The Face of Deception: The first Eve Duncan novel

Product Description

THE FIRST EVE DUNCAN NOVELAn unidentified skull, a trail of shocking secrets, and a woman whose talented hands could reveal the terrifying truth—#1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen blends these elements into a compelling novel of suspense, and introduces her most popular character ever: forensic sculptor Eve Duncan.
After her beloved daughter vanishes, Eve Duncan survives by immersing herself in her work. The best in her elite field at rebuilding faces from fragments of skull bones, she helps to put a name to a face, to identify missing children. It is Eve’s way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts a job from billionaire John Logan. Beneath Eve’s gifted hands, a face begins to emerge from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face that no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a web of murder and deceit as powerful enemies rush to cover up the truth, determined that their secrets go to the grave—even if Eve gets buried with them.

Review

“A fast-paced, nonstop, clever plot in which Johansen mixes political intrigue, murder, and suspense.”—USA Today“The book’s twists and turns manage to hold the reader hostage until the denouement, a sure crowd pleaser.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Iris Johansen is the
New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including
Killer Dreams, On the Run, Countdown, Firestorm, Fatal Tide, Dead Aim, and
No One to Trust. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

“You look beautiful,” Eve said.  “Where are you going tonight?”

“I’m meeting Ron at Anthony’s.  He likes the food there.” Sandra leaned forward and checked her mascara in the hall mirror, then straightened the shoulders of her dress.  “Damn these shoulder pads.  They keep shifting around.”

“Take them out.”

“We all don’t have broad shoulders like you.  I need them.”

“Do you like the food there?”

“No, it’s a little too fancy for me.  I’d rather go to the Cheesecake Factory.”

“Then tell him.”

“Next time.  Maybe I should like it.  Maybe it’s a learning type thing.” She grinned at Eve in the mirror.  “You’re big on learning new things.”

“I like Anthony’s, but I still like to pig out at McDonald’s when I’m in the mood.” She handed Sandra her jacket.  “And I’d fight anyone who tried to tell me I shouldn’t do it.”

“Ron doesn’t tell me–” She shrugged.  “I like him.  He comes from a nice family in Charlotte.  I don’t know if he’d understand about the way we lived before– I just don’t know.”

“I want to meet him.”

“Next time.  You’d give him that cool once-over and I’d feel like a high school kid bringing home my first date.”

Eve chuckled and gave her a hug.  “You’re crazy.  I just want to make sure he’s good enough for you.”

“See?” Sandra headed for the door.  “Definitely first-date syndrome.  I’m late.  I’ll see you later.”

Eve went to the window and watched her mother back out of the driveway.  She hadn’t seen her mother this excited and happy in years.

Not since Bonnie was alive.

Well, there was no use staring wistfully out the window.  She was glad her mother had a new romance, but she wouldn’t trade places with her.  She wouldn’t know what to do with a man in her life.  She wasn’t good at one-night stands, and anything else required a commitment she couldn’t afford.

She went out the back door and down the kitchen steps.  The honeysuckle was in bloom and the heady scent surrounded her as she walked down the path to the lab.  The aroma always seemed stronger at twilight and early morning.  Bonnie used to love the honeysuckle and was always picking it off the fence, where the bees constantly buzzed.  Eve had been at her wit’s end trying to stop her before she got stung.

She smiled at the recollection.  It had taken her a long time to be able to separate the good memories from the bad.  At first she had tried to save herself from pain by closing out all thoug