PSYCH: A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO READ by William Rabkin

[Gerald So]

I'd been curious about this novel since the news broke last January it would be written. I was most curious how author William Rabkin would handle Shawn-Vision, Spencer's ultra-perceptiveness shown on TV in extreme close-ups and highlighting. I'm happy to report it's delivered quite smoothly (e.g. Shawn looked at the truck driver and he saw. Saw the chafing on his face. Saw the redness in his eyes.") as is the interplay between Shawn and Gus, the heart of the show.

What I'd heard of the plot doesn't do the novel justice. It's best described as a series of scrapes Shawn and Gus bumble into and escape by the skin of their teeth. The show's plots seem more cohesive, perhaps due to TV's time constraints, but as Psych isn't the most realistic concept to begin with, I read on, entertained enough. First-time novelist Rabkin breaks the one-viewpoint-per-scene rule at times, jumping from Gus's head to Shawn's to others, and I don't see this as mimicry of the show. If he gets a handle on it, I'll be back for more.