Random in Death

An Eve Dallas Novel

By: J. D. Robb

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

"Narrator Susan Ericksen's performance vibrates with energy, as she portrays old and new characters in this series." —AudioFile on Desperation in Death, an Earphones Award winner.

In the new crime thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling J.D. Robb, a small and easily concealed weapon wreaks havoc, and the killer is just a face in the crowd.

Jenna’s parents had finally given in, and there she was, at a New York club with her best friends, watching the legendary band Avenue A, carrying her demo in hopes of slipping it to the guitarist, Jake Kincade. Then, from the stage, Jake catches her eye, and smiles. It’s the best night of her life.

It’s the last night of her life.

Minutes later, Jake’s in the alley getting some fresh air, and the girl from the dance floor comes stumbling out, sick and confused and deathly pale. He tries to help, but it’s no use. He doesn’t know that someone in the crowd has jabbed her with a needle—and when his girlfriend Nadine arrives, she knows the only thing left to do for the girl is call her friend, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

After everyone on the scene is interviewed, lab results show a toxic mix of substances in the victim’s body—and for an extra touch of viciousness, the needle was teeming with infectious agents. Dallas searches for a pattern: Had any boys been harassing Jenna? Was she engaging in risky behavior or caught up in something shady? But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old, passionate about her music, would be targeted.

And that worries Dallas. Because if Jenna wasn’t targeted, if she was just the random, unlucky victim of a madman consumed by hatred, there are likely more deaths to come.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 J. D. Robb (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Puts the 'procedure' rewardingly back into the police procedural." —Kirkus

"With the fifty-eighth irresistibly readable entry in the ever-popular Eve Dallas series, Robb (Payback in Death, 2023) continues to showcase her mastery when it comes to creating inventive plots generously spiked with nail-biting suspense and populated with compelling characters, including Eve, who never stops working to bring justice to the victims in every murder case she investigates." --Booklist

The nice consistency of the characters and how well the narrator does them all.

It was a real treat to read a new JD Robb book! The story was great, as usual, and Eve’s quirks never fail to entertain.

nobody does it better: romantic thrillers,..

Page turners. Sheer romance, intelligent sci fi in a totally believable world. And then do it again and again... in a series where the characters are familiar, finely drawn, Oh the talent! I want to BE you when I grow up. ;)

Interesting

Good Story, enjoyable read good character development needs better narrator. Interesting to see where this story goes.

Random killings doesn't make it easy for Eve.

The random killings with no connection to each other didn't allow Eve & her team to quickly find the killer's MO, as in previous books.
In this book, she didn't know much about the actual killer until late in the book making it very interesting. I enjoyed following Eve & the team on how hard it was for them all. How can the police find a killer who strikes seemingly at random?
PROS: I like how Ms Robb put a very soft and poignant scene in just at the right time. Some might say it was silly and no one would admit love after a funeral, it'd never happen that way in real life. Well, I say for one that I'm reading fiction not a True Crime story, and two wherever the realization of love strikes, it needs being said right away.
After all of the heart-rending scenes of the 2 girls dying and one being attacked, I loved it when Jake told the one girls mom that they were going to publish their late daughter's song track the she had brought to the concert to give him. Then Nadine telling Jake for the fist time how much she loved him and then Jake turning around and saying he was in love with her as well. My favorite, "the spinning kiss" ended their scene perfectly. For those who've experienced a spinning kiss or hug, you know what I mean when I say, reading it made my toes curl just like they did when I had my last one!
CONS: After all of the suffering the killer put the characters through, I was disappointed that Eve took him down so easily.
Also in the interview room, the killer was being cocky in his confession because he says he'd be charged as a juvenile and be out in 2 years, I would have loved it for Eve as she left the room told him that he was actually being charged as an adult and that meant he'd be in an off planet cage for many life terms and after what he said to his father he can forget about any big trust funds helping him at 18 or at 21. then she just leaves the room enjoying the killer's screams of frustration!

Loved it

I love this series. I started it back before I had Audible and have all the books. I wish Nora would bring them out faster. I think its down to 1 a year. It use to be more.

Bloody brilliant!!!

Absolutely bloody brilliant. Robb knows how to deliver. The scenes, artfully crafted. The dialogue, emotionally charged and smashingly brilliant. Character development, off the chain. This one was well worth the wait. As usual, emotion invoking, humorous, and quote worthy moments. This one involves Eve and her team in a rush to find a killer that seems to pick his teenaged victims randomly. They must figure out the why of these killings, as there seems to be no obvious connection between the first two victims. It's a race against time because Lt. Eve Dallas knows without a doubt, he'll strike again and soon. Loved every moment of this new book.

Always the Best!

Never missing a character or input from all the characters. Another best of the best. I have all in this series…
Love the suspense n drama!

Grabs Your Heart

Not all of the characters who die in the JD ROBB “In Death” series grab your heart as these young adults caught in murder. The “In Death” main characters continue to be woven together in meaningful waves in the content as the evidence finally leads to the villain. I always tell myself I will read her novels slowly over days to savor it but I never can. In one sitting. So now I wait for September and the next volume.

Absolutely love this series!

I’ve read or listened to every one and always pre-order the next. J.D. Robb is a master and Susan Erickson sells every character. Great job ladies! I seriously can’t wait until the next in the series.

great as always

magnificent, love the story lines. Nora /JD is so talented. I always enjoy her books. I can't wait for the next one to come out.