Promises in Death    by J. D. Robb Order:  USA  Can Putnam, 2009 (2009) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Martina Bexte Delivering the news of premature death at the hands of a murderer is the most unpalatable part of Eve Dallas's job as a New York police detective. Facing her good friend, Chief Medical Examiner Li Morris, with the news that cop Amaryllis Coltrane, with whom he'd been having a very serious relationship, had been murdered with her own weapon, is one of the hardest things Eve has ever had to do. A sweep of the area around Coltrane's apartment garners little evidence. But when her missing weapon, as well as a taunting message directed at Eve, is delivered to her precinct a few days later, the investigation finally heats up. Eve, her crack team of investigators, and of course civilian consultant Roarke, concentrate all their manpower and resources on narrowing down their growing list of suspects. It soon becomes clear that millionaire Max Ricker, whom Eve had put into a cage for three consecutive life sentences for multiple murders, is behind Coltrane's death. But how had he arranged it? The man was confined to an off-planet penal colony with many restrictions. Was Ricker's son Alex involved? Guards at the penal colony? Or did the conspiracy reach even deeper and point to members of Coltrane's own division? Eve is determined to uncover the truth, and once she does, even she is taken aback by the dark twist. The prolific Robb is back in fine form in Promises in Death, the 28th instalment of her engaging futuristic police procedural series. The investigation proves even more intense than usual as Eve and her team pull out all stops to expose a killer who'd coldly taken down one of their own. Robb breaks up the intensity of the chase by including various intimate moments between Eve and Roarke as they come to terms with a case that's hit far too close to home. There's also an often-hilarious segment that shows Eve's outright terror at having to host a bridal shower for a close friend, all without the backup of her suave husband. Roarke's made no bones about her being on her own while he, the groom and a planeload of male friends head to Vegas for a rip-roaring bachelor party of their own. Fans of Robb's In Death series will likely agree that this latest chapter in the continuing adventures of Eve Dallas is one of the most intriguing and enjoyable thus far. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews