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PsyCop #8
Skin After Skin
Fierce. Audacious. Independent. Curtis Ash can’t be bothered to settle down. He’s too busy enjoying his cushy job as a high-paid stylist, caught in a whirlwind of hookups, parties, and obscenely priced cocktails.
The only snarl in an otherwise charmed life is the salon’s hotshot colorist, Red Turner. Not only does Red put the whammy on customers and rake in all the big tips, he’s oblivious to Crash’s flirtation. But there will be plenty of time to win him over…so Crash thinks.
Thanks to his refusal to trust his gut, Crash not only tanks his career—he allows the one man who truly holds his interest to slip away. While he insists he doesn’t need a relationship to complete him, would sharing his life with someone really be so bad?
Skin After Skin is a sweeping saga that begins two years before Among the Living and ends just after Spook Squad. Experience PsyCop like you’ve never seen it before, through Crash’s eyes. Discover new facets of characters and events from the span of the entire series and beyond, all from the viewpoint of an extroverted empath.
Content advisory: one scene includes potential dubious consent.
The PsyCop Series
Among the Living - PsyCop 1
Thaw - PsyCop Short
Criss Cross - PsyCop 2
Many Happy Returns - PsyCop Short
Striking Sparks - PsyCop Short
Body & Soul - PsyCop 3
Secrets - PsyCop 4
Camp Hell - PsyCop 5
GhosTV - PsyCop 6
Spook Squad - PsyCop 7
Skin After Skin - PsyCop 8
PsyCop Briefs - Collection
The only snarl in an otherwise charmed life is the salon’s hotshot colorist, Red Turner. Not only does Red put the whammy on customers and rake in all the big tips, he’s oblivious to Crash’s flirtation. But there will be plenty of time to win him over…so Crash thinks.
Thanks to his refusal to trust his gut, Crash not only tanks his career—he allows the one man who truly holds his interest to slip away. While he insists he doesn’t need a relationship to complete him, would sharing his life with someone really be so bad?
Skin After Skin is a sweeping saga that begins two years before Among the Living and ends just after Spook Squad. Experience PsyCop like you’ve never seen it before, through Crash’s eyes. Discover new facets of characters and events from the span of the entire series and beyond, all from the viewpoint of an extroverted empath.
Content advisory: one scene includes potential dubious consent.
The PsyCop Series
Among the Living - PsyCop 1
Thaw - PsyCop Short
Criss Cross - PsyCop 2
Many Happy Returns - PsyCop Short
Striking Sparks - PsyCop Short
Body & Soul - PsyCop 3
Secrets - PsyCop 4
Camp Hell - PsyCop 5
GhosTV - PsyCop 6
Spook Squad - PsyCop 7
Skin After Skin - PsyCop 8
PsyCop Briefs - Collection
402 pages, ebook
First published June 23, 2017
About the author
Jordan Castillo Price
137 books2,109 followersAuthor and artist Jordan Castillo Price writes paranormal sci-fi thrillers colored by her time in the Midwest, from inner city Chicago, to various cities across southern Wisconsin. She’s settled in a 1910 Cape Cod near Lake Michigan with tons of character and a plethora of bizarre spiders. Any disembodied noises, she’s decided, will be blamed on the ice maker.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
August 28, 2019
After watching Lord of the Rings, did you ever just wish there would be a movie about Samwise Gamgee? Let's face it, Sam was an important character and evil would have prevailed without his pure heart. But, would his movie be entertaining without all of the Ring stuff?
Well, maybe the fritos story would be ok....
That's kind of what was wrong with this book. The book was from the POV of a side-character who has been an awesome presence in the series. The guy's name is Curtis Ash - or Crash - which alone is cool. But, he's cool in every other way too. So, writing a book about him wasn't necessarily a bad idea. It's just that sometimes a person is more intriguing when you know less about them. Not more.
Yeah. Yeah, Sam. That's fascinating.
Crash's story is fine. He's a great guy and I was rooting for him to find love and happiness. But, I don't read these books for a basic gay romance. I read them for Victor Bayne - the ghost whisperer and cop. In this book, we get no ghosts or crimes or the neurosis of Vic. We just get the story of a cool guy who had some shitty luck and found his groove in selling psych stuff. It was okay. But, definitely not as good as the other books.
Well, maybe the fritos story would be ok....
That's kind of what was wrong with this book. The book was from the POV of a side-character who has been an awesome presence in the series. The guy's name is Curtis Ash - or Crash - which alone is cool. But, he's cool in every other way too. So, writing a book about him wasn't necessarily a bad idea. It's just that sometimes a person is more intriguing when you know less about them. Not more.
Yeah. Yeah, Sam. That's fascinating.
Crash's story is fine. He's a great guy and I was rooting for him to find love and happiness. But, I don't read these books for a basic gay romance. I read them for Victor Bayne - the ghost whisperer and cop. In this book, we get no ghosts or crimes or the neurosis of Vic. We just get the story of a cool guy who had some shitty luck and found his groove in selling psych stuff. It was okay. But, definitely not as good as the other books.
Shelved as 'wrote'
June 9, 2017
I'm so eager for this book to come out! I'm working on annotating it for audio right now. Can't wait to hear Gomez read it!
November 13, 2018
Ok, I’m totally in a love-hate relationship with this book. 😁 First of all, let me tell you one thing, this book is a total game changer for the whole PayCop series. 😳 I’ll be frank, I was never a big fan of Crash and always thought he was a bit mean and a lot spoilt. But boy, how my opinions changed after this book. 😌 And secondly, I don’t think this book is a romance, at least for me. And I don’t think you are going to love this book as a stand-alone and aren’t a fan of the whole PsyCop series. But if you are though, you are in for one tasty treat. 😋
Have you every watched and rewatched your favorite movies/series again and again and again? Usually with added bonuses like director’s cut and cast interviews? This is rereading the whole PsyCop series from a totally different and unique perspective, Crash’s perspective. ❤️ I’ll be honest, the beginning of this book drove me bonkers. I was really upset with how naive and trusting Crash was in the beginning!!! And his obsession with Red the colorist! Jesus, I wanna shake some sense into that idiot. 🙄 But boy, how Crash’s blossomed into a mature, thoughtful, considerate person from a spoilt, impulsive, uncaring person is a revelation. 😍 And really, I always thought Crash was the villain in his and Jacob’s brief dating life but to find out the truth about what really happened between them? It was a shocker! 😱 I feel really sorry for Crash. But well, if he didn’t break up with Jacob, there won’t be Jacob and Vic so there’s that too. 😁 The ending of this book though, it freaking wrecked me. 😭 It was heart-breaking, and beautiful and soothing at the same time. I loved how Crash has finally found his home. 💜 I really think this book is soulful, mature, spiritual and focused on one’s self-discovery to his destiny. 😌 Mellow and poignant. 💙 Different from the original PsyCop series and yet just as enjoyable and beautiful. JCP did it again! She convinced me to fall in love with a character that I didn’t care that much in the beginning. Now I’m in love. 😊
4.5 forgiveness is the greatest act of love stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio rating
Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Disclaimer: An audio copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Have you every watched and rewatched your favorite movies/series again and again and again? Usually with added bonuses like director’s cut and cast interviews? This is rereading the whole PsyCop series from a totally different and unique perspective, Crash’s perspective. ❤️ I’ll be honest, the beginning of this book drove me bonkers. I was really upset with how naive and trusting Crash was in the beginning!!! And his obsession with Red the colorist! Jesus, I wanna shake some sense into that idiot. 🙄 But boy, how Crash’s blossomed into a mature, thoughtful, considerate person from a spoilt, impulsive, uncaring person is a revelation. 😍 And really, I always thought Crash was the villain in his and Jacob’s brief dating life but to find out the truth about what really happened between them? It was a shocker! 😱 I feel really sorry for Crash. But well, if he didn’t break up with Jacob, there won’t be Jacob and Vic so there’s that too. 😁 The ending of this book though, it freaking wrecked me. 😭 It was heart-breaking, and beautiful and soothing at the same time. I loved how Crash has finally found his home. 💜 I really think this book is soulful, mature, spiritual and focused on one’s self-discovery to his destiny. 😌 Mellow and poignant. 💙 Different from the original PsyCop series and yet just as enjoyable and beautiful. JCP did it again! She convinced me to fall in love with a character that I didn’t care that much in the beginning. Now I’m in love. 😊
4.5 forgiveness is the greatest act of love stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio rating
Story - 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Disclaimer: An audio copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
May 2, 2022
Thank you to my lovely buddy readers for making this book interesting. The discussions were more interesting than the book.
This one was such a disappointment. I found the flow off, Crash was not that interesting and Carolyn was just so-so.
