Top 100 Gay Novel: PsyCop, Partners by Jordan Castillo Price

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Guest review by Amie Love (amielove1)
Original review posted here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A36ZYO8OZIHQ0C/

I love this series and this author. After reading a few of her works, she is now an auto-buy for me and I have never been disappointed. I have to admit that when I read the blurb I didn´t think this storyline would work; I was never so thrilled to be so wrong. This is not only a romance, m/m, or erotica. Told from Victor´s point of view, these stories are rich and vivid, immersing you into an engrossing world of the paranormal and murder. The plotline and amazing world building vividly intertwine with the growing relationship between Victor and Jacob. In a world where the paranormal has now become accepted as fact, riveting mysteries take center stage. As in real life, the characters and their relationships unfold and grow as an integral part of the storyline. The eroticism of this book is beautifully balanced with the paranormal and mystery; none of the elements overwhelm the others. When Victor and Jacob are intimate, the first person perspective makes it feel immediate and very, very hot.

Victor is broken. He´s a detective and a medium overwhelmed by the burden of his psychic powers; he has difficulties living with the constant bombardment of harassing ghosts and repeated visions of their deaths. He is an oddity who makes almost everyone around him uncomfortable. He´s a scruffy and rumpled train wreck of a man, a drug addict with poor self esteem, a former mental patient misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. He is inundated with paranormal activity and struggles to conceal his homosexuality from his fellow police officers. He lives in a perpetual drug-induced fog in an attempt to reduce his psychic powers, living in a world where it is dangerous to be too strong of a psychic.

Jacob is almost Victor´s opposite. He is physically and mentally strong, well dressed, handsome, successful and intelligent. He is a widely celebrated detective in another precinct, and is the "normal" in the psychic/normal partnerships required by the police force. He is powerfully attracted to and protective of Victor, who is a bit confused by Jacob´s attention.

This series has fully fleshed main and secondary characters, fantastic mysteries, an engrossing plot and striking world building. I highly recommend the entire series; they are as enjoyable on the second or third read as the first. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to read these. Once you pick them up you won´t be able to put them down again.

Amazon: PsyCop: Partners

Comments

[aileenfan.livejournal.com]

Amazing journal!!! I'll add you to my f-list, hope you don't mind:)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

you are more than welcome. I will friend yoi back. Elisa

[logophilos.livejournal.com]

Agree with all this. Castillo Price is just one of the best authors in this or any genre. A real, solid gold talent.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have still to read this series, but read all the following work by this author, and she is one of my favorite. I really love the Channeling Morpheus series. Elisa

[jordan-c-price.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks Ann!

[michelleann68.livejournal.com]

I love this series. It is like a comforting blanket for me. all 3 books (well 3 physical books containing the 5 books) are sitting on my nightstand. I have other books I should be reading, but when I want to crawl into a wonderful written and well drawn series, this hits the spot. Each story is better then the previous and the world gets more interesting and complex. I love Victor and Jacob and all their issues (Jacob is on patient man - sometimes I wish i knew what he was thinking) Crash, Miss Mattie, Lisa.. the whole gang really are just great to read about. I hope she writes a 6th book about this world.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You make me want to read it as soon as possible ;-) I have all books, but as for other series that begun before this LJ was born, I gave more space to newer series, and this one shifted in my reading list. Elisa

[michelleann68.livejournal.com]

The first one is a quick and easy read- it really sucks you in. The world gets more complex as the stories evolve and I think Camp Hell just takes the characters to a whole new depth. Hope you get a chance to start them soon.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I will try, I swear ;-) Elisa

[jordan-c-price.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much Michelle, that's awesome! I do indeed have 6 in the works and 7 planned. (more on the timeframe in my reply to Amie.)

I have a Josh Lanyon book on my nightstand at the moment ;-)

[michelleann68.livejournal.com]

Knowing 6 in in the works and 7 makes me very happy. Camp Hell was just fantastic (I am rereading it now).

I'll have to check out Josh as well then.

[amielove1.livejournal.com]

I read a comment from JCP on Monday (8/17) that she has a few chapters done on PsyCop 6 but it has been on the back burner. She didn't say anything about when she would be getting back to it though.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Good to know she decided to be back to them. Maybe it will be the time I will start the series. Elisa

[jordan-c-price.livejournal.com]

Amie, thank you so much for your reviews both here and on Amazon!

I did stall a little on 6 -- let's just say I let criticisms from people who shouldn't matter hit too hard sometimes and it'll throw me off a project -- but it's also possible my subconscious just wanted to simmer on the story, too.

Right now I'm also striving to complete my Sweet Oblivion series and I'll feel like I have more mental space to stretch out when I've got fewer stories hogging up the synapses. (Although I'll surely think of more ideas. It's kind of like trying to clean out your junk drawer; it keeps filling up!)

I would hope to have PsyCop 6 ready by next spring if all goes well.

[amielove1.livejournal.com]

Well I certainly won't argue with finishing Sweet Oblivion or Hemovore!

I know that beta readers and critique partners are an invaluable asset for authors, but you are an extremely talented writer. Try not to let people discourage you from what you know a story needs or doing what you love. If things need to percolate through your brain for a while, I can't deny that the results are worth it!

I think all readers have at least some degree of "more more more!" I'll try to refrain from my squeals of delight at the idea that you are working on two of my favorite series!

[tangerine-haze.livejournal.com]

Excellent review. Everyone kept saying this was a good series, but from the blurb I just wasn't interested. It's been on my too read pile for months and I kept passing it by. You're description was very enlightening. I will definitely put this book at the top of my too read list! Thanks.

[jordan-c-price.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I've heard this more than once. I maybe need to rewrite my blurb!!

Hope you enjoy it if you do take the plunge :D

[amielove1.livejournal.com]

I can imagine that it's very difficult for an author to break a storyline down to a paragraph or two, especially when it's as complex as this series.

[tangerine-haze.livejournal.com]

You know I've gone back and re-read the description and I can't figure out what it was that made me hesitate. Perhaps Victor's drug addiction was over emphasized in one of the descriptions or reviews I read?

I've now managed to buy and read all of the books/stories/free shorts in the series and I love it! I think Hell Cop was my favorite so far. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Please tell me there is another one coming!

I posted a guide on www.goodreads.com with the links for where each story can be purchased. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/197188-psycop-series-by-jordan-castillo-price

[jordan-c-price.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for featuring PsyCop: Partners, Elisa! I'm so honored to be on your top-100 list!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are more than welcome Jordan, and now I really have to put myself this series at the beginning of my reading list ;-) Elisa