I will say one thing that is something that I didn’t want to mark this book down for since the book setting is 2061 in an alternate version of the United States. Most sex trafficking victims are marginalized people. Also most girls are not just kidnapped off the street like “Desperation in Death” shows. I don’t want to jump up and down on this book too much for this, but wanted to point that out to potential readers. I also say this because there’s a viral video going around with a white woman in a Lexus showing some ridiculous content like beware of traffickers because they will try to put knock out drugs on a door handle, put money in your windshield, etc. It’s just outrageous and spreading that type of stuff around just allows too many people to have blinders on with regards to real sex trafficked girls and women. Here’s a link to read more https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking/what-is-human-trafficking
That all said, this was a great installment of the “In Death” series. It does a great job of giving everyone something to do. And I am so happy that Robb actually dived more into the background of some characters we have not done before like with Uniform Carmichael and Reineke. Both did a great job of just delving deeper. And I was happy that the In Death books are starting to acknowledge racism and just the brokenness with cops in general like with Uniform Carmichael’s story that he tells to the whole squad.
“Desperation in Death” is the 55th book in the “In Death” series. This one follows Eve and Peabody as they break a huge sex trafficking ring that is operating in New York. This book involves all parties from the prior books except for the bone doctor and Charles and Louise. We get Crack, Rochelle, Nadine, Sebastian, Mavis, etc. And it all works. I was actually surprised. I thought it would feel a bit too full, but every character for one just fits into the overall story and has their part in this one. I even loved the little scene we get with Dr. Mira and Dennis at Eve and Roarke’s home. We get to see why their marriage works and probably what Eve and Roarke are going to need to do when a case hits a bit too close at home for Eve.
The writing was really good and so was the flow. I enjoyed all of the characters we get introduced to in this one. I hope they pop up in future books. I also hope we can dial back Nadine and Jamie (please). I am just over the both of them at this point.
The flow of the book really works and I was happy to see more of Eve and Mavis’s friendship up front and how they love and get ticked at each other. These two really are sisters, and the couple of scenes we get in this book shows why they trust and love each other.
The setting is New New York in 2061. We still get some technology that would make my eyes bleed if I thought about it too much, but it works.
The ending was great though. I loved how we know that Eve has plans to bring her people over to enjoy a nice BBQ on a sunny Summer day.