The highlight of the book was Jacob. The problem is the author was trying to make me not like him for some weird reasons. He deserves better. What I was being told was so different from his actions.
Loved seeing Vic as always.
Conclusion - This book was unnecessary.
This one was such a disappointment. I found the flow off, Crash was not that interesting and Carolyn was just so-so.
The highlight of the book was Jacob. The problem is the author was trying to make me not like him for some weird reasons. He deserves better. What I was being told was so different from his actions.
Loved seeing Vic as always.
Conclusion - This book was unnecessary.
August 22, 2019
I’ve read books over the years that I’ve related to, but none of them hold a candle to Victor Bayne. His internal dialogue reminds me so much of myself that it feels like looking in a personality mirror. Victor Bayne will always be one of my favorite POV’s.
Skin After Skin is from Crash’s perspective. I’m nothing like Crash, but I’ve also always admired him. I love how outspoken he is. I love that he says how he feels, and doesn’t apologize for it. I love how accepting he is of everyone, even when it hurts him. When I first started PsyCop I really wanted a book from Crash’s perspective, and back then JCP was saying that she didn’t think she’d ever write one. I was definitely disappointed. Imagine my surprise when this book was announced and I was hesitant. I’m pretty sure that hesitancy was only because of where Spook Squad ended, and how deep my love for Vic has grown. I was really ready to find out what was next for Vic and Jacob, and a Crash book would only delay that.
Skin After Skin is from Crash’s perspective. I’m nothing like Crash, but I’ve also always admired him. I love how outspoken he is. I love that he says how he feels, and doesn’t apologize for it. I love how accepting he is of everyone, even when it hurts him. When I first started PsyCop I really wanted a book from Crash’s perspective, and back then JCP was saying that she didn’t think she’d ever write one. I was definitely disappointed. Imagine my surprise when this book was announced and I was hesitant. I’m pretty sure that hesitancy was only because of where Spook Squad ended, and how deep my love for Vic has grown. I was really ready to find out what was next for Vic and Jacob, and a Crash book would only delay that.
September 14, 2020
3.5 Hearts
I really didn't know what to expect from an almost 400 page book about crazy Crash because as a character who often stole the scenes throughout the Psycop series, I prepared myself for a bunch of excitement, and emotion, and him causing chaos and trouble with all his snark and psychic powers. Maybe a bit disappointingly, that didn’t really happen, but what was given made me appreciate him as a man who does have faults and feelings, and underneath his many layers there’s something more vulnerable and significant than what’s initially presented, something worth getting to know.
Without going into too much detail, this begins a few years before the Psycop series starts, and the reader’s first glimpse of Crash is of him living the life as a stylist at a very high end salon. He’s got seniority, he’s got the boss’s eye, and he’s confident that he can woo the mysterious new colorist, Red. Crash’s just a little bit too self involved, but suddenly, his axis is turned upside down one day in a sudden explosion of drama, and Crash finds himself jobless, pretty much broke, and without the intriguing Red.
Through a series of events, one gets to see how Crash goes from rock bottom to the ever brash store owner we know and love, selling psychic wares and offering empathic advice on all things mystical. I loved seeing how each of the original cast members make their entrance into his life. Witness how Crash and Caroline become besties, how he’s slowly made aware of the psychic world around him, how he and Jacob become involved and the whys of how their union fell apart (which I’m still confused about). Lisa also makes her appearance, and I was tickled by Con’s involvement too. Of course, there’s Vic, the titillating attraction between him and Crash, and the huge awkward when they and Jacob all converge.
As I might've mentioned already, this book is long and at times, also quite slow. However, there were some really lovely moments of self reflection and epiphanies and surviving when life shits on you and then shits on you some more and what you do with that shit and turn it around to make something viable only to live another day to do it all over again. Crash’s life isn’t easy, but he is a warrior in his own right, and I enjoyed the complexity of his journey and the new insight to his background and motivation...
So, though this was not what I expected, this is still a necessary read for all fans of Psycop. It will definitely enrich your understanding and color your experience. Most importantly, you’ll witness Crash’s grudging acceptance of all these people in his life and how they’ve become important to him and to each other, forming their own special family of sorts. Surely, this will be significant as the portent of what’s to come is just now rearing its most likely ugly head. This was far from flash and bang, but I’m grateful, and I eagerly look forward to this gang’s future adventures.
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
I really didn't know what to expect from an almost 400 page book about crazy Crash because as a character who often stole the scenes throughout the Psycop series, I prepared myself for a bunch of excitement, and emotion, and him causing chaos and trouble with all his snark and psychic powers. Maybe a bit disappointingly, that didn’t really happen, but what was given made me appreciate him as a man who does have faults and feelings, and underneath his many layers there’s something more vulnerable and significant than what’s initially presented, something worth getting to know.
Without going into too much detail, this begins a few years before the Psycop series starts, and the reader’s first glimpse of Crash is of him living the life as a stylist at a very high end salon. He’s got seniority, he’s got the boss’s eye, and he’s confident that he can woo the mysterious new colorist, Red. Crash’s just a little bit too self involved, but suddenly, his axis is turned upside down one day in a sudden explosion of drama, and Crash finds himself jobless, pretty much broke, and without the intriguing Red.
Through a series of events, one gets to see how Crash goes from rock bottom to the ever brash store owner we know and love, selling psychic wares and offering empathic advice on all things mystical. I loved seeing how each of the original cast members make their entrance into his life. Witness how Crash and Caroline become besties, how he’s slowly made aware of the psychic world around him, how he and Jacob become involved and the whys of how their union fell apart (which I’m still confused about). Lisa also makes her appearance, and I was tickled by Con’s involvement too. Of course, there’s Vic, the titillating attraction between him and Crash, and the huge awkward when they and Jacob all converge.
As I might've mentioned already, this book is long and at times, also quite slow. However, there were some really lovely moments of self reflection and epiphanies and surviving when life shits on you and then shits on you some more and what you do with that shit and turn it around to make something viable only to live another day to do it all over again. Crash’s life isn’t easy, but he is a warrior in his own right, and I enjoyed the complexity of his journey and the new insight to his background and motivation...
So, though this was not what I expected, this is still a necessary read for all fans of Psycop. It will definitely enrich your understanding and color your experience. Most importantly, you’ll witness Crash’s grudging acceptance of all these people in his life and how they’ve become important to him and to each other, forming their own special family of sorts. Surely, this will be significant as the portent of what’s to come is just now rearing its most likely ugly head. This was far from flash and bang, but I’m grateful, and I eagerly look forward to this gang’s future adventures.
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
July 1, 2017
I enjoyed this new look at the PsyCop world and characters, filtered through the eyes of Crash, rather than our familiar POV from Vic. This is a coming of age story, more than a romance or even a paranormal urban fantasy. Both the world of Psy and the presence of romance inform the story, but they play a mostly secondary role to the evolution of Crash from a young, somewhat oblivious, and self-involved stylist, to the man we have seen through Vic's eyes appearing brash, self-confident, and capable. Which turns out to still be partially illusion.
This book could probably even stand alone, but it is of most interest in giving us a very new look at familiar people, not just Crash but also Jacob, Carolyn, Lisa. Vic is present in the second half, but Vic from the outside is very congruent with Vic from the inside. Crash, however, is in no way the guy we knew from those superficial moments in other stories. He's far more unsure of himself, more lost, more introspective. He feels younger, not just in the beginning but throughout the story. Clearly, the public face he puts on, that Vic sees, is a mask.
I was at times very annoyed with Crash. It felt like he demanded more from others - Red, Jacob, his mother - than he was willing to give of himself. Without a history of deep trauma to protect, he seemed unwilling to bend when it was called for. But gradually I came to like him more and more, as he perhaps grew into himself and the abilities and truths of his own life.
For fans of the series, there are many brief mentions of very salient PsyCop events that barely touch the page, because they had no real impact on Crash. This is truly his tale, and the intersection of his life with Vic's is, if anything, minimized here. So this is a good story about an interesting man, and a cool refocusing of our eyes toward Jacob in particular, and added empathy for Carolyn, but it is a parallel tale. The romance is a thin part of the plot, and the pleasure is in watching Crash evolve and learn.
This book could probably even stand alone, but it is of most interest in giving us a very new look at familiar people, not just Crash but also Jacob, Carolyn, Lisa. Vic is present in the second half, but Vic from the outside is very congruent with Vic from the inside. Crash, however, is in no way the guy we knew from those superficial moments in other stories. He's far more unsure of himself, more lost, more introspective. He feels younger, not just in the beginning but throughout the story. Clearly, the public face he puts on, that Vic sees, is a mask.
