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Eve Duncan #1
The Face of Deception
An unidentified skull...
A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
326 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Iris Johansen
291 books7,038 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,147 reviews
November 26, 2017
Good series! lovely storyline with a decent mystery,very suspenseful and it involves awesome characters that was also well written (paperback!)
August 19, 2012
This is the laziest book I think I've ever read. The characters are dull and unbelievable, so it is next to impossible to establish a connection with them. I didn't find any of them likable, least of all Eve Duncan, a stereotypical 'strong' woman who overcomes so much. The plot might have been interesting if it were more realistic. I don't imagine a powerful man like Logan would give the reins of his hard work and devotion to Eve, who admits in the beginning to her disinterest in politics. The dialogue is difficult to read because the author does not help to identify who is talking at once. My biggest peeve was the unimaginative way that she gives the reader information, such as how a DNA test is done.
This book might be an okay read for someone who never reads and would like something simple and put-downable. However, for a person like me, an avid reader who wants to be within the story, avoid this book.
This book might be an okay read for someone who never reads and would like something simple and put-downable. However, for a person like me, an avid reader who wants to be within the story, avoid this book.
August 1, 2011
I find it odd that this book launched a ten plus book series with break away novels. I thought Eve Duncan was the wrong character for this first book to focus on so I can't imagine where it goes from there. She's hired to do a facial reconstruction on a skull and the entire time I was thinking 'why didn't they just go for the DNA first?' Well, they went for it second... making Eve's contribution all the more minimal. The only way she would've been useful is if the situation had been a lot less volatile and they'd been able to go slowly and carefully. I have no idea why she was involved start to finish. Really, it was a waste of a character focus and pretty much nonsense.
I found Quin creepy and fanatical. According to my mom that's the couple to ship. I love when crazy men with control issues are protrayed as romantic. It makes me want to vomit in a hat.
We don't find out what happened to Eve's daughter and although I'm curious, I don't think I'm going on a 12 book saga to find out. I'll wikipedia it after the last one comes out. Yes, I'm that person. Ugh. I have the entire series sitting on my table thanks to my mother... We'll see I guess.
The author has some major story telling vices. For example, she randomly dumps the information she gathered during her research in to add plausibility to the story. It's boring and obviously done in a 'look at me, look at me, I'm writing a crime story and I did my homework' kind of way. Authors, please listen. If you do research, awesome. I won't scowl when I'm reading some outlandish thing you pulled out of your ass, but you also don't have to stop the book so we can applaud you-- er your research assistant. Dullsville.
I found Quin creepy and fanatical. According to my mom that's the couple to ship. I love when crazy men with control issues are protrayed as romantic. It makes me want to vomit in a hat.
We don't find out what happened to Eve's daughter and although I'm curious, I don't think I'm going on a 12 book saga to find out. I'll wikipedia it after the last one comes out. Yes, I'm that person. Ugh. I have the entire series sitting on my table thanks to my mother... We'll see I guess.
The author has some major story telling vices. For example, she randomly dumps the information she gathered during her research in to add plausibility to the story. It's boring and obviously done in a 'look at me, look at me, I'm writing a crime story and I did my homework' kind of way. Authors, please listen. If you do research, awesome. I won't scowl when I'm reading some outlandish thing you pulled out of your ass, but you also don't have to stop the book so we can applaud you-- er your research assistant. Dullsville.
March 14, 2024
Fleshing out the bones of a fine thriller ... !
Eve Duncan, the finest forensic sculptor in the world, just can't seem to get past the grief of losing her daughter to a serial killer who was executed without disclosing the location of the body. As a method of dealing with her own psychological issues, she has chosen to help other parents find closure to their grief over the loss of a child by focusing her extraordinary skills on the identification of children's remains. Billionaire John Logan is a man who is used to having things the way he wants and working with nothing and nobody but the best. So when Eve initially refuses his request for her help in identifying a mystery skull, he turns the screws of manipulative persuasion by promising to make an obscenely large donation to her favourite children's charity. Of course, Eve cannot find it in herself to deny the children such an incredible gift and the game is afoot!
When Joe Quinn, Eve's long-time detective friend and confidante, digs a little more deeply into Logan's affairs, he and Eve become convinced that Logan fancies himself on the trail of yet another hair-brained JFK conspiracy theory and that he believes the skull, rather than resting in Arlington Cemetery where it ought to be, is Kennedy's. But as she applies all of her skills, art, science and technique to the rebuilding of the face that belonged to the skull, she discovers that the truth is far more horrifying and sinister than she could possibly have imagined. Logan, Quinn, Duncan, their families and their staffs are all in danger for their lives as a cabal that reaches to the highest levels of the government will do whatever it takes to cover up the truth of the skull's identity!
I don't think Johansen will ever pretend that The Face of Deception is literature but you can be sure it's a fine heaping helping of page-turning brain candy that will keep you mesmerized from first to last. Plot aside, she has presented us with a strong female and a strong male lead that produce plenty of sparks when they're rubbed up against one another. Conflict, sarcasm, warmth, incipient romance, tension, wit, confusion and intelligent conversation - it's all there in abundance! Johansen even takes an occasional breather from action and provides some fine descriptive and atmospheric writing along the way!
As Eve is such an incredibly strong-willed, intelligent lady, I would criticize Johansen for making far too much out of the fact that the daughter's body was never found and allowing it to play on Duncan's psyche in such an overwhelming, never-ending and almost debilitating fashion. But, without giving any of the details away, the ending does seem to suggest that she has at long last come to grips with it and is willing to let her daughter rest at peace. Small, small criticism indeed for a fine thriller that leaves plenty of room for a sequel to come with return appearances for both Quinn and Logan. Hip hip hooray!
Paul Weiss
Eve Duncan, the finest forensic sculptor in the world, just can't seem to get past the grief of losing her daughter to a serial killer who was executed without disclosing the location of the body. As a method of dealing with her own psychological issues, she has chosen to help other parents find closure to their grief over the loss of a child by focusing her extraordinary skills on the identification of children's remains. Billionaire John Logan is a man who is used to having things the way he wants and working with nothing and nobody but the best. So when Eve initially refuses his request for her help in identifying a mystery skull, he turns the screws of manipulative persuasion by promising to make an obscenely large donation to her favourite children's charity. Of course, Eve cannot find it in herself to deny the children such an incredible gift and the game is afoot!
When Joe Quinn, Eve's long-time detective friend and confidante, digs a little more deeply into Logan's affairs, he and Eve become convinced that Logan fancies himself on the trail of yet another hair-brained JFK conspiracy theory and that he believes the skull, rather than resting in Arlington Cemetery where it ought to be, is Kennedy's. But as she applies all of her skills, art, science and technique to the rebuilding of the face that belonged to the skull, she discovers that the truth is far more horrifying and sinister than she could possibly have imagined. Logan, Quinn, Duncan, their families and their staffs are all in danger for their lives as a cabal that reaches to the highest levels of the government will do whatever it takes to cover up the truth of the skull's identity!
