Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Peripheral People
SERIES: A Ylendrian Empire Novel
AUTHORS: Reesa Herberth & Michelle Moore
PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing
LENGTH: 414 Pages
BLURB:
Corwin Menivie and Nika Santivan are decorated veterans of the Imperial Enforcement Coalition, and are perfectly capable of solving cases the old-fashioned way. When they’re paired with Westley Tavera and Gavin Hale, the most powerful Reader/Ground team to emerge from the Psionics Academy, it could either be the best thing that’s ever happened to crime fighting, or the makings of a quadruple homicide.
During a routine investigation, West’s talent puts them on the trail of a brutal serial killer who traps his prey in a deadly mental playground. Then the killer starts baiting the team, laying psychic landmines at crime scenes and exposing IEC secrets. The strain of the case binds the agents closer together—so close that Nika and Gavin start sharing a room, and even the curmudgeonly Corwin finds himself as occupied with West as he is with the murders.
But as West’s visions of death grow more violent, the only way out for all of them may be straight through the mind of a monster. If they’re not careful, they may forget which side of the hunt they’re on.
REVIEW:
Holy Hannah, this book was AMAZING!! I read the blurb for this book and was hooked!! Even better…it was a loooonnng book, my absolute fave!! This book had me so enthralled from the beginning to the very last word!!
Corwin Menivie is one of the highest rated Inspectors along with his partner, Nika Santivan. They work on this fly-by crew…meaning they are on a ship for 6 months getting cases that they are able to investigate and move on from. Corwin comes from a planet that holds such deeply held views and privacy and when he left home…he left all of that behind him. Corwin is this really reserved man who doesn’t really make overtures towards others. Corwin truly keeps to himself and holds his life and his secrets close to his breast. Corwin is tightly wound and is very much a by the book kind of guy, yet his life is about to change…West is entering his life and with West coming in…trouble is on his heels.
West Tavera…this guy is just the kind of character that I love…his life isn’t perfect…he’s bent…not broken and yet, he uses humor to hide behind. West has some issues in his closet that haunt him and as he is trying to move on with his life…the burdens of these issues still holds onto him. West is part of the Reader/Ground team with Gavin Hale…his best friend since they were kiddos. West and Gavin they are one of the highest-level Reader/Ground team as West is one of the highest-level Readers alive. West gets so caught up in this case, that he’s become a bit obsessed with this case and doesn’t want to stop until the bad guy is caught.
Now…this story had so much going on that I was HOOKED!! Holy Hannah, did this story just suck you in. First with these great characters and then this mystery….Good Grief…these authors really do know how to write a HELL of a Yarn!! I’m that girl who usually figures out who did it and how from the beginning or at least the middle of a book. This time…I didn’t even figure it out until the end. That really works for me. They had such a great story with an amazing plot that just kept me so intrigued…I hated having to put the book down. It was such a pleasant surprise that the authors gave you bits and pieces of the mystery and you felt just like the characters figuring out who did it. I just barely figured it out before our characters did. That is an A+ in my book.
I will say that I like the fact that the romance, while important…wasn’t the main thing. The mystery, the suspense…that was where the true story lay and I for one…wasn’t turned off in the least. Now we all know that I love good, dirty, raunchy sex…however, in this story…the sex that did happen…it wasn’t explicit and it wasn’t marathon length. What you saw on the page was just enough to satisfy my need and love of romance.
Now, I will bring up Gavin and Nika. I really liked these characters. This book wasn’t just Corwin and West, it was a book that all four of them were important. I liked the fact that Nika and Gavin got together. They really seem like a great couple and I totally love them as the respective partners of West and Corwin. Nika is Corwin’s perfect match. She is by the rule kinda girl, yet as they’ve been partners for awhile now…it affords her the right to be able to delve as deep as Corwin will allow her into his life and it was sweet to see the change in their relationship as the book went on. West and Gavin having been friends for years as well as Reader and Ground…well, they had their own issues that they needed to work on and it was nice to see that no matter what…these two had each other’s back.
I will say that this story was so very well written with a plot that keeps you enthralled and intrigued from the beginning until the very end. You will totally enjoy this book!!
BUY LINKS:
I had pre-ordered this based on the blurb so I am happy to see you loved it. Now I need to wait for a chunk of uninterrupted time to start it since it is a long book.