Shadow Play

Eve Duncan #19

by Iris Johansen

Eve Duncan is the most sought-after artist in the field of forensic sculpting. Dedicated to her work ever since her daughter Bonnie was taken and killed at the age of seven, Eve feels a sense of duty to those whose lives were lost and whose bones are now in her hands. When a sheriff in California contacts her with a request for help on the reconstruction of the skull of a nine-year-old girl whose body has been buried for eight years, his intensity and investment in the case puzzle her. But when the ghost of the girl begins communicating with her, Eve finds herself wrapped up in the case more intensely than she could have ever imagined. Not since Bonnie has Eve had such an experience, and suddenly she finds herself determined to solve the murder and help the little girl find peace. Except that the killer is still out there, and he knows Eve is on the case. And he won't rest until anything and anyone that could reveal his identity is eliminated…

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

332 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 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

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

In this 19th book in the 'Eve Duncan' series, the forensic sculptor is on the trail of a child killer. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a plus.

*****

After a storm the skeleton of a nine-year-old girl, who has been buried for eight years, is exposed in a forest in Sonderville, California.



Needing a facial reconstruction to get an identification, Sheriff John Nalchek sends the skull to famous forensic sculptor Eve Duncan in Atlanta, Georgia.



It turns out that Eve can communicate with the child's ghost, who says her name is Jenny. Jenny recalls being frightened and hurt at the time of her death, but can't remember much else. Eve - who lost her own daughter Bonnie years ago - forms a relationship with Jenny's ghost and is determined to bring Jenny's killer to justice.



Meanwhile, Jenny's murderer - a demented sociopath named Walsh - is furious that the skeleton has been unearthed and will do anything to prevent the girl's identification. Walsh makes his way to Georgia to steal the reconstructed skull, hoping to kill Eve and her protective boyfriend, Detective Joe Quinn while he's there. Walsh gets the skull but doesn't get the chance to kill Eve and Joe.



After the skull is stolen Eve and Joe go to California to help with the investigation. Sheriff Nalchek is chagrined by their presence because he doesn't like interference on his turf.



Nalchek is even more annoyed when Eve's friend/protegé, nineteen-year-old Margaret, shows up. Margaret can communicate with animals and receives clues about the case from a coyote who has been watching over Jenny's grave. The supernatural episodes are common in this series and form an integral part of the story.



Meanwhile the murderer Walsh is looking for a certain young girl whom he plans to kill. As the story continues we learn who the girl is and why Walsh is determined to find her. To me the reason is overly complicated, doesn't make a lot of sense, and isn't believable.

Once the action shifts to California the story unfolds as a kind of cat and mouse game. Walsh maneuvers to get rid of Eve and Joe while he searches for the girl. At the same time Eve, Joe, and Nalchek try to identify and locate the girl and stop the sociopath.



The book seemed to concentrate mostly on the personal lives of the characters, especially Eve and Joe, with the murder investigation taking a back seat. Moreover, many of Walsh's actions seemed irrational and didn't make sense to me. For these reasons I didn't love the book.

Big fans of the Eve Duncan series will probably like this book. For other mystery fans I would only mildly recommend it.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[P.C. Cast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE EVE DUNCAN! The cliffhanger is killing me. Thankfully, the next book is already out! I had to rush to Powell's today to get HIDE AWAY, and am diving into it immediately. Thank you Ms. Johansen, for another fabulous read.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadow Play by Iris Johansen is the 19th book her Even Duncan Series, which I have been reading since the 1st book was published. It has become one of my top favorite series in the romantic suspense genre and Eve Duncan one of the most interesting characters in this genre.

I have been looking forward to the next book in the series and I waited a very long time…the last book was Silencing Eve in 2013.

This story begins with Eve being contacted by Sheriff John Nalchek of Sonderville, a small town in California, who begs her to do a facial reconstruction of a skull discovered, buried in the town forest. He’s determined to find the identity of the young girl and to bring the killer to justice.

