Play the game, or it will play you.Professional con artist Grace Evanson can talk her way into or out of just about anything—and when she can’t, her supernatural gifts tip the scales in her favor. The criminal skills of fellow Talent and shapeshifter Carlos McConnell, however, are still a work in progress.Caught on the wrong side of a blackmail scheme, the team is forced to take on a seemingly … take on a seemingly impossible job or pay the price. Except succeeding might have even deadlier consequences than failure—and the only way out is a scheme that will add to their growing list of enemies.
When some of the team’s secrets threaten to bring them all down, Grace and Carlos must decide just how much they’re willing to risk because the danger lurking out of sight is much closer than either of them realized.
Can the team finally come together to pull off the heist of the century?
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The gang is back for a 3rd go-around in Shifting Identifies, Book #3 in the Criminal Elements Series. If you’ve read the first two, you’ll feel right at home with this next installment. Shifting Identifies comes with all the well-written heists, scheming, high-stakes, international intrigue—and snark— that readers of this series have come to expect. But its focus shifts a bit this time, highlighting the greenest member of the team: Carlos. I loved his character arc! It was my favorite aspect of the story, and what earned it the 5th star.
This series is generally plot-driven. There’s a lot of planning and plotting, scheming and discussing. It’s all done well, and it has to happen for the heists to work. But if you’re a character-driven reader like me, there’s still a lot to love. Book 2, for instance, really brought us into Rook’s world, which cemented him as my favorite character. Now, in book #3, I was very happy to have the spotlight on Carlos for much of the book. I enjoyed watching him learn and grow and become not just backup, but an integral part of the team. I loved seeing him stand up to Stone! While I’m not a huge fan of his relationship with Grace (it’s feels surface and safe), Carlos has a friendship with Rook that solid, believable, and downright fun. I always look forward to their banter, or any scene with Rook. He steals pretty much all of them.
Despite his reservations and anxiety, when push came to shove, Carlos stepped up and put his life on the line. But I wouldn’t have minded if things had gotten darker. If he’d struggled more or, in one particular scene, if he’d taken one more step and gone a little “dark side”. It could have led to some real emotional turmoil, conflict, and deeper character development. Something to really evolve the characters and throw everyone off their well-oiled game. Again, I know the series is plot-driven, so the heists are front and center—and I’m not complaining about that. The authors provide us with entertaining, well-thought out robberies, schemes, grifts, and hacks that keep things moving along nicely. But Carlos has gotten a real taste of the dirty work now. Rook has new abilities. We’ve learned more about the magic and secrets have been revealed in the past of several characters. New, dastardly villains are in the mix. Things are set up for A LOT of potential and (fingers crossed) some serious conflict as the series continues.
All in all, a great read. Shifting Identities is another well-executed installment in a series that skillfully combines magical “talents” with a modern-day criminal underworld. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!
Wonderfully Masterminded
This series just gets more impressive. The layers of plots & plans, character & story arcs, and detailing of magic & rituals is amazing. Everything is well thought out, plausible, and entertaining.
The relationships between the characters and the back stories really come alive. They connect you more deeply to the criminal team, which raises the intensity of the risks & dangers they must endure. Really great action scenes, especially between talents.
The only negative thing I can say is that it will be too long before the next installment in this series is released.
Overview: Caught on the wrong side of a blackmail scheme, the Team is forced to take on a seemingly impossible job or pay the price… But, success might have even deadlier consequences than failure. The Meyers’ pen a fast-paced, rough, and edgy read complete with high-stakes thievery, European venues, and the ultimate danger in the exciting third book of their Criminal Elements series, “Shifting Identities”.
When paranormal Talents(shifters) Carlos, Grace, and Rook are forced to reunite with their former teammates, Stone and Renee, under a blackmail scheme headed by the enigmatic criminal mastermind, Victoria Reid, the tension and excitement build as they not only plan to outwit Victoria at her own game but strive to uncover a puzzling and possibly deadly secret their two former colleagues may be hiding from the rest of their group.
Brisk dialogue punctuated by plenty of action and adventure, grave distrust, lots of plot twists and turns, and some darn clever feats of thievery will leave readers breathless as the Team pulls off some amazing feats. Although international intrigue, underlying romances, relationship issues, and hidden pasts may plague the Team’s mission, this exciting third installment of the Criminal Elements Series will have Meyers’ fans yearning for more.
With moderate violence and adult situations, I highly recommend “Shifting Identities”—along with the entire Criminal Elements Series—for paranormal urban crime fans ages 17 and up.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author, which in no way affects my review. This review is voluntary. I already knew the characters well from the first two books and they followed well through this book. The story is gripping from the first chapter and holds you tight all the way through. In reading this book I got to know the characters even better and love the descriptive nature of every part of it. It’s a thrill packed, fast paced adventure with twists and turns leaving the reader spellbound wanting to know how it will all come out. If you like books with well defined characters who can pull off magic and computer hacks, this is a must read!