cover image Close Your Eyes

Close Your Eyes

Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen. St. Martin’s, $27.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-312-61161-3

Bestseller Johansen and son’s gripping fourth collaborative effort (after 2010’s Shadow Zone) stars Dr. Kendra Michaels, a music therapist with some amazing talents. Born blind, Kendra developed her other senses to an extraordinary degree until her sight was restored at age 20. As a modern-day Sherlock Homes, Kendra is invaluable to the FBI, who pull her into the case of six fatal stabbings in the San Diego area in 45 days that was earlier investigated by her former lover, Jeff Stedler, who’s gone missing. All six victims had the same as yet unidentified substance in their bodies. Despite not being a team player and friction with her co-worker, Adam Lynch, Kendra picks up some almost invisible clues that put them on the right track. Now someone is determined to kill her. The authors combine idiosyncratic yet fully realized characters with dry wit and well-controlled suspense that builds to a satisfying conclusion. Agent: Andrea Cirillo, the Jane Rotrosen Agency. (July)