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Eve Duncan #16
Taking Eve
"Filled with intriguing twists and characters and an overarching mystery that will keep fans coming back."― Kirkus Reviews
In this New York Times bestselling thriller from Iris Johansen, Doane needs Eve's skills and he'll do anything to get them…even if it means Taking Eve .
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan's mission is to bring closure to the families whose loved ones have vanished. She knows their anguish―her own beloved daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her when Bonnie was just seven years old. It is only recently that this mystery was resolved and Eve could begin her journey to peace.
Now Jim Doane wants the same kind of answers that Eve always longed for. His twenty-five-year-old son may or may not be dead, and he has only burned skull fragments as possible evidence. But he cannot go to the police for answers without exposing his dark past, so instead he chooses a bold step to find the truth―one that takes Eve down a twisted path of madness and evil and into the darkest heart of her own history.
In this New York Times bestselling thriller from Iris Johansen, Doane needs Eve's skills and he'll do anything to get them…even if it means Taking Eve .
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan's mission is to bring closure to the families whose loved ones have vanished. She knows their anguish―her own beloved daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her when Bonnie was just seven years old. It is only recently that this mystery was resolved and Eve could begin her journey to peace.
Now Jim Doane wants the same kind of answers that Eve always longed for. His twenty-five-year-old son may or may not be dead, and he has only burned skull fragments as possible evidence. But he cannot go to the police for answers without exposing his dark past, so instead he chooses a bold step to find the truth―one that takes Eve down a twisted path of madness and evil and into the darkest heart of her own history.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 16, 2013
About the author
Iris Johansen
239 books7,476 followersIris 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 533 reviews
June 25, 2013
I have read all the Eve Duncan series to date. I hate to admit it, but I find the books are going down hill. I have always enjoyed this series but I just find the whole Eve Duncan story is worn out. I found the supernatural element to the story is getting a bit over the top - ghosts, vampires, etc. Also the Eve obsession is a little too much (with Quinn and Jane). I also found this book hard to read because of the way Johansen wrote it. She was trying to fill readers in on the background story of all the characters and she did it in such a way that the conversations between the characters came out sounding very unnatural. People just don't talk like that!
All that being said, I have come this far in the series and I plan on seeing it through to the end.
All that being said, I have come this far in the series and I plan on seeing it through to the end.
October 7, 2013
I have been a longtime Iris Johansen fan. I waited to comment until I had read the entire trilogy: Taking Eve, Hunting Eve, and Silencing Eve. One of the most intriguing things about this series are the book covers. The designer uses one image and divides it into a triptych of sorts. The story itself, for three volumes, revolves around finding forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, who has been kidnapped by a crazy man. Johansen brings in all the support from past books, including Kendra, the woman whose senses are off the charts, and Catherine Ling, CIA agent extraordinaire. She also introduces new support characters such as Margaret, the animal whisperer. These are all people who are more interesting than who the series is really about.
While these are Eve Duncan novels, they really are about Jane McGuire, Eve's adult adopted daughter. Which is a shame. Jane has never been a strong character. She can't trust, can't stop whining, and can't stop wanting to be in on every piece of action. Yet, she is the one who changes over this 3-book story arc—so she must be the hero. But we have to wait until the end of book 3 for it it happen, of course.
This story easily could have been told in 2 books or maybe even 1. Especially if someone would edit it. How many times must we be told that "Eve is special and deserves to be saved"? Doesn't everyone? I wish Johansen's editor would forbid her to use the words, "I won't have it." Nearly every character uses this obstinate phrase, like a spoiled child, until obstancy becomes a character in this series.
While these are Eve Duncan novels, they really are about Jane McGuire, Eve's adult adopted daughter. Which is a shame. Jane has never been a strong character. She can't trust, can't stop whining, and can't stop wanting to be in on every piece of action. Yet, she is the one who changes over this 3-book story arc—so she must be the hero. But we have to wait until the end of book 3 for it it happen, of course.
This story easily could have been told in 2 books or maybe even 1. Especially if someone would edit it. How many times must we be told that "Eve is special and deserves to be saved"? Doesn't everyone? I wish Johansen's editor would forbid her to use the words, "I won't have it." Nearly every character uses this obstinate phrase, like a spoiled child, until obstancy becomes a character in this series.
May 30, 2013
I personally think Iris Johansen should have stopped the Eve Duncan series once we found out what happened to Bonnie. But here we are again and I need to just stop reading this series but my neurotic self won't let me.
The writing is getting worse and the plot of each of these novels seem to be following a formula. EVE IS THE CENTER OF EVERYONE'S WORLD, we get it already! This point was hammered just a 1000 times too many, the dialogue is getting really cheesy and the characters are getting too annoying. I don't recommmend this novel, but like a sucker, I will probably finish this "trilogy" within a longer series especially since this novel didn't really end properly. Sigh.
The writing is getting worse and the plot of each of these novels seem to be following a formula. EVE IS THE CENTER OF EVERYONE'S WORLD, we get it already! This point was hammered just a 1000 times too many, the dialogue is getting really cheesy and the characters are getting too annoying. I don't recommmend this novel, but like a sucker, I will probably finish this "trilogy" within a longer series especially since this novel didn't really end properly. Sigh.
November 9, 2025
This is part of a long running series. It is the beginning of a new arc in this series. In this one, Eve is kidnapped and forced to do a reconstruction on a skull. Everyone tries to find her.
Wow. And I am not saying this because I was blown away by this book. In fact this might be one of the worst books I have ever read. I am still shaking my head at this offering. There was nothing that worked in this book. I will start with the characters. I guess this is Iris Johansen having her Avengers Assemble moment because I believe so many characters from different books come out to play in this one. Unfortunately either I have not read them or I have forgotten about them and this did not help my enjoyment at all with this book. Hand in hand with the characters was their dialogue. It was god awful. I am sitting here writing this review and I am wondering if the author told an AI tool to write dialogue for her characters. It was so unbelievable. Some of the actions of the characters were nonsensical. We have characters that have never met Eve moving Heaven and Earth in hoping to participate in the rescue. And the twist...please. When it was revealed I actually groaned out loud. The only positive I can say about this book it was a quick read.
