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Emily Monroe #1
Conduit
How do you hide from a killer when he's in your mind?
Emily Monroe conceals her psychic gift from the world, but her abilities are much too strong to keep hidden from an equally gifted killer. A savvy private investigator, she discreetly uses her psychic prowess to solve cases. When the police ask her to assist on a new case, she learns the killer they seek is not only psychic, but is targeting her.
The killer wants more than to invade her mind; he wants her. Believing they are destined for each other, he uses his victims as conduits to communicate with her, and she hears their screams while they are tortured. She opens her minds to help the victims, but it gives him a portal that he uses to lure her to him. With the killer taking over her mind, she must somehow stop him before she becomes his next victim.
Emily Monroe conceals her psychic gift from the world, but her abilities are much too strong to keep hidden from an equally gifted killer. A savvy private investigator, she discreetly uses her psychic prowess to solve cases. When the police ask her to assist on a new case, she learns the killer they seek is not only psychic, but is targeting her.
The killer wants more than to invade her mind; he wants her. Believing they are destined for each other, he uses his victims as conduits to communicate with her, and she hears their screams while they are tortured. She opens her minds to help the victims, but it gives him a portal that he uses to lure her to him. With the killer taking over her mind, she must somehow stop him before she becomes his next victim.
354 pages, ebook
First published March 5, 2014
53 people are currently reading
1383 people want to read
About the author
Angie Martin
54 books550 followersAwards:
Chrysalis ~ Honorable Mention -~ 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Supernatural Thriller
Chrysalis ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2018 ~ ReadFreely
The Boys Club ~ Silver Medal Winner ~ 2015 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Suspense Fiction
The Boys Club ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2015 ~ ReadFreely
Conduit ~ Gold Medal Winner ~ 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Paranormal Fiction
~~~
I live in the Inland Empire area of California with my husband and beloved pets. I also have sons off paving their own way in the world. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and have lived all over the United States.
I have released several novels in the suspense/thriller, paranormal/supernatural thriller, and horror genres. I also have poetry and short story collections and have contributed short stories to multiple anthologies. Conduit has earned Bestseller on Amazon in the US and UK. Conduit, The Boys Club, and Chrysalis have all won highly respected awards, while Conduit, The Boys Club, and False Security have also had blogger and reader-voted awards bestowed upon them.
As a reader first, writer second, I love to discover new authors. My entire life has revolved around imaginary worlds contained within the covers of a book. My aunt introduced me to Stephen King and a little book called Christine in eighth grade, and my life was never the same. As a geek-extraordinaire, I love comics and graphic novels, and also review those, along with the occasional movie and book, as a guest contributor for Fanbase Press.
Chrysalis ~ Honorable Mention -~ 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Supernatural Thriller
Chrysalis ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2018 ~ ReadFreely
The Boys Club ~ Silver Medal Winner ~ 2015 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Suspense Fiction
The Boys Club ~ Voted one of the 50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading 2015 ~ ReadFreely
Conduit ~ Gold Medal Winner ~ 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards for Paranormal Fiction
~~~
I live in the Inland Empire area of California with my husband and beloved pets. I also have sons off paving their own way in the world. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and have lived all over the United States.
I have released several novels in the suspense/thriller, paranormal/supernatural thriller, and horror genres. I also have poetry and short story collections and have contributed short stories to multiple anthologies. Conduit has earned Bestseller on Amazon in the US and UK. Conduit, The Boys Club, and Chrysalis have all won highly respected awards, while Conduit, The Boys Club, and False Security have also had blogger and reader-voted awards bestowed upon them.
As a reader first, writer second, I love to discover new authors. My entire life has revolved around imaginary worlds contained within the covers of a book. My aunt introduced me to Stephen King and a little book called Christine in eighth grade, and my life was never the same. As a geek-extraordinaire, I love comics and graphic novels, and also review those, along with the occasional movie and book, as a guest contributor for Fanbase Press.
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August 6, 2018
Δύο στοιχεία που δεν πρέπει να έχει ένα καλό βιβλίο είναι κλισεδιές και ανόητους ήρωες. Η συγραφέας έκανε ακριβώς το αντίθετο...
Εκνευρίζομαι που η ηρωίδα ξέρει ποιος είναι ο δολοφόνος και αντί να το πει στην αστυνόμια, (η οποία αστυνομία την πλησιάζει πολλές φορές), το κρατάει για τον εαυτό της και αποφασίζει να τον αντιμετωπίσει μόνη της.
Εκνευρίζομαι που η ηρωίδα σε κίνδυνο έχει πάντα έναν νύν ή πρώην ο οποίος είναι νταγλαράς και έτοιμος να θυσιαστεί γι' αυτήν ώστε να την προστατεύσει.