I don't think Johansen will ever pretend that The Face of Deception is literature but you can be sure it's a fine heaping helping of page-turning brain candy that will keep you mesmerized from first to last. Plot aside, she has presented us with a strong female and a strong male lead that produce plenty of sparks when they're rubbed up against one another. Conflict, sarcasm, warmth, incipient romance, tension, wit, confusion and intelligent conversation - it's all there in abundance! Johansen even takes an occasional breather from action and provides some fine descriptive and atmospheric writing along the way!
As Eve is such an incredibly strong-willed, intelligent lady, I would criticize Johansen for making far too much out of the fact that the daughter's body was never found and allowing it to play on Duncan's psyche in such an overwhelming, never-ending and almost debilitating fashion. But, without giving any of the details away, the ending does seem to suggest that she has at long last come to grips with it and is willing to let her daughter rest at peace. Small, small criticism indeed for a fine thriller that leaves plenty of room for a sequel to come with return appearances for both Quinn and Logan. Hip hip hooray!
Paul Weiss
March 8, 2021
Jar of Death Pick #40
The Face of Deception is the first book in the Eve Duncan series and it reminded me of one of those 90's thrillers starring Ashley Judd. It wasn't the best thing I ever read but it was fun. I loved the classic 90's vibes this book gave me.
The story itself was super over the top but that's why I enjoyed it so much. I dont think this book is for everyone. A lot of people will probably think this book is cheesy but once again that's why I liked it. I also didn't see the last twist coming so that's a plus.
No rec but I liked it alot!
The Face of Deception is the first book in the Eve Duncan series and it reminded me of one of those 90's thrillers starring Ashley Judd. It wasn't the best thing I ever read but it was fun. I loved the classic 90's vibes this book gave me.
The story itself was super over the top but that's why I enjoyed it so much. I dont think this book is for everyone. A lot of people will probably think this book is cheesy but once again that's why I liked it. I also didn't see the last twist coming so that's a plus.
No rec but I liked it alot!
August 28, 2016
I chose this book for my Month of Mystery because it is another book of a very long series in which I have been collection the books, but not reading them. So I thought it about time to pick up the first book and get started on knocking some of these out.
Synopsis
An unidentified skull...
A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan.
Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
I knew I would enjoy the plot of this story from the synopsis. I think the story really flowed well and grabbed my attention from the start. It had such great pacing. The story, in parts, were pretty brutal, and I liked that too. I like when an author can wrote and not worry about who they may offend, after all a person can decide to not read the book. There was plenty of action going on this book and it had a nice creepy air to it great thrills and chills. I enjoyed all of the different elements that were in this book. The author writes with great imagery and that is always a plus.
The characters were all written pretty well, there are a lot of good guys and bad guys and readers will find themselves trying to figure out who they like and don't like, I know I did. You get to learn a lot about Eve Duncan in this first book. I do like her a lot, she is a very strong female protagonist, but I find that she is a bit contolling, she always has to be at the reigns, and also she has a bit of an unrealistic outlook on things at times. Other than that, I really do enjoy her as a character and I look forward to how she grows throughout the series.
I can recommend this book really to anyone who likes thrillers, cause this is a nice big thrill ride. I look forward to the rest of the books in this series and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I continue to like them. I think Iris Johansen is a very gifted writer.
Synopsis
An unidentified skull...
A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan.
Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
I knew I would enjoy the plot of this story from the synopsis. I think the story really flowed well and grabbed my attention from the start. It had such great pacing. The story, in parts, were pretty brutal, and I liked that too. I like when an author can wrote and not worry about who they may offend, after all a person can decide to not read the book. There was plenty of action going on this book and it had a nice creepy air to it great thrills and chills. I enjoyed all of the different elements that were in this book. The author writes with great imagery and that is always a plus.
The characters were all written pretty well, there are a lot of good guys and bad guys and readers will find themselves trying to figure out who they like and don't like, I know I did. You get to learn a lot about Eve Duncan in this first book. I do like her a lot, she is a very strong female protagonist, but I find that she is a bit contolling, she always has to be at the reigns, and also she has a bit of an unrealistic outlook on things at times. Other than that, I really do enjoy her as a character and I look forward to how she grows throughout the series.
I can recommend this book really to anyone who likes thrillers, cause this is a nice big thrill ride. I look forward to the rest of the books in this series and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I continue to like them. I think Iris Johansen is a very gifted writer.
November 22, 2023
When a friend told me her favorite author was Iris Johansen, I said: Who? Well I’m so glad I am aware of Iris Johansen now!
The Face of Deception is such a unique, creative, suspenseful and exciting book! I’ve never heard of a forensic sculptor — How different and refreshing! Eve Duncan herself is a very interesting and intriguing character, not to mention tough as well! I can’t wait to read more about Eve Duncan!
The Face of Deception is such a unique, creative, suspenseful and exciting book! I’ve never heard of a forensic sculptor — How different and refreshing! Eve Duncan herself is a very interesting and intriguing character, not to mention tough as well! I can’t wait to read more about Eve Duncan!
November 6, 2015
Many of the reviews were not kind to this book. One touted that it was not believable. There are parts that are a stretch to be sure. I think that's why they call it fiction. So there must have been some good reviews somewhere for me to seek out this thriller. Is mine one of them? I think this was a satisfactory read. It kept my interest, moved along quickly. Our heroine is a forensic sculptor. That in itself is what drew me. Quite amazing what a vocation such as this can produce. I just have to admire the dedication in which Eve Duncan persists to reveal the child who has been found, to bring the lost home, thereby offering family and friends closure. Eve's own daughter, Bonnie was murdered, her body never found is the personal nightmare that drives and isolates her.
John Logan, a man of considerable means offers Eve a very large contribution to her favored charity, The Adam Fund if she will reconstruct the skull of a murdered adult. She accepts what seems like a simple, quick assignment which soon turns into the most dangerous decision she has ever made. On page 80 I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Power and money speak. When it's at the highest level it is lethal.
John Logan, a man of considerable means offers Eve a very large contribution to her favored charity, The Adam Fund if she will reconstruct the skull of a murdered adult. She accepts what seems like a simple, quick assignment which soon turns into the most dangerous decision she has ever made. On page 80 I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Power and money speak. When it's at the highest level it is lethal.
September 18, 2012
I first read this book in 1999 and since then I have been following Eve Duncan’s life and her heartbreaking search for her daughter’s body, which had disappeared without a trace.
Since then I have waited anxiously for the release of each book and to date have read them so many times to remember the exact number.
