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Eve Duncan #28
A Face to Die For
Eve Duncan attempts to unearth one of history’s most intriguing lost secrets in this adventure ripped from the pages of Greek mythology, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen.
Archaeologist Riley Smith has been obsessed with Helen of Troy since she was a small girl, trailing her professor father all over the world in search of the tomb of the world’s most beautiful woman. Professor Smith put his life on the line to prove that, instead of a myth, Helen had been a living, breathing queen.
Riley seeks the help of forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, who has the unusual skills necessary to recreate the face that launched a thousand ships—revealing Helen’s true appearance for the first time in history. But convincing Eve to take on the challenge will be difficult because her efforts could come at great personal risk to her and her family…
Tomb raiders have murdered Riley’s father, and now she is more determined than ever to reach the burial site first, avenge his death, and enlist Eve’s aid. Also on hand to help is dashing fixer and treasure hunter Michael Cade, but could he have his own secret agenda when it comes to finding Helen?
Now both Riley and Eve are in danger and in a race across one of the most remote parts of the world. All they have is their trust in each other and their belief in a dream as they hunt for Helen.
Archaeologist Riley Smith has been obsessed with Helen of Troy since she was a small girl, trailing her professor father all over the world in search of the tomb of the world’s most beautiful woman. Professor Smith put his life on the line to prove that, instead of a myth, Helen had been a living, breathing queen.
Riley seeks the help of forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, who has the unusual skills necessary to recreate the face that launched a thousand ships—revealing Helen’s true appearance for the first time in history. But convincing Eve to take on the challenge will be difficult because her efforts could come at great personal risk to her and her family…
Tomb raiders have murdered Riley’s father, and now she is more determined than ever to reach the burial site first, avenge his death, and enlist Eve’s aid. Also on hand to help is dashing fixer and treasure hunter Michael Cade, but could he have his own secret agenda when it comes to finding Helen?
Now both Riley and Eve are in danger and in a race across one of the most remote parts of the world. All they have is their trust in each other and their belief in a dream as they hunt for Helen.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2022
About the author
Iris Johansen
239 books7,477 followersIris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success.
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
She lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
http://www.irisjohansen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
November 12, 2022
Strong character development and interesting throughout. 8 of 10 stars
August 23, 2022
Iris Johansen has done it again!!!! The Queen of suspense and thrillers is back with a another excellent Eve Duncan thriller with a rollercoaster of twists and turns and new characters that were not only intriguing but multi complexed and interesting as well. I've read every book in this series and this is book #28!!! You'd think that after this many books that Johansen couldn't surprise me but she always does!!! Besides Eve and Joe theirs the wild child grown up archeologist Riley Smith who has been on a mission since she was a child to find the remain's of one of histories most talked about woman Helen of Troy!!!! She is a myth but Riley knows that she is real and with Eve duncans help she can show the world that she was right. I adored Riley so much! She's strong and smart and totally fearless and I loved her. We also have Morgan Cade a dashing multi billionaire who is part treasure hunters and also a poacher hunter known for tracking down the illegal hunters and making them pay. He exudes strength and pure alpha male and couple that with dashing good looks and his great love of wildlife and his charm make it very hard for Riley not want to take a chance and feel the fire! But first they must fine Helen's remains and stay a step ahead of not only Dakar who is one of the sickest poachers around but is working for president Madlock to find Eve and Joe so he can find out were Diane Connors and her silver bullet are hiding! I never get tried of reading this writers stories!! Iris Johansen is a phenomenal writer who not only is a hell of a storyteller but her characters are so memorable with anti hero's that walk the edge its no wonder I always come back! Until next time Luv's💕💋
December 5, 2022
Iris Johansen never fails me. These emotional yet thrilling roller coasters she puts me on is exactly what I needed. I was gripped the entire ride. I truly loves the character development and growth throughout the story. Such an awesome ending!!!
I won this from a Goodreads giveaway. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this from a Goodreads giveaway. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
July 3, 2022
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway (thank you). I wanted to like this book. I really did. Years ago, I read several Iris Johansen books and I really liked them. And i was well familiar with Eve Duncan from them. But either my tastes have changed or the writing has suffered since then. I found the characters ridiculously shallow and not at all believable. Eve, Riley, Kirby and Cade all meet and within moments, we are expected to believe that they all understand one another and know what makes one another tick. The dialogue is unremarkable and cringy as well. They seem to spend half of their words to one another reminding them of what just happened or how they think the whomever they’re talking to is feeling.
So disappointing.
Gotta say, this is probably the last book in the series that I’ll be reading.
So disappointing.
Gotta say, this is probably the last book in the series that I’ll be reading.
June 24, 2022
This book is number 28 in the series so I was worried I would be lost, luckily that wasn’t the case. With such a long series I’m sure there are pieces to Eve’s backstory and character development I’m missing but it didn’t take away from the main plot. The first 100 or so pages works on catching you up enough to carry on.
Eve and Riley are working to find the tomb of the mythical Helen of Troy, to find her mummy and bring to life the face said to launch a thousands ships. But as with any good adventure book, they aren’t the only ones looking for the tomb.
Since this was about Helen of Troy there were quite a few sections with stories and background about her that I really enjoyed. But as with any good adventure book there were also adrenaline filled moments that make your heart race.
It was really nice having two strong female leads! Eve and Riley were both intelligent, bold, and likable characters. Cade, Joe, and Kirby were also enjoyable side characters. However, as much as I enjoyed the characters, the dialogue was a bit dry and lacking at times.
Thank you to Grand Central Pub for sending me this review copy in exchange for my honest review!
