ABOUT THE BOOK
Eve Duncan’s daughter Jane MacGuire seems to have found a perfect life with Seth Caleb—until a ruthless madman threatens to destroy it all, in this gripping suspense novel from #1 bestselling author Iris Johansen.
Jane MacGuire is enjoying a period of domestic bliss as she focuses on her art and her partner Seth Caleb uses his unique abilities as an agent for the MI6 intelligence service. But when Seth crosses crime lord Hugh Bohdan, he incurs the wrath of one of the world’s most powerful criminal empires…one whose tentacles reach across the globe and even to the idyllic Scottish retreat where Jane is working.
Soon Jane is on the run, struggling to stay one step ahead of Bohdan’s army and his devastating high-tech weaponry. Even with the assistance of Earl John MacDuff, she finds danger at every turn. But with that peril comes an astonishing discovery: a 200-year-old secret on the brink of becoming lost to history.
Jane and Seth must join forces to unlock the fascinating puzzle, even as they hurtle toward a lethal final confrontation in the Highlands. But before their adventure is over, Jane and Seth will encounter their biggest shock of all…and realize nothing can be the same for them ever again.
- Genre: Mystery
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
- Available: September 6, 2022
- Hardcover : 352 pages
My Thoughts
Every time I thought this was going to be a 5-star book, something caused me to stumble and reconsider.
When Seth, Jane MacGuire’s partner, crosses crime lord Hugh Bohdan, he vows to get back at Seth by any means necessary. And perhaps the best way would be to get Seth’s attention by locating his girl friend, who is hiding out at her dear friend’s Scottish castle.
A secondary thread weaving throughout the story is Jane’s search for information regarding Fiona, a woman who once resided at the castle. Curiosity has been aroused since Jane resembles her.
Though this kept my interest and the pages kept turning, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.
My Concerns
I’m just going to touch on two things that bothered me.
- The storylines of being hunted by a crime lord and checking journals and letters for information about Fiona felt at odds with each other. One is exciting and suspenseful and the other is slow and time-consuming. The see-saw effect didn’t work. You are being hunted down by a crime lord, yet have time to sort through old journals and do lots of research.
- The Characters
- felt over-the-top excellent at what they did even to the point of having unbelievable characteristics
- felt slightly rude and pushed the envelope of “anything you can do I can do better,” so, please, don’t try to protect me
- felt flat
Final Thoughts
As you might have guessed this wasn’t my favorite book by Iris Johansen. However, it did keep my interest.
And please note that I’m in the minority regarding my thoughts, so there’s a good chance it will work for you.
My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a gifted book and the ability to post my thoughts without stipulations.
About the Author
Iris Johansen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty consecutive bestsellers. Her series featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has sold over twenty million copies and counting and was the subject of the acclaimed Lifetime movie The Killing Game. Along with her son, Roy, Iris has also co-authored the New York Times bestselling series featuring investigator Kendra Michaels. Johansen lives in Georgia and Florida.
