Strangers in Death    by J. D. Robb Order:  USA  Can Putnam, 2008 (2008) Hardcover, Audio, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Martina Bexte By all accounts Thomas Anders was a successful, well-respected and charitable member of the New York business community. He adored his wife Ava as much as she adored him, doted on his nephew, had no known enemies and was looking forward to retiring to the country to concentrate on bettering his golf game. The fact that his corpse is found in a position suggesting a kinky sex game gone bad only intensifies the shock and disbelief of those who knew him. Lieutenant Eve Dallas has dealt with her share of scandalous deaths of the rich and famous and learned that no matter how squeaky clean their public life might appear, a skeleton or two generally rattle around somewhere. However, the more she and her team dig into Anders' lifestyle and background, the more Eve begins to realise that the man was just as saintly as advertised. Determined to rout out the truth (and assigning husband Roarke to follow one or two avenues unavailable to her) she focuses her attention on the family - and in particular Anders' 'loving and distraught' wife who, Eve soon discovers, has dirty little secrets of her own. Now all the single-minded detective must do is prove beyond a doubt that Ava Anders indeed committed the cold and premediated murder of her husband. Strangers in Death is another riveting thriller that presents a gripping and meticulously plotted murder mystery, following top homicide detective Eve Dallas as she and her team work to corner and cage a killer. The usual cast of secondaries is on hand to assist, as well as semi-regulars that Robb introduced in past books. This time it's Eve and Roarke's close friends Louise and her LC (Licensed Companion) boyfriend whose odd behaviour piques Eve's suspicions, particularly once she learns that the latter had recent dealings with the prime suspect. Robb also does her usual deft turn in lacing the action with humour, be it cop humour or the amusement generated by each of Eve's encounters with Roarke's faithful and annoyingly efficient major domo Summerset. Let's not forget the best part of this series though - the relationship between Eve and Roarke. Their combustible chemistry is hot as ever, as they continue to explore their relationship and love - the prime reason this series has garnered such a huge and dedicated following. 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