Iris Johansen Books in Order – Complete List
New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award winner Iris Johansen is an American novelist who writes romantic suspense novels, thrillers, contemporary romance, and historical romance novels. She is the author of the popular Eve Duncan series involving the tormented forensic sculptor who is still grieving the loss of her child, Bonnie, who was kidnapped and mercilessly killed.
Iris Johansen has several additional series including the spin-off series called Catherine Ling, a shadowy CIA Operative raised in Hong Kong, the Kendra Michaels series, the brilliant marine architect Hannah Bryson series, and the latest Kira Drake series, not to mention the numerous romance series written in the past.
Here is the list of Iris Johansen’s books in reading and publication order for all her popular series and standalone novels.
New Iris Johansen Books
Eve Duncan Books in Publication Order
- The Face of Deception, 1998
- The Killing Game, 1999
- The Search, 2000
- Body of Lies, 2002
- Blind Alley, 2004
- Countdown, 2005
- Stalemate, 2006
- Quicksand, 2008
- Blood Game, 2009
- Eight Days to Live, 2010
- Chasing The Night, 2010
- Eve, 2011
- Quinn, 2011
- Bonnie, 2011
- Sleep No More, 2012
- Taking Eve, 2013
- Hunting Eve, 2013
- Silencing Eve, 2013
- Shadow Play, 2015
- Hide Away, 2016
- Night and Day, 2016
- Mind Game, 2017
- Shattered Mirror, 2018
- Dark Tribute, 2019
- Smokescreen, 2019
- The Persuasion, 2020
- The Bullet, 2021
- A Face to Die For, 2022
- Captive, 2022
- The Survivor, 2023
- The Death Mask, 2025
Eve, Quinn, and Bonnie Series in Publication Order
Catherine Ling Books in Publication Order
- Chasing The Night, 2010
- What Doesn’t Kill You, 2012
- Live to See Tomorrow, 2014
- Your Next Breath, 2015
- Vendetta, 2018
Kendra Michaels Books in Publication Order
with Roy Johansen
- Close Your Eyes, 2011
- Sight Unseen, 2014
- The Naked Eye, 2015
- Night Watch, 2016
- Look Behind You, 2017
- Double Blind, 2018
- Hindsight, 2020
- Blink of an Eye, 2021
- Killer View, 2022 (written by Roy Johansen with a foreword by Iris Johansen)
- More Than Meets The Eye, 2023
- Flashback, 2024
Kendra Michaels Short Stories
- With Open Eyes (#1.5), 2012
Hannah Bryson Books in Publication Order
with Roy Johansen
- Silent Thunder, 2008
- Shadow Zone, 2010
Logan Tanner Books in Reading and Publication Order
- High Stakes, 2021
Kira Drake Books in Publication Order
- On the Hunt, 2024
Standalone Romantic Suspense Books
- The Ugly Duckling, 1994
- Long After Midnight, 1997
- And Then You Die, 1997
- No One To Trust, 2002
- Dead Aim, 2002
- Fatal Tide, 2003
- Firestorm, 2004
- On The Run, 2005
- Killer Dreams, 2006
- Pandora’s Daughter, 2007
- Dark Summer, 2008
- Deadlock, 2009
- Storm Cycle, 2009 (with Roy Johansen)
- The Perfect Witness, 2014
- No Easy Target, 2017
- Chaos, 2020
Anthologies in Publication Order
- Suspense Magazine November 2011, 2011 (edited by John Raab)
Historical and Contemporary Romance Series in Publication Order
Standalone Romance Novels in Publication Order
Iris Johansen Biography
The New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen was born in 1938 in St Louis, Missouri. She moved to Georgia where she currently lives with her family.
She only started to write books after her children went to college. The first genre Iris Johansen wrote her initial books in was romance fiction in the 1980s.
The crime fiction author started writing contemporary romance novels, however, she soon changed to the new mystery genre because (in the author’s own words):
I loved writing romance because I am a great fan of the happy ending. I started writing suspense because of the challenge of all the twists and in depth character studies that it offered me. I still try to incorporate a love story in all my books. It’s the best of both worlds for me!
