Long After Midnight Reviews

• Not impressed with kate

  
  By ABG3ZHJGFI26W on 2002-01-24
  The character of Kate grated on my nerves! In spite of all that had happened showing the law couldn't help her, she was naive enough to think "the system will work". Seth is a man who is an absolute expert at keeping people safe, a man who would never back down. Yet she fights him at every turn. "You can't tell me what to do" or "I'll do what I want". She needs to remember she has a family to protect and stop acting like a willful child!
  
  

• Absolutely Amazing

  
  By A1SO4JFSRGKRFB on 2000-05-25
  This is the first of Johansen's books that I have read. It was absolutely amazing, although I still think they should have killed the guy on the lawn when they had the chance. Although that would have been the end of the story and the rest would have been rather boring. Great book! I loved it, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Johansen's work.
  
  

• Johansen is obsessed with showers

  
  By A1A8MUCKWC6K1R on 2004-08-09
  The characters in this book are forever taking showers. When they're not taking showers, they are either planning to take a shower, wishing they could take a shower, or telling each other to take a shower.
  
  Why in the world does she make the main character, Kate, a scant *29* years old?? It's ridiculous. Not only does she have an MD, she has at least one PhD. And she has managed to reach the top of her field by 29. But wait, there's more! She also, during all this achievement, managed to squeeze out a baby at the tender age of TWENTY, and then raise it. Uh huh.
  
  Why does Johansen not just make Kate 39, and be a bit more realistic on all counts? There is a hint early on when Kate muses that Benny, her ex-husband's new girlfriend, is only 23, which makes her so much more attractive than elderly Kate. ARGH! Clearly, Johansen does not think a woman can be attractive at the advanced age of 39. *snore* How ridiculous.
  
  

• Mystery Better Than Sex?

  
  By A2E9Q3T876TQ6C on 2005-04-28
  As far as I know, Iris Johansen has only written a few books in the mystery genre but numerous of the romance variety (ok, so they may have been hot and steamy, but the mysteries have much better story lines!). In my opinion, all of these mystery tomes are fantastic and I highly recommend each and every one of them! If I had to pick a favorite one, I'd be hard pressed, as each are unique and utterly captivating. I finished LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT and loved it! Was it better than UGLY DUCKLING or FACE OF DECEPTION or THE KILLING GAME or AND THEN YOU DIE? I can't make that decision but I can tell you that each one of these kept me intrigued until the very end.
  
  In LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT, Kate Denby a doctor of genetic research is an unwilling target for competitors who are willing to kill in order to stop the completion of a drug that will change the world. Noah Smith, of J and S Pharmaceuticals, approached Kate to go to work for him and refuses to take no for an answer. The opposition doesn't know or care that she's turned him down. When her ex-husband is killed in a car bombing right in front of her, not so soon after Noah's plant is blasted, she begins to suspect that something is wrong. This begins the story of her run in order to save not only her life, but also that of her young son, Joshua. Iris Johansen throws in a few love entanglements with Kate, Noah and Seth, Noah's best friend. Seth has the responsibility of helping to keep them safe while Noah and Kate try to finish work on RU2, the wonder drug of the future. This is enough to make a wonderful story, but Johansen doesn't stop there. She throws into the mix a diabolical creature named Ishmaru who enjoys scalping his victims. Kate defeats Ishmaru once, but he's on her trail and uses Joshua's safety to play head games with Kate.
  
  When things seemed to level out to a steady rhythm, Johansen hurled an obstacle to create another dimension - a realm I hadn't even thought existed. I don't think you'll ever really figure out the entire plot and subplots included in this book until the very end. I thought I had everything worked out in my head and then BAM - a major zigzag was added that gave even more depth to the tale.
  
  Iris Johansen has a unique style and you will always be thrown off by an unexpected twist in the book (usually towards the end of it). This is what makes her mysteries more enticing than most writers - she's always trying to keep the reader on his/her toes.
  
