Cold Calling Champion Hypnosis CD -- Create Intense Desire to Cold Call

The Cold Calling #1

by Will Kingdom

The Cold Calling Champion hypnosis CD is performed by Alex Armani, CHT. It's designed to create a mentality that desires to make cold calls and naturally becomes more skilled as you find yourself making more calls. When you step into this session, it's as though you're stepping into a magical world full of wonder. You're actually entering a state of hypnosis that will help unleash your full potential. We have taken the mentality of highly successful callers and shaped this session with these traits in mind. The suggestions will spoon feed these thoughts, beliefs, and actions directly into your subconscious mind. Through repeated use of this session, you will notice that you experience an urge to pick up the phone and make cold calls. If there are times when your inner mind knows you have legitimate opportunity to make more sales calls, you will experience a thirst for getting on the phone. You may even find that you're able to re-arrange your schedule or delegate tasks to open up more phone time. The Instant Breakthrough series by Alex Armani features a dual suggestion format. This means you will enjoy two sets of suggestions running simultaneously. This allows you to benefit in several ways including increased effectiveness, quicker results, and enhanced pleasure. Listening to this session with headphones is recommended to take full advantage of the dual suggestion format.

Genres: Mystery, Horror, Fiction, Crime, Paranormal, Fantasy, Supernatural

Audio CD

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Will Kingdom is the pen-name of British suspense author Phil Rickman (creator of the acclaimed Merrily Watkins series).

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a long, and somewhat rambling, novel and I will admit that it took me a while to get into it – but once I did I was hooked. The novel begins with the murder of a hunt saboteur, who turns out to be known to Sydney (Cindy) Mars-Lewis; a transsexual shaman with his ventriloquist’s dummy, Kelvyn Kite, as his totem (as one character says to another later in the book, it is best not to think about this too much in case you “lose confidence,” causing me to actually laugh out loud while travelling on a train). Cindy feels the murder of his landlady’s daughter was linked to that of the killing in the same forest of William Rufus so long ago, but his thoughts fall on the deaf ears of a police force who like facts and not rambling shamanic theories.

Meanwhile, D I Bobby Maiden – one of the aforementioned police – is also having a bad time. Living on his own after the breakdown of his marriage, he has uncovered evidence of bribery and corruption in his superior and his life is in danger. Indeed, he is killed, but only for a short time. Sister Anderson, a nurse at the hospital, whose own physical ailments were healed miraculously, lays her hands on him and brings him back. However, she is later horrified to learn that, rather than the usual memories of a bright light in a tunnel, Bobby comes back to a dread of death and horrifying, frightening dreams which leave him afraid to sleep. Sister Anderson (Andy) takes him to the place where she was healed - to the house of grumpy Marcus Bacton (owner of a tiny New Age periodical) and his ‘housekeeper’ healer Mrs Willis.

Marcus Bacton is currently having a battle with television archaeologist Prof Roger Falconer, who has brought High Knoll, the ancient site that Andy was taken to by Mrs Willis and who has since fenced it off. He is running the University of the Earth from his nearby farmhouse; including summer schools for wealthy tourists, and covets Marcus’s house/castle, which he feels would look for suitable for his endeavours. Also converging on this area is Grayle Underhill; a New Yorker who writes a New Age Column (‘Holy Grayle’ of course…) for a newspaper and whose missing sister was last known to be at Falconer’s farm.

The Green Man is the oldest Guardian of the Earth and he believes in hunting, sacrifices and blood. Cindy believes that someone is murdering people around the country and that, somehow, this disparate group of people have to solve the crimes and find the killer. What ensues is a crime novel, which includes the paranormal. Why is the previously High Knoll now seen as ‘Black Knoll’ by Mrs Willis and what about it causes Bobby Maiden to recoil in horror? What darkness has entered him, since he returned to life and can he, Grayle, Marcus and Cindy discover the truth about whether there really is a serial killer walking the ancient tracks and committing ritual murders? This is both an excellent crime novel, complete with some very human hard men that are after Bobby, and packed with brilliant characters, lots of humour and a good dose of the scary and unexplainable. I think I may have become a Phil Rickman devotee and look forward to reading the sequel to this book, “Mean Spirit.”

