This seemed like it was going to be a great book from the summary and even the prologue but as the book started I felt a little lost with references to prior events and they would mention people as if taking for granted the reader knew who they were talking about and I had no clue it wasn’t until after I read the book that I went to Amazon and seen that this is a series and I wish I would’ve known that I would’ve read at least the prior two books so I wouldn’t have been so lost but as I did it I can honestly say although the plot seemed like a good one I did not like reading a book but for the most part I feel disoriented and as if I should know things I did not. As for the actual story I did like it with the unicorns the female gladiator but as I said once they brought in Kayden and Riley and then they went to speak to eat I was just lost and think there should be a warning that this is from a series and cannot be read as a standalone. I have read and loved every book I’ve gotten from Iris Johansen but I’m sorry to say this one not as much. I received this book from NetGalley and Grand Central publishing but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Survivor, by author Iris Johansen, is the 30th installment in the authors Eve Duncan Series. This story begins 5 years ago with Maya Fallon, the caretaker of the Island, stabbing a villain named Aden Nadim in the Forest on Palandan Island in Southeast Asia. 5 years ago, Riley Smith and her father escaped with their lives thanks to Maya and went on to discover Helen of Troy who was sent to Eve Duncan to recreate. As you may or may not know, Eve is a forensic sculpture who has turned the world on its head with her stunning discovers, and her unique abilities to bring the dead back to life.

5 years later, Maya is once again in trouble thanks to men like Bevan and Nadim who really holds a grudge against Maya and are getting too close to discovering two remarkable finds. The first is a female Roman gladiator named Silvana Marcelli who is said to have been caretaker of Palandan Island like Maya. Palandan Island is a paradise untouched by the outside world and people who live here have ties Silvana. Silvana was an Amazon warrior who became a slave who became a fierce warrior before escaping. She amassed a great fortune that she apparently took with her.

The second is a herd of deer that look remarkably like unicorns that is being protected by a little girl named Bailey who Maya has claimed as her daughter. Maya pretty much pushes Riley Smith, who is a renowned archaeologist, into helping her while giving Riley first dibs on finding the burial place of Silvana and and her treasure. But Riley doesn't go anywhere these days without billionaire Morgan Caden whose mission it is to stop human trafficking as well as the illegal hunting of animals. Riley and Caden are working on their relationship and things get curious.

With animal poacher Nadim and former associate Bevan both determined to eliminate Maya and anyone else so they can profit from the spoils, Riley, Caden, and Maya have their work cut out for them. Then there's the arrival of a remarkable man named Finn Kagan. Kagan is a famous Sherpa who leads a group of other Sherpa's who have been trained in the art of being a ninja warrior. The next time you see Maya, things with Kagan may be heating up.

I used to read this series regularly, but got lost along the way to the 30th installment. I would say to go back and read A Face to Die For so you know who Riley is and how she became friends with Eve and her husband Joe Quinn. If you can set disbelief aside and have been following the series this will be an enjoyable read.

Iris Johansen has done it again with the latest installment of the Eve Duncan series, this isn't the first of these books that I've read and it won't be the last.

Maya became another of my favorite characters, along with Cade and Riley this group just gives you a fantastic story that will leave you holding your breath while hoping for more.

With a villain like Aden Nadim how can this not be an edge-of-your-seat thriller, that man is evil and he... well you'll just have to read the book to see what happens to him.

As always these books have action leaping off the pages as often as Eve is leaping out of the way of danger and I love it.

There are so many possibilities for where this series will go next and I for one can't wait to see where it goes.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all Thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Survivor by Iris Johansen is recommended, highly for fans of the series. This is the 30th novel in the Eve Duncan Series.

In this latest thriller, the caretaker/ruler Maya of the remote island nation of Paladan located in Southeast Asian asks for help from archeologist Riley Smith. When Riley consults with forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, her life is endangered by those threatening Maya. There are several mysterious secrets on the island that Maya protects but now animal poacher Nadim and former associate Bevan are both determined to eliminate Maya and anyone else so they can profit from the spoils.

