Connections in Death

Set in New York City in 2061, bestseller Robb’s 48th thriller featuring Lt. Eve Dallas (after 2018’s Leverage in Death) offers an unremarkable plot and a future that includes minor technological advances but no evidence of the impact of such major concerns of today as global warming and cyber terror. Eve’s husband, Roarke, a businessman and philanthropist, has decided to offer Rochelle Pickering, a highly qualified doctor whose younger brother, Lyle, has served prison time and has a history of substance abuse, the post of head therapist at a new treatment facility for troubled youth in Hell’s Kitchen. But before the paperwork for the job offer is finalized, Lyle turns up dead of an apparent accidental overdose in the apartment that he and Rochelle shared. Eve finds evidence of foul play, and the rest of the story unfolds along standard police procedural lines. Those who like steamy sex scenes (“When his release came, it slashed like blades to open him, to empty him”) and don’t mind underdeveloped characterizations will be rewarded. [em]750,000-copy announced first printing. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (Feb.) [/em]