Dead Weight

Cold Case Psychic #4

by Pandora Pine

Cold Case Detective Ronan O'Mara is looking forward to starting a new life in his new home, but when a strange house warming gift appears on his doorstep, he has no idea that it marks the start of a series of events that will put his life and the lives of everyone close to him in danger. When murders similar to those committed by a dead serial killer, Rod Jacobson, start occurring around Boston, Ronan is certain he has a copycat killer on his hands.

Psychic Tennyson Grimm is approached by friends for help dealing with issues surrounding their son. He quickly realizes there is more going with the boy than teenaged angst. Though he doesn't want to believe it, his psychic abilities and a series of strange paranormal occurrences point to a link between the troubled teen and the murder victims that are turning up all over Boston.

When Ronan is attacked during the investigation, it's up to Tennyson and Captain Fitzgibbon to find the killer without him. Will they be able to stop the murderer before the evil that surrounds him destroys them all?

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Mystery, Ghosts, Romance, Crime, Audiobook

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2018

About the author

Sick of the slogging rat-race of her 9-5 job, Pandora Pine put pen to paper (literally!) to make her ambition of becoming a romance novelist a reality. She cut her teeth in the dog-eat-dog world of fanfiction, still dreaming of the day when she would be a published author. She lives in Massachusetts with her blabbermouth muse who’ s a fan of middle of the night plot twists.

In her spare time, Pandora fancies herself an amateur nature photographer. She enjoys mucking around in swamps, hiking through the woods and crawling around on her hands and knees in her backyard seeking out the perfect shot. Pandora is a fan of roadside seafood shacks and always thinks Mexican food is a good idea at the time.

Some of Pandora’s favorite things are chocolate, writing longhand with purple pens and handsome men falling in love with each other.

Don't miss Pandora’s seductive new novel coming soon to an e-reader near you.

Reviews

[Jenni Lea · Rating 1 out of 5]

And here is where the author and I part ways. And recommend a sensitivity reader. I thought the fat shaming in the previous book might be a fluke, so I let it go.

But to promote suicide? On-page suicide? LITERALLY promote it?
Sorry, but that's a big fat NOPE for me.

This is not martyrdom. This is straight-up encouraging a child to commit suicide.

What. The. Fuck.

[Gustaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, this one was intense.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at :
https://optimumm.blog/2018/04/12/review-dead-weight-by-pandora-pine/



Dead Weights is the fourth book of the Cold Case Psychic series.
Tennyson and Ronan are newly engaged and start their new life together by moving into their new house.
Everything is going great for them. Tennyson has his powers back, Ronan and he are more in tune and in love more than ever, and they don’t have a traumatic case…for now.
But nothing can stay like that, and Tennyson has gotten new visions of murders, young men murders, like with the Rob Jacobson case, but it can’t be him, since he’s dead.
So who’s impersonating this serial killer?

This book is, in my opinion, the one that gives me the most feelings.
Tennyson and Ronan are my guys, and I loved to see them having their happy life, in their new house next to Carson and Truman. It was good, like being on vacation, after all the ups and downs we read in the 3 previous books. But of course, the author couldn’t let us be happy and in peace, nooooo, she had to make us suffer, a little bit. That’s when everything went to hell at least for me.

The case is very specific, and what we’re used to reading about the crimes and the hunt for the killer is different in this book. It was a risk, and so far, it was a good risk. This book is more cryptic I’ll say, with a little bit of religion, but it was coherent with this particular case and killer. I almost had a heart attack in the middle of the book, there’s a twist that I didn’t see coming, and it put my blood pressure very high. I can say that I was on a rollercoaster of emotions.
I liked it. It was good to be out of my comfort zone with the guys, to have to deal with new situations and not a simple plot. It wasn’t black or white this time, and like I said, I was completely hooked on the story and loving it a lot…

But the end, kind of ruined the book for me.