I was at times very annoyed with Crash. It felt like he demanded more from others - Red, Jacob, his mother - than he was willing to give of himself. Without a history of deep trauma to protect, he seemed unwilling to bend when it was called for. But gradually I came to like him more and more, as he perhaps grew into himself and the abilities and truths of his own life.
For fans of the series, there are many brief mentions of very salient PsyCop events that barely touch the page, because they had no real impact on Crash. This is truly his tale, and the intersection of his life with Vic's is, if anything, minimized here. So this is a good story about an interesting man, and a cool refocusing of our eyes toward Jacob in particular, and added empathy for Carolyn, but it is a parallel tale. The romance is a thin part of the plot, and the pleasure is in watching Crash evolve and learn.
February 28, 2018
Overall book rating: 3
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5
I’m going to be the ODD-ONE-OUT here but I can’t even get myself to feel bad about that.
Me during the first 16 chapters
I’m sorry, but having 16 chapters of prissy stylists didn’t ring my bell.
I got really annoyed with all the “unnecessary info” in this part of the story. I seriously wanted to just call it quits and get on with the next one.
I mean 16 chapters???? Really? The whole thing could have been neatly wrapped up and understood by little old me in 2 or three chapters max.
Me AFTER the first 16 chapters
Round about here I was actually starting to think things are looking up. I started seeing Crash for someone else. Some lost soul who has a tuff exterior and tries to protect himself from ‘feeling’ too much.
ME FROM ROUND ABOUT 70% INTO THE BOOK
Round about here, my temperature gage got totally out of control resulting in me actually making notes on my phone about the depth of my dislike towards how things were turning out. Why on my phone? Because it was like 23h30 at night and I was trying to curb my annoyance for the sake of not waking my poor sleeping hubby.
How do I dislike thee... LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!!:
Crash makes Jacob look like a total douche bag! I don’t like that! Because Jacob doesn’t deserve that!
And also, thanks to this book, I don’t like Caroline either! Because WHAT exactly classifies Jacob in the “SELFISH” department???
He went out of his way to help and to make Crash feel good. I don’t understand the half of it.
To me the whole breakup thing is SHALLOW and CHILDISH and it makes me DISLIKE Crash even more, when I was actually starting to like him.
And WTF is his deal with Red? He doesn’t even know the guy! No one does!
There was nothing between them. In fact, it was almost creepy how Crash kept nagging him to leave his boyfriend and hang with him instead.
Another part of the Crash experience I don’t like.
He doesn’t give a damn about the fact that Red has a BOYFRIEND! Even before he knew who said boyfriend was. So I can’t fall for the whole “I care too much and that is my burden” thing because look what he does to Jacob when he supposedly LOVES him!?
Heaven forbid someone ever LOVES me that way.
And JACOB is the SELFISH one?
Also, I was under the impression that Crash “knows” what he’s talking about by the time Vic walks into his life, but he knows nothing. And I’m supposed to believe Caroline bringing Vic to him for help? What am I missing here? Please enlighten me...
I admired the way Crash just mostly rolls with life’s punches in some parts of the story. That actually leaned towards endearing him to me, because I could understand that.
But the whole apple cart got derailed for me with all this other nonsense. The way Crash treats Jacob is nothing short of appalling. He has it in his head that Jacob only “likes” him for the possibility of his “powers”??
Jacob is “ignoring” him because he scored low on his test??
News Flash Mr Big Shot! NO RELATIONSHIP WORKS WITHOUT COMMUNICATION!!! And DON’T use the L-WORD if you don’t know what it means! Which you clearly don’t. And if there is one thing I hate, it’s when people think they know what’s going on inside my head when they have no idea! That is so self entitled it’s not even funny!
We are never enlightened to the reason Jacob doesn’t show for dinner. Only Crash’s inner drama-queen who wisely chooses to immediately think the worst and then proceed in treating the guy he “loves” like last week’s trash. – Irrelevant of the fact that this behaviour is never part of Jacobs personality! Not once does he give the impression that he’s a shallow asshole who only cares about himself.
Interesting that every time Crash feels hurt/neglected/sorry-for-himself his first MO is to HIT and Hit Hard.
So again. WTF??
And Crash never grows a pair and sees this for himself! No. It’s all Jacobs fault! He’s such a green haired hypocrite! How the hell am I supposed to like him now?
This review is probably totally of the charts crazy but I don’t feel like sugar coating my feelings. Maybe it’s because I just read through SEVEN instalments back to back and I kinda got invested in the characters? Maybe I should have just read something else in-between to make me “understand” Crash and his point of view better.
I can say that I do profoundly understand why things would never work between Jacob and Crash. Crash thrives on emotions and Jacob blocks those out like it’s nobody’s business.
But I’m still not a Crash fan. Not even after 50 something chapters. Because the way I see it? Everything in his world is still just about HIM.
The one thing I really liked? The little tidbits about Vic and Dreyfuss. I could read a book about Dreyfuss. I really could.
Okay. I’m going now. On to the next one.
(I appologize again for the rant session I'll most probably take this review down once I calmed down. And then I'll feel bad about it. But not at this moment in time. )
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5
I’m going to be the ODD-ONE-OUT here but I can’t even get myself to feel bad about that.
Me during the first 16 chapters
I’m sorry, but having 16 chapters of prissy stylists didn’t ring my bell.
I got really annoyed with all the “unnecessary info” in this part of the story. I seriously wanted to just call it quits and get on with the next one.
I mean 16 chapters???? Really? The whole thing could have been neatly wrapped up and understood by little old me in 2 or three chapters max.
Me AFTER the first 16 chapters
Round about here I was actually starting to think things are looking up. I started seeing Crash for someone else. Some lost soul who has a tuff exterior and tries to protect himself from ‘feeling’ too much.
ME FROM ROUND ABOUT 70% INTO THE BOOK
Round about here, my temperature gage got totally out of control resulting in me actually making notes on my phone about the depth of my dislike towards how things were turning out. Why on my phone? Because it was like 23h30 at night and I was trying to curb my annoyance for the sake of not waking my poor sleeping hubby.
How do I dislike thee... LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!!:
Crash makes Jacob look like a total douche bag! I don’t like that! Because Jacob doesn’t deserve that!
And also, thanks to this book, I don’t like Caroline either! Because WHAT exactly classifies Jacob in the “SELFISH” department???
He went out of his way to help and to make Crash feel good. I don’t understand the half of it.
To me the whole breakup thing is SHALLOW and CHILDISH and it makes me DISLIKE Crash even more, when I was actually starting to like him.
And WTF is his deal with Red? He doesn’t even know the guy! No one does!
There was nothing between them. In fact, it was almost creepy how Crash kept nagging him to leave his boyfriend and hang with him instead.
Another part of the Crash experience I don’t like.
He doesn’t give a damn about the fact that Red has a BOYFRIEND! Even before he knew who said boyfriend was. So I can’t fall for the whole “I care too much and that is my burden” thing because look what he does to Jacob when he supposedly LOVES him!?
Heaven forbid someone ever LOVES me that way.
And JACOB is the SELFISH one?
Also, I was under the impression that Crash “knows” what he’s talking about by the time Vic walks into his life, but he knows nothing. And I’m supposed to believe Caroline bringing Vic to him for help? What am I missing here? Please enlighten me...
I admired the way Crash just mostly rolls with life’s punches in some parts of the story. That actually leaned towards endearing him to me, because I could understand that.
But the whole apple cart got derailed for me with all this other nonsense. The way Crash treats Jacob is nothing short of appalling. He has it in his head that Jacob only “likes” him for the possibility of his “powers”??
Jacob is “ignoring” him because he scored low on his test??
News Flash Mr Big Shot! NO RELATIONSHIP WORKS WITHOUT COMMUNICATION!!! And DON’T use the L-WORD if you don’t know what it means! Which you clearly don’t. And if there is one thing I hate, it’s when people think they know what’s going on inside my head when they have no idea! That is so self entitled it’s not even funny!
We are never enlightened to the reason Jacob doesn’t show for dinner. Only Crash’s inner drama-queen who wisely chooses to immediately think the worst and then proceed in treating the guy he “loves” like last week’s trash. – Irrelevant of the fact that this behaviour is never part of Jacobs personality! Not once does he give the impression that he’s a shallow asshole who only cares about himself.
Interesting that every time Crash feels hurt/neglected/sorry-for-himself his first MO is to HIT and Hit Hard.
So again. WTF??
And Crash never grows a pair and sees this for himself! No. It’s all Jacobs fault! He’s such a green haired hypocrite! How the hell am I supposed to like him now?
This review is probably totally of the charts crazy but I don’t feel like sugar coating my feelings. Maybe it’s because I just read through SEVEN instalments back to back and I kinda got invested in the characters? Maybe I should have just read something else in-between to make me “understand” Crash and his point of view better.
