What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen

I’ve passed over Iris Johansen books on the library shelf many times and curiosity finally prevailed with ‘What Doesn’t Kill You.’  I should have passed over this one as well.  It has action, suspense, mystery and even romance but I just could not relate to the characters, their relationships or the situation.

CIA Agent Catherine Ling was abandoned as a toddler on the streets of Hong Kong by her prostitute mother. She learned to survive by selling information, vowing not to follow her mother’s vocation.  As a teen, mysterious Chinese apothecary Hu Chang saves her life and becomes her mentor.  Hu Chang’s potions can be miracle cures or poisons and he is a willing provider of both as long he is in complete control.  Under Hu Chang’s care, Catherine learns many survival skills and he encourages her to join the CIA. She becomes one of their best field operatives.

Chang creates a drug so powerful that it can kill without a trace. The villain, Hugh Nardik learns of Chang’s powerful elixir and schemes to gain control. Nardik hopes to manipulate Hu Chang through Catherine by kidnapping her son so he can steal the potion.  He plans to use the potion to assassinate the latest conservative U.S. Presidential candidate with no evidence of foul play.  The CIA learns of the plot and sends hunky operative John Gallo to assist Catherine and Hu Chang in foiling the assassination attempt while saving Catherine’s son and recovering the dangerous drug.

This one didn't keep me reading into the night as a real page turner will do.  The emotional connections of the main characters did not seem genuine.  For example, Catherine and John Gallo’s relationship was developed more like a romance novel than proper material for men reading books.  If your sister enjoys espionage, maybe this is for her.