The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen is one of those books that keeps you permanently on the edge of your seat and you can’t stop turning the pages to know what will happen next.
Eve cannot get past the grief she feels over the loss of Bonnie and to help her deal with it, decides that she will help parents in similar situations, bring their children’s bodies back to them. This she does by become a top forensic sculptor.
She works closely with Joe Quinn, the ex FBI agent who helped with the search for Bonnie and who now works for the Atlanta Police. They have developed a very close relationship and we see the development from friendship to something more as the story progresses.
Enter John Logan, billionaire and a man with many secrets, who wants to hire Eve to reconstruct a face from a skull in his possession and he needs this to be done in utmost secrecy. What she does not realize is the danger and horrors she and the people close to her will be faced with.
Shades of treachery, political intrigue, secrets, betrayal and so much more. It’s a very intriguing plot which keeps you guessing all the time.
There are some very interesting characters – the story moves at an incredibly fast pace, never giving you time to breath.
Eve is such an admirable woman. Despite her heartbreak of losing her child, her terrible childhood, she has remained strong and focused.
Joe Quinn has a dark past but you can feel the love he has for Eve and how he always put her first in his life.
John Logan..wow..this is same hot guy. Rich, handsome, interesting and with an emotional pull for Eve.
The ending is awesome and in fact for me, quite unexpected. It’s a great book and a more than good book to start this incredible series.
This book is on my all time favorite bookshelf!!!!!
Book Description: An unidentified skull... A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
Since then I have waited anxiously for the release of each book and to date have read them so many times to remember the exact number.
The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen is one of those books that keeps you permanently on the edge of your seat and you can’t stop turning the pages to know what will happen next.
Eve cannot get past the grief she feels over the loss of Bonnie and to help her deal with it, decides that she will help parents in similar situations, bring their children’s bodies back to them. This she does by become a top forensic sculptor.
She works closely with Joe Quinn, the ex FBI agent who helped with the search for Bonnie and who now works for the Atlanta Police. They have developed a very close relationship and we see the development from friendship to something more as the story progresses.
Enter John Logan, billionaire and a man with many secrets, who wants to hire Eve to reconstruct a face from a skull in his possession and he needs this to be done in utmost secrecy. What she does not realize is the danger and horrors she and the people close to her will be faced with.
Shades of treachery, political intrigue, secrets, betrayal and so much more. It’s a very intriguing plot which keeps you guessing all the time.
There are some very interesting characters – the story moves at an incredibly fast pace, never giving you time to breath.
Eve is such an admirable woman. Despite her heartbreak of losing her child, her terrible childhood, she has remained strong and focused.
Joe Quinn has a dark past but you can feel the love he has for Eve and how he always put her first in his life.
John Logan..wow..this is same hot guy. Rich, handsome, interesting and with an emotional pull for Eve.
The ending is awesome and in fact for me, quite unexpected. It’s a great book and a more than good book to start this incredible series.
This book is on my all time favorite bookshelf!!!!!
Book Description: An unidentified skull... A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
August 15, 2020
I suppose it's unfair to read this book after galloping through 3 Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly, but it just didn't even start to do it for me. Really surprised it's rated so high.
I lasted maybe 15 minutes on a download. Slow-moving, tedious with in-your-face hints, clues, and statements that Something Terrible happened to heroine's young daughter, that her mother is an addict gone straight and then TA-DA! a rugged, incredibly handsome male appears.
The whole thing shrieked romance novel with mystery overtones. I'd rather get Bosch #7 and I'm on the on-line waiting list. (I just downloaded The Bosch Box which is #8-11 all at one swoop.)
Oh, well.
I lasted maybe 15 minutes on a download. Slow-moving, tedious with in-your-face hints, clues, and statements that Something Terrible happened to heroine's young daughter, that her mother is an addict gone straight and then TA-DA! a rugged, incredibly handsome male appears.
The whole thing shrieked romance novel with mystery overtones. I'd rather get Bosch #7 and I'm on the on-line waiting list. (I just downloaded The Bosch Box which is #8-11 all at one swoop.)
Oh, well.
August 3, 2019
Eve Duncan took on a job as a forensic sculptor for a very specific reason. She had a little girl named Bonnie. Bonnie was killed by a serial killer who has since been executed. Little Bonnie's body has never been found. Therefore, Eve has made it her life's mission to identify those deceased. She does this by recreating their skulls, preferring to work with the remains of children and to then return them to their parents so that they can have the closure that she herself never got to experience.
John Logan is a billionaire who will stop at nothing to hire Eve to identify a set of bones. Eve is reluctant to work with the handsome, smooth talker who won't take no for an answer. It takes a very bold move from Logan’s enemies, enemies who know his true goal, to change Eve's mind. She knows being offered a ridiculous sum of money for relatively short work means something far more than Logan is willing to tell her.
Eve's job is to restore peace to families that have been severely wounded by murder. Instead, after entering Logan's world, she is faced with danger, murder and ends up fleeing for her life. When she begins to understand the depth of Logan's purpose, needless to say, she is extremely angered and begins to worry, not only for her life, but for that of her mother.
While on the one hand readers experience the depth of Eve's grief when it comes to memories of Bonnie, readers are also pulled into a world of political corruption and duplicity. When it comes to Bonnie, Eve has vivid memories that keep prodding her forward. With regard to the current situation, countless lives will be affected should Eve not succeed with what she is doing for Logan.
There are a lot of dynamics to be explored in this book. This part of the story is nothing short than amazing. For starters, Eve and Logan are working together. Then there is Eve's past and her relationship with her mother. Also, enter in another man, Joe Quinn, a former navy SEAL and FBI agent, and now lieutenant detective in their town of Atlanta, GA. Quinn's and Eve's past and current relationship is explored and this opens up a whole new level of intensity in an already tightly-woven, fast-moving book.
Another character that I enjoyed is Margaret, Logan's personal assistant. Her role in Logan's life and this story is pivotal and no doubt she will be a part of future stories in this series.
The Face of Deception is the first book in a currently 25 book series by Iris Johansen. Having received the newest book in the series, Smokescreen, for review, it seemed prudent to begin this series from the very first book. In so doing, I got to know Eve, and the other principal players, namely Logan and Quinn. Eve is a complex character, saddened by grief, but not broken. Instead, she is a powerfully driven woman who will stop at nothing when it comes to showing her skill and her dedication.
I so enjoyed this book! I am so eager to continue on with this series that I have practically come to blows with my TBR. I looked at one of Ms. Johansen's books last year, Vendetta, and had an idea that I just might like her writing. Yes, I was right. After all, reading of a forensic sculptor is quite the experience. I was put in the mind of the character Angela Montenegra in the TV series Bones. Ms. Duncan has done a fabulous job of creating Eve for readers to enjoy and I cannot wait to take another bite.
