Blood Dreams: A Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Novel

Ok, well, probably not. But I spend hours in a medical chair these days and it's hard to concentrate on a story unless it's very engaging. I read Blood Dreams continually today, came home and kept reading. When it was over I wanted the next one Right Now. That's the mark of a great read. Blood Dreams goes a little too far into the killer's mind for my personal taste, but it seemed to be part of the story and it works very well in the plot and tone. I can see why we do but don't want to give any plot points away in the review. Several times in Blood Dreams I thought I'd spotted a 'mistake' or a hole in the plot, but I should know better. Kay Hooper works her plots till they sing. I was completely wrong with my smug reader predictions. Dani Justice is a very engaging heroine. Her ability, dreaming the future, has led her to believe that she causes the future. Because her dreams are always bleak, Dani has emotionally distanced herself from those around her. The difference between what she knows with her head and knows with her heart is a universal dilemma that feels very true. Part of Dani's journey in Blood Dreams is learning that knowing something and causing it are not the same. Noah Bishop makes appearances in Blood Dreams but is definitely a secondary character. Blood Dreams brings the stage to several new characters who work along character from the past. You don't miss anyone. This isn't a book that would be better with more of (your favorite SCU character.) This is the start of a multi book arc, and (like Nora Roberts does in her 3 book series) Blood Dreams wraps up some of the mystery and relationships while leaving others to develop along the way. If you like Iris Johansen's early Eve Duncan books, you'll enjoy Blood Dreams. It's very much a page turner in the best tradition.

Dani Justice has pre-cognitive dreams or rather nightmares. She has been having this particular one for some months now. She has come home to her hometown just outside of Atlanta, Georgia to spend time with her identical twin sister, Paris, who has just gone through a very painful divorce. Dani and Paris have known since they were kids that they have more than just a special "twin" connection. They each have their own psychic abilities that are enhanced when they work together. In order to help others, they have joined a private organization (Haven) run by John and Maggie Garret that consists of many different types of psychics. This organization was started as an idea of FBI Special Agent Noah Bishop. Bishop is the head of the Special Crimes Unit that also has primarily psychics working for it. Bishop and his team had been tracking a very evil serial killer in Boston who killed a dozen women. The last one killed was the daughter of a US Senator who has offered his help and resources to Bishop and who very much wants this killer caught if he has to do it himself! Dani's dreams show her and other members of Bishop's unit in a warehouse that is on fire as they are searching for the killer and someone he has captured that they know. The dream keeps changing a bit but some things are consistent so that Dani knows this will happen in some way. Dani also runs into her former love, Marc Purcell who is the sheriff. Marc has some special abilities of his own. The story grows in intensity and plot twists although not quite enough time is spent telling us more about Dani and Paris' relationship and work for Haven. I anxiously await the next book in the series!

I've yet to be disappointed by a Bishop/SCU novel, and Blood Dreams was no exception. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Bishop is my fav character, so I was happy he had somewhat more of a supporting role in this one. It was an easy, suspenseful read and I was left wanting more at the end. I'm anxiously awaiting Blood Sins.