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Kendra Michaels #3
The Naked Eye
HOW CAN YOU CATCH A KILLER WHEN EVERYONE THINKS HE'S DEAD?
KENDRA MICHAELS was instrumental in bringing serial killer Eric Colby to justice, but despite his apparent execution at San Quentin, Kendra is convinced that Colby is still alive. The problem is that she can’t prove it. Even her razor-sharp powers of observation - developed to an amazing capacity during the twenty years she spent blind, and now in constant demand by law enforcement agencies - have gotten her nowhere.
But then a reporter who very publicly humiliated Kendra is murdered. Visiting the crime scene in search of anything that might link the brutal homicide to Colby, Kendra instead finds evidence that points to her. Finally Colby's master plan becomes clear to her: he is framing Kendra for murder.
Suspicions mount and Kendra is thrust into deadly pursuit to clear her name and catch the killer no one believes exists anymore. A killer who is always nearby, watching, waiting to make his next move, although everyone assumes him to be dead. A killer whose trail of destruction is invisible to the naked eye, despite the carnage he leaves in his wake. It will take everything Kendra has to find Colby and stop him - and save her own life one more time.
KENDRA MICHAELS was instrumental in bringing serial killer Eric Colby to justice, but despite his apparent execution at San Quentin, Kendra is convinced that Colby is still alive. The problem is that she can’t prove it. Even her razor-sharp powers of observation - developed to an amazing capacity during the twenty years she spent blind, and now in constant demand by law enforcement agencies - have gotten her nowhere.
But then a reporter who very publicly humiliated Kendra is murdered. Visiting the crime scene in search of anything that might link the brutal homicide to Colby, Kendra instead finds evidence that points to her. Finally Colby's master plan becomes clear to her: he is framing Kendra for murder.
Suspicions mount and Kendra is thrust into deadly pursuit to clear her name and catch the killer no one believes exists anymore. A killer who is always nearby, watching, waiting to make his next move, although everyone assumes him to be dead. A killer whose trail of destruction is invisible to the naked eye, despite the carnage he leaves in his wake. It will take everything Kendra has to find Colby and stop him - and save her own life one more time.
325 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2015
411 people are currently reading
4,399 people want to read
About the author
Iris Johansen
304Ìýbooks7,194ÌýfollowersIris 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
February 3, 2017
I'm not sure why I am continuing with this series!!!! Perhaps it's because I have been a diehard fan of Iris Johansen for years and years.........but I am not crazy about the Kendra Michaels series that she co-writes with her son. The first book, Close Your Eyes, /book/show/1... was okay and I hated the second book, Sight Unseen,
/book/show/1... hoping that the next one would be better!!
Well, the 3rd book in the series, The Naked Eye, was an improvement on the previous two...but not exactly AMAZING...either!!
There were so many things that just didn't do it for me........but I am going to rather write about what I liked....
I found Sam, the computer genius and Kendra's friend and Beth, Eve Duncan's half-sister so much more engaging than the other characters in this book.
I am still on the fence about Kendra....just when I begin to feel a bit of warmth for her....she does something that makes me want to kick her butt!!! I find her so not flexible and open ....especially when it comes to Adam Lynch!!! I wish she would make up her mind about him instead of giving him a hard time and keeping him handing on!!!
The plot was pretty clever and fast-paced...... despite me thinking at times that it was a bit far-fetched.
I am a total sucker for punishment because I am going to read the follow-up book......see, I have to know what happens next!!!
/book/show/1... hoping that the next one would be better!!
Well, the 3rd book in the series, The Naked Eye, was an improvement on the previous two...but not exactly AMAZING...either!!
There were so many things that just didn't do it for me........but I am going to rather write about what I liked....
I found Sam, the computer genius and Kendra's friend and Beth, Eve Duncan's half-sister so much more engaging than the other characters in this book.
I am still on the fence about Kendra....just when I begin to feel a bit of warmth for her....she does something that makes me want to kick her butt!!! I find her so not flexible and open ....especially when it comes to Adam Lynch!!! I wish she would make up her mind about him instead of giving him a hard time and keeping him handing on!!!