Εκνευρίζομαι που η ηρωίδα ξεκινά μόνη της μέσα στα σκοτάδια να συναντήσει τον παρανοϊκό, (ενώ ξέρει ότι είναι δολοφόνος), χωρίς κινητό και χωρίς να το έχει πει σε κάποιον πιστεύοντας ότι θα την σώσει η αγάπη. ΟΧΙ ΚΟΠΕΛΙΑ, ΔΕΝ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ Η ΑΓΑΠΗ. ΤΟ ΟΠΛΟ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ. ΤΟ ΜΑΧΑΙΡΙ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ. Η ΑΓΑΠΗ ΔΕΝ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ.
Αστεράκια δύο και πολλά του είναι. Έχε χάρη που διαβάσαμε και χειρότερα.
Εκνευρίζομαι που η ηρωίδα ξέρει ποιος είναι ο δολοφόνος και αντί να το πει στην αστυνόμια, (η οποία αστυνομία την πλησιάζει πολλές φορές), το κρατάει για τον εαυτό της και αποφασίζει να τον αντιμετωπίσει μόνη της.
Εκνευρίζομαι που η ηρωίδα σε κίνδυνο έχει πάντα έναν νύν ή πρώην ο οποίος είναι νταγλαράς και έτοιμος να θυσιαστεί γι' αυτήν ώστε να την προστατεύσει.
Εκνευρίζομαι που η ηρωίδα ξεκινά μόνη της μέσα στα σκοτάδια να συναντήσει τον παρανοϊκό, (ενώ ξέρει ότι είναι δολοφόνος), χωρίς κινητό και χωρίς να το έχει πει σε κάποιον πιστεύοντας ότι θα την σώσει η αγάπη. ΟΧΙ ΚΟΠΕΛΙΑ, ΔΕΝ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ Η ΑΓΑΠΗ. ΤΟ ΟΠΛΟ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ. ΤΟ ΜΑΧΑΙΡΙ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ. Η ΑΓΑΠΗ ΔΕΝ ΣΕ ΣΩΖΕΙ.
Αστεράκια δύο και πολλά του είναι. Έχε χάρη που διαβάσαμε και χειρότερα.
June 14, 2017
Conduit by Angie Martin
Conduit is the first book of a psychological thriller series by Angie Martin.
Private Investigators, Emily Monroe and Cassie Reid run a growing business that is asked to assist the Police Department in a gruesome case involving a serial killer.
This is an intense novel and the characters are far more developed and involved than most books I have read within this genre, which is a true credit to its author!
The killer, while terrifying, was intriguing and compelling and made me want to know more about him and even more thankful I'd never meet him! I can't wait to read the books to follow so I can learn more about Emily's character and the paranormal aspects of her psychic gifts and how she and Cassie use these to solve crimes and expand their office.
The story seemed like it could be ripped from the headlines! Ms. Martin makes it easy to identify with all of her characters, not just those in the forefront. There were moments of hope, despair, absolute terror, and she still found ways to incorporate hope, encouragement, and love! Add in, all of the technical, forensic, and romantic features, and this master complexity is born. I did find parts of the resolution to be semi-predictable but still involving parts I hadn't expected.
This was the first time I have read Angie Martin’s work but I am delighted to add her as an author I hope to become acquainted with much better through her books! Fantastic book!
Conduit is the first book of a psychological thriller series by Angie Martin.
Private Investigators, Emily Monroe and Cassie Reid run a growing business that is asked to assist the Police Department in a gruesome case involving a serial killer.
This is an intense novel and the characters are far more developed and involved than most books I have read within this genre, which is a true credit to its author!
The killer, while terrifying, was intriguing and compelling and made me want to know more about him and even more thankful I'd never meet him! I can't wait to read the books to follow so I can learn more about Emily's character and the paranormal aspects of her psychic gifts and how she and Cassie use these to solve crimes and expand their office.
The story seemed like it could be ripped from the headlines! Ms. Martin makes it easy to identify with all of her characters, not just those in the forefront. There were moments of hope, despair, absolute terror, and she still found ways to incorporate hope, encouragement, and love! Add in, all of the technical, forensic, and romantic features, and this master complexity is born. I did find parts of the resolution to be semi-predictable but still involving parts I hadn't expected.
This was the first time I have read Angie Martin’s work but I am delighted to add her as an author I hope to become acquainted with much better through her books! Fantastic book!
August 3, 2016
I can’t write sweet. Or sweetly. When I try, the words pour out like thick treacle that would choke a dead cat. Many writers who attempt it suffer the same problem as I. True sweetness, on the other hand, is never heavy or cloying. It’s a dusting of sentiment with a . . . a nugget of goodness, wholesomeness . . . argh. See? I can’t even define it. Yet, I know it when I read it. It is an elusive ability, and few have it.
