Stalemate (Eve Duncan Book 7)

OK, I am only briefly going to summarize the book, because that has been done very well already. Basically Eve Duncan (who we have met in previous books) is enticed into reconstructing a skull for an arms dealer and become embroiled in a fight between him and a drug dealer. And of course, Joe follows her down and into the middle of the fight.

***SPOILER***** I guess the problem I had with this book is that Joe and Eve are having some problems, or possibly having some problems. They have been together for so long, and still haven't worked out issues they have had since the beginning - that doesn't sound healthy to me. But it has worked alright for them until now. The other problem I have is that Joe acts like an idiot the whole way through the book - he decides to take on a huge dangergous drug lord - on his own territory - with only one person for backup. can we say stupid... and he causes plently of trouble with his stupidity. It is very likely that Eve would have been far better off if Joe had staid in the States like she asked and out of danger.

Regardless, I still liked Joe and Eve, and loved the story. It was well written, in that it draws you in and doesn't let go, even after the story is over. The story leaves many possible threads for Johansen to pick up in her next book as well, but still ends the book.

All in all, a good read, and one I would recommend although if you haven't read the other Eve Duncan books, you might want to start with those.

My good friend told me about this book, since she knew I got "hooked" on the field of forensic medicine after watching a certain tv show. Tv is fine, but for me nothing is better than a good novel that can weave a story around a subject that I'm interested in. Anyway I thought "Stalemate" was a fantastic novel and the forensic professor Eve Duncan was just the character I was looking for to keep me hooked on the field of forensic science. I was thrilled with the author's detailed descriptions of this field and way she just pulled me into this fascinating story. In summary, I really enjoyed this novel and plan to buy more of Iris Johansen books.

I read the first couple of pages not believing it was written by a professional writer. The beginning, which is mostly dialogue, is seriously amateur. I know thirteen year olds who can write better. Heck, I write better. Then I skipped to the end, and I noticed that someone's arms dealing didn't hurt anybody. Heavenly Zeus! How can arms dealing never hurt anybody? Guns are made to hurt people! This author needs a seriously reality check. She sounds like one of those dumb romantics that make the "bad boy" good, so the heroine can actually marry him.
I don't think I ever want to read a novel by this author. The fact that this author is a "top seller" also proves how pathetic today's readers are. After all, isn't Paris Hilton a famous celebrity?

i think stalemate and quicksand was very well written.
the characters are full of life, passion and are intellectually stimulating.
reading them has broadened my view on things and not on the "boring same old same old"
i guess it's hard for some of her fans to accept how eve duncan has become but LIFE does has it's many twists and intricate turns. the author set out on a challenge on whether she could higher up the ante on eve's character and she delivered "very well indeed".
though it did remind me of how new moon and eclipse was but that's no excuse to be giving out ultimatums on not reading anymore of her works just because she didn't do what any of us expected.. expectations can be a trifle bit boring and so so.. (here is ms johansen entertaining us for so long and always coming out best and the one time she did something out of the "norm" everyone is tripping all over themselves hating her..such hypocrisy..but you see it all the time.for those of you who think with such atrocity then maybe ms.johansen can do better without your support..you simply don't deserve her.)
montalvo and miguel are just the new characters the series needed.. fresh blood and very intruiging..i hope they stay.. i was forever worrying one or both of them might not make it after quicksand.. bless her heart she kept them..
i hope i get my hands on blood game soon.. bonnie was just what joe needed.

I read this series from Ms. Johansen because her heroine is a strong woman. However, this book goes totally over the top and is so unrealistic that I would not recommend anyone to read it. Imagine a man/woman going into the hills and jungles of Columbia to deal with drug and gun dealers, some of the most feared criminals in the hemisphere. She not only does that but by doing so puts her family and Joe (in one book he's her husband and in another book he's a live-in boyfriend, so I'm not sure what their relationship is) in real danger. She also feels that she really can do this without anybody's assistance except one person (a character from another book.) Now after doing all that she becomes attracted to a head of one of these organizations and it looks like the series is taking a turn for her to connect with this guy. Joe, oh, he's only the guy that saved her life a few times and has stood by her for years. Sorry, if this is where the series is going, this is the last Eve Duncan book I am reading.

I am so tired of this Eve Duncan character. Please Ms. Johansen, write about someone else for a change. I have read all of your books and have never really understood why you picked this character to serialize. To me she is not a sympathetic character - meaning I don't really like her - not that you shouldn't feel sorry for her because her daughter has been presumably killed. She (the character) hasn't really committed to her husband/boyfriend (Joe)(Montalvo is the second "other man") and she whines and complains all the time. Let her find her daughter's remains for heavens sake and get on with her life. Maybe then if you feel like you must continue to write about her she will grow and become more interesting. I am really bored with this series and will most likely not buy another book with Eve as the main character in it.

A civilian forensic scientist draws her ex-seal lover into a quest for the remains of a long dead daughter that talks to her in her dreams. The CIA goes full force and supports the couple, even to the extent of bringing in helicopters, high tech equipment and covert agents when the couple goes into the mountains to help one low life fight another low life, the reward of which is information on who killed the long dead daughter and where the killer is currently situated. I guess this part is for a sequel. I have always loved Johansen's book, but this is disappointing.

