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Eve Duncan #13
Quinn
#1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen explores the darkest corners of the human heart as forensic sculptor Eve Duncan closes in on the killer who stole her daughter so many years ago.
As a former Navy SEAL turned cop, Joe Quinn has seen the face of evil and knows just how deadly it can be. When he first met Eve Duncan, he never expected to fall in love with a woman whose life would be defined by her dual desires to bring home her missing daughter and discover the truth behind her disappearance—no matter how devastating. With the help of CIA agent Catherine Ling, they make a shocking discovery that sheds new light on young Bonnie's abduction and puts Quinn squarely in the crosshairs of danger. Eve's first love, John Gallo, a soldier supposedly killed in the line of duty, is very much alive—and very much a threat.
Emotionally charged, with one shock after another, Quinn reveals the electricity of Joe and Eve's first connection, and how they fell in love in the midst of haunting tragedy. As their search takes them deeper and deeper into a web of murder and madness, Joe and Eve must confront their most primal fears . . . and test their resolve to uncover the ultimate bone-chilling truth.
As a former Navy SEAL turned cop, Joe Quinn has seen the face of evil and knows just how deadly it can be. When he first met Eve Duncan, he never expected to fall in love with a woman whose life would be defined by her dual desires to bring home her missing daughter and discover the truth behind her disappearance—no matter how devastating. With the help of CIA agent Catherine Ling, they make a shocking discovery that sheds new light on young Bonnie's abduction and puts Quinn squarely in the crosshairs of danger. Eve's first love, John Gallo, a soldier supposedly killed in the line of duty, is very much alive—and very much a threat.
Emotionally charged, with one shock after another, Quinn reveals the electricity of Joe and Eve's first connection, and how they fell in love in the midst of haunting tragedy. As their search takes them deeper and deeper into a web of murder and madness, Joe and Eve must confront their most primal fears . . . and test their resolve to uncover the ultimate bone-chilling truth.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 2011
271 people are currently reading
5415 people want to read
About the author
Iris Johansen
229 books7,363 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 659 reviews
November 15, 2015
‘Quinn’ is tagged as the 2nd of a final trilogy; however, Iris Johansen’s ‘Eve Duncan’ series is the series this trilogy is based off of. If you want to be able to truly understand and appreciate this trilogy, I would highly recommend reading the Eve Duncan series first.
Iris Johansen’s ’Eve Duncan’ series has become a personal favorite of mine over the last decade. Personally fascinated by crime novels with interesting forensic tidbits at an early age, stumbling upon this series was quite a discovery for me. Eve is a strong and independent woman and is also a trained forensic sculptor who performs skull recreations to put a face to lost children to help bring their families peace. This is all in hope that one day she’ll find her daughter Bonnie who was kidnapped when she was 7 years old. ‘Quinn’ delves into the past when Eve and Quinn first met and he was first assigned to help find her daughter. It was very interesting to see the change in Eve and how she became a forensic sculptor; not simply out of the desire to find her own daughter, but out of the realization that she could do something to help the grieving families who hurt much like she does from the loss of her own child.
The story opens where ’Eve’ left off, with Joe Quinn in the ICU after being stabbed by Paul Black. In the hospital, Eve sees the ghost of her daughter Bonnie staring down at Quinn and thinks that he’s dying and she has come to take him to the afterlife. Catherine Ling has gone to track down John Gallo to get him to talk after Paul Black claimed John Gallo killed Bonnie. Only problem is John Gallo doesn’t remember him doing that; but doesn’t rule it out as a possibility considering his mental issues after being a POW in Korea.
The Good
My favorite bit was learning more about Eve and Joe’s past and when they first met each other. Knowing from reading the Eve Duncan series, Eve and Joe have a fierce love for each other and I loved being able to see how it all began.
The Bad
Okay, so after reading 13 books about Eve Duncan I think I’m a bit biased regarding my never-ending love for this series. With that said the one bad thing I do have to say this book resolved zero questions. Sure all sorts of new questions got raised, but was anything solved? Hmm… no not really. Which is really irritating. Sure us readers only have to wait 3 months before ’Bonnie’ comes out, but I still would’ve appreciated SOME answers.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
Iris Johansen’s ’Eve Duncan’ series has become a personal favorite of mine over the last decade. Personally fascinated by crime novels with interesting forensic tidbits at an early age, stumbling upon this series was quite a discovery for me. Eve is a strong and independent woman and is also a trained forensic sculptor who performs skull recreations to put a face to lost children to help bring their families peace. This is all in hope that one day she’ll find her daughter Bonnie who was kidnapped when she was 7 years old. ‘Quinn’ delves into the past when Eve and Quinn first met and he was first assigned to help find her daughter. It was very interesting to see the change in Eve and how she became a forensic sculptor; not simply out of the desire to find her own daughter, but out of the realization that she could do something to help the grieving families who hurt much like she does from the loss of her own child.
The story opens where ’Eve’ left off, with Joe Quinn in the ICU after being stabbed by Paul Black. In the hospital, Eve sees the ghost of her daughter Bonnie staring down at Quinn and thinks that he’s dying and she has come to take him to the afterlife. Catherine Ling has gone to track down John Gallo to get him to talk after Paul Black claimed John Gallo killed Bonnie. Only problem is John Gallo doesn’t remember him doing that; but doesn’t rule it out as a possibility considering his mental issues after being a POW in Korea.
The Good
My favorite bit was learning more about Eve and Joe’s past and when they first met each other. Knowing from reading the Eve Duncan series, Eve and Joe have a fierce love for each other and I loved being able to see how it all began.