John Logan is a billionaire who will stop at nothing to hire Eve to identify a set of bones. Eve is reluctant to work with the handsome, smooth talker who won't take no for an answer. It takes a very bold move from Logan’s enemies, enemies who know his true goal, to change Eve's mind. She knows being offered a ridiculous sum of money for relatively short work means something far more than Logan is willing to tell her.
Eve's job is to restore peace to families that have been severely wounded by murder. Instead, after entering Logan's world, she is faced with danger, murder and ends up fleeing for her life. When she begins to understand the depth of Logan's purpose, needless to say, she is extremely angered and begins to worry, not only for her life, but for that of her mother.
While on the one hand readers experience the depth of Eve's grief when it comes to memories of Bonnie, readers are also pulled into a world of political corruption and duplicity. When it comes to Bonnie, Eve has vivid memories that keep prodding her forward. With regard to the current situation, countless lives will be affected should Eve not succeed with what she is doing for Logan.
There are a lot of dynamics to be explored in this book. This part of the story is nothing short than amazing. For starters, Eve and Logan are working together. Then there is Eve's past and her relationship with her mother. Also, enter in another man, Joe Quinn, a former navy SEAL and FBI agent, and now lieutenant detective in their town of Atlanta, GA. Quinn's and Eve's past and current relationship is explored and this opens up a whole new level of intensity in an already tightly-woven, fast-moving book.
Another character that I enjoyed is Margaret, Logan's personal assistant. Her role in Logan's life and this story is pivotal and no doubt she will be a part of future stories in this series.
The Face of Deception is the first book in a currently 25 book series by Iris Johansen. Having received the newest book in the series, Smokescreen, for review, it seemed prudent to begin this series from the very first book. In so doing, I got to know Eve, and the other principal players, namely Logan and Quinn. Eve is a complex character, saddened by grief, but not broken. Instead, she is a powerfully driven woman who will stop at nothing when it comes to showing her skill and her dedication.
I so enjoyed this book! I am so eager to continue on with this series that I have practically come to blows with my TBR. I looked at one of Ms. Johansen's books last year, Vendetta, and had an idea that I just might like her writing. Yes, I was right. After all, reading of a forensic sculptor is quite the experience. I was put in the mind of the character Angela Montenegra in the TV series Bones. Ms. Duncan has done a fabulous job of creating Eve for readers to enjoy and I cannot wait to take another bite.
August 25, 2013
This book wasn't believable from the beginning for me. It annoys me when a character is portrayed as "strong" and has overcome some very difficult times but her actions completely contradict this. A man (Logan) shows up at her house to offer her a job, she refuses continually and he refuses to leave. How would a strong woman react? Let him sit on the porch before letting him in close to midnight - I don't think so. Then her lab is broken into that same night after she has refused the job and her first reaction isn't that he is trying to scare her into saying yes? I know as the reader we know but, come on.. then it doesn't stop - he shows up the next day and she allows him to lead her into her home and call his assistant who is going to "take care of everything" while she mumbles on about not being a victim. I mean come on this man is a stranger to her - give me a break.
Maybe I'm in a bad mood or maybe I just have a lot of other books I'd rather read but, I will not be finishing this one.
Maybe I'm in a bad mood or maybe I just have a lot of other books I'd rather read but, I will not be finishing this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2016
The first Eva Duncan book I read was book 19, so I have a lot of earlier books to go through. But, I don't mind that because I have come to love this series very much.
I liked this book very much, it was intense and interesting and I liked getting to know Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn from the beginning. The story is very interesting and I was quickly pulled into it and wanted to know more. Whose skull is it and why are people so desperate to getting it back? There came a point in the book when I thought "no way, this is too farfetched, but then Johansen twisted the story once more and then the story seemed to make more sense (In that bookish way you know. Hard to think of something similar happen in real life). Anyway, it's a great book and I quite liked John Logan, and I liked that Eve and Logan spent most of the book arguing although grudgingly Eve started to soften more and more towards him and let's say Quinn was not all too happy with that, despite the fact that he is married.
The face of Deception is engrossing, a bit sad, thrilling and, definitely surprising. I recommend it warmly!
I liked this book very much, it was intense and interesting and I liked getting to know Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn from the beginning. The story is very interesting and I was quickly pulled into it and wanted to know more. Whose skull is it and why are people so desperate to getting it back? There came a point in the book when I thought "no way, this is too farfetched, but then Johansen twisted the story once more and then the story seemed to make more sense (In that bookish way you know. Hard to think of something similar happen in real life). Anyway, it's a great book and I quite liked John Logan, and I liked that Eve and Logan spent most of the book arguing although grudgingly Eve started to soften more and more towards him and let's say Quinn was not all too happy with that, despite the fact that he is married.
The face of Deception is engrossing, a bit sad, thrilling and, definitely surprising. I recommend it warmly!
June 18, 2018
I thought the idea of this story was SO interesting but it kind of fell flat in some places and left me a little disappointed. I did enjoy it nonetheless but it could have been SO much more. I was totally drawn in by the work Eve does, I found it absolutely fascinating and that’s what made this book for me, I just had to read more about what she did. I thought the story was interesting as well but after awhile it became predictable and it felt like it was going in circles before coming to the obvious conduisions.
May 14, 2011
It was ok for solving and surviving a complicated mystery, political intrigue, and danger - but not entertaining enough.
STORY BRIEF:
Eve was a single mother when her seven-year-old daughter Bonnie was killed by a serial killer. The body was never found which haunts Eve. Eve is one of the country’s top forensic sculptors. She reconstructs faces from skulls. Logan is a billionaire who wants to hire Eve to put a face on a skull he has. She resists until he makes a large contribution to her favorite charity working for lost children. Logan requires that she work on the skull in a secure location in Virginia. Along the way various people are killed and Logan and Eve are in danger.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I felt like the author worked really hard at her plotting and development because they were detailed and complicated. But I wasn’t pleased or excited about things.
This was labeled romantic suspense by Kirkus Reviews, but I found no romance. I’d label it mystery suspense. The main couple works together and is trying to stay alive. There is a happy ending and a “hint” that they may have a romance in the future. There is a touch of paranormal with Eve having conversations with the ghost of her dead daughter Bonnie. These conversations are during Eve’s dreams or daydreams. The conversations were rational except when Eve asked Bonnie where her dead body was. Bonnie never answered that which bothered me. However, Bonnie would give advice to Eve about other things.
The worst scene in the book:
A CIA hit man is after Eve. He’s one of the best. Joe a former Navy SEAL is setting up an ambush for the hit man in the woods. As soon as Eve realizes Joe is in the woods, she stupidly runs into the woods “to help Joe.” She has no weapon and no skills even in the same universe as those two. Because of her action, Joe gets hurt. He was in control until she interfered.
