by J.D. Robb
Part of In Death, book 20
First published 2005
Lieutenant Eve Dallas stares at a crime scene that makes no sense. The Swisher family lies dead in their beds, killed with military precision by professionals who bypassed top security systems and moved through the house using night vision. No affairs, no criminal ties, no DNA evidence. Dallas has the best resources in the city, including her husband Roarke's connections, but she finds herself completely baffled. The killers made one error. They missed nine year old Nixie Swisher, who hid in the kitchen and witnessed everything. Now Dallas faces a double challenge. She must keep Nixie safe while using the girl's testimony to track down the murderers. Children make Dallas uncomfortable, but Nixie needs protection and Dallas needs answers. With partner Peabody backing her up and Roarke providing his unique assistance, Dallas chases shadows through the city. The case forces her to confront her own dark past while she races to solve murders that seem to have no motive. Justice for the Swisher family depends on Dallas connecting the dots before the killers strike again.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: child-in-peril, detective-story, mystery
Setting: New York City
Period: 21st-century
384 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Berkley Books
Content warnings: child-death, violence