The Bad
Okay, so after reading 13 books about Eve Duncan I think I’m a bit biased regarding my never-ending love for this series. With that said the one bad thing I do have to say this book resolved zero questions. Sure all sorts of new questions got raised, but was anything solved? Hmm… no not really. Which is really irritating. Sure us readers only have to wait 3 months before ’Bonnie’ comes out, but I still would’ve appreciated SOME answers.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
January 31, 2019
Quinn is about love, missing children and how two people join forces to find answers. Joe Quinn was a cop, and he was investigating the death of a young boy. However, during the investigation, he found similar cases. Joe Quinn decided to call in Eve Duncan forensic sculptor to help. The readers of Quinn will continue to follow the twist and turns in Joe's and Eve investigation.
Quinn is not one of my favourite books of Iris Johansen. However, Quinn was an enjoyable book to read. Quinn was well written and researched by Iris Johansen For some reason; I could not engage with the characters of Quinn. Iris Johansen did an excellent job in describing her settings and the plot of Quinn.
The readers of Quinn will learn about the role forensic sculptors have with law enforcement agencies. Also, Quinn highlights the problems parents have when their children go missing, and they have no idea if they are dead or live.
I recommend this book.
Quinn is not one of my favourite books of Iris Johansen. However, Quinn was an enjoyable book to read. Quinn was well written and researched by Iris Johansen For some reason; I could not engage with the characters of Quinn. Iris Johansen did an excellent job in describing her settings and the plot of Quinn.
The readers of Quinn will learn about the role forensic sculptors have with law enforcement agencies. Also, Quinn highlights the problems parents have when their children go missing, and they have no idea if they are dead or live.
I recommend this book.
January 20, 2022
I caught this audiobook in the middle of the series. I bought it for$2 at a thrift store. Picking up a series in the middle, I had to rely on the author to give me enough to know what's going on. She did that only marginally well. There was still plenty of questions that I had to puzzle out (unsuccessfully) myself- and I don't think I got all I needed to understand the dynamics of this one.
The other thing I found disconcerting was that after listening through several hours of tree trimming, weed-wacking, hole digging, planting, vacuuming, driving the tractor, and covering the trees from the upcoming frost task that I had to do--- the story ended on a cliffhanger. The following questions hung in the air as the narrator thanked me for purchasing and listening to the story: Who killed Jacobs? Who killed Bonnie? Had Gallo killed Bonnie? Would Joe kill Gallo? Would Eve or Katherine solve the murders? Joe was so weak- would he die? Why was Bonnies ghost so sad?
I probably won't pursue this series. Although this audio book filled my chore time, I won't go out of my way to buy the next one. I hate that the idea of it coming in in the middle of a continuing series (and probably not following it to the conclusion b/c I didn't care for the characters). In hindsight it left me feeling empty and that I wasted my time listening to it. I guess it was my own fault.
The other thing I found disconcerting was that after listening through several hours of tree trimming, weed-wacking, hole digging, planting, vacuuming, driving the tractor, and covering the trees from the upcoming frost task that I had to do--- the story ended on a cliffhanger. The following questions hung in the air as the narrator thanked me for purchasing and listening to the story: Who killed Jacobs? Who killed Bonnie? Had Gallo killed Bonnie? Would Joe kill Gallo? Would Eve or Katherine solve the murders? Joe was so weak- would he die? Why was Bonnies ghost so sad?
I probably won't pursue this series. Although this audio book filled my chore time, I won't go out of my way to buy the next one. I hate that the idea of it coming in in the middle of a continuing series (and probably not following it to the conclusion b/c I didn't care for the characters). In hindsight it left me feeling empty and that I wasted my time listening to it. I guess it was my own fault.
December 27, 2012
Although the first book, Eve, was definitely about her, this book literally had nothing to do with Joe Quinn. I was hoping that, like Eve, we would get to see about Joe's past and what his life was like growing up, but nope, we just had to sit through chapters of the initial search for Bonnie. I don't know about everybody else, but I had heard enough about these days throughout the rest of the previous books that I didn't really care. The only thing I am sure about is that Joe definitely breached professional boundaries with Eve (hugging her, kissing her on the forehead, staying over at her place, taking her to hotels, taking her out to dinner, etc). What policeman would have acted that way? None. It was weird, unprofessional,and his thoughts definitely bordered on obsession even after their first meeting. I will allow that this Joe Quinn seemed a lot more reasonable and not as bull-headed, aggressive, stubborn and controlling, but all that did was make me dislike the current Joe Quinn more. Once we move on from Joe and Eve of the past, Joe spends almost the entirety of the book in a hospital bed unconscious, not doing a damn thing. Hello? This book is titled after him, shouldn't we be seeing a little more and gaining a little more insight? It had more to do with Catherin and John than anybody. The search for Bonnie continues (shocking) and even though they appear close to finding out who did it, there are two more books that I know of in the actually Even Duncan series, so I'm sure we won't find out about that now. The next book is Bonnie, and considering all of the books revolve around her anyway, I'm sure there won't be much difference between this book and the rest of them.
July 12, 2011
Quinn is the second of Iris Johansen’s trilogy about Eve’s search for her daughter Bonnie and it is full of hard hitting action and a thriller that you’ll not soon forget. In this story we learn about Joe Quinn right from the moment he met Eve after the disappearance of Bonnie, she takes you deep into the psyche of a distraught woman fighting between hope and despair that her daughter would still be found alive and knowing it’s unlikely. She also gives us clues to the mystery and brings us ever closer to the final detail that will solve this crime and she shows us how one of the greatest love stories on paper began and was nurtured to the extent we see it today. She does this with her no-nonsense dialogue filled with emotion that her readers will feel from the wrecked Eve to the determined Joe and all the other characters as well. Her characters are old friends to many of us, so much so that we have formed a sotto friendship with them, but have no fear if this is your first foray into this series she also gives you enough background to feel secure in your knowledge. Her main protagonists Eve and Joe are enigmatic and complicated people who through all the trials in their life together have grown into a life-force that no one can break and the romance although far from new still grows in depths that many of her fans will aspire to.
