The Killing Game (Eve Duncan) Reviews

• The Killing Game is a real killer!

  
  By AGHBUM8B9V5FZ on 2000-05-16
  I have read all of Iris Johansen's books and have enjoyed every one of them. In THE KILLING GAME, she has surpassed all the others. The reader's attention is caught in the first few pages and gripped tightly throughout the remainder of the book. I resented any interruption while "buried" in this book. Johansen allows the reader wider access to Eve Duncan's thought processes and "roller-coaster" emotions as she continues her search for the remains of her daughter, Bonnie, with the assistance and support of her loyal friends, John Logan and Joe Quinn. Quinn's relationship with Duncan is heated up a notch, which makes the characters even more realistic. The addition to the cast of characters of street-wise, tenacious little Jane MacGuire, crusty, reclusive Sarah Parker, and lovable Monty is icing on the cake. This is a MUST READ for Johansen fans!
  
  

• Thrilling roller coaster ride!

  
  By A2OA7NRTBAS0FE on 2002-06-03
  This book deserved 5 stars but I deducted one star because I like "The Face of Deception" and "The Search" better (the 1st and 3rd of this series). The book continues from "The Face of Deception" where Eve, a forensic sculptor is residing in a private island with its owner Logan, attempting to stay away from the media and other disturbances due to her last adventure from the previous novel. However, she ended her temporary tranquil lifestyle and went back to Georgia when her best friend Quinn (a cop) comes across several skeletal remains, one of those a girl. That girl could be Eve's daughter Bonnie, who was killed almost 10 years ago by a serial killer and whose body was never found. Bonnie's killer was executed 10 years ago, but Eve has been receiving calls from someone who claimed he was Bonnie's killer and had eluded capture all these years. Eve's quest to find Bonnie and her attempt to save another child had left her no choice but to fall into the killer's gameplan. With the help of Quinn, Logan, and new friend Sarah along with her search and rescue dog Monty, Eve tries to work through the killer's lies and traps and at the same time win the inner struggle with herself. The ending was twisted and I was shocked at the identity of the killer.

  In this book, the love conflict between Eve, Logan, and Quinn was resolved. Quinn's revelation on his feelings for Eve was very moving and touching. Eve also realized the depth of her emotions for Quinn. What a great couple! Through this sequel, the author explained more about their history and how they deserved each other so much.

  The author shows Eve on a more personal level(compared to The Face of Deception): her quest to find her daughter, her outlook of life, and finding new things to live for. It makes her heroine more vulnerable and human.

  Overall great thriller. Fast paced read. Can't wait for more character development in later novels of this series.
  
  

• Fast read

  
  By AGTAHHZZLALAP on 2000-06-10
  This book is perfect for waiting in line for the ferry or killing time at the airport. It doesn't take a whole lot of concentration and the plot is interesting enough to keep your attention.

  While the title implies some pretty gritty stuff, it turns out this is more of a suspenseful romance novel than a grim murder mystery. Although the heroine is being hunted by while hunting for a serial killer, there aren't tremendously gruesome and gratuituous descriptions of the killings which is a relief.

  The plot is moved along primarily through the use of dialogue which makes for fast and easy reading. And while there aren't a whole lot of surprises in here (I mean does Mel Gibson or Bruce Willis ever actually die in their movies?), the ending was a nice little twist and Johansen does a good job of defining characters deftly with minimum words.

  Not a deep book by any means, but a decent and quick read.
  
  

• Dumb, dumber, dumbest!

  
  By A6DVHVI9YROB0 on 1999-12-08
  This has to be the most unbelievable premise for a book. What a waste of energy. Who could possibly believe Eve's involvement in this farce without the benefit of the sanction of the authorities. Secondly, who would allow her to conduct her own personal investigation with her closeness to the killer in relationship to her daughter's death. Also, no one is ever monitoring the calls on the digital. Eve simply reiterates what is said when she feels "up to it." Give me a break. This heroine is no heroine. Boring at best.
  
  

• Get rid of this depressing, self-pitying character!

