A heinous character has discovered a valuable tomb in Africa and wants forensic sculptor Even Duncan to make the death mask for the woman whose tomb it is. He has chosen beautiful Bostonian Celine to serve as the model for it and enlists evil characters to “persuade” both women to participate. It is up to Eve’s husband, detective Joe Quinn and Alex Dominic, a wealthy mercenary, to save them and all they hold dear.

For me, this was a poor choice. I should not have picked up a novel that was the 31st in a series, knowing nothing about it. However, I did want to read something by a new to me author and Iris Johansen is a prolific and popular writer. I wasn’t familiar with the characters, their relationships, or their histories. The synopsis did not provide a lot of information and because of that, I realized it was not a book that I would typically select.

As the book progressed, I did learn some things about the repeating characters, but still had a lot of questions about them.

This will be a welcome addition for fans of this series. There is action, excitement, adventure, kick ass female characters. There are also some extremely despicable players who were a turn off for me. There will be a big audience for this book, but unfortunately, I am just not it.

Eager to spend time with her son Michael, who is returning home from school, Eve initially declines her request to create an Egyptian death mask. However, those who want her to make the mask pressure her into taking the job, which she initially resists. This task becomes even more urgent when Michael’s life is threatened. Meanwhile, Eve is concerned for her husband, Joe, who is away, but when danger approaches both Eve and their son Michael, he frantically searches for them.

I have been a fan of this series since its inception. While some of the stories are quite far-fetched, I still enjoy the dynamic between Eve, Joe, Michael, and their daughter Jane. I also enjoy the spinoff series, so when I read any of the newer books, I feel like I’m returning home.

I would love to see where the story takes us next, especially now that Jane has a daughter of her own. Additionally, I appreciate the fact that Michael is still a young boy, as I believe this contributes to the series’ potential for many future stories.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Iris Johansen has written another masterpiece, keeping this reader up through the wee hours of the night.
The Death Mask by Iris Johansen is an amazing story!
A well written suspense filled with twists that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
An intriguing story with characters who draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.

I've enjoyed this series over the years but I have just lost my interest in them. It is a very enjoyable series for the first 20 books but after that the excitement just died down for me.

The Death Mask by Iris Johansen is an Eve Duncan novel. Eve is the heroine of many of Johansen’s novels and is a forensic artists who has the ability to reconstruct a face, in this case, one of a dead mummy. She will then construct a death mask. When first approached about the job, she turned it down as she was expecting her family home for vacation. When a simple request didn’t work, a man name Caldwell gained her acquiescence by kidnapping her eleven-year-old son and holding him as surety. At the same time, an independent contractor living in Africa named, Alex Dominic, is searching his contacts for information on Caldwell, looking to take him down. Dominic had come upon an African village shortly after someone using weapons supplied by Caldwell, had massacred a village, including children. Meanwhile a young woman named Celine Kelly, in Boston, is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant. Turns out she knew how to protect herself and sent him home damaged and angry. You guessed it: Caldwell’s man. How these things will come together is the subject of this book.

This is a very complicated story taking place in the jungles near Egypt, where a long-lost queen’s tomb has been found, and raided, by the same man who massacred the village. He plans to bring Celine to his “temple” and sacrifice her during the ceremonies where the mummy/death mask are revealed. Any number of people think this is a bad idea, including Joe Quinn and their son-in-law, who is a brutal CIA operative. Things got violent when they arrived, as anything near Caldwell tended to. The characters are terrific, many of them reappearing throughout this series. The plot was far-fetched but not unbelievable. It was a riveting read with plenty of violence, plenty of love, and plenty of greed and lust for power.

I was invited to read The Death Mask by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GradnCentralPublishing #IrisJohansen #TheDeathMask

Eve is a smart and talented forensic sculptor. She is asked to create a death mask by and when she refused her son is kidnapped. She is forced to travel to Africa to mold a priceless gold mask and her husband Joe is searching for a way to rescue their son…but their enemy is anything but predictable…

I am a fan of this series and was excited to see where Eve would end up next. There is a great sense of adventure and action and suspense throughout this story….and something else really sinister too…

The book dives into ancient Egyptian history and mixes it with modern forensics. Plus some creepy and unsettling tension and a sprinkle of the supernatural too.

