Sharp: A Mindspace Investigations Novel, Book 2

This is the second book not counting the novella which you probably should read before this one. In this one we continue the pattern of dealing with Adam's past this time front and center is the incident that caused him to lose his Guild job. As another reviewer wrote this is a character book so very little action.Good1: The character is better in this one not a great deal but better in this instance I am talking about the fact that he at least has learned to talk back every now and then.2: His powers come back in fits and starts by the end he gets it back only to lose it again but I have hopes that he will regain it before the next book comes out.3: The world is built upon and some new characters are added. I liked the new characters especially Stone but again we get the weird schizophrenic thing going where he is likable one minute and completely different person the next willing to threaten children. I get where the writer wanted to go but the transition is way to rough. I did like the character concept and thought if only the main could be more like this guy.4: There is one instance of him actually using his power to stop someone. I know it amazed me just amazed me when he did it.5: Plot is much like the first one but still is fun to go through you can kind of figure it out half way through but you will still be hooked enough to finish the book.6: The writing is solid with a good turn of phrase and the dialogue is good.Bad1: Okay I did not like that he lost his power if you are going to have a character with power then let him have it otherwise write a book about normal's. And to use the same plot device of him losing his power again is sloppy and lazy. I know it is easier to write books with weak characters but this is only going to drive readers away.2: Following on number one start spending some time actually on what he can and cannot do flesh his powers out give him for pity's sack something interesting. The level 8 thing gets thrown around all the time make it mean something that he is supposed to be that strong. How did these psychics do anything to secure their future when this guy is such a weakling?3: This book is much like the first as we get a plot filled with him being bullied into situations such as the whole in debt to the Guild thing. I could start a list of those that bully him or degrade him but that would be every character in this book.4: The interactions with other characters are very hard to read and weird. Cherberno beats him down because she thinks he might be working for the Guild again? Really? Just like the first one whenever something comes up she hits him, yells at him so my question is I guess it is okay to hit people if you have a misunderstanding then when you are found to be wrong not to apologize? Or is it just because he never fights back that is the reason it is okay to hit him and demean him?5: Lets talk about Kara you know the ex fiancee that turned him in? They have scene in the book all of 1 page dealing with the past. First maybe she was right to do what she did I don't know. But she never came and tried to help in rehab or after. I would never desert my fiancee like that in there time of need. That part made her out to be a good guy for betraying what was supposed to someone she loves and although I could see her point the fact that she just cut him out of her life after shows exactly how much she really cared for him even as a friend she would of tried to help him instead of abandoning him right when he needed her the most. The bad part is she keeps it up if you have someone you know and used to at least like maybe love "tho I doubt she is capable of the emotion" who is about to be confronted by a person who can kill, imprison or lobotomize you then decide well I can't tell them I might get in trouble, then you are a piece of s*** person. He used to be someone she said she loved. She would kill a dog for peeing on the floor.Overall There is a pervading sense that Adam deserves all the bad things people do to him through out this series. Why would it be all right to treat people with rampant distrust? Why would it be okay to hit people for doing something wrong? Why is it okay for people to not give him credit for doing more to solve a case than anyone else? This series has more potential than alot of series out there right now but it is hampered by a main character that is unlikable with a cast of characters that treat that main character like a child or a rabid dog depending on mood. Would I recommend this to a friend? Maybe. I am giving it one more book then if the issues are the same I will just leave. Which is sad because this has a ton of potential.

I really enjoyed this second entry into Alex Hughes' Mindscape Investigations series. I liked watching Adam grow and make some tough choices. In his last case, he had to deal with a telepath who was also a serial killer. This brought him to the very negative attention of the very secretive Guild of telepaths.This story begins with Adam being called to the scene of a murder and finding out that the victim was one of the students he accidentally stripped of her telepathic powers when he was under the influence of the drug that got him kicked out of the Guild. The Guild would really rather that he had died on the streets from an overdose of the drug.Adam is clean now in part because of the devotion of his Narcotics Anonymous sponsor Jonathan Swartz and in part because he has found a purpose for his life working with the police department. He is especially close to Isabella Cherabino with whom he accidentally formed a mind link. This has really freaked Cherabino out because, like most people, she doesn't trust telepaths and doesn't want to share her mind with one. He is slowly rebuilding trust with her. Then the Guild comes calling because they might want him back and certainly want to monitor him to make sure he isn't telling any Guild secrets.Adam has lots of stresses in this story which isn't good for a man who still fights everyday to stay drug-free. The police department is down-sizing due to budget cuts and his job could be on the line. He is at odds with Cherabino who is a strong, sane, helping hand when he is down. His NA sponsor suffers a major heart attack. One of Adam's students was murdered. The Guild plants a tag in his mind so that they can make sure he isn't a danger to them which increases suspicion in the police department and the FBI is investigating him. There are other stressors to but edge into spoiler territory.In the world that Hughes has created, technology went wild and killed millions when a madman took control of the semisentient computers and spread computer viruses to people's implants. Tech is not allowed and is greatly feared. Now someone is hijacking components that could be used to recreate that Tech and it gets mixed up in Adam's murder case.Fans of urban fantasy who want a main character who isn't a superhero will really enjoy this story. I can't wait to read further Mindspace Investigations novels.

Throughout this novel the hero struggles with drug addiction. He is talented but fights against himself to exercise those talents. The resulting struggle creates an interesting hero. The novel is well written, well paced and easy to read. I was a little disappointed that I had to wait so long to get it on Kindle, but that's an issue for the publisher, the novel is good. I tend to give bad reviews. This one is good.

A really enjoyable story. The hero is both flawed and sympathetic. He uses his brain to solve tricky situations and the world created in compelling.