Eve feels a strong need to finish the reconstruction and then begins to sense the deceased young girl trying to contact her. The young girl, who tells Eve that her name is Jenny, appears as a ghost on numerous occasions and soon gives her information and clues to who may have been her killer.
When the completed skull is stolen, Eve and Joe travel to Sonderville to help Sheriff Nalchek to unravel the clues and find the killer before he strikes again.

The supernatural element in the story was interesting but at times I just found it to be a bit confusing and unbelievable.

Some of the characters just didn’t feel real to me, particularly the villain. For someone who is supposedly so evil and cunning he does things that trip him up, leaving clues that lead to his identity.

I did like Eve’s friend, Margaret, Douglas, who can communicate with animals (we have met her in the previous book), who assists with the search. Margaret is a very mysterious and interesting character and I hope we see more of her in the next books.

I found the story intriguing but a bit unbelievable and some of the characters a “tad” unrelateable. Though this is not one of my favorite books in the series, I did enjoy it….I just love anything book with Eve Duncan in it!!!

And the end……………WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE!!!! Please dear author, don’t keep me waiting again for 2 years to read more about the great news!!!!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I just love the character of Eve Duncan, how she searches for years for her daughter's body and killer, how this led her to become the forensic artist she is. How she takes skulls and gives them a face, an identity and helps them find their way home.

So even though these are a quick read (and maybe not the best written), the cases are always interesting, the people she meets, those she helps and the situations she is drawn into, often dangerous to herself and those she loves. Her love interest Joe, who is a former Navy Seal always has her back, is very protective and (and at times here the writing gets a bit over the top and mushy) what he brings to these books is interesting as well

Anyway I will continue reading this series as long as they stay interesting, and as long as Eve keeps putting herself in harms way by helping others.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do seem to have some weird knack to start reading the last published book in a series lately. Shadow Play is book 19 in the Eve Duncan series, but it was super easy to get into this book and get the basic fact about Eve Duncan, Joe Quinn, Margaret Douglas and Bonnie.

Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor and she is sent the skull of a young old girl that was found buried eight years in the forest. But it seems that the killer hasn't forgotten her and soon Eve is in danger and it seems that somewhere out there is another little girl in danger and Eve must now try with the help of her friends and the ghost of the dead girl help try to find out who the killer is and who his next target is...

I really liked this book. It was fast-paced, it had an interesting story. I liked the characters and it wasn't too much romance in it. And, I loved the paranormal part of the story. The story had just the perfect blend of thriller and paranormal. And, not too much focus on sex. Eve and Joe may be a couple, but they don't have several pages of graphic sex. Sometimes I think books lose the focus and miss the fact that a good story and well-written characters are the most importing thing. Or perhaps it has something to do with that I can't stand Erotica.

Anyway, I was curious about this series and decided to give the book series a shot when I saw this book was available at NetGalley to request. The story was really engrossing and I could hardly stop reading the book. I will only read one chapter more and suddenly had I been reading an hour. I really liked the mystery of the book. I liked that it wasn't an obvious story that it surprised me from time to time.

I'm really glad that I read this book and I'm looking forward to reading the previous 19 books!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books. They're like a big hug.

The cast of characters in this novel, and her others, are just one big family. You leave every book wishing you knew them, or had the skills they have, or were loved by Joe Quinn (just me?). So many modern crime novels are psychological thrillers that thrive on unlikeable characters. With Johansen, you know what you're going to get. The 'goodies' are good. They may have done a few bad things here and there, but they care and they'll fight for justice. It's heartwarming. As a reader, you know you're safe in cheering them on.

This is the epitome of holiday reading for me: fun and fast. Anyone who already follows this series will love this one. If you've not read them before, don't start here. Do yourself a favour and start at the beginning. Then these friends can be yours too.

Many thanks to Iris Johansen, Netgalley, and St.Martin's Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Albert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shadow Play by Iris Johansen is book #19 in the Eve Duncan series. This has been a very popular series by a very popular author, but the first I have read. It didn't take me long into the book before I realized how much I really didn't like it. I felt trapped in a crossover episode of the Ghost Whisperer and Scooby and the Gang. Only without the visual appeal of Jennifer Love Hewitt or any scooby snacks to munch on.

