What Doesn't Kill You

A Novel (Catherine Ling, Book 2)

By: Iris Johansen

Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck

Catherine Ling was abandoned on the streets of Hong Kong at age four. Schooled in the art of survival, she traded in the only commodity she had: information. As a teenager, she came under the tutelage of a mysterious man known only as Hu Chang - a skilled assassin and master poisoner. As a young woman, she was recruited by the CIA and now she is known as one of their most effective operatives. Having lived life in the shadows, Catherine is aware of the wobbly moral compass of her existence and even more aware of just how expendable she is to those she deals with. When her old friend Hu Chang creates a formula that’s not only deadly but completely untraceable, the race begins to be the first to get it. With rogue operative John Gallo also on the hunt, Catherine finds herself up against a group so villainous and a man so evil that she may not survive in her quest to protect those she cares about: Hu Chang and Luke - the son who was stolen from Catherine and only recently brought home safe. Using all of her for- midable skills, Catherine Ling proves the age-old belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Iris Johansen is at her page-turning best in this novel that takes you from the corridors of Langley to the alleyways of Hong Kong and the darkest places of the human soul.

©2012 Johansen Publishing LLLP (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Like the story but the narration is a bit stilted

Would you try another book from Iris Johansen and/or Jennifer Van Dyck?

It's a predictable story line. I'm not sure if it is Johansen's writing or the way the narrator reads it but it seems clipped and stilted. I had to stop listening for a while due to the way it came across.

Would you be willing to try another book from Iris Johansen? Why or why not?

Maybe...not for a while - the narration is vaguely unpleasant.

What didn’t you like about Jennifer Van Dyck’s performance?

The reading felt stilted.

Was What Doesn't Kill You worth the listening time?

It has some twists that were interesting.

The story is fine, but the narrator.........

Where does What Doesn't Kill You rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Midway

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Plot was fast and entertaining.

What three words best describe Jennifer Van Dyck’s performance?

Wrong for this story - why not find a Chinese narrator as the two main characters are Chinese?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

It took time to get into this book due to the narrator - she isn't bad - just wrong for the characters.

Love hearing about Katherine and Luke

I always enjoy Iris' writings.
The characters make me smile and I love hearing their stories.
Will be interesting to see how these stories play out.

Enjoyable - strong female lead

What made the experience of listening to What Doesn't Kill You the most enjoyable?

I enjoy a strong kick-ass female lead. The plot was fun and fast-paced.

What was one of the most memorable moments of What Doesn't Kill You?

The backstory of the two main Chinese characters were interesting.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Van Dyck – was your favorite?

Catherine and her son Luke, too.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Should be played by Angelina Jolie.

great story

An interesting story that found me sitting in the car listening to it once I got home. The narrator did an excellent job. I get the feeling that we'll hear more from these characters later on.

Very good story, the person reading... well....

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

the plot was pretty good.. the story kept you waiting for more

What aspect of Jennifer Van Dyck’s performance would you have changed?

I thought she was a little dry... i didn't care for her..

Any additional comments?

overall this was a good book, I love Iris Johanson... I had read books with this character before, and I pictured her differently in my head. When i was listening to the lady reading the book, I had a hard time relating with her... i dunno, it's probably just me.. Good book though!

Disliked a lot at first but flashbacks intriguing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I figured this is a sequel. Wish I'd realized that before starting. I would change the reader. I intensely disliked her clipped delivery of Catherine's voice and Hu Chang's "voice" as well. I would change Catherine & Hu Chang's visiting Chen Lu's palace - they didn't even get one night's sleep; all they accomplished was getting Rory killed and the place destroyed. I would change the climax where Catherine confronts Mardik, who allegedly kidnapped Luke and will make a call to have him released him after Catherine turns over the drug to him. Catherine gives him the drug and then he says he didn't really call the person holding Luke. Why would a sharp CIA agent like Catherine believe the mega villain would keep his word? Why would the mega villain believe CIA star Catherine would be so trusting? SHM over the writer's expecting this level of suspending disbelief. Finally, maybe this is covered in the first book but why would Hu Chang let Luke be a captive for all those years - he seems virtually superhuman - why didn't he rescue him the day after he was kidnapped?!!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The best part of the story was the flashback to Catherine's first meeting with Hu Chang and the development of their early relationship. The least interesting has multiple contenders: the beginning of the book with Hu Chang's rescue (and supercilious attitude); Catherine's early-in-the-book conversations with Luke - in fact, virtually all of Catherine's conversations with Luke; the aforementioned climactic confrontation between Catherine & Mardik.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Clipped annoying voice for Catherine & Hu Chang.

Did What Doesn't Kill You inspire you to do anything?

To not return it! It was a close call! But the flashback won me over. Also, I'm curious to read the preceding book - IF it's a different reader!!!

Any additional comments?

I liked Gallo.I read all the early Eve Duncan books & some others by Johansen -- my favorite is The Search with Sarah Patrick, rescue dog trainer. Then I hit a book or two re Eve/Bonnie that I didn't like much and quit reading Iris Johansen. Bought this to give Iris another try without realizing Eve was even mentioned. Had no idea about Gallo's existence or relationship to Eve. Interesting. Who I really loved is Galen in No One To Trust and he was in at least one Eve Duncan book too - Body of Lies. Gallo reminds me a bit of him, although Galen is better!

Moves very well!

What did you love best about What Doesn't Kill You?

I loved this book, but read the review I wrote for No Return by Brett Battles...it is the review I intended for this book. Got the titles mixed up. Please read my review...the author and the narrator excellent.

Great story, action packed.

The story kept my interst, was fast paced, Had a great plot, I really enjoyed the book.

Takes a while to get into!

If you could sum up What Doesn't Kill You in three words, what would they be?

Give It Time

What was one of the most memorable moments of What Doesn't Kill You?

poisons... the poisons were clever.

What about Jennifer Van Dyck’s performance did you like?

I liked the narrator, she was good but the way she kept saying certain names got a little tedious. Not the narrators fault obviously. Just the way it was written.