So come along on this second journey to finally find the answers behind Bonnie Duncan’s disappearance learn along with all her fans what really happened and know that in just a few months with the release of Bonnie we will finally have all the answers. Even though this reads well on it’s own, I suggest that you read Eve first where the author tells us the story behind Eve Duncan, where she came from and how she got to be the woman she is today, then go back even farther and start the whole series you won’t be sorry you did.
So come along on this second journey to finally find the answers behind Bonnie Duncan’s disappearance learn along with all her fans what really happened and know that in just a few months with the release of Bonnie we will finally have all the answers. Even though this reads well on it’s own, I suggest that you read Eve first where the author tells us the story behind Eve Duncan, where she came from and how she got to be the woman she is today, then go back even farther and start the whole series you won’t be sorry you did.
October 11, 2011
I read some of the earlier books in this series, so I thought it would be an entertaining way to pass some time. Even though I wasn't expecting much, Quinn was incredibly disappointing. While the previous books at least told a story with a beginning, a middle, and an ending, this one didn't even do that much. It was much like watching one of those retrospective episodes of a long-running television series--nothing new or interesting--but it was made worse because the whole muddle just stops with "to be continued". Well, it may be continued, but I'm not the least bit interested in finding out what happens. Oh! Wait! Do you think that maybe Catherine will end up in the sack with Gallo, who will forms an instant bond with her son? Or that Quin and Eve will live happily ever after? Or that Jane will finally see Bonnie? Who cares?
This really earned zero stars.
This really earned zero stars.
September 9, 2011
I'm not sure why I started reading this series about one million books ago. I guess I liked the first one I read and continued on. They got 'old' many books back but I never give up. This one is the 2nd to the last in what I hear is the end of the series so I'm hoping I will soon be finished with them.
I don't like the characters in the book except for Joe Quinn. The plots are usually good [and this one is no exception] but the conversations are 'cold'. The last [I'm hoping] three books are Eve [the main character] I recently read, Quinn, and the one to soon be published is Bonnie [Eve's daughter whom has been missing for many years]. In the last two books the author has taken us back to before the series started. In this one Quinn meets Eve and his immediate attraction to her does not seem plausible. Maybe it's just me since I've never cared for Eve.
On a bright note there's a Vince Flynn book soon to be released!!!
I don't like the characters in the book except for Joe Quinn. The plots are usually good [and this one is no exception] but the conversations are 'cold'. The last [I'm hoping] three books are Eve [the main character] I recently read, Quinn, and the one to soon be published is Bonnie [Eve's daughter whom has been missing for many years]. In the last two books the author has taken us back to before the series started. In this one Quinn meets Eve and his immediate attraction to her does not seem plausible. Maybe it's just me since I've never cared for Eve.
On a bright note there's a Vince Flynn book soon to be released!!!
October 3, 2016
I found it interesting that this was supposed to be Quinn's book. The first half of the book is the backstory of when Quinn first met Eve 9 years ago and how they eventually became a couple all while trying to find out who murdered Eve's daughter. The second half of the book was current day and mainly Catherine Ling and John Gallo - her first chasing him down because she thinks he is guilty of killing his daughter and then them working together to after a person they thinks knows who actually did.
I didn't really have a big issue with that as I really like John Gallo and want everyone to finally believe that he didnt kill his own daughter. It was just interesting that the majority of Quinn's presence in this book was all in the past.
We still dont know what really happened to Eve and John's daughter - we are left with another cliffhanger at the end of this book. Good thing is I know the next book will finally give us all those answers.
I didn't really have a big issue with that as I really like John Gallo and want everyone to finally believe that he didnt kill his own daughter. It was just interesting that the majority of Quinn's presence in this book was all in the past.
We still dont know what really happened to Eve and John's daughter - we are left with another cliffhanger at the end of this book. Good thing is I know the next book will finally give us all those answers.
July 26, 2011
KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE NEXT TO LAST CHAPTER IN THE SERIES OF EVE DUNCAN I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WOULD BE JUST A FILLER AND NOT BE OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF MS JOHANSEN. BOY WAS I WRONG. AS I TURNED THE PAGES IT ONLY GOT BETTER AND BETTER. ONE HAS TO BE A FAN OF EVE DUNCAN TO APPRECIATE THIS BOOK AND TO HAVE FOLLOWED THE STORY OF HOW HER DAUGHTER WAS ABDUCTED AND HER SEARCH FOR HER KILLER AND TRYING TO FIND HER BODY AND HAVE IT RETURNED TO HER TO BE BURIED OR AS SHE USES THE PHRASE TO COME HOME. IT IS FAST PACED AND THE ENDING LEAVES ONE SCREAMING IN ANTICIPATION FOR THE FINAL CHAPTER TO THIS SERIES. IT ALSO MAKES ONE WISH THAT MS JOHANSEN WOULD CONTINUE WRITING ABOUT EVE DUNCAN AND HER FAMILY. SO IF YOU ARE AN EVE DUNCAN FAN RUN DONT WALK TO BUY THIS BOOK AND PREORDER THE FINAL CHAPTER.
December 2, 2011
The second of the trilogy that will end the Eve Duncan - Joe Quinn series of mysteries. I found this book disappointing and would not recommend it.
There is a great deal of back story about how Eve and Joe met, most of which has been covered or glossed over in the series of preceding mysteries. I found the inclusion of this information redundant, at times unbelievable (a federal agent giving a civilian full access to case files?)and, to be honest, boring. I kept reading because I respect the author and her previous work.
The pace does pick up at the end but comes to a very unsatisfactory ending - "To Be Continued." This reads more like a movie script than a novel. At this point I don't much care about the characters and will not be reading the final book.
There is a great deal of back story about how Eve and Joe met, most of which has been covered or glossed over in the series of preceding mysteries. I found the inclusion of this information redundant, at times unbelievable (a federal agent giving a civilian full access to case files?)and, to be honest, boring. I kept reading because I respect the author and her previous work.