I love how this book is full of strong female characters who are smart and strong and can carry their own weight!

✨What To Expect:
🔪Crime Thriller
💪Strong Female Characters
⁉️Suspense & Mystery
🗺️Action & Adventure
🏺Ancient Egyptian History

Once again danger and intrigue swirl around Eve Duncan, famous forensic sculptor.  While Eve is preparing for a nice vacation with her family, Ezra Caldwell, a master criminal is plotting to force Eve into sculpting a death mask for a newly discovered Egyptian queen by kidnapping her son Michael.
The author introduces a new character Celine Kell, beautiful surgical resident who is chosen to be the model the mask.  Celine however has a fierce will and strong desire to survive having been trained in martial arts by her military father.  Soon all the characters are on a collision course deep in jungle where the grave goods are stored in preparation for creating a museum and a worldwide launch. 
The story takes on the usual action adventure as Eve's husband Joe, accompanied by his son in law Caleb and a host of other guerilla type characters are assembled to help destroy the criminals and rescue the prisoners. 
Ms. Johansen is one of my favorite authors whose books I enjoy reading even as I recently find myself being far more selective of what I have time to read.  While this book delivers a good story that has enough action adventure to keep a reader engaged it seemed to fall a little short of being the superb fiction that I have grown to expect from the author.

It wasn’t until I sat down to write a review for Iris Johansen’s latest book: The Death Mask, that it hit me that this was the 31st book in the series and that I’ve been reading Eve Duncan’s adventures for well over two decades now. I’m more than pleased to say even after all these years Eve’s adventures as are gripping as ever. Eve, is a forensic sculptor, and over the years she has been pulled into more than her fair share of wild and emotionally charged adventures. I love when books has a villain you can really despise, and that is the case here and he pretty much forces Eve to come work for him. (being intentional vague to avoid spoilers) I have to say this series has come a far way from its roots and yet still manages to entrain. For long time fans there will be plenty of familiar faces in addition to new characters as well. Worried about jumping into a long established series? Don’t be. Most of these can be read as standalone, though having knowledge of the previous books, or at least being familiar with some of the recurring characters, while not necessary, will definitely enhance your enjoyment. I’d like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Death Mask.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-death-mask-iris-johansen/1146385897?ean=9781538726334&bvnotificationId=db1ca68b-5140-11f0-a92e-0ef935c64edb&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/350352616

This one puts Eve and Joe to the test as they face a dangerous enemy. As always the action and suspense are intense. We meet some new characters that I would love to see more of. The writing is perfectly descriptive and makes you feel like you are right there in these amazing places. I really enjoyed the way it ended. I'm never disappointed when I pick up an Eve Duncan book!

A heinous character has discovered a valuable tomb in Africa and wants forensic sculptor Even Duncan to make the death mask for the woman whose tomb it is. He has chosen beautiful Bostonian Celine to serve as the model for it and enlists evil characters to “persuade” both women to participate. It is up to Eve’s husband, detective Joe Quinn and Alex Dominic, a wealthy mercenary, to save them and all they hold dear.

For me, this was a poor choice. I should not have picked up a novel that was the 31st in a series, knowing nothing about it. However, I did want to read something by a new to me author and Iris Johansen is a prolific and popular writer. I wasn’t familiar with the characters, their relationships, or their histories. The synopsis did not provide a lot of information and because of that, I realized it was not a book that I would typically select.

As the book progressed, I did learn some things about the repeating characters, but still had a lot of questions about them.

This will be a welcome addition for fans of this series. There is action, excitement, adventure, kick ass female characters. There are also some extremely despicable players who were a turn off for me. There will be a big audience for this book, but unfortunately, I am just not it.

Irish Johansen can never go wrong in my opinion with an Eve Duncan story and this one delivered!
Eve , a forensic sculptor who the brings the lost home, is asked to make a death mask for a recently discovered tomb on an Egyptian Queen.
As most Eve’s ventures, this is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing till the end. I loved that not only did we get new characters in the book but also got to see some of our favorite’s return.
I’ll be grabbing a physical copy to add to the Eve Duncan section of my bookshelves.
I was able to read this as an eARC thanks to NetGally and Grand Central Publishing. Thank you!!

