Tynga's Reviews: Mindspace Investigations

Monday, December 15, 2014

Vacant by Alex Hughes

Sorry for the absence, folks! Teaching, job hunting and family stuff have taken over my life and I've barely had time to read, which is why you haven't seen much of me (and may not for a little while). But I committed to this tour for VACANT because I'm a huge Alex Hughes fan, as you probably know if you're a long-time reader of the blog, and I wanted to spread the love!

The fourth book in Hughes' Mindspace Investigations series, VACANT is a serious game changer and I was glued to my e-reader from start to finish. It has all of the great qualities I associate with the series: strong writing, an intriguing case, and nice character development. It's hard to discuss VACANT without referencing previous events so be forewarned!

VACANT is a book about choices -- choices Adam has to make in this novel and choices that he's made in the past that come back to haunt him. It's a rewarding novel to people who have been with the series since the start since we get to see how much Adam has grown and also how much he continues to struggle.

In a brief, happy moment, VACANT opens with Adam and Cherabino on a date. They're at a concert, which Adam finds overwhelming at first, until he realises what an incredible high he can get from everyone's positive energy. (Is this foreshadowing a new addiction for him?) Things rapidly take a turn for the worst, though, as Cherabino is set up for a murder she didn't commit and Adam is called out of town to help the FBI with a case. It's a nicely set up conflict for Adam: does he protect Tommy (whom he's seen die in his process visions) or does he abandon his charge to help Cherabino when it's obvious she's being railroaded? It makes VACANT a meaty read since it forces Adam to make touch choices and shows us a lot about his character.

Even without the emotional turmoil, VACANT pays out on a lot of Hughes' promises from previous novels, as old enemies come out of the woodwork. The links to previous novels are nicely orchestrated and add some excellent layers to the story. Plus, Adam finds himself working with a new team, which places him sorely out of his element, not just because of new partners but because he's working as a Minder, not as an investigator. I love a good fish-out-of-water story and Hughes delivers it in spades with this story.

VACANT ends in a way that has me eagerly anticipating what Hughes gives us next. The world's become a lot bigger now for Adam and I'm so curious to see where Hughes will take him (and us).

In addition to fun blog posts, interviews, and exclusive excerpts, fans will have a chance to solve a mystery during the month-long VACANT blog tour! A “Clue-like” checklist is available to download from the author’s blog, to be marked off as readers visit stops along the tour schedule. Somewhere on participating blog posts will be clues (clearly marked) that will eliminate specific “Location”, “Weapon”, or “Suspect” options. At the end of the tour, a rafflecopter entry form will help Alex choose a grand prize winner amongst all who correctly guess “who dunnit?” based on the remaining options. There will also be individual blog giveaways for print, digital, and audio copies of Mindspace Investigations novels.

Here's our clue:

You can find other clues by visiting other blogs on the tour:

Blog Tour Schedule
Nov 25^th - SF Signal
Nov 26^th - I Smell Sheep
Nov 27^th – Thanksgiving (US)
Nov 28^th - Ashley’s Random Blog
Dec 1^st- What The Cat Read & BookHounds
Dec 2^nd - NicholasKaufmann.com & Books Make Me Happy
Dec 3^rd - Vampire Book Club
Dec 4^th - Little Read Riding Hood
Dec 5^th - Insane About Books
Dec 8^th - BiblioFiend & Between The Lines
Dec 9^th- Smart Girls Love Sci/Fi & Paranormal Romance
Dec 10^th - Reading Reality
Dec 11^th - Short & Sweet Reviews
Dec 12^th - That’s What I’m Talking About & Anna’s Book Blog
Dec 15^th - Tynga’s Reviews
Dec 16^th - Janice Hardy – Fiction University
Dec 17^th - Preturnatura & Amberkatze’s Book Blog
Dec 18^th - Fantasy Literature & That’s What I’m Talking About
Dec 19^th - Books That Hook & Literal Addiction
Dec 21^st - Literary Escapism
Dec 22^nd - Open Book Society
Dec 23^rd - My Bookish Ways

We're also giving away one (1) print copy of VACANT to a lucky reader!

US/Canada/UK only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. She is a graduate of the prestigious Odyssey Writing Workshop, and a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers. Her short fiction has been published in several markets including EveryDay Fiction, Thunder on the Battlefield and White Cat Magazine. She is an avid cook and foodie, a trivia buff, and a science geek, and loves to talk about neuroscience, the Food Network, and writing craft—but not necessarily all at the same time!

Website | Twitter | Facebook

by Tynga at Monday, December 15, 2014

Alex Hughes, giveaway, Mindspace Investigations, Netgalley, New adult, Penguin, Review, Science Fiction 4 People left their mark

Monday, March 31, 2014

Marked by Alex Hughes

Alex Hughes' Mindspace Investigations is one of the most interesting series out there. (What is it about series set in Atlanta? They're always so good!) I've been hooked ever since she wrote the whole first book (CLEAN) without sharing her main character's name. In each subsequent story, things have gotten more complicated for Adam, which is something I love. He's such a layered character and he lives in a world that is far from black and white.

The third full-length novel in the series, MARKED takes us to a different part of this world: Adam is called back to the Guild, not as a respected member but in a desperate plea from his ex-fiancee Kara after her uncle died (under suspicious circumstances, natch). This was great because we're finally immersed in the Guild's world, which has been fairly mysterious up to this point. It's very different from the human world that Adam lives in now -- much harsher in a lot of ways, and also more clinical. There are some similarities since telepaths are people too but a lot of things are heightened. There are definitely things that he misses, which is only natural, but there's a darkness in the Guild now as factions have emerged that weren't there when Adam was exiled. As an added bonus, we get to see people from Adam's previous life as he is forced to face up to the Guild's general disdain for him.

There's also some momentum in the relationship between Adam and Cherabino, both professionally and personally. The human police's cases are less central in terms of page time but we still get some nice scenes in which Cherabino and Adam fight crime, now with Michael (who you may remember from SHARP). These moments highlight how capable and smart Cherabino is and I love that Hughes writes her as a strong, intelligent, and feminine character. She has so much depth and adds a lot to the series. I don't think I'd like the Mindspace Investigations stories nearly as much if Cherabino wasn't such an amazing character.

I couldn't be more pleased with how things develop on the personal from between these two characters. Hughes doesn't run to a HEA; instead she's progressing their (potential) relationship in a realistic and grounded manner. Adam's a man with problems -- potential unemployment, addiction, etc. -- and Cherabino has baggage of her own. They're drawn to each other and actively discuss the idea of romance but they don't just fall right into it.

As always, Hughes has delivered an engaging story that builds upon the strong foundation of CLEAN and SHARP. MARKED has an unpredictable mystery and lots of worldbuilding and I devoured the novel in a single sitting. And the final pages of MARKED end in a way that has me salivating for the next stage in Adam's story! If you haven't tried this series, I'd urge you to opt in as soon as possible. Get yourself to the (e)bookstore!

Read an excerpt