SHATTERED MIRROR is a labyrinth of possibilities constructed
on a strange series of connections. Think of trying to put
back together a shattered mirror -- a puzzle that defies
logic and sense and yet Eve Duncan's career is built around
her somewhat innate ability to put these puzzles together.
As a forensic sculptor Eve recreates faces from nothing more
than a skull. These skulls communicate with Eve, as
difficult as that is to comprehend. And now it appears that
her six-year-old son Michael shares Eve's ability to
connect with the people behind the skull.
Sounds kind of scary but these facial reconstructions have
helped close open cases, helped a family find closure and in
some cases prevent more murders. Not all skulls are a result
of foul play but Eve knows they each tell a story, that's
her job and she takes it very seriously.
The newest skull has brought with it a kind of crazy story.
Eve and her husband Quinn need to find the solution to the
puzzle seemingly attached to it. The case seems to be much
more personal. The safety of Eve and her family are at risk,
and it all began with this charred skull with a bullet hole
at the temple.
As always Iris Johansen has crafted a story filled with a
multitude of twists and turns which have even the best arm
chair detective second-guessing themselves. A great subtitle
for SHATTERED MIRROR would be changes since it follows some
pretty life-altering ones for many of the characters.
Starting with Eve and her family, Cara and her grandfather
Kaskov and now Darcie and Sylvie.
The roads twist and turn, intertwining quickly and often in
this fast-paced crime novel. Hard to keep track of the good
guys and bad guys. At time role reversal is the game of the
day.
At each bend in the road some new facts emerge and for the
most part do not appear to have any connection with this
skull. And since neither Eve nor Quinn believe in
coincidence, they are determined to get the facts. They are
not satisfied with accepting these events are mere
coincidence. There is definitely an element of evil and
there is no shortage of evildoers. Some strangers and some
family.
I am once again charged with providing a review for one of
Iris Johansen's books without giving up too many facts
about the storyline. Suffice it to say that at each new
crossroad the reader finds themselves looking at
circumstances that defy logic. The road to closure is indeed
muddied up with new people and events popping up. The cast
of characters is amazing and Iris Johansen outdoes herself
in SHATTERED MIRROR with some pretty devious and creepy
ones. As always this Eve Duncan crime novel completely
stands on its own. And in SHATTERED MIRROR Iris Johansen
incorporates just about everyone we have ever met in
previous books.
Iris Johansen returns with a thrilling novel of action and
danger where fan favorite Eve Duncan is thrown once more
into a deadly game of intrigue. It begins when Eve
receives a package containing a skull—and instructions for
Eve to do her work reconstructing it. When she does, a
beautiful woman’s face emerges. But when Eve is introduced
to the dead woman’s mirror image, a game is on where her
twin’s life hangs in the balance.