This review is long overdue. A special thanks to the Ann-Marie Nieves who offered this book to me in the first few days of October. My mother was very ill at that time and I had stopped reading during her illness and I thought a riveting book by Iris Johansen would be just the thing to hold my attention. I was right but I wasn't able to start reading it for many weeks after I received it. Ann-Marie was so sweet and patient during a hard time in my life.
My 88-year-old mother started feeling sluggish last spring and repeated doctor appointments didn't find any reason for her declining health. Her doctor and I kept reminding her that she was getting older. At one point I commented to her that I was finally able to keep up with her! Finally in August the problem was discovered - Mom had stage 4 stomach cancer. During the last 2 months of her life I was fortunate to be at her house for extended periods and had plenty of time to read but I would start one after the other books only to reach page 100 or so and loose interest. One book, that I can't even recall its title, I only had 50 pages to finish and found I just didn't care enough to finish. Meanwhile reading gave Mom something to occupy her mind and she read almost nonstop during her waking hours. I am so grateful that there are so many good books and that they are so readily available to us. Mom passed from this life on Oct. 15. Let me tell you - she is sorely missed.
Chasing the Night was the first book I read after Mom's passing. It did hold my interest and I can't wait to read Johansen's next book which comes out in April. I read the first 2 or 3 books in this series years ago and loved them. I wonder now what interrupted my continuing with it. I plan to go back and read the ones I've missed.
Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor who works to bring closure to families of missing children. Her work touches a cord of heartache for her because Eve's own daughter was kidnapped years earlier and has never been found. In Chasing the Night, Eve helps a CIA agent try to find her kidnapped son Luke by discovering what Luke might look like today. That brief description does not sound particularly suspenseful, but trust me, there is plenty of intensity in this book. The man who has a hold on the CIA agent is pure evil. And scary.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this last installment in the Eve Duncan series and being reintroduced to a literary character that I like a lot. I'm sure it would be nice to have read all the books in order but this book could easily be enjoyed as a stand alone. I liked this book so well that I want to pass it along to a fellow reader. If you like mystery/suspense books and would like to win an advanced reader copy of In Chasing the Night, leave a comment and a way for me to contact you when you win the drawing. I will draw a name on Monday, Feb 21 - One week from today.