A decade later, in the early 1990s, Edgar Award winning author Iris Johansen switched to writing historical suspense romances, however, in 1996 she once again changed the genre she crafted her books in and started to write romantic suspense thriller novels.
The Kendra Michael series and the Hannah Bryson series are co-authored with her son Roy Johansen. Killer View was written by Roy, with a forward note by Iris Johansen. Both mother and son have written several New York Times bestsellers. In addition, her daughter Tamara is the author’s research assistant, which makes the whole family part of Iris Johansen’s writing family. The first book the author duo wrote together was Silent Thunder, published in 2008.
Kendra was for the first 20 years of her life blind, but now she is a darling of most law enforcement agencies due to her unique skills and superb powers of observation and analysis. Due to her early years as a blind person, over the years she has learned to become hyper aware of her surroundings. She perfected the art of picking up even the most subtle audio, olfactory, and tactile cues in order to be able to navigate her world.
While the main Iris Johansen books for the Eve Duncan series include all 30 novels, some of them have also been classified into other mini-series (like the ‘new’ Eve Duncan 2013 trilogy with Taking Eve, Hunting Eve, and Silencing Eve, as well as the Eve, Quinn and Bonnie trilogy published in 2011).
However, overall they are all part of what is considered the Eve Duncan series, all the novels having her as a central character. Eve Duncan’s love interest is Joe Quinn, an ex-SEAL, ex-FBI agent, and later turned cop. The series is classified as a romantic suspense thriller, which is one of my favorite mystery genres.
The first book in the Eve Duncan series was published in 1998 with the title The Face of Deception, and it was a major hit right away. From the very start, we get to know Eve who, due to her own major loss in life, is trying to help other parents who have lost their children to crimes, by reconstructing children’s faces from skulls.
At the same time, throughout the entire book series, we see Eve’s main goal in life: to find the bones of her missing daughter, Bonnie, and bring her home, so she can bury her. Usually, the publication order of the series is also the chronological order.
Mind Game focuses on Jane MacGuire who goes back to Scotland to search for Cira’s treasure (more about Scotland is written in Hide Away). While she still dreams of Cira, her family, and the treasure she supposedly buried in Scotland, she is now also plagued by dreams of another young woman, this time the woman being Jane’s contemporary and probably still live. But not for long, unless Jane and Seth Caleb (Jane’s big love) can find her in time.
Iris Johansen Awards and Nominations
- Romantic Times Historical Romance Winner in 1996
- Romantic Times Suspense Winner in 1999
- Romantic Times Career Achievement — Thriller Winner in 2016
Novel Adaptations
In 2011, the highly popular Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen was adapted into a Lifetime film called The Killing Game, which was based on the second novel in the series. The film featured Laura Prepon in the role of the series’ main character, Eve Duncan, who is a forensic sculptor with a talent for reconstructing the faces of murder victims.
The Killing Game film was directed by Bobby Roth, who is known for his work on other television series such as Lost and Prison Break. Roth’s direction was key in bringing Johansen’s intricate plot and characters to life on the screen. His ability to build tension and suspense in a scene, combined with his skill at developing complex characters, made the film adaptation a success.
Jill Blotevogel was responsible for adapting the novel into a screenplay for the film. Blotevogel is a highly regarded screenwriter, having worked on a number of popular television series including Scream: The TV Series and The Vampire Diaries. Her experience in adapting complex source material for the screen made her the perfect choice for bringing Johansen’s novel to life in a new and exciting way.
Overall, the film adaptation of The Killing Game was a success, with fans of the Iris Johansen Eve Duncan series eagerly tuning in to see their favorite character brought to life on the small screen. With a talented cast, skilled director, and experienced screenwriter, the film was able to capture the essence of the novel and bring it to life in a way that was both thrilling and suspenseful.
Should We Read the Iris Johansen Books for the Eve Duncan Series in Order?
