Review: The Face Of Deception by Iris Johansen

Title: The Face of Deception

Author: Iris Johansen
Publisher: Coronet

Publishing Date:  October 6th, 1998

Pages: 326
Genre: Adult Mystery Thriller

Series:  Eve Duncan
Source:  Audio

 

         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 read this book a while back. Over ten years ago and I never did finish the series. So I decided to start from the beginning and start over. I remember I loved the book when I first read it and figured I would love it again. And I did. It was just as good as I remembered it. I love the characters in this series and I enjoyed getting to know them once again. I really enjoyed the story and the mystery. It is a well written mystery thriller. 

Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor, something she started after her daughter, Bonnie went missing. Now on the hunt to one day find her missing daughter's body, she takes jobs identifying skulls. The latest one has been forced upon her by John Logan. One she would of loved to refused but really didn't have an option. Unfortunately this skull comes with danger and secrets. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read with many intense moments and some pretty humorous moments. I felt the writing was well done and I was able to sink myself deep into the story. I do feel it could have been a bit more involved at times, a little more focus on developing the characters, but there was enough there to keep me interested and happy. 

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the characters. I do feel there could have been a bit more development, but all in all I enjoyed the character interactions. I love the banter and the wit. It was fun getting to know the personalities. I felt the personalities were there, the only thing I feel I needed more of was their history. There was a bit of that there too, but more would have been nice. I feel though with so many books in this series, I will be given more opportunities to get to know the past of these characters. 

The story was very interesting too. Even though this was my second time reading this book, I really didn't remember much beyond the characters of this book. So the mystery and the thrills were all basically new to me and it had a strong hold on me. It was very fast paced which I loved and I really didn't know what was going on til the ending. 

The forensic sculpting was very interesting and I loved being in Eve's head as she worked. That is a big part of what draws me into this book. Beyond the current mystery of who this skull belonged too... we have the mystery of Bonnie. So really there is a short and sweet mystery and an long living mystery. Both are very enticing. 

There really isn't romance much in this story yet... but it's building. Now since this was a reread for me I know where it is heading but for those that have not read this book.... there is a bit of a love triangle building. It doesn't last long... by the second book I know she chooses.... but this book has the potential one in the midst. The book doesn't focus on the romance... so I was able to get through the triangle part. 

This book really had everything I remember loving about it and everything I need in my mystery thrillers. I loved it from beginning to end. A page turner. I couldn't put it down for the second time in my life. 

A very good read for me. I loved it. 

Iris 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