by J. D. Robb
When personal trainer Trey Ziegler turns up murdered days before Christmas, there aren’t many mourners.
He was packing for a conference when his assailant hit him over the head with one of his own body-building trophies, dragged him into the bedroom and stabbed him in the chest.
When Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the New York City Police and Security Department (NYPSD) begins her investigation, she learns that while most of his clients and colleagues agreed that he was a good personal trainer, there were reservations.
He not only worked at the Buff Bodies Gym, he made house calls. His incense and herbal teas had the power to relax some of his women clients into sex they hadn’t really wanted — and that often required an extra thousand or so for Ziegler’s discretion. His locker, secured with high tech, non-standard locks, is crammed with cash.
Greed, lust and power are the themes that run through this, the 39th book in author J.D. Robb’s “In Death” series.
In contrast with Ziegler’s cold, bloodless world is the close and loving relationship Dallas has with her Irish tycoon husband Roarke and their many friends. The preparations for their lavish annual Christmas party, the gifts they plan, the food and the decor are almost worth the price of the book.
For some unexplained reason, this book is set in 2060. The futuristic timeframe doesn’t seem to have done much to advance crime-solving. New York City still has traffic and parking problems. The only differences from 2021 seem to be the use of robots, remote-controlled cars, voice-controlled computers and “auto chefs” that produce coffee and snacks on demand.
This is a standard police procedural with a splash of romance between Dallas and Roarke. Although there is some character development across the series, it isn’t necessary to read these books in order.
About the Author: J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts) (1950 – )
J. D. Robb is the pen name of Nora Roberts.
She began her writing career as a romance writer. She was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame.
The In Death series, with more than 50 titles, is written as J. D. Robb. She also uses the pseudonyms Jill March and Sarah Hardesty (in the United Kingdom).