Like many great authors, bestselling romance novelist Nora Roberts has an alter ego that allows her to explore different areas than her other works. That alter-ego is J. D. Robb and under that name, Roberts has written a series of futuristic murder mysteries (with titles that all end with “In Death”) starring Lieutenant Eve Dallas. Her latest J. D. Robb book, Creation In Death, is number 25 in the series. While it's not the best place for newcomers to J. D. Robb to start, longtime fans will find plenty to enjoy.

Like the other “In Death” books, Creation In Death takes place in a futuristic New York City decades from today. The series revolves around New York Police and Security Department Lieutenant Eve Dallas. An orphan who was abused as a child and grew up in foster homes, Eve remembers little of her childhood and doesn't even know her real name. She is married to Roarke, an ultra-powerful billionaire and New York City fixture who often uses his power and influence to help her solve cases.

The story begins when a woman is found dead in a park and Eve is called to the scene. The woman had been tortured and murdered. However, a length of time, 84 hours, 12 minutes, and 38 seconds, was also carved into the victim's flesh. Eve encountered the same kind of murder nine years earlier and failed to capture the killer, known as “The Groom.” He would lure women to come to his home then torture and murder them, carving the length of time they survived his torture on their corpses. Now, it looks as though the killer has returned.

To make things worse, the killer seems to be sending a message to Roarke. Not only did the victim work for Roarke but she was washed in products from one of Roarke's stores and laid on a sheet manufactured by one of Roarke's companies. Later, one of Eve's friends is targeted and narrowly escapes the killer by rejecting his advances. Things keep hitting closer and closer to home for Eve and Roarke, culminating in Eve taking things directly into her own hands.