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For DI Bobby Maiden, life after death is hell. Resuscitated after a hit and run, he's haunted by dark, eerie dreams of being buried alive. Before the accident, he knew he was being fitted up by his supervisor, a crooked administrator who works hand in glove with the local hoods. When the supervisor visits him in the hospital, Bobby knows he'd better disappear before he's forced to die another death.

The nurse who brought Bobby back to life is an alternative healer, and she hides him out with a friend, Marcus, who lives in the ruin of an ancient castle across the Welsh border. Marcus's elderly housekeeper experienced, during childhood, a vision of the Virgin Mary at Black Knoll, the prehistoric burial mound above his home. Enter Cindy Mars-Lewis, a cross dressing entertainer who believes he has shamanic powers, and American journalist Grayle Underhill, looking for the sister who has disappeared somewhere among these ancient hills. When it appears that a serial killer is marauding, all hell breaks loose.

Will Kingdom is a pen name of Phil Rickman, the British novelist better known for his Merrilee Watkins series. There is no one writing today who is better at unrolling stories atmospheric with history and folklore, populated by magnetic characters, both good and bad, and topped with a credible dollop of the paranormal. Cold Calling has a multi-layered plot written tightly enough that the reader discovers the identity of the killer only when those in the story do. Green men, stone circles, and ley lines all play prominent roles, drawing the reader into the mystery.

I've said this in others of my Rickman reviews and it bears repeating: Phil Rickman is an author who deserves a wider audience in America. He's outstanding. Check him out.

[Veronica-Lynn Pit Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why The Cold Calling was initially written under the pen name of Will Kingdom, because it is vintage Phil Rickman. TCC is described as a police procedural so I anticipated that it would not have Rickman's trademark new age paranormal elements; but they are not only present, but as integral to the plot as to the rich landscape along the Welsh border where the story unfolds.

Rickman as usual brings together a varied and well developed cast of eccentric and likable characters. The first few chapters introduce the main players: Bobby Maiden, one of the only coppers not on the take and running afoul of his bent superior; Sister Andy, a conventional nurse and new age healer; Marcus Bacton, a curmudgeonly retired school teacher and publisher of the paranormal rag The Phenomenologist; Cindy Mars-Lewis, the cross dressing ventriloquist/entertainer shaman and Grayle Underhill the New age columist/American journalist looking for her missing sister. The players are eventually brought together by their ties to The Green Man, the mystical serial killer traipsing about the Welsh border killing where ley lines converge on holy places and "feeding the earth through the blood of ritual murders".

TCC is slow to build and eventually hard to put down. The Mystery of the Green Man is interesting but the strength of the story, like all Rickman novels; lies in the interaction between characters.

SPOILER: For the animal lovers - no harm comes to Malcolm the lovable Bull Terrier.

[T. K. Elliott (Tiffany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of the Bobby Maiden/Grayle Underhill books. The first Phil Rickman books I ever read were the Merrily Watkins ones, and so I measure all of his other work by that standard.

This one, I found, was a lot less... horror-y.

The main characters are a bunch of misfits, each in their own way - 'Cindy' Mars-Lewis, ventriloquist and shaman; Marcus Bacton, ex-teacher and current proprietor of one of the country's least successful New Age magazines; 'Holy' Grayle Underhill, American New Age tabloid journalist; Bobby Maiden, policeman back from the dead; and Sister Anderson, the nurse who did it. And, of course, the murderer...

Rickman has created a bunch of characters whom you care about, and definitely don't want any of them to be killed. The story moves quite slowly, but surely, towards the conclusion. It's much more explicitly mystical than the Merrily Watkins books, and the story relies rather more on the mysticism than any intricacies of plot.

