With Open Eyes

Kendra Michaels #1.5

by Iris Johansen, Roy Johansen

An original short story from The New York Times bestselling duo, Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen.

Blind for the first twenty years of her life, Kendra Michaels learned at an early age to become hyper-aware of her surroundings, perfecting the art of picking up the most subtle audio, olfactory, and tactile cues in the world around her. Kendra's astonishing powers of observation and analysis have made her a favorite of law enforcement agencies all across the country. She cares little for investigative work but can't deny her unique skill, or the results she's been able to facilitate. Like a secret weapon, she is in high demand, but her talents are put to the test when her mentor calls on her to help solve a mysterious disappearance and she uncovers one explosive secret that not even the police want her to find.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Iris Johansen is a New York Times bestselling author. She began her 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 lives in Georgia and is married. Her son, Roy Johansen, is an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Her daughter, Tamara, serves as her research assistant.

IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.

http://www.irisjohansen.com

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story 3 stars**
Audio 3.5 stars**
Narrator Elisabeth Rodgers

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewing short stories is always a little hard because talking about the plot gives away the whole story. So I will simply say this.

With Open Eyes follows Kendra Michaels as she investigates what happened to the boyfriend of an old friend.

It was good. I liked the way the story wrapped up and I would have read this as a full novel.

I recommend it!

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...

[Angie ☯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just a short story, but it's hard to have a bad story with Kendra Michaels! Kendra is her ever observant self and helps a friend who is being brushed off by the police. She uses her charm (and my charm, I mean influence/blackmail!) to help resolve the situation. It was a good read, but super quick.

[Emilie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was only a 30 minute audiobook, and I still almost didn’t make it through. Cliché, predictable, and entirely unoriginal. Maybe I should have known better?

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kendra Michaels was blind the first 20 years of her life. Thanks to revolutionary surgery, her eyesight was restored, leaving her with acute powers of observation.

Kendra is approached by an old friend, one of her teachers before her eyesight was restored. Janice says that her fiancee is missing. She went over to his house, the door had been kicked open, blood is everywhere, and all his things, including his car are still there.

She reported this to the police, but now no one is returning her calls. She went back to the house to get a few of her things, but the house has been sanitized. There's a new door ..all their things are gone and there is no blood anywhere.

The lead investigator now tells her there was no sign of a break-in and they are assuming he just up and left.

So what is going on? Why are the police lying? What are they covering up? And where is her fiancee? Is he even still alive?

If you've read any part of this series, you will like this one. It's a fast, easy read short story (less than 50 pages) but it emphasizes Kendra's abilities. If you haven't read any of the series, I would not recommend starting here. Start with Book 1 and work through the current 5 books.

[Suzie Weber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Close Your Eyes the first book in the Kendra Michaels series. I learned about this novella and thought it had some earlier input in her blindness, the return of her sight and perhaps a bit of her relationship with the FBI agent.

The actual story in this novella is about 20 pages long plus an intro into Close Your Eyes. Because of that, to me, this is only worth one star, however the 20 pages was well written so two stars.

This novella is ONLY worth reading if you received if for free. 99 cent candy last longer than the time it took to read this.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've previously read Iris Johansen books, the Eve Duncan books, and really enjoyed her writing and character development. I came across this short story with a new character and couldn't resist trying it. Although it is brief, the same character development and detail are included. I wish it was longer as I enjoyed the way Kendra discerned things and I look forward to reading more of her story.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

With Open Eyes is Book #1.5 in the Kendra Michaels Series by Iris Johansen. This is a tense mystery thriller series with crime and investigation, dramatic developments, Intrigue, action, and more.
We follow music therapist turned FBI/CIA asset, who has regained her sight, with the use of a cutting-edge therapy, after 20 years of being vision impaired. Learning to navigate life without vision for so long had given Kendra unique abilities which make her a valuable asset to have on your side....
I wasn't sure how I would feel about Kendra after loving the Eve Duncan series - But the authors don't disappoint.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a short story but an early one in a series and I prefer to read series in order. However not sure of the point of this story at all. Had no value unless it was too show her Sherlock like deductions of a room. At least it was a quick read.