I don’t want to spoil the book, but I’ll try to explain it. The final scene, just before the epilogue, bothered me. In my opinion, the scene wasn’t well written, and the author missed something in it. It wasn’t that the scene doesn’t make sense, because, in this tricky situation, with this particular character, I understand why the author does that, I’m okay with the motivation, I’m not okay with how it was done. It was like everyone abandoned this character and gave him the green light, like an encouragement. It really bothered me, and kind of ruined the book for me. It pissed me off a little bit because right after this scene, the epilogue comes…and it was a beautiful epilogue (I was totally crushed, crying like a baby with big fat tears), with a lot of answers and explanations. That’s why I think this last scene wasn’t well written because maybe, if I had some of explanations that were in the epilogue in this scene, it would have given me another feeling.

That’s why I put 3 OptimuMMs for this book. But don’t get me wrong, I’ll keep reading this series, I still love it a lot, and it’s not because this book leaves me with a bittersweet aftertaste that I don’t want to follow the series anymore. That’s what happens with a series, we all have a favorite and less favorite. This is one is my less favorite.

3 OptimuMMs for me.

***I would like to thank the author for the privilege and opportunity of reading this ARC. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***

[SoCalBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better with each (audio)book. Really fantastic series.

While I am sure these are great books to read, I feel like Michael Pauley's voice and narration just gives these characters life and the story just impacts you so much harder when listening to them. The ending of this book just made me all kinds of emotional. I was in shock, gutted, and sobbing with the ending of this book. But the overall story we get mixed with the narration was such a great story to hear.

I really love this group of friends that Tennyson and Ronan has surrounded themselves with, they are all fantastic people. The first two books of this series were suspenseful and intriguing, the last book #3 was more romance filled which I think gave us a good balance in the storyline. This book brings us right back to the suspenseful crazy nature of the series and things that had happened and ended in those first two books. But besides all the drama and action, we still got to see some lighter moments as well. This author has written such a great plot line with this whole series so far I cant wait to experience the rest of these books. But, I will be waiting to get them all in audio so I can experience them first through listening to them in MP's voice I just hope we get more soon.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review

4,5 stars

So we are now four books into this series. Villains have been defeated and criminals arrested. The relationship between Ten and Ronan is developing. By now I thought I knew what this series would bring - more of the same - in a good way mind you. I was mistaken and boy was I ever. There were things I did not see coming and I can't say that about many books. Dead Weight was an emotional rollercoaster with smiles and tears intertwined.

Fore once Ronan and Ten are finally on solid ground. There's no back and forth, no secrets or unnecessary drama. Something I've been longing for since the second book or so. Relationships aren't friction free, so some drama is to be expected. Anyway, this book starts off with them moving into their newly purchased house - right next door to their friends. Add in some wedding planning and life is good four our two heroes. That is until the past rears it ugly head. And it's ugly. Very ugly, and very, very dangerous.

Remember Rod Jacobson, the serial killer from Dead Retconning, the one who tortured and brutally killed teenage boys? Well his body might be dead and gone but his spirit sure isn't. It's live and kicking. It has possessed another (live) body and is on the prowl again. He's aiming to finish what he started, and there are many beloved characters on that hit list...

I loved Michael Pauley's narration of this book. He made time fly, and before I realised it, hours had passed and I'd listened to the entire book in one go. I was captivated, I lived in this story, hunted for Rod along with Ten and Ronan. I wouldn’t exactly say that I had a blast, but that's because of the content of the story not the narration or writing.

I love this psychic and detective troupe and am really enjoying this series and can't wait for the next book to be released into audio.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite so far - mostly because of the inconsistencies and the things that just made no sense to me. In the previous book the ghosts were able to physically assault Tenn and yet in this book it states that the ghosts can only assault him if they possess another body. There were also a lot of things that just pushed the bounds of believability to much for me. A non psychic being able to send a vision to Tenn The fact that Ronan was able to send Tenn a vision was completely unbelievable and even if I did buy it - it made no sense. The book said he sent the vision to save his life because Tenn would have confronted the killer and died. However, if he hadn't sent the vision Tenn wouldn't have known Ronan was shot and therefore never would have rushed home to save him thereby getting shot. He talks to ghosts - he doesn't have precognition.. Then there is the Catholic Priest who can perform an exorcism (meaning he is very high up in the church) and yet he has no issue with Ronan and Tenn's relationship. The whole Ronan being able to talk the Priest into doing a Catholic funeral and burying him in a Catholic cemetery is also just pushing things to far. I don't personally believe suicide is a sin that sends you to hell but the Catholic church certainly does and this just wouldn't happen.