The pace does pick up at the end but comes to a very unsatisfactory ending - "To Be Continued." This reads more like a movie script than a novel. At this point I don't much care about the characters and will not be reading the final book.
July 18, 2011
Kind of ready for this to be over. She's starting to lose me...
July 11, 2015
I just loved this triology, the storyline keeps your interest and the characters keep you wanting more.
April 3, 2021
It starts off in the present briefly and then abruptly jumps into the past and is focused on Quinn's love for Eve during the first half of the book. The 2nd half of the book focuses on 2 other characters and was a lot more fast paced.
I felt the 2 halves of the book didn't connect well and were a little disjointed. I had annoyed moments in the 1st part where I was like "yes we get that you love her because you only mention it every other page- can we get back to finding murderer now?!?!" Then I imagine Quinn being played by John Cena and carry on. My first Iris Johansen book- not one of my favorites but will probably give her writing another shot.
I felt the 2 halves of the book didn't connect well and were a little disjointed. I had annoyed moments in the 1st part where I was like "yes we get that you love her because you only mention it every other page- can we get back to finding murderer now?!?!" Then I imagine Quinn being played by John Cena and carry on. My first Iris Johansen book- not one of my favorites but will probably give her writing another shot.
February 23, 2022
Again, the book ends without resolution and has the reader anxious for the next in the series. I hate cliffhangers, but they are certainly effective. I literally raced through this one because I didn't like how the last one ended. Now I get to race through the next one, thanks to this ending. At least we get to know a bit more about Joe and John Gallo. The first section was about Joe and Eve; the second about Catherine and John. Well designed to intrigue the reader.
March 11, 2024
Ahhh! I just want to know what happened to Bonnie! Overall the story was great, I loved seeing how Eve and Joe started, the building chemistry with Catherine and John (though not totally sure I want to see it actually happen), and the cliffhanger ending was whew. Cannot wait to read Bonnie's story.
September 20, 2018
None of the questions left from the first book have been answered and now I was left with even more questions.
January 27, 2020
Wow that one kept me on the edge of my seat. Gotta find the next one in this awesome Eve Duncan series.
April 17, 2022
I would have liked it better if the book had not ended the way it did. I do appreciate the fast pace but it's too bad that it's not for any conclusion.
April 15, 2024
very good never read a book by iris johansen i word read more like him . you will get suck in .
July 25, 2018
No more alternating. It's Iris Johansen from here on out. I only have about 12 more books of hers to read.
"Quinn" takes place between "Eve" and "Bonnie." I've read both of those books, but I don't think I would enjoyed "Quinn" more if I hadn't read "Bonnie" first. Although this book doesn't make it obvious who Bonnie's killer is, it does make it obvious who it isn't, as soon as Catherine Ling gets sweet on him.
Next to Jane MacGuire, Catherine Ling is probably my least-favorite female regular in this series. I get sick of reading about how she grew up on the streets and married a 62-year-old when she was 17 (WTF), but "age is just a number" and they loved each other (but not passionately, just comfortably) and blah blah blah. Yes, we get it, she's special and deadly and smart and sexy...She's described as "exotic" because she's half-Chinese, half-"Caucasian." (Just say "white.") Look up "orientalism" if you don't understand why this is offensive. Naturally, it's Jane who describes her this way. How the hell would she know what Catherine's ethnicity was, anyway? Jane's probably just racist. It wouldn't surprise me.
Although the book's title is "Quinn," less than half of the book focuses on Joe. That didn't actually bother me so much as the lack of flashback time. I was interested in seeing more about what prompted Eve's decision to become a forensic sculptor. It's possible that this is described in "Bonnie" and I just forgot. If that's the case, you can ignore this complaint.
At the very beginning of Joe's flashback, we see one of his coworkers, a woman, complain that she wanted the prominent Bonnie Duncan case, which Joe has been assigned to. She talks about how hard it is to break through the glass ceiling. Joe asks if there's a glass ceiling in the FBI, and she says there is. She's portrayed as someone who isn't willing to work for what she wants, and she offers to sleep with him (the implication being so that he'll treat her favorably in the future). Apparently they have before, too.
Ah, yes, those silly feminists and their whining about fairness in the workplace! Obviously, they just want to get to the top without working as hard as their male counterparts. They think that all they have to do is lift their skirts and it's easy street from there on in. Men can't sleep their way through their career, so it's actually women who are advantaged!
Obviously, that last paragraph was sarcasm, but this is an extremely offensive idea that's perpetuated by the anti-feminist crowd. And Iris Johansen's women Don't Need Feminism because they're Strong Female Characters (never mind that all of them are stalked, harassed, threatened, and sometimes raped by their so-called love interests). Give me a break. At least she didn't appear for the rest of the book...which makes me wonder, what was the point? Well, except for Joe to reduce her to a series of body parts, because this was before he met eve, and he didn't think of women as people. In fact, Eve is the first woman he actually sees as a human being and not as a potential bed mate. I'm serious. I actually took note of all the pages where he was super creepy about Eve, but on the day I finished "Quinn," I had a splitting headache and couldn't write this review, and now the book is back at the library. C'est la vie.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the flashback, which lasted several chapters. It was interesting reading about the kind of person Eve was right after Bonnie's disappearance, when she was both newly devastated and also desperately clinging to the hope that her daughter was still alive. I did find it very unrealistic that the FBI would agree to let Eve look over the files for a local serial killer's case, but I wasn't surprised, and I'm used to that in this series. The entire world is willing to bend over backward for Eve, and it's not just because Joe's always standing behind her like an elephant in must. Eve has a way of charming everyone with her skill as a forensic sculptor (the best in the world!), her backstory (she CARES enough about her child to continue to look for her, unlike all those other grieving parents), how "special" Bonnie was (missing white woman syndrome...for kids!), and, last but certainly not least, Eve's more-interesting-than-pretty features (which, if you've seen the cover of "Silencing Eve," is complete BS).