"...She leaned back in her chair and gazed thoughtfully at the delicate skull. 'One last thing. I always name my reconstructions. No offense. You can have your own name back once that sheriff finds out who you are. But I have to call you something besides 'Hey, you' when I talk to you or about you. It's just the way I work.' She tilted her head. 'What name...Linda? Penny? Samantha is a good name. It's got substance. Do you like it? Maybe too heavy. How about Carrie? Short and sweet. I kind of like that for--
Jenny. I...think...my name is Jenny..."

Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor who became one of the best in her field when her own daughter Bonnie was killed at the age of seven. She is sought after by police agencies across the country but when a small town Sheriff in California contacts her about a skull he found in the woods, she immediately drops all her other work and gives this one top priority. Eve immediately is obsessed with the dead little girl and is soon contacted by her spirit. Together, Eve and the ghost she calls Jenny, try to piece together the last moments of Jenny's life. This proves challenging as Jenny has blocks in her memory and cannot seem to remember details very well. Only that the bad man who hurt her is still out there and wants to hurt another.

The Sheriff, becoming obsessed with the dead girl's body himself, returns to the scene of the burial in the woods at night with his Deputy in tow. The deputy is stabbed and the Sheriff now believes that the killer knows they have found the body and knows that Eve is on the case.

As Eve sends the reconstructed face back to the Sheriff, it is stolen and her home ransacked. Her computer stolen. Now Eve must travel to where the body was buried to find out what clues she can to stop the killer from taking the life of another child.

If only the story was that exciting. There are holes in this book. Serious plot failures that make a reader of mysteries step back and shake their head. The object to enjoying a good book is that it takes you away. You become a voyeur into a different world in time. The worst thing a book can do is remind you that you are in fact, reading a book. The suspension of belief that is the basis of good writing, good movie making, good magic.

There is none of that here.

First off, the whole paranormal aspect of the story in that the ghost actually talks to Eve and Eve talks back. Since Eve has had an ongoing relationship with her own dead daughter like this, Eve completely accepts that this is happening. So how about this? If the ghost, Jenny, can materialize like she does, then why do you need to bother reconstructing her face? You have what she looks like standing right in front of you! And when the reconstruction goes missing Eve and her super Detective boyfriend Joe lament that they've lost the evidence that could help identify her and there is no way to reconstruct it. Hey Jenny! Materialize yourself again and Eve just draw a freaking picture of her! You are an artist after all!

Let's touch on the character of Eve's boyfriend Joe. He's a super Detective with Seal training that when he learns of the last name of the killer, is able to track him down through Interpol. With just a last name! Pretty amazing work there. But when he does this, and realizes he has an international assassin who is murdering little girls, never involves any other agency in the hunt for the killer. No he and his reconstruction artist want to be forensic detective girlfriend decide that only they can do the job. To the point that they even hide clues and evidence from the Sheriff who called them into the case to begin with.

There is the Sheriff himself who goes looking for more clues at the burial site at night. Keep in mind, the girl had been dead for more than eight years but there he goes. Looking for clues. At night. Wouldn't good police work demand that you go during the day time, when you might actually be able to see something? Then there are the awkward conversations he has with the character Margaret, who he in turns, threatens and tries to seduce and then threatens some more.

As for Margaret she is a strange little character. She is called in to help with the investigation because she can pick up the thoughts of the woodland animals and communicate with them. Yeah, because that is what is missing in a criminal investigation. The input of the woodland creatures. She also tells the Sheriff, who is threatening and bullying her, how as a child she was raped in the woods by two hunters. So she was raped in the woods but continues to go wandering into them at night?

Finally there is the ending to this book. Where, Jenny the ghost, in a fit of rage flies at the killer and causes him to fall off a cliff into the stalagmites below. The killer impales himself on the stalagmites and dies. To which I can only think, seriously, you dumb ass little ghost. You couldn't have done that 300 pages ago and saved me all of this!

Again, Ghost Whisperer meets Scooby-Doo and the Gang.

