Treachery in Death

Always good for an engaging read or listen, this is another installment in pseudonymous J. D. Robb's (Nora Roberts) "In Death" series, of which there are over 40, almost all of them making the NYT bestseller list. I have one previous blog post for Thankless in Death, but have listened to numerous others while on car trips. The characters are well developed (no surprise after 40 novels) and interesting, the plots engaging, and the slightly futuristic settings well drawn.
 In the latter 21st century, protagonist Eve Dallas is a lieutenant and head of Homicide for New York Police and Security Department (NYPSD). Her stalwart partner, Peabody, has now made detective grade and so Eve often gives her more of a lead role in investigations. Nevertheless, Eve will never be a desk jockey and is very involved when cases come along. This episode is kicked off when Peabody overhears a conversation between dirty cops in the locker room of a seldom-used departmental gym. They have clearly ordered a hit on one of their minions and Peabody is genuinely in fear for her life if the dirty cops discover her cowering naked in a shower stall. She reports what she has learned to Eve and it turns out that the leader of this corruption is the daughter of a decorated and revered former chief of the NYPSD. The corruption has spread beyond one department, Eve is not sure who to trust, and so the investigation must be run somewhat off the books. Eve deliberately sets herself up as a target by finding the murdered snitch, and refusing to treat it as the overdose it was staged to appear, thereby getting into Lt. Oberman's face and that of her mostly corrupt detectives, who are supposed to investigate the illegal use of drugs (what would be called "Narcotics" today is called "Illegals" in the book). Oberman is paranoid, clever and thorough, but Eve is just as cunning and, with the help of trusted colleagues, she uncovers both the trail of money and of bodies. A fast and enjoyable read.