The plot was pretty clever and fast-paced...... despite me thinking at times that it was a bit far-fetched.
I am a total sucker for punishment because I am going to read the follow-up book......see, I have to know what happens next!!!
September 24, 2015
I think that suspense fans will enjoy this book. The killer is truly frightening and heinously awful, and this book will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Kendra is a great heroine. I love her extreme eye for details.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. .
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. .
May 6, 2017
I really like this series. This book also features Eve Duncan from Johansen's other series, which I will need to start one of these days.
I love the pairing of Adam & Kendra and do wish they would act on their attraction one of these days. The story was suspenseful and had a great ensemble cast.
My only criticism would be that
What is nice about this series is that there is good chemistry, but also humor. It reminds me of two different things: (1) Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of The X-Files and (2) the In Death series by J.D. Robb.
Mulder and Scully because they were too smart people who also had great chemistry but also respected each other and their abilities.
Eve Dallas and Roarke mainly because Lynch, like Roarke, is an alpha male who is attracted to her but respects her and is able to be protective without being patronizing.
I love the pairing of Adam & Kendra and do wish they would act on their attraction one of these days. The story was suspenseful and had a great ensemble cast.
My only criticism would be that
What is nice about this series is that there is good chemistry, but also humor. It reminds me of two different things: (1) Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of The X-Files and (2) the In Death series by J.D. Robb.
Mulder and Scully because they were too smart people who also had great chemistry but also respected each other and their abilities.
Eve Dallas and Roarke mainly because Lynch, like Roarke, is an alpha male who is attracted to her but respects her and is able to be protective without being patronizing.
February 27, 2020
4 Stars. We've all been in the same place as Kendra Michaels. We know something; it doesn't have to be important but it's a certainty, and we tell a friend or a loved one. They may even patronize us in their denial. Kendra knows, without a doubt, that serial killer Eric Colby, who everyone thinks was recently executed, is still alive. No one believes her. After all, "We witnessed the state execution didn't we?" How could he have survived? Michaels is a special investigator with an elevated sense of observation for details, for seeing the importance of seemingly innocuous evidence and drawing surprising conclusions. She has nightmares about Colby. She can't actually prove his escape from the needle, but she knows he did. Instead, she is mocked by the San Diego police. When a reporter splashes her "crazy" ideas all over the front page, and then ends up murdered, Kendra realizes that Colby's next target is herself. Will her friend Beth, or her genius computer consultant Sam, be able to keep her alive through the denouement? Enough for now, you get the idea! (November 2019)
February 27, 2018
4 stars! This series is really growing on me (although if something doesn't go down between Kendra and Lynch soon, I am going to be throwing these books at the wall). No just kidding, but really...
This book picked up right where the last one left off, and all my questions were answered so I guess you could say it was nicely wrapped and tied with a bow by the end. I thought the cat and mouse game with Kendra and Colby was fantastic. The Johansen's threw in some great twists and turns in this book and my expectations were definitely met. My only question is, what do they have in store for us next with Kendra Michaels?!
I think one of the reasons I love this series so much is because I am just fascinated by Kendra Michaels. I love the fact that she can be a music therapist and solve serial killer cases at the same time. I also think she has a great back story to her and the more I get sucked into these books the more intrigued by her I am. It definitely takes a lot of creativity to come up with a character like Kendra and you can see the creative talent that the Johansen's have when you read these books.
This book picked up right where the last one left off, and all my questions were answered so I guess you could say it was nicely wrapped and tied with a bow by the end. I thought the cat and mouse game with Kendra and Colby was fantastic. The Johansen's threw in some great twists and turns in this book and my expectations were definitely met. My only question is, what do they have in store for us next with Kendra Michaels?!
