The Killing Game

Rating:
Summary: Mystery/Thriller, or Bodice-Ripper? You guess.
Review: "The Killing Game" by Iris Johansen is the sort of non-thriller, non-mystery a romance novelist would write. The secondary Cinderella story line was annoying and stopped just short of bodice-ripping. Not one, but TWO Prince Charmings (one born rich, the other a self-made rich entrepreneur) harbor deep feelings towards the stalwart, formerly-poor-but-dragging-herself-up-from-gutter heroine - and golly, she doesn't really seem to be aware of the reality of the situation, and the true depth of their feelings. Spare me.

Most of the "action", plot, and story line come via conversations between the heroine, Eve, and the people with whom she comes into contact; it is quite dialogue-heavy with very little narrative (descriptive passages of things, places, events, etc). I expect a good, if not great, story line, by an author with strong descriptive powers, to keep me turning those pages with baited breath. It was notably absent in this book which I found to be a tedious, humorless, and poorly plotted sequel to a prior novel. I haven't read the prior installment, and, after finishing this book, won't buy and read it. This book was a waste of my time and money.

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Summary: Continuing a thrilling story
Review: Once again I was not disappointed! I. Johansen is one of the best storytellers I have had the plesure of reading.

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Summary: A New Reader Of Iris Johansen
Review: Since I haven't picked up and read a good book lately, reading Iris Johansen's The Killing Game was a long awaited pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and now have become a big fan of the author. It definitely is a hard book to put down and one not to miss. The Next Book I'm Reading -- Long After Midnight by the one and only Iris Johansen.

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Summary: THE BEST I HAVE EVER READ!
Review: THIS BOOK IS THE BEST I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY. THE BOOK KEPT ME TURNING PAGES. ITS A GREAT ROMANCE AND IT GIVES JUST ENOUGH INFO TO MAKE YOU BLUSH. I HAVE LENT OUT MY BOOK TO 6 PEOPLE SO FAR AND I GET NOTHING BUT GOOD COMMENTS. BUT ONE BAD IS I DID NOT REALIZE THIS BOOK HAD A PART ONE THE FACE OF DECEPTION. I ALSO READ IT AFTER I READ THIS BUT IT WAS ALSO EXCELENT . I JUST FINISHED PART 3 THE SEARCH GREAT READ AS WELL BUT ALL THESE DO NOT COMPARE TO THE KILLING GAME EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE A SET. TRUST ME WHEN I SAY READ IT! YOOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

Rating:
Summary: spellbinding and gripping from the begining
Review: I Picked this book up knowing nothing of Iris Johansen, I was in no way disappointed. This book is great with the twisting and turning plot that will keep you guessing clean up to the end. Eve is called on by her friend Joe Quinn to do a face sculpting of a skull that has been found a child skull, Eve prays that it might be her daughters Bonnie so she can finally put her to rest.Along the way the killer is haunting Eve.Joe and Eve discover many more bodies. The killer has Eve going on wild goose chases. With his eyes set on Jane a young girl whom he calls Bonnie, Eve will do everything to protect this child from a mad man, Even give her own life.

this is a great book. I would recommend this thriller to anyone. I could not stop reading this book, it is supensful and thrilling from the very first page.

Rating:
Summary: Great Bag-O-Pages
Review: The Killing Game, by Iris Johansen, ...is an example of "pulp fiction" at its best. "Pulp" is to fiction what "junk" is to food: just because we eat it up, does not mean it has meaningful substance; on the other hand, the fact that we DO "eat it up" is proof that it holds some value to us. Like potato chips, I couldn't put the bag..., er, the book, down until I had finished every page.

I find the artistic aspects of Eve Duncan's character fascinating and endearing, her intellectual achievements admirable but implausibly convenient, and her emotional fortitude and discipline admirable yet terribly dysfunctional. The science/art of recreating the face of a dead person based on standard measurments of their barren skull inspires a virtually mystical fascination for me and serves Eve almost as well as magical powers serve magicians of fantasy novels. Very clever, Ms Johansen.

At the same time, Eve Duncan is the star of a typical "female-fantasy" scenario: she is incomparably the BEST in her profession, she is surrounded by men who adore her and cannot live without her--- who chivalrously throw their coats (or their money) across the mudpuddles of her life to protect her precious, but not-so-dainty, feet... at the same time NONE of these men is worthy of her devotion... Because she is psychotically obsessed with her child who was killed..., er, how many years ago was it? Searching for the child's bones ON PRINCIPLE after so many years would be admirable. But Eve Duncan is emotionally obsessed. In fact, she has so many repressed emotions, she will either just explode some day or spend 9,000 years unwinding in psychotherapy.

Also, while Eve is obsessed with the dead child, she has no concern or remembrance at all for the father of the child. This problem is common in many real-life relationships: after a baby is born (if not before), a man is treated like a sperm-donor and a money-well rather than as a human being. At this point, I can't remember if he was ever mentioned at all... But her relationship with Joe Quinn DOES have the potential to "ground" Eve's emotions, and provide some good "earthy" sexuality in the future, if she will stop treating him (and other men) like "the smelly but occasionally useful dishrag".

The ending was PERFECTLY surprising (although it shouldn't have been) AND satisfying, though it could have been expanded another 50-100 pages, but I had the impression that the author ended it abruptly because she was tired of following the "pulp" formula.

It's not "classic" literature, but it's everything you could ask for from a book of potato chips..., uh, er, a bag of pages... It was entertaining, engrossing, and I can't wait to read her newest novel, "The Search", which is inspired by the characters Sarah and Monty (Ya gotta luv Monty!) in The Killing Game.

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Summary: The best book I have read in YEARS. A real page turner
Review: This is the first book I read by this author. Before I could finish I bought her new release. Johansen is very clever the way she intertwines all of the characters and surprises you with a very clever and dramatic ending. Be prepared to read the last 60-70 pages without stopping.

Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY THRILLING!
Review: I've just finished this phenomenon! It took 3 days. Very interesting and hard to stop reading once started. Breath-taking. Suspense. Enjoyable. Iris Johansen must be a genious. She makes the characters come to life. YOU, the reader, are trapped in her mysterious and exciting plot! BUT YOU MUST READ "THE FACE OF DECEPTION" BEFORE READING THIS! It introduces the main characters and you become more attached. I, myself, almost bought this book before reading THE FACE OF DECEPTION" but as I was about to purchase this book, the woman at the counter suggested I read "THE FACE OF DECEPTION" first. I did and I am very greatful she helped me. This is a must read! I am planning to buy "THE SEARCH" which I hear is a masterpiece. This one sure was!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Addictive!
Review: This book caught my attention from the first page and I could barely eat or sleep until I finished it! I must have lost a couple of pounds reading it, which in itself is miraculous. My only regret is that I did not read THE FACE OF DECEPTION first, which introduces the main characters. However, I read it next and then, of course, ran out and bought THE SEARCH. I hope Ms. Johansen will use these characters again--the mesh, their backgrounds were extremely interesting. I haven't had this much fun reading in quite a while.

Rating:
Summary: Easy read
Review: It was a very easy read and read it in two days. It's m first book by this authour. I am sure I'll read others. It's not the best mystery I have ever read but it was enjoyable. I'd recommend it.