Hideaway

Hideaway: Iris Johansen
Close your eyes and listen to the strings playing as they release their melodic sounds when the violinist takes his/her bow places on the violin and begins to create the music that will take you the listener to another world. Music provides a release from tension, from stress and can help relax you whether you are listening to the instrumentalist or playing an instrument yourself. Within this complex novel the author will introduce many new characters each one enduring his/her own pain, sorrow, joys and tragedies and each one connecting to the music they will hear in their own way. From discomfort to musical pleasure to confidence being restored to success in whatever they are planning or trying to do music plays an important role in this novel Enter the worlds of Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn and meet Cara Delaney an 11 year old child who is caught between two worlds: One of murder, drugs, deceit and neglect and the other love, understanding, hope and kindness yet unsure about both. Knowing that her life is in danger and at this moment out of her control, Cara joins forces with Eve, Joe and Eve’s adopted daughter Jane to take down two men that want not only Eve dead but her too. With Eve in the hospital at the start of the novel and learning that the man who put her there is out to make sure that the job is finished, Eve has to decide whether to remain at home or go to Jane for safety.
Using the violin, her love of music and her ability to forget herself within the sounds, cadences, keys and music, Cara provides a way for all of the characters to forget their problems and just listen to her play. Imagine taking the stress out of life, feeling more peaceful and understanding that you can be in control. Eve Duncan is a famous forensic sculptor who is protected by Joe Quinn and anyone else that falls within his authority if needed. But, Eve is in the hospital and although her room is guarded and she is protected her safety comes into question as he is now caring for Cara and promises to care and protect her at all cost. Cara is the prime target of the head of a drug cartel out for revenge against her father another drug lord and together Eve and Joe have to find a way to protect this child. With Margaret taking care of Cara and her knowledge of the woods and special bond with animals, she alerts Jane about the danger and things take on another turn as the only way for them to live and survive is to leave the country. But, Jane has a quest of her own and she has wanted to find a treasure belonging to Cira and is now being forced into helping MacDuff find the treasure buried in Scotland. Joining her, MacDuff and another they will have to find a way to bury themselves within this place and not allow the drug lords or a young man named Ramon Franco working for one to find them.

Things spiral in a different direction when one of the drug lords finds out that Cara and Eve are not dead and that the car bomb failed and so did Ramon. With Jock and MacDuff watching over them and adding in the hot and scary Seth Caleb who is entranced with Jane as much as she is with him, the plot begins to boil even more and what happens next alerts Joe that he needs to step things up. When the mother of a child does not care about what happens to her and she forms an alliance with the other side what happens will astound not only Eve but Cara too? What happens when a mother betrays her child and her child’s life becomes part of a deadly power game?
Caleb has certain qualities that both endear him to others and make some shy away as Jock Gavin becomes someone special to Cara who thinks that he will understand the meaning of having Shine. She is 11 way beyond her years and she is smart, at times not too careful with her trust but nonetheless a great young child in grave danger even from an agent who wants to find her and return her to the one person that might get her killed. Joe is in touch and working with Manez from the Mexican Federal Police and the two banter on the phone, each fighting the other for control and Joe frustrated because he cannot go to Scotland to protect Eve and Cara because he is being watched and not just by Agent Toller.

Eve and Jane are really close and Cara seems to come into play too but when Jane learns something about Eve she is furious with Caleb for finding out and approaches Eve for the truth. With Gavin, MacDuff and Caleb there to protect them is it enough? With Jane going on the treasure hunt for Cira’s gold will that get in the way of protecting both Eve and Cara and what does MacDuff really want from her?

As each side plays out their hand Eve and Cara’s mother play out another one. The mist on the hill has Cara mesmerized and she wants to try and see the other side but it’s so thick you can’t. Overcoming her fears is one thing but not listening to instructions another as she goes off on her own and this time the danger to her is more than real. Why would a mother risk her daughter’s life for money, gold and power? How far will Eve risk it all to keep Cara safe? What happens when Salazar finds them and the stakes are raised and the prize is an 11-year-old child that is worth nothing to him? What happens when the tables turn, each side is betrayed, people are killed and can Joe save Eve and manage to stay alive too?
With MacDuff injured and Jock on the move where are Jane and Seth Caleb and can he save Eve? Hide Away: can anyone really disappear? With all of the networks out there and all of those that change sides and betray the ones that they thought they could trust, just who can Eve trust besides Jane and Joe? What happens when the final explosion goes off and people close to her are hurt? An ending that is quite compelling and a mother who is out for her own self-worth, greed and position in life. With a child’s life at stake and two drug lords who are fighting for power and position can Joe and Eve save Cara from what others have in mind? Will Cira’s treasure be the answer? Find out when the brilliant author who once again leaves us wondering what the fate of each character will and pens the next novel. The final fates have yet to be decided as those that are trying to hide from their enemies need to find a safer way to Hide Away and survive. Once again Iris Johansen reminds us of the strength and love that both Eve and Joe have for each other and the bond that ties them to Jane and now Cara. Will they risk it all for her? Close your eyes and listening carefully and hear the music getting stronger and then disappearing. The music is in the air and everywhere and let’s hope it plays loud enough for Cara. Guilt, remorse, fear, hate, revenge and the ties that bind a mother and her child are at the heart of this outstanding novel by author Iris Johansen. Do you hear the strings on the violin? Listen carefully for Cara!

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Magazine

·

·