Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Skeleton Crew
SERIES: PsyCop
AUTHOR: Jordan Castillo Price
NARRATOR: Gomez Pugh
PUBLISHER: JCP Books LLC
LENGTH: 8 hours and 48 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2024
BLURB:
Although Victor Bayne is a valued asset of the FPMP, he still vividly recalls his PsyCop days: the eye rolls, the nasty looks, and the occasional utterance of the words Spook Squad whenever he showed up on a scene. So he really should empathize with Howard Jibben, the weekend lab manager known as Heebie Jeebie.
But does the guy really need to be so darn annoying?
Thanks to the researchers OCD tendencies, when a mysterious shipment arrives, what should be a routine ghost-check turns into an excruciating ordeal made even worse by a freak incident that leaves them stranded in the FPMPs basement.
Jacob may be the ranking agent on site, but even he cant control the weather. Yet given the pressure he puts on himself to master his newfound ability, its as if he thinks the burden to free everyone is his alone.
Vic has never put much stock in luck, but the sheer number of disasters raining down on them cant possibly be pure chance and things are only getting worse. Is it a curse? Telekinesis? Sabotage?
Or is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows?
PsyCop is an ongoing series filled with supernatural action and delightfully awkward humor with a steady undercurrent of gay romance. Its best listened in order, so if you’re new to the series, start with PsyCop #1, Among the Living and prepare for a hauntingly good listen.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the 14th book in this series. It’s much better enjoyed in order as this story builds from book 1 and you’ll probably be super lost if you try to dive in here.
It’s a hot summer night in Chicago and Jacob and Vic are planning a spicy evening before Jacob goes off to a work retreat in Nantucket They’ve just run into another gay couple – friends who are thinking of expanding their family – while going for an impromptu walk with a foster dog. Vic’s not even convinced he can even handle a dog after the walk the volunteer for with the dog Crash and his boyfriend who are fostering.
But when they get home, Jacob’s sister is trying to reach them and just as they are unlocking the door, she pulls up with Clayton her 13 year old She’s furious with him and tells him he’s not grown up enough to go on some trip he wants to do. So Jacob and Vic can contend with him for a weekend to see if he’s mature enough to go on said trip. Well this is unexpected and not the greatest timing for sure 😉
Vic has to go HQ on Saturday morning though for a sweep of the lab facilities. Jacob has to fly out to Nantucket so Clayton will be on his own for a few hours. Yeah best laid plans.
Vic’s routine clearing of the lab goes horribly awry. Dr. Kibben otherwise known as Heebie Jeebie because of his tics and OCD personality insists on accompanying him and he’s got his own ideas of what Vic should be doing. Then when a shipment arrives and Jacob shows up, Vic is none too happy thinking Jacob doesn’t trust him with Clayton for 36 hours.
It turns out to be a good thing though because it takes both of them to deal with whatever is causing trouble in the lab and is in that shipment! It’s more than either one of them can figure out but it takes both of them to handle it and make sure everyone makes it out of this nightmare they find themselves in the middle of.
This is another fabulous episode in this series! I hate to be spoilery with PsyCop books, but let’s say that a blast from the past shows up here. And that shipment? What is it? A curse? A poltergeist? And there is a civilian along for the ride! Things go from bad to worse. Luckily these two know how to work together and save the day. The connection between these two gets tighter and tighter as the series goes on. Such a surprise to Vic 😉
What can I say about the combo of Jordan Castillo Price and Gomez Pugh and Victor Bayne that hasn’t already been said? Not sure I can add any more to my already rather fangirling response to ever audio episode of this series. Victor Bayne continues to be a very favorite character. This story takes the day to day, life after the HEA and turns it on its head. Vic just cannot catch a break – luckily for us because that means the more trouble he runs into, the more entertaining stories might come our way. I loved how Jacob and Vic work as a team and how even though Vic still has his moments of self-doubt and worries that Jacob doesn’t see him as fully competent in all things, he happy to realize when he’s judging Jacob’s motives unfairly. Mr. Pugh does his usual fabulous job of performing the world weary and cynical Victor and the stalwart Jacob. There is plenty of tension to go around in this one with not only the work debacle but the worry about their 13-year old nephew Clayton on his own for the first time in their house during a crazy storm. Both of them feel guilty and worried and they have no idea when they might escape their unexpectedly danger predicament being trapped in the basement lab at HQ. I loved how they figured out how to work together and Vic is calm and in control when he needs to be. And all’s well that ends well for these two. Thankfully. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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