Eve and Riley are working to find the tomb of the mythical Helen of Troy, to find her mummy and bring to life the face said to launch a thousands ships. But as with any good adventure book, they aren’t the only ones looking for the tomb.
Since this was about Helen of Troy there were quite a few sections with stories and background about her that I really enjoyed. But as with any good adventure book there were also adrenaline filled moments that make your heart race.
It was really nice having two strong female leads! Eve and Riley were both intelligent, bold, and likable characters. Cade, Joe, and Kirby were also enjoyable side characters. However, as much as I enjoyed the characters, the dialogue was a bit dry and lacking at times.
Thank you to Grand Central Pub for sending me this review copy in exchange for my honest review!
July 2, 2022
Unfortunately what was once a must read author for me has turned out yet another mediocre book. It was so slow and predictable. I think she is just churning out books too quickly or run out of plots for Eve. I struggled to finish this one. I keep hoping she will find the old magic but the last few books have been terrible.
July 17, 2022
Eve Duncan, a well-known and highly respected forensic sculptor, has just finished an extensive job in the African village of Maldara, recreating faces from the bones of children who were slaughtered by tomb raiders. She is living in seclusion there, as far away as possible from her nemesis, Adam Madlock, the current president of the United States.
Eve’s husband, Joe, and son, Michael, are in Scotland, where they too are in hiding. Madlock is a would-be dictator, out to destroy the US and assume full power. Eve and Joe are doing everything they can to escape his clutches while simultaneously trying to figure out ways to bring him down.
The father of archaeologist Riley Smith was recently killed by a terrorist group led by Dakar, the leader of a band of tomb raiders, the same men who murdered the children of Maldara. Most historians believe that Helen of Troy never really existed, but not only were Riley and her father certain that she was a real historical figure, they had been looking for her final resting place and were convinced it was in Azerbaijan. They were fans of Eve’s extraordinary sculpting talents and wanted her to do the reconstruction of Helen’s face once her tomb was located. Even though her father is dead, Riley is on a mission to finish the search and “bring Helen back to life” via forensic sculpting.
At first, Eve is reluctant to get involved as she doesn’t believe in Helen’s existence. Also, leaving Maldara and traveling to Azerbaijan would certainly put her life in danger from Madlock and his cronies. But with additional encouragement, Eve decides to help Riley. In fact, she and her husband come up with a plan that they hope will bring Madlock down.
As with the other Eve Duncan books, A FACE TO DIE FOR is filled with danger and suspense from the beginning and keeps building until the end. While it’s possible to dive into this 28th installment without having read any of the previous entries, I highly recommend you savor this fascinating series from the beginning. Meanwhile, fans of Iris Johansen and her plucky protagonist will not have long to wait for #29; CAPTIVE releases on September 6th.
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
Eve’s husband, Joe, and son, Michael, are in Scotland, where they too are in hiding. Madlock is a would-be dictator, out to destroy the US and assume full power. Eve and Joe are doing everything they can to escape his clutches while simultaneously trying to figure out ways to bring him down.
The father of archaeologist Riley Smith was recently killed by a terrorist group led by Dakar, the leader of a band of tomb raiders, the same men who murdered the children of Maldara. Most historians believe that Helen of Troy never really existed, but not only were Riley and her father certain that she was a real historical figure, they had been looking for her final resting place and were convinced it was in Azerbaijan. They were fans of Eve’s extraordinary sculpting talents and wanted her to do the reconstruction of Helen’s face once her tomb was located. Even though her father is dead, Riley is on a mission to finish the search and “bring Helen back to life” via forensic sculpting.
At first, Eve is reluctant to get involved as she doesn’t believe in Helen’s existence. Also, leaving Maldara and traveling to Azerbaijan would certainly put her life in danger from Madlock and his cronies. But with additional encouragement, Eve decides to help Riley. In fact, she and her husband come up with a plan that they hope will bring Madlock down.
As with the other Eve Duncan books, A FACE TO DIE FOR is filled with danger and suspense from the beginning and keeps building until the end. While it’s possible to dive into this 28th installment without having read any of the previous entries, I highly recommend you savor this fascinating series from the beginning. Meanwhile, fans of Iris Johansen and her plucky protagonist will not have long to wait for #29; CAPTIVE releases on September 6th.
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
July 22, 2022
Another suspenseful and successful Eve Duncan book! I really enjoyed the race to find Helen of Troy, with scum bags (including the president) breathing down their necks. There were a few things I didn’t love - Riley is described in the beginning as someone who fades into the background and then she literally never did that? I was also expecting more info on the bullet and how it affected Eve and Joe. And the very end of the book…not the most satisfying. Still, I loved it and you know I’ll be reading the next one when it comes out!
June 10, 2022
This has been a long series but its been so good. This book can be read as a stand alone but why would you. It's really a good getaway. I will be sitting here waiting on the next book in this series.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
October 19, 2022
Up to page 99 and it's ridiculously idiotic - but not in a fun way - in an extremely irritating way with characters too arrogant and stilted to live. But, of course, they survive while everyone around them is harmed.
Trudging into the next hundred pages and the "designated love interest" shows up; promising to try and not be too dominant. What is this an 1880's Victorian bodice ripper?
Will Eve ever get to reconstruct the face of Helen of Troy? Stand by for a 100's more pages of ludicrous dialogue and harm to all bystanders.
I've been frustrated with Iris Johansen's writing for several years now - but kept coming back hoping for a return of the Eve of a decade plus ago. Finally have to accept reality
So Iris you've now joined Patricia Cornwall, Diane Palmer, and almost all of the Patterson books as writers I just can't waste my time on anymore. Thanks for the early years of Eve solving actual mysteries. Goodbye.