This series was one of my go to series many years ago. I have noticed slowly that the quality of the series has gone downhill. I keep on thinking that it cannot get worse and hopefully get back to the quality that made me love this series in the beginning. I was wrong as we have sunk to a new low. After all my complaints that I have stated I forgot to say there is no finale in this book. It just ends. One of my biggest pet peeves. This was so bad and is probably the nail in the coffin for me and this series.
Wow. And I am not saying this because I was blown away by this book. In fact this might be one of the worst books I have ever read. I am still shaking my head at this offering. There was nothing that worked in this book. I will start with the characters. I guess this is Iris Johansen having her Avengers Assemble moment because I believe so many characters from different books come out to play in this one. Unfortunately either I have not read them or I have forgotten about them and this did not help my enjoyment at all with this book. Hand in hand with the characters was their dialogue. It was god awful. I am sitting here writing this review and I am wondering if the author told an AI tool to write dialogue for her characters. It was so unbelievable. Some of the actions of the characters were nonsensical. We have characters that have never met Eve moving Heaven and Earth in hoping to participate in the rescue. And the twist...please. When it was revealed I actually groaned out loud. The only positive I can say about this book it was a quick read.
This series was one of my go to series many years ago. I have noticed slowly that the quality of the series has gone downhill. I keep on thinking that it cannot get worse and hopefully get back to the quality that made me love this series in the beginning. I was wrong as we have sunk to a new low. After all my complaints that I have stated I forgot to say there is no finale in this book. It just ends. One of my biggest pet peeves. This was so bad and is probably the nail in the coffin for me and this series.
September 18, 2012
Eve Duncan is back in a new Trilogy..and I am so happy for that. I can't get enough of her ...since the first book I read in the Eve Duncan Series...I have been hooked.
Book synopsis: Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan’s mission is to bring closure to the families whose loved ones have vanished. She knows their anguish—her own beloved daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her when Bonnie was just seven years old. It is only recently that this mystery was resolved and Eve could begin her journey to peace. Now, Jim Doane wants the same kind of answers that Eve always longed for. His twenty-five-year old son may or may not be dead and he has only burned skull fragments as possible evidence. But he cannot go to the police for answers without risking his own secrets and dark past, so instead he chooses a bold step to find the truth—a truth that takes Eve down a twisted path of madness and evil and into the darkest heart of her own history. Doane needs Eve Duncan’s skills and he’ll do anything to get them.
Even if it means taking Eve.
Wow....fast paced, action filled, twists and turns...you just never know where the plot is going to next!!!
The suspense just keeps you glued to your seat and I found myself the pages eagerly waiting for what NEXT!!!
Eve is Eve....strong, focused and not afraid to face the obstacles placed in front of her.
Loved seeing the characters that I have come to know so well...Quinn, Jane, Caleb, Venables and Kendra & Margaret that I find so fascinating....
The cliffhanger is just awesome and can't wait for book #2.
If you are a Eve Duncan fan...don't miss this.
Book synopsis: Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan’s mission is to bring closure to the families whose loved ones have vanished. She knows their anguish—her own beloved daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her when Bonnie was just seven years old. It is only recently that this mystery was resolved and Eve could begin her journey to peace. Now, Jim Doane wants the same kind of answers that Eve always longed for. His twenty-five-year old son may or may not be dead and he has only burned skull fragments as possible evidence. But he cannot go to the police for answers without risking his own secrets and dark past, so instead he chooses a bold step to find the truth—a truth that takes Eve down a twisted path of madness and evil and into the darkest heart of her own history. Doane needs Eve Duncan’s skills and he’ll do anything to get them.
Even if it means taking Eve.
Wow....fast paced, action filled, twists and turns...you just never know where the plot is going to next!!!
The suspense just keeps you glued to your seat and I found myself the pages eagerly waiting for what NEXT!!!
Eve is Eve....strong, focused and not afraid to face the obstacles placed in front of her.
Loved seeing the characters that I have come to know so well...Quinn, Jane, Caleb, Venables and Kendra & Margaret that I find so fascinating....
The cliffhanger is just awesome and can't wait for book #2.
If you are a Eve Duncan fan...don't miss this.
May 16, 2013
so the library had it and i grabbed it as i was walking to the checkout. the eve books are quick, easy reads and usually don't upset me very much, so i tend to keep following the series even though everything is pretty much pathetic at this point.
but i was in for a surprise because JANE IS BACK! in a way that i don't want her to be, because let's just say foreshadowing isn't johansen's forte at all, but still. i am glad she is back if only to be the character with the torrid love affair because eve is seriously with joe finally forever and ever amen.
some other reviews have mentioned this, and i am in 100% agreement - let's get over the eve worship already. great, everyone loves her and is willing to risk their lives for her. i am a little happy that so many characters are coming together (kendra, trevor, caleb, venable, devon brady, even a mention of dear sarah logan and monty! oh, back when these were real thrillers . . .) but i still am a little ticked that we aren't getting the whole joe-after-Pandora's Box. so we are expected to forget that whole series, but remember who sarah logan is? please.
i like margaret. i have a feeling she's going to end up with caleb, though i am not sure how.
glad there is a twisted villain in this one.
but really? it's all set up. no real movement. i don't know how she's going to drag this out across a trilogy. but really. why can't eve retire and jane start taking names and doing crazy things? eve's story wrapped up. she deserves to be a side character now. let her and bonnie and joe all chill at that lake cottage.
anyway, i'll read the next two of course. just glad my library helps with this addiction, as i would be pissed if i had to pay for this.
but i was in for a surprise because JANE IS BACK! in a way that i don't want her to be, because let's just say foreshadowing isn't johansen's forte at all, but still. i am glad she is back if only to be the character with the torrid love affair because eve is seriously with joe finally forever and ever amen.
some other reviews have mentioned this, and i am in 100% agreement - let's get over the eve worship already. great, everyone loves her and is willing to risk their lives for her. i am a little happy that so many characters are coming together (kendra, trevor, caleb, venable, devon brady, even a mention of dear sarah logan and monty! oh, back when these were real thrillers . . .) but i still am a little ticked that we aren't getting the whole joe-after-Pandora's Box. so we are expected to forget that whole series, but remember who sarah logan is? please.
i like margaret. i have a feeling she's going to end up with caleb, though i am not sure how.
glad there is a twisted villain in this one.
but really? it's all set up. no real movement. i don't know how she's going to drag this out across a trilogy. but really. why can't eve retire and jane start taking names and doing crazy things? eve's story wrapped up. she deserves to be a side character now. let her and bonnie and joe all chill at that lake cottage.
anyway, i'll read the next two of course. just glad my library helps with this addiction, as i would be pissed if i had to pay for this.
