Author Iris Johansen is a prolific writer of over 100 books. She began with romance novels in the early 1980s and eventually moved to suspense/thriller novels. Many of her books are standalone thrillers and historical romance novels, which include quite a few short series (two or three books).
Johansen is best known for her Eve Duncan forensic thriller series which, to date, includes 31 books. The series began in 1998 with The Face of Deception. Her main character, forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, reconstructs faces to solve crimes, especially those involving missing children. The book, Shattered Mirror, is Book #23 in the 31-book series, and was published in 2018.
Genre: Murder/Thriller: Includes romantic suspense with a touch of the paranormal.
Place Setting: The action primarily takes place near Atlanta, Georgia, with side scenes in New York City and New Orleans.
Main Character: Eve Duncan, Forensic Sculptor
Secondary Characters: All of her family (husband, son, adopted daughter, their Scottish friend who has been featured in several earlier Eve Duncan novels), plus several additional characters, some likable, some not.
Synopsis of Shattered Mirror
Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan Book 23)Check Price
As the story begins, Eve Duncan receives a beautifully-wrapped package which contains a skull and a two-sided mirror with one side broken. Eve feels compelled to reconstruct this skull and uncover the person’s identity in hopes of learning why the skull was given to her with no explanation, and what purpose the scattered mirror holds.
As she finishes, she discovers the skull is that of a beautiful woman, but her identity remains unknown. Shortly thereafter, her adopted daughter arrives from college for a visit, bringing her roommate home with her. Shockingly, the visiting roommate is an exact match to the newly reconstructed skull and it turns out that the roommate is her identical twin.
Searching for answers, Eve and her family have to work quickly to discover who is behind the murder of the twin, particularly because more of Eve’s family is now threatened by the killer who is willing to destroy anyone who gets in the way of him reaching a goal that involves avenging the death of his own twin.
The lethal chase involves several locations, beginning at their home near Atlanta, Georgia and ending in New Orleans.
Summary
This explosive and high-stakes thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat as Eve, her Atlanta police detective husband, Joe, their Scottish friend, their adopted daughter and the daughter’s roommate, and even Eve & Joe’s 6-year-old son, all have roles to play to prevent the deadly danger the family faces.
For More Iris Johansen Book Reviews, Click Here.
For More Book Review, Check out ReviewThisBooks.com
*Book Review of “Shattered Mirror” is written by Wednesday Elf
From the Eve Duncan Series of books:
Eve Duncan Series by Iris Johansen Complete 24 Book Set [see title legend in description]Check PriceIris Johansen 3 Book Set (Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller Series: Taking Eve, Hunting Eve, Silencing Eve)Check Price11 volumes of Eve Duncan Series setCheck Price
![Eve Duncan Series by Iris Johansen Complete 24 Book Set [see title legend in description]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81NAMGtWzQL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
This sounds like an author I must try.
ReplyDeleteI've followed Iris Johansen for years, Mary Beth. Hope you like her books.
DeleteThis sounds like a great book and a fabulous series! I am intrigued by the idea of being able to reconstruct a face by using the skull. I have often wondered how accurate the finished image really is. It does sound like the skull in the book may have been sent to Eve solely because of her daughter's friend. That alone would be eerie. How much would a killer have to know about you to even know to send the skull to you.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked for a medical examiner in the past, I found myself fascinated with the field of forensic sculptering. It is well explained in these stories.
DeleteI hadn’t heard the term forensic sculptor before reading this. What a fascinating job! This sounds like a well-crafted thriller that fans of this genre would really enjoy. Interesting that Johansen started as a romance novelist and then expanded to murder mysteries, like one of my favorite authors, Nora Roberts/D.J. Robb.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I have discovered several women authors over the years whose mysteries appeal to me. Then later I discover they becan as romance novelists. I have never been one for romance type stories, but Mariah Stewart writes both romance and mysteries extremely well. The world wide web states that Stewart writes 'romancic suspense', so I guess that is more descriptive than mystery. Proved by the fact that I own all her books and have reread them more than twice! The world wide web states that Stewart writes 'romancic suspense', so I guess that is more descriptive than mystery. :) Whichever! I love all her books.
DeleteThis book sounds fantastic. I so admire authors who have committed to their passion to the tune of WHAT! 100 books. Wow, they need to pat themselves on the back for that kind of dedication. I know the most famous do this, but still, wow.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of published books, just like James Patterson. Prolific, for sure. Thanks, Barbara.
DeleteI've never read anything by Iris Johansen. Thanks for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteShe's an interesting author, Brenda. I like her characters and her plots are intriguing. But I sometimes get put off by the way she has her characters be angry so often. It seems unnecessary. But then I get caught up in the plot and have to see how it turns out. Different, but good, as I keep reading her latest each time. LOL.
ReplyDelete