Waking Nightmare

July 27, 2009
Brant's debut, the first installment in the Mindhunters trilogy, begins with the standard short clip from the POV of a serial killer, followed by the introduction of the standard burned-out, ex-alcoholic tough detective, Ryne Robel. To find the killer, Robel reluctantly teams up with elfin criminologist Abbie Phillips. As Abbie and Ryne begin to piece together the clues, crossed wires turn into sparks. Though the novel opens with a generic structure, the writing is vivid and strong. Brant does an excellent job of building the partnership and attraction between Abbie and Ryne, and clearly enjoys showing off their razzle-dazzle police procedural techniques and banter. Readers looking for romance may be put off by the killer's grim torture of his female victims, but suspense fans will love the unexpected twist and pulse-pounding climax.