March 8, 2013
This is the first installment of a Eve Duncan trilogy by Iris Johansen. And what a start it was. I read this book in one sitting. Ms Johansen brings us a list of old characters and brings in some new ones. This is an edge of you seat, nail biting, page turner of a book. I can't wait for the next installment, Hunting Eve, which will be out in July 2013.
Now that the mystery concerning Eve's daughter Bonnie has been solved and she has closure, Eve is ready to get back to work. Eve still brings lost children home to their familes so that they may also have closure. Eve along with Joe and their adopted daughter Jane have plans to spend the next few weeks together. But then Joe is called out of town for a case and Jane has been detorued due to an illness to her dog, It seems like something or someone is trying to keep her family away from her.
Jim Doane needs Eve and he will have her no matter what he has to do to get her. Jim's son was killed and his body burned but Jim was able to save the skull. He wants Eve to reconstruct it and bring his son back to him. Jim's son was evil and everytime Eve sees the skull she can still feel the evil that used to be there.
It is up to Joe, Jane and all of Eve's friends to find her before either the madman or the evil takes her away forever.
Now that the mystery concerning Eve's daughter Bonnie has been solved and she has closure, Eve is ready to get back to work. Eve still brings lost children home to their familes so that they may also have closure. Eve along with Joe and their adopted daughter Jane have plans to spend the next few weeks together. But then Joe is called out of town for a case and Jane has been detorued due to an illness to her dog, It seems like something or someone is trying to keep her family away from her.
Jim Doane needs Eve and he will have her no matter what he has to do to get her. Jim's son was killed and his body burned but Jim was able to save the skull. He wants Eve to reconstruct it and bring his son back to him. Jim's son was evil and everytime Eve sees the skull she can still feel the evil that used to be there.
It is up to Joe, Jane and all of Eve's friends to find her before either the madman or the evil takes her away forever.
July 7, 2013
This book was okay. It isn't the Eve Duncan thriller that I was hoping for and I don't think it will improve in the next two books. I don't know anyone, now or ever, who engenders the level of loyalty and hero-worship that Eve gets from, well, everyone, and that makes it difficult to believe the majority of this story line. The whole father worshiping the son thing throws plausibility out the window for whatever was left. However, I will finish the trilogy because I have committed to it, but, unless something changes, I probably won't be happy about wasting my time when it's over.
October 15, 2013
I had to look at the cover a few times to remind myself that this was an Iris Johansen book. It was very, very, very drawn out. I am happy that I got it from the library and did not spend money on it. It is obvious that Iris Johansen is only trying to make money by dividing what should have been one good book into three very, very, very drawn out books. I will not "read" the other two. I will scan the pages quickly to see what happens. The story idea is good but please stop with the detailed detail. I am hoping the author, Iris Johansen, does not chose to do this again. I have enjoyed Iris Johansen books in the past but now am very discouraged. No I do not normally write like this but figured I would use some of Iris Johansen's ideas of repeating myself throughout the review and including her name, Iris Johansen, several times throughout the review. If you find this annoying then take my advice and check the books out from your local public library, down the street next to the donut shop and scan the pages. Then write the author, Iris Johansen, a letter begging her to return to her old style of writing one good book a year or so instead of three very, very, very drawn out books over a 9 month period. Oh she did write one good book she just added filler pages to it and released it in three parts.
August 6, 2013
I told myself I wouldn't pick up another Johansen since they've gotten so woo-woo and just plain bad. But there it was, sitting on the new addition shelf at my library, compelling me to pick it up with good memories of early Eve thrillers.
I used to love these when there was suspense, and Eve just talked to the ghost of her daughter, but somehow these novels have lost that edge and have gone over the top with paranormal stuff (even with a suspension of belief, it's out there.)
A nice looking old man carries around his son's skull, rescued from the crematorium, and talks to it.
A young woman talks to the animals.
Joe is having premonitions.
Eve is still seeing Bonnie, but an evil force is trying to stop their heart-to-hearts.
While this book kinda stands alone — it's apparently part of planned trilogy — I think Johansen names every person who has played a major or secondary role in all the previous Eve books. It's tiring and confusing.
The plus: She seems to kill off a major character at the end. I hope so — maybe the death can be the rebirth of this series.
I used to love these when there was suspense, and Eve just talked to the ghost of her daughter, but somehow these novels have lost that edge and have gone over the top with paranormal stuff (even with a suspension of belief, it's out there.)
A nice looking old man carries around his son's skull, rescued from the crematorium, and talks to it.
A young woman talks to the animals.
Joe is having premonitions.
Eve is still seeing Bonnie, but an evil force is trying to stop their heart-to-hearts.
While this book kinda stands alone — it's apparently part of planned trilogy — I think Johansen names every person who has played a major or secondary role in all the previous Eve books. It's tiring and confusing.
The plus: She seems to kill off a major character at the end. I hope so — maybe the death can be the rebirth of this series.
April 24, 2013
Iris Johansen is one my most steady writers. When you read her books you reconnect with her characters over and over. I have loved the Eve Duncan stories and with the winding down of finding Bonnie's killer I was afraid it was coming to an end but what better way to ramp up expectations and suspense than with a 3 part book series all about Eve. LOVE IT.
I didn't realize, as I finished the first book, that it was a series and I was SO UPSET!! What a cliff hanger. I gave it 5 stars as it hooked me from the beginning.
