Mind Games (The Disillusionists Trilogy: Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Carolyn Crane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2010

JUSTINE KNOWS SHE’S GOING TO DIE. ANY SECOND NOW.
 
Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward on Midcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem.

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness—only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wow! Crane's writing style brings to mind old-school noir, with the compelling attitude of superheroes from a graphic novel. A masterful blend of dark and light, good and bad and all the grays in between, it will draw readers thoroughly into her tale, as they root for the good guys—while trying to figure out just who the good guys are. The ending promises more adventures, and that is a very good thing." 4.5 stars—Romantic Times
 
"With a twisty, edgy storyline, a unique premise and a fascinating heroine, Mind Games jumpstarts a smart and original urban fantasy series. A fabulous debut!"—Meljean Brook, The Guardians series
 
"Carolyn Crane writes with deft and evocative flair, creating a fantasy-noir world touched with comic book cool. With a twisty plot, a unique heroine, memorable supporting characters, and an amazingly fresh premise, debut novel Mind Games is a delicious, unforgettable delight. I can´t wait for the next book!"—Ann Aguirre, author of Blue Diablo
  
“Carolyn Crane’s debut novel is a brilliant original in every way.  Just when I think that urban fantasy heroines are becoming too clichéd and predictable, Mind Games blows me out of the water with its unique premise.  Justine does not wield a katana, or ride a Harley, or kick like a ninja.  Instead she fights with her mind, and speaking as a nerd myself, I find that concept oh so sexy.”—dirtysexybooks.com

“Mind Games is a violent U-Turn in a fresh direction, signaling the dynamic and welcome arrival of both Carolyn Crane and the most unique urban fantasy heroine I’ve seen on page in a long while, Justine Jones. And like Justine, Midcity is brightly imagined, beautifully dangerous, and perfectly flawed. Flashy and stylish, this is urban fantasy’s new shot-in-the-arm.” — Vicki Pettersson, New York Times Bestselling author of Cheat the Grave

“Masterful worldbuilding, sly humor, and fantastically quirky characters. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I loved, loved, loved it. A+” — Jill Sorenson, author of Set the Dark on Fire

 

About the Author

CAROLYN CRANE lives in Minneapolis with her handsome husband and two daring cats. She enjoys reading and running and loves animals of all kinds. For more than a decade she’s made her living as a freelance writer. This is her first novel, and the first book in The Disillusionists Trilogy.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Spectra; Original edition (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553592610
• ISBN-13: 978-0553592610
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for coming to my page! I'm a writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and two daring cats. I've always been fascinated by hidden worlds - the wiry insides of old gadgets, the strange workings of secret societies, the mysteries of people's minds and hearts. I'm into that as a reader and a writer, too.

My Disillusionists trilogy (Mind Games, Double Cross & Head Rush) takes place in a fantastical and shadowy Milwaukee/Chicago, a place of many secrets.

Other books include a spin-off disillusionist novella in the Wild & Steamy anthology (think of it as book 2.5, but you can read it at any point in the series). When I'm not writing novels or working at my day job as a marketing writer, I can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food - or at www.authorcarolyncrane.com, along with sample chapters, contests and fun extras and links to my twitter, goodreads and facebook. Let's friend!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, May 4, 2010

By 

Outer Assignment (SouthEast, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mind Games (Disillusionists Trilogy) (Kindle Edition)

I resisted buying this book because I didn't think I'd like a heroine who is so obsessed (a hypochondriac) that she's likely to wind up in a straightjacket if her syndrome continues to take over her thoughts. However, the good reviews this book received on Amazon convinced me to give it a try. Well, I just finished the book, and I'm a bit in shock. What an excellent book. The premise immediately grabs your attention; it's different from anything I've read. What would it be like, if you had the power to untwist messed-up people by destabilizing the mind games they use to convince themselves of the rightness of their perceptions? The heroine was very likable; I sympathized with her problems and the dilemmas she was forced to face. Even the secondary characters were created well, with distinct personalities that made them come alive. I enjoyed discovering that people I initially thought were "bad" were not so easily described. All in all, the book was very satisfying. I'll be sure to buy the next book in the series, due out in September 2010. Carolyn Crane. I'll remember that name.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC series, February 7, 2011

By 

Keith Dupuis "KD" (Southeast USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mind Games (The Disillusionists Trilogy: Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

So many urban fantasy novels nowadays are exactly the same. When I stumble across an author who bucks the trend, it's like winning a scratch ticket. Carolyn Crane is a fantastic writer; has created truly memorable characters; pulls together a top notch story; and is damn, damn funny. I cannot give these books a stronger recommendation. Buy them!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Original, smart, and totally unpredictable., May 10, 2010

By 

mlle. x (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mind Games (Disillusionists Trilogy) (Kindle Edition)

Mind Games isn't just good, it's diabolically good. It's fresh, it's surprising, and it's an awful lot of fun to read. In short, it really stands out in the urban fantasy genre.

When I was reading reviews of Mind Games before I bought it, I got confused. I kept reading that these neurotic people were drafted into a group called the Disillusionists, and then they discover that they can transform their crippling mental problems into superpowers of some kind. And I kept thinking, well, that's cool but I don't get it. How is hypochondria a superpower? Well, here's the answer: it's not. The Disillusionsts rally around a "highcap" - a guy with actual paranormal abilities - named Packard, who enables them to transfer all their negative thoughts, feelings, and fears into another human being...but there's a cost, and it's pretty intense.

So Justine really is just a girl with severe hypochondria. It's only by hitching a ride with Packard that she can do anything more, and her abilities remain incredibly limited. But for all that, Mind Games felt more magical to me than most books I've read in the past year about werewolves or vampires or fairies. There's no whizz-bang, but the Disillusionists are all about getting maximum impact from the abilities they have. They cooperate, they strategize, and they get results. Scary, mind-boggling results.

The worldbuilding was great too. Exactly what an urban fantasy ought to be: the city environment was ordinary but unsettling, the characters familiar but ultimately so bizarre. I don't want to say a whole lot more, because one of the awesome things about Mind Games is how unpredictable it is - at NO point did I guess how this book would end - and I don't want to inadvertently spoil anything.