  This is definitely a "stop light book" and you'll lose sleep trying to finish this one! An absolute must for your summer reading list! By the way, if you haven't read my definition of a stop light book, it's in my review of UGLY DUCKLING by this same author.
  
  
  

• WHAT HAPPENED TO CLIMAX?

  
  By ARO3N155A29QT on 2005-08-23
  This book was really good. It had me considering ways in which the characters were going to "get rid of" the bad guy, but the ending really let me down. There was no swinging-up to a big climax. That's why I gave it only 3 stars. Most times the ending can either make or break a story. This one just shot it right down.
  
  
• Very Suspenseful, Love The Characters So Much I Want More Of Them
  By A2B52XN1VH9W3R on 2006-01-10
  Long After Midnight is only the second novel by Iris Johansen I have gotten around to reading. I loved everything about this book. Kate was a very likeable character. She was strong but towards the end willing to admit she needed help. Seth was great. At first I thought I wouldn't like him but he turned out to be good guy. Kate ended up with the right guy. Noah was to like herself. Ishmaru was a very creepy bad guy. The whole Indian mysticism was kind of scary coming from him. Some people take things to far. The only thing that wasn't plausible was RU2, it seems kind of unbelieveable. But all and all it was a very suspenseful journey.
  
  
• Long After Midnight is the best book. It is a must read/
  By on 1998-12-02
  Long After Midnight is the best book I have ever read in my entire life. It was suspenseful and very unpredictable. Iris' other books are great too. If you enjoy this book you will also enjoy The Ugly Duckling and And Then You Die. They are both by Iris Johansen. They are worth reading. If you like the way Iris Johansen writes then you should also read a book by Thami Hoag. She is equally as good. I hope that you enjoy this suspensful book as much as I did!
  
  
• Suspense, romance and strong characters!
  By A2WK9EAV2T6144 on 2003-10-12
  Johansen has really provided some fabulous reads and this one is no different. The story grabs you and pulls you in at the very beginning and you just don't want to put it down...even after the last page.
  The characters are strong, the story intersting, the plot flows smoothly and there is just the right touch of sensuality to sizzle. Keep up the great writing...
  
  
• Re Audio version of Long After Midnight
  By A10Q0UV64NANCZ on 2005-11-05
  I found the abridged reading of Long After Midnight to be a tense twisty thriller with plenty of action. The reading by Carolyn McCormick- best known as Dr. Olivet on Law and Order- is right on. She is able to capture the drama of this medical thriller without being over the top.
  I liked the main character Kate Denton and found her reactions to be believable, Seth the mercenary who protects her is the typical romance alpha male with the soft spot for the woman he is protecting. I liked Seth - he does not take any guff and barrels along removing all obstacles that come at them.
  The underlying storyline is that Kate is approached by a scientific genius who has developed the ultimate drug- RU2 can cure everything. Only problem- he needs a delivery system to make sure it can get to the cells in your body that are diseased. Kate has that system. When they team up the forces of big business, the mafia and the government all come after them. Nobody wants the ultimate cure all on the market- it would destroy the pharmaceutical industry, as an illegal substance it has potential for untold profits.
  Great thriller- perfect for a good long car ride!
  
  
• Excellent end
  By A2RPIGO3G4M6GN on 2006-02-15
  You'll get hooked since the first page and you wouldn't be able to put it down till you finish it. All the time you'll think that Kate is kind of ruthless. But at the unexpected end you'll see all the truth about her and her heart. Six stars for IJ.
  
  
• BUY THIS BOOK!!! YOU WON'T WANT TO PUT IT DOWN!!!
  By on 1999-09-15
  everyone who is a fan of iris johansen has GOT the read this!! even if you aren't start!!! "The Ugly Duckling" was good too!! i can't wait to get "The Killing Game"!!! "The Face of Deception" was great too!!!!!
  
