Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb

Eerily similar to the Las Vegas tragedy.  In the mind of a killer.  In the mind of a cop.  The cop that takes down the killer, with prejudice.

Title: Apprentice in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #43
Publish Date: September 6,2016
Genre: Mystery/Romance/Futuristic
Narrator: Susan Erickson
Source: Purchased

Publisher’s Description:  Nature versus nurture…

The shots came quickly, silently, and with deadly accuracy. Within seconds, three people were dead at Central Park’s ice skating rink. The victims: a talented young skater, a doctor, and a teacher. As random as random can be.

Eve Dallas has seen a lot of killers during her time with the NYPSD, but never one like this. After reviewing security videos, it becomes clear that the victims were killed by a sniper firing a tactical laser rifle, who could have been miles away when the trigger was pulled. And though the locations where the shooter could have set up seem endless, the list of people with that particular skill set is finite: police, military, professional killer.

Eve’s husband, Roarke, has unlimited resources—and genius—at his disposal. And when his computer program leads Eve to the location of the sniper, she learns a shocking fact: There were two—one older, one younger. Someone is being trained by an expert in the science of killing, and they have an agenda. Central Park was just a warm-up. And as another sniper attack shakes the city to its core, Eve realizes that though we’re all shaped by the people around us, there are those who are just born evil…

Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words…spoilers.  *BEWARE*

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Nervous Nellie says…

This book freaked me out.  As I was listening, the Las Vegas shootings became clear as day.  This story has nothing to do with that tragic event and it’s not even like the event itself, but it was eerily similar to what the killer could have been thinking in Las Vegas on that unsuspecting crowd on October 1, 2017.  This gave me chills on more than one occasion.  The callousness of a killer was brought into focus as the killer used the mentor to further their agenda as a killing machine.  The killer never even gave a thought to the pain and misery the victim’s families would go through after the death of their loved one.  I don’t think that ever crosses their minds.  They just like to be all powerful and hold someone’s life in their hands.  That kind of person exists in real life as well in pages of books, and I hope I never ever meet that kind of person.

I love the In Death series books because the format never changes.  The lives of the characters change, but the format of the investigation stays the course.  I think that sometimes authors need to “freshen up” their books or maybe “advance” their characters.  Sure, that’s fine, but I really enjoy the In Death books because I can always guarantee a win at the end.  I can always guarantee living vicariously through the pages and for a few hours be a kick ass, no nonsense Eve Dallas.  The books have all the elements that puts this series firmly in the romance genre, but it is not only romance.  It is mystery, too.  It’s a study of people.  The romance between Eve and Roarke is something to revel in because of his thoughtfulness and angelic features – fallen angelic features.  He’s rich, smart, sexy, and understanding.  He cherishes Eve and what reader doesn’t like to have that feeling while reading?

I know that I’m not talking about Apprentice in Death like I normally review other books.  That’s because if you are a fan, you already know what will happen inasmuch there will be romance that knocks our socks off and a nice juicy murder investigation too.  The scary part of the whole book is the possible insight the reader might receive from reading about a killer that strikes close to home.

Five stars, like always.