I guess this is what it feels like for true horror fans of the legends and mythos of vampires and werewolves to be forced to read a Twilight book.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor, she gives a face to children who have been found murdered in an effort to try to bring justice to their killers. When she gets a phone call from a sheriff in California she agrees to work on the skull of a 9 year old who begins to speak to Eve as she works. Jenny can't remember much at first but she insists that Eve was meant to help her find out what happened to her. Eve becomes determined to find justice for Jenny and help bring in her killer.

This is actually the first book by Iris Johansen that I've read and I'm now wondering why I took so long to pick one up. Shadow Play seems to be the 19th Eve Duncan book so hopefully I can go back and pick up some more of her work in the future.

This book was definitely a page turning thriller that I didn't want to put down. The paranormal element to the story added a lovely layer that seemed to work in well with the suspense and solving the case. There were actually a lot of different layers to the story that were fun to find out along the way. While you know who the bad guy is fairly early in the story there is so much more to find out.

Personally I liked all of the characters in the story, each brought a different element to the story and the case. Couldn't help rooting for them to find Walsh and get justice for Jenny.

Overall definitely recommend, it read well as a stand alone if you haven't read others in the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Rachy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book for two reasons: 1) the synopsis read interesting; and 2) it was on sale (2 for $15!). This was my first Iris Johansen book and will likely be my last.

I hate the way people talk to each other in this book. "Here we are, in the woods, at her grave." Nobody talks like that. It reads like a bad script in which the actors have to keep reminding the audience about what's happening. Duh. I know you're in the woods because I just read a description of the woods in which you're standing. Furthermore, the characters talk in circles. The dialogue stretches across the pages, but little is being said. Instead of moving the story forwards, often times the dialogue holds the reader back as characters profess their love one another, their displeasure with each other, or clumsily talk about their past.

With one exception, every bad thing that happens to Eve and Joe is entirely Eve's fault. She makes one selfish, stupid decision after another and gets people into trouble. I get that she's motivated, I get that she has her reasons, but if Eve's drive trumps her common sense then she has to stop being so self-righteous all the time. If Eve were more introspective, more calculating, her actions would be easier to forgive. But she's too self-indulgent to be sympathetic.

As for the plot, I had a hard time believing in and supporting the decisions people make. I would expect the discovery of a long-dead little girl to lead the news cycle for a few days, but the book treats Jenny's death like yesterday's news. Johansen misses a big opportunity to inject some non-contrived drama into her story by underwriting the mystery of the dead little girl found in the woods. Structure problems further inhibit real potential conflict, and the whole thing feels wildly fanciful. Not thrilling at all.

[Terri Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to like it. I really did but the endless drivel is still going on with Eve Duncan, forensic sculptor until it is actually depressing. I have read many of these books over the years and just didn't bother to even rate or write reviews for the majority and actually quit reading them except for browsing through many pages at the library or bookstore but each story is just like the one before. Eve is still fixated on the low dead Bonnie and is still imaging that ghosts are talking to her -definitely not welcome in a genre where sciences are used to gather and evaluate evidence. If you liked the other books and want to read the same stuff (it is like all the books put together are the same book), here it is.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read a book in this series. Yet as I read this book I was reminded how much I miss Eve and Joe. Eve is just so loveable but at the same time she has a smart head on her shoulders. The love that she and Joe share is real. They are such a great couple. I have a few other books on my to be read shelf that I plan to go back and read soon.

The way that Eve communicated with the victim in this case was cool. I thought that I gained a closer connection with the victim. Thus in turn I was more interested in the story and solving the case. Which Eve did not disappoint me in this aspect. There was plenty of action as well. Then there is the ending, which left me with a smile. I can't wait to follow Eve and Joe on their next journey.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadow Play is my first Iris Johansen book. Crime solving + paranormal, yes!

I skimmed certain parts (mostly the heated exchanges between characters) I found to be annoying other than that I did enjoy reading it.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book suffers from terminal late-in-series disorder. It may not be obvious to those who have read their way up to this point, but I have never read an Eve the Psychic Forensic Sculptor novel before and all the signs are there.