Trudging into the next hundred pages and the "designated love interest" shows up; promising to try and not be too dominant. What is this an 1880's Victorian bodice ripper?
Will Eve ever get to reconstruct the face of Helen of Troy? Stand by for a 100's more pages of ludicrous dialogue and harm to all bystanders.
I've been frustrated with Iris Johansen's writing for several years now - but kept coming back hoping for a return of the Eve of a decade plus ago. Finally have to accept reality
So Iris you've now joined Patricia Cornwall, Diane Palmer, and almost all of the Patterson books as writers I just can't waste my time on anymore. Thanks for the early years of Eve solving actual mysteries. Goodbye.
July 13, 2022
I've always been a fan of this series but this book is just too unbelievable and Eve Duncan is starting to repeat herself as far as getting herself talked into situations she doesn't want. Didn't finish. Disappointing.
June 16, 2022
Least favorite Eve Duncan book. Undeveloped characters, formulaic writing and a far fetched conclusion. Did not keep my attention like other Iris Johansen books, so disappointed.
June 17, 2022
I'm done, can't read these any more. After the last one, I was really on the fence about this series. Although I like Quinn, Ling and a few others- there are very few "normal" people. There are all sorts of powers described in several books and they are becoming too far fetched.
I will keep on with the Kendra books as they seem more straight forward to me.
I will keep on with the Kendra books as they seem more straight forward to me.
June 22, 2022
Not believable
Johansen's Eve Duncan books are now including far-fetched ideas and actions, and this latest continues with unrealistic story lines. I love GOOD make-believe bordering on fantasy, but this has too many not-even-remotely believable scenarios to make diving into the story and characters possible. Disappointing.
Johansen's Eve Duncan books are now including far-fetched ideas and actions, and this latest continues with unrealistic story lines. I love GOOD make-believe bordering on fantasy, but this has too many not-even-remotely believable scenarios to make diving into the story and characters possible. Disappointing.
August 13, 2022
I was really excited to read this book but my excitement quickly ended. The characters were shallow and confusing, the dialogue was painful to read (the constant stream of dialogue focused on don’t tell me what to do, you’re not the boss of me) was exhausting to follow, and the plot was all over the place. First and last book by this author for me.
August 22, 2022
I wanted to like this book but it was impossible. I have read others in the Eve Duncan Series and like the character, but the writing leaves much to be desired. Too much back and forth dialogue between characters who are argumentative, aggressive, angry, “know it alls”. This will be the last book I read by this author.
July 21, 2022
Mmmm, the storyline was OK-Finding the remains of Helen of Troy but the shallow character development was awful! Yes, Eve Duncan is back with no supporting cast members. I will try again with this author
August 12, 2022
I didn’t finish. I’m over Eve Duncan, could see the story coming from a mile away.
May 18, 2022
There is nothing better than opening the pages of a new Iris Johansen book. Especially if it's the latest Eve Duncan novel. Wow, book number twenty-eight. That's monumental.
The prologue kicks us off in the heart of the jungle. Painted with a master's brush I can almost feel the humid air and smell the vegetation. Little Riley is doing her best to keep her curiosity in check without causing her mother too much grief.
And now we settle in a watch Eve Duncan do what she does best. GAH! I love these books!! Happy reading Iris Johansen fans 😊
~Tanja
*Thank you to @novelsuspects for sharing this title with me
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The prologue kicks us off in the heart of the jungle. Painted with a master's brush I can almost feel the humid air and smell the vegetation. Little Riley is doing her best to keep her curiosity in check without causing her mother too much grief.
And now we settle in a watch Eve Duncan do what she does best. GAH! I love these books!! Happy reading Iris Johansen fans 😊
~Tanja
*Thank you to @novelsuspects for sharing this title with me
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
June 30, 2022
This is book twenty eight in this series, and I have loved them all. Each book is another adventure as Eve takes on another job, as the world’s leading forensic sculptor. This one was just as exciting. The book introduces you to Riley as a child running through the jungle, and trying to beat her parents back to camp. Her father a famous professor of archaeology, and her mother always in search of another piece of the puzzle to the tomb, of a Spartan queen, that others refer to as Helen of Troy. How much was fiction, and how much truth. He would never see the results of his life’s work, as he was murdered for his notebook. It is a sight Riley must live with. Now as an archaeologist herself she is ready to disclose her findings. She only needs one person’s help. Eve Duncan to bring the mummified queen to life. The book has many different mysteries going on at once. There is the killer, who took her father away, that still wants to own anything she may find, plus an evil, and dirty president who is after power, and even more wealth by any means possible. He has cost the lives of many innocent people. Joe makes their son Michael safe, and then joins the quest. Michael Cade a fixer, and treasure hunter, plus a well known savior for endangered species, and all around survivor with his own wealth, and small army to keep them safe, joins as well. The book was well plotted out, and those familiar with her book will welcome other characters, from other books. Her books always have times that find you holding your breath, due to the danger level. This was no different, and I hung on every word to the end. I gave it a well deserved 5 stars.
April 25, 2024
This was a fun read! Easy to read & fairly fast paced. While being the 28th book in a series (I know, wild!) it was the first Iris Johansen book I’ve read & can say this book can easily be read as a stand alone. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything as the author did a good job at filling in the blanks without taking up a bunch of pages.
June 10, 2022
Check out the aesthetic video I made for this book on TikTok & Instagram @katherinebichler. Here are the links: 👇🏼
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTd3nRGhv/?k=1
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeoP_k...