  
• This is her best!
  By on 1999-03-16
  I have only read 3 of Johansen's books but I would rank this one the best. It was so inspirational to me. I have the greatest interest in joining CIA now. I have always wanted to do spying and such and this totally motivated me. I couldn't put this book down. The characters were described so well that I felt as if I knew them. Johansen's mix of mystery, suspense, action and romance is incredible. I found that television was no longer interesting to me. This book played out in my mind. If I were to suggest any book in the whole world for someone to read it would be this one. The end of this one was satisfying. I would love to have it go on but I was satisfied with the end. I didn't HAVE to know more. READ IT!!!
  
  
• Long After Midnight is a suspence novel.
  By on 1999-09-15
  +AH4-Kate Denby lives a comfortable life with her son and ex-mother-in-law. Sure, her marriage has fallen apart, and there are protesters ready to pounce her outside her lab, but it's stable. She needs the stability. Suddenly her "comfortable" life blows up in her face, and she is whisked away with what is left of her family to save herself and mankind. An always, Iris Johansen captivates her reader. There is a mix of science fiction and suspense. The novel is, as tami Hoag puts best,+AH4-+AH4- "Intense, hold-your-breath suspense."

  Suspense+AH4-
  
  

• An excellent, fun read
  By A38VVOTC7EG8YM on 1998-02-18
  A thoroughly enjoyable book, well written, with well-developed characters. Nicely paced.
  
  
• May've been better if I'd read it and avoided abridged!
  By on 2000-09-20
  I had a really hard time connecting with the plot when I listened to the abridged version. I would NOT recommend it. I'm going to try reading it and see if it gets any better. Was upset that Noah died as well. I also thought Kate was a little annoying I would have let him kill Ishmaru. She should really feel responsible for all those other deaths.
  
  
• Iris Johansen is great!
  By A3HHAY6HUL9RBD on 2003-01-29
  I discovered Iris Johansen through her newest book "Body of Lies" and found that I really enjoyed her writing. "Long After Midnight" is definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time -- a real page turner. No spoilers! Read it for yourself. If you want action, suspense, romance (just a little), and great characters, read "Long After Midnight", and if you haven't read "Body of Lies"...It's great too!
  
  
• Iris Johansen, you got me hooked on your books!
  By AB8NSJFV2OTEP on 2003-03-05
  Awesome book. Great, original plot. A page turner from the start.
  
  
• So similar with Ugly Duckling and And Then You Die
  By A2PTAVMY8RXKR4 on 2005-07-13
  After reading the other 2 I mentioned, this was just not so exciting and nerve racking.
  
  In all fairness, I think it is a good read and a reviewer mentioned about how unrealistic it is that Kate Denby is 29 and has all these degrees, well it is all explained in page 8.
  
  
  
  
• Best Book I've read...Ever!
  By on 1999-12-31
  What a store teller Iris is in this book. It scared me, but I couldn't put it down. Very fast pace and keeps you on the edge of your sit. I only discovered this author 6 months ago, but have since read all of her books. Content definitely improves from earlier writings. I anxiously await the next novel by Iris!
  
  
• Silly characters, not easy to follow plot
  By on 1999-08-30
  I'm struggling to get through this book now, although I'm not sure why I just don't put it down. The kid, Joshua, drives me nuts; a totally unbelievable personality and comments from him. Kate is supposed to be this strong woman, but she usually has no idea what to do, easily is bullied and manipulated, and sappy. I guess I just don't like the author's style (sort of a blend of Barbara Cartland, Danielle Steele, and Sidney Sheldon), so will avoid her books in the future.
  
  
• Unintriguing ScienceGoneWrong Story With Boring Protagonist
  By on 1999-06-27
  Much of this book has our "heroine" gazing down at her son fondly & thinking "Oh, Joshua", with which we're supposed to be touched or possibly relate. She had all the punch and complexity of June Cleaver at Sunday services. The male characters were comprised of pure ethnicist cliche, and of course they were all impressed with our 2-d "heroine's" good looks. So in essence the plot goes like this: a vapid and attractive widowed mother gets embroiled in some shady technology drama which her husband had been involved in. She helplessly shrieks and maternally frets for her son and falls in love with the good guy, so predictably that I wanted to cry for the trees that needlessly died to make this MadeForTVMovie style of a novel. Definitely one of the lamest piles of pulp I've yet encountered.
  