  
  By on 1999-11-20
  What I can't figure out, is why any one man would want Eve, let alone two! Morbid, miserable, self-centered, and not even any physical appeal. Or at least that's the way Eve is portrayed. I guess the story will continue into another sequel--but, not for me. The dangling endings to these 2 Eve books only left me angry! Goodbye, Ms. Johansen!
  
  
• Bad prose, good escapism
  By on 2000-01-13
  Johanson is, quite frankly, an incredibly bad writer. Her characters are more cardboard than Al Gore, and her dialogue includes such lines as "go jump in a lake." The Killing Game manages to combine everything that's bad about fiction. Nonetheless, the story is at least intriguing, and it's one of those books that makes a good read if you're having a tough time at work and just don't want to think for a week.
  
  
• The Game Continues
  By A1XDGGE0DQGYWW on 2000-05-20
  The Game Continues (5 stars

  Admittedly, I was a littleconcerned when I first started "The Killing Game"; within thefirst half of the book, I was unsure if I wanted to finish it. Following the discovery of an aged mass grave in Talladega, Alabama, which includes the bones of a child, Eve, who was asked to reconstruct the skull of the child victim, is contacted by the man claiming responsibility, who calls himself Dom. Dom calls her repeatedly, tormenting and taunting her, claiming that (in addition to the Talladega murders) he had also killed Eve's daughter, Bonnie. He threatens that another child, named Jane, will die in homage to Bonnie, as will Eve in an effort to save Jane. The intensity of Dom's taunting of Eve to this point was painful; I was hesitant to explore the extent to which he would use Bonnie's memory to manipulate and exploit Eve's vulnerability and fragility, but I kept going....

  Eve must find and protect Jane, a street urchin who is as tough as she and nearly as closed-off from affection and love. Accompanied by her stalwart friend, Joe Quinn (and with the distant assistance of John Logan from "The Face of Deception"), Eve rescues Jane and begins following the game-board created by Dom, in order to save them all and to learn to live again.

  Johansen has found a winning formula with Eve Duncan. Fans of the series will love this latest installment; new readers may want to look to her earlier stories on Eve Duncan, as "The Killing Game" doesn't offer much history, which is so critical to Eve now. I took to the series initially finding the details of forensic sculpting intriguing, but with each improving novel, I care more about Eve Duncan and her happiness. This work relied less on the nature of her occupation, focusing more on her motivations and how her past has shaped her present. I too want Eve to bring Bonnie home (or otherwise find some peace with it) and to open herself to love and affection. "The Killing Game", beyond its darkness, casts promising light on her future. Bonnie approves. END
  
  

• Bad prose, good escapism
  By A2SHZZB7TGNVH3 on 2000-01-19
  Unfortunately, we must begin with the problems: Iris Johanson is, quite simply, a very poor writer. Her dialogue is as wooden as it comes, with all the realism and passion of a middle school play. Her characters are but slightly better. In "The Killing Game," our hero is an ex-Navy SEAL, ex-FBI agent turned Atlanta cop named Joe Quinn. He's stoic and brave and likely missed his calling in comic books. Our heroine, Eve, lost her daughter to a serial killer. She's tortured, and having difficulty learning to love again. Yet she is also strong and witty and brave. Together they must go outside the law, of course, to hunt down a serial killer who's more omniscient than God. You've seen this package before. OK, thousands of times before. But if you can get beyond the first few pages, "The Killing Game" becomes good, escapist fun. Police never found the body of Eve's child. She's spent the last decade wishing for a proper burial. Now the killer has called. Eve is his next target. In their crusade to hunt the bad guy down, Joe and Eve race from Atlanta to Phoenix, turning up fresh kills and buried bodies. If Johanson failed to paint credible heroes, she has at least created a respectable serial killer. This is no easy accomplishment, since madman killers have become one of the most dominant elements of fiction. Dom, however, is wily and menacing, incredibly smart and very twisted. He may not win the Serial Killer of the Year Award, but he'll at least keep you up late reading. "The Killing Game" isn't polished fiction. Yet it does go down easily after a hard week of work, when you'd prefer to leave your critical thinking skills on the dresser.
  
