Mind Games - Book Review

Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

What is it about:
Mind Games heroine Justine Jones isn't your typical kick-ass type - she’s a hopeless hypochondriac whose life is run by fear.
She's lured into a restaurant, Mongolian Delites, by tortured mastermind Sterling Packard, who promises he can teach her to channel her fears. In exchange, she must join his team of disillusionists - vigilantes hired by crime victims to zing their anxieties into criminals, resulting in collapse and transformation.

Justine isn't interested in Packard's troupe until she gets a taste of the peace he can promise. Soon she enters the thrilling world of neurotic crime fighters who battle Midcity’s depraved and paranormal criminals.

Eventually, though, she starts wondering why Packard hasn’t set foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant for eight years. And about the true nature of the disillusionists.

What did I think of it:
Sometimes you come across a concept and it sounds so cool you just have to read the book. Queen Victoria hunting demons? Check! Nazi Vampires? Check! Neurotic crime fighters? Check!

Those who read my previous reviews may know a cool concept isn't always enough (don't get me started on the nazi vampires again), but luckily Mind Games sure delivers.
Justine is a very likeable person and I couldn't help feeling annoyed at those who made things difficult for her. The story is well written, engaging, unique and the concept of the disillusionists intriguing. I liked how things weren't divided in black and white as in so many stories, but how it shows the world as it really is: a wide variety of shades of grey.

So any negative things in this story?
Well, the book is written in the present tense and I usually hate to read stories in present tense as it creates a distance for me, but in Mind Games I only actually noticed it was written in present tense somewhere halfway through the book, so I must confess that in this case I can't say it's a negative thing.

So I'm left with only one major setback:
I'll have to wait for book two in this trilogy until september!

Why should you read it:
Neurotic crime fighters!
Seriously: if you like well written Urban Fantasy you really should try this book, if only for the unique concept.
If on the other hand you're expecting and want vampires, werewolves and the likes, stay away from this book.