A good man walks into a meeting discussing a merger between two airlines and detonates the explosives in a vest on his body. Eve catches the case and quickly learns that Paul Rogan was coerced by men holding his family hostage. But what did the two men want? What good would killing a dozen people and delaying a merger do?

Luckily, Eve has on tap a financial consultant - her husband Roarke - who can help her figure out what some possible motives might be. It seems that the most likely motive is to make money when the threat of terrorism causes panic on Wall Street and the stocks lose value only to rebound when the news that the merger will go through after all.

Knowing the motive doesn't initially help Eve find out who planned this brutal scheme. Interviewing survivors and running down suspects to try to find leads is the reality of this investigation. Then, when a person of interest is found dead with a broken neck and dumped in s reservoir in Central Park, Eve knows that she's getting closer. Then a second incident happens. This time a rising artist is killed in the gallery setting up his first show, his loft is broken into, and his art is either stolen or destroyed.

Eve needs to find this pair of killers before they can strike again -- as Eve is sure they will.

Wrapping around this main plot is the build up to the Academy Awards. Nadine Furst is up for an Oscar for adapting her book The Icove Agenda for the screen. The film is also up for Best Picture. Mavis is up for an Oscar for the Best Song. Eve absolutely does not want to attend the Oscar festivities but Nadine has invited Peabody and McNab. Attending the Oscars has been a life-long dream of Peabody's but find these killers might make it impossible for her to get away. Eve knows what it means to her partner and so recruits Roarke to fill in for Peabody while she's gone.

This was another great episode in a long-running series. Fans won't want to miss it. ( )

Reading a new book by yours favourite author is such a pleasure! Leverage in Death is book 47 in this series and reading it is like coming back home for me - I know and love all the main characters, I always enjoy the story and it's always a five-star read for me.

This time Eve and Peabody had to face very cold and greedy criminals. The book begins with a man forced to kill twelve people to save his family and this scene was very painful for me. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a few days and the only thing I know for sure is that I hope I'd never have to make this kind of decision. The rest of the book was easier to read, it showed mostly hard, police work. There were many funny moments connected with the Oscar ceremony, and I simply loved the scene with Peabody who drank too much espresso.

I loved this book just as much as I loved the rest of the series. The next book, Connections in Death, is coming out soon - I can't wait!

(first published on my blog: https://dominikasreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/02/leverage-in-death-by-jd-r... ) ( )

Leverage in Death
4 Stars

A seemingly random act of workplace violence is soon revealed to be a horrendous act of terror and torture, and homicide lieutenant Eve Dallas suspects this initial attack is only the first of many to come.

One of the more original plotlines in the series, which at book #47 and counting is no mean feat. The details of the crimes are heartbreaking, and Robb definitely knows how to evoke strong emotions for her characters whether it is sympathy and empathy for the victims or antipathy and revulsion for the villains.

The police procedural aspects of the case slow the pacing to a certain extent, but the tension and suspense ratchet up once the culprits are identified and the race is on to save the next targets.

While the focus is on the investigation, there is some good character development as the frustration of their different perspectives in life chafe at Eve and Roarke. The relationship is always more interesting when these two struggle with the realities of their conflicting outlooks.

Overall, a solid addition to the series. ( )

Family man Paul Rogan walks into his office as his company is about to strike the deal of a lifetime wearing an explosive suicide vest, muttering that there must be another way. The ensuing explosion makes no sense until Eve Dallas and her investigative team discover that his family was being used as leverage to coerce him to blow himself up, taking several of his friends and coworkers with him. Eve wastes no time following evidence that leads her to a long-planned plot to exploit the volatility of the stock market, after such an event, to manipulate stock prices in order to "make a killing."
J.D. Robb never fails to impress. As with the previous 46 books in the In Death series, this one has a well written plot and an interesting mystery. Familiar characters from the series are included as both part of the case and to add humor to an oblivious Eve Dallas as the movie, The Icove Agenda, is up for several Academy Awards.
Another great entry in the In Death series; I'm looking forward to the next one. ( )

3.5 of 5 stars

Dallas and her team try to solve who coerced a loving family man to strap on a suicide bomber vest and kill twelve people to save his wife and child, before they do it again.

While I liked the book I didn't LOVE it, I wasn't able to connect with most of the victims and I didn't feel like Eve made the usual connections either.

While I'm used to the 'In Death' series sticking tight to it's formula, I wasn't feeling the usual connection to the characters. In saying that I loved the scene with Mavis' daughter but Eve and the Oscar drama while true to character, felt forced.

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