Johansen has the unique ability to bring to life law enforcement agents y giving them depth, flaws, and passion. Alisa Flynn is no different. CHAOS is another top-notch crime novel.

Was not disappointed. Iris Johansen has been a must-read for me since I first discoverd her books. I won't even tell you how many years ago that was. I love how her stories change and grow with each new series. Chaos was no different. The characters are exciting and ready to walk straight off the page and into real life. Plus, she included horses in Chaos. That was the final nail in the coffin for me to easily make this one of my favorite novels of hers so far. The action and suspense never seemed to lag and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.

4 Stars!



Sometimes you just have to take a flyer on something new and see what happens. This is what I did with Chaos by Iris Johansen. I really did not know anything about the book but I liked the cover and the synopsis sounded interesting to why not take a chance?



Alisa Flynn is a CIA agent but she has gone rogue for her current mission. She breaks into the mansion of billionaire Gabe Korgan in spite of all of his advanced security measures only to find that he is waiting for her. She knows that this could be the end of her career and all she can hope for is that she will be able to convince him to accept her offer of a partnership. A private school in Africa had been raided by terrorists and the girls at the school were taken prisoner. Alisa is determined to rescue them but not only for their sake but also for a very personal reason. Korgan is the key to her success as the only person with the technological and financial means to help her.



The schoolgirls were more than just hostages to the men. The man behind the attack, Masenak, is also interested in the horses at the school and in one girl in particular, Sasha Lawrence. No one knows the intent behind the attack but no one also knows of the connection between Sasha and Alisa. This is not only a mission that Alisa must carry out from a sense of duty. It is very personal. Enlisting the help of a horse whisperer, Margaret Douglas, Gabe and Alisa begin to put their plans into motion. With the shifty and unpredictable Masenak as the target, however, their plans are in exercise in controlling chaos more than anything and the clock is working against them at every step.



Chaos sunk its hooks into me from the very beginning. While I enjoy thrillers, I do not read them that often because I often find them be be a bit shallow. There is a difference with Chaos, however, in that Johansen brings a different element to the story that is missing from many books. There was a bit of a different feel to the book from the outset that gives it an element that almost seems paranormal at times. In the end, I am not quite sure about how I feel about this as I found it intriguing at first but then it kind of wore on me a bit as the story went along. I do not want to give anything away but it has to do with Sasha's relationship with the horses. I thought that the backstory behind the horses was interesting but went a little to far in the end.



Overall, though, Chaos is a very strong thriller. The plot is well planned out and Johansen handles the story with a deft hand. The novel moves along quickly but not so quickly that there is no time for character development. Alisa and Gabe, in particular, come to life as the story moves along. They are not perfect but that is what makes them strong characters. Johansen explores their flaws and strengths equally. There is not a whole lot of wasted time in this story and it moves the reader right along. This makes it a quick read and hard to put the book down. While I do not think this was a great novel, Chaos was an entertaining read to pass a few hours and reads quicker than what one would expect for its length of over 400 pages. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.



I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this review copy. Chaos is available now.

I had aa hard time getting into this book. I didn't really care for any of the characters.
When CIA agent Alisa Flynn flaunts the rules by breaking into a mansion in the middle of the night, she skillfully circumvents alarms and outwits guards only to find herself standing in billionaire Gabe Korgan's study… busted by Korgan himself.
In a ripped-from-the-headlines plot, schoolgirls in Africa have been kidnapped, and Alisa knows that Korgan has the courage, financial means, and high-tech weaponry to help rescue them.
Calling in additional assistance from renowned horse whisperer Margaret Douglas, Alisa and Gabe lay their plans, only to see them descend into chaos as the line between right and wrong wavers before them like a mirage.
A school in Africa being taken over by a militia group. A man by the name of Masenak has taken over St. Eldon’s Academy for girls and has kidnapped many of the students. One of them is a girl by the name of Sasha Lawrence. I hated Masenak. But the one thing that irritated me by the author was her constant use of his threatening Sasha. In almost every paragraph that they are in together. I knew it was going to be the next sentence before i even read it.
sorry that i could not get into this book as I do like this author.
I received the book from Grand Central Publising and NetGalley for review.