...And I totally made it sound like I DIDN'T actually enjoy this part of the book. But I did. Maybe it's because Eve and Joe haven't actually undergone any character development through most of the series. The only reason they've even been able to move forward in their relationship with one another is that Joe finally got to see Bonnie in "Quicksand," so now he can appreciate her in a way similar to Eve. In the flashbacks, however, we get to see Joe go from being a grumpy womanizer to a grumpy man in love. We get to see Eve go from a distraught, grieving mother to a slightly less distraught, grieving mother who has at least some direction in what she wants to do. We also get to see another one of her skills--criminal sketches. I did kind of roll my eyes at how she did even better than a professional, but it didn't bother me as much as it might have, since I can see how forensic sketching would be related to forensic sculpting.
Sadly, as I mentioned before, the flashback didn't last as long as I would have liked. Even if it didn't go into how Eve became a forensic sculptor, I would have rather read about other things that happened at the time than what I was actually forced to read. Heck, I was ready to give this book a 3-star review.
But the rest of the book was tedious to read. It involved Catherine Ling going on the hunt to track down John Gallo, who everyone thinks killed Bonnie. John himself is certain that he killed Bonnie, because he's had blackouts and delusions ever since he was tortured in North Korea.
The book also makes sure to inform us that he's "schizophrenic" when the question is raised of why he would kill his own daughter. Ugh. As if schizophrenia isn't badly stigmatized enough. Sure, some people with schizophrenia are violent. Some people who smoke cigarettes are violent, too. That doesn't mean that "Why would he kill his own daughter?" should be answered with, "Well, he has a history of cigarette smoking."
Johansen could have simply explained that his delusions could have lead him to think that Bonnie was dangerous without mentioning a specific mental illness. In fact, the person speaking could have just said that plenty of children are killed by their parents--that familial ties don't necessary protect someone from a violent crime--which is perfectly true and makes a lot more sense.
In any case, we know almost immediately that John couldn't have killed Bonnie, because Catherine wants to bang him. No, seriously. She claims it's because his story doesn't add up, but the complete lack of caution she exercises around him gives her real priorities away. Iris Jo believes in "chemistry" above all else, including common sense. The bad guys are utterly repulsive to the heroines, and the heroes--even if they engage in torture, stalking, and even pedophilia (see "Pandora's Daughter" and "The Perfect Witness")--are super sexy and the heroines want to jump their bones and, therefore, they're one of the good guys. That's the kind of thinking an immature teenager (not just a teenager, an *immature* one) has, not a woman in her 20s. (Of COURSE she's in her 20s. In Iris Jo's world, nobody except Eve Duncan can accomplish anything past the age of 29, unless they're male, of course.)
Catherine and John's constantly wanting to bone ripped any sort of tension out of the story. You just know Johansen is planning for them to get together in a later book, so there's no way John is Bonnie's killer. The belligerent sexual tension is exactly the same as it is in every stand-alone Johansen novel, only the stakes are supposed to be higher. They don't really come across that way, though, because, again, the two characters act like whiny adolescents toward each other. Except, at one point, John knocks Catherine to the ground and she's like "Are you going to rape me?" and he's all "I really want to, but nah, I'm not *that* evil." Clap. Clap. Clap. Gosh, I really admire your restraint there. He adds that of course, it wouldn't be rape, because he'd make sure she'd enjoy it.
THIS KIND OF MENTALITY HAS REAL-WORLD CONSEQUENCES. Rapists are acquitted or given a light sentence because survivors and victims are accused of "wanting it." What the *hell*, Johansen? If a survivor or victim gets aroused during their rape, it's *still rape*. I don't care if you were born in 1938; you should know this by now.
Anyway, I don't see how anyone could be thrilled by this book, since it's part of a trilogy and everyone knows that the mystery of Bonnie's death won't be solved until the third book. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which is unusual for Johansen, so there's that. I can see how it would have been thrilling, if frustrating when "Quinn" first came out.
I say, if you can, just check out the entire trilogy at once, so you don't have to wait to continue the story. "Quinn" can't really stand on its own as a novel; it's not interesting enough.
"Quinn" takes place between "Eve" and "Bonnie." I've read both of those books, but I don't think I would enjoyed "Quinn" more if I hadn't read "Bonnie" first. Although this book doesn't make it obvious who Bonnie's killer is, it does make it obvious who it isn't, as soon as Catherine Ling gets sweet on him.
Next to Jane MacGuire, Catherine Ling is probably my least-favorite female regular in this series. I get sick of reading about how she grew up on the streets and married a 62-year-old when she was 17 (WTF), but "age is just a number" and they loved each other (but not passionately, just comfortably) and blah blah blah. Yes, we get it, she's special and deadly and smart and sexy...She's described as "exotic" because she's half-Chinese, half-"Caucasian." (Just say "white.") Look up "orientalism" if you don't understand why this is offensive. Naturally, it's Jane who describes her this way. How the hell would she know what Catherine's ethnicity was, anyway? Jane's probably just racist. It wouldn't surprise me.
Although the book's title is "Quinn," less than half of the book focuses on Joe. That didn't actually bother me so much as the lack of flashback time. I was interested in seeing more about what prompted Eve's decision to become a forensic sculptor. It's possible that this is described in "Bonnie" and I just forgot. If that's the case, you can ignore this complaint.
At the very beginning of Joe's flashback, we see one of his coworkers, a woman, complain that she wanted the prominent Bonnie Duncan case, which Joe has been assigned to. She talks about how hard it is to break through the glass ceiling. Joe asks if there's a glass ceiling in the FBI, and she says there is. She's portrayed as someone who isn't willing to work for what she wants, and she offers to sleep with him (the implication being so that he'll treat her favorably in the future). Apparently they have before, too.
