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The first I’ve read in this immensely popular series, featuring Lt Eve Dallas, — this will definitely not be the last.

With an appeal that crosses genres, this story is as much about Dallas and her “tribe” – beginning with her ongoing romance with her spouse, the mega-rich and gorgeous Irishman Rourke — along with her circle of friends, (whom I can only imagine has both grown and tightened over the many years this series has been in existence) as it is about a new case, and the puzzling mystery surrounding it.

When a struggling artist, Erin Albright, is brutally murdered during her bridal shower, days before her marriage to the woman of her dreams, the close group of friends celebrating with her become prime (and really, only) suspects for the crime. Thus begins a meandering path undertaken by Dallas and team to understand the characters forming Erin’s closest relationships (with motivators both apparent and hidden) – kicking off a process that allows the author to draw many parallels between the intimate bonds held by the victim and her circle or tribe, and the relationships that Dallas herself holds near and dear.

As Eve and her aid, the empathetic and oddly charming Peabody, begin to put the pieces together, an interesting and ultimately satisfying (to this reader, as well as the crime-solving team) ending evolves – an ending which goes to show one may never really understand the hidden passions that drive those closest to us.

A fun mystery/romance/character-driven mash-up, also peppered with humor, and a trickle of quirky sci-fi elements that serve to remind us the author has set this series in what is now the relatively near future (2050’s).

I reviewed the audio version of this book and enjoyed the narration very much, finding the format an engaging and entertaining alternate dimension to the story.

A great big thank you to the author, the publisher and #NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.