Format: Kindle Edition, 364 pages
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Amazon
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
A retired colleague falls victim to a staged suicide in the new police thriller from the #1 New
York Times bestselling author.
York Times bestselling author.
Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean the murder stops…Homicide detective Eve Dallas is back in her element in New York City. She’s barely put her suitcase down before she’s called to investigate the death of Martin Greenleaf, a retired Internal Affairs captain.
Greenleaf’s protégé insists he wouldn’t have put that stunner to his own head, and that the note on the computer screen—a vague expression of guilt that seems to admit to incompetence or corruption—is bogus. Greenleaf’s widow is confident of that too, and Dallas soon starts to agree with them. After all, IAB members aren’t popular among dirty cops. But after the victim’s long career on the force tripping up bribe takers, rule breakers, and worse, was there one disgraced officer out there bitter enough to plan an elaborate and deadly revenge?
Payback in Death, by J.D. Robb, is the 57th installment in the author's In Death series. Set in New York City in 2061, the novel follows Lieutenant Eve Dallas as she investigates a murder that hits close to home for the NYPSD, blending intricate plotting, emotional depth, and the series’ signature mix of suspense, romance, and humor. Payback in Death opens with Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband, Roarke, returning from a rare three-week vacation in Greece and Ireland, celebrating their third wedding anniversary.
Before Eve can even unpack, she’s called to the scene of an unattended death by Lieutenant Don Webster, an Internal Affairs officer. Someone who once had a crush on Dallas until she met Roarke. The victim is Martin Greenleaf, a retired NYPSD Internal Affairs Captain who spent 47 years rooting out corrupt police officers. At first glance, the scene suggests suicide, but Eve’s instincts—honed by years of experience—pick up on inconsistencies: an unlocked window, a suspiciously perfect suicide note, and Greenleaf’s loving family life.
Convinced it’s a homicide staged to look like suicide, Eve dives into a case that explores the cost of justice and the long reach of vengeance. The investigation centers on Greenleaf’s career, which left a trail of enemies among the dirty cops he exposed. Eve and her team, including her partner Detective Delia Peabody, sift through a long list of suspects—former officers, their families, and others with grudges. The case is a classic whodunit, with red herrings and convoluted motives that keep both Eve and the reader guessing. A breakthrough comes when Eve notices parallels between Greenleaf’s death and a past case, adding layers to the mystery.
The plot builds to intense interrogation scenes, where Eve’s skill as an investigator shines, culminating in a satisfying resolution that ties the threads together without feeling overly neat. Eve Dallas remains the heart of the story—a tough, relentless homicide cop with a traumatic past, whose growth as a person continues to be a highlight. Her ability to balance her fierce dedication to justice with her evolving emotional connections is compelling, especially in scenes where she navigates the moral complexities of investigating a fellow officer’s death.
The concept of “payback” weaves through the story, not just in the murder’s motive but in Eve’s determination to deliver justice for Greenleaf. The novel also explores loyalty—both to the badge and to personal relationships—as Eve navigates her complex history with Internal Affairs and her dedication to her team. The domestic subplots, such as Eve and Roarke’s marriage, underscore themes of found family and resilience, providing an emotional counterpoint to the darkness of the case.
One of the things that bugs me about this series is that, 57 books in, the world is still stuck in 2061, instead of moving on. Obviously, you have to suspend belief in the science fiction aspects of this story, including an outpost called Olympus, and the fact that Eve is always teasing Roarke about buying the galaxy. One of the saner moments of this book comes with Peabody and Mavis, who are flipping a house that both couples will eventually live in, as well as Eve's moment with her cat Galahad.
*At this time, I am going to suspend trying to get caught up on this series. I have way too many books to read in the current year (2025) to worry about past installments. Plus, I'm not exactly getting any younger either.*
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