I can say that I do profoundly understand why things would never work between Jacob and Crash. Crash thrives on emotions and Jacob blocks those out like it’s nobody’s business.
But I’m still not a Crash fan. Not even after 50 something chapters. Because the way I see it? Everything in his world is still just about HIM.
The one thing I really liked? The little tidbits about Vic and Dreyfuss. I could read a book about Dreyfuss. I really could.
Okay. I’m going now. On to the next one.
(I appologize again for the rant session I'll most probably take this review down once I calmed down. And then I'll feel bad about it. But not at this moment in time. )
April 4, 2022
My expectations for this book weren’t very high, but it still managed to not meet them.
I’ve never been a fan of Crash, that’s why I skipped his book when I first read the series. Since I’m doing a buddy reread of the entire series, I decided to give it a try, in the hope that Crash’s POV wouldn’t be as annoying as the impression he gives in Vic’s POV and that seeing the other characters from a different perspective would be interesting.
Failure on all fronts.
The best thing I can say about this book is that I didn’t hate it. It was boring (the first part especially, with all the details about the salon and Crash’s job as a hair stylist), the sex scenes were so awkward that I skimmed them as much as I could, Crash had the maturity of an immature 15-year-old and the entire thing felt too long, rather pointless in general and inconsistent with the rest of the series.
Here are some examples. The first 7 books in Vic’s POV led me to believe that
Surprisingly enough, Crash didn’t annoy me as much in his POV as he did in Vic’s, but I haven’t changed my mind about him. If anything, my opinion of him has sunk lower. He was immature, self-absorbed and despite all the mistakes he’s made, he never once said sorry to anybody, but he was oh-so-quick to judge everybody else around him. I don’t know what his problem is with
Another problem I had with this book was the way characters I know from the main series started acting in a way that didn’t fit with their established characterization and it can’t be explained with people being different from one POV to the other. Like Carolyn
On top of all these “little” things, the book’s structure was a bit weird. The first part especially dragged out forever, focusing on useless details, then it seemed like Crash’s life was a series of snapshots of what was happening to him while he made appearances in the other characters’ lives, as if the whole point was to show “his side” of events we already knew from the main series. I guess that was part of the reason for this book from the beginning, but the result wasn’t great. Possibly because I couldn’t care less about getting Crash’s POV and the characters I know didn’t always feel coherent with what I knew of them from the rest of the series.
2 stars because I didn’t hate it and the writing was as good as always, but I can’t say this book added anything to the series—except a few bored-out-of-their-minds readers—and I still can’t see the point of it. The only reason I don't regret going back on my initial decision to skip it is that I got to read it with my amazing support group.
I’ve never been a fan of Crash, that’s why I skipped his book when I first read the series. Since I’m doing a buddy reread of the entire series, I decided to give it a try, in the hope that Crash’s POV wouldn’t be as annoying as the impression he gives in Vic’s POV and that seeing the other characters from a different perspective would be interesting.
Failure on all fronts.
The best thing I can say about this book is that I didn’t hate it. It was boring (the first part especially, with all the details about the salon and Crash’s job as a hair stylist), the sex scenes were so awkward that I skimmed them as much as I could, Crash had the maturity of an immature 15-year-old and the entire thing felt too long, rather pointless in general and inconsistent with the rest of the series.
Here are some examples. The first 7 books in Vic’s POV led me to believe that
Surprisingly enough, Crash didn’t annoy me as much in his POV as he did in Vic’s, but I haven’t changed my mind about him. If anything, my opinion of him has sunk lower. He was immature, self-absorbed and despite all the mistakes he’s made, he never once said sorry to anybody, but he was oh-so-quick to judge everybody else around him. I don’t know what his problem is with
Another problem I had with this book was the way characters I know from the main series started acting in a way that didn’t fit with their established characterization and it can’t be explained with people being different from one POV to the other. Like Carolyn
On top of all these “little” things, the book’s structure was a bit weird. The first part especially dragged out forever, focusing on useless details, then it seemed like Crash’s life was a series of snapshots of what was happening to him while he made appearances in the other characters’ lives, as if the whole point was to show “his side” of events we already knew from the main series. I guess that was part of the reason for this book from the beginning, but the result wasn’t great. Possibly because I couldn’t care less about getting Crash’s POV and the characters I know didn’t always feel coherent with what I knew of them from the rest of the series.
2 stars because I didn’t hate it and the writing was as good as always, but I can’t say this book added anything to the series—except a few bored-out-of-their-minds readers—and I still can’t see the point of it. The only reason I don't regret going back on my initial decision to skip it is that I got to read it with my amazing support group.
January 29, 2018
Ehhh...
Ok. Let's put it bluntly. When it comes to anything PsyCop I'm interested in the Main Characters.
Sure, Crash is cool, a great side-character, fun, intriguing. And yet, he is not anyone I'm keen to read about for a full length novel in a series that's not about him.
So with that in mind, when I started reading and was bombarded with endless chapters of hair-salon politics to say that was bored the fuck out of my mind, not to mention annoyed, would be putting it mildly.
Simply put: I couldn't care less. Not about anything that was happening, not about Red, not about Pilar, not about Lydia, not about Caroline, not even about Crash.
And Jordan Castillo Price's writing is phenomenal, but not even her exceptional craft can sustain a plotless book. What was the arc of the story? What was the genre?. I mean other than Paranormal because of bits and pieces of the PsyCop world, what the heck was this? It wasn't a Romance, there's no mystery, no thriller, no world building, no crime to solve, no reckoning, no happenstance. There's seriously nothing. There's everyday Crash hubris. That's it. We have Crash's life snippets with no rhyme or reason. Is it a Crash coming-of-age at 30 kind of story? Seriously, the book doesn't even follow a clear timeline. We start with day to day happenings only to suddenly shift to snippets that fast-forward weeks, months and years between one chapter and another.
This was a mess. I enjoyed knowing a little bit more about Crash, but I can't believe we paid full price for a hastily put-together novel of small stories.
I started PsyCop because of the romance between Victor and Jacob. I stayed (for SEVEN books) only because of Vic. So this? Well, I couldn't have been less interested.
I'm starting Book 9 with poor enthusiasm and barely concealed disappointment.
Ok. Let's put it bluntly. When it comes to anything PsyCop I'm interested in the Main Characters.
Sure, Crash is cool, a great side-character, fun, intriguing. And yet, he is not anyone I'm keen to read about for a full length novel in a series that's not about him.
So with that in mind, when I started reading and was bombarded with endless chapters of hair-salon politics to say that was bored the fuck out of my mind, not to mention annoyed, would be putting it mildly.
Simply put: I couldn't care less. Not about anything that was happening, not about Red, not about Pilar, not about Lydia, not about Caroline, not even about Crash.
And Jordan Castillo Price's writing is phenomenal, but not even her exceptional craft can sustain a plotless book. What was the arc of the story? What was the genre?. I mean other than Paranormal because of bits and pieces of the PsyCop world, what the heck was this? It wasn't a Romance, there's no mystery, no thriller, no world building, no crime to solve, no reckoning, no happenstance. There's seriously nothing. There's everyday Crash hubris. That's it. We have Crash's life snippets with no rhyme or reason. Is it a Crash coming-of-age at 30 kind of story? Seriously, the book doesn't even follow a clear timeline. We start with day to day happenings only to suddenly shift to snippets that fast-forward weeks, months and years between one chapter and another.
This was a mess. I enjoyed knowing a little bit more about Crash, but I can't believe we paid full price for a hastily put-together novel of small stories.
I started PsyCop because of the romance between Victor and Jacob. I stayed (for SEVEN books) only because of Vic. So this? Well, I couldn't have been less interested.
I'm starting Book 9 with poor enthusiasm and barely concealed disappointment.
July 3, 2017
This isn't a standalone book, you need to have knowledge about the Psycop world, and it's characters to fully appreciate it.
This is Crash's journey from being a psych skeptic, to him fully embracing his empath ability. I loved how Crash grew and developed as a person. He matured and changed during the two years this book spands. He has such bad luck. Unfortunate things kept happening to him all the time. I really felt for him. His ability to push on and pick himself up over and over again, impressed me.
I would call this more Crash's journey to self discovery, more than a romance,. There is romance and a HEA, don't get me wrong. It starts with Crash's love interest, Red Turner, and ends with Red. Crash's life just holds much more than that.
I loved reading Crash's meets with Vic, Jacob, Lisa, and more characters from the Psycop books. It really expanded the Psycop universe I love so much.
The book is very low on steam. There are few sex scenes. I'm kinda glad it was, since Crash hooks up a lot, and he is also involved with Jacob.
