OMG what a great new mystery in the Eve Duncan series from the uber talented Iris Johansen. SHADOW PLAY is equal parts of many of my super favorite shows: Medium, Ghost Whisperer, Cold Case and even a touch of Castle. SHADOW PLAY can make a believer of even the biggest skeptic. The suspense grows on each and every page of this murder mystery that hinges on some rather unusual, rather unconventional investigative methods. But Iris Johansen knows that she has some big hurdles to tackle and with SHADOW PLAY Johansen is at the top of her game in book nineteen of this addictive series.

Forensic science is a rather new concept so there are many facets that disbelievers find difficult to accept. But Eve Duncan has been winning over skeptics with her amazing talent of reproducing faces from the skulls of dead people. These sculpted busts give the victim a face that time has erased through decay. According to Eve, the skull tells a lot about the victim and her newest job involves the skull of a nine-year-old girl buried for over eight years.

This young girl that Eve names Jenny was murdered by a blow to her head. But as Eve investigates, she gets more information about the events that led to Jenny being deeply buried by her murderer who remains at large. Jenny's skull opens a cold case that no one was even aware of. You see no one had ever alerted the authorities about a missing girl.

Now that the case is open the murderer has reappeared anxious to get on with his next intended victim. But he has inserted himself into the investigation surrounding Jenny. He is a real threat to all the detectives, investigators both conventional and otherwise, Eve and Jenny. The clock is ticking and Eve and her group have to use any and all means to prevent still another murder. Every person is in jeopardy but equally committed to solve this eight year old murder.

Fabulous premise, richly developed, believable, and addictive. Those are the most accurate descriptive labels for the newest drama by Iris Johansen. SHADOW PLAY pits standard detective work against, shall we say, alternative methods. Johansen purposely stretches the reader's imagination to the point where it is impossible to separate the two. Genius, exciting, entertaining, confounding and sassy. You'll have to discover it on your own. Looking for a fabulous book? SHADOW PLAY. Looking for an amazing series? Check out the Eve Duncan series. Each one totally stands on its own merit.