In The Death Mask, the 31st entry in Iris Johansen's long-running Eve Duncan series, the celebrated forensic sculptor is once again pulled into a high-stakes, globe-spanning adventure—this time against her will. When Eve refuses a mysterious offer to travel to Africa to sculpt a death mask of a newly unearthed Egyptian queen, her plans for a quiet summer with her family are shattered. Her son Michael is kidnapped by the sinister Ezra Caldwell, forcing Eve into a dangerous game that will take her deep into the heart of a jungle, where ancient secrets and modern atrocities collide.

Joining Eve is newcomer Celine Kelly, a surgical resident with a tragic past and a fierce will to survive. Chosen to serve as the living model for the long-dead queen, Celine brings a fresh dynamic to the story, and her partnership with Eve adds depth to the unfolding mystery.

Longtime fans will find the familiar Johansen trademarks: strong female leads, brooding alpha males, and a plot brimming with action, danger, and just enough romance. The African setting, the historical intrigue, and the dark motives of Caldwell and his partner, tribal chief Masini Zakira, all help maintain the tension.

However, while the story moves at a brisk pace and includes all the expected twists, The Death Mask doesn’t quite reach the heights of earlier entries in the series. For readers who have followed Eve's journey through countless close calls and emotional highs and lows, the formula is beginning to feel a little too familiar. The stakes are high, but the outcome feels predictable. Eve’s family once again becomes collateral damage, a plot device that, at this point, has been well-trodden in the series.

Still, Johansen’s ability to weave suspense with personal stakes keeps the book engaging enough to read through, and Celine’s introduction offers potential for future installments.

The Death Mask may not be the most groundbreaking of Eve’s adventures, but it delivers a serviceable thriller that fans of the series will appreciate—even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me access to The Death Mask in exchange for my honest review.

Eve finds herself having to do another sculpture of an African Queen. Michael has been kidnapped to make sure she does the job. They are held by a tribal leader and a corrupt opportunist. The latter is also after Celine Kelly, whom he wishes to deliver to the tribal leader as a human sacrifice. With Dominic and Caleb involved, rescue and removing the bad guys is imminent. A good page turner, as you want to know all turns out well. A great plot and familiar and new characters combine for a satisfying read. I will always read an Iris Johansen book, as she always delivers!

She'll do what she must to protect her family

Eve Duncan is an internationally celebrated forensic sculptor whose most recent work has further cemented her reputation for being the very best in the world. Unfortunately for her, that means that not only scholars and museums want her to work for them...some truly evil and twisted people do as well. If it's bad news, Ezra Caldwell is involved...gunrunning, sex trafficking, murder, and more...and he is planning something together with fanatical tribal chief Masini Zakira in a remote spot in Africa for which Eve's skills are desired. Eve wants nothing more than to spend her summer with her family, her husband Joe, son Michael, and quasi-daughter Jane (who will be bringing her baby daughter for a visit), and wastes no time in turning down the offer she receives to travel to Africa to make a death mask of a little known Egyptian queen whose tomb was recently discovered there...but the offer had come (indirectly and unbeknownst to Eve) from Caldwell, who is not going to accept her rebuff. There is someone else whose presence Caldwell requires for his plan, medical intern and part time artist's model Celine Kelly. Celine is able to fight off the thug that is sent to kidnap her but a friend dies as a result; Eve's son Michael is not as lucky and is taken by Caldwell's men, and is dangled as bait to get Eve to come to Africa. Grave robbers, human sacrifices, and a secret source of gold are all in play, and Eve and Celine ultimately must work together to stay alive and find a way to escape before their usefulness to Caldwell comes to an end.
The Death Mask is the 31st outing for Eve Duncan, and follows author Iris Johansen's tried and true formula in this tale of suspense. There are the female lead characters, all strong willed, intelligent, and more than capable of looking after themselves (in this case, Eve and Celine, with the Egyptian queen Folashade as well), and the male leads who are tough, smart, devious and fiercely protective of those they love (Joe, Alex Domimic, and even young Michael). The plot mixes together bits of history with the usual forces of good against evil and strong attraction between an alpha male (Dominic) and a beautiful but independent young woman (Celine), with the jungles of Africa forming an intriguing backdrop. This isn't the first time that Eve's family is in danger because of their proximity to her...it isn't even the second or the third time, honestly...but with some of the main players in previous books in the series taking a more supporting role (Jane, Caleb, Catherine Ling) as new characters are introduced and/or emphasized, it is still an engaging read, especially for those who have read previous installments in the series. Fans of Johansen in general and Eve Duncan in particular won't want to miss this latest adventure, and those who enjoy Catherine Coulter, Kay Hooper and Nora Roberts should give it a try as well. A solid 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me access to The Death Mask in exchange for my honest review.