I think one of the reasons I love this series so much is because I am just fascinated by Kendra Michaels. I love the fact that she can be a music therapist and solve serial killer cases at the same time. I also think she has a great back story to her and the more I get sucked into these books the more intrigued by her I am. It definitely takes a lot of creativity to come up with a character like Kendra and you can see the creative talent that the Johansen's have when you read these books.
March 5, 2021
Dr. Kendra Michaels is often sought after by the CIA and the FBI. Having spent twenty years without sight, Kendra managed to sharpen all of her other skills to a razor point. Having had a surgery that has restored that sight, this only adds to Kendra's other exceptional skills. Waking up after a horrid nightmare one night, she gets a text message from the San Diego Police Department. It is from Martin Stokes, a homicide detective. He provides her a few details about a crime and an address. Still shaking from the nightmare, Kendra readies herself and heads to an active crime scene.
What was her nightmare about, by the way? The first killer she put behind bars, Eric Colby, was to have been executed recently. Is he even dead? Why is he disturbing her sleep? Do the police even believe Kendra when she insists that Colby is alive and part of this?
Kendra is quite well-known. It has been observed more than once that blind people develop their other senses to compensate and, now that her sight has been restored, Kendra has the unique ability to pick up on things most other people don't. This is part of the reason Stokes wanted Kendra at the scene. Not usually disturbed by dead bodies, this one shakes Kendra. It is the body of a reporter, one who Kendra had major issues with previously.
About Colby. The scene is linked to him. In fact, he has laid things out so well, that all of the evidence points to her. Will she be able to clear her name and find Colby and get the elusive, now escaped killer back behind bars? Kendra has a race against time because the killer, if it is indeed Colby, has no problem leaving a trail of bodies along the way.
In the previous books of this series, Kendra paired up with former FBI Agent Adam Lynch. Now she has her friend Beth and computer consultant Sam helping her, even working hard to keep her alive. Being targeted by Colby most certainly is not a comfortable place to be. With the action and intensity that comes part and parcel with this series, I enjoyed watching Kendra pull out all of the stops while working feverishly hard to recapture Colby once and for all.
What was her nightmare about, by the way? The first killer she put behind bars, Eric Colby, was to have been executed recently. Is he even dead? Why is he disturbing her sleep? Do the police even believe Kendra when she insists that Colby is alive and part of this?
Kendra is quite well-known. It has been observed more than once that blind people develop their other senses to compensate and, now that her sight has been restored, Kendra has the unique ability to pick up on things most other people don't. This is part of the reason Stokes wanted Kendra at the scene. Not usually disturbed by dead bodies, this one shakes Kendra. It is the body of a reporter, one who Kendra had major issues with previously.
About Colby. The scene is linked to him. In fact, he has laid things out so well, that all of the evidence points to her. Will she be able to clear her name and find Colby and get the elusive, now escaped killer back behind bars? Kendra has a race against time because the killer, if it is indeed Colby, has no problem leaving a trail of bodies along the way.
In the previous books of this series, Kendra paired up with former FBI Agent Adam Lynch. Now she has her friend Beth and computer consultant Sam helping her, even working hard to keep her alive. Being targeted by Colby most certainly is not a comfortable place to be. With the action and intensity that comes part and parcel with this series, I enjoyed watching Kendra pull out all of the stops while working feverishly hard to recapture Colby once and for all.
October 14, 2018
I think Iris Johansen is a sadist. She lets her characters find peace, then completely rips that peace apart for a new story. I guess I can understand. She loves her characters and wants to keep writing about them, but she knows romance and she knows suspense, so there's gotta be a new terrible thing happening for her heroines to deal with.
Eric Colby isn't dead. That isn't a spoiler; the inside jacket summary makes it clear. Eric convinced a doctor to fake his lethal injection execution, and now he's out for blood. Kendra Michaels' blood. But he can't just kill her; he needs to make her suffer. Bor-ring.
I liked Kendra Michaels in Johansen's first book about her, "Close Your Eyes." It's probably the best book by Iris Johansen that I've read. I wondered if maybe her son, Roy, who helped her write it, has a magic touch. Well, after reading this book, I'm not so sure anymore. In some ways, it was okay, but for the most part, it was just more of the same.
