Jevin Banks is a broken man. Rich, but broken. After his wife and sons die tragically, he abandons his job as a Vegas illusionist/escapist to make films debunking fake psychics, scam artists, and the like. His assistant Charlene and effects man Xavier travel the country with him in search of new show ideas.
When they come across Dr. Tanbryn’s research on mind-to-mind communication, they smell a good story. Not believers in psychic phenomena, Jevin and Charlene pose as lovebirds participating in the Lawson Research Institute’s study on quantum entanglement between couples. They mean to disprove the center’s findings, but instead stumble onto an even bigger scoop. What they find has huge implications not only in the scientific community, but for modern warfare. And lives are at stake.
Still in the throes of finishing his Patrick Bowers novels, James takes a turn towards a different kind of story in the Jevin Banks series. It’s still James, but a less graphic one, one even more interested in cutting edge science and technology. I really enjoyed getting to know Jevin and Charlene over the course of the book. They are complex characters who have a complicated relationship, one which I’m sure will bloom and grow in stories to come.
But perhaps my favorite character is Fionna, Jevin’s researcher/hacker. She’s a single mom who home schools her four kids, teaching them a thing or two about computers, history, and similes along the way. She even brings them along for a field trip of sorts when Jevin and crew travel to Philly. She’s such an unlikely mix of motherly and almost criminal influence. I have to laugh every time she’s in a scene. Also interesting is the relationship between Jevin and Charlene. Though platonic (mainly because Jevin just can’t get over the fact that his family is gone), their friendship grows into something more.
One thing I didn’t understand was that the book’s cover copy stated that Jevin wants to find out why his wife took her own life and the lives of their sons with her. But aside from reliving the horrific event in his mind, Jevin never investigates this at all. I was hoping his investigation into psychic communication would lead him to find some kind of mind control issue that was used on his wife. But alas, nothing of the sort. Hopefully the issue will be addressed in a subsequent book.
Placebo is fast-paced, interesting, moving. All with James’ signature style and flair. Highly recommended.
