Dead Aim

Eve Duncan #4.5

by Iris Johansen

 #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen delivers a knockout novel, as an unlikely pair of allies must expose a team of killers hiding behind an unspeakable act of terror—and risk ending up their next target. She witnesses death through the eye of her camera. Now a relentless killer is focused on her. A celebrated photojournalist, Alex Graham has seen it all--but her latest assignment has forced her across a dangerous line. What happens when a reporter does more than just report? She has recorded some of the most tragic and heartbreaking of catastrophes, everything from natural disasters to infamous acts of terror. Her experiences have left her forever marked with the human side of tragedy. So when a dam breaks in Arapahoe Junction, Colorado, Alex is once more at the site doing more than just snapping pictures—she is in the mud with a shovel digging for survivors. What happens when the reporter becomes the story? Alex finds more than she bargained for. In one terrible instant, she is witness to a conspiracy that will stun a nation. The official story is just a cover-up for a truth so frightening, so unthinkable, anyone who threatens to reveal it must be silenced. Forever. And now that someone is Alex Graham. The first attempt on her life is swift and brutal. Only barely escaping, she finds an ally in an improbable source. Billionaire financier John Logan has his own reasons for protecting Alex, and these reasons alone are likely to get her killed. Using his vast connections and influences, Logan assigns a bodyguard to protect her. Judd Morgan is the best covert commando in the business, and if anyone can keep Alex safe, it’s this quietly dangerous man. The problem is, Alex doesn’t want to be kept safe by Judd, whose checkered past has made him the target of an unseen assassin who dogs his every step. “Smoothly written, tightly plotted, turbocharged thriller . . . Johansen doesn’t miss.”—Kirkus Reviews

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

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2002

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

[Paul Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had there ever been a time “when her country hadn’t been surrounded by terror and ugliness and threats”?

Even though DEAD AIM was published twenty years ago, it does manage to seem timely given the nature of MAGA politics and the apparent desire of far right Republicans to de-stabilize their own government and to oust the duly elected legitimate president. DEAD AIM tells the story of Alex Graham, a top flight photojournalist, who uncovers the path to the inner workings of a conspiracy and an insurrection plan to topple the government (gosh … have I heard that recently?) as she covers the tragic collapse of a dam in Arapahoe Junction. Despite its rather current flavour and the obvious relationship it might have to today’s government dysfunction at the hands of some senators and members of the House who really ought to be cooling their heels behind bars, DEAD AIM never rises beyond pedestrian and mildly entertaining. The government bad guys are rather cartoonish, the plot and the outcomes become quite predictable, and the hot and heavy sweaty romance bits are right out of a B-movie.

Paul Weiss

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

2012 read: A female investigative journalist is looking into a dam disaster… and gets caught up in conspiracy to destabilise the entire United States. A bodyguard is thrust upon her, who turns out to have a murky past; and they team up to investigate the conspiracy. An OK conspiracy thriller. 6 out of 12.

2009 read:
Eve Duncan, 4.5 (apparently!): Another over decade old read I cannot recall. My one sentence review at the time stated 'OK conspiracy thriller centred around a Presidential assassination plot with journalist and an on-the-run ex FBI agent trying to thwart it.' 4 out of 12.

[Chana · Rating 1 out of 5]

A romance in the guise of an adventure/thriller. The author knows how to correctly sequence a story, but the dialogue was lame. Characters are constantly "tightening" or "twisting" their lips. And there is a frequent repetition of the word "dammit". I was wondering how I acquired this book as I certainly did not buy it, but, I tightened my lips and thought there is only one way to get this book off my shelf and that is to read it, dammit, and pass it on to someone who likes this author.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced action thriller with some romance added to the mix. An extra 20 pages at the end to provide more explanation and resolution would have been nice.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't stop reading this damn series. Eve Duncan is not in this book for even a word, but the other characters are so compelling I can't stop. I had a suspicion I'd be reading about Judd Morgan again, though I thought I was wrong after the way "No One to Trust" ended.

Boy, am I glad I was wrong. Morgan is terrific, and the fact that his character is so close-lipped kept me guessing till the end. Alex was also fantastic. I am really loving this web that Johansen has created....

[Stephanie Jachymek · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5.
Biased as it's not my kind of book.
But also for being a wanted assassin he makes a lot of stupid decisions and mistakes?
And I didn't like Alex she was annoying.
I know there is more to this as it's number 4.5 in a series, but I have no inclination to read the rest.

Not my cup of tea. Hard pass on the rest.

[John Mirmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-5 stars.

Another winner in the Eve Duncan series. This one didn’t feature Eve, but had characters that we have met in other books featured here, while introducing others. I was hesitant to at first how that would work, without Eve being the star, but it worked really well. More character development from some of the minor characters in other books, and the story was just as snappy and action-packed as the others. Quite a few times I had trouble putting the book down. A great read for sure.

[Eleanor Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unlikeable characters in a plot that defies imagination. One to miss.

[Coleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5 stars) Alex, a photojournalist, unintentionally witnesses a crime following a fatal disaster at a dam. After a subsequent attempt on her life, she's put under unofficial protection, but she's not content to play the passive female and assists in uncovering a conspiracy. From there it's a race to see if she can uncover all of the players before they get to her.