Michaels' ability to solve mysteries borders on superhuman. This is pretty typical for a Johansen novel, and it makes it hard for me to relate to her. All of Johansen's women are the same, and you see it in "Naked Eye." Personality-wise, Kendra is no different from her best friend, whose name escapes me, another character, Beth Avery, and only marginally different from Eve Duncan, who also makes an appearance in this book. All four are "Strong Women" who refuse to rely on anyone, but insist that the others rely on them. They all want to help each other out, and refuse to be dissuaded, so they're all forced to accept each other's help. It's almost funny, but not quite, because seriously, you could change any of the women with any of the other women, and the story wouldn't change at all. Only Eve has a smidgen more depth than the rest, because Johansen has used her in so many of her novels.
One of the characters, whose name also escapes me, reminds me of every sexist creep in the gaming community, but he's probably just poorly written. Oh, did I mention that he has it bad for Kendra? Seriously, so many men want to bang Kendra or be her boyfriend or whatever (let's be real, it's both). But Kendra only has eyes for Adam Lynch; no one else is creepy enough. Fortunately, we only get a little bit of that "I'm a man, I can't help it" BS that Johansen is so famous for. Kendra makes a few obnoxious references to his "supermodel Asian girlfriend," because what's internalized misogyny without a little racism thrown into the mix? Adam, like a good Iris Jo scumbag, makes it clear that he actually wants to sleep with Kendra, going so far as to take down his girlfriend's picture from his room and put up Kendra's instead. He seems to still be with his girlfriend, even as he encourages Kendra to get into a relationship with him. His girlfriend needs to dump him, fast. She deserves better.
The ending was pretty anticlimactic, which is also not uncommon in Johansen's novels. It's also quite sappy, even for her.
Honestly, there's not much more for me to say about this book. Lynch is less annoying than most of the male love interests, if only because he's absent for a good portion of the book. Thank God for small favors.
Eric Colby isn't dead. That isn't a spoiler; the inside jacket summary makes it clear. Eric convinced a doctor to fake his lethal injection execution, and now he's out for blood. Kendra Michaels' blood. But he can't just kill her; he needs to make her suffer. Bor-ring.
I liked Kendra Michaels in Johansen's first book about her, "Close Your Eyes." It's probably the best book by Iris Johansen that I've read. I wondered if maybe her son, Roy, who helped her write it, has a magic touch. Well, after reading this book, I'm not so sure anymore. In some ways, it was okay, but for the most part, it was just more of the same.
Michaels' ability to solve mysteries borders on superhuman. This is pretty typical for a Johansen novel, and it makes it hard for me to relate to her. All of Johansen's women are the same, and you see it in "Naked Eye." Personality-wise, Kendra is no different from her best friend, whose name escapes me, another character, Beth Avery, and only marginally different from Eve Duncan, who also makes an appearance in this book. All four are "Strong Women" who refuse to rely on anyone, but insist that the others rely on them. They all want to help each other out, and refuse to be dissuaded, so they're all forced to accept each other's help. It's almost funny, but not quite, because seriously, you could change any of the women with any of the other women, and the story wouldn't change at all. Only Eve has a smidgen more depth than the rest, because Johansen has used her in so many of her novels.
One of the characters, whose name also escapes me, reminds me of every sexist creep in the gaming community, but he's probably just poorly written. Oh, did I mention that he has it bad for Kendra? Seriously, so many men want to bang Kendra or be her boyfriend or whatever (let's be real, it's both). But Kendra only has eyes for Adam Lynch; no one else is creepy enough. Fortunately, we only get a little bit of that "I'm a man, I can't help it" BS that Johansen is so famous for. Kendra makes a few obnoxious references to his "supermodel Asian girlfriend," because what's internalized misogyny without a little racism thrown into the mix? Adam, like a good Iris Jo scumbag, makes it clear that he actually wants to sleep with Kendra, going so far as to take down his girlfriend's picture from his room and put up Kendra's instead. He seems to still be with his girlfriend, even as he encourages Kendra to get into a relationship with him. His girlfriend needs to dump him, fast. She deserves better.
The ending was pretty anticlimactic, which is also not uncommon in Johansen's novels. It's also quite sappy, even for her.
Honestly, there's not much more for me to say about this book. Lynch is less annoying than most of the male love interests, if only because he's absent for a good portion of the book. Thank God for small favors.
June 25, 2015
I want to start this out with a thank you for allowing me to be a lucky advanced reader. I was in the process of reading Sight Unseen, Kendra Michaels series #2 when I received The Naked eye, Kendra Michaels #3 , so I was a little late in beginning to read this book. I am so glad I finished #2. While it really isn't necessary to read this series in order, I found it helpful to do so. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I did the first and second installments. I was really pleased that Eve Duncan and her recently discovered sister Beth, were characters brought back together with Kendra, to try and stop the nemesis Eric Colby, once and for all. Beth became quite an intricate part of the story line, while Eve played more of a supporting role. Sam, the computer wiz was also quite a hero in many ways. of course, you cannot have Kendra without including Adam Lynch, the puppet master in dealing with the FBI honchos, especially Griffin. I really enjoyed the interaction between all of the people I have mentioned. It makes the story more enjoyable with these characters at the heart of all of the action. This book was a great read and makes me left anxiously awaiting the next chapter in these characters lives. I hope Kendra Michaels lives on in a long continuation of her stories.
July 30, 2015
Wow, how did I miss all these books? I thought this was a new Eve spin off series only to find out I'm books behind on Eve and this is a totally different series and book THREE to boot. Where have I been? I remember Kendra Michaels and liked her. This book moved fast and I read the entire book in about 3 hours. I enjoyed it so it is a 3.5 star.
Kendra is the only one who believes a serial killer is still alive and kicking. Everyone else thinks she's crazy. What I like about this series is how Kendra is able to pick up clues and deduce what is going on. I love these crazy perceptive people. Now I have to go back and read the first two books. I also like Logan and the rest of the supporting cast. The characters are what brings me back to read Ms. Johansen over and over. I also enjoy the dark grittiness where people actually die, even the good guys.
This is a great read for a nice quite Sunday afternoon. Recommended to romantic suspense lovers.
Kendra is the only one who believes a serial killer is still alive and kicking. Everyone else thinks she's crazy. What I like about this series is how Kendra is able to pick up clues and deduce what is going on. I love these crazy perceptive people. Now I have to go back and read the first two books. I also like Logan and the rest of the supporting cast. The characters are what brings me back to read Ms. Johansen over and over. I also enjoy the dark grittiness where people actually die, even the good guys.
This is a great read for a nice quite Sunday afternoon. Recommended to romantic suspense lovers.
August 16, 2015
Another Eve Duncan/Kendra/Beth story. These three so much alike they could be triplets. Same story each time.
February 16, 2017
I was walking in the library one day and on display at the end of an aisle I found, The Naked Eye by Roy Johansen. The reviews printed on the back of the book jacket said it was a “complex cat-and-mouse game� and that it was “filled with frightening twists and terrifying turns� and it was “a thrill a minute�. I am not sure who the reviewers were but I am convinced that they had never read this book. Maybe they were describing some other book. I have no idea.
I didn't realize that this book was part of a series. But I figured it out soon enough. Throughout the book the main character kept referencing events that happened previously in an attempt to make sense of the story. It did not. Reading the book was like being at a neighborhood party where everyone talks about things that happened before you moved in.
The book is about Kendra, who is a consultant to various police departments and the FBI. Kendra is brilliant. The San Diego police are buffoons. The FBI are buffoons. And everyone in the California prison system are buffons. Only Kendra is smart enough to figure out who the serial killer is and how he might be captured. The serial killer is a cross between Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Lord Voldemort. The entire story is just plain silly. The book is predictable and boring. The writing is poor and unimaginable. And the story is laughable. I have got to stop being so impulsive at the library!
I didn't realize that this book was part of a series. But I figured it out soon enough. Throughout the book the main character kept referencing events that happened previously in an attempt to make sense of the story. It did not. Reading the book was like being at a neighborhood party where everyone talks about things that happened before you moved in.
The book is about Kendra, who is a consultant to various police departments and the FBI. Kendra is brilliant. The San Diego police are buffoons. The FBI are buffoons. And everyone in the California prison system are buffons. Only Kendra is smart enough to figure out who the serial killer is and how he might be captured. The serial killer is a cross between Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Lord Voldemort. The entire story is just plain silly. The book is predictable and boring. The writing is poor and unimaginable. And the story is laughable. I have got to stop being so impulsive at the library!
August 16, 2015
Kendra Michaels is attempting to convince police officials that the serial killer who helped send to his execution has escaped. Frustratingly, Kendra feels that Eric Colby staged his death with the help of the medical doctor in charge of the execution. She can't prove it because soon after the execution, Colby's body was cremated. Not long after, the doctor and his wife were found murdered.
This compelling page turner continues as Kendra is asked to consult in a murder case and sees the victim posed in a position in the same manner of Colby's other victims.
Then a reporter who humiliated Kendra is found murdered and there is DNA evidence that points to Kendra. It becomes clear that Colby's goal is to set Kendra up.
The mother and son authors Iris and Roy Johansen write with clear dialogue and the action moves along in a nonstop manner.
Kendra is an admirable character. She was blind at birth and it was only twenty years later that a medical procedure enabled her to see. Perhaps due to that, her other senses are heightened.
We follow the killer as he taunts Kendra and plays a deadly game while we await the inevitable confrontation.
There are a number of surprises and there are times that the reader wants to shout, "don't go there" or "look in the back seat" but overall, I enjoyed this novel and recommend it.
This compelling page turner continues as Kendra is asked to consult in a murder case and sees the victim posed in a position in the same manner of Colby's other victims.
Then a reporter who humiliated Kendra is found murdered and there is DNA evidence that points to Kendra. It becomes clear that Colby's goal is to set Kendra up.
The mother and son authors Iris and Roy Johansen write with clear dialogue and the action moves along in a nonstop manner.
Kendra is an admirable character. She was blind at birth and it was only twenty years later that a medical procedure enabled her to see. Perhaps due to that, her other senses are heightened.
We follow the killer as he taunts Kendra and plays a deadly game while we await the inevitable confrontation.
There are a number of surprises and there are times that the reader wants to shout, "don't go there" or "look in the back seat" but overall, I enjoyed this novel and recommend it.
September 17, 2015
Review: THE NAKED EYE by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
The mother and son writing duo return with the third mystery in their riveting Kendra Michaels series [CLOSE YOUR EYES; WITH OPEN EYES; SIGHT UNSEEN]. Kendra is a sort of agent-at-large, called on by both FBI and CIA. Blind from birth, at age 20 she gained sight through stem-cell corneal regeneration, via surgery in England. Her exquisite talents allow her to notice subtle clues other miss; and her investigation, and subsequent wounding and capture, of vicious serial killer Eric Colby led to his incarceration and supposed execution. But Kendra is convinced Colby was drugged and spirited out of San Quentin Prison. If her intuitions are correct, a new reign of terror is about to commence.
The mother and son writing duo return with the third mystery in their riveting Kendra Michaels series [CLOSE YOUR EYES; WITH OPEN EYES; SIGHT UNSEEN]. Kendra is a sort of agent-at-large, called on by both FBI and CIA. Blind from birth, at age 20 she gained sight through stem-cell corneal regeneration, via surgery in England. Her exquisite talents allow her to notice subtle clues other miss; and her investigation, and subsequent wounding and capture, of vicious serial killer Eric Colby led to his incarceration and supposed execution. But Kendra is convinced Colby was drugged and spirited out of San Quentin Prison. If her intuitions are correct, a new reign of terror is about to commence.