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 STARS
This was my first Iris Johansen novel. For me, it was just okay. I even took into consideration that I didn’t read the rest of the series. You don’t need to though. It can be read as a stand alone. There are certain references to things that happened earlier in the series, but you can catch up quickly.
I enjoyed the history and suspense/thriller aspects of the book. The first half was slow as it was mostly making references to previous books in the series and setting the scene. It centered around an archaeological team finding the body of Helen of Troy and the dangers they face in doing so. Once the book picked up, it kept my attention and I enjoyed it.
If you are a fan of Indiana Jones type stories and the Eve Duncan series, this book is for you! 🙂
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the review copy!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTd3nRGhv/?k=1
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeoP_k...
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 STARS
This was my first Iris Johansen novel. For me, it was just okay. I even took into consideration that I didn’t read the rest of the series. You don’t need to though. It can be read as a stand alone. There are certain references to things that happened earlier in the series, but you can catch up quickly.
I enjoyed the history and suspense/thriller aspects of the book. The first half was slow as it was mostly making references to previous books in the series and setting the scene. It centered around an archaeological team finding the body of Helen of Troy and the dangers they face in doing so. Once the book picked up, it kept my attention and I enjoyed it.
If you are a fan of Indiana Jones type stories and the Eve Duncan series, this book is for you! 🙂
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the review copy!
February 19, 2023
Entertaining
August 17, 2024
Helen of Troy fact or fiction?
December 19, 2022
Oh, I had a great time reading this book, it was another fantastic adventure!
Read
October 13, 2026OVERVIEW...
Iris Johansen’s A Face to Die For is a globe-spanning thriller that brings forensic sculptor Eve Duncan into contact with one of history’s most enduring legends: Helen of Troy. Johansen builds her story around a tantalizing possibility—that Helen was a real queen whose lost tomb and remains might still be recovered. The result blends archaeological adventure, forensic mystery, and high-stakes pursuit within the emotional world of the long-running Eve Duncan series.
Archaeologist Riley Smith inherited her fascination with Helen from her father, Professor Dan Smith, whose belief that Helen was a historical ruler shaped Riley’s life and career. After tomb raiders murder him, his unfinished quest becomes personal. Convinced he was close to finding Helen’s burial place, Riley turns to Eve, whose ability to reconstruct a face from a skull could reveal the woman behind “the face that launched a thousand ships”—if they can find and authenticate the remains.
The premise has immediate scale, but the novel offers more than a race to a hidden tomb. Legend, grief, science, ambition, and obsession collide as the search becomes a test of identity and historical truth. The emotional stakes remain clear: Riley wants justice for her father, Eve hopes to restore individuality to the dead, and nearly everyone around them has a private reason for wanting the discovery to succeed—or fail.
THE POWER OF THE PREMISE ...
The novel’s greatest strength is its central idea. Helen exists between person and symbol: for centuries, she has been blamed, idealized, and reduced to her beauty. By having Eve reconstruct her face, Johansen challenges that reduction. Forensic reconstruction would reveal not an abstract ideal, but an individual. The title carries several meanings at once: a face can inspire obsession, invite danger, preserve memory, or become a surface for cultural projection.
Archaeology and Eve’s profession also make a natural pairing. One recovers fragments of the past; the other turns those fragments into a human presence. Both demand patience, interpretation, and respect for evidence. This parallel gives the adventure thematic unity: the tomb matters, but the person inside it matters more. That distinction keeps the novel grounded even when the action grows larger than life.
RILEY SMITH AND EVE DUNCAN ...
Riley works as a catalyst because her commitment is never merely academic. Her father’s death turns research into obligation, yet she becomes more than a daughter completing a parent’s dream. Tenacious, intelligent, and impulsive, she sometimes treats danger as an obstacle rather than a warning. Her grief does not immobilize her; it sharpens her.
Eve remains compelling because her gift is inseparable from empathy. Her reconstructions are acts of restoration: where others see remains, she sees a person whose identity deserves to be returned. That moral seriousness makes her ideal for a story about a woman repeatedly appropriated by history. Her caution also balances Riley’s urgency; Eve understands that discovery endangers not only its pursuers, but also those they love.
The trust between the two women is more satisfying than any single twist. Their priorities and tolerances for risk differ, yet both are fiercely loyal and unwilling to abandon the dead. Because their respect grows through action rather than instant intimacy, their partnership becomes the novel’s emotional spine.
SUSPENSE, VILLAINY, AND THE WILDER CAST ...
The race to the tomb drives the novel forward. Ruthless competitors, conflicting agendas, remote terrain, and betrayal keep the story moving. Michael Cade—a fixer and treasure hunter with murky motives—adds welcome uncertainty. Resourceful and charismatic, he makes the reader question whether help can ever be separated from self-interest.
The antagonists are drawn in broad, thriller-sized strokes. Their greed is immediately legible rather than psychologically subtle, raising the stakes beyond academic rivalry to murder, manipulation, and exploitation. Readers who prefer restrained realism may find some villains emphatic and some threats too neatly connected, but the danger suits the novel’s adventure-driven design.
THEMES: IDENTITY, BEAUTY, AND OWNERSHIP OF THE PAST ...
Beneath the chase, the novel keeps returning to identity. Eve believes a face can reclaim a name; Riley believes evidence can reclaim a life from myth. Helen thus becomes more than the prize at the journey’s end. She embodies the difference between being remembered and being known.
The novel also asks who owns the past. Tomb raiders see commodities; political actors, leverage; scholars, proof; and the public, spectacle. Riley and Eve have personal motives, but their best impulses are preservational rather than possessive. They want to protect the truth and recognize the person at its center, giving the plot more substance than a conventional treasure hunt.
