Just / In Time

A psychic with the ability to time-travel, Trent Calloway is the African-American mystery-hunting hero first introduced in PSI/Net. In this second collaboration between actor Williams and Edgar Award winner MacGregor (Hawk Moon), Trent is offered the chance to rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife, Camila Hidalgo. Now the White House press secretary, Camila--who left Trent years ago, when his work as a psychic spy (or remote-viewer) took over his life--shows up at Trent's door to recruit him for a sensitive assignment. Sparks fly, and Trent agrees to check out the job. A healer, Justin, claims to be the son of God--some people think he's the Anti-Christ; others call him a yahoo prophesizing his own rise to power. Regardless, the White House wants him targeted for psychic spying. But when Trent sees Justin in person, he finds the healer harmless and decides to turn down the assignment--at least until a bioterrorist attack connected to Justin's followers sends the world into turmoil. In the ensuing action, Trent psychically contacts himself in the past; is contacted by his future self; comes face to face with the good-vs.-evil power struggle at the center of the universe; and tangles with an old nemesis in an alternate universe. The plot is complicated, but it's more fuss than fun, and predictable; the characters are complex, but not all that interesting; most of the action is predictable, the main characters stock, the prose is mediocre. The title does contain a decent pun, however. (Aug.)