Double Cross by Carolyn Crane
Narrator: Rebecca Wisocky
Series: The Disillusionists #2
Published by Audible
Published on: October 25, 2011
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 10 hours and 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL.
Serial killers with unhead-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity. As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience…and an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men—one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.
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This is the second installment of The Disillusionists series. Disillusionists are people who use their issues to help rehabilitate other people. The main character, Justine, is a hypochondriac. She uses that to ramp up the fear in other people. They use this to “reboot” the person they are trying to rehabilitate. In this book, Ez, has the power to get into people’s dreams and even control them when they’re sleeping.
Former police chief, now mayor, Otto Sanchez has gotten Packer and his group of Disillusionists to work on people he’s locked up behind barriers. Sanchez wants them rehabilitated before he’s willing to release them. He’s convinced that Ez was sending people out to cannibalize other people. However, it starts to look more and more like she was framed.
There is also a group of people killing the high-caps (people with special abilities, like Otto Sanchez’s ability to lock people behind forcefields). This group of serial killers are called “The Dorks”. Sanchez insists that killers can’t have cool names, but names that make them look weak. There is a list of names, similar to how they have names for hurricanes, that can be used. This is the best thing that Sanchez does in this book, at least in my opinion.
So, I really loved the mystery of this story. I loved how they not only learned more and more about Ez and her issues, but also the investigation into The Dorks. We also see Justine grow as a character, though it does take her a while to get there.
The part I hated the most about this book, the love triangle between Sterling Packard, Justine and Otto Sanchez. Love triangles are something that I can’t stand, but I was able to put my hatred aside for this story. I will be interested to see what happens in the next book.
The secondary characters continue to be great. Simon is someone that I really like. Shelby is another character I really like. She is so good for Justine. I even liked Ez.
Now, I will warn you, this book ends on a cliffhanger. Luckily, I don’t have to wait for the next book. I will be tackling it very soon. I can’t wait to see where The Disillusionists go from here. Some much came out in this book.
Narration
I really continue to enjoy the narration of this series. Rebecca Wisocky continues to do a great job with all the voices. I have to give her a big shoutout for the tone and pacing. When Justine starts to go into her panic, she starts talking faster and you can really hear that panic in her voice. Then when she comes down, the narrator goes back to a more normal pace.
Listen to a sample at Audible.com.
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I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
This series does sound very original with the type of powers the characters have. And the mystery sounds interesting too! I don’t mind love triangles too much usually, but it does depend on how they are written, some do get on my nerves. I hope you enjoy the next book as well! Great review!
Lola recently posted…Sunday Post #234
Thanks Lola. I’ve not read anything else like this book. I’m not a fan of love triangles, but some don’t bother me as much as others.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
i enjoyed this one 🙂
blodeuedd recently posted…Carole’s Sunday Review: Lord of the sea castle
I still need to listen to the last book in this series. I already have it, but so many other review books.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
This definitely sounds like a unique series and not your every day stuff int eh genre. Nice review for this!
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Now I Rise by Kiersten White
That is something that I love about this series, uniqueness.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
I really liked the series and the author, Carolyn Crane is a doll. I like her so much. Anyway, I hate Otto so this was not my favorite book in the series because of the love triangle thing. I REALLY like the next one tho. Anne
Northwoman recently posted…Audio: Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey #JIAM
Carolyn Crane is so sweet. I met her at RT15. I wasn’t a huge fan of Otto in book one and I really didn’t like him in this one. I’m excited to start the next book.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
That sounds like all sorts of fun. Not sure I’d like my fears ramped up in order to ‘reboot’ me though. That’s just all kinds of creepy. lol
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Review: Addicted by Charlotte Stein
I would not want to have to deal with a Disillusionist, that is for sure. Their “victims” get pretty paranoid.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
That’s what I hated about the first book and the one reason why I didn’t bother continuing with this series.
I hope you’ll have a better time with the next few books.
I think the love triangle thing is solved now. I will let you know how book three goes. I need to tackle it soon.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
Ugh, the triangle, but for a really good world and mystery, I would tolerate it. This looks good. Thanks, Melanie!
Sophia Rose recently posted…Review: Sweet Home Cowboy by Marin Thomas
I can deal with some love triangles and this one isn’t as bad as some. The rest of the story makes up for it.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
Thank’s for the review. I’ve not heard of this series and now I’m going to check it out. It sounds interesting. I do dislike love triangles. Hmm maybe that is my issue with Jane Yellowrock series. I can’t stand the men in her life. Thanks, Melanie!!
I’ve not tried the Yellowrock series. I’ve heard good things, but a love triangle??? The rest of the story has to be good in order for me to deal with it.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
I don’t know if it really is a love triangle, but Jane has several men in her life and Beast doesn’t help because she keeps pulling Jane to go to one or all. I just haven’t been won over by any man for Jane, other then late It’s been a great UF series. I just finished book 5 and finally see what everyone is raving about.
Angela recently posted…Review: Wild Ride (Black Knights Inc. #9) by Julie Ann Walker
Oh man, a triangle AND a cliffhanger!? Glad you have the next book ready to go, hopefully the triangle thing will go away. These supernaturals sound really interesting and original.
I think the love triangle is done, or at least that is how this book read. I will see if it is really gone in the next book. The rest of the story makes up for the love triangle thing.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
Aspects of the world and unique abilities really intrigued me, but oh lord a love triangle.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay
Yeah, love triangle, sigh. I think it is resolved. I will find out when I finish the last book. I really hope so.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais (@mlsimmons, @EveLanglais, @SMPRomance)
The Dorks, huh? Well, I do love me some serial killers. Sounds like a series worth a try.
Christy LoveOfBooks recently posted…The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
I really loved the idea of giving the serial killers goofy names. They would go down in infamy as “The Dorks”. Much better than something like Son of Sam, BTK, The Butcher from Hanover, etc.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: June 11 to 17 — 34 Speculative Fiction Releases
I’ve been wanting to try this series but just haven’t gotten to it. I don’t mind triangles since I’ve read a few (very few admittedly) that have worked so it lessened my hatred. 🙂 I still hate cliffies though but I do like that there are so many out there so it won’t bother me as much either. 🙂 Brilly review.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…On My Wishlist, A Reminder About Freebies, and a Little Visitor
I’n not a fan of cliffhangers either, but with the last book already out, it doesn’t bother me as much. I can start it as soon as I want (I’ve been working through some books I got from publishers first, but might be my next listen).
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: June 11 to 17 — 34 Speculative Fiction Releases
I love the premise for this story and the series as a whole. The world building as well as character development seems very well done. I’m sorry this one incorporated a love triangle but I’m happy that there was enough ‘good stuff’ that you could set aside your distaste of that element and still enjoy the story. Great review, Melanie!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Review ~ Rocky Mountain Heat ~ Vivian Arend #ShelfLove
I’m very excited to see how the series ends. I think the love triangle is resolved by the end of this book, which makes it more bearable. The rest of the story was so much fun.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: June 11 to 17 — 34 Speculative Fiction Releases
It’s been so long since I’ve read this series. I just remember I DIED with the cliffhanger ending. I hope you enjoy/enjoyed the final book. I feel that the author did a great job tying things up, but it was a bit of an emotional journey!
Jen Twimom recently posted…Listen Up! #Audiobook Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy
I think the final book is going to be my next listen. I can’t wait to see how the series ends.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: June 11 to 17 — 34 Speculative Fiction Releases