Beauty is another concern. Helen’s appearance survives because others defined, exaggerated, and used it to explain a war. Reconstruction would replace the ideal with physical specificity. The intriguing question is not whether Helen would meet ancient or modern standards of beauty, but whether seeing her as a real woman would diminish the myth—or strengthen it.
PACING AND PROSE ...
Johansen writes with confidence and momentum. Conversations double as contests of will, and characters state their intentions forcefully. This directness keeps shifting alliances and an expanding cast easy to follow. The prose favors emotional intensity over quiet ambiguity: the suspense lies not in what a character wants, but in whether they can get it—and at what cost.
The pace is swift but uneven. Strategy, backstory, and verbal confrontations occasionally slow the action, rewarding readers who enjoy Johansen’s clashes of personality as much as escapes and discoveries. Repeated declarations of resolve can sound unnatural, though that heightened dialogue is part of the series’ identity: these characters speak as intensely as they act.
WHAT WORKS ESPECIALLY WELL ...
1) AN IRRESISTABLE HISTORICAL HOOK: The possibility of finding Helen of Troy's tomb creates immediate wonder and gives Eve's forensic talent a fresh application.
2) A STRONG FEMALE PARTNERSHIP: Riley and Eve are connected by determination, grief, intelligence, and respect for the dead, but they remain distinct personalities.
3) EMOTIONAL STAKES BENEATH THE SPECTACLE: Riley's mourning and Eve's sense of responsibility becoming purely mechanical.
4) A VIVID FUSION OF GENRES: Archeological mystery, forensic investigation, international suspense, and mythic history reinforce one another.
5) SERIES CONTINUITY WITH A WELCOMING PREMISE: Longtime readers receive familiar relationships and ongoing concerns, while newcomers can be drawn in by the self-contained search for Helen.
WHERE THE NOVEL MAY DIVIDE READERS ...
The book’s strengths can also become limitations. Its cinematic plotting asks readers to accept coincidence, exceptional competence, and rapidly formed trust. Some supporting characters serve mainly as sources of danger, information, or leverage. The villains can be operatic, and the dialogue sometimes repeats points already established.
Newcomers may also feel the weight of earlier relationships, though Riley’s quest provides a clear entry point and the immediate plot is easy to follow. Eve’s family history will resonate more deeply with established fans. These qualities do not derail the novel; they define it. This is heightened, cinematic suspense—not quiet archaeological realism.
FINAL VERDICT ...
'A Face to Die For' succeeds by giving an enormous legend a personal center. The search for Helen propels the plot, but the deeper subject is the need to rescue identity from loss. Riley wants to honor her father; Eve wants to restore individuality to a woman consumed by myth. Their goals converge in a story where the past remains valuable, contested, and dangerous.
Johansen delivers the muscular, emotionally charged suspense her readers expect, while the Helen of Troy premise adds grandeur and curiosity. The novel is strongest when it pauses to consider what a face can represent: evidence, memory, individuality, or legend. Its broad villains and heightened dialogue will not suit everyone, but its momentum and imaginative hook are hard to resist.
For fans of international thrillers, forensic mysteries, and archaeological adventures, A Face to Die For is a gripping read. It preserves the strengths of the Eve Duncan series while giving its heroine a mystery of mythic reach. Most importantly, it remembers that behind every legend is a person—and that sometimes the greatest discovery is not treasure, but a face.
Iris Johansen’s A Face to Die For is a globe-spanning thriller that brings forensic sculptor Eve Duncan into contact with one of history’s most enduring legends: Helen of Troy. Johansen builds her story around a tantalizing possibility—that Helen was a real queen whose lost tomb and remains might still be recovered. The result blends archaeological adventure, forensic mystery, and high-stakes pursuit within the emotional world of the long-running Eve Duncan series.
Archaeologist Riley Smith inherited her fascination with Helen from her father, Professor Dan Smith, whose belief that Helen was a historical ruler shaped Riley’s life and career. After tomb raiders murder him, his unfinished quest becomes personal. Convinced he was close to finding Helen’s burial place, Riley turns to Eve, whose ability to reconstruct a face from a skull could reveal the woman behind “the face that launched a thousand ships”—if they can find and authenticate the remains.
The premise has immediate scale, but the novel offers more than a race to a hidden tomb. Legend, grief, science, ambition, and obsession collide as the search becomes a test of identity and historical truth. The emotional stakes remain clear: Riley wants justice for her father, Eve hopes to restore individuality to the dead, and nearly everyone around them has a private reason for wanting the discovery to succeed—or fail.
THE POWER OF THE PREMISE ...
The novel’s greatest strength is its central idea. Helen exists between person and symbol: for centuries, she has been blamed, idealized, and reduced to her beauty. By having Eve reconstruct her face, Johansen challenges that reduction. Forensic reconstruction would reveal not an abstract ideal, but an individual. The title carries several meanings at once: a face can inspire obsession, invite danger, preserve memory, or become a surface for cultural projection.
Archaeology and Eve’s profession also make a natural pairing. One recovers fragments of the past; the other turns those fragments into a human presence. Both demand patience, interpretation, and respect for evidence. This parallel gives the adventure thematic unity: the tomb matters, but the person inside it matters more. That distinction keeps the novel grounded even when the action grows larger than life.
RILEY SMITH AND EVE DUNCAN ...
Riley works as a catalyst because her commitment is never merely academic. Her father’s death turns research into obligation, yet she becomes more than a daughter completing a parent’s dream. Tenacious, intelligent, and impulsive, she sometimes treats danger as an obstacle rather than a warning. Her grief does not immobilize her; it sharpens her.
