Blind Alley

Slowly working my way through all the random books I've acquired. This one has been on my bookshelf for years, and don't remember the circumstances under which I acquired it. I usually give every book 50 pages (bound) or 20 minutes (audio), but gave it up when I started skipping paragraphs on p. 30. This is an example of why I try to stay away from endless romance/mystery/thriller series that feature a main character. The 30 pages I read were almost entirely exposition, catching the reader up on everyone's backstories while trying to introduce the new elements of the current story. It's mind numbing, and not at all entertaining. And even after 30 pages of explanations, I don't care about Joe, or Eve, or Jane, or Ruth, or why the killer show more is doing... whatever. show less

Okay, 2.5 stars. Although this book is promoted as being about Eve Duncan, don't be fooled. She, and her partner Joe Quinn, are very peripheral characters here. Instead, its their 17 year old, foster daughter Jane that takes center stage. And she has none of the character or personality of her fictional parents. In fact, Jane is just flat out boring. Seems there's a killer going around and cutting the faces off women that look like Jane. His motives are confusing, and pretty nonsensical, but no matter. For a villian, he's dull and 2-dimensional, and completely without personality. He exists purely to be thwarted. At no time does he comes across as menacing, there are no surprises. This book might be a tolerable for a read if you are in show more a bind, and want something that won't tax your brain or require any emotional investment. show less

Slowly working my way through all the random books I've acquired. This one has been on my bookshelf for years, and don't remember the circumstances under which I acquired it. I usually give every book 50 pages (bound) or 20 minutes (audio), but gave it up when I started skipping paragraphs on p. 30. This is an example of why I try to stay away from endless romance/mystery/thriller series that feature a main character. The 30 pages I read were almost entirely exposition, catching the reader up on everyone's backstories while trying to introduce the new elements of the current story. It's mind numbing, and not at all entertaining. And even after 30 pages of explanations, I don't care about Joe, or Eve, or Jane, or Ruth, or why the killer show more is doing... whatever. show less

Okay, so I'm not entirely sure why we reference these books as "Eve Duncan" series. This book does include Eve, again as more of a supporting character rather than the lead.

That being said, this story is Jane's. Jane has grown and is now seventeen years old, and wise beyond her years. When a serial murderer "Aldo" sets his sites on Jane, Eve and Joe are, of course, on the job to keep Jane safe with the help of Mr. Barlett and Mark Trevor.

I would consider this book, overall, to be a romantic suspense with the uncomfortable chemistry between the teenage Jane and Mark Trevor brewing on the surface...with promises of more to come.

This book is just "okay." I love the growth of Jane's character. Eve's character seemed more damsel in distress show more than she deserves. And, Joe's character was more bodyguard and paperwork than previous titles...what happened to the gritty strength of the ex-SEAL? And why wasn't Logan called for backup protection? show less

I was not too impressed with my first episode in the Eve Duncan series. I wasn't interested in the characters at all. The main character in this story was Eve's ward, Jane. She was a whiny teenager who kept putting herself in idiotic situations because she couldn't bear to be "left out". I spent most of the story wanting to smack her. Trevor wasn't much better as he couldn't seem to decide if he was going to be a pedophile or not. The plot at times got ridiculous. Might try another in the series, but it will be a while.

Easy to read, well written. Story is pretty convoluted, almost overly so with elements of possible reincarnation which some might not like with their mysteries but it's fiction so it's okay with me. I liked Jane, really liked Trevor.

Blind Alley – Eve Duncan’s adopted daughter Jane MacGuire is the primary focus of this story where Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn are hot on the trail of trying to capture a serial killer who murders then removes the faces of his victims.

Eve, a forensic sculptor is asked to reconstruct the skull of a murdered woman. When the reconstruction is completed not only does the woman bare an uncanny resemblance to other women who have been murdered in the U.K., she also disturbingly looks at lot like Eve’s daughter Jane.

Now desperate to protect Jane from a madman who is relentless in the pursuit of his goal to rid the world of women who look like an ancient woman named Cira, who died two thousand years ago, Eve and Joe find they have to deal show more with another player.

Mark Trevor, not only knows the killer but also has a past with the demented man. Determined to track him down Trevor isn’t above putting Jane in danger or circumventing the authorities.

Together Jane and Mark are thrust into the world of ancient scrolls and hidden tunnels in the city of Herculaneum with the killer one step behind them, or to their determinate, more like one step ahead of them.

As in most Iris Johansen novels there is an added element to the story. In this one dreams of past lives take us down the path of possible re-incarnation. As well, old characters are flushed out and new characters are brought into the mix in order to give the reader a taste that these characters may reappear in a future story.

Blind Alley was an enjoyable read, giving me enough to want to read the next instalment, Countdown. show less