Additionally I love the play between Jane and the 2 guys and just her character development overall. I also enjoy the new character with the interesting past and abilities and I am looking forward to see how she plays out in the series.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I didn't realize, as I finished the first book, that it was a series and I was SO UPSET!! What a cliff hanger. I gave it 5 stars as it hooked me from the beginning.
Additionally I love the play between Jane and the 2 guys and just her character development overall. I also enjoy the new character with the interesting past and abilities and I am looking forward to see how she plays out in the series.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 12, 2013
This book was really good! It grabbed me right away and kept me interested....long into the night, or should I say morning. LOL There is only one catch - Ms. Johansen kind of leaves us hanging! The next book is due out soon, but not soon enough! What is with this trilogy/quadrilogy nonsense? I complain, but I really like how she is able to write a more in-depth story using this method. I just get so anxious to read the next one. Once again, Eve is in danger and I am dying to know what happens! Please write fast, Ms. Johansen! :)
June 17, 2013
This book has no ending. It stops right in the middle of a cliff hanger, then the author expects you to shell out another $12.99 each for books 2 and 3 to find out what happens. Well, this is one reader that won't bother with it. The story line was not interesting enough and by the time book 2 comes out, I will have finished another dozen or more books, making Eve nothing but a distant memory. If you're like me and you like for your novels to have a beginning, a middle and an end , don't waste your time or money.
March 5, 2015
Seride potansiyel olsada ilk kitaptan başlamamanın azizliğine uğramış.Kitabı okudum ama kafamda o kadar çok soru işareti oluştu ki anlatamam.Joe ile ilk kitaptan beri mi sevgililer yoksa seri ilerledikçe mi tanıştılar.Eve'in kızı seri ilk başladığından beri mi ölü yoksa onunda nasıl öldüğünün bir kitabı varmı.Jane ne zaman ve nasıl evlat edinildi.Başından ne gibi olaylar geçti.Jane ve Caleb nasıl tanıştı.Caleb tam olarak kim.Kitabın sonuda çok havada bitti ya.Sanki sayfayı çevirsen devamına ulaşacakmışsın gibiydi.
Yayınevi keşke ilk kitaptan başlasaymış.
Yayınevi keşke ilk kitaptan başlasaymış.
January 9, 2016
4.5........I really like Iris Johansen. Like Harlan Coben, she's an author I can go to without even reading the synopsis. So why it took me so long to pick up another one of her books, I don't know. For me this book is a fast read and always intriguing, as with all her books.
The protagonist is Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor, who is featured in about 20 books by Johansen. Although in this book she has been kidnapped and I think the story ends up in its own trilogy. I can't wait to read the next two. I think this is a good go to book for anyone who likes a good thriller.
The protagonist is Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor, who is featured in about 20 books by Johansen. Although in this book she has been kidnapped and I think the story ends up in its own trilogy. I can't wait to read the next two. I think this is a good go to book for anyone who likes a good thriller.
April 15, 2015
Bilmiyorum ama kitap serinin 16. kitabı olduğu için ve biz diğer kitapları okuyamadığımız için sönük gelmiştir bana.
December 19, 2018
I am reading all of the Eve Duncan series and am finding that they are getting worse as they go. There is now a fantasy level to them which I don't like for Crime novels. There is too much supernatural and it has moved away from being a good detective novel and solving cases. I loved that fact that as a forensic sculptor she was able to return children to their families all driven by the need to find her Bonnie. I knew that the storyline would need to change once Bonnie was found but in my opinion it hasn't changed for the better.
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December 10, 2018All I am going to say is that I loved what there was of it, but I hate when a book ends in the middle of the story. I didn't realize it had three parts and would be stopping right in the middle of an escape.
October 5, 2017
yazarı seviyorum e hal böyle olunca yıldız kısıtlaması yapamayacağım ..Seri uzun o yüzden ne kadar kitabı çıkarsa kabulümdür.
January 3, 2018
Very good book! I really enjoyed it. The only thing I don’t like is how everyone is such a hard ass.
March 30, 2017
This was one of those easy to read thrillers with little or no after taste. Wish I'd realised it was the first in a trilogy. Don't think I want to read the others.
October 12, 2026
Iris Johansen begins with an obsession rooted in grief. Jim Doane is determined to uncover the truth about his son, Kevin, and he believes renowned forensic sculptor Eve Duncan is the only person capable of providing the answers he seeks. Eve's gift for reconstructing faces from the skulls of the dead has brought comfort and closure to grieving families, but this assignment is unlike any she has undertaken before. Once Doane targets her, she becomes both his captive and an unwilling participant in a dangerous scheme whose full purpose remains concealed until late in the novel.
At the onset, Eve appears secure in the life she has built with Joe Quinn and her daughter, Jane. Although her work remains emotionally demanding, it gives her clear purpose: reconstructing a face restores individuality to an unidentified victim and can offer a family that uncertainty Eve herself lacked for years after Bonnie's murder. Johansen uses that history to make Doane's demand especially invasive. He does not kidnap Eve merely for her technical expertise; he exploits the compassion for grieving parents that lies at the center of her identity. By forcing her to reconstruct Kevin's face while threatening the people she loves, he transforms her vocation from an act of mercy into an instrument of control.
Doane is most compelling as an antagonist when the novel exposes the reasoning he uses to justify that control. His grief has hardened into an unwavering belief that Kevin was exceptional and that anyone who fails to recognize his importance must be either ignorant or hostile. This conviction makes his conversations with Eve more disturbing than a succession of overt threats. He wants her professional authority to validate the idealized version of Kevin he has constructed, turning the reconstruction into a struggle over who has the right to define the dead. Eve approaches the skull as evidence; Doane treats it as proof of a story he has already chosen to believe. That opposition gives the forensic work moral and psychological significance rather than reducing it to an unusual plot device.