Other things I did not like:
Someone vandalizes Eve’s lab, destroying everything. She calls the police. But before the police arrive she walks around and moves things. She could have messed up footprints and evidence. That bothered me.
When Eve learns what Logan hired her to do, she argues saying “that’s not true.” She doesn’t know what the truth is so I didn’t like her comment. She reminds me of people who refuse to admit they “don’t know” something. When she agrees to do the job he asks her why. She says” because you’re wrong and I’m going to prove you’re wrong.” Such a closed mind. I had trouble liking her.
Logan is a billionaire. He should have had many security people helping/working for him during this process. Instead he, Eve, and one security guy were doing dangerous things without anybody else. A hit man is following Logan as he drives around staying in different places. Why didn’t he have more security?
The author is painting Eve as smart and tough. Toward the end Eve is the one who plots a way to get the bad guys. Her plan should have been “shown” better. Part of it required one of the bad guys to turn on the other. This was not “shown.” I have no idea how she convinced that bad guy to do it. It just seemed a convenient mechanism to get to the ending.
DATA:
Abridged audio length: 6 hours. Narrator: Jill Hennessy. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day mostly Virginia and Georgia. Copyright: 1999. Genre: mystery suspense.
STORY BRIEF:
Eve was a single mother when her seven-year-old daughter Bonnie was killed by a serial killer. The body was never found which haunts Eve. Eve is one of the country’s top forensic sculptors. She reconstructs faces from skulls. Logan is a billionaire who wants to hire Eve to put a face on a skull he has. She resists until he makes a large contribution to her favorite charity working for lost children. Logan requires that she work on the skull in a secure location in Virginia. Along the way various people are killed and Logan and Eve are in danger.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I felt like the author worked really hard at her plotting and development because they were detailed and complicated. But I wasn’t pleased or excited about things.
This was labeled romantic suspense by Kirkus Reviews, but I found no romance. I’d label it mystery suspense. The main couple works together and is trying to stay alive. There is a happy ending and a “hint” that they may have a romance in the future. There is a touch of paranormal with Eve having conversations with the ghost of her dead daughter Bonnie. These conversations are during Eve’s dreams or daydreams. The conversations were rational except when Eve asked Bonnie where her dead body was. Bonnie never answered that which bothered me. However, Bonnie would give advice to Eve about other things.
The worst scene in the book:
A CIA hit man is after Eve. He’s one of the best. Joe a former Navy SEAL is setting up an ambush for the hit man in the woods. As soon as Eve realizes Joe is in the woods, she stupidly runs into the woods “to help Joe.” She has no weapon and no skills even in the same universe as those two. Because of her action, Joe gets hurt. He was in control until she interfered.
Other things I did not like:
Someone vandalizes Eve’s lab, destroying everything. She calls the police. But before the police arrive she walks around and moves things. She could have messed up footprints and evidence. That bothered me.
When Eve learns what Logan hired her to do, she argues saying “that’s not true.” She doesn’t know what the truth is so I didn’t like her comment. She reminds me of people who refuse to admit they “don’t know” something. When she agrees to do the job he asks her why. She says” because you’re wrong and I’m going to prove you’re wrong.” Such a closed mind. I had trouble liking her.
Logan is a billionaire. He should have had many security people helping/working for him during this process. Instead he, Eve, and one security guy were doing dangerous things without anybody else. A hit man is following Logan as he drives around staying in different places. Why didn’t he have more security?
The author is painting Eve as smart and tough. Toward the end Eve is the one who plots a way to get the bad guys. Her plan should have been “shown” better. Part of it required one of the bad guys to turn on the other. This was not “shown.” I have no idea how she convinced that bad guy to do it. It just seemed a convenient mechanism to get to the ending.
DATA:
Abridged audio length: 6 hours. Narrator: Jill Hennessy. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day mostly Virginia and Georgia. Copyright: 1999. Genre: mystery suspense.
June 4, 2013
I would have given this book a higher rating, except that about two thirds of the way in, all the characters were struck with a bout of stupidity. Now, there was a fair bit of stupidity earlier on, but it reached epic proportions and I was no longer able to overlook it. The ending was pretty good, but the intelligence shown there just couldn't make up for all the silliness that happened before that. Some sore points for me:
1. When Eve sees that her lab has been vandalised with dead cat and rat splattered all over the place, she goes in and starts cleaning up BEFORE calling the police. No one seems to find this behaviour odd.
2. The good guys all assume the bad guys have only got one killer employed. Luckily, they were correct, but really, that's a massive assumption to make considering we are dealing with extremely wealthy and influential people.
3. Speaking of wealth... Logan can hire security teams to look after Margaret and Sandra, but not to look after Eve or Gary. No, these two have to be left on their own whilst a killer is on the loose hunting them down.
4. Oh, Gary... yes, knowing that he's a target, he still insists on running around by himself. The excuse? "We thought it was safe." What did they base this on? There was absolutely no reason to think that anyone was safe.
I could go on, but there isn't much to say except that the characters, and especially Eve, are morons. The excuse is that everyone is becoming more and more emotional and stressed as the book progresses, but it really got ridiculous.
1. When Eve sees that her lab has been vandalised with dead cat and rat splattered all over the place, she goes in and starts cleaning up BEFORE calling the police. No one seems to find this behaviour odd.
2. The good guys all assume the bad guys have only got one killer employed. Luckily, they were correct, but really, that's a massive assumption to make considering we are dealing with extremely wealthy and influential people.
3. Speaking of wealth... Logan can hire security teams to look after Margaret and Sandra, but not to look after Eve or Gary. No, these two have to be left on their own whilst a killer is on the loose hunting them down.
4. Oh, Gary... yes, knowing that he's a target, he still insists on running around by himself. The excuse? "We thought it was safe." What did they base this on? There was absolutely no reason to think that anyone was safe.
I could go on, but there isn't much to say except that the characters, and especially Eve, are morons. The excuse is that everyone is becoming more and more emotional and stressed as the book progresses, but it really got ridiculous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2013
Took me ages to finish this book, really I think it came down to the fact I just did not care about these characters.
Eve is a tortured "strong" woman, who constantly repeats empty mantras. "I am not a victim. Where are you Bonnie? I won't be a victim"
Logan is an arrogant jerk, and I was never satisfied with the explanation about how he got embroiled in all this.
Frankly, Fiske and Quinn were the most interesting characters and they didn't receive a decent amount of page time, IMO.
Won't bother with the sequel.
Eve is a tortured "strong" woman, who constantly repeats empty mantras. "I am not a victim. Where are you Bonnie? I won't be a victim"
Logan is an arrogant jerk, and I was never satisfied with the explanation about how he got embroiled in all this.
Frankly, Fiske and Quinn were the most interesting characters and they didn't receive a decent amount of page time, IMO.
Won't bother with the sequel.