This is an entertaining and action packed novel of suspense. Those who can easily embrace unicorns, a legendary female warrior, a secret potion, and a few more magical ideas can carry on and enjoy the action. It will require most readers to set a heavy handed double dose of disbelief aside in order to enjoy the plot. If you can set disbelief aside and have been following the series this will be heart-stopping diversion. I did struggle to care for the first third of the novel, but once I accepted the premise and the action really got going, it was compelling and enjoyable. 3.5
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

I will leave a review on Amazon and B&N on June 6th

The Survivor is the 30th book in the Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen, although this book did not feature Eve as much as most of the previous books overall I still found it to be an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Survivor by Iris Johansen that I read and reviewed.
The first thing that I gave to say is I missed the book before this one so I was completely lost about the entire back story and who the characters where and what was going on and it drove me insane for the beginning of the book. So, I highly suggest you read the first book before you dive into this one or else you will feel like you came into the middle of a movie and have no idea who all the characters are and how they got where they are in the plot.
Once I started to figure all the players out and get into this book I really enjoyed it. I am a huge Iris Johansen fan. However, I do think I will read the first book and then come back and read this book again so I can read them in order and see how things go when they flow together.
I am giving The Survivor four out of five stars.

Riley and Eve travel to Southeast Asia to a remote island to help their friend who needs help from treasure hunters who kill to get what they want. While they successfully evade the hunters, they come across the body of a preserved warrior. They seek answers to how this warrior is so perfectly preserved – if they can survive long enough to share the secrets with the world.

This book is part of a series, but I did read it as a standalone. While I think that you could benefit by learning some of the character connections by reading the entire series, I did just fine as a standalone. Iris Johansen always does such a fantastic job at writing action suspense books, and this one was the same. The setting of this one was fun and how could I say no to unicorns? SO cool. There was so much going on in this book, but I did enjoy it very much. The characters were written well, and I enjoyed getting to know them.

If you are looking for a jam-packed action suspense book, then grab a copy of this one June 6th.

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Traveling to Southeast Asia, Riley is aware of the threat from treasure hunters who are already searching and have no qualms about killing to get what they want. When she successfully evades them and finds the perfectly preserved body of a female warrior, it is just what she needs to entice Eve Duncan to help unlock the mystery. As these two strong women seek answers about this extraordinary past life, Riley makes a living, breathing discovery that will change history. If she can escape the island and survive long enough to share it with the world.

Riley and Eve take you on an adventure full of poachers, action, and some romance. But, this is all just on the surface, there is much more happening beneath it all. Iris Johansen has crafted a world that's easy to get lost in and characters that are easy to care about. I recommend this novel.

Iris Johansen knocks it out of the park again. In The Survivor, the newest instalment of the Eve Duncan books, we find the story following Riley again. Maya is having continuing issues on her island and contacts Riley for help. After much deliberations and her hand being forced by outside interference, Riley and Cade leave for the magical island Maya calls home. Eve is eventually called in as they rush to save Maya and her daughter.

It has been ages since I last read any of Iris Johansen’s work. I was able to pick this up and read it as a standalone but it is very apparent that there is more backstory and I could benefit from going back and reading the others. For at least 70% of the book Eve is very much in the background of the book and feels more like her life is more of a subplot while Riley and Maya are in the forefront. The Survivor takes us on fast pace rollercoaster and I loved every second of it. Long time fans will be more than satisfied and new ones will definitely be drawn in, wanting more.

I received an advance reader copy and am leaving this review of my volition.

I've enjoyed other books by Johansen, but this one left me confused. I liked Riley and Cade, but I didn't care much for the rest of the cast. Many felt stiff and underdeveloped, and the dialogue seemed forced. I believe this is part of a series, which may be why I felt like I was missing important information for most of the story.

This book kept me glued to my seat. There’s a lot of action and suspense. I loved the history lesson and the concept of unicorns. It was great revisiting with Eve Duncan. Iris Johansen is a brilliant writer. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A yarn about an island that has unicorns and a treasure. The island is run by a caretaker as has been the tradition for 700 hundred years.
It is under attack by one who would happily take the treasure and animals, no matter the cost.
A good read for the airplane.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

"The Survivor" by Iris Johansen is a captivating and thrilling novel that will transport readers to an isolated island in Southeast Asia, where archeologist Riley Smith seeks the help of forensic sculptor Eve Duncan. Despite initially declining, Eve is intrigued by the prospect of unlocking a secret locked in time and decides to join Riley on her quest.

