Review: Taking Eve by Iris Johansen

Taking Eve by Iris Johansen

Series: Eve Duncan #18

St. Martin’s Press

April 2013

Format: Hardcover, 384 pages

Source: Library

#1 New York Times
bestselling author Iris Johansen is back with the first book in a
chilling new Eve Duncan trilogy that asks the question: will Eve survive
what lies ahead?

Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan’s mission is to
bring closure to the families whose loved ones have vanished.  She knows
their anguish—her own beloved daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her when
Bonnie was just seven years old.  It is only recently that this mystery
was resolved and Eve could begin her journey to peace.  Now, Jim Doane
wants the same kind of answers that Eve always longed for.  His
twenty-five-year old son may or may not be dead and he has only burned
skull fragments as possible evidence.  But he cannot go to the police
for answers without risking his own secrets and dark past, so instead he
chooses a bold step to find the truth—a truth that takes Eve down a
twisted path of madness and evil and into the darkest heart of her own
history.  Doane needs Eve Duncan’s skills and he’ll do anything to get
them.

Even if it means taking Eve.

My thoughts: Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series is one of my all-time favorite series…I’ve read every book in the series, along with most of her stand-alones, and was excited to see another set of 3 books being released this year. When Iris Johansen released her last mini-trilogy (Eve, Quinn, Bonnie) – a series within a series –  I decided to wait until I could get all three books and then I read them back-to-back. This time around, I was too excited to wait to start reading the books, but the waiting for the next book is killing me!

What I love about this series is that Iris Johansen brings together old characters and new in each of her books. Now that the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Eve’s daughter has been solved, Eve can focus her energies on work. She’s looking forward to spending some time with her adopted daughter, Jane and her beau, Joe, but it looks like circumstances are preventing the family get-together. First, Joe is called out of town on a case, and then Jane gets diverted when her dog suddenly becomes ill. Is it just life getting in the way or is someone causing these delays, especially in Jane’s case? 

It seems a father is desperate for Eve to reconstruct his son’s skull. He’s done his research – two years of carefully learning everything about Eve – and now he’s on the move. He manages to kidnap Eve and takes her someplace where she can work on the skull. Will Eve be able to get away from this man before he harms her? Why is he so insistent that she reconstruct this skull?

The tension and suspense in this book keep you glued to the pages. I had a hard time putting this one down and managed to read it in two sittings! There are so many questions that come up about the many different situations playing out throughout the book and you as the reader are left hanging…luckily I already have the next book on reserve at the library and just need to patiently wait until it comes in.

How do you feel about series that have books released in a short time frame? Do you read each one as it comes out or do you wait to read them all together?

Books in this series:

1. The Face of Deception              13.  Quicksand
2. The Killing Game                         14.  Blood Game
3. The Search                                     15.  Eight Days to Live
4. Body of Lies                                   16.  Chasing the Night
5. No One to Trust                            17.  Sleep No More
6. Dead Aim                                        18.  Taking Eve
7. Fatal Tide                                        19.  Hunting Eve – due out Jul 2013
8. Blind Alley                                     20.  Silencing Eve – due out Oct 2013
9. Countdown                                   
10. Killer Dreams 
11. Stalemate
12. Pandora’s Daughter