Malicious Maladies

For my first review on this blog I chose to post my review of Mind Games by Carolyn Crane.  The review's also on Amazon where I originally posted it.

This book gets a 4.5 out of 5 gnomes, it is highly recommended and well worth reading.

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This book has a great concept that will really speak to anyone with neurotic tendencies, which is just about everyone. Warning, you may become more of a hypochondriac after reading this book. I was drawn in by just reading the back cover.

Justine Jones, what a great name I've always been a sucker for alliteration in names, is not your typical kick butt type of woman but as the story progresses she finds herself letting go of her hypochondria related fears.

Having a group that can project their fears and insecurities into criminals by "zinging" them or pretty much drilling a hole in their aura/energy field with their minds and then releasing their own fear or insecurity into the person is a very interesting way to fight crime and disillusion the person thus making them change their ways. The range of disillusion talents really makes you think more of how you act and what your own neuroses might be.  Some of the others make people want to drink, gamble, or make them fearful of natural events or things like the big picture saying things like oh oils not the problem water running out is the real issue.

Packard, the leader of the Disillusionists is a "highcap", what the author calls anyone with psychic powers, who can see the structure that makes up someone like their greatest fears and why they make certain choices.  Packard picks the people that the team goes after by seeing exactly how to disillusion someone.  So it can be a two step or more process.  Step one, Justine gets sent after someone who’s afraid of health issues so she then magnifies the fear of whatever health condition they are afraid of.  Step two is to make the person gamble or risk away all their wealth so another disillusionist comes in and makes the person gamble away their wealth and possessions. 

Packard recruits Justine and they have a very palpable chemistry between them but of course she has a boyfriend and other complications and romantic entanglements ensue. Of course there’s the kind of cliché fact that Packard didn’t tell her everything about the zinging and about himself so this makes Justine unsure of her feelings.  Packard’s nemesis who can interact with the architecture of a building is not as fleshed out a character as he could be but I personally can’t wait to read more about him. I'm not sure I agree with her choice in the end but it has one heck of a conclusion. The book ends on a pretty positive note and I am indeed looking forward to the next book.