There is no fresh excitement, you are expected to enjoy revisiting with all the usual suspects. There is no effort to expand the characters, you are expected to enjoy being reminded of past adventures. The plot is secondary to just getting this cast of ciphers back between covers for a payday. This book is pulp, pure formula and illogical in construction.

Now I am (as a rule) very tolerant of pulp writing. and formula writing. However, Shadow Play is an empty book. This ghost-ridden pseudo-psychic cold case story is a shapeless wreck that is NOT pulled together at any point into a sensible narrative. A critical failure is that the author never really brings the characters into the investigation, they do things but they are so mired in past adventures that they do not really have time for the present story.

What current investigation narrative does exist is essentially a masterclass in what not to do to cover up a crime. What current plot exists pretends that the spooky help from the murder victim (don't ask) is critical to blowing the whole case wide open. Even though spooky can't recall anything about her own life that would help, she does have the fortunate ability to transmit just enough information about a future crime to confuse the investigation and lead it away from the standard police procedures that would have nailed the murder in a hot second. See, my mistake is thinking that an investigation that has a clear link between the murder of a child, a cop, and a FedEx delivery driver, that involves kidnapping and theft of crime evidence, and also crosses state lines would involve the FBI and an intense investigation of the physical evidence. This investigation foregoes all that to move on the hazy memories of a coyote and a name dropped by a ghost.

That is stupid.

[Rafael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok maybe im a little bit harsh on the rating, is more like 2.5, being honest, this book was tedious poorly written and boring, i really don’t like friendly ghosts you really have to engage me in the story if is expected to consider the possibility of a ghost in general, and other way to put it is, you have to convince me and trap me in the narrative before you introduce a ghost, it took me more than i would’ve wanted to read it, it even took away my expectation on reading as a hole, so I had to sit down and finish it once and for all, I would have stop reading it, if it wasn’t for the plot that some how i still had hope it would surprise me but it didn’t, very disappointed, not my cup of tea at all.

[Sus · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first Eve Duncan Mystery by Iris Johansen. It is a Harlequin romance novel with some simple-minded predictable mystery woven in. All the male characters are sadly cliched stereotypes of primal competitive men with 3% emotional IQs. The women are also two-dimensional cliched stereotypes of a contemporary "strong" women, but the women who still thinks the man is always right, because he is male. The very last paragraph in the book was the worst ending I have ever read in any book. Cringe-worthy. I wish I had quit the book when I first thought about stopping. ADVISE: If you are reading this book and hating it, don't think it will get any better.....on the contrary.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars(PureTextuality.com)Eve Duncan. She was one of my favorite book heroines for more years than I can remember right now. The main focus of most of the many books that have been published, was the kidnapping and death of Eve’s seven year old daughter, Bonnie. Not sure, but I think this is probably the nineteenth book in this series. I read all of them up to when we finally found out what happened to Bonnie. At that point, several books ago, I quit reading the series. To me, the series was done, we got our answers and that was a good way to finish the series-at least in my mind. When I saw this book on Net Galley, it had been just long enough for me to wonder what was up in Eve Duncan’s world, so I requested it in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Eve Duncan is a world reknown forensic sculptor, otherwise known as the person who gives a face to a skull in order to identify the victim. She lives with Joe Quinn, the police detective that has been by her side pretty much since Bonnie dsappeared. This installment begins with a skull of a nine year old girl being delivered to Eve’s home in Georgia, from a sheriff in California. So Eve does what she does best and gives the skull a face. The victim comes to Eve and pretty much pushes her to finish in half the time it usually takes her. Jenny, the victim, has her reasons for rushing Eve, and pretty soon Eve and Joe are in California helping to solve the case with the sheriff. It’s actually not too unusual for Eve having a spirit visit, her daughter Bonnie visited in many installment that I can remember, and yes, she does show up in this one as well.

