Review: Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

Title: Double Cross {Disillusionists trilogy #2}

Published: Spectra Sept 2010

Sypnosis: Justine Jones lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she was lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard, who gifts her with extraordinary mental powers—dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves. But now serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity’s new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will. As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men—one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

Status: Read from January 03 to 04, 2011 — I own a copy

My Thoughts:

For me, the second book in a series is the best indicator of what the author and story is capable of, and Crane has shown that she has real talent and an interesting story to tell with Double Cross. I liked Mind Games, it was something fresh and unusual for the genre but I enjoyed Double Cross much more.
Justine is no longer obsessed with her health, but her neuroses have fragmented to encompass her feelings of guilt and confusion about her abilities and her relationships with Otto and Packard. I find her conflicted personality fascinating, she is such a mess, but wants so much to be normal and do the right thing.
Usually in the UF genre the woman has two men to choose between, the hero and the bad boy. In this case, just when you think you know which is which, Crane reveals another layer to the personalities of Otto and Packard. It’s what makes the conclusion to Double Cross so stunning (and frustrating – bring on number 3!).
There is more action in this installment with the ‘Dorks’ hunting highcaps and the Disillusionists working on Otto’s captives. The tension is carefully built for both storylines and feeds the brisk pace.
The writing is strong and I was relieved to see far less mention of the word minion this time around. There are so many creative touches – the naming of criminals, the glasses, the disillusionists abilities, the twisted nature of the plot threads – okay, the whole darn thing is original.
Double Cross is a fantastic sequel to Mind Games and I can’t wait for the conclusion. Carolyn Crane still rocks!

@ Goodreads