The Killing Game: A Novel (Eve Duncan)
by Iris Johansen

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Book Reviews of The Killing Game: A Novel (Eve Duncan)

Book Review: Great Bag-O-Pages
Summary: 5 Stars

I find the artistic aspects of Eve Duncan's character fascinating and endearing, her intellectual achievements admirable but implausibly convenient, and her emotional fortitude and discipline admirable yet terribly dysfunctional. The science/art of recreating the face of a dead person based on standard measurments of their barren skull inspires a virtually mystical fascination for me and serves Eve almost as well as magical powers serve magicians of fantasy novels. Very clever, Ms Johansen.

At the same time, Eve Duncan is the star of a typical "female-fantasy" scenario: she is incomparably the BEST in her profession, she is surrounded by men who adore her and cannot live without her--- who chivalrously throw their coats (or their money) across the mudpuddles of her life to protect her precious, but not-so-dainty, feet... at the same time NONE of these men is worthy of her devotion... Because she is psychotically obsessed with her child who was killed..., er, how many years ago was it? Searching for the child's bones ON PRINCIPLE after so many years would be admirable. But Eve Duncan is emotionally obsessed. In fact, she has so many repressed emotions, she will either just explode some day or spend 9,000 years unwinding in psychotherapy.

Also, while Eve is obsessed with the dead child, she has no concern or remembrance at all for the father of the child. This problem is common in many real-life relationships: after a baby is born (if not before), a man is treated like a sperm-donor and a money-well rather than as a human being. At this point, I can't remember if he was ever mentioned at all... But her relationship with Joe Quinn DOES have the potential to "ground" Eve's emotions, and provide some good "earthy" sexuality in the future, if she will stop treating him (and other men) like "the smelly but occasionally useful dishrag".

The ending was PERFECTLY surprising (although it shouldn't have been) AND satisfying, though it could have been expanded another 50-100 pages, but I had the impression that the author ended it abruptly because she was tired of following the "pulp" formula.

It's not "classic" literature, but it's everything you could ask for from a book of potato chips..., uh, er, a bag of pages... It was entertaining, engrossing, and I can't wait to read her newest novel, "The Search", which is inspired by the characters Sarah and Monty (Ya gotta luv Monty!) in The Killing Game.

Summary of The Killing Game: A Novel (Eve Duncan)

Determined to remain objective, Eve begins to reconstruct the face of one of the victims. But the killer wants her to become involved, and manipulates Eve's life like a puppeteer. Terrified of the killer but spurred on by her memories of Bonnie, Eve takes a gamble with her life. She will do whatever the murderer demands: she will be the bait, betting her life for the chance to save others.

As a great suspense novel should, The Killing Game keeps the action and the plot twists coming. Eve's job as a forensic sculptor is the perfect profession for a suspense heroine: she has official access to technical information and the emotional flexibility to react to the drama. Eve's grieving over the loss of Bonnie--and over her romantic complications--helps keep the story complex and appealing. Turn on all of the lights and keep the phone nearby--you won't want to be alone in the dark while reading this one. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

Literature & Fiction Books

• Subjects > Literature & Fiction
• Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Women Sleuths
• Thrillers > Suspense
• Romance > Romantic Suspense