Blind Alley

Rating:
Summary: First and Last Time?
Review: This is the first Iris Johansen thriller I have read and unfortunately it will probably be my last. The characters are so predictable in their responses to each other that I knew what they would say before they said it. I listened to it as a book on tape which probably made that worse. But Jane, the focus of the book, is simply unbelievable. Aldo and his "obsession" strain credibility. The best part was the information about life in ancient Herculaneum and the volcanic eruption.

Rating:
Summary: Poor on many levels
Review: I find the characters in this book unsympathetic and the plot entirely unrealistic. To believe that the serial killer could be so close so often and not be spotted is beyond belief. I am sick of Eve's whining.

Rating:
Summary: How disappointing
Review: As all avid mystery readers know, we've come to adopt those characters we find in our favorite books, into our hearts and homes. What a wonderful story teller Ms. Johansen is, and I enjoy her enormously. I do have a few questions and comments, though.
Has Eve Duncan always been as whiney and shallow as this book depicts her to be? We all come to expect certain behavior and dialogue between characters, but if I wanted to hear this much whining, I'd call my mother and listen to her whine about not being able to go to Miami this year.
Sorry, this book bored me to tears, and if it had been a movie, I never would have gone back from the snack shop.
And for all those mothers with 17 year old daughters, I think we'd all agree to chip in and buy a DNA sample from Jane to add to our daughter's lunches. How wonderful she is!! Especially when she pretty much announces that she wishes to have an affair with a 30+ con man.



Rating:
Summary: Not As Good As I Thought.
Review: I am a big fan of Iris Johannsen's books. I am normally glued to them until I finish. I read Fatal Tide in 1 1/2 days. I normally enjoy the Eve Duncan series. I just couldn't seem to get into this book. I didn't enjoy it as much. I almost felt it was too far fetched.

I look forward to anything else that the author will be putting out. I was just disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Too much left unanswered
Review: I am usually quite an avid fan, but this book left too many holes. What brought on Jane's dreams? Did Trevor have the same dreams? what ever became of the "real" person the dreams were about? Is Jane phycsic now? Whose face was the last one that Eve sculpted (if that's a real word)? It almost seems like she is setting it up so you will have to purchase the next book just to get the answers to this one. And did the dreams somehow imply that Jane and Trevor are meant to be together?

And yes, I am sick of Eve holding it against Joe that he lied to her years ago. He was trying to help ease her pain, she knows it, she has stayed with him all this time, get over it already.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely disappointing
Review: I had read some of Iris Johansen's other novels and found them interesting. This one was extremely disappointing. The plot is extremely far-fetched and stretches credulity to the breaking point. But most disappointing is the stilted dialogue which just doesn't ring real. The one saving grace was the interesting historical information about Pompeii/Herculaneum.
When I finished reading this novel, I wondered: How does a book like this on to the bestseller lists? Are we all sheep?

Rating:
Summary: Tenacity Not Pleasure
Review: I think this book was boring, and I find it hard to believe a good author like Iris Johansen wrote it.
Because of tenacity I was determined to finish this book once I started to read it. I never quite "got" what the author was trying to say. Jane especially annoyed me, and I got tired of hearing about the "team".

Elise Smith

Rating:
Summary: Time for Iris Johansen to take a vacation .
Review: The Eve Duncan scenerio is getting really old. Not only was this book boring, but it failed to even keep a solid story line. I rarely sell or give away books, but this is one that will go.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting read
Review: The plot follows Iris Johansen's style but each book is unique enough to be worth reading. It is refreshing having this book written about the daughter of a character (Eve Duncan) who has already "starred" in other novels.

Rating:
Summary: All About Eve - Not!
Review: This book is different from Iris Johansen's others in that it focuses on Jane MacGuire, the now 17 year old adopted daughter. I liked it and I liked the new dimensions shown in Jane.