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

Carolyn Crane (Author)

Book Description

Release 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: 1 x 4.4 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #626,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a writer living in Minneapolis with my husband and two daring cats.

I work a day job as a freelance advertising writer, and have for years. I've also waited tables at a surprising number of Minneapolis restaurants and bars (though not as many, incidentally, as my writer husband has). I've also been a shop clerk and a plastics factory worker, which I was dismal at (think I Love Lucy).

Also, I can relate almost any life experience to one or another Star Trek episodes, and if you invite me to your party, your cheese plate will be in grave danger.

During rare moments when I'm not at my computer, I can be found reading in bed, running, helping animals, or eating Mexican food.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good May 4, 2010

By Outer Assignment

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

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

By Madame X TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Unique -- Engaging! February 19, 2011

By Regina

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

4.5 stars. This is such a unique series! I had so much fun reading Mind Games. It is literally laugh out loud funny. The main character, Justine, is a hypochondriac and Ms. Crane writes her in a very sensitive but undeniably amusing manner. Despite her neurosis (and this is an area where it might be a tad bit annoying to read - however it never is), Justine is likeable. In Mind Games, readers get a heroine that is ... well ... real, she is worried about money, her boyfriend and her health. Justine is a very cute girl and likes to dress nicely. But somehow, despite these very real world characteristics, Justine gets caught up in a supernatural struggle.

The book begins with the heroine trying desperately to be normal. She hides her neurosis and her fear; she does not want others in her life to fully understand how scared she is about her health. This desire seems so relatable, despite not being a hypochondriac, who doesn't want to bury their faults? I too want to bury my own perceived defects. Justine is pretty, Justine is weird, but she is also very honorable and this is what makes her stand out among other heroines and as a character in Mind Games.

The setting of the book is a metropolis on Lake Michigan, but the metropolis is not Chicago. Ms Crane has created a fictional city with fictional problems. The premise is so out of the ordinary that it could have utterly failed in the hands of the wrong author. Luckily, Carolyn Crane wrote this book and she really hits her mark! Being an urban fantasy fan, I have read the full range that books in this genre have to offer - vamps, were creatures, angels, demons, witches, fae, skin walkers, ancient gods, the ability to see dead people and well, if you read a lot in this genre then you know the themes. And I am not criticizing those themes, I love to read them too but it is nice to read something so new and different. So, Mind Games is none of that - not any of that; what it is, is completely unique. There are a team of people - the disillusionists - who have the power to alter the way other people feel and think simply by touching them. I do not want to spoil the details of how, because discovering the how of the supernatural power is very fun.

Having now read and completed the trilogy, I highly recommend it. It is a fun series, with an interesting cast of characters whose personalities are well developed. The dialogue between the characters is often funny and/or insightful. There is a love triangle, but it such a unique triangle and it is done in a way without jealousy, without the over bearing possessiveness and male territorial marking that is present in so many paranormal books. Once you finish this book, you will be rushing to get #2 in this series - Double Cross.