Then there is the whole way Tony reacted to his son - it's like anyone in this series whose kid is in trouble forgets everything about being a cop and I just don't buy it. He has known Mark for less than a year and yet even though Mark steals his gun, shoots Ronan and tries to frame another one of his adopted sons - he does nothing. In fact, he goes so far as to hide him (even knowing that Mark killed two other young men.) At the time that he does this he doesn't even believe Mark is being possessed. I love my son with all my heart but I wouldn't stand by and do nothing if I knew he was a serial killer - especially considering the people his son wanted to kill are friends of his.

I also thought that it would have been nice if it wasn't so obvious who the killer was. The author basically spells it all out for the reader very early on. Not knowing and trying to figure it out would have been nice. Don't even get me started on the fact that their isn't any actual police work in this book even though one MC and two secondary characters are all police officers. In fact at one point Ronan goes to work on a week Tenn isn't working with him and states that he doesn't want to start working on another case because he doesn't like to work without Tenn. Other than going to a crime scene there is NO investigation at all.

Finally, the ending of this book really bothered me. The characters all seemed to be okay with a young man taking his life at the end. Well, he's wanted for murder and we can't find a way to continue to do exorcisms (because apparently one wouldn't be enough) so let him kill himself. In fact, Tenn even says his life was meant to end early The strange thing is apparently Tenn was meant to die earlier in the book except Ronan changed it by sending the previously mentioned vision. Yet when it comes to Mark - it's all he accomplished what he was meant to. Oh yeah and that made no sense either. He was meant to save Ronan by being a terrible shot? Since Ronan was shot 3 times at close range and Mark missed his heart - that's what he was meant to do? WTF?

Obviously I had a lot of serious issues with this book. I really enjoy Tenn and Ronan and I'm willing to push the bounds of believability but I don't want to have to chuck them out the window never to be seen again. I want cops to investigate, non psychics not to be able to do psychic things, characters to have compassion and not suddenly be okay with a young man killing himself because it's easier.

Okay ramble over - I'm still giving this 3 stars because I like this series and the characters. I will continue this series and really hope this was just a one off that I didn't like.

[Nans Savir · Rating 3 out of 5]

great book, it was Really great until the end, that didnt work for me... I was waiting this book so much... I had really high expectations.... I undrerstand why, I undrerstand what the author was thinking but no... that end didnt work for me...
I love the author, I love the series and I will read the next books but this book is definitly my less favorite from Pandora....

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. We have a case of a copy cat who is leaving dead bodies in a manner that the serial killer Rod Jacobson did. But we know that Ronan has killed him. So now we have the mystery of who is doing the killing. There is a heart stopping incident that happens in the beginning of the story that tore me up and brought me to tears. We see how strong Tens and Ronans relationship is and we get to see them move into a home together. We also have an addition to the family, of the four legged kind. Dixie is way toooooo cute. There is one character that totally pissed me off, even though I understood why he did what he did, to a certain extent. The end was so sad. I do understand why that happened the way it did as I don’t see any alternative. I can’t wait for the next book to come out on audio as I love listening to them.

Audio ARC provided by LesCourt Services in exchange for an honest review.

[Cee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

*´¨✫)Everything happens for a reason...
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶ (¸.•✫ღ˚•。*°•💧💦5-star Review💧✰✰¸.•°*✫★

I have never felt such angst, such grief and such darkness from Ms. Pine as I have from Dead Weight. This was a gripping, edge of the seat, bowl me over and resurrect me story. I have been invested from day one and I want to be there to the end.

This book was almost that for me...the end. I have given myself self resuscitation, encouraging words, cried from grief and with relief and shouted to the mountaintop...yes, yes, yes!!! Only to be drawn to the dark side to get answers.

Pandora Pine has indeed grown in her writing. Like my go to authors Sloane Kennedy and A.E. Via, Ms. Pine has squeezed her way to the top of my drop what I am doing to read this author's work. She has shown such strength in breathing life into her characters and making them human. I am pretty good at analysing, but it is the getting there; the twists and the turns that keeps me coming back for more. With time, Ms. Pine will succeed even beyond HER expectations. She has gone above and beyond her mystery/thriller scale.

