Your Next Breath

Catherine Ling #4

by Iris Johansen

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes an explosive new thriller

Catherine Ling is one of the CIA’s most prized operatives. Raised on the streets of Hong Kong, she was pulled into the agency at the age of fourteen. If life has taught her anything, it is not to get attached, but there are two exceptions to that rule: her son Luke and her mentor Hu Chang. Luke was kidnapped at age two, and now, nine years later, he has astonishingly been returned to her. Catherine vows never to fail him again. Now, just as she is building a relationship with Luke, it seems that someone from Catherine’s past is playing a deadly game with her, and using those she cares about as pawns. Three are dead already: the former prostitute who helped Catherine when she was out on the street, a CIA agent with whom she worked closely, and the informant who helped her free Luke. Someone is picking off the people Catherine cares about one by one, with the circle narrowing closer and closer to those she loves the most. Catherine has made many enemies throughout her life, and she has no choice but to weed through her past to find out who is targeting her now, and then go after the vicious killer herself.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2015

About the author

Iris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.

She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.

IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.

http://www.irisjohansen.com

Reviews

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I It’s been over 20 years since I read The Face of Deception, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... , the 1st book in Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan Series and have since been following the life of Eve, a forensic sculptor who has been searching for her small daughter, Bonnie, who had gone missing when she was seven years old.

Over time, I joined her on her mission to finding the answers about her child and along the way have met characters that have been part of her quest.

Catherine Ling, a character first introduced in book #11, Chasing the Night, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... , where Even had helped Catherine find her missing son, Luke, was given her own series, is spin-off of the Even Duncan series .

Catherine Ling is the total opposite from Eve Duncan. She’s one of the most fascinating and interesting female characters that I have met..

Nothing will stop her from keeping them safe, even if it means putting her life in danger.

“I have no intention of getting used to failure.”

Beautiful, sensual, dangerous, strong, ruthless and totally devoted to the people she loves and cares for.

She’s fearless and nothing stops her from bringing down the evil and bad guys!!!

An orphan, living in the streets of Hong Kong, rescued by the mysterious Hu Chang, who became her mentor and friend, and recruited at the age of 14 by the CIA as a shadowy agent, we seen her character develop through the years and also the development of her relationship with the brilliant and deadly Hu Chang and her newly-found son, Luke, through the previous 3 books in the series.

Your Next Breath, 4th book in the series is a fantastic addition to the life of Catherine Ling. I fall more and more in love with her as the series progresses…

“intimidated?”
No one intimidates you, Catherine.”

Someone from her past is bent killing people close to Catherine and it soon gets close to the people she loves in her life…her son Luke, her mentor Hu Chang and her friends, Eve & Joe, Erin and Eve’s daughter, Jane.

A cat and mouse game takes Catherine & the mysterious Richard Cameron, the Guardian of an unknown organization whose mental abilities and not forgetting his incredible physical attributes, on a journey filled with danger, twists, mystery, treachery that has them racing to find the ruthless killers before any more of her loved family and friends are killed.

I loved the appearance of characters from the series that I have become familiar with and connected to. The crossover of the characters from the two series is absolutely incredible. Seth Caleb….please can we get him and Jane together?????? And Luke and Kelly??? Will they have their own story??? I find these two characters so interesting and lovable!!

I have to admit that at first I wanted Catherine to team up with John Gallo, Bonnie’s father who we met in the Eve Trilogy. I was hoping he would make a comeback in this series. However, Richard Cameron has grown on me. The sexual tension and chemistry between him and Catherine is sexy, scorching and I kept thinking….are these two ever going to get together…!!! The love the interaction between them…it’s always totally unexpected….

“You need to pay close attention, because I have a terrible temper, and that could bring you intense pain…” Cameron

He’s a total enigma…and I am still asking….

A dramatic, intense, layered, pulse-pounding and action filled story, with intriguing characters that pulls you right in from the first page, which builds to the most unexpected and shocking conclusion.

The ending was certainly not what I was expecting!!! But the good news…..I can’t wait for the revelation in the next book.

Another thrilling and brilliant book by one of my favorite authors.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Next Breath by Iris Johansen is a first reads win and I'm giving my honest opinion. Johansen writes mysteries well. Her characters are defined clearly and new ones are incorporated integrally. The stories follow a coarse but they can be read individually as well. Johansen's favorite character is Eve Duncan. this book follow the path of one of Eve's friends Catherine Ling. Catherine has made a mortal enemy of Santos when she killed his wife with a shot between her eyes. three of her friends were assassinated before she knew it. Her mentor Hu Chang is keeping tabs on her son Luke. Catherine tempts to gather all her friends to safe houses. Let's see how she manages Santos and his henchmen.