Reading the Iris Johansen books in order for her Eve Duncan series is a must because the stories in the suspense thriller novels interconnect, and more importantly, we get to see the development of the main character, Eve Duncan. In addition, the related series featuring Catherine Ling and Kendra Michaels should be also read in order since the main characters also appear more than once in the Eve Duncan books.
Having read all Iris Johansen books in order that have been published until today (including her Loveswept romance novels), I recommend you pick up all the books in the series.
There are so many threads in this popular series with the main characters involved that you won’t want to skip even a single book. Besides, the books are highly addictive. Just check out all the comments on this post to see just how much people enjoy reading it. Sure, there are 24 books (including the novella) so far, but it is a very easy series to read and it reads extremely fast. There were days when I’ve read an Eve Duncan book in one afternoon.
So yes, I recommend giving the Even Duncan books and overall the Iris Johansen books – all gritty suspense thrillers – a serious look and don’t skip even one book because the threads are complicated and older ones pick up every couple of books once again.
I just finished reading Hide Away and wondered if there is a sequel.
I just love the Eve Duncan series I have started reading more of Iris Johansen books I can’t seam to put them down. Iris Johansen is my favorite author.
Do authors in the mystery and thriller genre tend to draw inspiration from real individuals when creating their characters, or do they prefer to invent them entirely from their imagination?
No easy target looking for a sequel?
Love all ur books..
I “inherited” my mother’s love for reading hence I inherited her books after her untimely death at 75 years young on 20 Apr 2017 at their home in my young brother’s (age 45) arms (dad passed in hospital 25 Apr 2017 at 80 years young of broken heart after mom called him after she made his bed in Heaven) but in the collection of books was her love of Iris Johansen she had got from beginning until she passed. I do not know how many she had chance to read tho but she read every chance she had no matter where she was–kitchen table–outside–recliner–break at work–hotels–you name it she was reading & I remember growing up her reading to us 6 kids then she would read her own book till she fell asleep–yes I found her asleep at kitchen table or recliner or outside or hotels with a book in her hands open to the page she was reading & she never dropped it as if tried to take away even 30 mins later she grabbed it denied she was sleeping & could sleep all night with it in her hand & wake up with same page opneed. So I inherited her love for reading at young age I loved to read in elementary school & still do whenever I can & wherever I can just like my mom. So thanks Iris & other authors for giving us books to keep on reading. Love all your books!!
Iris Johansen is marvelous. I’m in the middle of her Eve Duncan series and read about 3 a week if I have time. The books are wonderfully written. I will finish this series and start on the others.
You’re missing Kendra Michaels book Sleep No More also listed as Eve Duncan 15.
Iris Johansen is my favorite author!! I’ve read pretty much all of her books except the romance ones. I love the wind dancer series and all the standalone books! I have all of them up until the 2 new ones that are due to come out this year!!
Mrs. Johansen needs to get a better editor. I love the Eve Duncan Series but I hate inconsistencies in the books. I’m currently reading Taking Eve and there was a mention about how Bonnie was lost a decade ago. Try over 2 decades. A few books ago, it was mentioned that Joe was in his 30’s. Try again editor. Joe and Eve are both in their mid to late 40’s.
I believe Iris Johansen has lost her ability to write. You have not heard about Jane and the guy that wants to be her boyfriend, her other adopted daughter along with Eve`s son. Since the son has been born she no longer gets visits from Bonnie.. It is like she has killed the series or has severe writers block. She only puts out one or two books a year. She has fallen off of the regular authors I have stored because she does not write enough books any more.. Iris last two books have been about K. Michael’s.
I just finished no easy target and was wondering if there will be a sequel. I would love it there was. I have seen a devoted fan and loved each and everyone of her books..
Where does An Unexpected Song come in? I don’t see it listed but it’s the first I have read from this author and I am loving it.
Love your Eve Ducan Series but was wondering if you are going to continue with the Cat Ling Series.