I dare you to one click and get on the bandwagon. You have not experienced Pandora Pine in this element before. I cannot wait for more.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars!! Wow! I have loved this series from the start, but Dead Weight is without a doubt the best installment to date. This book had me all over the place emotionally - it is intense, suspenseful, funny, sad, hot, sweet, and shocking all at once. I love the beginning, namely the moving scene and seeing just how far Ten and Ronan have come in their relationship. Their storyline in this installment is a tough one while they try to solve what first appear to be copycat murders. Remember Rod Jacobson? If you haven’t read the rest of the series, you want to before reading this book. It makes the impact of the events in Dead Weight that much more devastating. Seriously, this one hurt a lot at times.. but it is absolutely incredible. I laughed (Kevin and Jace at a certain wake?! LOL), I sobbed (a LOT at the end. Have tissues handy), I wanted to smack some characters even if I sort of understood their issues (Tony!). I don’t want to say too much because this book in particular really needs to be read first-hand without spoilers. I love the addition of Dixie, the storyline with Kevin and Jace, how well Greeley is doing, how many times my alma mater Salem State University was mentioned (Go Vikings!), and how close Ronan, Ten, and all their friends have become. They really have formed a family, and I cannot wait for the next book!!

[caroline wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for book 5
I got this book by the author for an honest opinion.
This is the 4th book in the series where we follow Ronan and Tens flourishing relationship with the added mystery. This book firstly I've got to comment on his the book cover which is fantastic and I think portrays the atmospherics of this story plot so I liked that. Now down to the writing, this book was the one that made me cry out of all the trials Ronan and Tens journey has been throughout the series and their has been some horror crimes this one got me as without giving much away when you connect with a character even briefly and can remember them by certain quirks it says with you when there killed. So this book was sort bittersweet for me, I enjoyed the bigger aspect of the family ten and Ronan have created and which we see more of but the ending was heart breaking though from a readers perspective you knew was going to happen. This mystery was about a copycat killer that has been leaving bodies with their order of death number on their chest but with a slightly different ideal victims. But Ronan knows he shot the killer so who's re-enacting these crimes.
A slightly chilling story as you get snippets of the killer's dialogue so your a bit anxious even though you can sort of conclude,who it is but this story was good and brought a whole range of emotions to the forefront.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab the tissues, this one is an emotional roller coaster ride...

Even though we enjoyed our first 'bullet-free" story of the series in the last book, that was NOT the case in this one. When death comes knocking at his door in the form of three bullets to his chest, it will take a little help from "the other side" to save Ronan's life... and the love of his man... and an exorcism? I am almost afraid to ask what will this author think of next... but I can't wait to find out! *grin*

[Shaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is series is really grabbing me at the moment. I'm loving the whole cast of characters and loving the fact that we get to know them all better in each book. The author has a knack for drawing you in and making you invest in characters, giving you the chance to see their growth, both in a personal as in a relationship sense.

This book can't be read as a stand-alone, that's a definite. If you haven't read the previous ones, you wouldn't have a clue what's going on. And even though it's pretty clear early on what's going on, the way the guys deal with it keeps things interesting.

It's not perfect, lol. There are a few niggles with a character (but consistent as far as I'm concerned, so it might just be who this side player is as a character, lol) and it could have done with a bit more editing, but the story was good enough for me to be able to ignore that. It would have been a 5 star read otherwise though.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

what can i say that i haven't said already? I love these guys. All of them. Ronan and Ten just keep growing and while the love is strong between them they still have moments where they have to work things out. I love the secondary characters just as much. Love the little paranormal elements that make the stories work. I'm off to read the next one!

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional

This one was like an episode of Supernatural.
I really enjoyed it. This one was very emotional.

Tenn and Ronan have a killer after them. It’s one they have faced before. In solving the case, they have to face some serious issues.

[XI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from the repetitiveness of things said in other books, this book wrecked me! FUCK!!!

[Alreem · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Viki Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series,( it made me cry). Looking forward to the next in the series. May can't come soon enough

[Caipi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm, this was a mixed bag for me. I liked seeing Ronan and Tennyson again and the development of their relationship. But I have to be honest here, I really have a problem with the way the book ended.