That sounds pretty typical of your modern day conspiracy thriller, doesn't it? Yes, well, that was my overall impression as well. For the most part I thought this was a pretty predictable and cliche'd story. Lots of overly dramatic dialogue and repetitive use of certain phrases such as "My God!" and "For God's sake!". I don't mind a few of those if appropriate, but way too many in this book to sound natural. Add a wannabe kick-ass female lead character who tries too hard to sound tough, and it's all a bit too much. Had this not been an abridged version on audio, it might've been a little bit better. But then again, maybe not, and perhaps abridged was the way to go to finish it more quickly. I thought I'd read Iris Johansen before, but apparently this was my first one, based on my review history. Based on this one, I'm not overly impressed.

[Tammy K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea this was part of a series when I read this one it seemed complete, which is a good thing if you can pick up in the middle of a series like that. Great action with some suspense, decent characters. Over all a pretty good read. I will look for the other books now that I know there is more.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story though a little predictible and suspiciously convenient. I wasn't crazy about either character and felt their relationship was a little contrived. I love Iris Johansen but I'm ready for more Eve Duncan in the Eve Duncan series...

[Patricia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Aim
The Eve Duncan series, Book 4.5
Iris Johansen, author

This isn't my first book by Ms. Johansen, but it's been a while since I read one of her books. I truly enjoy this series, but, this storyline has nothing to do with Eve Duncan. Instead, it about other supporting characters from previous books. Terrific nonetheless.

It was an edge of the seat, exhilarating read.

Alex Graham, a freelance photographer accidentally witnessed the shooting down of her friend's plane. Fiercely determined to give her accounting of the crime, she was determined to provide information to the authorities about what she witnessed. Was it really the authorities she provided her statement to? Leaving the hospital with her good friend Sarah Logan, they were shot at while driving back to the site. Sarah sustained a gunshot wound to her shoulder.

Enter in, the powerful and rich John Logan, Sarah's husband. He makes a request of Alex to stay away from his wife. Of course, Alex refuses to do so. John does the only logical thing. He has his good buddy Galen hire someone to keep watch over Alex and to keep her away from Sarah.

Now get ready for an adventuresome ride, as the suspense ebbs and the storyline takes off..... because Judd Morgan is as lethal as he is sexy and alluring..

I highly recommend this book. It will definitely hold your interest with it's action packed storyline.

[Djordje Mladenović · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kažu treća sreća. Meni je treća knjiga od Ajris bila razočarenje.

Odakle početi? Od početka. Početak takav da odmah kreće akcija. Nisam se dostojno ni upoznao sa likovima, a radnja uveliko piči, da mi beži. Prepuno akcije, nigde nekih pauza ili tako nešto. Imam utisak da je knjiga više pisana kao scenario za film u kom bi glavni lik bio Brus Vilis ili tako neko. Akcija, akcija i samo akcija.

Previše likova za knjigu ovog obima. Na trenutke nisam uspeo da pohvatam ko je ko. Konfuzno jako.

[Marta Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

It was riveting, fast moving, mysterious and interesting. The story line was easy to follow like in all other of her books

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Iris Johansen. This one give more background to other players in the Eve Duncan series. Enjoyed the suspense.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

The MC annoyed me, but I enjoyed the plot.

[Nancy Prins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery thriller, but was disappointed in the ending. There needed to be more explanation of the events that happened at the end and how it all unfolded.

[Jennavier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stockholm Syndrome is not love my friends. Johnanson seems determined to make me hate the hero's of the previous books. In this one Logan, hero of book 3, has Alex abducted because he's worried that she's putting Sarah, heroine of book 3, into danger. I don't care if he's a multibilliinaire, that is not a legitimate course of action. We do not live in a feudal society? I can't imagine how awful it would be to witness something terrible, have the courage to stand up for myself, and then be kidnapped my friends husbands commando and be told that I have to stay there is long as they say. Plus she almost gets killed trying to escape! Of course it's when he nurtures her back to health that their love blossoms. I will say that since I only made it a quarter of the way through the book I can't say that it doesn't get better. Alex is a strong character and she's not taking any lf this lying down. That being said I knew that I would never be okay with an HEA between these characters. I'm going to give the next book in the series a shot but I'm starting to think these just aren't working for me anymore.

[Jim C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is considered part of the Eve Duncan series but there is no Eve in this novel. There are characters from previous Eve Duncan books in this book. That is the tie-in to Eve.

Alex Graham is a photographer who is a witness to a murder which has ties to a much bigger political plot. Judd Morgan who is hired to protect her has his own problems and is not the most approachable guy. This is a romance thriller so we know where this is going. No surprises there.

This book had a nice pace and was never bogged down by the relationship between the two main characters. This book was pretty straight forward and brought nothing new to the table. I did have one major problem with this novel. There was a subplot between Judd and his rival throughout this book. When the reader thinks this subplot is coming to its confrontation, we just learn the outcome of it but there is no detailed exposition of the incident. Very disappointed by that.

