PACK OF LIES, book two of Paranormal Scene Investigation
series, relates the adventures of a team of paranormal crime
scene investigators. The paranormal, magic, and magical
creatures are an aspect of everyday life, with its own set
of social rules, political complexities, and crimes. The
Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations (PUPI) team,
led by Ian Stosser and Benjamin Venec, was established to be
an unbiased resource for investigating paranormal crimes.
Team members have much needed paranormal skills they hone
with constant training and practice.
Bonita Torres, one of five twenty-something Talents of PUPI,
is able to read a scene and recreate the residual energy to
replay aspects of the crime, much like a DVD. When a Talent
is murdered by a rare and magical creature, PUPI is called
in by the Cosa Nostradamus to investigate. What seems like
an open and shut case turns out to be more complicated than
expected. It will take all of their psychic talent to get to
the truth.
I loved the premise of the PSI series. PACK OF LIES reads
like a police procedural (gathering clues, building
hypotheses, eliminating suspects...) but the procedures used
are based on a science of magic. I was impressed by the
complexity of how Gilman's magic world works, and the fact
that it all seemed plausible. Gilman has created a rich and
intriguing world that blends a familiar reality with a
magical world with its own specific rules, politics, and
challenges. I liked all the members of PUPI, each of whom
had distinct personalities and back stories that blended
well together. I look forward to future PUPI investigations.
My name is Bonita Torres, and eight months ago I was an
unemployed college graduate without a plan. Now I’m an
investigator with the Private Unaffiliated Paranormal
Investigations team of New York. Pretty awesome, right?
The Cosa Nostradamus, the magical community, isn’t quick to
give up its secrets, though. Not even to fellow members.
Not even when it’s in their best interests. So we’ve been
busting our tails, perfecting our forensic skills, working
to gain acceptance. The team’s tight… but we have our
quirks, too. And our Big Dog, Benjamin Venec…well, he’s a
special case, all right.
But we can’t give up. We’re needed, especially when a case
comes along that threatens to pit human against fatae. But
one wrong move could cost us everything we’ve worked for…