Don't read this spoiler if you haven't finished reading this book!

From the moment it was clear what happened to Mark, that he's possessed by the evil spirit of the dead serial killer Rod Jacobson, I wondered how the author would manage to get a good ending for Mark. But suicide?! No, just no!

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING: On-page teen suicide

Dead Weight is a good book with strong character but a troubled ending. After Tennyson reconnected to his gifts and his relationship with Ronan strengthened, the couple are now embarking on the next milestone of their relationship, moving in together. I loved seeing this pair grow together and become the family they both desire. Whilst it was a bit of a complaint that the murder case didn’t feature so strongly in the last book, leading to a filler moment, when it was done in this book it seemed a lot more balanced and normal.

Part of this was how the case threaded its way through even the normal parts of Tennyson and Ronan’s day, as Ronan was targeted by the killer. There wasn’t much character growth on either of the main characters’ parts, though we got deeper glimpses of some of the secondary characters that makes me hope for some spinoffs showcasing their relationship. The occasional point of view from the antagonist strengthened the tension and fear within the plot and allowed the climax to go as smoothly as it could have.

The ending was tough to read and may be upsetting for some readers, so I would definitely warn people that there is suicide in it and to be aware of their limits. Whilst I could see how the character was drawn into the path he took, and the author tried to soften its blow with Tennyson interacting with him, showing how he wasn’t destined for Hell as some religions might believe, and that the teen was at peace with his decision, it’s still not something I’d have encouraged or was happy to see.

Despite this tough ending, the deepening relationship between Tennyson and Ronan, as well as the overall plot, was excellent and I look forward to seeing what is next for our psychic detectives.

Reviewed by Jenn at The Novel Approach

[Fernanda Fatio · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: mentions of teen rape and murder, on-page teen suicide

The series continues to run into the same problems as the previous books. Police procedures are non-existent. Cop corruption is a thing and I’m not talking about taking bribes. Hiding and helping someone who is wanted for killing two people and trying to kill another because the your foster kid is not right. Having two other cops, one of them a captain, helping the cover up is also not ok. They got the warrants for the guns, but no one interviewed the house occupants? Did they look for fingerprints in the locm or in the shoebox? Tony forgot about being a cop when he hid his fugitive foster son? And let’s talk about the lack of trigger warnings in the blurb and in the beginning of book about the end of the book where Mark shot himself in the head with his father’s gun, that he snatched from a room with 5 adults in? And also about the bullshit piece of them being more worried about the kid soul being condemned than him killing himself? Of Ten telling a troubled teenager who had been possessed by a spirit that it was ok and the other spirits were there waiting for him? And why the fuck was the sitting there just for anyone to see? And whose gun was that? If Tony’s was taken for the investigation, where did the other one came from? Does he have licence to carry a personal gun when his work one was used to try kill another cop?

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much and this book is no exception to the rule. It was exciting and sweet, tender and harsh, loving and full of hate. The plot was good, the action great, and a sad and unusual but fitting end to the story. I like the characters and for the most part, they acted like you would expect in those situations. At first the climax seemed too easy but then an explanation of the future made more sense and again was unusual. There wasn’t a lot of sex given that one of the characters spends a good part of the book in the hospital (yum, a hospital scene!) but what there was was hot.

I still have some questions about how Tennyson comes to his information. He says he’ll never read people without their permission but he does read them, often right after he says he won’t. He gets significant information that way, too. Then he actually reads someone and he doesn’t get any more information than when he’s “not” reading people. It makes no sense.

But I loved this book and am so happy that there are a lot more of them.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely loving this series and don't want it to end.
I love Ten and the paranormal side. I love Ronan and the mysteries that hes has to sove.
The cast of secondary characters are great, each adding so much to the story.
This book deals with Rod coming back to continue his killing spree and ends with an exorcism which is terribly sad.
Roll on May so I can read the next chapter and visit with Tne's parents.