Chaos. By Iris Johansen. 2020. Grand Central Publishing (ARC eBook).

When a group of girls and horses are abducted from a Moroccan boarding school, CIA agent Alisa Flynn begins circumventing the chain of command in order to save her ward Sasha. With intel that billionaire Gabe Korgan might have intel on the raping and torturing villain, Masenak, Alisa breaks into his residence to obtain it. Discovered, Alisa wins over Korgan to aid her going after Masenak, and together they call in old friends and put a plan together. But they will also need Sasha’s help in dismantling Masenak’s army from the inside.

Chaos didn’t hold my attention. I found Alisa to be petulant and off-putting rather than engaging and a competent operative. The other part of the story was not what I expected it to be, which concerned Sasha, who is labeled a “horse whisperer” and the title’s namesake—Chaos—the stallion in which Masenak’s machinations center around from the start. Aside from it being expectant I really have no feelings one way or the other about the light genre blending. I actually did like the opening, but overall Chaos was lacking in the action and character departments.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Iris Johansen is very predictable and this was only mildly enjoyable.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read any romantic suspense and I don’t think I’ve read anything by Johansen before. Our main characters here are CIA agent Alisa Flynn and billionaire inventor Gabe Korgan. They both want to be in charge and while they bicker a lot, the attraction is clear. And that’s one thing that sometimes annoys me about romantic suspense: we’re in the grimy wilderness, desperate to stop the bad guy and save the teenage girls, but my mind just keeps going to sex. Really? As a couple, though, they’re pretty good. They’re both strong, a little short on trust, and long on independence.

The bad guys are really awful human beings. The story is violent, with rapes and beatings, but not overly graphic. And while you know Alisa and Gabe will rescue the girls, even Sasha, Alisa’s ward, the tension lies is how they’ll do it and how much harm will be done to the girls in the meantime.

It’s definitely an action-packed book with plenty of danger and romance.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

As a fan of the Eve Duncan series I was excited about starting a new series from Johansen and I was not disappointed.

I found Alisa Flynn and Gabe Korgan to be great characters. They have a fun and intense blooming relationship. I enjoyed the background characters as well.

The suspense was typical of Johansen’s writing. It keeps you wondering the whole time and it is not a guarantee that who you think it is really is correct.

A great introduction to a new series that I can’t wait to read more of.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner by Iris Johansen. Well written edge of your seat plot. Suspense fans will not be disappointed. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Chaos is an exciting tale about a young lady who is similar to Margaret Douglas, who in case this is your first Iris Johansen book, has an affinity with animals. Sasha is especially close to horses. It is this circumstance unfortunately which lands her in the hands of killers and slave traders.

Coming to Sasha’s rescue is her self-assigned protectors CIA agent Alisa Flynn and animal whisperer Margaret Douglas. Alisa will do anything to save Sasha and this brings interesting characters into the story.

If you are an avid reader of Johansen’s then you will recognize Alisa’s base character as it is very similar to Catherine Ling and Margaret in her early stories. I already knew what type of guy Gabe would be and Sasha reminds me of Jane and you can guess who our “Indiana Jones” wannabe reminds me of (laugh). Very familiar characters.

I still really like the book. I think Chaos is hilarious. I like the action. Chaos makes a great escape for a chilly afternoon.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this kick-off to a new series...i was expecting more of my old favorites, but I'm so happy that this book gave us some new characters ready for some new adventures. The book definitely holds your interest and is a real page turner.

Very good book. I stopped reading Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan books years ago and have only been following the books she writes with her son, Roy. Seeing that this book had new characters, I decided to try it. It surprised me that this wasn’t written with her son because it had their style. If she writes more about Alisa and Korgan, I’ll grab it.