Have you quit writing? It is like some of your series have totally stopped. The waiting I’d hard took two years for Kenfra Michael and you have not wrote about Jane and Caleb for years. The other daughter a pianist Eve’ s other daughter and then the son that can feel and see things. What about the lost treasure in Scotland?
I picked up Eight Days to Live off a book sale and really enjoyed it. I’d like to read what happens next with Jane and Caleb. Is there a book that gives you that?
I absolutely love Iris Johansen !! (Eve Duncan series). I got two of my neighbors hooked on her also, so when I’m done with the first one they read it and then the second one and so on. I feel like I can’t read them fast enough.
To Jackie Holloway says:
September 4, 2019 at
The book with Galen & Elena is titled No one to trust
Love all of the Eve Ducan series, but was wondering if there will be a series of just Catherine Ling.
Does Eve ever find her daughters killer & bones. If so what book? I have read the first 10 in the Eve series & am getting tired of waiting to find out. Please advise
Hi I am hooked on the Eve Duncan series. I have a problem now since I finished the last book. Will there be more to the Duncan series? I hope so because I feel kind of left hanging and there is so much more that can happen especially as Michael grows up.
Please keep Eve going.
I’ve just started reading the Eve Duncan series. I’m trying to do them in order. I started with Face of Deception, then the Killing Game, then the Search, then Body of Lies. When I got to Dead Aim, it seemed like I was missing a book. But I am following the list precisely. In Dead Aim, Galen is now married. when did that happen??? Also his new wife, Elena, seems to have some beef with Judd Morgan. Again, when did that happen?? I’m missing something here. what is it?
Many thanks to Iris and Roy I truly enjoy reading again
When did Eve have a baby !!!? A boy…. which book is that ? Please
Night and Day
Love the Eve Duncan Books! I enjoy reading all her books. I can hardly wait for No Easy Target. ❤
Very disappointed in the last couple of books in the Eve Duncan series. I can’t be the only one thinking she is jumping the shark with some of these outrageous and unbelievable characters.
I know what your saying. The mind reading and able to read animals minds and i agree with you that in most cases that is true but to me there is something about how she writes that still makes me buy her books. The most recent would be the ability to control blood flow in others..that one im kinda still struggling with but crazily enough thats my favorite book qhen Cara comes in the picture. I understand where you are coming from though.
You can get all of her books from Amazon. I have been getting them in order as I go.
I’m trying to find the book after Trever dies.. I tried to read them in order, but our library didnt have very many. I love this author!
Any books after NIGHT AND DAY? I have tras the series in order up untill SILENCING EVE, Just order the next three at my local library, but those are the lady ones I think, of there is something more, please let me know
I’m addicted to this series! Addicted! I’ve read them all not in order then went back to reread them in order! Seriously can’t put down books!
When is the next book to hide away coming out?
I have read everyone of eve duncan books and just loved them. Cant til the next one.
It’s called Night and Day and is published this July – next month (yay!)
I’m sure there has to be another in this series. We don’t know if Cira’s Gold is ever found, if Cara”s grandfather gives her up to Eve,. The happy ending was that Eve had her Michael. Then is just ended. I believe our beloved author will keep us in suspense for a while. I’ll be waiting! Love her!
Definitely, and I was so happy to hear that the new book is coming out this October with the title Mind Game. I can’t wait to read it!
Just read the one after that. Yeah im addicted to her books as far as to read one in a day lol.
I can hardly wait for the next book of Eve Duncan, and if she finds Cara!!!!!!!!!!
I love the series, but am i the only one who thinks all the characters need to carry Chapstick? Iam so sick of everyone “moistening their lips.”
ou can’t stop now. I want ot knowif Evehas that baby that was brought up in the last book.
Over the last 22 years of reading the Eve Duncan series,I have discovered Iris Johansen will expand the supporting characters into their own books without the character Eve Duncan. So take all 20 books of Eve as main character.. then side mark all main characters and inquire if Iris had written any more on those characters. I have enjoyed most of those extended book series. It makes as if all those characters talents get respected like Eve’s talents.
