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Close Your Eyes
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Close Your Eyes
In Close Your Eyes, The New York Times bestselling duo Iris Johansen and Roy Johansenare backwith a suspenseful novel about a once-blind woman with a talent for tracking serial killers
The FBI doesn’t usually consult with music therapists to solve their cases. But Kendra Michael’s astonishing powers of observation and analysis have made her a favorite of law enforcement age...more
The FBI doesn’t usually consult with music therapists to solve their cases. But Kendra Michael’s astonishing powers of observation and analysis have made her a favorite of law enforcement age...more
ebook, 416 pages
Published
July 17th 2012
by St. Martin's Press
(first published July 28th 2011)
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This book had a very interesting premise. Music therapist Kendra Michaels spent the first part of her life in darkness, being blind from birth. She perfected her other senses, and so when she gained her sight through stem cell surgery years later, she had cultivated powers of observation that exceeded the average person's. She became an invaluable tool for the FBI, but felt used by them and overwrought during a case gone bad. But now, she is back in the center of it all when her ex-lover, an FBI...more
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The mother and son writing team may have finally found a winning formula. The main character of Kendra Michael is better written then others created by the writing duo. She is a mix of hard and soft edges and does not suffer fools gladly. Blind from birth she regains her sight as a teenager. Kendra has extraordinary sensory abilities and lends her talents to the FBI. Kendra's former FBI agent boyfriend has disappeared and she is asked to assist in the investigation. Another consultant, Adam Lync...more
Well, what can I say, I've read books out of order again, although you get to know and love Johansen's characters whether or not you read the books in order, it's always nice to learn how a character came to play a part in one of your favorite series. This book was an introduction to Kendra Michaels, a woman who uses music therapy to coax children back into the real world. Seemingly set in her ways and devoted to 'her children' those in her music therapy lessons, Kendra comes across as a much o...more
After reading Iris Johansen's Bonnie, Eve and Quinn books , it made you wonder what direction she would go as those three were part of a series that has made her famous - The Eve Duncan Series. I have to say , I have also tried to read the other books that she has co-written with her husband e.g Storm Cycle and they just haven't grabbed my attention so when I saw Close Your Eyes , I was in two minds. Would I enjoy it or wouldn't I ? , Readers of The Phantom Paragrapher, I loved Close Your Eyes a...more
1 like · like · see review
The FBI usually does'nt bother with music therapists but Kendra Michaels
amazing powers of observation have made her a favorite of law enforcement.
Blind for the first twenty years of her life she cares little for investigative
work but can't deny her unique skill. She learned at an early age to become
hyper aware of her surroundings and perfected the art of picking up the most
subtle audio. Former FBI agent Adam Kyle has a few weapons of his own
Known as the Puppetmaster he is a master manipulator...more
amazing powers of observation have made her a favorite of law enforcement.
Blind for the first twenty years of her life she cares little for investigative
work but can't deny her unique skill. She learned at an early age to become
hyper aware of her surroundings and perfected the art of picking up the most
subtle audio. Former FBI agent Adam Kyle has a few weapons of his own
Known as the Puppetmaster he is a master manipulator...more
Jul 02, 2012
Robin Priddy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Robin by:
review copy
Dr Kendra Michaels is a music therapist. Kendra was born blind. But thinks to a new stem-cell procedure in England, Kendra was able to see for the fist time. Being blind for the first twenty years of her life, Kendra's other senses became highly developed. When Kendra started dating Jeff Stedler, an agent with the FBI, he started asking for her help on his cases. Jeff belived that by using Kendra's unique skills that there was not a case they could not solve. When a kidnapping case goes very bad...more
Close Your Eyes is a character centered novel starring Kendra Michaels and Adam Lynch. Michaels was blind for the first 20 years of her life until an operation gave her sight. Adam Lynch is a former FBI agent now working for the Justice Department. Michaels is a female Sherlock Holmes with amazing powers of observation, in one scene she identifies a new section of carpet by smell and in another recognizes a past injury in her partner by "hearing" it. Lynch is an antihero sort of a James Bond sty...more
When I first read the blurb for this book I wasn't too sure about reading it. The main character on Dr. Kendra Michaels had been blind and had her vision restored by a procedure. I thought the procedure would be a bigger part of the story line and I was not sure I wanted to go there- little too sci-fi for me. Fortunately that was only a small part of the part and helps to explain Dr. Michaels incredible abilities. Like most who were blind her other senses were more developed and even with being...more
Blind since birth, Kendra Michaels gained sight through a experimental T-cell procedure and with the other sense abilities learned before seeing, has helped the FBI in several cases, but after the traumatic ending of the last one has broke with her FBI friend and sworn not to get involved in any more cases. Now working as a musical therapist for troubled and autistic children her life has settled down until she is approached by an x-FBI agent and out of the box private investigator to help with...more
There is plenty about this book that doesn't make any sense. But that doesn't matter. It's a fast-paced, action-packed ride from the first page. Kendra Michaels was born blind and didn't regain sight until she was 20. She learned to do things with her other senses that most sighted people don't even dream about. Adam Lynch, former FBI agent, isn't what you call a team player. Hence the reason he's a former agent. He's a master manipulator and doesn't pull punches when he wants something done. In...more
Listened for Review
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not part of the overall rating)
First Thought When Finished: I will admit I thought this was part of a series but appears to be a stand alone (maybe beginning of a series).
