Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog earns a small commission at no extra cost to you from any purchases made through these links. You can read the full disclosure underneath the Privacy Policy.
Kindred in Death
by J.D. RobbSeries: In Death #29
Published by Berkley on November 3, 2009
SubGenres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense
Format: AudioBook, Paperback
Pages: 384
Narrator: Susan Ericksen
Length: 13 Hours And 56 Minutes
Source: Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
Add to Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Lieutenant Eve Dallas scours New York City for the sadistic killer who murdered her captain's teenage daughter in this futuristic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. D. Robb.
When the newly promoted captain of the NYPSD and his wife return a day early from their vacation, they are looking forward to spending time with their bright and vivacious sixteen-year-old daughter, who stayed behind.
Not even their worst nightmares could prepare them for the crime scene that awaits them instead. Deena has been brutally murdered in her bedroom, and her body shows signs of trauma that horrifies even the toughest of cops, including Lieutenant Eve Dallas, who is specifically requested by the captain to investigate.
When the evidence starts to pile up, Dallas and her team think they are about to arrest their perpetrator; little do they know that someone has gone to great lengths to tease and taunt them by using a variety of identities.
Overconfidence can lead to careless mistakes. But for Dallas, one mistake might be all she needs to serve justice.
Kindred in Death is the twenty-ninth novel in J.D. Robb’s In Death series. When a police Captain’s daughter is brutally murdered, Eve and her team investigate to catch the culprit. This installment was challenging for me to read, and I had to step away from the book a few times to regain composure. J.D. Robb may not have depicted the murder scenes through the killer’s perspective, but Eve’s descriptions made them difficult to read. I find it especially hard to read about violence against children, especially murder.
I felt most for the mother who lost her daughter. As a parent of a teen, I would have reacted similarly, confronting anyone who failed to pursue the killer. Eve faced the mother’s anguish but responded with understanding, aware that the grief fueled her anger. Eve’s determination to find the killer never faltered. This is one of many reasons why I friggin’ adore her character so much.
This case follows Eve’s investigation of the murder of a fellow officer (Book 28 in the series), and now she’s assigned the Captain’s daughter’s case. The Captain chose Eve precisely because she’s the right fit. Aware that the Captain might have enemies, Eve immediately examines his arrest history. What they uncover is far more troubling, in my opinion. Ultimately, justice is served for the young girl, though uncovering the culprit takes time, and that’s after another person is murdered.
Roarke was a rock in this book for Eve, and I continue to enjoy reading about their relationship. They remain one of my favorite married couples in the series.
Even though this book’s case was hard to read, there were some light-hearted, funny moments too that involved Eve being a maid of honor for her friend’s wedding. I felt for Eve because she’s not a girlie girl, and I can definitely relate.
This book in the series will stay with me for years. It definitely earned five stars, even though it gave me nightmares. I’m glad I started the series in 2020 because I’m more than determined to catch up on this series. Each book gets better, and J.D. Robb has truly won me over as a dedicated fan.
POV: Third Person (Multi-POV)
Would I recommend this book/series? Absolutely! The In Death series excels at combining powerful emotional storytelling with engaging police procedural plots that keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy a gripping narrative, strong, relatable characters, and consistent emotional impact, this series is a must-read.
About J.D. Robb
J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Shadows in Death(St. Martin's Press, September 2020) is the 51st entry in the series.
Related Posts
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
- Book Blitz + Giveaway: ‘The Cardinal Code: Absolution’ by Avery Sterling - April 20, 2026
- Review: ‘Rise of a Queen’ by Rina Kent - April 19, 2026
- Book Blitz + Giveaway: ‘The Magical Library’ by Aimee O’Brian - April 17, 2026