Ah, yes, those silly feminists and their whining about fairness in the workplace! Obviously, they just want to get to the top without working as hard as their male counterparts. They think that all they have to do is lift their skirts and it's easy street from there on in. Men can't sleep their way through their career, so it's actually women who are advantaged!
Obviously, that last paragraph was sarcasm, but this is an extremely offensive idea that's perpetuated by the anti-feminist crowd. And Iris Johansen's women Don't Need Feminism because they're Strong Female Characters (never mind that all of them are stalked, harassed, threatened, and sometimes raped by their so-called love interests). Give me a break. At least she didn't appear for the rest of the book...which makes me wonder, what was the point? Well, except for Joe to reduce her to a series of body parts, because this was before he met eve, and he didn't think of women as people. In fact, Eve is the first woman he actually sees as a human being and not as a potential bed mate. I'm serious. I actually took note of all the pages where he was super creepy about Eve, but on the day I finished "Quinn," I had a splitting headache and couldn't write this review, and now the book is back at the library. C'est la vie.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the flashback, which lasted several chapters. It was interesting reading about the kind of person Eve was right after Bonnie's disappearance, when she was both newly devastated and also desperately clinging to the hope that her daughter was still alive. I did find it very unrealistic that the FBI would agree to let Eve look over the files for a local serial killer's case, but I wasn't surprised, and I'm used to that in this series. The entire world is willing to bend over backward for Eve, and it's not just because Joe's always standing behind her like an elephant in must. Eve has a way of charming everyone with her skill as a forensic sculptor (the best in the world!), her backstory (she CARES enough about her child to continue to look for her, unlike all those other grieving parents), how "special" Bonnie was (missing white woman syndrome...for kids!), and, last but certainly not least, Eve's more-interesting-than-pretty features (which, if you've seen the cover of "Silencing Eve," is complete BS).
...And I totally made it sound like I DIDN'T actually enjoy this part of the book. But I did. Maybe it's because Eve and Joe haven't actually undergone any character development through most of the series. The only reason they've even been able to move forward in their relationship with one another is that Joe finally got to see Bonnie in "Quicksand," so now he can appreciate her in a way similar to Eve. In the flashbacks, however, we get to see Joe go from being a grumpy womanizer to a grumpy man in love. We get to see Eve go from a distraught, grieving mother to a slightly less distraught, grieving mother who has at least some direction in what she wants to do. We also get to see another one of her skills--criminal sketches. I did kind of roll my eyes at how she did even better than a professional, but it didn't bother me as much as it might have, since I can see how forensic sketching would be related to forensic sculpting.
Sadly, as I mentioned before, the flashback didn't last as long as I would have liked. Even if it didn't go into how Eve became a forensic sculptor, I would have rather read about other things that happened at the time than what I was actually forced to read. Heck, I was ready to give this book a 3-star review.
But the rest of the book was tedious to read. It involved Catherine Ling going on the hunt to track down John Gallo, who everyone thinks killed Bonnie. John himself is certain that he killed Bonnie, because he's had blackouts and delusions ever since he was tortured in North Korea.
The book also makes sure to inform us that he's "schizophrenic" when the question is raised of why he would kill his own daughter. Ugh. As if schizophrenia isn't badly stigmatized enough. Sure, some people with schizophrenia are violent. Some people who smoke cigarettes are violent, too. That doesn't mean that "Why would he kill his own daughter?" should be answered with, "Well, he has a history of cigarette smoking."
Johansen could have simply explained that his delusions could have lead him to think that Bonnie was dangerous without mentioning a specific mental illness. In fact, the person speaking could have just said that plenty of children are killed by their parents--that familial ties don't necessary protect someone from a violent crime--which is perfectly true and makes a lot more sense.
In any case, we know almost immediately that John couldn't have killed Bonnie, because Catherine wants to bang him. No, seriously. She claims it's because his story doesn't add up, but the complete lack of caution she exercises around him gives her real priorities away. Iris Jo believes in "chemistry" above all else, including common sense. The bad guys are utterly repulsive to the heroines, and the heroes--even if they engage in torture, stalking, and even pedophilia (see "Pandora's Daughter" and "The Perfect Witness")--are super sexy and the heroines want to jump their bones and, therefore, they're one of the good guys. That's the kind of thinking an immature teenager (not just a teenager, an *immature* one) has, not a woman in her 20s. (Of COURSE she's in her 20s. In Iris Jo's world, nobody except Eve Duncan can accomplish anything past the age of 29, unless they're male, of course.)
Catherine and John's constantly wanting to bone ripped any sort of tension out of the story. You just know Johansen is planning for them to get together in a later book, so there's no way John is Bonnie's killer. The belligerent sexual tension is exactly the same as it is in every stand-alone Johansen novel, only the stakes are supposed to be higher. They don't really come across that way, though, because, again, the two characters act like whiny adolescents toward each other. Except, at one point, John knocks Catherine to the ground and she's like "Are you going to rape me?" and he's all "I really want to, but nah, I'm not *that* evil." Clap. Clap. Clap. Gosh, I really admire your restraint there. He adds that of course, it wouldn't be rape, because he'd make sure she'd enjoy it.
THIS KIND OF MENTALITY HAS REAL-WORLD CONSEQUENCES. Rapists are acquitted or given a light sentence because survivors and victims are accused of "wanting it." What the *hell*, Johansen? If a survivor or victim gets aroused during their rape, it's *still rape*. I don't care if you were born in 1938; you should know this by now.
Anyway, I don't see how anyone could be thrilled by this book, since it's part of a trilogy and everyone knows that the mystery of Bonnie's death won't be solved until the third book. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which is unusual for Johansen, so there's that. I can see how it would have been thrilling, if frustrating when "Quinn" first came out.
