Picked this up from the library even though it was book 3. I liked it better than many of the books in this niche - enough to see if I can find the earlier books.

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96 points/100 (5/5 stars!)

When my ex-fiancée, Kara called me begging me to investigate the death of one her family members. I can't say no. This is going to get me in trouble, though, and not only because this will give the Guild chance to get rid of me forever.

This book was scary. The Guild is truly frightening. I'm a worrier, and so I worry for Adam, and frankly I worry for the world. This book shows that things are not going into light, fluffy places.

This is a very, very big Guild book. Adam is actually helping the Guild try to solve a murder, because apparently he is some kind of neutral in their eyes. This means we are going into enemy territory, being surrounded completely by enemies, with no backup. That. is. scary! Especially since they treat him so poorly, as always.

Adam has been under threat since the start of this series. He has always said the Guild could do whatever they want to him, and no one could really do anything about it. This book puts that notion to the test. He is threatened and bullied and knows at every step of this book it could be his last.

It is also increasingly becoming known to us readers that this world is about to change. I'm not certain how the world cannot change with the things we are learning throughout the first book as well as Marked. It scares me. It should scare everyone. The politics are absolutely insane, especially since the price for being in power is so, so high as well as the tensions. I'm enjoying the hell out of it, I'm just terrified for the future.

I liked Adam and Cherabino in this one. Their relationship is expanding. Compared to Sharp, there were barely any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. They are cooling down into each other, overcoming their differences. There is also his relationship with Kara. We've seen him reconnect over the last two books with her. Yet, this book changes things with their relationship.

This was very entertaining to read, because I was so scared the entire time. Are we certain this isn't a horror series?

To read more reviews in this series and others, check out keikii eats books! ( )

it was almost as good as the earlier books in the series. Same tone. Bit more... hmmm... "romance" I suppose. Not sure if that added much to the story, but maybe it did play some motivation role. I will read more in the series. ( )

(Description nicked from B&N.com.)

“Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.

When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.

Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.…”

This book takes readers further into the Guild, the society of telepaths that kicked Adam out after they got him addicted to a powerful drug. It turns out that there’s quite the little power struggle going on behind the scenes. Adam’s ex Kara is fairly deep into the politicking that’s going on, mostly because of her family but some of it on her own account. It turns out there’s quite a bit more to the Guild than just a bunch of telepaths policing themselves. We get a glimpse of what makes the Guild tick, and also what its goals might be.

There’s finally some movement in the “will-they-won’t-they” relationship between Adam and Cherabino. I’m glad that the author didn’t drag the tension out longer (although I wouldn’t say that the situation is fully resolved), because having the drug problem is quite enough for the main character to deal with. This is especially true with Adam being more in contact with the Guild in this novel and being exposed to the conditions in which he initially got hooked.

On that subject, Adam’s fight against addiction is pretty prominent throughout the story. I think he’s a good role model for someone who has successfully come back from the brink but who doesn’t hide the fact that the journey is a difficult one. This isn’t a case of “Go to a few AA meetings and all will be well.” This is a man who is constantly tormented by the demon of addiction, and while time might dilute the craving, it will always be with him.

Overall, the mystery in the story was really well handled. Combining the solving of the murder with the look inside the walls of the Guild gave the plot an extra level of depth that it might not otherwise have had. Hughes has created a strong world and backdrop here, and I’m glad that she’s stretching her writer’s chops and exploring it in creative ways.

Marked is another great entry in the Mindspace Investigations series. Fleshing out the culture in which the main character spent many years gives this book a boost, and Adam’s slowly evolving relationships with those around him give it a good deal of heart. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on April 14, 2014.