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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Lucas Blackwell was a profiler for the FBI, before he accused a fellow agent of being a serial killer, which left his reputation in tatters. After having suffering from a massive nervous breakdown, he quits his job at the FBI and becomes an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Psychology at the same university August works at.
After running into each other, Lucas accidentally uses his gift of psychometry and sees the truth: August Mulvaney is a serial killer, or so he thinks.
Now that August has seen Lucas, he can't stay away from him. But Lucas has a secret: The man he accused of being a serial killer at the FBI? He was right, and now he's moved closer to Lucas and is now hunting him.
First and foremost, I absolutely loved how August went from scoffing at Adam for "imprinting" on Noah, to being absolutely obsessed with Lucas. He tries to get advice on how to woo Lucas from his brothers, which is an absolute mess, and even starts reading Love Language books to try and figure out how best to make Lucas love him.
Secondly, the HUMOR. I cannot say this enough, not only does Onley James write fabulous romances but the snarky humor is just *chefs kiss* I was cackling through each and every meeting with the Mulvaney's. Their wit and banter is some of the best I've read and I am HERE FOR IT. I would like to submit my application to join this family. Tysm.
I loved Lucas and August. I loved their weird romance, their obsession with each other and how they shouldn't have fell into obsession, but did.
I feel like I keep repeating myself when it comes to Onley’s books, but they’re all just super entertaining. I didn’t really have any expectations when it came to the second book as I haven’t seen a lot about it, but I really loved August’s character in particular. I am also a massive fan of characters with psychic abilities, so I knew I would enjoy the clairvoyance bit. I would’ve loved even more of it, but it added something fun and different no matter what.
“I want to keep him.” “Bruh. Those are thinking thoughts not speaking thoughts,” Noah coached. “You can’t just go around telling strangers you’ve imprinted on them like some werewolf in a Twilight movie. They won’t get it.”
My favorite part about a series like this is how you slowly get to know the rest of the characters as well, either before they get their own books, or you get/learn more about characters you already know and love. I especially love how we get more of Noah, as he’s my favorite so far. I immediately started Moonstruck when I finished Psycho, so it’s all blending together a little bit, but that’s honestly a lot of the fun. You could read it is a standalone if you’re not too bothered by a huge cast that features in every book, but I’m definitely enjoying it more by listening in order.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Professors
Former (disgraced) FBI agent
Clairvoyant MC
Genius (no, seriously. Crazy smart)
Possessive/obsessive
Eidetic memory (photographic)
Found family
Murder boys
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Mentions of forced institutionalization
Murder
Graphic violence
Mentions of torture porn
Anxiety
Panic attacks
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
August Mulvaney is exceptional, and that's saying something in a family of psychopaths. By day, he's a brilliant professor that his students love but confuses his colleagues. By night, he's a ruthless, obsessive killer that helps right the wrongs of a failing justice system. Lucas Blackwell is restarting his life after a horrifying end to his career as an FBI agent where he used his gift of clairvoyance and profiling to put away criminals. After literally running into Professor Mulvaney, Lucas knows something's not quite right. It seems Lucas knows August's secret, and he also wants Lucas all to himself. This could go very poorly. Or maybe Lucas and August are everything they didn't realize they needed from one another.
"August knew he wasn't explaining himself right. But he didn't know how to say he wanted to be the one who put Lucas together and took him apart. The one who could make him beg but also made him feel safe."
This family of psychopaths really worms their way into your heart and live rent-free in your mind, with no complaints of course! Similarly to the first book (Adam and Noah), I had my concerns for Lucas going in. The characters also reference that August has autism on top of his psychopathy and attachment disorders, which makes his lack of social etiquette even clearer. Once again, this book shows that love looks how you want it to, and everyone else be damned. I love that and how the concept comes together for Lucas and August in their epilogue (and definitely ensure you check out the extended epilogue).
I wasn't sure what to think when I read that Lucas has clairvoyant abilities, but I was so invested in how he used them throughout the book, and more importantly how August and his family accepted these talents. Lucas is his own version of broken and scared when we meet him, and August turns out to be just as protective and possessive as his brother was with Noah. Speaking of which, I lived for all the different glimpses we got of Adam and Noah in Psycho, and I'm looking forward to getting to experience all the couples from different viewpoints as the series continues! Onley James has such a unique way of blending storytelling with their psychiatric nursing experience, and throwing in some dark humor and hot as hell encounters! Can't wait for Atticus and Jericho!
"Lucas's face went soft, his smile radiant. "That's the sweetest thing anybody's ever said to me after cutting off another man's nipple.""
August is such a sweetheart, which is kind of crazy given he is a psychopath.. Lucas is broken, but he still has some fight left, and is slowly (with the help of August) finding his place again.
I had sort of guessed what would happen, but I was still enthralled and kept increasing the speed of the audio, to find out what would happen faster.
I will say, I love the way Onely tackled the like..visions aspect of Lucas. I mean super rare to see such a visual concept displayed in a book for the reader to create such vivid images without taking from the story. And I love August & Lucas together!