Honestly, in the beginning of this book I came close to putting it down and not finishing it. The reason? It just felt like I was reading a book I had read before-several times. It just didn’t seem new or different, just same as all the rest instead. One thing does change it up a bit, the addition of a character from a previous book, Margaret. Margaret is a young free spirit that has the amazing gift of being able to communicate with animals. She practically raised herself in the forest so she is pretty much an expert on them(forests). She comes to help with the investigation and because the grave is in the middle of a forest, her gift of communicating with animals does come in handy. You know because a coyote has been keeping watch on the grave since the child was buried eight years before. Plus Margaret does have a love interest this time around, and that interested me as well. Of course, there is a typical really bad villain, as usual with this series.

These books were a mainstay for me for years, but I think my time is truly up with them now. This was so reminiscent of a lot of the other books in this series, that at times it was almost like reading a book for a second time. This is just my personal taste, because if you haven’t started this series it really is a good one to read. I used to buy them as soon as they were published, and I highly recommend them to adult suspense/mystery fans-ones that like a really good heroine and lots of action.

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

Eve is back with another bizarre case of reconstructing a child's skull. This one calls out to her in ways that she is not exactly comfortable with. It's almost as if she works in a fugue state which alarms Joe and confuses Eve. Ms. Johansen seems to be leaning more and more towards the afterlife and beyond. This new girl communicating as a ghost is the next step after the last arc where the ghost was inherently evil. This confused female ghost is becoming more powerful and thankfully remains on the side of good.

The characters in this story is what pulls me to read each new book in the series. Eve and Joe are nice and steady in their relationship. This stabilization is a treat after years of struggling and turmoil. To shake it up, Ms. Johnansen adds new interesting characters. It seems for Eve, she will always be a mother. After losing Bonnie and raising Jane, Jane grows up and leaves. Jane doesn't leave like Bonnie, nevertheless, Eve does feel bereft with Jane across the pond. In this book, a new little girl enters Eve's life and it almost seems like a repeat of Jane, except a different and more sinister variation. It creates an intriguing new story arc which promises to be a bit direr. Honestly, how much more heartache must Eve experience in her life?

The pace of this story is fast and it is riveting. It's a page turner as Ms. Johansen adds layers of complexity with each new clue revealed. The twists and turns in this story keep the story invigorating. The constant hints of a dark future is never realized in this story. The different threads in the story are nicely woven together into a satisfying conclusion. The resolution of the conflict is neatly done and leaves open a peek into the next book, making me wish for Ms. Johnansen to write faster so I can read the next one. Recommended for suspense readers who enjoy paranormal activity.

*provided by NetGalley

[Bella · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I don't always check GR as it tends to give away too much about a book at times, however let me just tell you how much I regret that with this book. Since this was the only book of iris Johansen's that my local BAM carried, I was oblivious to the fact that it was book 19 of the series. Maybe it takes 29 books to swallow the metric ton of bullshit that is the animal whisperer Margaret or the other numerous ridiculous supernatural aspects of this story, Idk. Not to mention I'm just supposed to sit back and accept that "I talk to dead girls" Eve who mind you has no law enforment training other than riding Joe Quinn is allowed to basically lead a murder investigation no questions asked? If any of this crap was mentioned in the blurb, I would have invested my 8.99 in a better deserving book.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thrilling novel in the Eve Duncan series.

[Dallas Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

after reconstructing a skull of a murdered little girl, Eve is visited by her spirt, warning her that he will kill again. Eve and Joe along with the police and help of others are now on the hunt to save this new victim with only having an idea of what she looks like. along the way there learn more about the murder and his pass victims and why he's set out for this little girl.
I could not put this book down. took me only 5 days to read it and after reading the first chapter of the next book in the series, I'm on the hunt to find it.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with the Eve Duncan series. I started reading the series years ago starting with the first novel in the series, The Face of Deception. As an aficionado of crime thrillers in particular forensic thrillers, I am always on the lookout for the next series to read, and as a result, the Eve Duncan series showed up in my search mainly because Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor. The series began as a decent crime thriller with Duncan’s murdered daughter, Bonnie, appearing to Eve in her dreams. So at first, Bonnie was a figment of Eve’s imagination, however, that quickly changed as the series progressed, Bonnie was no longer a specter within Eve’s mind, but appears as a true ethereal being. As the series progresses, Johansen wasn’t satisfied with just a ghost but decided to add psychics as well as vampire-like characters and, as far as I am concerned, the series goes downhill from there. Though I have a certain revulsion to this series, I also have a strange yet compelling desire to follow Eve Duncan in her next adventure. It is not unlike the need to get a good glimpse of a car accident as I am driving past. Perhaps it is my desire to see what new fantastical character that Johansen can create or perhaps chuckle at the absurd dialog that occurs between Eve and her FBI/navy seal/cop husband Joe Quinn, but I can’t stop myself from reading this series.

