Dark in Death

At the start of bestseller Robb’s enjoyable 46th novel set in a near-future New York City (after 2016’s Secrets in Death), someone plunges an ice pick into the neck of Chanel Rylan while the 32-year-old aspiring Broadway actress is watching the shower scene in Hitchcock’s Psycho in a Times Square movie theater. Lt. Eve Dallas arrives at the scene to find that no one witnessed the fatal stabbing. Later, novelist Blaine DeLano shows up at the police station where Eve and her team are gathered to report that Chanel’s death is the second that appears to copy a murder from one of her bestselling books. Following meager forensic clues, Eve tries to identify and warn potential new victims and stop the killer. Robb expertly ratchets up the suspense as the endgame approaches in this deadly chess match between Eve and her cunning opponent. 750,000-copy announced first printing. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (Jan.)