That said, it's an entertaining read, and I'll probably read it again.

[Alison S ☯️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read every book in the Merrily Watkins series, I thought I would try the first book in another series by the same author. It had some familiar elements, such as the combination of the supernatural, crime, folklore and archaeology and an interesting set of quirky, likeable characters. However, I'm not sure I'll be reading any more in this series, as there was way too much exposition and complicated plot threads, and it often felt a bit forced and clumsy. It also felt like the author had tried to cram in too many different elements and ideas. Something was missing for me, and a bit off, but it was an enjoyable enough read. Not a patch on Merrily Watkins though ...

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

Something different from Phil, though set in his usual playground. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series

[LJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

THE COLD CALLING (Police Procedural-England-Cont) – DNF
Kingdom, Will – Standalone
Corgi Books, 1998- Paperback
Detective Inspector Bobby Maiden, the victim of a hit and run, dies. Upon being revived is memories of death are not of a bright light and family waiting, but of a horrible place no one would be anxious to go back to. But will his experience enable him to solve the serial murders by The Green Man.
*** I started this twice and really did try to get into it but just couldn’t. It finally occurred to me that a good book isn’t one you should have to work to read. I then looked at the 494 pages in this book versus all the books waiting on my selves and decided to move on.

[Ann Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, really well written, easy to read page turner. Some great characters, well described, come to life in your imagination.
American pseudo new age journalist meets English artistic detective plus a Welsh cross dresser, what's not too like?!

[Heather Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

As enjoyable and atmospheric as ever from Mr Rickman! I prefer the Merrily Watkins series and his earlier works such as The Chalice etc Reading the sequel now...

[Beth Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. See my description of the book for more.

[Gill Parry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good book but on iPad so having trouble - I like my books to have real pages, but I will finish it.

[Simon Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, but..

An enjoyable read but unfortunately not as well conceived and put together as the Merrily Watkins series. Occasionally the book lost its flow.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

2017/91: The Cold Calling -- Phil Rickman

... by daylight, the whole idea of a cross-dressing actor-ventriloquist who believed he was into a mystical tradition with a direct line to the megalith-builders seemed a whole lot less convincing than it had last night. [p. 239]

DI Bobby Maiden dies in a hit-and-run -- but is revived. He remembers the terror of being dead, and his experiences somehow link him to the Green Man, a serial killer who murders his victims (apparently randomly chosen) at sacred sites. Is the Green Man really protecting Britain's sacred heritage? Did Bobby Maiden really encounter a primal force in the time when he lay dead? Can New Age journalist Grayle Underhill (I blame the parents), lately arrived from New York, unravel the mystery of her sister's disappearance? And will shaman and detective Cindy Mars-Lewis be able to discover the murderer's identity before he strikes again?

This was an enjoyable read. Rickman writes about paganism and New Agers without mockery or patronisation (though some of the characters are a bit rude about others). There is clearly something supernatural going on, though it may not be quite as supernatural as certain individuals believe it to be. Interesting characters, alternating viewpoints, and a whodunnit that -- while not wholly unpredictable -- did keep me guessing for quite a while.

I had issues with the Kindle edition, though: throughout the book, random letters were replaced by full stops mid-sentence. For instance, "letting him exp. rience the p. rverse ecstasy of unsp. akable, self-righteous cruelty" [p. 430].

[Pamela (Here to Read Books and Chew Gum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a decade ago, when Night After Night came out, I picked it up with no idea it was part of a series. While it worked as a standalone novel just fine, there were lots of references to the previous books that completely flew over my head. I still remember the book pretty well, so it was really nice to go back to beginning and see how these characters started.

The Cold Calling was originally written under Phil Rickman's pseudonym, Will Kingdom, which is what made it such a difficult book to place into a series. It was an odd decision, because from a genre and style perspective, this series does not venture away from Phil Rickman's normal fare in the slightest. It's a folk-horror thriller through and through, which is exactly what Rickman is known for.