The Death Mask is the newest installment in the Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen. This story follows Eve as she is forced to complete a restoration in Africa in order to save her son Michael.

Iris Johansen is an auto-read for me. I enjoy the stories and the fast pace of her books. This one had a lot of characters which took some time to keep straight. There wasn’t as much focus on Eve, Joe, Jane and her daughter Cira as I would have liked. I will continue to read what she publishes, but this wasn’t a favorite compared to some of the earlier books.

A long-awaited visit from her son, Michael, and her husband, Joe, has Eve turning down a job creating an Egyptian death mask for a potential client. Her decision puts not only herself in danger, but her family as well. But the spurned individual is used to getting what he wants at any cost and sets out to obtain not only Eve, but another woman as well. Thus begins the journey to bring down the enemy and restore safety to Eve, her family, and new friends and acquaintances.

This story has several strong female characters, which is wonderful to see. We’re introduced to some new characters, also, and interesting locations. There’s murder, danger, betrayal, lies, thievery, physical and mental torture, romance, and more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was excited to dive back into Eve Duncan's world. It has been years since I picked up one of Iris Johansen's tales about Eve and her family& I had always enjoyed the books. Anyway happy to dive back in .
Eve is a forensic sculptor which is compelling, especially for those interested in CSI, mysteries and crime. This novel delves into international crime and political intrigue & even archeology. Eve is married to investigator Joe Quinn & together they are thrown into a case could be deadly -personally and for an entire nation.


Thanks to Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A little tough to get into. I liked Celine but wanted to get to the actual story. I liked some of the premise but not all.

“The Death Mask” is 31st in the Eve Duncan series — I took a chance because a lot of long time series are dedicated to finding new readers and, therefore, giving backstories to long time characters and their relationships. I also had access to the audiobook and audio experiences usually enhance my experience. Elisabeth Rodgers, the narrator, is excellent.

The storyline hooked me — Eve Duncan’s talents for recreating death masks are needed for a nefarious rich bully (already in the process of kidnapping model/surgeon Celine). Eve finds that it’s not a choice — her family is threatened and husband Joe, added by mercenary buddy Dominic, must also face the bad guy.

Another early reviewer I respect felt the same about crashing into number 31 without the benefit of 30 previous books. Eve does rate her own Wikipedia entry as Johansen’s fictional forensic sculptor whose 7 year old daughter Bonnie was kidnapped and never found (book one was in 1998). The AI overview (choke) suggested that Eve is anywhere from her 40s to her 60s. I also learned that Johansen is guilty of ending her books with cliffhangers, but she finally let go of Eve’s Bonnie obsession in a trilogy.

What I do care about is that Eve is consistently a strong woman character, which contributes to her enduring popularity. Eve, along with Celine, are worthy characters in this action thriller. This starts off intensely and does give clues to backstories, but I’m sure the longtime series readers will love this one.

I totally enjoyed it, but maybe not enough to read the next installment and definitely not enough to obsessively read the back catalog in order (I did that with Karin Slaughter a few years ago). But at least I’ve acquainted myself with Johansen’s engaging style should she start creating standalone adventures. 4 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Dominic has gray-green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But the impenetrable jungle is almost a character.

Thank you to Hachette, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!

Eve Duncan and her Joe are living a "normal" life until her son is kidnapped. A diabolical person wishes Eve to recreate a death mask in a remote African kingdom. Lots of tension in this one as Eve and those who love and support her work to find her son and also save her. Tanks to NetGalley for the arc.