I say, if you can, just check out the entire trilogy at once, so you don't have to wait to continue the story. "Quinn" can't really stand on its own as a novel; it's not interesting enough.
July 24, 2020
Holy cliffhanger
January 5, 2012
4.5 stars
Iris Johansen has done it again. She reeled me into this book and I couldn't put it down and even knowing the next book, Bonnie, was coming out so we wouldn't find out who her murderer is yet I still wanted to scream at the end. She certainly knows how to keep a reader hanging and desperately seeking the next book. If you read my review of Chasing the Night and Eve you know that despite not having read all of the Eve Duncan books from the beginning I am still in love with this series. Eve and Catherine Ling are both such strong female characters and you can't help but bond with them and fall in love with them. I admit I was not a huge Joe fan and preferred John Gallo so I did not rush out to get Quinn when it was released. Big mistake!
I loved that this book takes you back to when Joe first meets Eve and how he ends up falling for her. Having that background and seeing more of the type of guy he is made me actually like him a lot more. So now I feel like I can accept him more and really root for he and Eve to make it through together.
The action is pretty non-stop throughout the book and there are a lot of twists and turns. My only complaint is the attraction between Catherine and John. Like I mention above I love both characters and actually think they would work really well together BUT I wish in the past books there wasn't the exploration of Catherine and Joe's feelings for each other and the possibility of them falling for each other if it weren't for Eve. Because of that and now the attraction with John it almost seems a little creepy that Christine always seems to end up having a thing for the guys Eve was in love with. Maybe that is supposed to emphasize how alike the two women are but it just didn't work for me. Still I loved this book and cannot wait to start reading Bonnie!
Iris Johansen has done it again. She reeled me into this book and I couldn't put it down and even knowing the next book, Bonnie, was coming out so we wouldn't find out who her murderer is yet I still wanted to scream at the end. She certainly knows how to keep a reader hanging and desperately seeking the next book. If you read my review of Chasing the Night and Eve you know that despite not having read all of the Eve Duncan books from the beginning I am still in love with this series. Eve and Catherine Ling are both such strong female characters and you can't help but bond with them and fall in love with them. I admit I was not a huge Joe fan and preferred John Gallo so I did not rush out to get Quinn when it was released. Big mistake!
I loved that this book takes you back to when Joe first meets Eve and how he ends up falling for her. Having that background and seeing more of the type of guy he is made me actually like him a lot more. So now I feel like I can accept him more and really root for he and Eve to make it through together.
The action is pretty non-stop throughout the book and there are a lot of twists and turns. My only complaint is the attraction between Catherine and John. Like I mention above I love both characters and actually think they would work really well together BUT I wish in the past books there wasn't the exploration of Catherine and Joe's feelings for each other and the possibility of them falling for each other if it weren't for Eve. Because of that and now the attraction with John it almost seems a little creepy that Christine always seems to end up having a thing for the guys Eve was in love with. Maybe that is supposed to emphasize how alike the two women are but it just didn't work for me. Still I loved this book and cannot wait to start reading Bonnie!
August 1, 2012
WOW. This story picks up right where Eve left off. Quinn is in ICU and Gallo is on the run. This book also goes into the history of Quinn and Eve and how they met. It actually goes back to the first time they met (about 2 weeks after Bonnie went missing). It was interesting to see how Quinn and Eve were around each other the first time they had met each other. Eve was just as head strong then as she is now.
Eventually the story comes back to present day. Catherine starts to think that when Black told Gallo he killed his daughter, that was not the truth. Catherine and Gallo team up to track down Jacobs as he could answer the questions. Eventually everyone ends up in the Bayou. Next thing you know is that there is a killer on the loose--Gallo got a glimpse of who the killer was, and he was a bit surprised. Everyone is going after the killer so they can answer the long awaited question of who really killed Bonnie.
I am sure that Bonnie (#3 and final in this series) will pick up exactly where this left off, with the killer fleeing and everyone after him/her.
I was able to get this book at the same time as Quinn and plan on having it read by the end of the week as well. Finally we will all know the truth? Will this also be the end of the Eve Duncan series?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2012
Well, I must say the way it is written is a 5.5, but the idea of the furture, to the present to the past, you are so close to finding out who the killer is, then they go back into time with the next book. started it yesterday at 8am, put it down at 10pm, started it at 6am and just finished it at 5:50pm. Usually with trilogies i can read another book in between.
Joe Quinn is after the truth of what happened to Bonnie, Eve's daughter and although not everyone gets along they all have one thing in common, Eve. Join the forces of Joe Quinn a navy SEAL,Cathering of the CIA, John Gallo from the army and Eve Duncan. the challenge takes them from all over the states and getting to the truth is what matters most. How they find out the mystery is what was most impressive with me.
I must admit being home for a 3 day holiday to spend time with my 4 legged furry child,Garfield has helped me read it as he will be sorely missed tomorrow Feb 4th as he will be put down. sorry for any spelling errors. I wanted to update my progress report but my screen goes from pg 50..25% to automatically % with no page. love the idea of it telling u how much you have progressed thru it.
Joe Quinn is after the truth of what happened to Bonnie, Eve's daughter and although not everyone gets along they all have one thing in common, Eve. Join the forces of Joe Quinn a navy SEAL,Cathering of the CIA, John Gallo from the army and Eve Duncan. the challenge takes them from all over the states and getting to the truth is what matters most. How they find out the mystery is what was most impressive with me.
I must admit being home for a 3 day holiday to spend time with my 4 legged furry child,Garfield has helped me read it as he will be sorely missed tomorrow Feb 4th as he will be put down. sorry for any spelling errors. I wanted to update my progress report but my screen goes from pg 50..25% to automatically % with no page. love the idea of it telling u how much you have progressed thru it.