[Jim Angstadt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I keep thinking this is a made-for-the-movies story.
Characters: cardboard.
Dialog: trite.
Plot: fast and predictable.
Two thumbs down.

Notes while reading:

- My first Iris Johansen read.
- Dialog reminds me of some hard-boiled detective novels from the 1940s or 50s.
- So far, not much character developement.
- Two major characters, and 2 minor ones, communicate by mental telepathy; no kidding.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Johansen. Your Next Breath was one of those books that was excellent from start to finish. I absolutely loved how so many of Johansen's characters were in this book like Eve and Joe from the series who are a part of their own series and then of course Catherine Ling who was the main character of the series this book was a part of. The interaction of the two series and how at the end Johansen set up the next Eve Duncan book was brilliant.
Now for this book itself I loved it. It sent me through the emotional ringer when I thought Eve was going to loose Jane. (I won't say more for spoilers reasons). I also loved the new side of Catherine we saw in this book, a softer side where she is not so alone. Then Cameron, what can one say about Cameron? You want him and Catherine to give into the passion but it is so much fun to watch them fight the attraction. This book had it all.
The plot had action, suspense, cat and mouse games and teasers for the next book. Everything you could ask for in a great book. I am giving this book five out of five stars.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure this story actually ends up being better than a 2 stars, but I have had it with female characters who behave stupidly. When the women act like they have more "brawn than brains", I am out of here.

[Linda Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although most books were taken out of my 2014 ‘to-read’ book list, this book remained. Iris Johansen is one of my favorite authors and is best known for her forensic anthropologist, Eve Duncan books. In these books, Johansen has introduced other characters; some of which have taken on lives of their own, thus they have begun their own series of books. This is one such character and one such book. The character is Catherine Ling, a CIA agent, recruited in China when she was just 14 years-old; the book is the fourth in the series.

Although Catherine took the CIA gig, creating a life from her hell and handing over secrets to the US government; the same secrets she use to sell, she is about to learn that she has yet to escape her past! Someone has followed the trail she has left behind; carefully executing those he feels are most likely to have an impact on Catherine’s psychological state.

The question now is, can Catherine figure out who this mad man is and stop him before he kills again?

Many of those characters who have appeared in the past will make another appearance, doing their part to stop a madman and save those closest to Catherine!

[Sussie Hansen]

As usual Iris Johansen did not disappoint.
The book was a nice read, with enough excitement for me.
I enjoy that there is a bit of the occult in there, as I believe
that we can read each others mind.

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Your Next Breath by Iris Johansen
Series: Catherine Ling, book 4
Romantic Suspense / Mystery

YOUR NEXT BREATH opens up with a murder in Boskar, a remote village in Russia. A local man discovers the body of Olena Petrov, a former prostitute who helped Catherine when she was out on the street. Nearly at the same time, Robert Jantzen, a CIA operative who had worked very closely with Catherine in the past, is murdered. And Kirov Slantkey, the informant who helped Catherine free Luke, is shot in the head while riding his motorcycle in Moscow.
In Louisville, Kentucky, Catherine Ling, a CIA operative, is living her life and has no idea about danger coming her way and those she cares. Hu Chang has information about the killings and insists that Catherine compose a list of those who a killer seeking revenge against her might target next. She also has to think of someone who has enough hatred against her...

Ehh, what can I say? Regrettably I was quite disappointment by this story.
I did not like the writing style and I felt like there were too many characters thrown together (Erin, Kelly, Eve Duncan, Joe Quinn and their adopted daughter, etc, etc), so there were too many subplots going on that did not fit together.
As the bad guy's identity was revealed early in the story, then there was no mystery/guessing. I've noticed that all Johansen's bad guys sound similar, kinda cartoonish and not real.
I also felt like the Catherine Ling books and character are getting formulaic and stale for me. I just don’t feel like Catherine Ling is growing as a character at all. What is worst: she's annoying and immature. Her relationship with her son and Hu Change feels unnatural and fake.
Besides this series has started to sound like I read the same storyline over and over again -- Catherine Ling is haunted by some character from her past, that person and his minions come after her or her friends, her CIA friends save her and everything is well with the world.
Boring and repetitive!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Ling is in all kinds of trouble when an old enemy decides to kill everyone she loves. But Catherine, despite her feeling that she is a loner, has many more friends than she thought. When she realizes that her friends are at risk, one of the first people she contacts in Eve Duncan. But not in time to keep Jane from being hurt and needing Caleb to help her heal.