  
• BUY THIS BOOK!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!
  By on 1999-06-20
  This was the 1st book by IRIS JOHANSEN that I have read and it blew me away. I am a seasoned reader. I have very high expectations from the material that I read. This story was great! Her style of writing reminded me of SIDNEY SHELDON who I consider a master! Her story was smart and unpredictable. I loved it!
  
  
• Not that great
  By on 1998-06-04
  The book had some exciting moments...but it was way too complicated for me. The characters seemed two-dimensional, and the plot kept jumping around. I think the book would have been a lot better, and certainly more suspenceful, if it had stuck with just two alternating viewpoints, Kate Denby's and Ishmaru's, who is the madman assigned to kill her. Ishmaru was a very interesting villian...he would have been great in a John Sandford book.
  
  
• This book was a true page turner!
  By on 1998-06-26
  This is the only book I have read by Iris Johansen and I can not wait to read more by her. Long After Midnight kept me up reading long past midnight. This book is a MUST READ by any reader who loves a good mystery!
  
  
• To Be Read Before Mid-night
  By on 2001-02-14
  Fantastic book. One that the reader will not be able to put down. It keeps the reader on the edge. Mystery at its best!
  
  
• Abridged tape turns book into a Saturday morning cartoon
  By A2THU56YB588IA on 2001-04-27
  It hardly seems fair that my rating of the abridged tape of this book should be put into the same pool with the ratings of those who read the book. Based on the volume of strong and positive reviews for the book on paper, something must have been lost (big time) in the abridgement for tape. What I heard can only be described as a adult cartoon played by two-dimensional characters in a fantasy. Bottom-line: Save your money and buy the book in paper.
  
  
• A HIT!!
  By on 2002-01-08
  This author occasionally misses but this one is a hit (check out UGLY DUCKLING or AND THEN YOU DIE but avoid THE SEARCH). Our heroine is blessed with two hunky heroes in this book. Of course one of them is trouble with a capital "T" which is the one I wanted her to choose. A definite alpha male - who can resist? Since I'm a Linda Howard/Anne Stuart fan, I couldn't. This book has it all - a scary villian, fast paced action, interesting plot with just enough surprises and, as I stated above, two hunky men. You won't be disappointed. Another book I would recommend is LONE RIDER by Lauren Bach. Ladies, this one is HOT.
  
  
• Excellent and Enjoyable!
  By on 1999-06-30
  I loved this book! I never read this author's work before but I will now. I really enjoyed just about every page. I totally loved the guy the main character fell in love with. I was really pleased with the ending. However the only criticism I have is that the main character was sort of annoying. Her sarcasm was not becoming and she did a few stupid things throughout the book. It's definitely worth it though cause the book is spectacular!
  
  
• I loved this book!
  By on 1999-03-16
  This is the third book that I have read by Johansen and I think it was my 2nd favorite. I love her writing, it always keeps me thinking. I couldn't put any of her books down. The reason I only give it 4 stars is because I wasn't to impressed with the end. I wanted to read about the wedding. I wanted to know what happened with RU2 and if it was allowed in the states. I was curious as to if it helped Kate's father. I really wish there were a sequal to this one.
  
  
• This book was excellent. It was very captivating.
  By on 1999-03-07
  You know a book is a great book when you identify with the characters so much that you do not want the book to end, because you feel as if the characters are part of your life. That is this book. Kudos to Johansen for bringing Kate, Noah, Seth, Phyliss and Joshua to life. It is unfortunate what happened to Noah, however Kate couldn't have them both and Seth was the obvious choice!...This was the first Iris Johansen book I have read, but you can bet I will be reading another. I hope the quality of her other books hold my unwavering attention as much as Long After Midnight did.
  
  

• The Killing Game (Eve Duncan)
• The Ugly Duckling
• And Then You Die
• The Face of Deception (Eve Duncan)
• Final Target