Now that we just found out eve is pregnant, I sincerely hope ms. Johansen, at least keeps the series going awhile longer
What will Jane think, will we hear more from Margaret? Please dnt let me down now. Luv luv your books!
I just started reading eve duncan serie. started with the first book in the series and iam going out and picking up the rest of the series because i have been reading a long time to find a series i just can not put down. I just love eve
What happen to eve is there a book out that tells us what happen after the explosion in hunting eve
I thought I’d re Evead all of the Eve Duncan series, but can not recall the one where she is actually found. Have I missed a book ? if so what would it be ?
Bonnie is the book your looking for.
Am reading Shadow Play now. There is another Eve book scheduled. Also, Iris has written two or three books featuring Kendra Michaels, a formerly blind person who has heightened senses.
I love the Eve Duncan series. Am I the only one that suspects that Jane might be Bonnie? I am currently reading Quinn.
i dont think she is in the second book the killing game eve receives a rib bone and the forensics say that it was a match to bonnie
Now that I am retired I always have an Iris Johnson book being read every day! Just love her books!!!
I missed one of the books and do not know the title. It is the one where Eve finds out she has a sister and that sister has been committed. Can anyone help, please?
Nancy, the book is Sleep No More.
Does Eve ever find Bonnie’s body? Which book.
I want to know myself did you find out
Yes she does! In the 3 books “Eve”, “Quinn”, and “Bonnie”. Bonnie is where it all comes together and they learn where she is and what exactly happened! Don’t want to give spoilers, but it’s heartbreaking! But AMAZING books!!
This is one of the best series I have read ever. I got so wrapped up in Eve and Bonnie that I couldn’t put the books down until I finished them. I couldn’t wait for the next one to come out. I still reread them. Every time I find something I missed the first time. I just can’t get enough of them. I also like the Catherine Ling books and can’t wait for the next one to come out. Thank you for getting me through a tough time in my life,.
I have really enjoyed these books and also the talking books that I can listen to as well.
I cried when I learned what happen to Bonnie, even though I understood that the person
was trying to save here. I have two children my self and I believe it would be a heart brake
if it were to happen to my husband and I. I definitely will continue reading her books and
listening to the talking books. Good Luck in your new series!
I found these books because I didnt know what to read, and i was merely browsing my local library. I found a title that seemed intriguing, and i couldnt put it down!!! I found out the series, and now i want to try and read them in order!
I too, like Brittany started my reading of the Eve Duncan novels later in the series. I just finished Body Of Lies and am starting Dead Aim. Not reading these books in order is actually no big deal considering the 1st book I read was Stalemate years ago. I just love how you don’t necessarily have to read them all in order to understand them .. Does leave some questions about what character fits in where but that’s easy enough to solve. Hope Iris keeps writing about Eve, Joe and all the others .. She makes you feel like you really know the characters. After I read these 8 books, I’ll be reading the Catherine Ling books. Can’t get enough of Iris Johansen!!!!
I thoroughly enjoy reading this series by Iris Johansen. I look forward to more.
I love this series from Iris Johanson. I have a hard time putting the book down once I start reading.
I first was introduced to these books by my mom. She only had the last half of the series so I started reading the series with Eve. So after reading all the ones she had I am not reading the first half. I’m about to be started on Dead Aim… I’m also a fan of Kendra. I like her better than Catherine
In a perfect world we would read the Eve Duncan series first book through the last book. I was not that fortunate, but thank you so much for the chronological list of books. Now I will start looking. I love these books.
I think I”ve read the complete Eve Duncan series, but haven’t read where she finds Bonnies grave, which book is it.
She was digging the grave in Bonnie – I don’t want to give away more spoilers.
its it the books that are called eve then Quinn then bonnie. in bonnie u will find out how she died and where she was buried. great books
Iris Johansen is my favorite mystery writer. And I adore her books about Eve and her friends.
I have a lot of Iris Johanson boos and look for the ones I don’ t have. One day I will own them all. She is one heck of a writer. I have loved every book I have read. I will admit the Eve Duncan books are my favorite.
