by J.D. Robb
Part of In Death, book 64
First published 2027
Lt. Eve Dallas stares at the naked, beheaded corpse of Donald Quinland on a dark cobblestone street in 2061 New York City. The victim was a professor, husband, and father who vanished nineteen hours earlier. Now his body lies discarded like refuse, and Dallas must determine what happened during those missing hours. Forensic analysis reveals the killer possessed medical expertise, raising questions about illegal organ harvesting or twisted experimentation. The brutal nature of the crime suggests personal motives might be at work. Dallas and her partner investigate Columbia and Barnard universities, where Quinland taught. The Ivy League environment proves challenging as they encounter brilliant but potentially deceptive academics. Their inquiry extends to Manhattan's medical and scientific elite, where oversized egos create dangerous dynamics. Dallas navigates a world where advanced technology intersects with primitive violence, seeking truth among people accustomed to playing god.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation, police-procedural
Setting: New York City, Columbia University, Barnard University
Period: 2061
368 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: graphic-violence, murder