Title: Smokescreen
Author: Iris Johansen
Series: Eve Duncan
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 433
Date of Publication: July 30, 2019
Description: In this pulse-pounding thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen, forensic sculptor Eve Duncan journeys to Africa to help families torn apart by a violent attack deep in the jungle -- but she may be putting herself in more danger than she knows.
A journalist shows up on Eve Duncan's doorstep with a plea for help. Jill Cassidy has just come from a small African village with a heart wrenching story: half the villagers -- many of them children -- have been killed in a horrific attack by guerilla soldiers, the bodies burned beyond recognition. Now, the families desperately need Eve's help to get closure and begin to heal.
But when Eve arrives in the remote jungle, she begins to suspect that Jill's plea may have been a cover story for a deeper, more sinister plot. Isolated and unsure who she can trust, Eve finds herself stranded in an unstable country where violence threatens to break out again at any moment and with only her own instincts to rely on if she hopes to get home to her family alive . . .
My Thoughts: This is a tear jerking story by Iris Johansen. It is probably the Eve Duncan story that goes in the most in-depth about a tragic horror inflicted on children and keeps on going. Every time you think that you can't discover something more horrific, Iris Johansen reveals more to the story that makes it even worse. For example, learning about the deaths of the children in Robaku and then learning more about Zahra's involvement.
The introduction of new characters and intertwining them with old characters were done really well. There is a great amount of evolution of the characters, especially when it comes to Dalia, Zahra's servant. I was disappointed though to learn about Caleb's and Jane Maguire's relationship. I was hoping to learn more about it since it was a relationship that spanned several books before they finally came together.
Varak, the antagonist of the story, is written very well. The longer the story goes on the more of how villainous he is comes out. He is definitely a self-serving villain who does not care about anyone else, but himself, which makes him the perfect character for the story.
The story itself, moves at a quick pace and continues that pace until the very end. There is not a dull moment, especially once Eve Duncan and Jill Cassidy, a reporter, meet.
The story is well written and filled with great detail. Iris Johansen does a wonderful job at providing detailed back stories for Maldara/Robaku, Varak, Gideon, Jill Cassidy, and especially Zahra. I am curious to see if we hear any more about Jill Cassidy and what she discovers about Zahra's Egyptian family history in a future book.
I highly recommend you read this book and don't worry if you have not read the Eve Duncan books before this one. Iris Johansen provides enough back story of the Eve Duncan characters at the beginning of the story that you will not feel lost.
Rating: 5 out of 5
About the Author: Iris Johansen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pandora’s Daughter, Stalemate, Killer Dreams, On the Run, and many more. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia.
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