Bitter Pill

3.5 stars

I'm grateful for the day I picked up [b:Among the Living 5603414 Among the Living (PsyCop, #1) Jordan Castillo Price https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375991614l/5603414.SX50.jpg 5774782] because it was the gateway to a great writer and IMO one of the best series around. What [a:Jordan Castillo Price 268722 Jordan Castillo Price https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1325364144p2/268722.jpg] has done is trace not just the love story of two unique individuals but, more importantly, one man's sometimes tortuous, but always relatable, journey from abandoned boy to a (as of this installment) forty year old man who's finally coming to terms with his past and his true worth. The interesting cases and compelling cast of characters that people the PsyCop universe are just gravy as is [a:Gomez Pugh 8435087 Gomez Pugh https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s always masterful performance in the audiobooks. You should really read them in order to get a whole picture, each installment is like a step in a ladder. You won't regret it. In this outing Jacob & Vic are racing to find the source of a drug that's killing the psych community, working on an ongoing case, and trying to figure out when/how to bring about their wedding. Along the way Vic continues to deal with his past, seeing it through the prism of his new experiences, and still a bit dumbfounded that people trust his abilities without question and that he does too. Vic coming into his power is a beautiful thing, particularly since he continues to be such an empathetic person. Another thing that makes this series so great is the incorporation of storylines for characters who would just be part of the background elsewhere. For those who've been following along you know about Jackie and the development in her story had my eyes watering. I'll say no more but leave you with this quote, the love here is strong and unwavering:“But Jacob ... if it's ever a choice between me and you ... it's gotta be me.”He knew exactly what I meant. If someone's gotta go ... “Why would you say something like that?”“You have family.”He balled my jacket in his fist. “Damn it, Vic, so do you. I am your family.”We sized each other up with our bloody eyeballs, Jacob and me. Each of us aching to throttle the other. Both of us breathing raggedly, waterlogged with emotion. When our mouths crashed together, it was more in desperation than love. A realization that neither one of us was invincible.And neither was expendable.