If there were ever another writer who could give James Patterson a run for his money for the title of most prolific writer, it would be Nora Roberts. Written under the pseudonym of J.D. Robb, Born In Death is the twenty-fifth installment of the “Death” series featuring NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas. It opens up in the year 2060 and Eve, along with her multimillionaire hubby, Roarke, are at birthing classes with her pregnant best friend, Mavis. Afterward, they all go out to dinner, then Eve takes everyone home. During the night, while Eve and hubby Roarke are sleeping, Eve gets a message on her link from dispatch about a possible homicide at 351 Jane Street. Greeted at the scene by her partner Peabody, Eve searches around the apartment for clues and finds the victim, Natalie Copperfield, lying on the floor. Eve and Peabody question the victim’s sister Palma, who discovered the corpse.

A little more poking and prodding by Eve, and she is able to get a time-of-death from the crime scene unit. The story gets another jolt when a second victim is found, Bick Byson. There is a connection between Bick and Natalie; they were co-workers at an accounting firm. Eve and Peabody set their sights on the firm of Sloan, Myers, and Kraus. As if her plate weren’t full enough, Eve has conflict with Roarke over his connection to the information that Natalie Copperfield uncovered. There is also some strife over Mavis’s baby shower. But it’s at about the halfway mark that another storyline gets introduced – Tandy Willowby, a pregnant friend, goes missing.

The fact that there are twenty-four previous entries in this series tells you that readers are attached to Eve Dallas. For those people, I guess Eve Dallas can do no wrong, and they will thoroughly enjoy this installment. Having not read any of the previous books, it’s hard to make a comparison between this novel and its predecessors, but the mystery seems to be a little on the light side for those hoping for a bit more grit. But if you enjoy the evolution of Eve and Roarke’s relationship, couldn’t wait for Mavis to have her baby, or simply enjoy a solid mystery novel, then Born In Death satisfies.

• Treachery in Death
• Strangers in Death
• Creation in Death
• Memory in Death