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

Stolen in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 62)
Publication: St. Martin's Press (February 6, 2026)

Description: A violent death and a vault of stolen treasures has Eve Dallas struggling to solve crimes old and new in the next thriller in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead—while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband, Roarke—who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy thief—recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard. The crime scene suggests a burglar caught in the act. But only one item seems to be missing.

Then it’s revealed that the vault had actually belonged to the victim’s late father—and no one in the household knew it was there until a recent remodeling project exposed it. To protect the family name and business, they explain to Eve, they’d been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police. But now the police are all over their elegant house, and have a bigger, bloodier mystery to solve.

By all accounts, Nathan Barrister was a good man, a generous employer, a devoted husband and father. As for his father—he clearly had secrets. Now it’s up to Eve and her team to find out if those secrets got Nathan killed—and if it was a crime of passion or revenge.

My Thoughts: Eve's next case takes her to the scene of the murder of the owner of Zip transport. Nathan Barrister has recently inherited the business from his father and he and his family have moved into his father's home. The family has discovered a vault filled with stolen paintings, jewelry and other objects d'art. They were in the process of trying to figure out how to return these priceless objects without ruining the family name and especially the elder Mr. Barrister's reputation.

The only things missing are the diamond and emerald set known as the Royal Suite which was stolen from the Tate Museum in London about 20 years earlier. Eve is dismayed when she learns that Roarke is the one who stole the set when he was contracted through a broker and offered an excellent fee. 

While finding out who murdered Nathan and finding the missing Royal Suite, Eve also has to find a way to keep the suspicions of Interpol in the person of Inspector Abernathy away from Roarke. Roarke knows that he's covered his tracks, but Eve still worries. 

At first the thief is also thought to be the murderer, but Roarke finds that unlikely. Most thieves are not willing to murder and are far more likely to run away if discovered. But the timing based on when the alarms were cut is awfully tight for it to be anyone else. 

So, as Eve investigates to discover who murdered Nathan and her team watches for signs of an auction to dispose of the extremely valuable and recognizable jewelry, an old enemy from Roarke's past makes an appearance indicating that her fingerprints are all over the plans, theft and murder. 

This was another excellent episode in this long-running series. Although there were only brief cameos by the recurring characters who make up Eve's friends at the beginning charity gala, the story was filled with Eve and Roarke working together to solve the crime. It is nice to see the way their relationship is growing with each book. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.