Shadow Play is the latest addition to the Eve Duncan series and Johansen doesn’t disappoint if telepathy and ghost are an interest to you. Duncan is approached by a phantom of a murdered child whose skull Duncan is reconstructing. Duncan, of course, cannot ignore the needs of this child to find her murderer, so she becomes more heavily involved in the investigation and reluctantly drags along her more than willing to please husband, Joe Quinn. Duncan also requests the help from a friend that fans of the series will recognize, Margaret Douglas, who has the ability to read an animal’s mind. We are also introduced to a new character, Sheriff John Nalchek of Sonderville, California, who is the lucky fellow that finds the grave of the murdered girl. With the exception of having something seemingly to hide, he appears to be perfectly normal with no paranormal attributes. I do believe this is a character that we will see more of with continued additions to the series. Overall, Shadow Play is entertaining and I believe fans of this series will enjoy it. Johansen does end the story with an interesting cliff hanger which means, of course, I will have to read the next book when it comes out.

I would like to thank NetGalley for my Advance Reader Copy of Shadow Play.

If you are interested in learning more about the Eve Duncan Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley late last week. It was my "Labor Day weekend" reading and I could not put it down!

I have read many (all?) of the Eve Duncan novels! As always, love Johansen's work and the way she builds suspense.

Eve doing the reconstruction of a child's skull ... I liked the way Eve was able to connect with Jenny (as she had been able to with her own daughter, Bonnie). I love Joe as a character and his relationship with Eve.

This was a fast read but still intense and suspenseful. Loved the use of paranormal.

This book was a real page turner. If you love Johansen, go read it! Even if you've never read her work or the Eve Duncan series, read it anyway. It would function well as a stand alone!

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for my ARC copy. It was my pleasure to read it and give you my honest review!

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters are whiny and annoying. They all have severe ego problems. The mystery has many holes and is not realistic at all - not even because a ghost helps solve it!

[Emily Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Play is technically part of a series, but I read it as a standalone and didn't feel lost or confused at all. This book really pulled me in from the beginning and it was a wild ride! I loved the murder mystery feel mixed with some paranormal aspects that play a role in solving this case. There were a few twists and surprises that helped keep me hooked to finish this book in a few hours! Great read!

[Patricia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow Play
Eve Duncan series, Book 19
Iris Johansen, author

Another intriguing and edge of your seat story..

I highly recommend. The ending...finally....

[Dawn Gribble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just reread this book because I love her writing style.

[Jordana · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters felt one-dimensional and unrealistic. The dialogue between characters reminded me of badly-written high school theatre: very tedious, blatant, and hammed up.
Storyline was a bit meh as well, I skimmed the last ~20 pages just to finish.


I’m cackling at this review because it’s on the money:
“I felt trapped in a crossover episode of the Ghost Whisperer and Scooby Doo. Only without the visual appeal of Jennifer Love Hewitt.”

[Amanda Wagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read an Iris Johansen book. I definitely wasn't disappointed. I love her writing style and how she makes it so easy to picture the story as you read it. This book had me guessing all the way to the end!

[Davia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so amazing !

I have not stopped to write a review until now! The characters are complex and wonderful. I actually started this series on the book 2 ahead of this one then went back and read most of them. Eve Duncan's world is a place I love visiting. I hope she keeps up the amazing work!

[Missy Boch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I enjoyed the twists and turns.