"EVE," by Iris Johansen, St. Martin's Press, $27.99, 378 pages (f)
Imagine what it would be like to lose a child. Now, imagine what it would be like to have that child taken from you and not know who did it. "Eve," the first in a trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen, sets the stage for that very situation.
Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor, has only one mission in life: to help other families cope with their losses as she is trying to cope with hers. Eve's daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her years ago with no answers as to her whereabouts or if she's even alive. After all this time, Eve is coming to the conclusion that her daughter must be dead.
When she discovers that a man from her past could hold the answers to her daughter's disappearance, however, Eve has renewed hope and is determined to hunt him down. But this search will not be without complications. After all, this man, John Gallo, is Bonnie's father — a man Eve had also presumed was dead.
From here, Eve's mission will not just be about finding her daughter, but also coming to terms with the turbulent relationship she had with John. And she will have to do that while also protecting those she now loves. When another man from her past — this time a madman — surfaces as well, Eve finds herself partnering with John. But has she made a deal with the devil himself?
The premise of the story is one that will instantly appeal to fans of thriller novels, and for those familiar with other titles in the series, this book will provide some welcome answers to Eve's past. For more than a decade, Johansen has been building to this moment and yet even for those new to the character, they will easily pick up on the storyline.
For those unfamiliar with Johansen's work, take heed. Her descriptions are frank, and she has a no-holds-barred approach to what her villains are capable of. This may not be the book for those uncomfortable with being inside the mind of a child predator or who shy away from violent descriptions.
The section that goes back to Eve's earlier life and her meeting John Gallo also needs a disclaimer. It's effective in that we see some of her motivations for her future career and some of the struggles, especially in her relationship with a drug-addict mother. This was one of the most interesting parts of the book as far as character development was concerned, but was filled with many graphic scenes regarding Eve and John's relationship.
But Johansen is a good storyteller and knows how to move her plot along. Her characters are solid, and overall she does her job.
Kim Grant is the author of two novels and has been a freelance writer for eight years. Her website is www.kcgrant.com.