I'm very happy about the Jacob part of the book. I got to see another side of Jacob, or rather, Crash's view of Jacob. It was interesting to see how their relationship were, and it also shed some light over why they didn't work out. Which we're all glad for, since he got together with Vic later.
I feel I got to know Crash better, and to see where he comes from and what made him who he is as I know him from the Psycop books.
Recommended!
This is Crash's journey from being a psych skeptic, to him fully embracing his empath ability. I loved how Crash grew and developed as a person. He matured and changed during the two years this book spands. He has such bad luck. Unfortunate things kept happening to him all the time. I really felt for him. His ability to push on and pick himself up over and over again, impressed me.
I would call this more Crash's journey to self discovery, more than a romance,. There is romance and a HEA, don't get me wrong. It starts with Crash's love interest, Red Turner, and ends with Red. Crash's life just holds much more than that.
I loved reading Crash's meets with Vic, Jacob, Lisa, and more characters from the Psycop books. It really expanded the Psycop universe I love so much.
The book is very low on steam. There are few sex scenes. I'm kinda glad it was, since Crash hooks up a lot, and he is also involved with Jacob.
I'm very happy about the Jacob part of the book. I got to see another side of Jacob, or rather, Crash's view of Jacob. It was interesting to see how their relationship were, and it also shed some light over why they didn't work out. Which we're all glad for, since he got together with Vic later.
I feel I got to know Crash better, and to see where he comes from and what made him who he is as I know him from the Psycop books.
Recommended!
October 30, 2017
Well I totally enjoyed the heck out of that. I've had a thing for Crash from the beginning, I love his brash unapologetic personality. It always fascinated me to imagine Jacob with Crash, so it was fantastic to see Jacob through Crash's eyes (he's as big a dick as I figured and I'm so glad Crash figured him out as fast as he did).
The whole way through, as events that happened in the PsyCop books occur it is very cool to hear about them all as Crash experiences it - that really must have been a labor of love for Jordan Castillo Price to put that whole thing together as perfectly as she did, it was a real treat.
The breadth of what Crash goes through in the two years this book covers was really something, and the way he grows up, and how he figures stuff out, was really nicely done.
This one is an absolute must for fans of Crash... you can skip it and not miss any of the PsyCop story, but it does impart some info and insight that you don't get from Vic's perspective.
Also - audio version - Gomez Pugh was as fantastic as always!
The whole way through, as events that happened in the PsyCop books occur it is very cool to hear about them all as Crash experiences it - that really must have been a labor of love for Jordan Castillo Price to put that whole thing together as perfectly as she did, it was a real treat.
The breadth of what Crash goes through in the two years this book covers was really something, and the way he grows up, and how he figures stuff out, was really nicely done.
This one is an absolute must for fans of Crash... you can skip it and not miss any of the PsyCop story, but it does impart some info and insight that you don't get from Vic's perspective.
Also - audio version - Gomez Pugh was as fantastic as always!
September 28, 2018
Now for the Flip Side of PsyCop....3.5 Stars...
Quickie review:
I'm not sure what I expected from this one, but it wasn't what it got. It went fast, well aside from the overlong (imho) hair styling section. It was a view of Crash, but it felt tame from what I know of him. I guess I expected more Crashness. What I got was a guy finding himself and discovering a new world around him I'm glad I got to see his POV, but I still don't feel like I know him as well as I should. His relationship with Jacob is still fuzzy to me.
Can this one be skipped? Perhaps, although it gives you insight into his connection with Red. I also like the fact that Crash and Carolyn are BFFs--I had no idea. Jacob is also different and I'm not sure I like him here.
This one is very low on the heat scale--just a couple of hook-ups that only serve to cement Crash's work ethic.
Not my favorite of the series even if it is my favorite cover!
Quickie review:
I'm not sure what I expected from this one, but it wasn't what it got. It went fast, well aside from the overlong (imho) hair styling section. It was a view of Crash, but it felt tame from what I know of him. I guess I expected more Crashness. What I got was a guy finding himself and discovering a new world around him I'm glad I got to see his POV, but I still don't feel like I know him as well as I should. His relationship with Jacob is still fuzzy to me.
Can this one be skipped? Perhaps, although it gives you insight into his connection with Red. I also like the fact that Crash and Carolyn are BFFs--I had no idea. Jacob is also different and I'm not sure I like him here.
This one is very low on the heat scale--just a couple of hook-ups that only serve to cement Crash's work ethic.
Not my favorite of the series even if it is my favorite cover!
June 28, 2017
Here we have the story of our beloved, snarky-cum-insulting, talented, loyal Crash, first introduced earlier on in this fantab series that is PsyCop. We learn about his beginnings in the realm of adulting, mainly as a hair stylist**, his friendships, his idea of relationships, and the various happenings that begin to nudge open the door to his extra-sensory abilities.
** before I go any further, omigosh, JCP has the detail about hair salon life and operations down 100%. The politics, the shenanigans, the seriousness with which these professional people take their vast knowledge and how to use it to make someone feel phenomenal about themselves… when they’re ready to accept the offering. Despite my feeling that this part of the story went on for too long, one part of me abso dug the total immersion.
Back to our regularly scheduled reviewing…
Many of our favorite inhabitants of this alt-Chicago make appearances, some fleeting (tease!) and some with a lengthier stay. Two of my favorites in terms of their roles in this particular story are Lydia and Caroline. Lydia is the tarot card reader with the shop on the first floor below the one Crash ends up creating. More importantly, however, is her role in constantly pushing Crash towards his destiny, and therefore his potential. Her impact is vital. As for Caroline, her appearance is both odd and mesmerizing. I think she and Crash hit it off quickly because, on some level even they can’t quite define, they understand one another. They git it. She is utilized to kick off another story line, but experiencing these interactions early on in their complex yet obvious friendship is one of my favorite things about this story.
It’s taken me a few days to figure out why this book didn’t totally work for me. I think I’m still kinda surprised about it, too, given how much of Price’s books I’ve read and love. Writing in the first person point of view, which this is, and how well she often wields that storytelling tool, it feels ‘off’ in this book. This is all Crash all the time. We’re in his head and we’re being told what he’s thinking and why and what his feelings are and from where they’ve arisen… I came to the realization that, for me, this created a sense of isolation. That’s what I was feeling, that Crash was alone and, given so much of what he’s telling us, that he doesn’t have much hope of feeling and maintaining true connections with people. He wants to, there’s no doubt about that. But his telling of this story is so internal that it gets in the way of those connections he’s trying to create, and that we know he already has. Even learning about the genesis of his friendship with Jacob feels more like a history lesson than a demonstration of why they have the relationship they do.
Now listen, this is JCP we’re tawkin’ ‘bout here, and this is the PsyCop galaxy, so you knowwwww you’re getting phenom writing, mega-character development with Crash, and glorious sense of place detail - the salon, all of the shops, the streets, everywhere. If you’ve read this far, and you’re wondering if you should read this book and the series, the answer is YES! I mean, what in the Sam hill are you waitin’ fer? You’ll want to read them, in order, with this coming in at #8 on your TV dial. This is not a standalone, and you don’t want to deprive yourself of a single syllable about these characters, their experiences, emotions, the progress in their friendships and relationships, all of it.
Go. Start reading, already. Find out why so many readers - including this'n - are in lerve with this series, this person called Crash, and then come here, to his origin story and much more. He’s the epitome of nonchalant intensity, and I too have been enamored since the first time he sauntered onto the page. My experience with this book is my own and, even though it wasn’t nirvana-level successful for me, you can betchur sweet bippy that I’m ready and wanting to find out what’s in store for Crash in whatever stories Jordan Castillo Price chooses to next share with us. :D
** before I go any further, omigosh, JCP has the detail about hair salon life and operations down 100%. The politics, the shenanigans, the seriousness with which these professional people take their vast knowledge and how to use it to make someone feel phenomenal about themselves… when they’re ready to accept the offering. Despite my feeling that this part of the story went on for too long, one part of me abso dug the total immersion.
Back to our regularly scheduled reviewing…
Many of our favorite inhabitants of this alt-Chicago make appearances, some fleeting (tease!) and some with a lengthier stay. Two of my favorites in terms of their roles in this particular story are Lydia and Caroline. Lydia is the tarot card reader with the shop on the first floor below the one Crash ends up creating. More importantly, however, is her role in constantly pushing Crash towards his destiny, and therefore his potential. Her impact is vital. As for Caroline, her appearance is both odd and mesmerizing. I think she and Crash hit it off quickly because, on some level even they can’t quite define, they understand one another. They git it. She is utilized to kick off another story line, but experiencing these interactions early on in their complex yet obvious friendship is one of my favorite things about this story.