Eve's resistance is equally rooted in her particular strengths. She cannot overpower Doane physically, but she can study his language, identify contradictions in his account of Kevin, redirect his conversations, and use his dependence on her cooperation against him. These measured acts of defiance prevent her from becoming passive during the captivity sequences. Johansen creates suspense not simply by placing Eve in physical danger, but by making almost every exchange a negotiation. Eve must judge how far she can challenge she can challenge Doanne without provoking retaliation against Joe, Jane, or anyone else within his reach. The novel is strongest when it stays close to these calculations, allowing the reader to understand both the narrowness of Eve's choices and the consequences of a single misjudgment.
The chapters devoted to Joe and the search party generate a different form of tension. Their investigation supplies movement, new information, and a sense that time is closing in around Eve. Yet the frequent departures from the captive-and-captor conflict sometimes drain pressure just as it begins to intensify. Joe’s determination reinforces the depth of his bond with Eve, but several search sequences function primarily to delay the next confrontation rather than reveal anything substantially new about the characters or the case. The structure creates momentum without always producing escalation: the short chapters move quickly, but the central psychological struggle often advances only by degrees.
The paranormal material has a similarly mixed effect. Margaret’s connection with animals gives the search a distinctive investigative dimension, while Caleb’s presence broadens Jane’s role beyond the immediate kidnapping. Eve’s continuing spiritual bond with Bonnie also fits the emotional foundation of the series, since Bonnie represents both Eve’s deepest loss and the source of her empathy for other grieving families. Even so, these elements compete with the novel’s most concrete and original premise: the forced reconstruction of Kevin’s face. When Johansen concentrates on bone structure, observation, and Eve’s professional judgment, the suspense develops through a process the reader can follow. When supernatural abilities or the wider conspiracy drives the action, the story becomes less about what Eve can uncover through her craft and more about a larger mythology whose answers are deferred to later installments.
The novel’s clearest theme is not grief alone, but the distinction between remembrance and possession. Eve reconstructs the dead so they can be restored to their identities and to the truth of what happened to them. Doane wants Kevin’s face reconstructed so that it will confirm his own interpretation of his son. His love therefore becomes a form of erasure: he claims to honor Kevin while refusing to accept any evidence that might contradict the heroic identity he has assigned him. This contrast gives Eve and Doane’s conflict its strongest moral force. Both are shaped by the deaths of their children, but Eve has directed her loss outward into service, whereas Doane has turned his inward until everyone around him becomes material for his private narrative.
Johansen’s prose favors direct dialogue, rapid scene changes, and frequent reminders of danger. That style makes the novel highly readable, but it sometimes emphasizes emotions the circumstances have already made clear. Doane is most unsettling when his certainty emerges through controlled conversation rather than repeated descriptions of his obsession, and Eve appears strongest when her choices demonstrate courage without additional explanation. Similarly, the recurring threats against Eve’s family sustain urgency, but their force diminishes when each warning serves essentially the same purpose. Greater variation in the pressure placed on Eve—or more attention to the technical and ethical stages of the reconstruction—would have made the middle of the novel less repetitive and the later revelations feel more fully earned.
As the opening volume of a continuing story, Taking Eve succeeds more fully as an escalation than as a resolution. The late revelation that Doane’s plan extends beyond Kevin’s reconstruction makes the threat more personal to Eve, but the novel ends before she can fully confront that discovery or shift the balance of power. The cliffhanger therefore serves two opposing purposes. It effectively broadens the danger and creates a compelling reason to continue the series, yet it withholds much of the emotional and investigative payoff promised by the central assignment. Readers learn more about the scale of Doane’s intentions, but they are denied the satisfaction of seeing Eve bring her struggle against him to a meaningful turning point.
This imbalance explains why the novel remains gripping even as it feels incomplete. Its strongest material is sharply focused: Doane corrupts Eve’s gift, Eve turns professional discipline into a form of resistance, and Kevin’s skull becomes contested ground between objective evidence and a father’s obsession. Its weaker material is diffuse: additional viewpoints, paranormal abilities, and conspiracy threads repeatedly direct attention toward conflicts the present volume does not resolve. For established Eve Duncan readers, that expansion may deepen the series mythology and make the unresolved ending easier to accept. For newcomers, however, the book may feel less like a complete forensic thriller than an extended first act.
Ultimately, Taking Eve is most persuasive when it keeps Eve and Doane locked in their psychological contest. Its central ethical conflict is compelling, its suspense is sustained by Eve’s resourcefulness, and its best scenes reveal how grief can become either an act of service or an excuse for possession. The novel’s broader mythology adds intrigue, but it also draws attention away from the more powerful forensic premise. Johansen delivers a tense and emotionally charged entry in the series, yet the decision to postpone the central reckoning prevents the conclusion from matching the force of its setup.
At the onset, Eve appears secure in the life she has built with Joe Quinn and her daughter, Jane. Although her work remains emotionally demanding, it gives her clear purpose: reconstructing a face restores individuality to an unidentified victim and can offer a family that uncertainty Eve herself lacked for years after Bonnie's murder. Johansen uses that history to make Doane's demand especially invasive. He does not kidnap Eve merely for her technical expertise; he exploits the compassion for grieving parents that lies at the center of her identity. By forcing her to reconstruct Kevin's face while threatening the people she loves, he transforms her vocation from an act of mercy into an instrument of control.
Doane is most compelling as an antagonist when the novel exposes the reasoning he uses to justify that control. His grief has hardened into an unwavering belief that Kevin was exceptional and that anyone who fails to recognize his importance must be either ignorant or hostile. This conviction makes his conversations with Eve more disturbing than a succession of overt threats. He wants her professional authority to validate the idealized version of Kevin he has constructed, turning the reconstruction into a struggle over who has the right to define the dead. Eve approaches the skull as evidence; Doane treats it as proof of a story he has already chosen to believe. That opposition gives the forensic work moral and psychological significance rather than reducing it to an unusual plot device.
