series, Eve's circle of friends and created family has gotten gloriously large. The interactions between Eve and her homicide partner Delia Peabody are always full of camaraderie and often wry wit. Eve's disdain for the societal conventions of the year 2069 and for modern sensibilities is always good for a laugh.

Eve Dallas catches the case of a vigilante calling herself Lady Justice. The superheroine Lady Justice is taking down misogynistic pigs around the city of New York who have behaved badly towards the women in their lives. I actually cheered for the first murder, as the dude so deserved it! The killer quickly escalates, however, and it's harder to get behind her in the ensuing murders. Robb continues her recent habit of showing us fairly early in the book who he killer really is, so that we can watch opening from both the killer's side as well as the cops' side as the chase goes on. I kind of enjoy not having to pick my way through the red herrings in these mysteries, it's a fun way to do it!

Readers new to Robb's In Death near-future murder mystery series will be able to jump right in with VENDETTA IN DEATH. Long term Eve Dallas fans will find plenty of swoony Roarke and Eve moments and a pleasing hunt for a vengeful serial killer. Robb's VENDETTA IN DEATH provides just the right mix of suspense, humor, and emotion to keep the reader glued to the book until the last captivating page.