[Fredicka · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, let me say, I was not ready for that ending. The way it broke me cannot be forgiven. I was barely able to read the last few pages through my tears. I had the kind of ugly crying that leaves you with a stuffed nose and headache. RIP
Despite the fact that the end of this book had me so deep in my feels, I still can’t bring myself to give it above a 3.25⭐️. The last few pages were not enough to rate this book higher. Although that was definitely one hell of an ending.
I do like this story, and Ronan and Tennyson's relationship has definitely grown on me throughout the series, but I still have a hard time with this story because the author relies so heavily on the police process for their storytelling. It is hard for me to look past how little of an understanding that the author has when it comes to police work, and law-enforcement in general. It is glaringly obvious that the author is using TV shows as their reference point, and nothing more. I think they definitely needed to put in the effort to talk to someone who works in law-enforcement.
The rest of this review is just me ranting. Feel free to read on, but don’t feel like you have to.

They get so many things wrong, so often, that I find it hard to stay in the storyline. It’s not just big things when it comes to policy and procedures, it’s even the little things like saying an officer would be responsible for their hospital bill if they were injured in the line of duty. It’s those kinds of things that are wrong that make it so glaringly obvious that the author is not putting in the effort to learn about law-enforcement. Which would be okay if they weren't relying so much in their books. Don’t get me wrong. I know this is a work of fiction based in a paranormal world that does not actually exist. But so may other authors put in that effort, and it goes a long way for me.
Now forgive me because it’s gonna be hard to explain. It is a pet peeve of mine when an author is using the real world as a background for their fictional world, and they want me (as the reader) to use my established knowledge when it comes to the rules of how their fictional world works, but then the author doesn’t wanna follow those rules. If you wanna create a fictional world that doesn’t touch anything in the real world, and then tell me the rules of how your world works, I am 100% for that. I love me some high fantasy. But if you want to use the rules of the real world, then use the rules of the real world. Or at the very least tell me what rules we are changing.
For example, if you wanna tell me that in your made up book universe that coffee comes out the color purple, but everything else about coffee in your book world is the same as coffee in the real world, cool, I’m with you. But then you wanna randomly hit me with the fact that coffee in your book world smells like rubbing alcohol, now I’m confused. You told me to use my real world understanding of coffee, and apply it to your book world.
As the author, you told me that you wanted me to use my real world understanding as a backdrop to your story, but that the only thing I was supposed to change was that coffee is purple. Then halfway through this established relationship, you want to change certain facts without giving me the reader a heads up. Now I’m confused. Then if you continue to do it throughout your entire book, it’s hard for me to stay in the world that the author created. Now, I’m too focused on the parts of your fictional world that don’t track.
If you got this far, thank you. Like I said, I know this is just a random pet peeve that I have, but it is a pet peeve that is hard for me to look past.

[Danis ❤️ MM · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the heck did I just read? How did this get a 4.31 star rating? There are spoilers ahead, but really you don’t want to read this book anyway, so please continue.

Pros …..?......

Cons

•Instafamily/bonding – Tony & wife instantly take in 4 street teens and become one big happy family. Even though these teens have been through some serious sh%t they instantly are calling Tony “Dad”. The scenes are like something from Leave it to Beaver. And apparently even though you’re a teen who’s been brutalized therapy isn’t a thing for you. And Tony’s college age biological kids apparently NEVER come home to visit.

•Tony gives no fu&cks. Tony doesn’t care about his job, or his best friend of over a decade. He’s so bonded to these street kids he’s fostering for the last 4 months that he’s willing to break the law to protect them.

•Ronan instantly forgives the kid who shot him. Yeah, I know the kid was possessed. But dang man! He shot you THREE times in the chest. You lucky to be alive bro! And then Tony, the a$$hat that he is, picks the kid he’s only known for 4 months over his friend of 10 years. WTAF?

•The Captain and Greeley are still calling each other “Dad” and “Son”. I was waiting for it to turn into some covert role playing or something. Who calls the kid they’re fostering “Son” after like a day? And why is Greeley calling the Captain “Dad”. It’s weird.

•The plot was boring and predictable until the end. Then it just became shocking. I mean you knew exactly who the killer was in the first two chapters. And you know Ronan survives because there’s 20 plus books in the series. And the writing? It’s simply not that good. Lot’s of typos and poor editing choices. No concept of real police procedure or what happens in a hospital. Suspension of disbelief can only do so much. This author needs to do some basic research.

