“Chasing the Night”   

          by  Iris Johannsen

Review #184

Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan is preparing for her latest reconstruction --- a murdered young girl. With memories of her dead daughter, Bonnie, swirling in her head, she knows it will be a rough case emotionally but believes she can help the child and her family find peace. At the start of the case, she gets a call from a CIA operative she has worked with in the past, Venable, who wants her to do him a favor. She declines but soon after, finds herself playing host to Catherine Ling.

Catherine is an agent of Venable’s and a woman tormented by the loss of her son… 9 years ago.  Catherine believes Luke is alive but knows that the madman who kidnapped him when he was only two years old may have killed him. For years, he has been tormenting her with the threat to kill Luke if she tries to rescue him.  Catherine’s unwavering belief that he may still be living is what convinces Eve to help her.  What Catherine needs is an age progression picture of her son.  She is going after him and she plans to kill the man who kidnapped him.  The CIA wants her to stay away from him because they are getting ready to bring him down.  They have been dealing with this man for years in order to protect Luke but, things have changed.

What looks like a few days of trying and emotional work turns out to be much more complicated when the kidnapper gets Eve involved. Without knowing what horrors await them, Catherine and Eve leave for Russia, and with a little help from Eve’s friend and lover, Joe Quinn, and some CIA assistance, they set out to find Luke.

This is a VERY good book!