It’s taken me a few days to figure out why this book didn’t totally work for me. I think I’m still kinda surprised about it, too, given how much of Price’s books I’ve read and love. Writing in the first person point of view, which this is, and how well she often wields that storytelling tool, it feels ‘off’ in this book. This is all Crash all the time. We’re in his head and we’re being told what he’s thinking and why and what his feelings are and from where they’ve arisen… I came to the realization that, for me, this created a sense of isolation. That’s what I was feeling, that Crash was alone and, given so much of what he’s telling us, that he doesn’t have much hope of feeling and maintaining true connections with people. He wants to, there’s no doubt about that. But his telling of this story is so internal that it gets in the way of those connections he’s trying to create, and that we know he already has. Even learning about the genesis of his friendship with Jacob feels more like a history lesson than a demonstration of why they have the relationship they do.
Now listen, this is JCP we’re tawkin’ ‘bout here, and this is the PsyCop galaxy, so you knowwwww you’re getting phenom writing, mega-character development with Crash, and glorious sense of place detail - the salon, all of the shops, the streets, everywhere. If you’ve read this far, and you’re wondering if you should read this book and the series, the answer is YES! I mean, what in the Sam hill are you waitin’ fer? You’ll want to read them, in order, with this coming in at #8 on your TV dial. This is not a standalone, and you don’t want to deprive yourself of a single syllable about these characters, their experiences, emotions, the progress in their friendships and relationships, all of it.
Go. Start reading, already. Find out why so many readers - including this'n - are in lerve with this series, this person called Crash, and then come here, to his origin story and much more. He’s the epitome of nonchalant intensity, and I too have been enamored since the first time he sauntered onto the page. My experience with this book is my own and, even though it wasn’t nirvana-level successful for me, you can betchur sweet bippy that I’m ready and wanting to find out what’s in store for Crash in whatever stories Jordan Castillo Price chooses to next share with us. :D
April 10, 2022
This was pointless. Unless you really, really, really like Crash and want to read his "coming of age" story ... at the age of 29. 😑 Because this fool spends most of this book acting like a belligerent 12-year old. 🙈
This was senseless. It spent way too much time on Crash's time as a hair dresser and his DOA "relationship" with Red, and had zero plot to speak of, aside from Crash pulling his head out of his ass for over 15 hours.
This wasn't just the PsyCop characters from a different POV. This was a whole different reality, and it didn't clash well with the established canon at all.
The audio was a bit odd too. Pugh and JCP decided that Pugh shouldn't use his usual Crash voice for 15 hours straight, which I agree with. But he ended up making Crash sound kind of Vic-ish as a result. And the other characters sounded like slightly-off versions of Lisa, Jacob, Stephan, etc.
It took four years - FOUR - for JCP to write this thing and it wasn't worth it, imo. I skipped it before because I don't particularly care for Crash, and now I regret finally reading this because it made me dislike other characters I'd previously liked because there was no consistency to what came before. The pacing was weird. The first couple of months, pre-Jacob, took up something like 6 hours of the 15 hour runtime, and his and Jacob's 7-month relationship took up about an hour, maybe? I'm not sure, because I had to speed this up to 1.5 to 1.9x playing speed just to not bash my head in from boredom and get through this as quickly as possible.
Thanks for the company during the BR, Teal, Rosa, Elena, Shile, and Gabi. It was fun complaining about this with y'all! Now let's all agree that this never happened. 🙈😂
(Oh, and those two Crash short stories JCP claims are no longer canon - still canon, imo. There was nothing in this to convince me that version of Crash isn't this Crash.)
This was senseless. It spent way too much time on Crash's time as a hair dresser and his DOA "relationship" with Red, and had zero plot to speak of, aside from Crash pulling his head out of his ass for over 15 hours.
This wasn't just the PsyCop characters from a different POV. This was a whole different reality, and it didn't clash well with the established canon at all.
The audio was a bit odd too. Pugh and JCP decided that Pugh shouldn't use his usual Crash voice for 15 hours straight, which I agree with. But he ended up making Crash sound kind of Vic-ish as a result. And the other characters sounded like slightly-off versions of Lisa, Jacob, Stephan, etc.
It took four years - FOUR - for JCP to write this thing and it wasn't worth it, imo. I skipped it before because I don't particularly care for Crash, and now I regret finally reading this because it made me dislike other characters I'd previously liked because there was no consistency to what came before. The pacing was weird. The first couple of months, pre-Jacob, took up something like 6 hours of the 15 hour runtime, and his and Jacob's 7-month relationship took up about an hour, maybe? I'm not sure, because I had to speed this up to 1.5 to 1.9x playing speed just to not bash my head in from boredom and get through this as quickly as possible.
Thanks for the company during the BR, Teal, Rosa, Elena, Shile, and Gabi. It was fun complaining about this with y'all! Now let's all agree that this never happened. 🙈😂
(Oh, and those two Crash short stories JCP claims are no longer canon - still canon, imo. There was nothing in this to convince me that version of Crash isn't this Crash.)
May 13, 2019
I've been putting off writing a review for this because ... gah! I feel like I have so much to say and no coherent thought at once.
First of all, why did I think I had read this? Have I been possessed? Dunno ... anyway this book is everything you didn't know you wanted. Seriously. Crash has alway been that sort of annoying character you learn to love or tolerate but whose motivations were always on the opaque side. And now I unequivocally love him. Just the way he is. No ifs or buts.
It occurs to me that this book is a good entry point for folks who are not versed in the PsyCop universe, it kind of wets your appetite to know more about these people, without too much mumbo jumbo, but you could just read it on it's own and enjoy a very satisfying story about a person coming into their true self. That person is Curtis Raymond Ash a.k.a Crash to his near, dear, and everyone in between. Also, though there is a HEA for Crash, I wouldn't call this a romance per se. It's more like the story of Crash's evolution or metamorphosis from a good but slightly vapid young man, whose default setting is sarcasm, to someone who can still cut you with a look but can also feel your heart and hold it safe. This transformation takes place over a number of years, some of which overlap with events in the other PsyCop books, but never to the point where you need to read those stories to get what Crash is going through (but why wouldn't you?), because this is firmly his story.
Jordan Castillo Price doesn't skim corners or do a sweeping "months went by and then ..." Nope. She gets into what might seem like minutiae of Crash's everyday existence and the steps that bring him to where we find him at the end of Spook Squad and this book. While at times it may seem like random or unnecessary information, at the end you feel the power of all this accrued information. How each step, good or bad, has paved the way for this New Life and all of it's possibilities.
I could say a whole bunch more but I think this quote sums up what Crash's story is about:
If you're a fan of the PsyCop series this is also an excellent window into how others perceive the denizens of that universe: Jacob and his impenetrable self, Vic, who has so much going on even on the surface of his skin, Con, Lisa, and Carolyn, who I still find annoying. If you're not on the Psy-train I still think you'd enjoy this thoughtful portrait of a young man evolving into his more mature self, with cuts and scrapes along the way.
***Note to Self*** Stop underestimating Gomez Pugh. Full stop. I confess that I was a bit worried about how this would compare to his Victor voice. I'm a fool. As usual he found the perfect tone for Crash and made him distinctly his own self. Lesson learned.
First of all, why did I think I had read this? Have I been possessed? Dunno ... anyway this book is everything you didn't know you wanted. Seriously. Crash has alway been that sort of annoying character you learn to love or tolerate but whose motivations were always on the opaque side. And now I unequivocally love him. Just the way he is. No ifs or buts.
It occurs to me that this book is a good entry point for folks who are not versed in the PsyCop universe, it kind of wets your appetite to know more about these people, without too much mumbo jumbo, but you could just read it on it's own and enjoy a very satisfying story about a person coming into their true self. That person is Curtis Raymond Ash a.k.a Crash to his near, dear, and everyone in between. Also, though there is a HEA for Crash, I wouldn't call this a romance per se. It's more like the story of Crash's evolution or metamorphosis from a good but slightly vapid young man, whose default setting is sarcasm, to someone who can still cut you with a look but can also feel your heart and hold it safe. This transformation takes place over a number of years, some of which overlap with events in the other PsyCop books, but never to the point where you need to read those stories to get what Crash is going through (but why wouldn't you?), because this is firmly his story.
Jordan Castillo Price doesn't skim corners or do a sweeping "months went by and then ..." Nope. She gets into what might seem like minutiae of Crash's everyday existence and the steps that bring him to where we find him at the end of Spook Squad and this book. While at times it may seem like random or unnecessary information, at the end you feel the power of all this accrued information. How each step, good or bad, has paved the way for this New Life and all of it's possibilities.