I love Iris Johansen books especially the Eve Duncan series and Ling Series where I first met this character Kendra Michaels in one of those and an intrigued by her.

This series is a collaboration one with Roy Johansen. I will try the next one and hope for much better and giving two stars in anticipation that it will.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is only mildly about Kendra Michaels. Her mentor calls her in when her boyfriend disappears without a trace. Kendra knows almost immediately that things do not add up but she can't tell that to her dear friend. So she does her investigation and gets permission to reveal the truth. I love how Johansen (and Johansen) has really differentiated Kendra in every way from her other characters even in this very short story. I didn't think it was long it enough to justify even the minimal expense but I am still happy to have read it.

[Ann Kingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short story!!!😀

I really enjoyed this story. If you had never read about Dr. Kendra Michaels, this is a good introduction. It shows Kendra doing what she loves, helping disabled children, and it shows the talent she has for "reading" someone. She reminds me of a modern day Sherlock Holmes. It is fascinating to "see" the many routine objects that she does, and get a feeling for a person, an event, or even a murder! I am excited to read the rest of the books!!!😀

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short, but well-written, story. It shows Kendra helping her former teacher and friend, Janet, to locate her fiancé who has mysteriously disappeared. Kendra learned to use her other senses when she was blind. Now that her sight has been restored, she still relies on those other senses. She's worked with the FBI in the past and reaches out to them for help. I was able to figure out where the fiancé went just by taking note of some of the dialogue between Kendra and Janet.

[Leisa Wilkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella was more like a preview than even a short story. There was no character development. It both began and ended abruptly. Because I'm an Iris Johansen fan I'm going to try they next book in hope's of seeing her usual style which I love. Don't waste your money on this one. It really should have been free! I'm thankful I borrowed it from the library.

[Ruth Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kendra helps a friend

Kendra's old teacher show up in a panic. Her boyfriend's place has been spattered by blood. She asks Kendra to help. Read and see how Kendra pieces it together.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kendra was blind from birth for twenty some years. Later surgery restores her vision. Living blind has hightened her other senses. She enters a crime scene and "sees" much more than the investigators can see.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story was so short it felt like a magazine article. These are the two characters, this is the problem and a paragraph later the solution. The preview of the next book was longer. Very disappointing.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have tried to get involved with the Kendra Michaels but it seems like this formerly blind woman is trotted out like a trick pony to perform her magic act. Sorry, I don't like the concept. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shouldn’t have been labeled a ‘short story.’ This was more of a preview of the first book in the series.

Kendra has the potential to be an interesting character… IF I ever try the full series. Rating is low as this wasn’t really a short story and shouldn’t be advertised as such.

2 stars

[Hollie Smurthwaite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally would have rated this a 2, because I'm not a huge fan of short stories. I got this as a "free" bonus through Audiobooks, and wasn't expecting something so short. It didn't have much of an ending at all, which was disappointing.

[Noel Lowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story that introduced us to a teacher from Kendra's past. It doesn't seem that this story has any impact on the series and only serves to highlight Kendra's willingness to get involved.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 4.5 stars if we could do halfsies. I really really liked it.

[Donna Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was the point of these two chapters??

[Marta Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

To short.

It was like a bubble to set your appetite. Intrigue and Mystery in a condense insert in a whole book.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

too short to really make much of a story. Even I could see where it was going a mile away and I have no super powers of observation.

[Jackie Clarke saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

WAY too short, not worth the $$

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to learn to skip the .5's in a series. I really don't like short stories!

[William Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long time since I've read the 1st book in this series. A very good short story now on the next on in the series.

[Sandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Authors need to stop with half books. Anything less then 200 pages is a waste of time and you can’t get invested in anything. Anything less than 50 pages is ridiculous.