by J.D. Robb
Part of In Death, book 56
First published 2023
Lieutenant Eve Dallas arrives at what should have been an elegant celebration hosted by power couple Eliza Lane and Brant Fitzhugh. The glamorous pair had dominated both Hollywood and Broadway, making them the toast of the entertainment world. But the evening turns deadly when Fitzhugh collapses after drinking champagne laced with cyanide. The investigation reveals the poisoned cocktail was meant for Eliza, not her husband. Eve faces a complex web of suspects including a recently terminated assistant, a jealous competitor, and an obsessed admirer. With dozens of guests, staff members, and servers present, identifying the killer proves challenging. Fitzhugh seemed universally beloved, even by his former wife, making the motive unclear. Eve must navigate the media attention that surrounds high profile cases while sorting through alibis and lies. She needs to separate genuine innocence from skilled performance in a crowd of professional actors.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective, 21st-century, mystery-thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: complex-web-of-suspects, high-stakes, investigation, multiple-suspects
375 pages · Kindle Edition · St. Martin’s Press