by J.D. Robb
Part of In Death, book 27
First published 2008
Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas watches Father Miguel Flores collapse and die moments after drinking consecrated wine during a funeral mass at St. Christobal's in East Harlem. The wine contained enough potassium cyanide to kill a rhino. The autopsy reveals knife scars, a removed tattoo, and plastic surgery that suggest the priest was not who he claimed to be. Eve uncovers evidence pointing to identity theft, gang ties, and personal revenge as she tracks the killer through the unfamiliar territory of religious faith. A second murder during another crowded service throws her investigation into chaos. Far from the luxury she shares with billionaire husband Roarke, Eve must navigate the complexities of a community bound by faith while hunting someone willing to turn sacred rituals into weapons of murder.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: East Harlem, St. Christobal's
Period: 21st-century
353 pages · Paperback · Piatkus
Content warnings: violence