Eve's resistance is equally rooted in her particular strengths. She cannot overpower Doane physically, but she can study his language, identify contradictions in his account of Kevin, redirect his conversations, and use his dependence on her cooperation against him. These measured acts of defiance prevent her from becoming passive during the captivity sequences. Johansen creates suspense not simply by placing Eve in physical danger, but by making almost every exchange a negotiation. Eve must judge how far she can challenge she can challenge Doanne without provoking retaliation against Joe, Jane, or anyone else within his reach. The novel is strongest when it stays close to these calculations, allowing the reader to understand both the narrowness of Eve's choices and the consequences of a single misjudgment.
The chapters devoted to Joe and the search party generate a different form of tension. Their investigation supplies movement, new information, and a sense that time is closing in around Eve. Yet the frequent departures from the captive-and-captor conflict sometimes drain pressure just as it begins to intensify. Joe’s determination reinforces the depth of his bond with Eve, but several search sequences function primarily to delay the next confrontation rather than reveal anything substantially new about the characters or the case. The structure creates momentum without always producing escalation: the short chapters move quickly, but the central psychological struggle often advances only by degrees.
The paranormal material has a similarly mixed effect. Margaret’s connection with animals gives the search a distinctive investigative dimension, while Caleb’s presence broadens Jane’s role beyond the immediate kidnapping. Eve’s continuing spiritual bond with Bonnie also fits the emotional foundation of the series, since Bonnie represents both Eve’s deepest loss and the source of her empathy for other grieving families. Even so, these elements compete with the novel’s most concrete and original premise: the forced reconstruction of Kevin’s face. When Johansen concentrates on bone structure, observation, and Eve’s professional judgment, the suspense develops through a process the reader can follow. When supernatural abilities or the wider conspiracy drives the action, the story becomes less about what Eve can uncover through her craft and more about a larger mythology whose answers are deferred to later installments.
The novel’s clearest theme is not grief alone, but the distinction between remembrance and possession. Eve reconstructs the dead so they can be restored to their identities and to the truth of what happened to them. Doane wants Kevin’s face reconstructed so that it will confirm his own interpretation of his son. His love therefore becomes a form of erasure: he claims to honor Kevin while refusing to accept any evidence that might contradict the heroic identity he has assigned him. This contrast gives Eve and Doane’s conflict its strongest moral force. Both are shaped by the deaths of their children, but Eve has directed her loss outward into service, whereas Doane has turned his inward until everyone around him becomes material for his private narrative.
Johansen’s prose favors direct dialogue, rapid scene changes, and frequent reminders of danger. That style makes the novel highly readable, but it sometimes emphasizes emotions the circumstances have already made clear. Doane is most unsettling when his certainty emerges through controlled conversation rather than repeated descriptions of his obsession, and Eve appears strongest when her choices demonstrate courage without additional explanation. Similarly, the recurring threats against Eve’s family sustain urgency, but their force diminishes when each warning serves essentially the same purpose. Greater variation in the pressure placed on Eve—or more attention to the technical and ethical stages of the reconstruction—would have made the middle of the novel less repetitive and the later revelations feel more fully earned.
As the opening volume of a continuing story, Taking Eve succeeds more fully as an escalation than as a resolution. The late revelation that Doane’s plan extends beyond Kevin’s reconstruction makes the threat more personal to Eve, but the novel ends before she can fully confront that discovery or shift the balance of power. The cliffhanger therefore serves two opposing purposes. It effectively broadens the danger and creates a compelling reason to continue the series, yet it withholds much of the emotional and investigative payoff promised by the central assignment. Readers learn more about the scale of Doane’s intentions, but they are denied the satisfaction of seeing Eve bring her struggle against him to a meaningful turning point.
This imbalance explains why the novel remains gripping even as it feels incomplete. Its strongest material is sharply focused: Doane corrupts Eve’s gift, Eve turns professional discipline into a form of resistance, and Kevin’s skull becomes contested ground between objective evidence and a father’s obsession. Its weaker material is diffuse: additional viewpoints, paranormal abilities, and conspiracy threads repeatedly direct attention toward conflicts the present volume does not resolve. For established Eve Duncan readers, that expansion may deepen the series mythology and make the unresolved ending easier to accept. For newcomers, however, the book may feel less like a complete forensic thriller than an extended first act.
Ultimately, Taking Eve is most persuasive when it keeps Eve and Doane locked in their psychological contest. Its central ethical conflict is compelling, its suspense is sustained by Eve’s resourcefulness, and its best scenes reveal how grief can become either an act of service or an excuse for possession. The novel’s broader mythology adds intrigue, but it also draws attention away from the more powerful forensic premise. Johansen delivers a tense and emotionally charged entry in the series, yet the decision to postpone the central reckoning prevents the conclusion from matching the force of its setup.
August 9, 2015
I guess I've been out of it for a while. When I finally came up for air, away from my erotica porn and reviews, I noticed some of my go-to authors have written and published several books. Has it really been two years where I've basically read non-stop porn? I guess so.
Taking Eve is a new 3 part arc and I didn't know where it would go. I mean, we already hit the end game, right? We know all about Bonnie and who killed her. Bonnie should be happily resting in the ever beyond. Not so. Now, there is a new threat to Eve. This time, what is interesting is at the end, it is revealed why she was chosen above all else. I like it!
Whilst we are learning about Eve's past, we are also looking into Jane's future. There are two very attractive men who want Jane. I'm a bit mixed. Which one do I like? Caleb or Trevor? They are both dangerous and dominating. I guess I want to know, why can't she have both? HAH, it's not that kind of romance writer.
This story moved in a fast pace and was easy to follow. The characters all behaved as they usually do. Joe is over protective. Eve is no one's victim and Jane is headstrong stubborn. Drop in from Bonnie was a nice surprise. I've always liked that little girl.
Now I want to read the next two book in this arc. Fortunately for me, since I came upon it late, I can get the next two and read to my heart's content. Recommended for romantic suspense fans.
Taking Eve is a new 3 part arc and I didn't know where it would go. I mean, we already hit the end game, right? We know all about Bonnie and who killed her. Bonnie should be happily resting in the ever beyond. Not so. Now, there is a new threat to Eve. This time, what is interesting is at the end, it is revealed why she was chosen above all else. I like it!
