THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

John Logan, a wealthy businessman, suspects a murder occurred in the Whitehouse.  To prove his suspicion, Logan seeks out the best forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan.

Eve’s seven year old daughter, Bonnie, was murdered by a serial killer who refused to tell Eve where he buried her body, a sorrow from which Eve cannot recover.  Eve’s passion is to restore lost children to their families by forensically recreating the faces of murdered children in order to bring them justice.    Bonnie visits Eve in her dreams.

John Logan approaches Eve and offers her a generous sum for a private, cryptic job.  The government spies are listening and in an attempt to dissuade Eve, ransack her office.  But the tactic backfires and Eve takes Logan’s offer.

In an offsite location, working under pressure, Eve completes the skull sculpture and to her dismay, confirms John Logan’s suspicions.  As government agents invade the compound, John and Eve narrowly escape but realize they cannot run forever.

 

In spite of the largely unbelievable, conspiratorial plot and an often, disagreeable heroine, the novel proves a page turner.  For the beach or for the plane.