Mercurial Dreams

Dreams and Reality #3

by Hadena James

Aislinn Cain and the Serial Crimes Tracking Unit are being sent to the hottest place in North America to investigate mummified remains that were found in Death Valley. When Xavier Reece uncovers elemental mercury in the heart of one of the mummies, they discover there is more than Mother Nature at work. The victims have matching injuries, but only one of the bodies reveals the liquid metal, raising questions about how many killers are using the valley as a dumping ground. The team will have to use extraordinary means to connect all the victims to a single killer. However, with most of the victims unidentifiable due to the condition of the remains, their usual procedures of investigation are impossible. With 32 bodies already found, how high will the body count rise before Aislinn Cain and the SCTU can capture this killer?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Suspense, Horror, Serial Killer

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2013

About the author

Hadena James began writing at the age of eight. As a teenager, she had several short stories published in literary magazines. She completed writing her first novel at the age of 17.
Hadena graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in European History with minors in German and Russian studies. She has always wanted to be a writer so she also took several classes in creative writing.

Hadena’s primary literary genre is action/thriller. She currently writes two series, both use action/thriller. “The Brenna Strachan Series” uses fantasy and the “Dreams & Reality Series” uses murder mystery as its secondary genre. She continues to explore and expand her writing and hopes to soon produce a comedic action/thriller.

When she isn’t busy writing or running her business, Hadena enjoys playing in a steel-tip dart league. She also loves to travel throughout North America and Europe. Her favorite cities are Chicago, Illinois and Berlin, Germany. She is an avid reader, reading everything from the classics like Jane Austen to modern writers like Terry Pratchett. One of her all-time favorite books is “Good Omens” by Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett. She writes all of her books while listening to music and the bands tend to get “honorable mentions” within the pages.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Reread May 2021 **

I've changed my rating with this reread, going from 3 to 3.5 stars. I am SO enjoying rereading this series. Three books reads in two days so far - I think it's safe to say these books have broken my slump!



I love the Dream series by Hadena James.

This novel was a slower book than the previous ones & had an anticlimactic ending. Still, they solved more than a few cases, even if it wasn't how they normally would do it. It started out very strongly & the main plotline was definitely gripping - but it seemed to flounder badly in the middle. Not one of my favourite of her books.

[Hadena James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always have a blast with the Cain novels. Aislinn is fairly easy to write and the men with her are always fun.

With this book, I was trying to show "more sides" of Ace.

Enjoy!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am officially hooked on this series. The only downside is that in correlation to the previous books this one did not have the same build up. the intensity was not the same. it ended feeling like there should be more to it.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous book, Elysium Dreams. I enjoyed the forensic side but the punch just wasn't there for me.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Never knew I could learn so much about mercury poisoning and different ways to mummify a body. Every time Ace and the team go to a new site, they find more than one killer. I really think Ace is a great person to hunt these people down. Her and the team each bring a different perspective and ways to work together. They seem more human than most people in the world because they know what they are and accept who they are. I recommend this book to those like suspense and thrillers.

[Dusty Crum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ! Winner again.

I love these story's about the adventures in Aislinn Caines psycho life. Fast paced , great chars . Would highly recommend to everyone. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Can't wait for her next one.

[Krystal Grant]

In this book the gang are hunting a serial killer that appears to be mummifying his victims. I really enjoyed the technical information in this story, all about mercury, mercurial compounds, and the fact this one is making mummies. The gang just gets closer and closer as if they are family and I like that about these books too. They are all family regardless of the fact they aren't blood kin. I have a lot of friends that I consider this way so I enjoy reading about that type of dynamic. It really makes me love the characters all the more. Aislinn also has a "fan" and has for some time. The Butcher is getting closer and we are closer to knowing who it is and why. I love that part of the story too. Since I've read these several times I know by the time I get to this one, the story is really about to get rolling with the cohesiveness of the group and how they rely on each other so.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually hate books in a series. That being said, I can't seem to help myself with this "Dreams & Reality" series by Hadena James. Just finished the third one (right on the tail of the second one) and just bought the next three. At least I know I have some great reading material for the foreseeable future since it's currently a 12-book series. The serial killer hunter team members are as compelling as the cases they investigate. If you like thrillers and crime fiction, you can't go wrong here!

The only reason I haven't given these works five stars is because the editing isn't as thorough as it should be. Small stuff mostly, but nonetheless annoying and one of my pet peeves.

[Espressodream · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick read. Managed to get out of my reading slump. I do like Aislinn Cain & the team but this book just didn't hit the spot for me. Firstly, Michael was pretty much pointless in this book, although he didn't have much presences in the last 2 books either (at least for me). Secondly, the ending was just really anti-climatic, in fact, the whole book felt really slow. I don't mind all the details but I need some action, and the two shooting scenes really didn't make sense to me at all.