What I Thought of the Characters: I am just going to say it: Kendra Michael is a very unique leading character. In Close Your Eyes, Kendra is asked to help the FBI track down her missing ex-boyfriend (also FBI) but she struggles w...more
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not part of the overall rating)
First Thought When Finished: I will admit I thought this was part of a series but appears to be a stand alone (maybe beginning of a series).
What I Thought of the Characters: I am just going to say it: Kendra Michael is a very unique leading character. In Close Your Eyes, Kendra is asked to help the FBI track down her missing ex-boyfriend (also FBI) but she struggles w...more
The premise of this book is interesting. A formerly blind female who can pick up on little details that might escape the average person which makes her incredibly useful in investigations. However, the writing is just...subpar. One of my biggest pet peeves is picking up on spelling and grammatical errors while I'm reading a book, this book has several. Having read the background and past on the male lead I would classify him as a man of few words but he seems to be one who uses corny and cliche...more
Yet another gifted ebook from my mom. I’m just not a fan of murder mystery books.
Kendra was born blind, but had her sight restored through a miraculous procedure. Because of her sensory deprivation, she’s hyper-observant. This has made her an invaluable tool to the FBI, but her lack of an internal filter mixed with her abilities makes her extremely disliked. She is asked to leave her music therapy job to help solve the disappearance of her FBI ex-boyfriend and linked murders.
Kendra reminded me...more
Kendra was born blind, but had her sight restored through a miraculous procedure. Because of her sensory deprivation, she’s hyper-observant. This has made her an invaluable tool to the FBI, but her lack of an internal filter mixed with her abilities makes her extremely disliked. She is asked to leave her music therapy job to help solve the disappearance of her FBI ex-boyfriend and linked murders.
Kendra reminded me...more
3.5 Stars
I am not quite sure how to rate this. Plot wise, it was pretty damn amazing. Actually if the rating was solely on the plot, it would be a solid 5 stars. But where it lacked was in the characters, especially Kendra. To me Kendra seemed incredibly cold, analytically, as if she didn't have feelings. Which is weird cause she is very sensitive and seems to take things to heart. But I didn't feel it. I was just being told about her feelings. She wasn't quite a robot, it wasn't that bad, but i...more
I am not quite sure how to rate this. Plot wise, it was pretty damn amazing. Actually if the rating was solely on the plot, it would be a solid 5 stars. But where it lacked was in the characters, especially Kendra. To me Kendra seemed incredibly cold, analytically, as if she didn't have feelings. Which is weird cause she is very sensitive and seems to take things to heart. But I didn't feel it. I was just being told about her feelings. She wasn't quite a robot, it wasn't that bad, but i...more
I've always enjoyed Iris Johansen and her strong female characters. I think she and her son, Roy, have a hit with Kendra Michaels and Adam Lynch. She is a music therapist who was blind for the first 20 years of her life. She used her other senses to get her through life and with an operation to repair her cornea, she has her vision back. She is very accurate with her observations and have solved many cases.
Adam Lynch comes into her life when he is hired to find Jeff Stedler whose has gone miss...more
Adam Lynch comes into her life when he is hired to find Jeff Stedler whose has gone miss...more
An FBI yarn to try to discover the perpetrator of several deaths and why the bodies have some strange chemical in them that causes aging of their organs Yes, a terrorist plot but the interesting angle is that a special person who has helped in other cases is called in again. Her specialty is powers of observation created because she was born blind and learned to use ALL of her senses and a year or so before the prior case a new found operation restored her vision. With that she is able to put to...more
The premise of this book was interesting. However I believe it was lacking the back story on Kenrda's blindness and how and when she was able to regain her sight and her involvement with the FBI agent Jeff Stedler . The authors briefly mention it in the book, but I think there should be a whole story about this.
The story was fast paced, action packed thriller. I didn't feel that Adam Lynch's character was a true master manipulator. I feel he needed to be more cunning. Kendra's character I did l...more
The story was fast paced, action packed thriller. I didn't feel that Adam Lynch's character was a true master manipulator. I feel he needed to be more cunning. Kendra's character I did l...more
Wow... as always Iris Johansen did not disappoint. This is the first book I've read that she has written with her son. His influence was seen by the more detail given to the actual police procedure, as where in the Eve Duncun series that she writes on her own, the story has less procedure and more... I don't want to say romance but it is kinda that. The Eve Duncun series definitely is more "chick" lit then this was.