  
• Could not put this book down!
  By AGTYAE100NB9G on 1999-12-26
  The sequel to The Face of Deception deals once again with forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan. This time she is up against a serial murderer who decides she will be his victim but plays a game with her. He uses a street-smart girl who lives in foster homes as bait for Eve's involvement in his game. This book shows much emotion. The chase to find the killer and to save herself and this little girl is spellbinding.
  
  
• Gripping story.I couldn't put it down until it was completed
  By A10T1X1JMLA7XI on 1999-11-19
  This book is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.It grabs you and until the last sentence you are right there with the characters.I can't wait to read another of her stories and yet I am savoring the last...
  
  
• My First Novel By This Author . . . It Won't Be My Last
  By AZO0FTTKZFWRO on 2000-06-25
  This definitely ranks as one of the best suspense novels I've read in some time. The plot was fast-paced, yet well explained. It was easy to relate to and understand the characters. The variety in the characters was nice too. My favorites were the dynamic Jane MacGuire and the sensitive search and rescue dog Monty. The emotional charge found at many levels: parental, romantic, friendly, in this novel was incredible. Something I have rarely encountered in a mystery. Eve Duncan has a personal stake in this game. She is in a race to discover who really killed her daughter, and to prevent the killer from striking again. The ending is a real surprise. This book kept me enthralled from the beginning until I finished the last word. Enjoy!
  
  
• Weak beginning, weak plot
  By on 1999-11-17
  After reading Face of Deception I was really disappointed in The Killing Game. The plot was very weak. The fact that Joe came to get Eve to sculpt the childs skull was not good. Duh, Eve has a lab on the Island, bring her the skull. The romance part of this book was lacking also. I was very disappointed that the romance with Logan did not continue they had a good chemistry. Overall after reading the first book about Eve so much more could have been done with this one. It was very disappointing to say the least. In Face of Deception Eve was a strong women, in this she becomes weak.
  
  
• More-than-adequate writing, can't-put-down read!
  By A23OLHL5RPQKLP on 2002-11-04
  This was a difficult book to put down, when I needed to go do something else. Usually, modern mysteries about serial killers make me a little queasy...not my usual type of mystery. However, Johansen does a fairly good job, without resorting to unnecessary violence (I thought). Books that involve characters who talk a lot often do not give a real look at the character, so you can understand where they are coming from. Johansen gives enough insight into the psyche of each of the main characters, so the plots make sense, and the choices those characters make, make sense. Hard to do in such a short read, but well-done in this particular novel.

  I am not a big fan of any mystery writers who write about children and crime...there are a few out there, and I avoid their books like the plague. Personal preference. I know I've read this particular author's work before, and she doesn't make a constant topic of either serial murder or children as victims.

  This is not great literature. But it's a good read, that recognizes the reader's intelligence.

  Karen Sadler
  
  

• my new favorite book
  By A1KG3Q30KK7L1Q on 2005-07-03
  This book is one of the best crime books I have ever read. It is exciting and thrilling.
  
  
• Looking for Bonnie
  By A1B05INWIDZ74O on 2005-08-31
  The killing Game is a sequel. I have not read the first book, but you can tell the writter expects you to have. Though I found not knowing all that transpired before was not an impediment to enjoying the book.
  
  The heroine is Eve Duncan who is an foresnic sculpter. We learn that she has two men that would do anything for her. Quinn, the homicide detective, that gets her invloved in our story, by letting her know of the uncovered body of a young girl. A girl that may be here dead daughter. And Logan, a Bill Gates type, that wants only to shelter her. And has done a good job of it by having taken her to a private island in the pacific.
  
  The numerous bodies found of course makes the news. And the killer not only see's that some of his kills have been uncovered. But that Eve is being brought in to help reconstruct one of the faces. Of course the reconstruction is to be of the little girl she thinks may be her daughter. But the killer steals the bones and calls Eve. He calls himself Dom and this is where the sick game begins.
  
  Dom explains to Eve that he was the killer of her daughter. And that he was going to kill anther girl who could be her daughter reincarnated...It is a race. Can Eve solve all the puzzles that Dom sets for her and keep him intrigued. Or will he just kill the girl and her.
  
  This book is a page turner and will keep your interest.
  