Iris Johansen is my all time favorite author…lover her books!!!!
I just read my first Iris Johansen book, Bonnie. It certainly won’t be my last by this author. The perfect book for a vacation day of reading.
hello
i read most of eve duncan series, i didn’t do it in order
i ended re-reading bonnie book twice, i really enjoyed eve duncan
series.
i would love cathering ling series
I have added the Cathering Ling series at your request. Since there are only 3 books at the moment, rather than starting a new page for them, I have added them right here. Afterall they are a spin-off series from Even Duncan, so they deserve to be listed together.
You do not list Your Next Breath as a Catherine Ling book? I have it. It was first published in April 2015.
Your Next Breath is listed at the very bottom of the page as #4 in the Catherine Ling book.
The first book I read was Quicksand and then Blood Game. Now I am reading Eight Days to Live and the next will be Chasing the Night. Then I will hope to find the next book or find the beginning of the series. If her books are the only ones I’ll ever read, that will be just fine with me.
i have become hooked on them I almost don’t want to finish the series..i have about 5 books left including the ling series
I just found Iris about three months ago and put her down. I hope she writes more. Thanks
Both Killer Dreams and No One to Trust are identified as Eve Duncan books. Where do they fall in the Series, I did not find them in the list of 19. Thanks
Killer Dreams is about Sophie Dunston, a therapist, and No One To Trust is about Elena Kyler, a trained assassin. Both are romantic suspense novels, but neither is in the Eve Duncan series.
In No One To Trust Elena falls in love with Galen whom appeared in more than one Eve Duncan novel as a friend of Logan’s. Their relationship is mentioned in Dead Aim so it comes before that.
I’m also trying to read this series in order but am having trouble finding an accurate list of the correct order, too. In Dead Aim, Elena is already married to Galen. She’s not mentioned in 1, 2, 3, 4 on this list. I haven’t read No One To Trust but if she is falling in love with Galen in it, then that book must come immediately before Dead Aim.
BTW, Dead Aim was completely missing from the series list that I was following on another website so I read 3 books past that one before I realized that I had missed it. I dislike missing books in a series and learning stuff ahead of time that should be revealed slowly in previous books.
If Killer Dreams has any characters from the Eve Duncan series (Eve, Joe, Galen, Logan, Sarah, Jane, Elena), then where does it fall in the series order?
I’m Googling to find an accurate series list. I found one labeled as “Eve Duncan & Friends.” It lists Fatal Tide and Firestorm as coming after Dead Aim but before Blind Alley. From the descriptions, they don’t seem to include Eve Duncan but do include characters from previous books.
I have read these from the beginning with the “friends” books in order in the series. The order I read them in so far is: 1. The Face of Deception, 2. The Killing Game, 3. The Search, 4. Body of Lies, 5. No One to Trust, 6. Dead Aim, 7. Fatal Tide, 8. Blind Alley, 9. Countdown, 10. Killer Dreams, 11. Stalemate, 12. Pandora’s Daughter, 13. Quicksand, 14. Dark Summer, 15. Blood Game, 16. Eight Days to Live, 17. Chasing the Night, 18. Eve, 19. Quinn, 20. Bonnie, 21. What Doesn’t Kill You (not read), 22. Sleep No More (Not Read), 23. Taking Eve, 24. Hunting Eve, 25. Silencing Eve. I haven’t read the last few books after Silencing Eve yet either but believe that “Live to See Tomorrow” comes after “Silencing Eve” and then Shadow Play, Hide Away and Night and Day. I believe that catches up the list.
What is the exact order of the eve Duncan series
No One To Trust– is actually not an Eve Duncan book (or Ling, or Michaels) but it does happen in the general Duncan universe. It tells the story of how Sean Galen and his wife meet. It can be read at any time but best after the Eve/Quinn/Bonnie trio.
Iris Johansen is one of my all time favorite authors!! I think I have read most of her books!!!