October 26, 2018
New series for me and off to a good start :)
December 2, 2019
Ένα βιβλίο που διάβασα ευχάριστα μεν, δεν με κράτησε σε τόση αγωνία δε.
Τη συγγραφέα δεν τη γνώριζα μέχρι τώρα και είναι το πρώτο της βιβλίο που διαβάζω. Δεν μπορώ να πω πως μπήκε στη λίστα με τις αγαπημένες μου. [edit: Τη γνώριζα, τελικά. Έχω διαβάσει άλλα δύο βιβλία της στο μακρινόοοοο παρελθόν και δεν το θυμόμουν καν. Αυτό λέει κάτι, νομίζω.]
Το βιβλίο είναι καλογραμμένο, η γλώσσα είναι απλή και κατανοητή, οι έννοιες το ίδιο - παρόλο που η ηρωίδα ασχολείται με μια επιστήμη εξειδικευμένη, έδινε στον αναγνώστη να καταλάβει τι ακριβώς έκανε και με ποιον σκοπό κάθε φορά, χωρίς άχρηστους πλατειασμούς. Η ιδέα ήταν επίσης ενδιαφέρουσα, αν και εξελίχθηκε με τρόπο λίγο προβλέψιμο. Καλή σκέψη και η ανατροπή στις τελευταίες σελίδες όσον αφορά τον "εγκέφαλο" της όλης ιδέας που αφορούσε τον κάτοχο του κρανίου (λίγο μπερδεμένο αυτό, αλλά δεν μπορώ να πω κάτι άλλο χωρίς να κάνω spoiler), αλλά ούτε καν αυτή με έκανε να αλλάξω mood ανάγνωσης και να ανέβουν λίγο οι παλμοί μου.
Αν έπρεπε να χρησιμοποιήσω μία μόνο λέξη για να περιγράψω αυτή την έλλειψη ενθουσιασμού, αυτή θα ήταν η λέξη "άνευρο". Οι εξελίξεις είναι συνεχείς, αλλά δεν υπάρχει ένταση, δεν υπάρχουν δραματικές κορυφώσεις, δεν υπάρχει γρήγορος παλμός. Ώρες ώρες βρήκα την αφήγηση διεκπεραιωτική, απλά για να ειπωθούν κάποια πράγματα, χωρίς να επιχειρείται μια βαθύτερη προσέγγιση.
Ενδιαφέρον το θέμα της απώλειας της μικρής κόρης της ηρωίδας και ο τρόπος που η συγγραφέας την προσεγγίζει, αν και πάλι έλειπαν νομίζω κάποια κομμάτια. Επειδή όμως η ίδια η Johansen αναφέρει στο τέλος πως θα ακολουθήσει και δεύτερο βιβλίο (και περισσότερα, όπως αποδείχτηκε), ίσως το ανέλυσε περισσότερο εκεί. Ελπίζω να έκανε το ίδιο και με τη σχέση της ηρωίδας με τον Λόγκαν, γιατί κι αυτή μας άφησε σε κρίσιμο σημείο και δεν μου άρεσε που δεν εξελίχθηκε όσο θα ήθελα. Γενικά, το τέλος ήταν γεμάτο με ανοιχτά μέτωπα, που προφανώς θα έβρισκαν τις απαντήσεις τους στη συνέχεια. Αυτό συμβαίνει με πολλά βιβλία που ανήκουν σε σειρές - είναι μοιραίο, κι εμείς που αγαπάμε να διαβάζουμε σειρές το 'χουμε αποδεχτεί. Απλά, κάποια είναι δυσκολότερα από κάποια άλλα. Και σε άλλα ο συγγραφέας βρίσκει τον τρόπο να κλείσει ικανοποιητικά την εκάστοτε ιστορία, πριν προχωρήσει παρακάτω (κάτι που εδώ δεν γίνεται). Γιατί, πώς να το κάνουμε, δεν έχουν όλοι τη δυνατότητα να διαβάσουν και τη συνέχεια. Αυτό π.χ. συνέβη με μένα εδώ. Και θα ήθελα να μάθω μερικά πράγματα ακόμα. Από την άλλη, μπορώ να ζήσω και χωρίς να το κάνω, κι αυτό δικαιολογεί εν μέρει κι όλα τα παραπάνω και τα τρία αστεράκια μου.
Δεν ξέρω αν έχει εκδοθεί κάτι άλλο από τη συγκεκριμένη συγγραφέα στα ελληνικά και θα ψάξω κάποια στιγμή να βρω αν έχει κυκλοφορήσει συγκεκριμένα και η συνέχεια των περιπετειών της Ιβ Ντάνκαν. Αν ναι, θα το 'χω στον νου μου μήπως τη βρω πουθενά. Αν όχι, καλή καρδιά. Υπάρχουν ένα σωρό πιο ενδιαφέροντα βιβλία εκεί έξω που με περιμένουν.
Τη συγγραφέα δεν τη γνώριζα μέχρι τώρα και είναι το πρώτο της βιβλίο που διαβάζω. Δεν μπορώ να πω πως μπήκε στη λίστα με τις αγαπημένες μου. [edit: Τη γνώριζα, τελικά. Έχω διαβάσει άλλα δύο βιβλία της στο μακρινόοοοο παρελθόν και δεν το θυμόμουν καν. Αυτό λέει κάτι, νομίζω.]
Το βιβλίο είναι καλογραμμένο, η γλώσσα είναι απλή και κατανοητή, οι έννοιες το ίδιο - παρόλο που η ηρωίδα ασχολείται με μια επιστήμη εξειδικευμένη, έδινε στον αναγνώστη να καταλάβει τι ακριβώς έκανε και με ποιον σκοπό κάθε φορά, χωρίς άχρηστους πλατειασμούς. Η ιδέα ήταν επίσης ενδιαφέρουσα, αν και εξελίχθηκε με τρόπο λίγο προβλέψιμο. Καλή σκέψη και η ανατροπή στις τελευταίες σελίδες όσον αφορά τον "εγκέφαλο" της όλης ιδέας που αφορούσε τον κάτοχο του κρανίου (λίγο μπερδεμένο αυτό, αλλά δεν μπορώ να πω κάτι άλλο χωρίς να κάνω spoiler), αλλά ούτε καν αυτή με έκανε να αλλάξω mood ανάγνωσης και να ανέβουν λίγο οι παλμοί μου.
Αν έπρεπε να χρησιμοποιήσω μία μόνο λέξη για να περιγράψω αυτή την έλλειψη ενθουσιασμού, αυτή θα ήταν η λέξη "άνευρο". Οι εξελίξεις είναι συνεχείς, αλλά δεν υπάρχει ένταση, δεν υπάρχουν δραματικές κορυφώσεις, δεν υπάρχει γρήγορος παλμός. Ώρες ώρες βρήκα την αφήγηση διεκπεραιωτική, απλά για να ειπωθούν κάποια πράγματα, χωρίς να επιχειρείται μια βαθύτερη προσέγγιση.