Whilst we are learning about Eve's past, we are also looking into Jane's future. There are two very attractive men who want Jane. I'm a bit mixed. Which one do I like? Caleb or Trevor? They are both dangerous and dominating. I guess I want to know, why can't she have both? HAH, it's not that kind of romance writer.
This story moved in a fast pace and was easy to follow. The characters all behaved as they usually do. Joe is over protective. Eve is no one's victim and Jane is headstrong stubborn. Drop in from Bonnie was a nice surprise. I've always liked that little girl.
Now I want to read the next two book in this arc. Fortunately for me, since I came upon it late, I can get the next two and read to my heart's content. Recommended for romantic suspense fans.
September 15, 2018
While I did prefer "Taking Eve" to "Hunting Eve," I still wasn't crazy about it. In fact, some things were even worse.
Seth Caleb is in this book, and I hate him as much as ever. Is there ever a scene where he doesn't gleefully remind Jane that he wants to rape her? I don't think there is. Okay, we get it, Seth. You're a selfish SOB, you're not civilized, you have a constant hard-on for Jane, and, oh yeah, you're selfish. You tell us this every time you appear on the scene. I'm sick of it. Just shut up already. Go pee on someone's tires and roll around in a pile of dead fish before I take you to the vet and have you fixed.
No, wait, forget that, because dogs are wonderful, and you, Seth, are not. In fact, I can't think of a single animal that deserves to be compared to you.
Jane is here, too, because where Jane is, Seth will follow. Literally. Jane can't keep Seth away from her. Mark Trevor is back, too, so we can watch two men engaged in a pissing contest over her. Because Jane is Super Special. Even Jane doesn't understand why, but that just makes me hate her even more.
If you don't care about spoilers, or you read "Hunting Eve," you know this, but I'm putting it under a spoiler tag so other people don't have to see it. Why do I like this book better than "Hunting Eve"?
Do I hate Mark Trevor, too? Yes. Although Jane thinks of him and Seth as "light and darkness," the truth is, Mark is also incredibly possessive, and he refuses to leave Jane's side, even when she tells him to go away. There isn't a single man who's creepy and possessive in this series. Well, if they have any hope of being a love interest, anyway.
But let's not kid ourselves. Jane is going to end up with Seth. Her days with Mark are over.
Now, let me introduce you to my favorite Johansen character to date: Venable. He's CIA. He likes Eve, but we all have our flaws. Why do I love Venable? Because he follows the law. He cares about innocent lives and refuses to put them at risk to immediately go after the guy who probably kidnapped Eve, even though it earns him the wrath at Joe and Jane, who want him to break with protocol and ignore all those other people who could die because it's Eve and only Eve matters.
Yes, I'm sure Venable has done some nasty stuff. In fact, we know he has. I mean, he's CIA. But his flaws are treated like actual flaws, not like proof of how badass he is. We see that treatment with Joe, Jane, Seth, and, of course, Eve. Unlike just about every other cop and government official on the planet, Venable refuses to dance to their little drum. And I love him for it.
The bad guy in this book is boring and kind of pathetic, and creepy as hell. I think that was all intentional. He's obsessed with his dead son in a very unhealthy way. I mean, it actually has to be read to be believed. He has a very kind and gentle face, which I find interesting. See, in "Quinn," there was a flashback of Eve trying her luck as a police artist. She totally wows the expert working with her by creating a spitting image of the bad guy. Why? Because she feels that evil has to show itself on the surface somehow, so she gave him "evil"-looking eyes. I don't get it either, but it works perfectly.
Now you're telling me that evil people don't always look evil? Nice try, Johansen.
Oh, Ben Hudson's there, too. What, you don't remember him? He's the guy with an intellectual disability who dreams about Bonnie. Once again, we are reminded of how "special" he is. No, I'm serious. Eve literally uses that word. Not "special needs," "special." And he's described as being sweet and gentle and "like a child" because of course he is.
Sigh. We've been over this, Johansen. People with disabilities are human beings and deserve to be treated as such. Don't give him the innocence of a child or the ability to communicate with spirits as some sort of "compensation." Please look up "inspiration porn" sometime.
Margaret is also back, and she pissed me off. She's super rude to Jane when her dog, Toby, gets sick and weak, even though Jane did everything she could to treat Toby as quickly as possible. Margaret is usually cheerful, which is why I like her more than Johansen's other heroines, who are usually scowling about something. But this time, she was obnoxious as hell, and didn't even care about what Jane had been through. Normally, I wouldn't care, either, but I'm 1000x more sympathetic when someone's dog is suffering. Don't worry, it won't happen with Seth, who "isn't a dog person."
Because I read "Hunting Eve" and already knew about a lot of things that happen, I won't blame Johansen for "Taking Eve" being predictable. But that thing that other reviewers have pointed out is finally getting to me. Among all her other favorites, Iris Johansen loves having Eve and everyone else say "dammit." For the entire book, it's DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT. Everybody says it. Nobody says "fuck" or "shit" or "dick." But they say "dammit." Here a dammit, there a dammit, everywhere a dammit-dammit. Old MacDammit had a farm, E-I-E-I-DAMMIT!
I will say, however, that these are probably the most beautiful sentences Iris Johansen has ever written:
I texted this lovely prose to my mother and said "YES! I feel so good!"
Including the book I checked out today, I have three more Iris Johansen books to go...Knock on wood.
Seth Caleb is in this book, and I hate him as much as ever. Is there ever a scene where he doesn't gleefully remind Jane that he wants to rape her? I don't think there is. Okay, we get it, Seth. You're a selfish SOB, you're not civilized, you have a constant hard-on for Jane, and, oh yeah, you're selfish. You tell us this every time you appear on the scene. I'm sick of it. Just shut up already. Go pee on someone's tires and roll around in a pile of dead fish before I take you to the vet and have you fixed.
No, wait, forget that, because dogs are wonderful, and you, Seth, are not. In fact, I can't think of a single animal that deserves to be compared to you.
Jane is here, too, because where Jane is, Seth will follow. Literally. Jane can't keep Seth away from her. Mark Trevor is back, too, so we can watch two men engaged in a pissing contest over her. Because Jane is Super Special. Even Jane doesn't understand why, but that just makes me hate her even more.
