Bonnie (Eve Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

Monday, March 19, 2012

Bonnie (Eve Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; Reprint edition (January 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312651287
ISBN-13: 978-0312651282
Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

By : Iris Johansen
Price : $7.99

Customer Reviews

I'm a fan of Iris Johansen's novels, and the Eve Duncan series in particular. The unsolved disappearance of Eve's daughter Bonnie years ago has literally haunted her and has always been the unresolved issue in her life. In a special trilogy about Eve, Quinn, and Bonnie, readers learn about the backgrounds of the characters and the events that led up to Bonnie's disappearance.
This is the last book of the trilogy and thankfully, it does give closure as readers - and Eve - finally learn what happened to Bonnie and why. I won't spoil the ending by revealing what that is but I will say it comes from a surprising source that I didn't expect. I also like that this book is not the end of Eve and Quinn. Their story and what they do in solving crime will continue with or without the appearance of Bonnie. I'm looking forward to the next thriller from Johansen.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited, nor was a positive review required.

I have been reading Iris Johansen all my life. She is one of my favorite writers so naturally, I've followed the story of Eve and her missing daughter, Bonnie, since the very first mention of her so long ago, emphasis on long ago. I read her trilogy: EVE, QUINN, and finally BONNIE, eager to solve the mystery. All are written with Johansen's easy to read style. I love all the characters, especially the latest additions of Catherine Ling and Joe Gallo, Bonnie's father. But I'm sorry to say that the final reveal just underwhelmed me. When the killer is finally revealed all I could think was that a whole lot of intelligent people missed a pretty obvious suspect. But I really think Johansen just dragged Bonnie's story on way too long. Maybe that is why the story didn't really move me as it should, because her long held grief over bringing Bonnie home went on for too many books. This is a story she should have resolved many years ago.
I can certainly understand a mother's grief over losing a child. I don't expect a mother to ever get over that kind of tragic loss. But you do have to let go and finally make the most of the present, something Eve refused to do. Many cultures believe it is wrong to grieve too much over a loss, that it holds back both the soul that has passed on and the person who does the excessive grieving. Bonnie's story certainly illustrates the reasoning behind that belief. Eve was never able to focus on anything else but lost children. Here she had a man who loved her beyond reason and she never made a family with him, never had more chidren that could have eased both of them and brought new joy into their lives. She did adopt Jane but Jane too was dragged down by Eve's continally being haunted by Bonnie. Their lives have been all about Eve's grief.
(SPOILERISH)
But most importantly Bonnie could not move on either. At least on seeing Bonnie's ghost Eve has the assurance that her daughter still lives. An assurance few people ever get when dealing with loss. But even seeing that Bonnie is happy and well is not enough to resolve Eve's obsession. So many times I wanted to shake Eve and tell her to think about Bonnie's welfare for a change. Poor Bonnie has new fields to explore but has to continally look back and worry about her mother. And now, finally, when Bonnie's ghost BEGS Eve to let her go, Eve STILL says she can't do it. This really made me angry. Just how selfish IS this woman? Her daughter has made it clear that she is happy, learning new things, and has a spiritual peace we could all envy and her mother refuses to let go of her own by now pathogical grief so her daughter can move on? And I'm sorry, but if Eve digs her up and "brings her home" after Bonnie makes it clear she is happy with her beautiful resting place then that is just sick. Is she really going to expose Bonnie's remains to that kind of sacriledge? That is something I don't want to see or read about. She can certainly make a small memorial for Bonnie at her home if she needs it but digging up her grave is just gross. Especially since Bonnie in her wisdom has assured Eve she is NOT THERE. That she is alive and well and apparently learning more in a day than Eve has learned in a decade. All I could think of when finishing the book is LET BONNIE GO! Eve has put Bonnie through more grief than her killer ever did. Enough.