Eve remains compelling because her gift is inseparable from empathy. Her reconstructions are acts of restoration: where others see remains, she sees a person whose identity deserves to be returned. That moral seriousness makes her ideal for a story about a woman repeatedly appropriated by history. Her caution also balances Riley’s urgency; Eve understands that discovery endangers not only its pursuers, but also those they love.
The trust between the two women is more satisfying than any single twist. Their priorities and tolerances for risk differ, yet both are fiercely loyal and unwilling to abandon the dead. Because their respect grows through action rather than instant intimacy, their partnership becomes the novel’s emotional spine.
SUSPENSE, VILLAINY, AND THE WILDER CAST ...
The race to the tomb drives the novel forward. Ruthless competitors, conflicting agendas, remote terrain, and betrayal keep the story moving. Michael Cade—a fixer and treasure hunter with murky motives—adds welcome uncertainty. Resourceful and charismatic, he makes the reader question whether help can ever be separated from self-interest.
The antagonists are drawn in broad, thriller-sized strokes. Their greed is immediately legible rather than psychologically subtle, raising the stakes beyond academic rivalry to murder, manipulation, and exploitation. Readers who prefer restrained realism may find some villains emphatic and some threats too neatly connected, but the danger suits the novel’s adventure-driven design.
THEMES: IDENTITY, BEAUTY, AND OWNERSHIP OF THE PAST ...
Beneath the chase, the novel keeps returning to identity. Eve believes a face can reclaim a name; Riley believes evidence can reclaim a life from myth. Helen thus becomes more than the prize at the journey’s end. She embodies the difference between being remembered and being known.
The novel also asks who owns the past. Tomb raiders see commodities; political actors, leverage; scholars, proof; and the public, spectacle. Riley and Eve have personal motives, but their best impulses are preservational rather than possessive. They want to protect the truth and recognize the person at its center, giving the plot more substance than a conventional treasure hunt.
Beauty is another concern. Helen’s appearance survives because others defined, exaggerated, and used it to explain a war. Reconstruction would replace the ideal with physical specificity. The intriguing question is not whether Helen would meet ancient or modern standards of beauty, but whether seeing her as a real woman would diminish the myth—or strengthen it.
PACING AND PROSE ...
Johansen writes with confidence and momentum. Conversations double as contests of will, and characters state their intentions forcefully. This directness keeps shifting alliances and an expanding cast easy to follow. The prose favors emotional intensity over quiet ambiguity: the suspense lies not in what a character wants, but in whether they can get it—and at what cost.
The pace is swift but uneven. Strategy, backstory, and verbal confrontations occasionally slow the action, rewarding readers who enjoy Johansen’s clashes of personality as much as escapes and discoveries. Repeated declarations of resolve can sound unnatural, though that heightened dialogue is part of the series’ identity: these characters speak as intensely as they act.
WHAT WORKS ESPECIALLY WELL ...
1) AN IRRESISTABLE HISTORICAL HOOK: The possibility of finding Helen of Troy's tomb creates immediate wonder and gives Eve's forensic talent a fresh application.
2) A STRONG FEMALE PARTNERSHIP: Riley and Eve are connected by determination, grief, intelligence, and respect for the dead, but they remain distinct personalities.
3) EMOTIONAL STAKES BENEATH THE SPECTACLE: Riley's mourning and Eve's sense of responsibility becoming purely mechanical.
4) A VIVID FUSION OF GENRES: Archeological mystery, forensic investigation, international suspense, and mythic history reinforce one another.
5) SERIES CONTINUITY WITH A WELCOMING PREMISE: Longtime readers receive familiar relationships and ongoing concerns, while newcomers can be drawn in by the self-contained search for Helen.
WHERE THE NOVEL MAY DIVIDE READERS ...
The book’s strengths can also become limitations. Its cinematic plotting asks readers to accept coincidence, exceptional competence, and rapidly formed trust. Some supporting characters serve mainly as sources of danger, information, or leverage. The villains can be operatic, and the dialogue sometimes repeats points already established.
Newcomers may also feel the weight of earlier relationships, though Riley’s quest provides a clear entry point and the immediate plot is easy to follow. Eve’s family history will resonate more deeply with established fans. These qualities do not derail the novel; they define it. This is heightened, cinematic suspense—not quiet archaeological realism.
FINAL VERDICT ...
'A Face to Die For' succeeds by giving an enormous legend a personal center. The search for Helen propels the plot, but the deeper subject is the need to rescue identity from loss. Riley wants to honor her father; Eve wants to restore individuality to a woman consumed by myth. Their goals converge in a story where the past remains valuable, contested, and dangerous.
Johansen delivers the muscular, emotionally charged suspense her readers expect, while the Helen of Troy premise adds grandeur and curiosity. The novel is strongest when it pauses to consider what a face can represent: evidence, memory, individuality, or legend. Its broad villains and heightened dialogue will not suit everyone, but its momentum and imaginative hook are hard to resist.
For fans of international thrillers, forensic mysteries, and archaeological adventures, A Face to Die For is a gripping read. It preserves the strengths of the Eve Duncan series while giving its heroine a mystery of mythic reach. Most importantly, it remembers that behind every legend is a person—and that sometimes the greatest discovery is not treasure, but a face.
July 28, 2022
The following is an abridged version of my review. To read the full length version then you can check out the following link: https://www.readinghasruinedmylife.co...
Thank you to Novel Suspects Insider’s Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of this book; they aren’t paying me for my review they just sent me the book for free.
I should put a spoiler alert here, I'm very good and spoiling things in my reviews.