Eve is assisted by Richard Cameron who is a sort of friend, sort of adversary who wants a relationship with Catherine. Like Catherine he is very, very competent and very, very dangerous. The villain Santos would go up against them if he was sane. But his actions prove that he is not. He keeps trying to attack those close to Catherine but Catherine and her allies keep foiling his plans. But the threat won't be over until Santos is dead and Catherine has no qualms about killing him if she can find him.

This story was a lot about relationships and love. From the budding relationship Catherine has with the son who was stolen away from her for nine years to the relationship Eve has with her dead daughter Bonnie, relationships are at the core of this story. It takes a threat of the magnitude of Santos before Catherine realizes the number of bonds she has actually built.

This wasn't a mystery since we knew the villain's name and intentions from the beginning but the tension came from wondering if he would manage to out-think and out-maneuver Catherine and her allies.

This is the fourth book in the Catherine Ling series and was an excellent addition to the series.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this spin off series. This is a page turner for me. Catherine is kicks ass. Her odd relationship with Richard is fun. I love her son Luke. He isn't a usual kid. He's a good boy with killer instincts.

In this one, I'm not sure what the takeaway is other than kill your enemies. Putting them in jail does absolutely nothing. Basically, the "good" guys aka cops and law enforcement are always at a disadvantage because they have people they care about. It's almost as if they need to be single lethal forces of reckoning in order to bring justice and put the bad people away. And how that power could be abused.

Reading this series makes me wonder about a lot of things. I like this committee and I have to say, I don't have the same hang ups as Catherine or Erin. I would totally join this covert group. Then again, I'm a jaded woman. I'm not optimistic like Catherine. She is trying to prevent the world from coming to an end instead of stockpiling to rebuild after it self destructs. More and more I think if I were in a Batman's world, would I be on his side? Because essentially, Catherine is the Batman archtype and it is a losing battle.

Can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Iris Johansen's books in the past - the Eve Duncan series, but that storyline with Bonnie dragged on too long. I haven't read any previous Catherine Ling books so maybe I jumped into this at the wrong point, but I found the Catherine character extremely annoying. She behaves as though the CIA were meant to serve her explicitly. Instead of being thankful to Cameron for all of his help, she is rude and ungracious in the extreme. The book seems to be written more along the lines of a young adult effort and her talk about her breasts swelling when she is near Cameron was almost laughable. Perhaps I'm being too judgmental here, but this effort just struck the wrong chord with me. I could not bear to finish it after the requisite 100 pages.

[Michele Meehan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the Face of deception and a few following books so was interested when I saw this in the library! Wow what a boring book and unsympathetic character is Ling!! And what's with all the psychic whoo whoo. Only finished it as I had taken it away for a conference and had to read something on The plane

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with picking up an author after they've written a ton of books and reading the entire Even Duncan series and now reading the Ling series is that there are things that have happened after this book that confuses one self. Took me a while to remember that Eve probably didn't have her other child at this point and never any mention of Cara.

[Meredith VanOordt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much detail in most of the book, but toward the end it changed. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Iris' work, but where was the detail about finding the body w/nametag! And why did it seem that you just threw Bonnie in at the end, when you already had a tie-in for Jane?..

[Jan Barrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a book you find hard to put down. I love the characters and cant wait to read another book with these characters. I love Eve Duncan but Catherine Ling is another favorite of mine.

[Elizabeth Kane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not recall ever reading Iris Johansen before, but I doubt I will again. Too busy, too contrived...too many characters with "special powers" that are untenable and undefined. .... fast read because the writing level is pretty low. Not my style of author.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading Iris Johansen - not a fan of her writing style. She tells a lot of the story through the dialogue between the characters.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I don't know why I bothered reading this as I didn't really like the other Catherine Ling stories. The dialog is flat; the plot predictable.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Catherine Ling is one of the CIA’s most prized operatives. Raised on the streets of Hong Kong, she was pulled into the agency at the age of fourteen. If life has taught her anything, it is not to get attached, but there are two exceptions to that rule: her son Luke and her mentor Hu Chang. Luke was kidnapped at age two, and now, nine years later, he has astonishingly been returned to her. Catherine vows never to fail him again.

Now, just as she is building a relationship with Luke, it seems that someone from Catherine’s past is playing a deadly game with her, and using those she cares about as pawns. Three are dead already: the former prostitute who helped Catherine when she was out on the street, a CIA agent with whom she worked closely, and the informant who helped her free Luke. Someone is picking off the people Catherine cares about one by one, with the circle narrowing closer and closer to those she loves the most. Catherine has made many enemies throughout her life, and she has no choice but to weed through her past to find out who is targeting her now, and then go after the vicious killer herself.”