The plot was great and many of the characters were very interesting. But the writing was severely lacking. It read more like a first novel, or first draft of a first novel, than something written by a best-selling author.

Examples: "...horse communities in Morocco and Marrakech'."
"He kicked Daniella again. She screamed!"
"The earth shook and threw Masenak to the ground!"

I had trouble reading this because it didn't flow. It certainly did not sound like real conversation. I was really disappointed.

I really enjoyed reading these books. I mean, I enjoy Iris Johansen books, but this is a stand alone (though set in the same world, because Margaret is in it) and I really enjoyed getting to know these new main characters!

Getting to know Alisa and Gabe was pretty great. They had a rocky start, given that she broke into his place, and then he basically took her prisoner with holding telling her boss about her unsanctioned actives over her head. But there were some sparks between them, and I loved watching them interact!

The bad guy was just so easy to despise! I mean, his actions were just despicable, kidnapping, raping and torturing young ladies, it's just so awful. And that he was using them as leverage was just awful. I was so glad to see him being taken down!

And that ending! Man, it was so fantastic, and just so fitting, how everything worked out, that the one thing he loved, his horses, ended up in the hands of his enemy! I just really loved that ending, and it couldn't have happened to a worse person!

This book was a fantastic read, I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait for my next Iris Johansen read!

A new kick-ass heroine who is close to being a Wonder Woman, matched only by Gabe Korgan, whom she needs to execute her plan to save those kids kidnapped from an African school.

Full review at https://mysterysequels.com/book-review-chaos-by-iris-johansen.html

Chaos is the first book in a new series by Iris Johansen. There are some appearances from past characters in previous series which was intriguing.
The main character is Alisa Flynn, a CIA agent. She rough, tough and knows what she wants.....and, will do anything to get what she wants.
This is a story full of intrigue, action, scary moments and romance.
Get ready for non stop action!
Thrilling, romantic suspense at its best!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest opinions.

CIA agent Alisa Flynn skillfully circumvents the extravagant alarm system of billionaire Gabe Korgan only to be busted by him. This may cost her her job but she's willing to take the chance. She needs his help and his brilliant mind and influence.

In order to rescue kidnapped school girls in Africa Alisa will need Korgan's financial means and high-tech weaponry to help rescue them. She only gives Korgan part of her reason -- leaving out that one of those girls is like a little sister to her. But when the truth gets out, the stakes grow even higher. Her friend, renowned horse whisperer, Margaret Douglas, and others are part of this plan.

Iris Jonsansen. has written another wonderful book but this time she has introduced several new main characters. Alisa Flynn is an FBI agent with a complicated past history who always words independently from the angency. She has a very closse friend who is in danger and turns to a brillent billionare Korgan. for help. Together they create a plot to rescue her close friend Sasha. Sasha is unique since she can talk with the horses she trains.
This book is definitely a winner! Hopefully we will have more books featuringing Alisa and Korgan.

4.5 stars

I've read a few earlier books by this author and have enjoyed them so I was really excited when I heard about this one.....I know I just had to read it. And man oh man, I definitely wasn't disappointed. Chaos was exciting and thrilling. The characters were amazing and the storyline was unique & suspenseful. Couldn't put it down.

AHHHH!! I have loved Iris Johansen forever and am obsessed with her Eve Duncan series. But I was super excited to start a new series with new characters. Alisa Flynn and Gabe Korgan were amazing. Their chemistry was palpable but the amazing suspense in the story took the cake. What an amazing start to this series!

Iris Johansen is an amazing storyteller near and dear to my heart. I fell in love with her romantic suspense stories and never looked back. Alisa and Gabe were absolutely fabulous. I loved their banter and the way their chemistry coupled with the suspense in the story. It was an added bonus. Overall, I loved this story and can't wait for more from these characters and this author in the future!

I would like to thank the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review! 4 stars! ~Ratula ❤