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

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Title: Uncommon Criminals
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Publishing Date: June 21st 2011
Pages: 298
Genre: YA Mystery/Crime
Series: Heist Society #2
Source: Audio Book

Goodreads Summary:

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.


There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed.


Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Review:

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the Heist Society Series. I absolutely loved the first one. This one did not disappoint me. If possible, I liked it more than the first book.

The story continues for Katarina, she is on a hunt for stolen objects so that she can return them to the rightful families. She has been all over collecting what she can. She’s approached by an elderly woman who claims the Cleopatra Emerald was stolen when it was discovered and the now she wants it returned to the rightful owners, her family. She enlists Kat for the job. It’s going to be a hard job to pull off so Kat turns to her friends. They plan the heist, but when it comes down to it, things go wrong and things fall apart… not to mention there is a con in play, one that was not expected.

I adore Kat, she is witty, snarky, independent, and steals for the good side. She is loyal and has a good heart. The only problem with Kat, she doesn’t know when to say no or enough is enough and seems to land herself in trouble or and over again. It’s a good thing she has her friend, Hale and her cousin, Gabrielle and of course the rest of the gang. I love Hale, what’s not to love. He is smooth, funny, and oh so cute. Sometimes I want to knock Kat in the head and ask her what she’s thinking. I mean Hale… Go For It! We get to see more of Gabrielle in this book, at least I felt that I was able to get to know her a little more and I do love her. She is such a good addition to the gang. She is not afraid to put herself out there and use her assets. The entire gang does come back and it is so much fun to see them all in action. With friends that are masterminds and criminals, life is always interesting.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and my mouth hanging open. I could not believe all the twists and turns, the moments of breath holding, and the relationship ups and downs. I am amazed at what all can happen in such a short book. I had a blast with Kat. I can’t wait to see what’s next in her life of “good” crime.

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Review: Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

Title: Evil Genius
Author: Catherine Jinks
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: May 1st 2007
Pages: 552
Genre: Young Adult, , Crime/Mystery 
Series: Genius #1
Source: Hardcover


Goodreads Summary:


Cadel Piggott has a genius IQ and a fascination with systems of all kinds. At seven, he was illegally hacking into computers. Now he’s fourteen and studying for his World Domination degree, taking classes like embezzlement, misinformation, forgery, and infiltration at the institute founded by criminal mastermind Dr. Phineas Darkkon. Although Cadel may be advanced beyond his years, at heart he’s a lonely kid. When he falls for the mysterious and brilliant Kay-Lee, he begins to question the moral implications of his studies for the first time. But is it too late to stop Dr. Darkkon from carrying out his evil plot?


An engrossing thriller with darkness and humor, freaks and geeks, Evil Genius explores the fine line between good and evil in a strange world of manipulations and subterfuge where nothing is as it seems.


Review:


I have had this on my TBR list for quite a while. A couple of years and just now found time to check it out. It was a good book. It was humorous read but also a very suspenseful read.

Cadel has been a genius all his life. He is adopted and his adoptive parents are not sure what to do with him. Cadel’s problem is he gets bored. Normal everyday stuff just does not keep his interest. He has skipped a couple of grades and really doesn’t have any friends. After being busted for hacking, his adoptive parents take him to a shrink and then enroll him in a private school. His shrink is a little off and doesn’t seem to have a problem with his hacking and nuisance crimes. He actually encourages them. Cadel graduates at a very young age and enrolls in a college that the shrink advises. That’s when things really start to happen. Before Cadel knows what’s going on he is thrown into a mess of murder, treachery, and lies.


I did have fun with this book; my only complaints are that I always saw Cadel as the 7 year old boy the book starts off with. By the end of the book he is 14 years of age but still acts and thinks (emotionally not mentally) like a 7 year old boy. I think he would have matured some. The other problem I had was the summary of the book states that book is about Cadel when he is 14; over half of the book is from ages 7-13. It seemed the beginning of the book was more for middle age and the end of the book for young adult.


I will however, continue to read the series because of the ending. The book ended on a very high note for me. There were some things in the book I could see coming but some were kept as surprises. The trouble never seems to cease for Cadel and I must finish the series to see how it all wraps up.


Rating: 

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Date: February 9th 2010
Pages: 287
Genre: Young Adult,  Crime Mystery 
Series: Heist Society #1
Source: Hardcover 

Goodreads Summary:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Review:

This book was exciting, thrilling, and a little bit emotional for me. I have to admit I am a softy and found myself really touched in some parts.

The book is about a teenage girl, Kat, who wants nothing more than to escape the life of crime her family has always been involved in. Seems simple enough and she was doing a great job until her father is suspected of robbing a mob boss. Now Kat has to involve herself once again in the family business and pull off the biggest job of her life. With the help of her family and friends, she puts the plan together and into action.

I found myself really engaged in this story. It was fun to see how all the young con artists minds work and how all the puzzle pieces fit together. It was thrilling to be on this side of the crime. Most of the books I read are from the good guys point of view not the bad guys. Even though Kat is attempting a huge robbery, I couldn’t help but root for her.

Kat is a good girl, she really doesn’t want to live the life of crime, but one the one thing that means more than a crime-free life to her is family. She may have not grown up with the best father, but she loves him. She will do what is needed to save him. She is smart, lovable, and witty. I pictured her as a girl next door with a tendency to be devious. She learns more that what she has bargained for in this story, and soon finds her abnormal gifts to pull off cons may have a purpose after all.

This book had me laughing out loud one moment and tearing up in the next all while on the edge of my seat. I am really looking forward to reading the next installment.

Rating: