Eve Duncan is working on her latest child reconstruction, as husband Joe Quinn & son Michael are packing for a trip to England, Joe to attend a Scotland Yard seminar, and Michael will be joining Jane MacGuire for an archaeological dig at a Welsh castle. Eve is awaiting the arrival of Pulitzer prize winning journalist Jill Cassidy, who has expressed an interest in an interview.
As Eve and Jill begin to talk, Jill tells Eve of an attack on a schoolhouse that killed 27 children, and that she needs Eve to assist with reconstructions to bring all of the children home to their parents. Eve recommends other sculptors, until she learns of the circumstances – the killings took place in a war town area of the Congo, the children all killed by a mercenary named Nils Varak. As Eve declines the project and offers her information on other sculptors and programs, Jill leaves her with a packet – filled with biographies of the children – and asks her to read them.
As Eve reads the biographies and researches the civil unrest, she senses that she’s been manipulated by a master, but she’s also compelled to give her assistance, much to Joe’s dismay. With the assistance of Jed Novak, a CIA operative and friend of Jill’s, Eve makes her way to Maldara, to the city of Jokan, in Central Africa and sets up a makeshift studio for her work, she meets some bereaved parents in the small village, and begins the reconstruction of the first victim. It’s then she comes to learn the real reason she’s been brought to the country…to ensure that the killer is really dead…
As conflict arises, and Eve finds herself in danger, Joe leaves London and flies to her side. Soon, Eve, Joe, Jill & Novak find themselves pitted against a much greater evil – one they’re determined to stop for good – unless they are stopped first…
I cannot say enough about the Eve Duncan series and this book was no exception. With a well-crafted storyline and a great supportive cast, Eve again gets the job done, with the assistance of husband Joe, and as always, I could not put the book down!! I do miss Bonnie and her visits, but I love the way Eve’s character has evolved, and love the addition of Michael’s seeming empathic abilities too. This series just keeps getting better!
I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.
Tropical Delusions...... 