Bonded in Death

3.5 stars. Bonded in Death's prologue is a flashback to a meeting of The Twelve, a disparate group of underground spies operating during the fabled Urban Wars that predated the In Death series by four decades. The character introductions felt like the beginning of a classic Nora Roberts paranormal Good vs. Evil trilogy (e.g., The Circle, Sign of Seven, The Guardians). So I was not surprised when Roarke's perpetually disapproving butler Summerset turns out to have a connection to the murder victim, who was once The Twelve's cyber expert. But while the killer's motives are indeed related to the Urban Wars, the remaining members of The Twelve are curiously sidelined during the investigation. Of course this is an Eve Dallas case, but it felt like a crime to minimize these aging but still intriguing warriors in favor of another one of Jenkinsons' ugly ties and more Peabody/McNabb house porn. I hope we will see them again, perhaps in a spinoff prequel series (doubtful).

But overall, In Death #60 is another solid entry. My reading tastes have changed a lot in 30 years, but this series has held my interest through thick and thin. There's nobody like Nora, and I stand in awe of her achievements.