Overall, I was a lil disappointed but I still do like Aislinn, and it was nice to see more of Malachi. Would like to see more of him in action.

Am thinking if I should purchase the 4th book.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really have enjoyed reading the Aislinn Cain series. She is such a unique character, as are her colleagues within the unit, and it keeps me coming back for more. This storyline was a bit more farfetched compared to the last ones (not that they aren't all obviously fiction), but I still enjoyed it nonetheless, following the killer, watching how the team puts together the pieces, everything. I have especially enjoyed watching Hadena James grow as an author. I can tell how her writing has progressed from the first book to this one, and I can only imagine how much more she'll grow as I continue reading. I have every intention of continuing this series to the end.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was rather disappointed in the sudden drop in quality. In the author's note, James mentions that she wants each book to be able to stand alone. If that's the case, this one fails quite miserably. Within the larger context of the series, though, it's got good character development! I really liked seeing more of the personal lives of Aislinn and her groups of misfits. The ending with Malachi was very sweet. But the actual plot? I believe this is filed as a thriller. I was not thrilled. At no point was I on the edge of my seat with suspense. I'm not actually upset at how the case was resolved, but the lack of tension made this one rather boring.

[Adam Shore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 3 and not nearly as well edited or thought out as books 1 and 2. It felt rushed and there were many typos in the kindle edition that left me obsessing over them for some reason. It's just distracting and I find it a bit irritating.

Story as fun, but overly condensed with too many side stories taking place in a very short amount of time.

Still reads like a Reacher book but this one just wasn't as clean.

Trying book 4 now... I'm hoping it's redeeming.

[Hannah Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in this series and I have really enjoyed the books so far.

Ace is strong willed, determined and I can relate to her in her introversion, and how humans are a bit of a mystery to her, I feel like that most days! 👽

I love the dynamics between the characters, these books are short but enjoyable, I find them great for in between long books where I want something easy where I can just shut off, looking forward to reading the next one!

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not as good as book 2 was, but still recommended.
As I get more and more into this author's books and getting to know these characters, I think: WHO and how the hell does someone come up with these 'so realistic, that you wonder if they actually happened'? This one was good, but I had it figured out a little after halfway. It was not as gruesome either.....I guess that mummification never really has ever bothered me. Am I crazy? Hmmmmm.
3.75 Stars

[Nicole (TheBookWormDrinketh) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I didn't think this one as strong as her previous novels. The story felt rushed and unfocused with too much side-tracking to other random things coming up and barely any focus on the serial killer that was supposed to be the focal. I hope she goes back to focus on one case in her next novel

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly gruesome series, but this one wasn't as bad as the previous ones. In fact it was very tame with an unsatisfying ending. Even the characters in the book found it so, so I'm perturbed as to why the Author would make is so.

Oh well, it is something to read at night when I don't want to have think too hard about anything.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story and the characters. At this time I’m continuing to read the rest of the series which I don’t do very often. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher is I find the sentences are a bit short making the reading feel choppy at times. The author may be doing this on purpose as the book is first person narrative but I haven’t read any of her other books so can’t say for sure.

[Dawn Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undiscovered jewel

I received the first book as a gift and have been hooked ever since. The team in these books are so complicated and mysterious that you always want more. And the crimes are so unusual the you want to find out more.

[Mtbike40 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid fast paced story line from Hadnea James. I am really enjoying this series and the cases are very different. The plot between the team members continues to grow, and of course, the serial killers continue to do crazy things.

[Nicole Tul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Really good read and so very twisted. So far I'm still liking these books, they can be read stand alone but to get better understanding of the characters read them in order. I don't give out details of the book,because I'm not ruining it.

[Kay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So original!

I love Ms. James stories. They are so original and fascinating. Once I start reading one of her books, I am unable to stop. This one is no exception. Aislinn is my new favorite protagonist. Ms. James, well done!!

[marlene crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, Addictive.






My 3rd time of reading the whole collection and I'm still enthralled. Aislinn is my hero. Only regret is not available in book form as I would gift all my like minded friends these books

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read #2 in this series and it was decent, this one was just OK. The storyline wasn't really that interesting and the why what when where of the murders weren't really that good. Only giving it a 3 instead of 2 stars is because the author does try out some interesting murder storyline.

[Grace Marrufo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Loved it can't wait to read the next one I love the way all books tie in together very detailed

[Kelly cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read

Great series so far can't wait to keep reading the rest of the books.
Full of twists and turns with such detail 😁

[Clinton Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This one was paced a bit slower than the previous two books, the characters remained strong and the writing wonderful. I will be continuing the series.

[Kathy Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I've read several of Haydena's books, and expect to read many more. She keeps you in suspense until the very end.

[Pinky Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted

A trip to Vegas for the team to find if they have a Serial killer or not. They find more than they bargain for.

Great storyline and characters

[Gypsie Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are so good! I absolutely love the dynamic of Aislinn and Malachi!

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!