This book was a quick read. I have read better from this author and I have read worse from this author.

[JBradford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know who is having more fun — Iris Johansen in writing this Eve Duncan series, or me in reading them. This is listed as #4.5 in the series (that is, partway between #4 and #5) and the reason for that sentence becomes obvious, because it is really an offshoot from the series, with all the other characters that we have come to know and love being only bit players, off to the side. This one is really about a new character, Alex Graham, who is a professional photographer whose specialty is taking pictures of international casualty scenes (earthquakes, mine collapses, etc.), who befriends Sarah Logan, the search-and-rescue expert introduced a few books back. In her zeal to get a good picture after helping to dig out bodies after a dam break washes away most of the small town, Alex inadvertently discovers some people in a place where no people should be, and immediately becomes a target. John Logan, Sarah’s billionaire husband calls in a special friend to protect Alex, and the adventure is on, as we slowly realize that the bad guys are up to something really, really bad.

[Dlora · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom really likes Iris Johansen's books but she says the earlier ones are better than the more recent ones. Dead Aim is one of the earlier ones, published in 2003, and I agree that I liked it better too--that is, the characters in this book are more appealing to me than in her recent books however, the plots have maybe gotten more interesting over time. In Dead Aim, photojournalist Alex Graham gets drawn into a political conspiracy because she's taking photos in the wrong place and the wrong time. On the run from the good guys and the bad guys, her ally is Judd Morgan, an ex-covert commando, who doesn't start things out well by kidnapping her in order to protect her. She wants to "save the world" and he just wants to lie low. Not a bad, fast-moving romantic thriller but, I think, geared to appeal more to women than men even though it is filled with danger, intrigue, and suspense.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #4.5 in the Eve Duncan series. Though part of the Eve Duncan series, this story revolves around Alex Graham and Judd Morgan. Alex is a photojournalist who finds her life in jeopardy while working on an assignment. Judd Morgan is assigned by John Logan, a character from previous Eve Duncan books, to protect her. Fast-paced and exciting.

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this novel. There was plenty of intrigue and action to keep me turning pages. Although, it is marked as an Eve Duncan book and she isn't in the book at all. This was my first Iris Johansen novel and I plan to read more.

[Jose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was liking the book until the end... you spend the entire book building up for the "final encounter"... and when it arrives it almost seems like the author ran out of paper and just needed to summarize what happened to make it fit.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series

[Christine Kirchoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this awhile ago but forgot to post it here. Good book!

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always an enjoyable mystery or good mystery. I don't think mystery should be enjoyable :)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, but it was not the best by this author. I think she has done other books that were much better.
I didn't realize until after I added this to my reading list that this book is part of a series. There was nothing on the book to indicate this when I picked it up. However, this can be read as a standalone book and is not necessary to read it in order of the series.
Fast paced and gripping as usual. It was easy for me to have this book finished in a week.
I wasn't too keen on the main character. I thought she was annoying and some of her decisions were selfish and careless. She was very "independent woman, hear me roar". That's great, but there are other ways to make a strong, female character.
I thought the reason for the bombing locations chosen was pretty obvious when they discovered what was going to be destroyed in the process, but the characters didn't clue into that as fast as I would have expected. There were a few other minor details that made things too convenient or that didn't fit the intelligence demostrated by the character previously. Nothing to ruin the experience though.
Overall, this one is still good, just a bit weaker than her other books.

[Leslie McNamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm guessing that this is book 4.5 in the Eve Duncan series due to the fact that she is not part of the book. Johansen uses her friendship with Sarah Logan and her rescue dog Monty merely to introduce photographer Alex Graham and to bring back Judd Morgan, ex-covert commando, who was associated with Sarah's husband, John Logan, and cohort Sean Galen.

Man-made disasters and political intrigue weave through this carefully, but predictably, plotted suspense thriller, with a bit of the Johansen style romance thrown in.

Alex herself is not so likeable; she is a bit too self-righteously bullheaded. The other characters kind of meld into one prototype. The ending felt too pat and contrived.

Not Johansen's best work, but if you enjoy the series, then you need to know the background of the characters who are likely to return in future books, as it seems a few of these tales are being used to add a network of friends around Eve.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dead Aim by Iris Johansen is book 4.5 of the Eve Duncan mystery series set in post-9/11 US. Journalist Alex is on the scene of a burst dam (and subsequent landslides) in Colorado that buried an entire town. Overcome with sadness, she persists in digging for survivors rather than taking photographs to inform the rest of the world. She witnesses a scene that makes the disaster more horrible - it was a planned attack, not a natural disaster. Having witnessed the perps, she's now a target. Alex is good friends with Sara Logan, on the scene with her Search-and-Rescue dog Monty. Together they are nearly killed in a shooting that runs them off a mountain road.

Sara's powerful and wealthy husband Ben Logan calls in favors to have Alex kidnapped for her own safety (and to keep her away from Sara, while Sara tries to recover from the shooting).

Then it gets formulaic: Kidnap victim Alex falls in love with her reluctant kidnapper Morgan. Together they uncover and foil a treacherous plot -at high government levels- to assassinate the President.