I was intrigued with the character of Kendra Michaels after reading Sleep No Mor...more
I was intrigued with the character of Kendra Michaels after reading Sleep No Mor...more
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A good weekend "read." The basic premise -- formerly blind woman uses specially-honed senses to detect clues which elude others is different. (Unfortunately, it contradicts other nonfiction reading I've done that indicates that individuals who gain sight for the first time as adults rarely achieve visual acuity, having missed the key developmental stage during infancy for visual recognition.) Also, the premise that she is a corrosive *itch, disliked by all law enforcement officers she works with...more
I've read many of Iris Johansen's books and enjoyed them; I like Eve Duncan. This is the first book I've read where the author works with her son. I was prepared to like Kendra who was born blind but regained her sight thanks to some kind of stem cell procedure in Europe. As a result of her blindness, Kendra has learned how to use her other senses (especially scent and hearing) and has been asked to help the FBI on difficult cases. Unfortunately, Kendra is not the least bit likable; in fact, she...more
Aug 16, 2012
Shiela
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
female-protagonist,
thriller
As many reviewers have already stated, Johansen is purely writing from her well-worn formula and it's getting old! "Strong" female characters that don't sound or act like any strong female I know, token dreamy males wanting to protect and save the day but delayed by obtuse female, uber bad guys that you don't really care about after awhile. I felt myself slogging away just waiting for it to be over. I should have quit a long time ago, but for some reason, I just keep reading EVERY SINGLE one of...more
The storyline was good, but I thought the characters were disappointing. Kendra Michaels was blind from birth but in her 20's had an operation to give her vision. She is arrogant and abrupt and if the author wanted the reader to like her, she failed miserably with this one.
I think a lot of her characteristics were the same ones Eve Ducan had and one of the reasons I did not enjoy that series that much. At least in those books she gave us Joe. In this book [and I assume a series] we have Adam Ly...more
I think a lot of her characteristics were the same ones Eve Ducan had and one of the reasons I did not enjoy that series that much. At least in those books she gave us Joe. In this book [and I assume a series] we have Adam Ly...more
The usual Iris Johansen schtick. The "formerly blind, now equipped with superhuman senses" was a good idea and could have made the book much more interesting, but Johansen (both) slipped back into the usual formulaic plot/dialogue/characterization. What's even more disappointing is that there wasn't even a decent sex scene between Kendra and Lynch!
Not the best, but not the worst of the bunch. If you're a fan, go ahead and read it. If you're looking for a "pop mystery/action" book that requires l...more
Not the best, but not the worst of the bunch. If you're a fan, go ahead and read it. If you're looking for a "pop mystery/action" book that requires l...more
Kendra Michaels is a music therapist who helps children. Blind since birth, she underwent an operation at age 20 which allowed her to see. Now she uses her enhanced senses to help the FBI solve cases. Her former partner and lover Jeff Stedler is missing. Adam Lynch, former FBI agent now working freelance for the intelligence community, wants Kendra's help in finding Jeff. There have been a number of deaths that might be related to Jeff's disappearance. Interesting premise. Kendra comes across as...more
This started out like so many other books about the FBI in need of a civilian's help. The short story "With Open Eyes" is mainly why I read this book beside the fact I have read all of Iris Johansen's books. One of the rules in our house when I was growing up is if you start a book you finish it so I did & I have to say I am glad I did. This is a charachter that has struggled to overcome hardships which have helped form her into the person the FBI has had to turn to for help. I like that the...more
Johansen does it again, with a fun suspense story about an abrasive but distinctive heroine who is called upon to help out the FBI on a case that involves an old flame and a fair amount of mayhem. I liked Kendra- a formally blind heroine who uses the increased awareness of all her senses to grasp clues and leads that others overlook, and Lynch- the tough, no holds barred agent who convinces her to come back for one more case. With the zippy action and some light but nicely simmering romantic ten...more
This book was a very easy read for me. Not much to the actual style of writing. However, the storyline was fantastic! Kendra Michaels was a very interesting character for me. She makes me think of a modern day Sherlock Holmes, but a woman. What a wonderful thought.
Now, there was a little bit of chemistry between Adam and Kendra. Which again takes me back to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. What if Sherlock was a woman and Watson became a love interest? How fun!
This book ended with the feeling that th...more
Now, there was a little bit of chemistry between Adam and Kendra. Which again takes me back to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. What if Sherlock was a woman and Watson became a love interest? How fun!
This book ended with the feeling that th...more
An investigative thriller about paying attention to details, doing the right thing, and rising up to meet challenges. The plot is full of intrigue, reminding me of the TV series "Unforgettable." The characters are intense, independent, self-sufficient, and driven, though "master manipulator" Adam Lynch isn't very subtle and for most of the book he takes a back-seat to Kendra Michaels, who is fascinating and intelligent but very abrasive.
May 09, 2013
Tricia Douglas
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-suspense,
mystery
It has been a while since I've read one of Johansen's books. I'm glad I found this one on my shelf. I loved the character of Kendra, a doctor and detective able to almost read minds and solve cases in the blink of an eye. Great story dealing with criminals, possible chemicals for selling to other countries for warfare, and plenty of twists and turns for the reader to keep up with! A great mystery for reading in bed at night!
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Johansen began writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels, starting with the publication of The Wind Dancer. In 1996 Johansen switched genres, turning to crime fiction, with which she has had great success. She had seventeen consecutive New York Times b...more
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