I wasn’t impressed with this book. Mostly because I hadn’t realized it was a series and I felt completely in the dark. My own fault I’m sure if I started from the beginning I’d be able to enjoy it more.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"The Survivor" by Iris Johansen is a thrilling addition to the Eve Duncan series, marking its 30th installment!

This novel takes readers on a gripping journey to a remote island where secrets from the past are locked in time, waiting to be uncovered.

The narrative follows Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor, who is approached by archeologist Riley Smith for assistance in a dangerous quest that spans halfway across the world. Initially hesitant, Eve's intrigue is piqued by the promise of an isolated island harboring a mystery that has remained untouched through the ages. The stakes are high, with treasure hunters lurking and willing to kill for the secrets the island holds.

Johansen masterfully weaves suspense and adventure, as Eve and Riley navigate the treacherous path to discovery. The perfectly preserved body of a female warrior that Riley finds is not just a historical artifact; it's a key that could unlock an extraordinary past life and change history—if they can survive long enough to reveal it.

The Survivor stands out for its strong character development, particularly the dynamic between Eve and Riley. Their relationship is complex and evolves throughout the story, adding depth to the narrative. Johansen's storytelling is as robust as ever, with a pace that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The book is a testament to Johansen's ability to blend elements of mystery, suspense, thriller, and adventure into a cohesive and compelling story. It's a must-read for fans of the series and newcomers alike, offering an exciting puzzle that challenges the characters and satisfies the readers with its resolution.

In conclusion, 'The Survivor" is a captivating tale of resilience, history, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Just as in all of the previous books in this series, this latest is full of action, intrigue and drama. Although this is the 30th book in the Eve Duncan series, Eve, and especially Joe, were pretty much supporting characters. Instead, this story features Riley Smith and Maya Fallon as the primary protagonists. Riley appeals to Eve for her help, and so much of the story takes place on the Palandan Island, which is located in Southeast Asia. This secluded island hides a limited amount of people, and a legend. Maya is the island's caretaker, and she needs help.

There are times when I read a book in the Eve Duncan series and there is a bit of the unusual, a bit of fantasy. While this is the case with The Survivor, it was still a stellar read, with a fabulously intriguing story, enhanced by some romance.

This is a fast-paced thrilling read, with evil lurking close by. Can Eve, Riley and Maya get to the bottom of who is seeking to disturb the island, one who is bent on killing anyone in their path. With this psychotic killer always managing to escape their crosshairs, the action never lets up.

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

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

Another great book by Iris Johansen. She is, hands down, one of my favorite authors. I have been reading her books since before she started the Eve Duncan series. I love how she changes it up and brings other couples as a vocal point in the stories, yet still hints on Eve and Joe. She does a great job painting pictures for the imagination. Even though this is an Eve Duncan story, you don't have to have read the other books in the series. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, iris Johansen and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I love Iris Johansen’s book. I love her written and how it all flows so easily they are easy to read and get lost in. I love Eve Duncan books. I’ve read quite a few of them and highly recommend this series.

Iris Johansen got me into reading 20 years ago. I have read every book and they’re all amazing, and this is no exception! I will read everything she writes!

I had high hopes for this story, but it just didn’t work for me. The characters are flat and the storyline, well…nothing new.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

"The Survivor" by Iris Johansen is an enthralling and suspenseful thriller that'll have you holding your breath as you follow the protagonist's gripping journey.

This was a rough one for me. It sat in my TBR pile for awhile and I can see why it never called to me. For whatever reason, I have not enjoyed the last few characters in the Johansen books I've read. In my defense, the synopsis makes this seem like there is more Eve Duncan than there is and I think I just like Eve and Joe. I couldn't stand Riley, couldn't stand Maya, and the plot didn't hold me either. I finished it only because I wanted to see if it got better for me....

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Iris Johansen is a master at writing stories that will never disappoint readers. This time readers will need to suspend belief in the real world as they are rescuing mystical creatures. While it is silly at times it is worth the read.
Thank you Netgalley

The Survivor by Iris Johansen
This is part of a series so you are expected to know the relationship dynamics between characters. I prefer an explanation of relationships to promote better reading as a stand-alone. That may have prejudiced my liking of the book. A semi-secret island with a herd of strange deer and rumored treasure from the Roman era is being attacked by a nefarious human trafficker and poacher. Cade, a billionaire, and Riley his plus one are asked to help defend the island.
The premise of an ancient treasure and strange creatures generally grabs me. This book didn’t. Its not that it was bad but it rambled occasionally and expectations assumed by the characters didn’t always make sense. The abilities of the characters were also a bit of a mystery.
The book was okay and I expect readers who are part of the series fans will enjoy it more than I did.

You would think with this one being 30 in the series there wouldn't be new ideas. Wrong. Iris Johansen brings you suspense and intrigue in this book.

The leader of a sheltered culture rumored to possess a treasure enlists help to repel hostile intruders.

