I’ve been hooked on Kay Hooper’s paranormal novels ever since I read “After Carolyn” in 1997. I was disappointed when she drifted from paranormal to romance and delighted when she introduced her first “Bishop/Special Crimes Unit” novel in 2000. “Wait for Dark” is the latest in the series with “oldies” Reese and Hollis and “newbies” Cullen and Kirby. It pains me to say it, but this book is not up to par with the rest of the series. Too much time is spent talking about a variety of psychic abilities and characters from other books, Reese and Hollis talk incessantly about personal issues, and we barely learn anything about Cullen and Kirby. The plot was somewhat predictable, not very exciting, and it seemed as if the agents were barely using their psychic abilities. The unsub was ultimately caught because the team is psychic, but we didn’t get much of an explanation as to how they figured it out. It would have helped if incidents that occurred, and things that were said, weren’t left hanging. Ms. Hooper usually gives more space to the unsub’s POV, but this time space that could have been better utilized was taken up by unnecessary dialogue (see above). I didn’t guess who the unsub was, or why the unsub was killing people, so there’s that. However, except for the final victim, we never really find out why the other victims were chosen. I hope this book is not a sign that Ms. Hooper is getting lazy, something that seems to have happened to many other prolific writers. On the flip side, maybe it’s just me. I’ve read so many of these books, including “The Bishop Files” spin-off books, that I may be on “Bishop overload.” This is a 3.5-star book that I’m upgrading to 4-stars, because (1) it’s a fast read and (2) there are very few editorial errors and (3) it can be read as a standalone. Will I read the next book in the series? Yes, because I love the characters and hope the next one will be better.

Kay Hooper has done it again. She has the ability to tell a gripping, suspenseful story that always has an unexpected ending. I loved her newest case and am so glad to see some resolution between Hollis and Reese. They have had a long exhausting journey that I have thoroughly enjoyed traveling with them. I look forward to the next harrowing adventure for Bishop and his team.