This is a novel that's thoroughly engrossing and fast-paced. Each of the characters has a completely unique personality that is both endearing and frustrating at the same time. They're a group of misfits brought together by circumstance, doing the best they can in a world that both hints at the supernatural but is completely mundane. Rickman masterfully toes that line, bringing a sense of the mystical to what could very easily just have been a run-of-the-mill crime thriller.

There were some elements that felt a bit forced for me. One of the protagonists almost has a one night stand with a woman and the rest of their interactions are written as if I was meant to be invested in their relationship. I wasn't. It was the weakest part of an otherwise incredibly atmospheric novel, and it kind of took me out of the narrative. But that is probably my biggest criticism. Otherwise, it was a thoroughly engrossing thriller that, above all, is unashamedly and wonderfully British.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of read this series in the wrong order, as I read the sequel a few years back. Luckily, I only had a vague remembrance of the book so I couldn't remember what the fate of all the characters were.

The story basically revolves around a serial killer, who is sacrificing people to the Earth at sacred pagan sites. A complete mismatch of characters kind of get drawn into the hunt. A detective who briefly dies after an accident and returns with a link to the killer; an aging nurse with some healing powers who helps bring him back; an American journalist on the trial of her missing sister; a transvestite actor and shaman; the editor of a paranormal magazine. Bobby, the detective, is also trying to investigate corrupt cops and criminal bosses, which sort of muddies the water.

This is a book that has quite a slow burn. For a long, long time, the characters aren't really on the hunt for the killer at all, just kind of end up being drawn together by circumstance and the threat of danger. However, that doesn't mean that any time it is slow or a drag to read.

The author seems to have a good grasp of folklore and I enjoyed some of the concepts that he explores. It was also quite scary in places.

A good read.

[Diane Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sorry that I didn't realise this was the first in a little series but it's okay because it does stand alone and knowing some of the outcomes because I had read a later book first, didn't spoil it - However as with all series I believe it is better to start with number 1.

The characters are wonderful, unusual, and though they are rather 'on the edge' of normality, they remain believable.

The story itself is pretty gory and bloodthirsty. The reason I haven't given it five stars is the way some of the narration is delivered via cassette tape. I can't say more without spoiling and I have to admit that it would be difficult to come up with an alternative but it didn't quite work for me, partly because of the method of delivery and partly because of the delivery itself. Having said that it was a book that kept me up into the early hours and I am looking forward to the next one which I have already bought.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd thought I'd laid my hands on everything Phil Rickman has written so far, so it was a joy to come across this book, originally published under another author name.

At first, the disparate strands of the storyline seemed quite separate for perhaps the first quarter of the book, but I patiently waited and was more than rewarded. Time was deliberately taken to build up the characters and their backgrounds before eventually bringing them together. This meant that once everything clicked into place and the action took off and never let up, it was wholly involving to follow characters I had come to care about veer into real danger.

Phil Rickman's usual themes were here; including the balance of physical and spiritual boundaries and good and evil. An absolutely wonderful, fully absorbing read by a master storyteller.

[Gilda Felt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s just barely enough of the supernatural for this book to be considered horror, but it’s obvious the writer was already heading toward mysteries, as his “Merrily Watkins” series can attest. Though I prefer his strictly horror novels, I nevertheless enjoyed this story.

While slow to start, the novel soon as the reader involved in the mystery surrounding the burial mound known as the High Knoll and how it’s connected to the Green Man. And is the Green Man a legend come to life, or a sadistic killer?

The main characters are all likable: Bobby Maiden, the policeman brought back from the dead, Grayle Underhill, an American in search of her missing sister, Sydney (Cindy) Mars-Lewis, a transsexual shaman, and many more.

At almost five hundred pages, the book takes you on a twisting trail that ultimate leads to some, though not all, answers.

