Bonnie

Starred review from August 8, 2011
Bestseller Johansen’s riveting conclusion to her special Eve Duncan trilogy that began with Eve and Quinn explores the darkest side of humanity. Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan and her long-term partner, Det. Joe Quinn, continue to search for Eve’s daughter, Bonnie, who disappeared years before on a school outing in Atlanta when she was seven years old. Assisting Eve and Joe in their hunt, which takes them from the Louisiana bayous to rural Georgia, are Bonnie’s mentally unstable father, John Gallo, an ex-Army man who was previously a prime suspect in Bonnie’s murder, and CIA agent Catherine Ling, who struggles with her attraction to Gallo. While Bonnie’s spirit appears in visions to Eve, providing guidance and solace, an unlikely new suspect takes the pursuers in a new direction, complete with a multitude of twists and turns. A stunning finale will move series fans and newcomers alike.

September 15, 2011

Eve Duncan's relentless search for her kidnapped little girl, Bonnie, has led her to New Orleans and a man from both her and Bonnie's father's past. As she and her cohorts--longtime boyfriend, detective Joe Quinn, CIA agent Catherine Ling, and Bonnie's father--investigate the background of this man, they uncover psychiatric memory experimentation, government cover-ups, and bribery. Only when Eve's life is in mortal danger does a priest who knows the secrets of the man they are looking for agree to help. This third and final installment in the Eve Duncan trilogy (Eve; Quinn) drags on for about 100 pages too long and loses the success of its earlier parts with too many twists that are remedied too easily. VERDICT Johansen's fans will be excited to have a definitive ending to Eve's story. However, this title lacks the punch of a work of suspense or a thriller. [See Prepub Alert, 4/25/11.]--Amanda Scott, Cambridge Springs P.L., PA

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2011
Eve Duncan is in the final phase of an arduous journey to find her daughter Bonnie's remains and her killer. Eve's demanding life as a forensic sculptor who helps others find missing children has been integral to her devotion to the quest, and now closure is in sight. With the help of her lover, Joe Quinn; her determined friend, CIA agent Catherine Ling; and John Gallo, Bonnie's father, the pieces start to click into place. Everything seems to center on John, who, given his blackouts, initially feared himself capable of killing Bonnie. Now he's focused on finding who's truly responsible, and the corrupt army officers who used him are his first suspects. If he was once considered dead, who else among the deceased is actually alive? The chase starts in Louisiana and ends in the mountains of Georgia as more people are drawn to search for the lovable little girl with the Bugs Bunny shirt. Johansen conducts a nail-biting excursion through madness and physical endurance in this stunning conclusion to a very popular trilogy. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Mega-print runs and heavy promotion have accompanied Johansen's bestselling series. Expect renewed interest in all three titles as the finale hits the shelves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)