  
• WOW!
  By AXQ58Y95SXK6Y on 2000-04-28
  A story that has you reading non stop from front to back. Characters are well developed, and it feels as if you know them. You will fall in love with each character (love 'em or hate 'em) you just can't resist. When you think you've just found out who the killer is,twists are thrown in and your kept guessing. You feel every emotion that a human being could feel, and are disappointed when it has ended. Absolutely compelling.
  
  
• A great read!
  By on 2000-03-13
  Iris Johansen is a master at writing suspense! This book kept me guessing all the way through and I loved the twists. I'm glad the author chose to write another book with Eve Duncan as the main character because I was curious about what would happen to Eve after "The Face of Deception." I never would have predicted the end of this book. I highly recommend it.
  
  
• Hard to Put Down!
  By on 1999-12-31
  One of Iris Johansen's best books yet...I was up all night to finish this book, the store is a definite page turner!
  
  
• A Great Suspense Story!
  By A1KVR1KPHVK9X2 on 1999-12-20
  The Killing Game is a wonderful continuation of the story started in The Face of Deception. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I couldn't put it down. The ending was a real surprise!
  
  
• This is definitely Not the Iris I know!
  By on 1999-11-03
  I hate to say this, but I really HATE her recent novels! So long, draggy, impersonal and VERY,VERY BORING! I'm sure a new direction is good, but I think she should concentrate on what she is good at. When I got my hands on this book, I was anticipating a good book, like the many good books precedenting this one. However this was a BORE! I gave up in frustration halfway through the book. People, spare your time ,and don't read this.It's so agonizing that a trip to the dentist seems like a better idea!Iris was and still is one of my favourite writers, I just wish she'd write something befitting of her talent again!
  
  
• Great Book!
  By A2WNOJS7RIZ7JB on 1999-10-27
  I loved The Face of Deception, just as I love The Killing Game! It was so interesting that I could not put it down! Actually, I was quite disappointed that it was finished. I really admire and respect the characters of Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn. I don't know if Ms. Johansen has any more installments planned, but if she does, you can bet that I'll be among the first to get it!!!!
  
  
• Enthralling Suspenseful Murder Mystery
  By A2BAAKZHSUGCDP on 2002-03-04
  Eve Duncan is a renowned forensic sculptor who can recreate a realistic likeness from a human skull. Her daughter, Bonnie, was murdered by a serial killer 10 years earlier and the body was never recovered. Her good friend from the Atlanta PD, Joe Quinn, is involved in a case where many bodies are unearthed near the Talladega Falls. One of the bodies is from a young girl who might have been Eve's daughter. Joe asks Eve if she would like to reconstruct the head from the skull and she jumps at the chance, because she still wants to bring Bonnie home and put her to rest.

  The killer, who calls himself Dom, has become jaded and complacent and no longer feels any lasting thrill or excitement from his kills. He contacts Eve and reveals to her that he has another victim planned and gives her enough clues to track down Jane, a 10-year old girl in a foster home in Atlanta.

  Thus begins a cat and mouse game that increases in intensity throughout the book. Eve knows that she is the bait for Dom, and tries desperately to locate Jane before he kills her. Once she has found Jane, Dom lures them to Phoenix where he claims his most recent victim is buried. They team up with a cadaver searching dog and his owner to try to locate the body in hopes that Dom has left some clues that will bring them closer to finding him and ending the spree of killing.

  The suspense continues to build until the end of this well-paced thriller, and when the killer is finally exposed it's a shocking revelation. You'll be cheering for Eve and Jane and their newfound friends Monty, the search dog and Sarah, his owner. Joe Quinn and John Logan are competing for Eve's affections throughout the novel, and you can only hope that the best man wins, because she's a prize worth having.
  
  

• Not very exciting
  By A884WH69MZI1Q on 2002-09-24
  This is my first book by the author, and it will be my last. I found Joe's 'protectivness' to be rather creepy. Eve, who is made out to be a strong and together woman, is easily influenced and breaks down often. The killer is obvious upon your first meeting of him. All in all, a very hard book to stay focused on, due to the irritating and shallow dialouge. Not a good read.
  