This book had a decent premise. Kind of. What kind of CIA agent leaves herself that exposed to those she’s taken down? They work in the shadows for a reason. Again, Ms. Johansen really needs to do her research. Then there’s her adverbs, as usual. Everyone speaks “dryly” and “jerkily.” Not to mention how does such an incredible agent work when she can’t seem to keep her hormones and lust under control, not to mention the usual breast grabbing/squeezing form that’s supposed to pass as teasing and foreplay for every single female? I mean, bodies are dropping, your family and friends are in danger, and you’re thinking about how to have sex with a man? So much for strong female leads.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

CIA Agent Catherine Ling is happy that her son Luke is getting better adjusted after she rescued him from a brutal kidnapper. Luke had been lost to Catherine for nine long years. Keeping him safe is her highest priority. However, when she finds out that one of her friends was murdered, a plot is soon revealed that anyone close to her is now in danger.

Catherine scrambles to protect those she loves, but her reach only goes so far. Everyone that has touched Catherine's life in one way or another is now in danger. This exciting book in the Catherine Ling series has crossover characters from the Eve Duncan series as Eve, lover Joe and adopted daughter Jane are very likely in the line of fire. The enigmatic Cameron appears again in this book. He met Catherine previously and had helped her on more than one occasion.

Just as the previous three books in this series, the action is nonstop. There is also a high level of emotion with the tragedy that befalls some in this book. I am totally addicted to this series and to Iris Johansen.

[Jeanne Benedict · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the CIA’s most prized operatives, Catherine Ling, was raised in Hong Kong, and was taken into the agency at the young age of 14. The only things she are attached to now are her son, Luke, and her mentor[who got her into the agency] Hu Chang. Her son had been kidnapped when he was only 2 years old, but was returned to her at the age of 11.

As she is trying to work on her relationship with Luke, someone from her past is using the people, not just Luke or Hu Chang, as pawns, to draw her into their game. Three people she was close to have been killed, and Catherine is trying to shelter others who are in her inner circle, from meeting that same fate.

Catherine is sorting through those from her past that she may have made an enemy of, and then plans to go after them, but Luke, who had spent the years that he had been kidnapped, with a very evil person, who had messed with his mind, and he vows to aid in the fight now.

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the 4th Catherine Ling book and it was a bit of a disappointment. Catherine is being stalked by an old enemy and everyone she loves is in danger. Even Eve and Joe are not immune nor is Jane who has an interesting supporting character role here. In fact, almost all the key characters in Johansen's books make an appearance here. It's just that everyone was flat. Although the original Catherine Ling story was interesting, she feels a little one-note in this book. We know she's driven but she's always driven. There was nothing new that we learned in this book that advanced her character.

[Victoria Goins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seldom do I write a review. But I almost didn't finish the book, even after I was half way through it. Its characters were too fantastical and the main character was such a egotistic, bossy woman I truly called her bad names throughout. And the story line while very well played, was so far beyond reality that I kept wanting to just ditch it. However the last 90 or so pages made up for all that. So now I'm looking for more books by this author..for when I need a fix of fantasy with lots of action.

[Shirley Conley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by this author and I found it hard to get into. It was just OK. It was not very believable. Lots of FBI/CIA cloak and dagger stuff. Not my style. Sounds like the ending leads to another book in this series. This was #4 and I have not and will not read the others.

[Alison Kentch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love a good Iris Johansen book that includes Eve Duncan. This one was a little confusing (maybe because it had been so long since I had read about Eve and Company). But enjoyed the read, the suspense, the relationship that finally developed between Catherine and her son. Many twists and turns. Great read for the first one of the year.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catherine Ling series - offshoot from EveDuncan series

In this book, an old enemy of Catherine’s decides to start killing friends and family of hers. His ultimate plan is to make her suffer until he kills her. Can Catherine identify who is behind it and protect who she loves while hunting him down?

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 Stars

Your Next Breath (Catherine Ling Book #4) by Iris Johansen...
This is another series that I have on my reading challenge for this year for me to complete. Iris Johansen always delivers an engrossing read, and this instalment was no different. Crime. Suspense. Mystery. Tension. Drama. Danger. Action.

[Linda George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Ling is a crossover character from Johansen's Eve Duncan series and is now in a series of her own. There are recurring characters who make appearances in this novel filled with unexpected connections.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot how much I enjoy Iris Johansen books. This one didn't disappoint me. Characters from other books were in this book but I still remembered most of them. I will bring home another one of hers from my next trip to the library

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by Iris Johansen. This follows the story line of Catherine Ling in the side story of Eve Duncan. Eve Duncan shows up in this story as another major character. Am really enjoying this author!