Faithless in Death

The murder of sculptress Ariel Byrd in her West Village apartment drives bestseller Robb’s well-crafted 52nd police procedural set in mid-21st-century New York City (after 2020’s Shadows in Death). Oddly, the 911 call reporting Ariel’s murder comes from the Upper East Side, from Gwen Huffman, the scion of a rich and powerful family. When Lt. Eve Dallas of the New York City Police and Security Department questions Gwen in the company of her lawyer-cum-fiancé, Eve finds many inconsistencies in Gwen’s story that are soon revealed as lies. Aided by the FBI; Eve’s husband, Roarke (a billionaire technology guru); and some plucky housewives, Eve and her colleagues in the NYPSD uncover a deadly conspiracy that includes some of the most influential men in the country. Robb skillfully balances the personal and professional lives of her protagonists, all the while maintaining a quick pace that keeps the investigation squarely in the frame. The final triumph of right over might will leave readers exhilarated. This long-running series shows no sign of losing steam. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (Feb.)