  
• I don't get it . . .perhaps it's me
  By A15Q7ABIU9O9YZ on 2004-04-19
  The thing about the plot is that it is excellent. And I can't say Ms. Johansen doesn't do a great job with it. But for me, the characters have to be credible and believable and if I am to have some identification with them, they have to feel as I would or at least, convince me to feel as they do.

  Joe Quinn and John Logan seem to act like neanderthals around Eve. Acting like High School jocks in the football locker room at half time might even make more sense.

  The woman Eve, a forensic facial reconstructionist, has had her daughter murdered, halucinates, is either having a breakdown or should be on meds, is about to put herself in the cross hairs of the insane serial killer Dom, and her two "best friends" are doing the testosterone tango. Tedious. Boring. Stupid. I can't believe caring men would act that way. And Eve is no better. The most dialogue the reader gets is the dialogue she has with herself and then, the lengthy conversations she has with her daughter.

  I know Ms. Johansen is highly regarded and I am willing to assume these are my failings. It's just that everytime I started to like Logan and Quinn, they started behaving like cartoon figures. Sorry. 3 Stars. Larry Scantlebury
  
  

• A Book Everyone Will Love
  By A37QNH6Z9W7M0Y on 2000-04-30
  I have just finished reading The Killing Game by Iris Johansen and loved it. I would look forward to going to bed every night just so I could read more. I had read the prequel The Face of Deception and thought it was good not knowing this book would be ten times better. I recommend this book to anyone who loves suspence, romance, anyone that is looking for love or has already found it, and anyone that has a child or has lost a child. I can't wait until the next book comes out and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
  
  
• The Killing Game
  By A33SHS8MDYZYJH on 2000-02-09
  I have read MANY of Iris Johanson' books! This has got to be the best one yet! I have only read her mysteries, but if her "love" books are like her mysteries, I am going to order one now! Enjoy this spine chilling book today! I promise you won't want to put it down!
  
  
• killing game
  By A2OMAO9Y50Y1JU on 2000-02-02
  The Killing Game by Iris Johansen is the best book that she has written. This book is filled with many discoveries and a twistful ending. The characters are humorous and whitty. Iris's new book is very suspensful and it even has a romance story mixed into the plot. I gave this book four stars because it was full of action and kept my attention. I just couldn't put it down.
  
  
• The Killing Game
  By A20T1XGZASO4NK on 2000-05-22
  This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I hated to put it down for even a second, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I have trouble finding books to hold my interest, but this one reached right out and grabbed it and held on all the way to the end. I would recommend The Killing Game to anyone who loves a good suspense.
  
  
• A Mystery That Keeps You Guessing!
  By A2E9Q3T876TQ6C on 2000-04-27
  As I finished The Face of Deception, I saw the synopsis of this book and realized the story of Eve Duncan continued. I felt The Face of Deception didn't end very well, so I immediately started reading this book and I wasn't disappointed!

  Iris Johansen shows her expertise in winding facts along a journey of intrigue and shares a story that's shrouded in mystery. As usual, Johansen introduces a strong cast of support characters, some old friends and others new to us. Joe Quinn and John Logan are still on opposite sides fighting for Eve's love; Eve still searches for her daughter Bonnie. Introduced to Eve are Jane, a self-reliant 10-year-old girl who has been in the system so long, she is bitter; Sarah Patrick and Monte, the best cadaver search and rescue team in the field; a host of FBI agents; and a newspaper reporter after the story of the century.

  Johansen grabs the reader from the beginning and won't release that hold until the last page. At times I found my heart pounding, as my eyes raced along the words. Other times, a sigh of understanding escaped. If you don't mind losing a few hours of sleep, this is definitely a "must read" for any avid mystery fan!
  
  

• Wonderfull!
  By on 1999-10-25
  The book, The Killing Game, was one of the best I have ever read. I hope Iris Johansen makes a sequile with Eve and Joe. It kept me on my toes the whole time. Its one of those books where you think you know who did it, but it turns out your wrong. You cant guess it. The book even cleared up the whole reason for Joe to be with Eve through it all. I loved it!! I read it in one day. I couldnt put it down.
  
  

• The Face of Deception (Eve Duncan)
• The Search (Eve Duncan)
• Blind Alley (Eve Duncan)
• Body of Lies (Eve Duncan)
• Countdown (Eve Duncan)