I could say a whole bunch more but I think this quote sums up what Crash's story is about:
"Surrender...I'd always considered it to be a weakness. A lack of determination. A character flaw. As the experience unfolded, though, I understood an entirely new facet of the idea. Surrender wasn't defeat. In fact, I was welcome to keep right on fighting if I really wanted to. But to voluntarily lay down my struggle and be open to goodness all around me was, in my case, an act not only of strength, but, dare I say maturity."
If you're a fan of the PsyCop series this is also an excellent window into how others perceive the denizens of that universe: Jacob and his impenetrable self, Vic, who has so much going on even on the surface of his skin, Con, Lisa, and Carolyn, who I still find annoying. If you're not on the Psy-train I still think you'd enjoy this thoughtful portrait of a young man evolving into his more mature self, with cuts and scrapes along the way.
***Note to Self*** Stop underestimating Gomez Pugh. Full stop. I confess that I was a bit worried about how this would compare to his Victor voice. I'm a fool. As usual he found the perfect tone for Crash and made him distinctly his own self. Lesson learned.
April 4, 2022
One of my BR partners wrote such a perfect review that I don't think there's anything left to say. Thanks, Linda! 😘
All I have to add is that, in case you were wondering, you CAN skip this book and not miss out on a single thing in the series. In fact, I recommend skipping it! Do yourself a favor and go directly from #7 to #9. I wish I had.
All I have to add is that, in case you were wondering, you CAN skip this book and not miss out on a single thing in the series. In fact, I recommend skipping it! Do yourself a favor and go directly from #7 to #9. I wish I had.
April 22, 2018
Loved it. Crash is much so softer on the inside than I expected, and it was fun seeing all the PsyCop characters through his eyes, Vic in particular. Jacob is a jerk (expected), Vic is oblivious (also expected) and Red seems like a perfect match for Curtis.
Gomez Pugh did a fantastic job in narrating - he's become my favorite narrator (though admittedly I don't have much experience with audiobooks). The way he does each voice and gives them character, the way he managed to capture (imho) the essence of the characters and then act it out... I think I'm in love. And yes, I'm totally fangirling.
Pre-read review:
OMGOMGOMGOMG
Gomez Pugh did a fantastic job in narrating - he's become my favorite narrator (though admittedly I don't have much experience with audiobooks). The way he does each voice and gives them character, the way he managed to capture (imho) the essence of the characters and then act it out... I think I'm in love. And yes, I'm totally fangirling.
Pre-read review:
OMGOMGOMGOMG
January 13, 2018
ALL THE STARS
This book was everything I wanted and everything I didn't know I needed to hear. And as much as I love Vic - seriously, how many times have I said he's my favorite MMRomance character? - I think this ONE book showed more character development and growth for Crash than all the Psycop books have for Vic. It's also now my favorite of the series.
Plus, Gomez Pugh did an amazing job. If I could bump the rating even higher on just the narration alone I would.
This book was everything I wanted and everything I didn't know I needed to hear. And as much as I love Vic - seriously, how many times have I said he's my favorite MMRomance character? - I think this ONE book showed more character development and growth for Crash than all the Psycop books have for Vic. It's also now my favorite of the series.
Plus, Gomez Pugh did an amazing job. If I could bump the rating even higher on just the narration alone I would.
August 3, 2018
2.5 disappointed stars
If you loved the PsyCop series, if you fell for Jacob the way Victor did - don't read this prequel. Jacob-before-Victor is not sympathetically drawn, and I couldn't see his solid kindness in this version. I read on to the end to see whether there was a compensating glimpse of Jacob and Victor together (not really).
And OK, the book's about Crash, not J&V. Even on that basis, though, I found it a disappointing read: it's episodic, there isn't an overarching plot I could latch on to, and Crash's HEA feels tacked on, rather than organic.
I will probably read it again in a few months, now that I know what to expect & my disappointment has settled down, and maybe I'll find more virtues in it. JCP's style at least is always entertaining.
If you loved the PsyCop series, if you fell for Jacob the way Victor did - don't read this prequel. Jacob-before-Victor is not sympathetically drawn, and I couldn't see his solid kindness in this version. I read on to the end to see whether there was a compensating glimpse of Jacob and Victor together (not really).
And OK, the book's about Crash, not J&V. Even on that basis, though, I found it a disappointing read: it's episodic, there isn't an overarching plot I could latch on to, and Crash's HEA feels tacked on, rather than organic.
I will probably read it again in a few months, now that I know what to expect & my disappointment has settled down, and maybe I'll find more virtues in it. JCP's style at least is always entertaining.
January 26, 2018
I loved this book - it was probably my favorite in the series so far. The story of Crash was a heartbreaking one, how can someone have such a tough luck story ? It is certainly true that his road was a bumpy one. Caught in difficult relationships and situations, Crash seemed to find his feet even though he could have curled up and quit. The genuine friendships he formed were special and I loved how the book was broken up into the three stages of his adult life, pre Jacob, with Jacob and post Jacob. I understood how everyone fit into the connections now - all from Crash’s POV. Loved it ❤️
January 19, 2022
I liked this one. I liked getting to know Crash better and seeing things from his POV. It did feel a bit long, though.
February 18, 2021
Just finished.
Did anyone doubt this would be great? Not me. I've always wanted more Crash. He's been interesting since the beginning. I never had to warm up to him. Don't get me wrong, I love Jacob...now, but I had to warm up to him. I sat down to read this with high expectations.
I was not disappointed.
I loved seeing all the side characters from a fresh perception. Jacob...well, yeah, I wasn't surprised there. It's pretty much how I felt towards him. He's hard to read, until you know him well.
Carolyn, I really liked seeing in a new light.
Crash is great. I hate when you finally get to read the POV of a great side character, and they just don't feel like the same character you have grown to love. This is not the case here. Crash is the same great character. There's just more to him now. I love getting his back story, and his present.
Red. I like him. I don't love him. I need more to go that far. But I do think he's great for Crash. I like that Crash evolved on his own. He's been through a lot. I think he's ready for a relationship.
I'm looking forward to Vic and Jacob, I can't wait for their next story. I do hope there are future novellas with Crash. I would even like another full length book for him at some point. Maybe another 8 books into the series....please. I really hope there are another 8 books in this series. I'm nowhere close to being done with reading these characters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
re-read 4/29/18
Since I've been recently re-reading the series, the time line worked better for me during the reread.
I still don't love Red. Not even sure if I like him much. But I love Crash. I'm looking forward to Agent Bayne for Vic and Jacob, but I'm hoping for a couple little tid bits of Crash and Red.
I'd still like a follow up for Crash, but not right away.
I liked the new views on some of the other characters here. I felt like we really got to know Carolyn better here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-release
I want it, I want it, I want it NOW!
I can't wait...I'll be grabbing this up the day it's released.
Did anyone doubt this would be great? Not me. I've always wanted more Crash. He's been interesting since the beginning. I never had to warm up to him. Don't get me wrong, I love Jacob...now, but I had to warm up to him. I sat down to read this with high expectations.
I was not disappointed.
I loved seeing all the side characters from a fresh perception. Jacob...well, yeah, I wasn't surprised there. It's pretty much how I felt towards him. He's hard to read, until you know him well.
Carolyn, I really liked seeing in a new light.
Crash is great. I hate when you finally get to read the POV of a great side character, and they just don't feel like the same character you have grown to love. This is not the case here. Crash is the same great character. There's just more to him now. I love getting his back story, and his present.
Red. I like him. I don't love him. I need more to go that far. But I do think he's great for Crash. I like that Crash evolved on his own. He's been through a lot. I think he's ready for a relationship.
I'm looking forward to Vic and Jacob, I can't wait for their next story. I do hope there are future novellas with Crash. I would even like another full length book for him at some point. Maybe another 8 books into the series....please. I really hope there are another 8 books in this series. I'm nowhere close to being done with reading these characters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
re-read 4/29/18
Since I've been recently re-reading the series, the time line worked better for me during the reread.
I still don't love Red. Not even sure if I like him much. But I love Crash. I'm looking forward to Agent Bayne for Vic and Jacob, but I'm hoping for a couple little tid bits of Crash and Red.
I'd still like a follow up for Crash, but not right away.
I liked the new views on some of the other characters here. I felt like we really got to know Carolyn better here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-release
I want it, I want it, I want it NOW!
I can't wait...I'll be grabbing this up the day it's released.
June 27, 2017
3.5 stars - Crash has been one of my favorite characters in the Psycop series. I loved his snarkiness and attitude and couldn’t wait to read his story. This is his story, told from his perspective, so it has a totally different feel to it than all of the previous Psycop installments. This was both good and bad, in my opinion.