Ενδιαφέρον το θέμα της απώλειας της μικρής κόρης της ηρωίδας και ο τρόπος που η συγγραφέας την προσεγγίζει, αν και πάλι έλειπαν νομίζω κάποια κομμάτια. Επειδή όμως η ίδια η Johansen αναφέρει στο τέλος πως θα ακολουθήσει και δεύτερο βιβλίο (και περισσότερα, όπως αποδείχτηκε), ίσως το ανέλυσε περισσότερο εκεί. Ελπίζω να έκανε το ίδιο και με τη σχέση της ηρωίδας με τον Λόγκαν, γιατί κι αυτή μας άφησε σε κρίσιμο σημείο και δεν μου άρεσε που δεν εξελίχθηκε όσο θα ήθελα. Γενικά, το τέλος ήταν γεμάτο με ανοιχτά μέτωπα, που προφανώς θα έβρισκαν τις απαντήσεις τους στη συνέχεια. Αυτό συμβαίνει με πολλά βιβλία που ανήκουν σε σειρές - είναι μοιραίο, κι εμείς που αγαπάμε να διαβάζουμε σειρές το 'χουμε αποδεχτεί. Απλά, κάποια είναι δυσκολότερα από κάποια άλλα. Και σε άλλα ο συγγραφέας βρίσκει τον τρόπο να κλείσει ικανοποιητικά την εκάστοτε ιστορία, πριν προχωρήσει παρακάτω (κάτι που εδώ δεν γίνεται). Γιατί, πώς να το κάνουμε, δεν έχουν όλοι τη δυνατότητα να διαβάσουν και τη συνέχεια. Αυτό π.χ. συνέβη με μένα εδώ. Και θα ήθελα να μάθω μερικά πράγματα ακόμα. Από την άλλη, μπορώ να ζήσω και χωρίς να το κάνω, κι αυτό δικαιολογεί εν μέρει κι όλα τα παραπάνω και τα τρία αστεράκια μου.
Δεν ξέρω αν έχει εκδοθεί κάτι άλλο από τη συγκεκριμένη συγγραφέα στα ελληνικά και θα ψάξω κάποια στιγμή να βρω αν έχει κυκλοφορήσει συγκεκριμένα και η συνέχεια των περιπετειών της Ιβ Ντάνκαν. Αν ναι, θα το 'χω στον νου μου μήπως τη βρω πουθενά. Αν όχι, καλή καρδιά. Υπάρχουν ένα σωρό πιο ενδιαφέροντα βιβλία εκεί έξω που με περιμένουν.
March 14, 2024
Great Series Starter
This is a terrific introduction to Eve Duncan, her daughter, Bonnie, mother, Sandra, and close friend, Joe Quinn. The trouble that John Logan brings to their doorstep kept me coming back for more. It's quite a story with danger lurking all around them as they go up against some big government personalities, cracking open a scandal of epic proportions.
Eve and Sandra have overcome enormous obstacles to get to where they are in life. Sandra's former addiction to crack is acknowledged a few times but isn't harped on. There are some other skeletons that come out of the closet. I like that we see they are flawed, adding to the realism of it all.
I love that even though occasionally sidetracked, Eve stands by her desire to identify "Mandy" and try to bring her home to her family. It's a task made extremely difficult due to outside interference.
As for her relationship with Joe. A lot of questions about his true intentions spring up. I do look forward to where things with Joe and Logan go.
I read this many, many years ago. I've forgotten more than I remembered, so I decided to restart the series and opted to borrow the audio book this time around. The narrator is Laurel Lefkow. I enjoyed listening to her and hope that she's the narrator for several more books in this series.
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.75x
This is a terrific introduction to Eve Duncan, her daughter, Bonnie, mother, Sandra, and close friend, Joe Quinn. The trouble that John Logan brings to their doorstep kept me coming back for more. It's quite a story with danger lurking all around them as they go up against some big government personalities, cracking open a scandal of epic proportions.
Eve and Sandra have overcome enormous obstacles to get to where they are in life. Sandra's former addiction to crack is acknowledged a few times but isn't harped on. There are some other skeletons that come out of the closet. I like that we see they are flawed, adding to the realism of it all.
I love that even though occasionally sidetracked, Eve stands by her desire to identify "Mandy" and try to bring her home to her family. It's a task made extremely difficult due to outside interference.
As for her relationship with Joe. A lot of questions about his true intentions spring up. I do look forward to where things with Joe and Logan go.
I read this many, many years ago. I've forgotten more than I remembered, so I decided to restart the series and opted to borrow the audio book this time around. The narrator is Laurel Lefkow. I enjoyed listening to her and hope that she's the narrator for several more books in this series.
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.75x
March 9, 2023
Interesante. Un inicio de saga peculiar y prometedor. Valoro mucho el no haber encontrado ni un minúsculo instante carente de interés. Eso no es usual, incluso en novelas de mayor calado.
Entretenida, rápida y fácil de leer. Más acción que investigación.
Veamos a dónde nos lleva esto. Destripadoras.
Entretenida, rápida y fácil de leer. Más acción que investigación.
Veamos a dónde nos lleva esto. Destripadoras.
August 19, 2017
It was a little slow at times, but it was OK to read.
February 4, 2015
This is a review for this book along with the second of the series, The Killing Game. *(Same review posted for both books as I read them together. I rated The Killing Game 2 stars as it is a little better.)
I read the first few books of Johansen's Eve Duncan series several years ago close to when each was first released, late 90s. I don't know that either made much of an impression except that I remembered I thought it had an interesting premise - a woman becomes a forensic sculptor years after her young daughter, Bonnie, is murdered and the body is never found. Two things happened recently that made me consider these again: 1. During a snow day, I watched The Killing Game movie on Lifetime and enjoyed it. (To my knowledge a movie of book 1 hasn't been made.) 2. I discovered this series is now 20 +/- books in. As I own both books 1 and 2, I decided to give them a re-read to see if I wanted to continue. Book 1 is a hot mess. There are so many crazy, implausible parts to it I think the addition of a unicorn might make it more believable. The Killing Game is significantly better but still had way too many TSTL moments combined with unlikely scenarios for me to enjoy it. My biggest issue with both is the way Eve is written. I get annoyed with an author when in order to make her lead female character a "strong woman" she writes her as a a petulant, foot stomping, I must get my way toddler. As the reader, I'm predisposed to like Eve - a women who works tirelessly to put names and faces to lost children in hopes of someday finding her daughter's body. So it took some effort on Johansen's part to make me dislike Eve as much as I did. And don't get me started on the men in her life... I now remember why I didn't continue with this series.
