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Order of Iris Johansen Books
Imagine a woman who once carved out a living crafting romance novels… only to one day pivot and begin weaving psychological thrillers so intense they could chill your spine while warming your heart. That woman is Iris Johansen—a literary powerhouse, genre-bender, and master of suspense who defies categorization with every single book she pens.
Born on April 7, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri, Iris Johansen’s journey wasn’t lined with awards or recognition right out the gate. In fact, she didn’t publish her first book until she was well into her 40s. Before that? She was a single mother raising two children and working as an airline reservations agent. Her life was grounded in reality—but her mind? It was soaring through stories waiting to be told.
And here's where it gets fascinating: Iris never pursued a traditional university degree in creative writing. Nope. Her education was the school of life, observation, and pure grit. She began her career writing historical romance novels for Silhouette and Bantam Books in the early 1980s. Her debut novel Stormy Vows was released in 1983. But even then, readers knew—there was something different about her voice. Her characters didn’t just fall in love—they fought battles, uncovered secrets, and dared to dream in dangerous worlds.
But wait—it gets better.
As her career flourished, Johansen did what few authors dared to do: she reinvented herself. Completely. By the 1990s, she made a bold shift into crime fiction and suspense thrillers, the very genres where her name would eventually become legendary. And that’s when Eve Duncan was born.
The Eve Duncan series, featuring a brilliant forensic sculptor haunted by the disappearance of her daughter, catapulted Johansen into the international spotlight. Her stories no longer whispered sweet nothings—they whispered secrets, mysteries, and threats that kept readers up all night. And yet, beneath the danger, her books always carried emotional depth—characters you care about, dilemmas you can feel.
If you’re thinking she did it all on her own, here’s another twist: storytelling runs in the family. Iris is the proud mother of Roy Johansen, an Edgar Award-winning screenwriter and author. Together, they’ve co-written numerous thrillers that blur the line between action, mystery, and deep emotional resonance. Yes, mother and son… both thriller writers. Can you imagine dinner conversations in their house?
As of today, Iris Johansen is still alive and writing, her imagination sharper than ever, her readers more devoted with every release. With over 100 books to her name and many New York Times bestsellers, she’s a literary icon who’s shown the world it’s never too late to dream dangerously—and write fearlessly.
So whether you're dipping into her historical romances, diving headfirst into her Eve Duncan thrillers, or exploring her co-authored mysteries with Roy Johansen, one thing is certain: Iris Johansen doesn’t just write stories… she dares you to survive them.
Publication Order of Series Books
Publication Order of CIA Agent Catherine Ling
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Chasing the Night | 2010 | Amazon |
| What Doesn't Kill You | 2012 | Amazon |
| Live to See Tomorrow | 2014 | Amazon |
| Your Next Breath | 2015 | Amazon |
| Vendetta | 2018 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Clanad
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Lady & the Unicorn | 1983 | Amazon |
| The Last Bridge Home | 1987 | Amazon |
| Across the River of Yesterday | 1987 | Amazon |
| Magnificent Folly | 1989 | Amazon |
| A Tough Man to Tame | 1991 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Donovan Enterprises
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Stormy Vows | 1983 | Amazon |
| Tempest at Sea | 1983 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Eve Duncan
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Man From Half Moon Bay | 1988 | Amazon |
| The Face of Deception | 1998 | Amazon |
| The Killing Game | 1999 | Amazon |
| The Search | 2000 | Amazon |
| Body of Lies | 2002 | Amazon |
| Blind Alley | 2004 | Amazon |
| Countdown | 2005 | Amazon |
| Stalemate | 2006 | Amazon |
| Quicksand | 2008 | Amazon |
| Blood Game | 2009 | Amazon |
| Eight Days to Live | 2010 | Amazon |
| Chasing the Night | 2010 | Amazon |
| Eve | 2011 | Amazon |
| Quinn | 2011 | Amazon |
| Bonnie | 2011 | Amazon |
| Sleep No More | 2012 | Amazon |
| Taking Eve | 2013 | Amazon |
| Hunting Eve | 2013 | Amazon |
| Silencing Eve | 2013 | Amazon |
| Shadow Play | 2015 | Amazon |
| Hide Away | 2016 | Amazon |
| Night and Day | 2016 | Amazon |
| Mind Game | 2017 | Amazon |
| Shattered Mirror | 2018 | Amazon |
| Dark Tribute | 2019 | Amazon |
| Smokescreen | 2019 | Amazon |
| The Persuasion | 2020 | Amazon |
| The Bullet | 2021 | Amazon |
| A Face to Die For | 2022 | Amazon |
| Captive | 2022 | Amazon |
| The Survivor | 2023 | Amazon |
| Death Mask | 2025 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Hannah Bryson (with Roy Johansen)
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Silent Thunder | 2008 | Amazon |
| Shadow Zone | 2010 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Kendra Michaels (with Roy Johansen)
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Close Your Eyes | 2012 | Amazon |
| Sight Unseen | 2014 | Amazon |
| The Naked Eye | 2015 | Amazon |
| Night Watch | 2016 | Amazon |
| Look Behind You | 2017 | Amazon |
| Double Blind | 2018 | Amazon |
| Hindsight | 2020 | Amazon |
| Blink of an Eye | 2021 | Amazon |
| More Than Meets the Eye | 2023 | Amazon |
| Flashback | 2024 | Amazon |
| Wait and See | 2026 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Lion's Bride
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Lion's Bride | 1996 | Amazon |
| The Treasure | 2008 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Reluctant Lark
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Reluctant Lark | 1983 | Amazon |
| The Bronzed Hawk | 1983 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Santa Flores
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| No Red Roses | 1984 | Amazon |
| Return to Santa Flores | 1984 | Amazon |
Publication Order of The Sedikhan
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Golden Valkyrie | 1984 | Amazon |
| The Trustworthy Redhead | 1984 | Amazon |
| Capture the Rainbow | 1984 | Amazon |
| Touch the Horizon | 1984 | Amazon |
| A Summer Smile | 1985 | Amazon |
| And the Desert Blooms | 1986 | Amazon |
| Always | 1986 | Amazon |
| Everlasting | 1986 | Amazon |
| Til The End of Time | 1986 | Amazon |
| Last Bridge Home | 1987 | Amazon |
| Across the River of Yesterday | 1987 | Amazon |
| Star Light, Star Bright | 1987 | Amazon |
| Blue Skies, Shining Promises | 1988 | Amazon |
| Magnificent Folly | 1989 | Amazon |
| Notorious | 1990 | Amazon |
| A Tough Man to Tame | 1991 | Amazon |
| The Golden Barbarian | 1991 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Wind Dancer
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Wind Dancer | 1991 | Amazon |
| Storm Winds | 1991 | Amazon |
| Reap the Wind | 1997 | Amazon |
| Final Target | 2001 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| No Easy Target | 2017 | Amazon |
| The Perfect Witness | 2014 | Amazon |
| Dark Summer | 2008 | Amazon |
| Pandora's Daughter | 2007 | Amazon |
| On the Run | 2005 | Amazon |
| Firestorm | 2003 | Amazon |
| Fatal Tide | 2003 | Amazon |
| Dead Aim | 2002 | Amazon |
| No One to Trust | 2002 | Amazon |
| And Then You Die | 1997 | Amazon |
| Long After Midnight | 1997 | Amazon |
| The Ugly Duckling | 1994 | Amazon |
| And the Desert Blooms | 1986 | Amazon |
| Blue Velvet | 1985 | Amazon |
| White Satin | 1985 | Amazon |