[LT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently discovered Phil Rickman who writes here as Will Kingdom. I love all the elements of his books-the rural Welsh border villages, the supernatural elements, the mystery. This book is classic Rickman. There is a serial killer on the loose, sacrificing people to the earth as the Green Man. Add to the mix a second rate actor who is also a cross-dressing shaman who really knows his stuff, a police officer who tasted death and is left with the consequences of being helped by a trainee healer who is also a very experienced A and E nurse, a curmudgeonly editor of a spiritual periodical and his ugly but cuddly dog and you have the basis for a brilliant story.
I loved it. It had humour too in the midst of the mystery and horror. Can’t wait to read more Phil Rickman.

[Dawn Folley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two days after the death of Phil Rickman I've finished this stunning book. Two days ago I thought I'd re-read this book.I later found out my favourite author had died the same day. A compassionate and deeply sensitive author he invested his books with power and clarity. His characters were fnely drawn. Pace superb. You start a Phil Rickman book and you have to read through. He will include horror and there will a cost but he is an optimist who believed in that essential and spiritual good should triumph. He was always accessible to his readers even after he had suffered his stroke. If you want to be genuinely moved and uniquely informed, read Phil Rickman, you are in a safe pair of hands. Phil Rickman, Rest in Peace.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cold Calling

D I Bobby Maiden dies in a hit and run accident. Sister Andy Anderson brings him back to life after four minutes, but Maiden has changed.
Grayle Underhill comes to England from the States to find her sister Ersula who has gone missing.
Cindy Mars -Lewis is convinced that a number of murders are somehow connected, but the Police won't take him seriously.
This is an absolutely fantastic book. Phil Rickman has created a cast of unforgettable characters especially cross dressing shaman Cindy Mars-Lewis.
Not your ordinary run of the mill police procedural novel and one that I recommend highly.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite up to the standard of the Merrily Watkins books...

...but pretty gripping nonetheless. I always like the way Phil Rickman walks the fine line between he real and the paranormal, though that line isn't held as well in this books as some of his others. However, the characters are good (I particularly liked Cindy the shaman) and he has a great ear for dialogue and for characterisation through speech.

[Janet Laybourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a major fan of Phil Rickman (who came highly recommended by Diana Gabaldon) but this is the first novel I've read outside of the Merrily Watkins series. Which I loved by the way. This is so totally Phil Rickman. A wonderful read. I will start the next book "Mean Spirit" immediately. He has become one of my favourite authors. Highly, highly recommended as an author.

[Marilyn Brazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it again,

I have so many books on my reader, but I just thought I will read it again. Glad I did meeting the friends or not, again. It must be many years since
I read it. I seem to understand more since read all the other Books, different people I know, they blend into the same type experiences.

[Christine Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually written by Phil Rickman and I only discovered it recently, in audiobook form. Like all of his books it is a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. I truly enjoyed the the eccentric but believable characters and Rickman dances a fine line between police procedural and occult thriller. An easy read that I would recommend to anybody.

[Linda Burnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series of books and this is my first foray into his other titles. Needless to say, with a 5 star rating, I loved this one too. I love Phil's writing style, I loved the characters and it's twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Oh, let's just say I loved everything about this book and could hardly bear to put it down.

[Ruth Lawton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knocked off a star because it took SO LONG to get going. I was listening to an audio (CD) version and it was 3 CDs before I was gripped - if I hadn't started it on a long journey.... But once gripped it was brilliant!

[John Dewsnap · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time can of Phil Rickman's work, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The unique blend of mysticism and modern serial killer was an enthralling feature of the story. A very good read!

[Jill Mccaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

An awfully confusing beginning that nearly stopped me reading. However I kept going and found a satisfying story with an eclectic mix of characters (some not terribly believable). Not Phil Rickman's best but if you can get through the first few chapters it's an enjoyable read.

[Karen H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phil Rickman is one of my favorite authors but I am running out of the Merrily Watkins series. Thought I would try this out. It's pretty good, just not as good as the Merrily books. There is a sequel and at one other with same characters, I will read them for sure