Review: Live to See Tomorrow by Iris Johansen (audio)

Title: Live to See Tomorrow   

Author: Iris Johansen   

Series: Catherine Ling, #3   

Narrator: Elisabeth Rodgers  

Published: April 2014, Brilliance Audio  

Length: 12 hours, 11 minutes   

Source: Personal copy via Audible 

Catherine Ling is one of the CIA’s most prized operatives. Raised on
the unforgiving streets of Hong Kong, she was pulled into the agency at
the age of 14, already having accumulated more insight and secrets than
the most seasoned professionals in her world. If life has taught her
anything, it is not to get attached, but there are two exceptions to
that rule: Her son, Luke, and her mentor, Hu Chang. When Luke was
kidnapped at the age of two, it nearly broke her. Now, nine years later,
her son has astonishingly been returned to her and Catherine vows never
to fail him again. But when her job pulls her away from home, she
relies on the brilliant and deadly Hu Chang to safeguard Luke in her
absence.

Now Erin Sullivan, an American journalist with mysterious
ties to Hu Chang, has been kidnapped in Tibet. If Catherine doesn’t
agree to spearhead the CIA rescue mission, she knows that Hu Chang
himself will go, a possibility she can’t risk. But she will be facing a
monster whose crimes stretch back forty years, always eluding the CIA.
And the job grows even more complicated when Catherine meets Richard
Cameron, a supposed ally who’s clearly not telling all he knows. Their
attraction is immediate, but Catherine isn’t at all sure that he can be
trusted. If she’s going to rescue this journalist with a story worth
killing for, she’ll need to keep Cameron very close. From the
treacherous landscape of the Himalayas to the twisting back alleys of
San Francisco, the clock is ticking for Catherine and those she loves
most. At every turn she faces a ruthless enemy who is determined to keep
the truth buried, even if it means that none of them live to see
tomorrow.

My thoughts: I am so thrilled that Iris Johansen has given Catherine Ling her own series. After introducing us to her in an Eve Duncan book and then having her work with Eve on a few cases, I really fell in love with her character and just knew she would be a great lead character.

What I love about Catherine is that she is a strong, independent female character. She is a force to be reckoned with and knows it!!! She is forced to take on a case instead of going to spend time with her son. The case involves rescuing a journalist and she ends up teaming up with Cameron – who is quite the interesting character. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of him, but he grew on me as the story progressed.

I loved the interactions between Catherine, her son Lucas and Hu Chang, Catherine’s mentor and trusted friend. Lucas is starting to grow into himself and test the boundaries and it provided for some humorous situations at times. Catherine still have miles to go to repair the damage done to her relationship with Lucas from him being kidnapped all those years, but as he approaches his teen years, things are going to be interesting!

This book is filled with action almost from the start. But, it’s also about character development. After all, it’s still a relatively new series, and we’re still getting to know the key players – Catherine, Lucas and Hu Chang. I don’t know if Cameron will be sticking around or not, but there sure is some serious chemistry going on between Catherine and Cameron. I would love to see where that goes.

I didn’t particularly love all the paranormal stuff going on, but that seems to be a trend lately in Iris Johansen’s latest books. Provided it doesn’t become too much, I guess I can live with it as I really love these books!!!

Audio Thoughts: I really enjoy Elisabeth Rodgers and have listened to her narrate quite a few of Iris Johansen’s books. She just gets the idea behind the books – the action, the suspense, the characters. It just works and I really hope she continues to narrate these books.

Books in this Series:

1. Chasing the Night (Eve Duncan, #11)
2. What Doesn’t Kill You
3. Live to See Tomorrow