The Killing Game: An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller

The Game Continues (5 starsAdmittedly, I was a littleconcerned when I first started "The Killing Game"; within thefirst half of the book, I was unsure if I wanted to finish it. Following the discovery of an aged mass grave in Talladega, Alabama, which includes the bones of a child, Eve, who was asked to reconstruct the skull of the child victim, is contacted by the man claiming responsibility, who calls himself Dom. Dom calls her repeatedly, tormenting and taunting her, claiming that (in addition to the Talladega murders) he had also killed Eve's daughter, Bonnie. He threatens that another child, named Jane, will die in homage to Bonnie, as will Eve in an effort to save Jane. The intensity of Dom's taunting of Eve to this point was painful; I was hesitant to explore the extent to which he would use Bonnie's memory to manipulate and exploit Eve's vulnerability and fragility, but I kept going....Eve must find and protect Jane, a street urchin who is as tough as she and nearly as closed-off from affection and love. Accompanied by her stalwart friend, Joe Quinn (and with the distant assistance of John Logan from "The Face of Deception"), Eve rescues Jane and begins following the game-board created by Dom, in order to save them all and to learn to live again.Johansen has found a winning formula with Eve Duncan. Fans of the series will love this latest installment; new readers may want to look to her earlier stories on Eve Duncan, as "The Killing Game" doesn't offer much history, which is so critical to Eve now. I took to the series initially finding the details of forensic sculpting intriguing, but with each improving novel, I care more about Eve Duncan and her happiness. This work relied less on the nature of her occupation, focusing more on her motivations and how her past has shaped her present. I too want Eve to bring Bonnie home (or otherwise find some peace with it) and to open herself to love and affection. "The Killing Game", beyond its darkness, casts promising light on her future. Bonnie approves. END

I have read all of Iris Johansen's books and have enjoyed every one of them. In THE KILLING GAME, she has surpassed all the others. The reader's attention is caught in the first few pages and gripped tightly throughout the remainder of the book. I resented any interruption while "buried" in this book. Johansen allows the reader wider access to Eve Duncan's thought processes and "roller-coaster" emotions as she continues her search for the remains of her daughter, Bonnie, with the assistance and support of her loyal friends, John Logan and Joe Quinn. Quinn's relationship with Duncan is heated up a notch, which makes the characters even more realistic. The addition to the cast of characters of street-wise, tenacious little Jane MacGuire, crusty, reclusive Sarah Parker, and lovable Monty is icing on the cake. This is a MUST READ for Johansen fans!

A story that has you reading non stop from front to back. Characters are well developed, and it feels as if you know them. You will fall in love with each character (love 'em or hate 'em) you just can't resist. When you think you've just found out who the killer is,twists are thrown in and your kept guessing. You feel every emotion that a human being could feel, and are disappointed when it has ended. Absolutely compelling.

One of Iris Johansen's best books yet...I was up all night to finish this book, the store is a definite page turner!