I've been reading Johansen's books for nearly ten years now. I liked the first few Eve Duncan forensic books but I am becoming increasingly bored with the whole mercenary plot that she continues to write about. She seems to be out of fresh ideas. The plots have become cookie-cutter to me...a female goes to the jungle (there always seems to be a jungle involved), a mercenary is one of the main characters, there's sexual tension between them, a rescue is needed, blah blah blah. Each one is becoming predictable. I probably won't pick up another one if it's anything like the ones before it.

In this book, Johansen takes an interesting set of characters, the outline of a plot that could work, and ends up with a very uninteresting book in which she undermines her primary characters. Her major character, Eve Duncan, makes repeated bizarre judgments which put herself and people she purports to love in extreme danger.
I join with other reviewers who suggest that: a) Joe finds someone who loves him; b) Eve enters long-term therapy; c) Johansen gives up on Eve, does better research, and tries to make her characters' motives and actions plausible.

I really liked the character of Eve Duncan, but as the series progressed, I found myself getting tired of this "Find Bonnie's Killer" how many more books are going to have a teaser that this is it and Bonnie's killer will be found at last.

When I bought this book and found out it was another Bonnie teaser I did something I have never done, I went to the end of the book and sure enough we are leaving Bonnie's killer for the NEXT book.

Sorry Iris I will not be buying anymore of your books.

Forensic Sculptor Eve Duncan takes the skeleton and though science and intuition puts a face to it giving the authorities the possibility of identifying who it is. At present she is working on the sculptor of an eight year old boy but Luis Montalvo calls her from his compound in Columbia wanting her to do a reconstruction on a skull that will be in his possession. She refuses because he is an arms dealer but he offers her a devil's bargain she is unable to resist.

He will identify the skull of the child she is working on and find his killer but he will also help find her daughter Bonnie's remains and also aid her in locating Bonnie's killer. Unable to refuse a chance to find and bury her daughter, she flies to Columbia. Montalvo tells her he must dig up the skull buried near the compound of the man who killed her. Diaz, a drug lord who pretends to support the rebels and their leader General Armandariz who is the father of Montalvo's wife, wants to stop them before the general finds out the truth. The General believes she is living the good life in Australia thanks to Diaz's lies but Montalvo wants to prove that Diaz killed the general's daughter so they can work together to take their enemy out. However Eve's lover Joe is injured kidnapped and in danger of getting killed unless she follows Diaz's instructions.

The latest Eve Duncan thriller is the best work in this enthralling long running action packed series. The author finds some interesting ways to keep the storyline fresh and a few of them will shock the reader. Although Montalvo is the antagonist, he is a sympathetic character, a weapons dealer with a soul who uses minimum violence to achieve his ends. The audience will be shocked to find they like him and they will hope he finds the peace that has eluded him ever since his wife died.

Harriet Klausner

This is yet another great addition to the Eve Duncan life. I never get tired of reading about her life. Eve and Joe are of course my favorite characters that Iris has created. I love the awesome balance that Iris can always seem to create between action and love to keep her audience on the edge of their seat. This is a great story. This is a must buy and a must read.

The Eve Duncan series continues to be fast-paced fun. I enjoy reading these books in the small bits of time that I have. Stalemate I everal novels into the series; though it isn't necessary, I recommend starting with Iris Johansen's first Eve Duncan novel in order to appreciate the long-term plot lines that run though the series.

Usually, I can ignore the author's almost laughably bad dialogue and far fetched plots because her characters are so likeable. Here, however, she has turned Eve, who is probably her best character, from a paragon of virtue into something quite different, and not in a good way. There is absolutely no way that the Eve we have come to know from this series would feel about Montalvo the way this was written. She would never do that to Joe or to herself. The thought that this storyline will continue to be explored in subsequent Eve Duncan books is, frankly, disgusting to this reviewer.

Another good read by Iris Johansen. Found this book (paperback) at a very good price through the store. It arrived within the alloted time frame and was well packaged. Good addition to my collection of her books, thanks the store. EP

The Eve Duncan series is ful of searching for her daughter, and danger.

This book was much better then Countdown, but not as good as the first three.

As for the new possible love interest, I am tired of Eve and Joe their romance has played out to the end, and now it is time for her to venture out.

I want the next book to come out so I can see if Luis told her where bonniw is.

This was pretty good, however the first few chapters are dryer than 2 day old toast. Once you get past the dry toasty bits it is good. The longer you read it the better it gets. Action, adventure, and a little heat.. this book has it. I just wish it had ended better. When is Eve going to get some closure already?

I cant believe the turn the author has taken with this book.Eve Duncan was my favourite Iris Johansen character.I have loved all her other books.To me this book did not portray Eve and Joe to be the same characters as we know and love.Idon`t think I will be able to read another Iris Johansen book if this continues. And I have read them all.

Like all Iris Johansen's books,there are references to previous characters so it's possible to not only enjoy a new story but you can pick up on past relationships. She has a wonderful way of writing and gets you involved from Page 1. Can't wait for her next book!