Our story opens with Riley Smith. She is an archeologist and daughter of renowned archeologist and historian Dr. Edmund Smith. The pair have been searching for an ancient princess whose face is said to have launched a thousand ships. Sadly, Dr. Edmund Smith will not be able to achieve his dream of finding this legendary princess, he unfortunately dies right at the start of the book. This leaves his daughter to find the tomb all by herself. So where does Eve Duncan fit in to all this? She is the title character of the series after all. Well Eve doesn’t know it yet, but Riley is going to enlist her into the search for Helen of Troy. Riley wants Eve to reconstruct Helen’s face once the tomb is found. That is if they can both survive till then. A man by the name of Dakar has found out that Riley is on the verge of finding the lost tomb. He may or may not have killed Riley’s father, and may or may not be trying to kill Riley and Eve and the rest of their team as well. Quite problematic if you ask me. Will these two women survive? Will they discover one of the greatest lost tombs of all time?
I am here solely for the ancient history portion of the book. Sadly, it doesn't hold up. This book's hook is finding Helen of Troy's tomb, and it takes 150 to get to that search. The start of the book is focused solely on the events of one night that have nothing to do with the main storyline. When readers do get to the archeology part, the main characters discover the tomb in roughly ten pages. The inconsistency of the pacing is absolutely maddening. But wait! It gets worse!
Within these ten pages, I felt a part of me die. Within these ten pages a tomb is found and everything is taken out of it in a matter of hours. It might as well have been a smash and grab at a jewelry store. Now I know this is not the book to detail proper archeological practices, but it was so bad. You don’t just take a millenniums old sarcophagus out of a tomb and throw it into the bed of a truck all willy nilly. It doesn’t work like that! There are protocols to follow in order to keep the artifacts in the condition in which they were found. I don’t think anyone even wore gloves! That’s how bad it was!
I know this doesn’t matter because this is a work of fiction and these items don’t exist, but if this was real life, these people would have destroyed a great piece of history.
Overall, this book was underwhelming and disappointing. I wanted ancient history and I got destructive tomb raiding. Honestly, this book felt like a chore to read. It did not make me want to read more of the Eve Duncan series. In fact, I can see myself never returning to the Even Duncan series because of this entry.
Thank you once again to Novel Suspects Insider's Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of this book.
If you liked my review, and want to read it in full, then check out my blog www.readinghasruinedmylife.com where I post new book reviews every Wednesday.
Thank you to Novel Suspects Insider’s Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of this book; they aren’t paying me for my review they just sent me the book for free.
I should put a spoiler alert here, I'm very good and spoiling things in my reviews.
Our story opens with Riley Smith. She is an archeologist and daughter of renowned archeologist and historian Dr. Edmund Smith. The pair have been searching for an ancient princess whose face is said to have launched a thousand ships. Sadly, Dr. Edmund Smith will not be able to achieve his dream of finding this legendary princess, he unfortunately dies right at the start of the book. This leaves his daughter to find the tomb all by herself. So where does Eve Duncan fit in to all this? She is the title character of the series after all. Well Eve doesn’t know it yet, but Riley is going to enlist her into the search for Helen of Troy. Riley wants Eve to reconstruct Helen’s face once the tomb is found. That is if they can both survive till then. A man by the name of Dakar has found out that Riley is on the verge of finding the lost tomb. He may or may not have killed Riley’s father, and may or may not be trying to kill Riley and Eve and the rest of their team as well. Quite problematic if you ask me. Will these two women survive? Will they discover one of the greatest lost tombs of all time?
I am here solely for the ancient history portion of the book. Sadly, it doesn't hold up. This book's hook is finding Helen of Troy's tomb, and it takes 150 to get to that search. The start of the book is focused solely on the events of one night that have nothing to do with the main storyline. When readers do get to the archeology part, the main characters discover the tomb in roughly ten pages. The inconsistency of the pacing is absolutely maddening. But wait! It gets worse!
Within these ten pages, I felt a part of me die. Within these ten pages a tomb is found and everything is taken out of it in a matter of hours. It might as well have been a smash and grab at a jewelry store. Now I know this is not the book to detail proper archeological practices, but it was so bad. You don’t just take a millenniums old sarcophagus out of a tomb and throw it into the bed of a truck all willy nilly. It doesn’t work like that! There are protocols to follow in order to keep the artifacts in the condition in which they were found. I don’t think anyone even wore gloves! That’s how bad it was!
I know this doesn’t matter because this is a work of fiction and these items don’t exist, but if this was real life, these people would have destroyed a great piece of history.
Overall, this book was underwhelming and disappointing. I wanted ancient history and I got destructive tomb raiding. Honestly, this book felt like a chore to read. It did not make me want to read more of the Eve Duncan series. In fact, I can see myself never returning to the Even Duncan series because of this entry.
Thank you once again to Novel Suspects Insider's Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of this book.
If you liked my review, and want to read it in full, then check out my blog www.readinghasruinedmylife.com where I post new book reviews every Wednesday.
August 10, 2022
In the review of my last Eve Duncan book I didn't really love, I wondered if it were the book or just me. I have to say I think it's the book. It's time to move on to the two other series she's spun from these novels because 27 is too many. In the last book I questioned if there were REALLY that many supervillains in the world; come to find out not only are there, this time the President of the United States is one of them. Sheesh.
Honestly, I wasn't able to finish this book because my library download expired. I was trying hard to get through it but after only hitting 58% and feeling like I'd been reading this book FOREVER, the download expired and I'm not bothering to request it again. My sister quit after 30%.
