Why I read it: I’m a fan of the series and pre-ordered the audiobook.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Eve Dallas has solved a lot of high-profile murders for the NYPSD and gotten a lot of media. She—and her billionaire husband—are getting accustomed to being objects of attention, of gossip, of speculation.

But now Eve has become the object of one person’s obsession. Someone who finds her extraordinary, and thinks about her every hour of every day. Who believes the two of them have a special relationship. Who would kill for her—again and again…

With a murderer reading meanings into her every move, handling this case will be a delicate—and dangerous—psychological dance. And Eve knows that underneath the worship and admiration, a terrible threat lies in wait. Because the beautiful lieutenant is not at all grateful for these bloody offerings from her “true and loyal friend.” And in time, idols always fall…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): When a lawyer is murdered and a “note” written for Eve Dallas on the wall at the crime scene, it is obvious that the unsub isn’t your run-of-the-mill killer. Obsessed with Eve and thinking they are BFFs, the killer metes out “justice” in a way that Eve cannot, constrained as she is by, you know, the law.

The book takes place immediately after Christmas 2060 and ends up at New Year’s – the next book it will finally be 2061!!! Can you believe that so little time has passed in Eve’s world but there have been 40 full length books?

Because the crimes are personal to Eve, there was a feeling for me of this book being more about Eve and her crew than the more procedural type books in the series. I tend to prefer the more personal books. I am a sucker for a stalker plot and I admit I was kind of hoping that Eve would be kidnapped or something but alas it was not to be. Eve and Roarke are just too smart, you see.

There was a part of the book where I was seriously wondering if JD Robb would go there – but I’m not going to spoil it for anyone. The tension was great and as usual Susan Ericksen’s delivery was wonderful.

The other cops in Eve’s division get more of a showing in this book too and I liked that very much. I enjoy when the stories give the listener a sense that the cops have other cases than the one the book is about and this was the case not just in Homicide but in Feeney’s EDD as well.

The book itself takes place in only a very short space of time so there’s not a lot of character development in terms of the overall arc of the series, but because of the nature of the crimes, Eve does reflect on just how many people she has come to care for in such a short space of time. How many people matter to her and are concerned for her when she might be in danger. Those little parts of the stories always grab me.

There are some portions in the book from the killer’s POV but there are not a lot and they are not graphic. Mostly they’re about how obsessed with Eve the killer is.

What else? The narration was great, with only a few vocal errors where it seemed like Ms. Ericksen was unclear who was speaking and consequently so was I. I’m not in love with the voice she gives to media liaison, Kyung because it sounds too close to Roarke to my ears and that is kind of jarring.

One of the things I love best about the in Death series is how JD Robb repeatedly gets me to care for side characters who are only in the story for short spaces of time. She manages to draw enough of a character to make them seem real and not just there to further the plot but doesn’t get sucked into a vortex about them either. I think it’s so clever and she delivers that again here too. I expect the narration helps me to feel that connection.

I probably would have given this book a higher grade if the emotional stakes had been ramped up just a little more. As it was, it was very close to a B+ and compelling listening. It’s 40 books and counting and I’m not sick of it yet.