•Why in the heck couldn’t the gang have called his Captain/police station and told them to tell Ronan to call them when they had the premonition Ronan was gonna get shot? Why all the theatrics of keeping Ten from Ronan when a simple phone call to the station would have fixed the situation? There were other instances of things like this and it was downright frustrating. It felt like the author was dragging things out. Creating unnecessary filler drama.

•Authors…please use trigger warnings…They’re there for a reason. There’s on page teen suicide at the end. And it’s frickin’ glorified. I kid you not. The kid is exalted for the choice he made. I’m not a Trigger Tracey. You don’t have to put a warning down for every little thing. But for on page teen suicide. You can bet your @ss you need to list a trigger warning for that.

Why I finished the book is a mystery to me. I’m not even sure I’ll continue the series. I’m almost afraid to. Time for a palate cleanser. Because this book was pure sh$t.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

After the joyous end to Dead Silent we begin Dead Weight with so much happiness and hope. But not everyone is happy about it. Someone from beyond the grave is using every influence they possess to crush everyone involved with their unrest. When Ronan becomes a casualty to their actions it's up to Tennyson and Kevin to find out just who and what is calling the shots before it's too late.

It seems like Tennyson is becoming the type of person who is quite emotional. Not that he didn't feel and express before, but there was a consistent calm about him that seems to be gone. He's much more volatile now when what he loves is threatened or hurt. It's completely understandable, but his evolution isn't exactly slow; it seemed to go from 0-60 in a heartbeat in Dead Silent and isn't reverting or settling yet. I'm interested to see just how he'll continue to change from here on out, especially since it seems his gift might be changing.

Ronan is going through a similar metamorphosis but in the opposite direction from Ten. He's much more mellow and able to look at both the bright side and the outside perspective to have a much more balanced view on just about everything. And with the addition of Dixie we get to see even more seriously gooey reactions from him. I actually prefer the man Ronan is becoming to Ten but there's still so much good about them together that I'm becoming more invested in them as a partnership and a couple.

Dead Weight is an apt title here. It carries so much heaviness in this one and while the ending is one of love and hope, it's preceded by a seriously depressing scene. I was absolutely shocked with where we were taken and what we had to witness. There was no deus ex machina, no last-minute save, no "just kidding" moment. It was sad, frustrating, devastating, somber. It fit, though. I hated and respected it in equal measure. It wasn't predictable and it shocked me out of the comfort zone and pattern I was beginning to expect in this series. There are some things that many members of the story's cast kind of glossed over, like therapy, and I hope they will be touched on in the next book because otherwise it's quite a large oversight on the author's part. While I do think that there are a whole host of issues for many of the characters that needed to be at least mentioned regarding what happened, I'm eager to see where we'll be taken next.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the story continues, and what a fantastic story it is. Thrilling from the get-go, and it didn’t slacken once. All throughout the book, I was sitting on the edge of my seat. It was one breathtaking, eerie, and emotional roller coaster.
Ten and Ronan are engaged to be married, bought a house together and the cutest little puppy, Dixie, and are as happy as can be. Their peace and quiet is shattered when a ghost from the past comes haunting them. But he does even more than that. Their lives will never be the same.
This is not only the story of Ten and Ronan anymore. It has become a story about their extended family. All the key players of the previous books are making an appearance again. From the Earth and the other world. They all band together to solve the case. And that is what this makes this book even more captivating than the others, I think. As I have read all three books, I got the feeling that I know all the men and women, that they are my friends. I am thoroughly invested in their lives. And when something like this happens, it is an even bigger blow. But apart from that, it is a fabulous story. The twists and turns this author gives the story are out of this world. Literally. They gave me the shivers. And just as I thought it was (relatively) calm, there was another spooky situation that had me holding my breath. Through it all there is that unwavering love between Ten and Ronan, which only has grown even more.
And the end? Simultaneously it broke my heart and warmed it, but it was the most fitting conclusion to this book.
This is the fourth book in the Cold Case Psychic series and cannot be read as a standalone. The books must be read in order to appreciate them fully.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four in the series and no, not a standalone. You need to read the others to establish the characters and the relationships involved. Not only for the main characters but for the secondary ones, who become a more integral part of this story.