March 17, 2016
Kendra Michael's is a great heroine. It's a complex cat and mouse thriller .I true enjoyed each and every chapter of this book. Especially at climax segment my heart was pounding out of my chest.
September 15, 2018
Highly enjoyable. While the almost super-human abilities of both villain and heroine were kind of far fetched, the story was well written and always kept this reader glued to the page.
May 18, 2019
I was a little disappointed in this story. Kendra Michaels is the only one who is certain Eric Colby is still alive despite having been put to death by lethal injection. But it doesn't take long before other are believers. Unfortunately, people have to die before that happens. Colby isn't really trying to hide. He wants to take down Kendra as painfully as possible. Kendra is slight hindered by have Eve's sister Beth with her but Beth is no slouch. She has no problem taking down a bad guy if he/she gets in her way but Kendra still worries. For good reason because Eric Colby is a psychopath and a sociopath. He doesn't see right from wrong and doesn't care as long as he gets his way. My problem with this book is that it took way too long to convince people that Colby was alive. Kendra's reputation is a good one and even though cops don't like woo-woo stuff, Kendra merely has super-honed senses. She has good reasons to believe Colby is still alive despite the evidence and the fact that everyone involved in the execution quickly ended up dead is a pretty good indication. It felt like the book just took forever to get moving. I like Kendra as a character but she came across as surprisingly weak here and that is not how I saw her before now.
November 12, 2019
Every time I pick up a book by Iris Johansen, I feel we are playing "One degree of Eve Duncan". Not that I think that's a bad thing, but it can be a bit distracting wondering when Eve will show up.
I like Kendra. She's a smart woman who finds herself involved in crime detection because of the strengths and abilities she has developed for her music therapy career. It's almost like the universe wants her to solve crimes instead.
In this book, she is again involved with a serial killer she caught once. He was supposedly executed for his crimes, but Kendra thinks otherwise. She's right, but it costs a detective his life proving that.
Kendra is surrounding herself with a fine collection of friends and supporters. There is Beth, Eve's long lost sister. There is Adam Lynch, an operative for hire who would love to be more to Kendra than her friend. There is Olivia Moore, a friend from before Kendra gained her sight. Oh, yes, Kendra used to be blind. It all works.
I find the way Kendra uses the skills she developed while she was blind very interesting. It will be interesting to see if those skills fade as the series goes on or if she actively works on retaining them.
I like Kendra. She's a smart woman who finds herself involved in crime detection because of the strengths and abilities she has developed for her music therapy career. It's almost like the universe wants her to solve crimes instead.
In this book, she is again involved with a serial killer she caught once. He was supposedly executed for his crimes, but Kendra thinks otherwise. She's right, but it costs a detective his life proving that.
Kendra is surrounding herself with a fine collection of friends and supporters. There is Beth, Eve's long lost sister. There is Adam Lynch, an operative for hire who would love to be more to Kendra than her friend. There is Olivia Moore, a friend from before Kendra gained her sight. Oh, yes, Kendra used to be blind. It all works.
I find the way Kendra uses the skills she developed while she was blind very interesting. It will be interesting to see if those skills fade as the series goes on or if she actively works on retaining them.
June 3, 2022
The first time I read an Iris Johansen novel. I was a bit skeptical as my boyfriend read a book of hers and he struggled with it and he doesn't struggle much, so I gave her a chance and I liked it. The storyline was good and kept me reading more into it. I wish more could have developed between 2 characters but you can definitely feel it. It was action from the start and a pretty detailed description of the murders.
April 10, 2020
Sadistic killer probably thinks he's as good as Hannibal Lecter. He's wrong.
June 5, 2022
Good story. Held my interest the whole time.
July 23, 2015
I'll start by saying that I went into this book not having read any of the books prior to this one. It's the third in a series featuring Kendra Michaels. For the most part, I thought it did a pretty good job as a stand alone, but there were times that I wished I had read the first couple to get more of a feel for the characters. Still, I really enjoyed The Naked Eye. I felt like the story took off running and didn't let go until the end.