August 3, 2011
Another wonderful book, the second of the trilogy that has been eagerly anticipated.
Like "Eve", this book tells a complete story in itself, but is more meaningful as a follow-up to "Eve", the first book of the trilogy and is a continues covering the back story to the Eve Duncan series. It is the answer to many of the "I wonder . . ." questions that I've had over the years. I'm a fan of the Eve Duncan series, so this trilogy is a wonderful addition. Suspenseful, full of surprises and heading to an answer in "Bonnie"?
Well, I hope so, and yet I hope not. The Eve Duncan series is premised on the tragic disapperance and presumed murder of Bonnie, Eve's young daughter. While I want to find out what happened to Bonnie, when that happens, it could be the end of the series which I enjoy immensely. Ms. Johansen is one of the authors from whom I eagerly await new offerings.
I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy! Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a new arc, not the end of a richly enjoyed series.
Like "Eve", this book tells a complete story in itself, but is more meaningful as a follow-up to "Eve", the first book of the trilogy and is a continues covering the back story to the Eve Duncan series. It is the answer to many of the "I wonder . . ." questions that I've had over the years. I'm a fan of the Eve Duncan series, so this trilogy is a wonderful addition. Suspenseful, full of surprises and heading to an answer in "Bonnie"?
Well, I hope so, and yet I hope not. The Eve Duncan series is premised on the tragic disapperance and presumed murder of Bonnie, Eve's young daughter. While I want to find out what happened to Bonnie, when that happens, it could be the end of the series which I enjoy immensely. Ms. Johansen is one of the authors from whom I eagerly await new offerings.
I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy! Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a new arc, not the end of a richly enjoyed series.
March 7, 2013
As a former Navy SEAL turned cop, Joe Quinn has seen the face of evil and knows just how dark the shadows of the soul can turn. But when he met Eve Duncan a decade ago, he never expected to fall in love with a woman whose torment has ultimately fueled her twin desires to bring her missing daughter home and reveal the truth of her disappearance, no matter how devastating it may be. Eve's fateful first love, John Gallo, seems to hold the key to the mystery of young Bonnie's fate. With Joe's life hanging in the balance at the hands of John, justice may never be served - unless CIA agent Catherine Ling, who owes her own child's life to Eve and Joe, can outsmart him at his own game.
I found this book to be very exciting and suspenseful in its own right, full of strong characters and well-written. but the book was not really my cup of tea. This is the second book in a trilogy, and I must say that because I hadn't read the first book it took me a while to realize what was going on. I give Quinn by Iris Johansen an A!
I found this book to be very exciting and suspenseful in its own right, full of strong characters and well-written. but the book was not really my cup of tea. This is the second book in a trilogy, and I must say that because I hadn't read the first book it took me a while to realize what was going on. I give Quinn by Iris Johansen an A!
November 13, 2013
I'm writing these out of order because I just wrote the review of Bonnie but i finished this one a few days before I started Bonnie and just wanted it to END so I plowed on to the third book.
My main complaint for this book is the same as my complaint in Book #3 regarding lack of development of characters, meaning there were no personal ticks or expressions that made the characters unique and different. All of them stated who they would kill for Bonnie: ridiculous that everyone would state their willingness to kill and none of them were yelling it with passion when they said it.
The dialogue, again, was stilted and choppy. I am not saying every line needs a descriptor like, "blah blah blah" she said dolefully... but there was nothing here that gave a personality to each individual character.
My main complaint for this book is the same as my complaint in Book #3 regarding lack of development of characters, meaning there were no personal ticks or expressions that made the characters unique and different. All of them stated who they would kill for Bonnie: ridiculous that everyone would state their willingness to kill and none of them were yelling it with passion when they said it.
The dialogue, again, was stilted and choppy. I am not saying every line needs a descriptor like, "blah blah blah" she said dolefully... but there was nothing here that gave a personality to each individual character.
July 12, 2014
slight spoilers!
I disliked this book for many reasons.
I've ranted before about books that end with no closure whatsoever. even if a book is part of a series there should be some reward for finishing it. this book ended in the middle of a chase scene. what??
oh the angst. the endless, grinding, unrelenting, humorless angst. the protagonists either spent years in a foreign prison or had a child murdered or had a child kidnapped and tortured.
finally - the protagonists were all just so darn tough and smart. "Don't worry about eve. she's tough!" "Catherine will figure it out. she's smart!" "Joe will make it though this. He's tough!" "John will save the day. He's smart and tough!"
bought the first 2 of the series before reading any of it but now that I'm thru 2 I will not be reading final book.
I disliked this book for many reasons.
I've ranted before about books that end with no closure whatsoever. even if a book is part of a series there should be some reward for finishing it. this book ended in the middle of a chase scene. what??
oh the angst. the endless, grinding, unrelenting, humorless angst. the protagonists either spent years in a foreign prison or had a child murdered or had a child kidnapped and tortured.
finally - the protagonists were all just so darn tough and smart. "Don't worry about eve. she's tough!" "Catherine will figure it out. she's smart!" "Joe will make it though this. He's tough!" "John will save the day. He's smart and tough!"
bought the first 2 of the series before reading any of it but now that I'm thru 2 I will not be reading final book.
March 24, 2012
While the characters were rather stiff and one-dimensional, IMHO, amazingly enough the book itself wasn't too bad. But the cliffhanger ending wasn't really my cup of tea. I'd prefer it if I was able to decide whether I wish to go on to reading the next installment based on a good story line and not because I'm compelled to do so in order to find out what happens in the last crucial scene of the second book. I'll read "Bonnie", but I'm not happy about it.
October 14, 2011
Once again the book leaves you hanging!! Either a VERY poor selling tool for her newer books or she is ending this line of her stories. That is sad I would miss these, but it is understandable that my joy in reading them is way different than having to write them. But if she had started with this way of doing them, I never would have followed her books as I have.
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