For me, there was a darker feel to this story. The evil is/was so much more intense here. Men are dying, in a manner that copies one of Ronan and Tennyson first cases. But that killer is dead and gone, isn’t he? Then guys are being stalked and their lives are being threatened. And it’s going to take every one of their friends help to come out of this alive. The story takes some twists and very unexpected turns. And the author does an incredible job of slowly building the tension in this story.

And yet, the story had the balance of lighter moments. Like Dixie, the pup that Ronan and Ten adopt. Then there is the budding romance between Fitzgibbon and Jace, that starts at a funeral. Then there’s Carson and Cole, with their banter and at times goofy approach and the rest of the gang, both alive and not. In this story, the gang feel like family You are so invested in the lives of all the characters here. I can’t wait for the next story in this series.

This author keeps getting better with each story. From the first page you are pulled into the story. The writing, the plot, that pacing is all perfection. I seriously can’t wait to see where the author takes us next.

[CB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic series with a couple spin-offs series - here is the reading order for the first 34 books/novellas! Love them all - the MC's and their stories. Fun, entertaining, intriguing and sexy!

# Title Series
1 Vision Of Love - Cold Case Psychic
2 Dead Speak - Cold Case Psychic
3 Dead Reckoning - Cold Case Psychic
4 Dead Silent - Cold Case Psychic
5 Dead Weight -Cold Case Psychic
6 Dead To Me - Cold Case Psychic
7 Dead Ringer - Cold Case Psychic
8 Dead in the Water - Cold Case Psychic
9 Beyond the Grave - CCP Spin Off Novellas
10 Spellbound - CCP Spin Off Novellas
11 Dead of Night - Cold Case Psychic
12 Blood Song - CCP Spin Off Novellas
13 That Old Magic - CCP Spin Off Novellas
14  Hunter's Curse - CCP Spin Off Novellas
15 Merry and Bright - CCP Spin Off Novellas
16 Thin Blue Grind - Cold Case Psychic
17 Dead Man Walking - Cold Case Psychic
18 Ghost of Himself - Haunted Souls
19 Love Potion 69 - CCP Spin Off Novellas
20 Kissing Booth - Valentine
21 Dead to the World - Cold Case Psychic
22 Tiny Dancer - CCP Spin Off Novellas
23 Ghost Story - Haunted Souls
24 Dead Wrong - Cold Case Psychic
25 Aurora Borealis - CCP Spin Off Novellas
26 Ghost Town - Haunted Souls
27 Booking Burke - CCP Spin Off Novellas
28 Ghost House - Haunted Souls
29 Dead on His Feet - Cold Case Psychic
30 Ghost of a Chance - Haunted Souls
31 Ghost Pain - Haunted Souls
32 Dead End - Cold Case Psychic
33 Ghost of a Memory - Haunted Souls
34 Dead on Arrival - Cold Case Psychic

[Elithanathile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gotta say, I really don’t like the author as a general whole, NOT AT ALL, and I think that she does A LOT of things wrong in her writing in general; some of those things are absolutely ludicrous and absurd (and some things the author has written in books - generally speaking and OUTSIDE OF and unrelated to Haunted Souls and Cold Case Psychic - can be seen as really horrible), but I HAVE to point out and give MASSIVE credit to the fact that the Haunted Souls and Cold Case Psychic series (and I am ONLY EVER referring to these two specific series) are absolutely SPECTACULAR/AMAZING/FANTASTIC/TERRIFIC, and the writing in both series is wonderfully engaging, riveting, and absolutely unputdownable!! Strictly referring to THESE two series, the author’s writing, characterization, and what she has crafted in her imagination for this entire group of AMAZING men is really really WONDERFUL!! What the author created with Haunted Souls and Cold Case Psychic is absolutely SPECTACULAR and the author’s storytelling in these two specific series is simply SUPERB!!! So I set aside, lock away, ignore, and dismiss all the niggles and negatives as a whole in terms of her other books, while I firmly and very specifically focus on these two (aforementioned) FABULOUS series, and the fact that they truly ARE truly and absolutely AMAZING/WONDERFUL!!!!