PACK OF LIES, book two of Paranormal Scene Investigation series, relates the adventures of a team of paranormal crime scene investigators. The paranormal, magic, and magical creatures are an aspect of everyday life, with its own set of social rules, political complexities, and crimes. The Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations (PUPI) team, led by Ian Stosser and Benjamin Venec, was established to be an unbiased resource for investigating paranormal crimes. Team members have much needed paranormal skills they hone with constant training and practice.

Bonita Torres, one of five twenty-something Talents of PUPI, is able to read a scene and recreate the residual energy to replay aspects of the crime, much like a DVD. When a Talent is murdered by a rare and magical creature, PUPI is called in by the Cosa Nostradamus to investigate. What seems like an open and shut case turns out to be more complicated than expected. It will take all of their psychic talent to get to the truth.

I loved the premise of the PSI series. PACK OF LIES reads like a police procedural (gathering clues, building hypotheses, eliminating suspects...) but the procedures used are based on a science of magic. I was impressed by the complexity of how Gilman's magic world works, and the fact that it all seemed plausible. Gilman has created a rich and intriguing world that blends a familiar reality with a magical world with its own specific rules, politics, and challenges. I liked all the members of PUPI, each of whom had distinct personalities and back stories that blended well together. I look forward to future PUPI investigations.

Book Summary

My name is Bonita Torres, and eight months ago I was an unemployed college graduate without a plan. Now I’m an investigator with the Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations team of New York. Pretty awesome, right?

The Cosa Nostradamus, the magical community, isn’t quick to give up its secrets, though. Not even to fellow members. Not even when it’s in their best interests. So we’ve been busting our tails, perfecting our forensic skills, working to gain acceptance. The team’s tight… but we have our quirks, too. And our Big Dog, Benjamin Venec…well, he’s a special case, all right.

But we can’t give up. We’re needed, especially when a case comes along that threatens to pit human against fatae. But one wrong move could cost us everything we’ve worked for…