Body and Soul
As usual, Price has a hard time with the ending of the mystery portion of the book. I was completely confused when I realized the mystery had been solved. There was no real conflict at the end. There was an adequate chase, but nothing remotely dramatic. Even cosy mysteries have more action and drama than these do.
But as always, the characterizations are perfect. I know these characters, I know what they're thinking and what they're likely to do in a given situation. Each person in the book has his/her own distinct personality. The love and passion between Jacob and Vic makes my heart clench and the sex scenes are always hot. I feel Vic's insecurities and low self-esteem but he isn't morose and he doesn't just sit by letting things happens to him. This go round we saw him taking more control during lovemaking and a portent of a bit of variety to come. ("That's what she said.") (Yes, I'm up on someurban slang.)
We also, for the first time, see a crack in Jacob's shell and a peek into his heart. It was sad but wonderful to see his vulnerabilities and his fear of losing Vic just like Vic is terrified of losing him. Vic is oblivious but we aren't and I suspect this thread will be continued in the next book. There's also an unresolved issue with his former female partner that I hope will really get addressed soon. Vic is oblivious to his self-centeredness, the kind which develops from years of negative introspection.
I love these guys and I love these books. What's holding me back from five stars is that the mystery feels like an add-on because there has to be a plot. It starts out fine, and the reason behind the truth of the mystery is good, but there isn't enough work on the case and the resolution is very anti-climactic, this time even worse than last time. These novellas could easily be novels if she just expanded the mysteries and let us feel more of what Vic feels when he's dealing with a bad spirit.
Most of the ghosts he deals with in this book are nice and don't force him to use pills. One funny line was where there was a hopeful statement he thought to himself. He then thought, with sarcasm of course, "Right. And I was the poster boy for a Drug-Free America." I like that his drug use is for a very real and necessary reason but that he also knows he has a problem relying on pills too heavily. He knows he needs to work on that which he does somewhat in the previous book and this one.
We also get another glimpse into the evil that was Camp Hell and why he called it that and I'm really looking forward to the book with that title later in the series. There's lots of potential for drama and intensity with that subject. Crash makes an appearance and I just can't stand him just like Jacob. I don't really have any interest in reading the short stories about Crash, although I probably will when I'm getting a PsyCop withdrawal. (What an unfortunate name for this series. What was she thinking?
All in all, this is another good addition to the series. I just wish Price would get someone to help her with the mysterie itself.