If you don't care about spoilers, or you read "Hunting Eve," you know this, but I'm putting it under a spoiler tag so other people don't have to see it. Why do I like this book better than "Hunting Eve"?
Do I hate Mark Trevor, too? Yes. Although Jane thinks of him and Seth as "light and darkness," the truth is, Mark is also incredibly possessive, and he refuses to leave Jane's side, even when she tells him to go away. There isn't a single man who's creepy and possessive in this series. Well, if they have any hope of being a love interest, anyway.
But let's not kid ourselves. Jane is going to end up with Seth. Her days with Mark are over.
Now, let me introduce you to my favorite Johansen character to date: Venable. He's CIA. He likes Eve, but we all have our flaws. Why do I love Venable? Because he follows the law. He cares about innocent lives and refuses to put them at risk to immediately go after the guy who probably kidnapped Eve, even though it earns him the wrath at Joe and Jane, who want him to break with protocol and ignore all those other people who could die because it's Eve and only Eve matters.
Yes, I'm sure Venable has done some nasty stuff. In fact, we know he has. I mean, he's CIA. But his flaws are treated like actual flaws, not like proof of how badass he is. We see that treatment with Joe, Jane, Seth, and, of course, Eve. Unlike just about every other cop and government official on the planet, Venable refuses to dance to their little drum. And I love him for it.
The bad guy in this book is boring and kind of pathetic, and creepy as hell. I think that was all intentional. He's obsessed with his dead son in a very unhealthy way. I mean, it actually has to be read to be believed. He has a very kind and gentle face, which I find interesting. See, in "Quinn," there was a flashback of Eve trying her luck as a police artist. She totally wows the expert working with her by creating a spitting image of the bad guy. Why? Because she feels that evil has to show itself on the surface somehow, so she gave him "evil"-looking eyes. I don't get it either, but it works perfectly.
Now you're telling me that evil people don't always look evil? Nice try, Johansen.
Oh, Ben Hudson's there, too. What, you don't remember him? He's the guy with an intellectual disability who dreams about Bonnie. Once again, we are reminded of how "special" he is. No, I'm serious. Eve literally uses that word. Not "special needs," "special." And he's described as being sweet and gentle and "like a child" because of course he is.
Sigh. We've been over this, Johansen. People with disabilities are human beings and deserve to be treated as such. Don't give him the innocence of a child or the ability to communicate with spirits as some sort of "compensation." Please look up "inspiration porn" sometime.
Margaret is also back, and she pissed me off. She's super rude to Jane when her dog, Toby, gets sick and weak, even though Jane did everything she could to treat Toby as quickly as possible. Margaret is usually cheerful, which is why I like her more than Johansen's other heroines, who are usually scowling about something. But this time, she was obnoxious as hell, and didn't even care about what Jane had been through. Normally, I wouldn't care, either, but I'm 1000x more sympathetic when someone's dog is suffering. Don't worry, it won't happen with Seth, who "isn't a dog person."
Because I read "Hunting Eve" and already knew about a lot of things that happen, I won't blame Johansen for "Taking Eve" being predictable. But that thing that other reviewers have pointed out is finally getting to me. Among all her other favorites, Iris Johansen loves having Eve and everyone else say "dammit." For the entire book, it's DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT. Everybody says it. Nobody says "fuck" or "shit" or "dick." But they say "dammit." Here a dammit, there a dammit, everywhere a dammit-dammit. Old MacDammit had a farm, E-I-E-I-DAMMIT!
I will say, however, that these are probably the most beautiful sentences Iris Johansen has ever written:
I texted this lovely prose to my mother and said "YES! I feel so good!"
Including the book I checked out today, I have three more Iris Johansen books to go...Knock on wood.
April 23, 2013
The entire first half of the book is over the top Eve worship. The second half was better but it was not a good book. Very sad, I have been a loyal fan of all Johansen books and the series has went down hill. Almost every character from her previous books has made an appearance or been mentioned, taking away from the core story. The implied evil in the book is disturbing and the forshadowing of a main character's death is frustrating. Honestly, not sure how she can drag the story out two more books.
October 25, 2013
Spoilers ***Ending left you hanging so you have to buy the second book. I have read all of these books but I don't want to HAVE to buy the next two books because there is no real ending.I can take a good cliffhanger but this one goes nowhere and doesn't have an ending at all. Not one thing is cleared up. Blatant attempt to have the readers pay for three books at hard backed book prices even though it's an ebook. I blame the publisher not the author!This could have been one really good book if it had been handled right. It's a shame since I loved all the previous books.
April 18, 2013
It's official: this author jumped the shark with her quasi-sci-fi prior trilogy. Now, having mastered how to drag a story into a novel length with mind-crushing lethargy, she builds a new trilogy. This one continues with x men & women from previous books and adds to them. A cadre of "special gifts" if you will. On the whole: boring to the max. So will I read the next two, the rest of the trilogy? Yeah, but really fast.
April 22, 2013
Interesting start to a trilogy. I was very encouraged to see Jane stepping up again as a lead in the book as well as Eve taking a larger role in running her life and security.
This book pulled me in with the ground work into Jane's love life and Eve being held as a captive in order to work on a reconstruction. I will admit, the book ended for me rather abruptly and I wanted to have the next book to immediately begin reading.
This book pulled me in with the ground work into Jane's love life and Eve being held as a captive in order to work on a reconstruction. I will admit, the book ended for me rather abruptly and I wanted to have the next book to immediately begin reading.
May 15, 2013
I think I'm just about done with this series. I can see beloved characters, really, but it's time to get Jane's love life in order and this whole cliff hanger thing at the end of the book - so not cool. Works for tv shows - books not so much. So many interesting characters to discuss, but the constant return to Eve - getting old.
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May 30, 2013Liked the book but too short . Have to wait for sequel to see final results. On the whole I have enjoyed her books but now find no resolution at the end. Always have to buy next book for that. Finding no satisfaction, I have decided that the money spent on these books will be better spent on other writers.
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