I read the first few books of Johansen's Eve Duncan series several years ago close to when each was first released, late 90s. I don't know that either made much of an impression except that I remembered I thought it had an interesting premise - a woman becomes a forensic sculptor years after her young daughter, Bonnie, is murdered and the body is never found. Two things happened recently that made me consider these again: 1. During a snow day, I watched The Killing Game movie on Lifetime and enjoyed it. (To my knowledge a movie of book 1 hasn't been made.) 2. I discovered this series is now 20 +/- books in. As I own both books 1 and 2, I decided to give them a re-read to see if I wanted to continue. Book 1 is a hot mess. There are so many crazy, implausible parts to it I think the addition of a unicorn might make it more believable. The Killing Game is significantly better but still had way too many TSTL moments combined with unlikely scenarios for me to enjoy it. My biggest issue with both is the way Eve is written. I get annoyed with an author when in order to make her lead female character a "strong woman" she writes her as a a petulant, foot stomping, I must get my way toddler. As the reader, I'm predisposed to like Eve - a women who works tirelessly to put names and faces to lost children in hopes of someday finding her daughter's body. So it took some effort on Johansen's part to make me dislike Eve as much as I did. And don't get me started on the men in her life... I now remember why I didn't continue with this series.
June 2, 2009
This is the first book with forensic sculpter, Eve Duncan. Wow, what a tough lady. This woman could truly be a roll model for young women once they've finished with the Nancy Drew series.
I loved the book. I'm listening to another by Iris Johansen concurrently, almost through with that one, too. I've also ordered another one of hers from the library.
Eve grew up as a bastard child of a stoned mother. Her child was also a bastard, but led the way to both Eve and her mother getting their acts together. The daughter, Bonnie, was kidnapped and persumed killed. Eve's goal in life is to bring her daughter's bones home. She calls these missing children the lost ones. Bonnie appears to her mother.
Now that you've heard a little about Eve, please realize that this thread is just background for an extremely exciting mystery series.
I loved the book. I'm listening to another by Iris Johansen concurrently, almost through with that one, too. I've also ordered another one of hers from the library.
Eve grew up as a bastard child of a stoned mother. Her child was also a bastard, but led the way to both Eve and her mother getting their acts together. The daughter, Bonnie, was kidnapped and persumed killed. Eve's goal in life is to bring her daughter's bones home. She calls these missing children the lost ones. Bonnie appears to her mother.
Now that you've heard a little about Eve, please realize that this thread is just background for an extremely exciting mystery series.
April 18, 2017
I thought Logan was a creep and it drove me up the wall that Johansen was trying to make him and Eve romantically entangled. And I was furious when Logan and Joe have that secret meeting where they decide who gets to sleep with Eve and when. Disgusting. This is a book where the female protagonist keeps proclaiming that she's not a victim but keeps proving that she is one. Sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
Definitely a book to make you think and go hmmm.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
Definitely a book to make you think and go hmmm.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
June 26, 2020
This was my first Iris Johansen novel. I decided to begin with the Eve Duncan series because I had heard good things. I enjoyed the story as a whole, however, I did have a couple of peeves about the writing. I’ve noticed many have mentioned that Johansen’s style of writing dialogue can become confusing and I did notice that. I also felt that Eve’s conversations with her deceased daughter occurred more than I thought was necessary and that Bonnie’s vocabulary usage seemed advanced for her, making it somewhat difficult for me to picture a child speaking those words.
Overall, interesting concept with the plot. I know I’m way behind on this series. I will probably give book #2 a shot.
Overall, interesting concept with the plot. I know I’m way behind on this series. I will probably give book #2 a shot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2014
I very much wanted to give this book 4 stars...but was barely able to give it 3. The storyline was very good, and got me through the book. Eve is hired to put a face on a skull, and the revelations throughout the book keep the surprises and suspense going up until the end. I'd give the storyline a 4, easily.
However, this is the 3rd "Eve Duncan" book I've read, and I have to give the characters a 1...at best. I want to like Eve, but she is unbelievably annoying. Perhaps it's Johansen's experience with writing romance novels (which I hate, btw), but for the main character of a series of books, whose basically supposed to be the hero, she comes off constantly as pathetic and weak, and always needing a man to come in and take care of her. And her responses to people are more like those of a child, pushing people away and doing the exact opposite of what they ask her, just to spite them, even if it's not the action that makes sense.
Finally, every character in the book is CONSTANTLY telling everyone else they need to get away and uninvolved, because it's not safe...and no one ever listens. They won't get uninvolved when told by someone else, yet they get frustrated and annoyed when others they ask do exactly the same thing...and this is an ongoing theme throughout the books. It's like reading about a bunch of children in adult bodies and dangerous adult situations. It's amazing any of them survives, since they're constantly sabotaging themselves. I found myself consistently wanting to reach into the books and strangle them all, they're that annoying. Only the storyline got me through, and I find myself conflicted. Johansen comes up with great stories and ongoing suspense, so I'd love to read the rest of the books in the series...yet I'm not sure I can take the constant whining from all the characters without actually being able to strangle them, or at least smack the and yell at them to GROW UP and grow a pair.
All the complaining about the characters aside, I will say that the story itself made this book worth reading.
However, this is the 3rd "Eve Duncan" book I've read, and I have to give the characters a 1...at best. I want to like Eve, but she is unbelievably annoying. Perhaps it's Johansen's experience with writing romance novels (which I hate, btw), but for the main character of a series of books, whose basically supposed to be the hero, she comes off constantly as pathetic and weak, and always needing a man to come in and take care of her. And her responses to people are more like those of a child, pushing people away and doing the exact opposite of what they ask her, just to spite them, even if it's not the action that makes sense.
Finally, every character in the book is CONSTANTLY telling everyone else they need to get away and uninvolved, because it's not safe...and no one ever listens. They won't get uninvolved when told by someone else, yet they get frustrated and annoyed when others they ask do exactly the same thing...and this is an ongoing theme throughout the books. It's like reading about a bunch of children in adult bodies and dangerous adult situations. It's amazing any of them survives, since they're constantly sabotaging themselves. I found myself consistently wanting to reach into the books and strangle them all, they're that annoying. Only the storyline got me through, and I find myself conflicted. Johansen comes up with great stories and ongoing suspense, so I'd love to read the rest of the books in the series...yet I'm not sure I can take the constant whining from all the characters without actually being able to strangle them, or at least smack the and yell at them to GROW UP and grow a pair.
All the complaining about the characters aside, I will say that the story itself made this book worth reading.
August 29, 2012
I kept thinking this was going to get better, but about 3/4 of the way through I finally gave up. The premise was ridiculous, the main character was grating and the dialog was clunky.
April 5, 2021
I did not connect with the cast in this book.
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