The women face a dangerous journey as they navigate the threat of treasure hunters and uncover the perfectly preserved body of a female warrior. As they work together to unravel the mystery surrounding this extraordinary past life, Riley makes a discovery that will change history forever.

Johansen's writing style is engaging and immersive, bringing the island and its secrets to life. The strong female characters of Eve and Riley make for a dynamic and inspiring duo, and the tense and suspenseful atmosphere keeps the reader hooked until the very end.

Overall, "The Survivor" is a captivating and thrilling novel that blends history, archaeology, and mystery into an exciting adventure. Johansen has crafted a well-written and enjoyable read that will leave readers satisfied and eager for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this advanced copy.

I am a Hugh Iris Johansen fan so I was so happy to get to read this.
We get to go on Another great Eve Duncan adventure with Riley by her side. This adventure has poachers, treasure hunters, creature and a action packed adventure. Another winner from Iris Johansen. Thank you netgalley

#TheSurvivor #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel. Another great addition for Iris Johansen.

Another excellent read from the amazing storyteller Iris Johansen!!!
While this is in the Eve Duncan world and both she and Joe make small appearances it is mostly about Maya Fallon. Maya is the caretaker of
Palandan Island in Southeast Asia. A paradise untouched and people who have ties to a ancient female Roman gladiator named Silvana a slave who was a fierce warrior who was unbeatable who amassed a great fortune to buy her freedom and when the man who owned her wouldn't free her she killed him and escaped with great riches and a herd of legendary beast's.
Now Maya is the caretaker of not only Palandan's people but Silvana's treasures but 5 years ago Maya had a run in with animal poacher Nadim after helping get Riley and her father safely off the island he kidnapped one of her people and when he demands a card game if she wins he'll let Dalar her foreman go but he tries cheating and she stabs him in the hand! Now he wants her head on a platter after she escapes him and his men. Maya has stayed a step ahead but when Bevan a associate turns on her for not making him her partner she knows her time is almost up and that's when she calls in a favor for Riley and everyone she knows including Eve Duncan.
This was a awesome thriller suspense with heart stopping action and many twists and turns. And a race against a totally depraved and psychotic villain that had no problem raping and killing a innocent 11 year old to send a message to Maya that her brilliant and special daughter Bailey was next!
With so many fabulous characters and a legendary woman and treasure and a herd of mythical unicorn this was a excellent example why I love and adore this writer! Iris Johansen is the only writer I know who could put a fantasy spin on a thriller and make it believable! And their was also the continuing heat and steamy moments from Riley and Cade!!! Their fire and chemistry is still breathtaking. And Maya and the charming and handsome
Finn Kagan a hunter who goes after poachers and child traffickers who was born on the island and who leads a team of Sherpas with Ninja like fighting skills named the Ice Rangers! Theirs a fire starting with them too! And Maya's daughter Bailey was magnificent! She's 10 going on 100 and so ahead of her time! She's smart,bold and very curious and a fixer and once she's locked in on something she won't let go. I love her relationship with the beautiful and very pregnant Riva, a beautiful unicorn who Bailey is taking care of. I can honestly say that I truly loved this book from start to finish and as always I enjoyed the ride. Until next time Luv's💕💋

Another great Eve Duncan book. Eve and Riley Smith team up and take the reader on an adventure. Treasure hunters, poachers and lots of action. It helps if you have read the other Eve Duncan books. I do t think this reads well as a standalone.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Riley Smith never intended to return to the isolated island she visited years ago, but when approached about the possibility of discovering the preserved body of a female warrior, she can’t resist. However, the trip isn’t going to be an easy one. Riley enlists the aid of Eve Duncan, Eve is willing to help but is unable to accompany her on the trip. And when Riley returns to Eve’s home, trouble follows.

Poachers, treasure hunters, action, adventure, evil men out for revenge. Mythical creatures?

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

A big thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is part of a series, but reads ok as a stand alone. It starts off good, but then it goes off into the unbelievable. At least for me this is totally wild. So, I didn't really like the story, but I enjoy the characters. Well I thought Maya was to rigid and stoic. I really like Riley and Cade. 3 stars