I loved Kendra. I thought her to be a unique character as she had spent most of her early years blind. After groundbreaking surgery, she has gained her sight. This has given her a cool ability to be extremely observant, which comes in handy in at crime scenes. I loved how she could look at a scene and solve a crime in minutes. That was pretty cool. I also really liked the peripheral characters, especially Beth and Sam. I love me a geeky computer guy and a tough kick-ass woman! I will confess, I haven't read any of the Eve Duncan books, so I don't know the background on Beth and Eve, but this book has intrigued me enough to hunt them down.
The story involves Kendra's insistence that a serial killer she helped catch and have executed is still alive. No one believes her. This is where I kind of wished I had read the first books. But the hunt for Colby was exciting and surprising, so I was able to let go of that regret. I have read this mother/son team before in a stand alone before. They make a great team! I look forward to the Kendra's next case!
I loved Kendra. I thought her to be a unique character as she had spent most of her early years blind. After groundbreaking surgery, she has gained her sight. This has given her a cool ability to be extremely observant, which comes in handy in at crime scenes. I loved how she could look at a scene and solve a crime in minutes. That was pretty cool. I also really liked the peripheral characters, especially Beth and Sam. I love me a geeky computer guy and a tough kick-ass woman! I will confess, I haven't read any of the Eve Duncan books, so I don't know the background on Beth and Eve, but this book has intrigued me enough to hunt them down.
The story involves Kendra's insistence that a serial killer she helped catch and have executed is still alive. No one believes her. This is where I kind of wished I had read the first books. But the hunt for Colby was exciting and surprising, so I was able to let go of that regret. I have read this mother/son team before in a stand alone before. They make a great team! I look forward to the Kendra's next case!
August 29, 2015
Although there were a couple of areas that didn't work for me, for the most part this book pulled me and it was really difficult to put down.
Just some thoughts...hope to re-write later:
I really liked Kendra's friend, Sam. Mad skills on the computer, reacted normally to a scarey situation and solid ability to care about others.
I liked the plot a lot, but I don't like when everyone is a computer expert.
I really didn't care whether Eve showed up or not. Is that bad of me?
I wished there had been more interaction between Kendra and Adam.
Just some thoughts...hope to re-write later:
I really liked Kendra's friend, Sam. Mad skills on the computer, reacted normally to a scarey situation and solid ability to care about others.
I liked the plot a lot, but I don't like when everyone is a computer expert.
I really didn't care whether Eve showed up or not. Is that bad of me?
I wished there had been more interaction between Kendra and Adam.
June 23, 2015
What do you know? So many times I have read books by two authors, mostly relatives, and been disappointed. In this case I was not. Johansen and Johansen have kept the same quality in their combined writing as in the originals by Iris Johansen. Congratulations, I am really impressed. Enjoyed the characters and the plot in this novel, and so will mystery buffs.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
August 11, 2015
once again iris and roy johansen, have writer another awesome book!!!!! i love kendra she is one of my fav characters of all time!!! this book was so good that i couldnt stop reading i never finished it till 1:30 this morning, thats how good it was!!! i cant wait for the next book in this series. kendra and lynch are getting closer i cant wait for these two to get together. its going to be hot!!!!
December 20, 2015
I was hoping to read a good crime thriller but this was just too routine, predictable and boring. The writing was not good at all, unfortunately. I didn't realize it was part of a series when I picked it up, so maybe I would have enjoyed it more had I read the previous 2 books. As a stand alone book, it was not worth my time.
July 15, 2016
This book was kinda like a part 2 to Sight Unseen, and yeah, really, really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to read Night Watch!
March 31, 2019
The second half was truly disappointing and almost a chore to finish listening to.
July 20, 2015
Another fantastic suspense book from Iris and Roy with favorite character Kendra!
February 11, 2016
A well written book that i enjoyed reading. Excellent character development,plot, suspense, action, and graphics.
October 25, 2015
loved this book. couldn't put it down.
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