Riley Smith, an archaeologist introduced in the previous Eve Duncan novel “A Face to Die For”, is contacted by someone she met long ago when traveling with her father. Maya saved Riley and her father from a particularly nasty gang led by a poacher/thief when they were staying on the island in the mountains near Tibet of which Maya is the “caretaker”. That same island, a quiet Shangri-La which forbids the hunting of the many animals that live there and limits contact with the outside world, is now being threatened by those who want to claim the area’s resources. Those include the rumored treasure left behind by Silvana, the woman who founded the island’s community in early times. One of the biggest threats is coming from the man who Maya had expelled when he tried to kill Riley and her father, and the threat is personal….he wants his revenge for what Maya did to him, and has focused his attention on Maya’s young daughter. Maya uses the legend of Silvana and the rumors of animals thought to be extinct to tempt Riley to come and bring her powerful boyfriend Cade, who is known for his ferocious campaign to combat poachers and save species from extinction. Riley reaches out to Eve Duncan for advice on whether or not to accept Maya’s invitation, not sure that the risks are worth the rewards and reluctant to be used as a tool to reach Cade. When an attempt on RIley’s life is made during her visit with Eve, Cade arrives and the decision to help Maya is made. Even with the power and resources that Cade can bring to bear, will he and Riley be able to protect Maya and her people from the forces marching against them? And can they keep Maya, her gifted daughter Bailey, and themselves safe from the vendetta that threatens to destroy them all, while searching for the tomb and treasure of Silvana?
The Survivor is the 30th outing featuring Eve Duncan, so if you are already a reader of the series you are very likely to pick this installment up as well. It features many of the elements that are intrinsic to the series….the strong, beautiful and intelligent heroine, the alpha male that has aligned himself as her partner regardless of the clashes of their respective strong wills, a treasure with ties to history and legend, a gifted young person, and a determined foe. Eve and her partner Joe are in supporting roles here, operating mostly from the wings. It is Riley and Cade, as well as Maya, who are the stars of this novel. The reader is quickly drawn into Maya’s situation, and once Riley appears the action kicks into high gear. I was intrigued as I learned more about who Maya is and what role she has been selected to play, as well as how her island came to exist. Riley and Cade are still working on the rules of their relationship, and their clashes provide some drama as the story unfolds. If you like history mixed into your romantic suspense, and maybe even a little bit of legend thrown in for good measure, you will enjoy The Survivor….fans of Kay Hooper, Karen Robards, Catherine Coulter and Nora Roberts should also enjoy this installment, and the series in general. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for granting me access to an advanced reader’s copy of The Survivor.

The survivor is the 30th book in the Eve Duncan series. We are following the archeologist Riley Smith when she is called in to help Maya on her mysterious Island. What follows is a quest to find the body of a female warrior and to keep the island and Maya safe from treasure hunters. The summary of the book made me think that this book featured Eve Duncan and although she is mentioned in this book, she is more a side character and we are mainly following Riley Smith’s story. The book is fast paced with the all the elements that are usually in Iris Johansen’s books (strong female main character, a love interest, historical themes and a villain). It’s not my favorite book from her, but I loved it and read it in 2 days.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the Advanced Reader Copy!

This is the 30th book in the Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen. And it doesn’t disappoint. Johansen continues with Riley and Cade from A Face to Die For, as they travel to help an acquaintance of Riley’s who calls in a marker. Eve and Joe do play a part in this book, just secondary roles. Johansen does it again with characters with that jump off the page. Her ability to create backstories with a combination of historical facts and mythological characters again pulls a reader in until you turn the last page. Because Riley and Cade played such a big role in the previous book, I would recommend reading it first, but I’m a reader that needs to read a series in order. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title. I received it in exchange of an honest and fair review.

The Survivor is 30th book in the Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen. Even though the book includes snippets of Eve Duncan and her significant other Joe they are only side characters with very little time in this book. This book focuses mainly on the characters of Riley Smith and Maya Fallon. Riley and her father had visited the island of Paladan and met Maya years earlier. This time Maya calls on Riley to ask for help dealing with a poacher/bad guy named Nadim. As with all Iris Johansen books, this book beautifully blends the thriller and supernatural together in a way that is believable. This book is part of a series that I have read all the previous books but I still had a difficult time with remembering the previous book with the Maya and Riley storyline. I do think that the book covers any information that the reader needs to follow the story anyway.

THE SURVIVOR is Iris Johansen at her very best. There are always aspects of Ms. Johansen’s books that might seem a bit unrealistic, but once you begin to read you believe every word.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=82471

Riley Smith and Maya Fallon met five years ago when Riley was still searching for Helen of Troy's tomb. At that time Maya had saved Riley and her father at the risk of what she guards.  Beset with enemies, Maya reaches out to Riley and by extension Riley's billionaire partner Cade for help. In exchange for Riley and Cade's help, Maya will give them the clues to find legendary treasure and the tomb of an Amazon warrior who had founded the island. Once again Riley reaches out to Eve Duncan for help.
The ensuing story is a cross between Shangri La and a Greek myth or should I say Amazonian myth.  Legendary ninja like sherpas and unicorns and an embalming technique that keeps a body fresh and preserved like the day it died even if that was hundreds of thousands of years ago.  If you can suspend all disbelief and dive into the story, you'll find it a classic Ms. Johansen action thriller of advance and retreat.
Eve after some initial resistance is persuaded to join Riley's task force.  Now it's a grueling race to stay ahead of the bad guys who have infiltrated Maya's people and are privy to every step the dream team takes and try to stay a step ahead. 
We have psychic Bailey who can talk to animals and is being groomed to become Maya's successor. There is also a bit of romance between the leader of the Sherpas and Maya. Perhaps it might be explored in a future book that might feature these characters. I loved the roller coaster ride and read with bated breath praying for Maya's side to succeed.  For fans of Ms. Johansen and for new readers, it's a book definitely worth reading.

Iris Johansen’s latest novel, The Survivor, will take you on a wild ride, full of mystery and intrigue and a little fairytale as well. From warrior women frozen in time to unicorns, The Survivor will stretch your imagination, but isn’t that what all the best books do? I enjoyed this story and it was really interesting. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher. Looking forward to her next one, as always.