Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: The Pill Bugs of Time
SERIES: Offbeat Crimes Book 2
AUTHOR: Angel Martinez
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 96 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 20, 2016
BLURB:
Relationship and communication issues plague Officer Vikash Soren, but those are nothing compared to facing stick-throwing tumbleweeds, pill bugs and…time travel?
Vikash Soren, the perfect police officer except for his odd paranormal ability, never seems to lose his temper. Always serene and competent, he’s taken on the role of mediator in a squad room full of misfits. But on the inside, he’s a mess. Unable to tell his police partner that he loves him, Vikash struggles silently, terrified of losing Kyle as a lover, partner and friend.
But life in the 77th Precinct doesn’t leave much room for internal reflection. A confrontation with a stick-throwing tumbleweed in Fairmount Park leads to bizarre consequences involving pill bugs, statues and…time travel? If Vikash manages to survive the week and stay in one point in time, he might be able to address normal things like relationship problems. He just needs Kyle to have a little more patience. Maybe a few centuries’ worth.
REVIEW:
I’m really liking this Offbeat Crimes series from Angel Martinez. I missed it the first time it was published, but now that the stories have been expanded and re-issued with a new publisher, I’m all over them!
In The Pill Bugs of Time, we catch up once again with Vikash and Kyle, who you will remember from Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters, Book One in the series. If you haven’t read that one yet, I highly recommend you do so before reading this one, since the story basically flows from one to the other.
In this current installment, Vikash and Kyle are still working around their relationship, and Vikash is still totally paranoid about anyone finding out about it. When a new threat shows up in Philadelphia, this time in the form of a giant female pill bug with time travel capabilities who is busily dropping baby pill bugs all over the city…the guys are back in action. Will they be able to get the monster under control? Will Vikash get over himself and admit he has feelings for Kyle?
I loved the new character, Tim, who they meet as a stick-throwing tumbleweed. And Mr. Jacket, LJ, is back and now helping out, alongside Tim. I hope there is more of those two in future books. Speaking of future books. I have no idea if Ms. Martinez plans further adventures in the Offbeat Crimes series…but I sure hope so!
I recommend both books in the series. They are cute, quirky, fast reads, and I really liked both!
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