ARC Review: Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb

Treachery in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Narrator: Susan Erickson
Series: In Death (Book 32)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (February 22, 2011)
Length: 13 hours and 38 minutes

Description: In a New York City fifty years in the future, Detective Eve Dallas tracks down those who break the law - including the ones sworn to uphold it.

Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a brutal, senseless crime - an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. And for the first time, Peabody is primary detective on the case, which means she has to get used to a new level of authority and responsibility. Good thing she learned the ropes from a master like Eve.

But after rounding up the perps, Peabody stumbles upon a much trickier situation. Determined to start working out as hard as she grills suspects, she chooses to do it at the old, rarely-used gym at Central. After a grueling workout, she squeezes into one of the narrow shower stalls, happy to have the place to herself. Just after she shuts the water off, the gym door clatters open - and while she cringes inside the stall, trying not to make a sound, Peabody overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. References are made to delivering product, and a house in the islands, and someone named Keener who’s supposed to look like an OD. It doesn’t take long for a naked and vulnerable Peabody to realize that both officers are crooked - guilty not just of corruption but of murder as well. Fortunately, the two clear out of the locker room without realizing there was a witness.

Eve Dallas may have trained Peabody well - but this is too dangerous for one person to take on alone. Now Peabody, Eve, and her husband, Roarke, must try to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down - knowing all the while that the two have already killed to keep their secret, and are no doubt willing to do it again.

My Thoughts: This is the 32nd book in the In Death series. It begins as a simple police procedural. Eve and Peabody are called to a Mom and Pop convenience store because three high patrons have murdered the elderly proprietor. Eve makes Peabody the Primary on the case, and it is quickly solved.

Afterwards, Peabody is working out in a seldom-used gym at Central because Eve has told her she needs to be lighter on her feet to chase down criminals. While showering, she overhears an angry conversation between two people that indicates that there is police corruption going on that has led to murder. 

Shaken, Peabody goes to Eve at home to tell her what she overheard. She is shaken and frightened since she knows she came within moments of being discovered and killed. Eve takes charge. First, they need to find the body of the murdered junkie and claim the case for Eve and Homicide. Then they need to find evidence to arrest the dirty Lieutenant of the Illegals Division. 

Since the Lieutenant is the only daughter of a legend in the Department, Eve has to keep her investigation quiet. Renee Oberman has managed to corrupt most of her department and has tentacles in many other departments. Eve calls in only people she knows she can trust. Feeney and McNab will handle the electronics. Lieutenant Webster will represent Internal Affairs. Mira and Commander Whitney have roles to play. And Roarke will be there to help with the electronics, find the hidden financial details, and support Eve in any possible way. Even Mavis and baby Bella have roles to play in this one. 

Besides the police procedural, this is a story about fathers and their children and what it means to have a leadership role. Eve and Roarke didn't hit the jackpot with their birth fathers but the men who mentored them more than filled the roles. Feeney for Eve and Sommerset for Roarke. There was a stark contrast between the way Eve runs Homicide and the respect she has from her detectives and officers and the way Oberman runs Illegals. 

This was an excellent story. It allowed Peabody to shine and included many favorite characters from earlier books in the series. I missed Nadine Furst's presence since she was only mentioned near the end but enjoyed the cameo from Mavis and Bella. 

I bought this audiobook December 1, 2023. I bought the book when it was released in 2011. You can buy your copy here.