This is told in installments which take place throughout the timeline of the other books. I loved that we got to see how Crash got started with his stylist career, but, at the same time, I was a bit bored with everything going on in the salon. Things picked up a bit when he met Jacob, and it was really interesting to see things from a different perspective. Much of this story is about Crash and his various relationships, with Jacob, Carolyn, Lydia, etc., and while we get to see a good bit of Jacob and Crash together, most of the physical stuff was off page. I always thought Crash had a closer relationship to Vic, so it was also interesting to see how much more Jacob and Crash were involved before his friendship with Vic began, but it was also fun to see that from the start.
One of the other things I enjoyed was the segment about Crash going from skeptic to learning and mostly accepting that he had abilities of his own.
The other major happening was Crash’s relationship with Red, which began in his early salon days, ended pretty much before it began, but then picked back up at the end. I never really had any feelings about Red, and while Crash kept thinking about him, I never really saw the connection between the two, even at the end, I just don’t think I was invested enough since they didn’t have a lot of interaction early on, and then he was absent until almost the end.
While this story didn’t grab me like the rest of the series, I did enjoy seeing some of the pieces filled in. It has the same quality of writing I have come to expect from JCP, but I had a lot of trouble staying focused enough to make it to the end. I seem to be in the minority on this one, so perhaps this one is a case of it’s me, not the book. Regardless, I am still a huge fan of this author and series and look forward to getting back to the other side of things when Vic and Jacob return in the next installment.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
This is told in installments which take place throughout the timeline of the other books. I loved that we got to see how Crash got started with his stylist career, but, at the same time, I was a bit bored with everything going on in the salon. Things picked up a bit when he met Jacob, and it was really interesting to see things from a different perspective. Much of this story is about Crash and his various relationships, with Jacob, Carolyn, Lydia, etc., and while we get to see a good bit of Jacob and Crash together, most of the physical stuff was off page. I always thought Crash had a closer relationship to Vic, so it was also interesting to see how much more Jacob and Crash were involved before his friendship with Vic began, but it was also fun to see that from the start.
One of the other things I enjoyed was the segment about Crash going from skeptic to learning and mostly accepting that he had abilities of his own.
The other major happening was Crash’s relationship with Red, which began in his early salon days, ended pretty much before it began, but then picked back up at the end. I never really had any feelings about Red, and while Crash kept thinking about him, I never really saw the connection between the two, even at the end, I just don’t think I was invested enough since they didn’t have a lot of interaction early on, and then he was absent until almost the end.
While this story didn’t grab me like the rest of the series, I did enjoy seeing some of the pieces filled in. It has the same quality of writing I have come to expect from JCP, but I had a lot of trouble staying focused enough to make it to the end. I seem to be in the minority on this one, so perhaps this one is a case of it’s me, not the book. Regardless, I am still a huge fan of this author and series and look forward to getting back to the other side of things when Vic and Jacob return in the next installment.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
July 7, 2017
This is a fantastic addition to the PsyCop series, and I enjoyed seeing other characters and events from Crash's perspective.
Crash is a fun and interesting character in his own right, and JCP doesn't sell him short. I felt that this entry was satisfying not just as a recap and transition to the next "main" entry but also as a stand-alone novel.
If you've been following the PsyCop series up to this point, I don't think anyone needs to recommend that you read this book; chances are you already are reading or have read it.
I did feel that the pacing accelerated significantly once Crash's timeline caught up to the beginning of the PsyCop series, and once in a while I was caught off-guard when I hadn't realized how far events had progressed, but that's more of an observation than a criticism. After all, I'm not sure I would have made any different choices; in the end it worked very well.
Crash is a fun and interesting character in his own right, and JCP doesn't sell him short. I felt that this entry was satisfying not just as a recap and transition to the next "main" entry but also as a stand-alone novel.
If you've been following the PsyCop series up to this point, I don't think anyone needs to recommend that you read this book; chances are you already are reading or have read it.
I did feel that the pacing accelerated significantly once Crash's timeline caught up to the beginning of the PsyCop series, and once in a while I was caught off-guard when I hadn't realized how far events had progressed, but that's more of an observation than a criticism. After all, I'm not sure I would have made any different choices; in the end it worked very well.
April 6, 2022
I've been stalliing on this one because it hadn't have mystery in it. But I liked it a lot despite the absence of murder in this one. I always have liked Crash in a way, I liked his voice and I think I like him more after reading this novel. I was really surprised at how I didn't like Jacob through Crash eyes... despite being perfect for Vic's imperfections, he felt wrong for Crash since the first time he laid eyes on him. He is really different filtered through Crash. And I also find funny how Vic come as self centered... I've never have thought at him like that, but then, usually we're in his head, and we know first hand what's happening or not happening in there.
I also have some doubts I need to check on later... I think some of the events doesn't quite fit with what we know already, or maybe it's my memory...
I also have some doubts I need to check on later... I think some of the events doesn't quite fit with what we know already, or maybe it's my memory...
April 4, 2022
I liked one aspect of this book, probably because it reminded me of my own predicament, and I like feeling sorry for myself. But also, I liked getting to know Crash better. In the main series he comes off as cool and laidback, going with the flow. While the latter is true, the rest is just what he projects to the outside. He is a mess really, just drifting, trying to find some purpose, and what to do with himself. (*looks hard in the mirror*)
Aaanyway. So I liked that part. But it was a long book, with a boring and long-winded description of Crash's job as a stylist; with less than meaningful relationships that we were told are deep but actually just scratching the surface.
I would only recommend this book to hardcore Crash fans, otherwise it can be skipped or skimmed without missing anything in regards to the main series.
Aaanyway. So I liked that part. But it was a long book, with a boring and long-winded description of Crash's job as a stylist; with less than meaningful relationships that we were told are deep but actually just scratching the surface.
I would only recommend this book to hardcore Crash fans, otherwise it can be skipped or skimmed without missing anything in regards to the main series.
July 1, 2017
I didn't know I needed this book until I read it.
I was skeptical when JCP announced the release of this book mostly because I wasn't fan of Crash.
After reading this I have nothing more to say than this book is a brilliant addition to the PsyCop series. I was totally immersed in Crash's roller coaster of life, enjoyed his interactions with both known and new characters, and it was such a delight to see our beloved characters through his eyes.
When one could think Jordan's sharp skillful storytelling couldn't get better she surprises us with this complex journey. I'm elated, books like this makes reading the most wonderful hobby.
I was skeptical when JCP announced the release of this book mostly because I wasn't fan of Crash.
After reading this I have nothing more to say than this book is a brilliant addition to the PsyCop series. I was totally immersed in Crash's roller coaster of life, enjoyed his interactions with both known and new characters, and it was such a delight to see our beloved characters through his eyes.
When one could think Jordan's sharp skillful storytelling couldn't get better she surprises us with this complex journey. I'm elated, books like this makes reading the most wonderful hobby.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 22, 2021I bought the series so own this and may skim through at some point, but seriously going to a hairdresser is bad enough (though lockdown means it's been been well over a year) I don't want to read about bitchy hairdresser politics and what unpleasant people Crash chooses to have sex with.
This is an 'extra' and shouldn't be considered part of the series, as the main series hit a big event it's an odd decision for the next book to not follow on and instead star a quirky somewhat annoying side character. If I'd read as they were being published it would have really thrown me.
Crash doesn't appeal to me enough to want a whole book of him, I'm following the series for the psy-mysteries which this doesn't have. So it's a grumpy 'maybe one day' from me.
This is an 'extra' and shouldn't be considered part of the series, as the main series hit a big event it's an odd decision for the next book to not follow on and instead star a quirky somewhat annoying side character. If I'd read as they were being published it would have really thrown me.
Crash doesn't appeal to me enough to want a whole book of him, I'm following the series for the psy-mysteries which this doesn't have. So it's a grumpy 'maybe one day' from me.
March 26, 2022
I like getting a chance to spend time with Crash (Curtis Ashe, his mother, Red, and the other people who come in and out of his life). I think one of the real delights is getting to see Con Dreyfus from a more open POV than Victor's paranoia tinged viewpoint. It's fun, also, to see Vic from Crash's eyes, first as an annoying pest, then as a friend.
This book also helps to put some of the timeline into perspective.
Gomez Pugh's gift of voices is a major plus on the audio, adding a surprising amount of gravitas to Red's character and using his voice to show how Crash matures throughout the narrative.
{Edited 03/25/22}
This book also helps to put some of the timeline into perspective.
Gomez Pugh's gift of voices is a major plus on the audio, adding a surprising amount of gravitas to Red's character and using his voice to show how Crash matures throughout the narrative.
{Edited 03/25/22}
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