I realized that there is just too much dialogue in this. The first third was pretty much just "I'm a strong woman; I don't need a man helping me" vs. "I'm trained in this and have skills and strength you don't have" arguments OVER AND OVER. And let's not forget the overused "I only care about the safety of Michael and Joe" vs. Joe is actually a TRAINED agent (CIA? FBI? can't remember) who really could protect you because you're JUST AN ARTIST!
I've read the all so far, but I think this is it for Eve Duncan. It's time to continue with the Catherine Ling and Kendra Michaels series--those I still enjoy.
Honestly, I wasn't able to finish this book because my library download expired. I was trying hard to get through it but after only hitting 58% and feeling like I'd been reading this book FOREVER, the download expired and I'm not bothering to request it again. My sister quit after 30%.
I realized that there is just too much dialogue in this. The first third was pretty much just "I'm a strong woman; I don't need a man helping me" vs. "I'm trained in this and have skills and strength you don't have" arguments OVER AND OVER. And let's not forget the overused "I only care about the safety of Michael and Joe" vs. Joe is actually a TRAINED agent (CIA? FBI? can't remember) who really could protect you because you're JUST AN ARTIST!
I've read the all so far, but I think this is it for Eve Duncan. It's time to continue with the Catherine Ling and Kendra Michaels series--those I still enjoy.
June 16, 2022
Loved the book! Very fast paced, and it kept me wanting to know what will happen next. It definitely gave me a modern-day Indiana Jones vibe, but with a female lead! Thank you to Novel Suspects for providing me with an advance reader’s copy for review.
September 6, 2022
Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC and @NovelSuspects & Grand Central Publishing, #partner, for the finished copy of A Face to Die For in exchange for my honest review.
Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series is one of my all-time favorite series. I love that it is still going strong at book 28 – yes, this is the 28th book in this series – and while I have definitely loved some more than others, I am so glad I have stuck with it because I just enjoy these books so much! I still remember when I first discovered this series…little did I know what a love affair it would turn out to be!
These books are so action-packed and this one is no exception! But what I truly love, and what made me fall in love with this series in the first place, is seeing Eve do her job as a forensic sculptor. Some of the previous books had gotten a bit away from that and we didn’t really see her in action, and I really missed that aspect, but as in the previous book and this one, we see her back doing what she loves to do and I just find it so incredibly fascinating.
I always love the characters that Iris Johansen creates, especially the female ones. She gives us such strong, independent women that aren’t afraid to go after what they want and we see that with Riley. I loved the dynamic between her and Eve – they were a good pair, once Riley convinced Eve to help her with her mission. Might we see more of Riley in the future? It’s not out of the question, as some characters from previous books have ended up getting their own series – Catherine Ling, Kendra Michaels – I would definitely read a series featuring Riley and her adventures in archaeology! I was quite fascinating with the Helen of Troy story here and can only imagine what new stories Iris Johansen could create if given the chance.
I love these books. I love that they keep me on my toes with all the twists and turns they take and that familiar characters show up from time to time. I love the dynamics between the characters and the way they work to get the bad guys, which in this case involved some pretty surprising people!
I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series…because I just know this isn’t the end yet! In fact, there is another new book due out in September, featuring Jane McGuire, Eve’s daughter…and you know I’ve already added it to my tbr!
Audio thoughts: With June being Audiobook Appreciation Month and the fact that Elisabeth Rodgers was once again narrating this book, I just knew I had to listen to it. She has narrated many, if not all, of Iris Johansen’s books and is so consistent with the voices. No matter how long it has been since I’ve last picked up one of Johansen’s books, it’s like no time has passed – that’s how consistent she is with her voices. I don’t know how she does it, but I love it! She makes listening to these books so fun and I usually end up listening to them in a day.
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series is one of my all-time favorite series. I love that it is still going strong at book 28 – yes, this is the 28th book in this series – and while I have definitely loved some more than others, I am so glad I have stuck with it because I just enjoy these books so much! I still remember when I first discovered this series…little did I know what a love affair it would turn out to be!
These books are so action-packed and this one is no exception! But what I truly love, and what made me fall in love with this series in the first place, is seeing Eve do her job as a forensic sculptor. Some of the previous books had gotten a bit away from that and we didn’t really see her in action, and I really missed that aspect, but as in the previous book and this one, we see her back doing what she loves to do and I just find it so incredibly fascinating.
I always love the characters that Iris Johansen creates, especially the female ones. She gives us such strong, independent women that aren’t afraid to go after what they want and we see that with Riley. I loved the dynamic between her and Eve – they were a good pair, once Riley convinced Eve to help her with her mission. Might we see more of Riley in the future? It’s not out of the question, as some characters from previous books have ended up getting their own series – Catherine Ling, Kendra Michaels – I would definitely read a series featuring Riley and her adventures in archaeology! I was quite fascinating with the Helen of Troy story here and can only imagine what new stories Iris Johansen could create if given the chance.
I love these books. I love that they keep me on my toes with all the twists and turns they take and that familiar characters show up from time to time. I love the dynamics between the characters and the way they work to get the bad guys, which in this case involved some pretty surprising people!
I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series…because I just know this isn’t the end yet! In fact, there is another new book due out in September, featuring Jane McGuire, Eve’s daughter…and you know I’ve already added it to my tbr!
Audio thoughts: With June being Audiobook Appreciation Month and the fact that Elisabeth Rodgers was once again narrating this book, I just knew I had to listen to it. She has narrated many, if not all, of Iris Johansen’s books and is so consistent with the voices. No matter how long it has been since I’ve last picked up one of Johansen’s books, it’s like no time has passed – that’s how consistent she is with her voices. I don’t know how she does it, but I love it! She makes listening to these books so fun and I usually end up listening to them in a day.
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
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