Ms. Martin’s got it. She’s got it going on.
“Um,” you say hesitantly, “are you sure you’re reviewing the right book? Isn’t Conduit about a serial killer?”
Yep. Sure is. And it’s a good one.
Ms. Martin’s enviable ability to write with that elusive and delicate sweet air leant to Conduit a sick twist of horror that a dryer, darker voice could never have accomplished. For the voice is virtually unaltered in the killer’s scenes, and it plays foil to the maliciousness, the callousness, the sheer evil of him.
The sweetness frosted his scenes with delicious inappropriateness.
Brilliant.
There will be some readers who love the subplot of the romance. Did I? Sure, why not? And readers who will linger over the police-y stuff, intrigued with the details. Did I? Yep, they were pretty good – love that stuff. The psychic bits, the unravelling, all the intricate detail Ms. Martin put into this novel? Good, good, and good. These offhand statements should not be taken as indifference or dislike, because it was all great. But—
But. I couldn’t wait to turn pages to get to the killer’s scenes. Ah, David Noakes! How you entertained me!
His scenes are not salaciously graphic; the violence is blunt without lingering over the gore. There’s detachment in the author’s voice here, describing the essence of the action in perfect frugality, allowing the reader to imagine and fill in the scene. And [after getting out of bed to double-check the locks on my door], I did.
Oh, how I loved David’s mind! He admires the clean-living, the self-disciplined – preferring to kill only the worthy. And then rationalises the killing of the unworthy. His psychic abilities allow him to empathise [after a fashion] with his victims – you know, right before he kills them. He is self-congratulatory on his self-diagnosed brilliance. He is a complete egotist. And Ms. Martin wrote him as such without – as many writers are inclined to do in a mistaken attempt to prove omniscience – specifically pointing that out.
Well done.
I know you want to hear a negative – after all, what sort of balanced review lacks comment on both sides of the line? So . . . Um. I can’t think of any. I mean, nothing serious - and by serious, I mean things that pulled me out of the story. That would be a bad thing. Okay, so Emily and Jake’s relationship came through as a bit of “Yar, me soul-matey!” and I’m not much of a subscriber to the soul-mate paradigm. However, I believe it was a conscious choice on Ms. Martin’s part in order to throw harsh light on David’s delusions of his style of HEA with Emily [if I can cross genre boundaries . . . ironically, of course]. It doesn’t matter whether I subscribe to the paradigm or not. It worked. So. Enough said.
The upshot? My utter fascination – and complete appreciation – for Ms. Martin’s revelation of the complex mind of a psychopath kept me endlessly entranced.
For my random thoughts on writing, visit my blog.
Ms. Martin’s got it. She’s got it going on.
“Um,” you say hesitantly, “are you sure you’re reviewing the right book? Isn’t Conduit about a serial killer?”
Yep. Sure is. And it’s a good one.
Ms. Martin’s enviable ability to write with that elusive and delicate sweet air leant to Conduit a sick twist of horror that a dryer, darker voice could never have accomplished. For the voice is virtually unaltered in the killer’s scenes, and it plays foil to the maliciousness, the callousness, the sheer evil of him.
The sweetness frosted his scenes with delicious inappropriateness.
Brilliant.
There will be some readers who love the subplot of the romance. Did I? Sure, why not? And readers who will linger over the police-y stuff, intrigued with the details. Did I? Yep, they were pretty good – love that stuff. The psychic bits, the unravelling, all the intricate detail Ms. Martin put into this novel? Good, good, and good. These offhand statements should not be taken as indifference or dislike, because it was all great. But—
But. I couldn’t wait to turn pages to get to the killer’s scenes. Ah, David Noakes! How you entertained me!
His scenes are not salaciously graphic; the violence is blunt without lingering over the gore. There’s detachment in the author’s voice here, describing the essence of the action in perfect frugality, allowing the reader to imagine and fill in the scene. And [after getting out of bed to double-check the locks on my door], I did.
Oh, how I loved David’s mind! He admires the clean-living, the self-disciplined – preferring to kill only the worthy. And then rationalises the killing of the unworthy. His psychic abilities allow him to empathise [after a fashion] with his victims – you know, right before he kills them. He is self-congratulatory on his self-diagnosed brilliance. He is a complete egotist. And Ms. Martin wrote him as such without – as many writers are inclined to do in a mistaken attempt to prove omniscience – specifically pointing that out.
Well done.
I know you want to hear a negative – after all, what sort of balanced review lacks comment on both sides of the line? So . . . Um. I can’t think of any. I mean, nothing serious - and by serious, I mean things that pulled me out of the story. That would be a bad thing. Okay, so Emily and Jake’s relationship came through as a bit of “Yar, me soul-matey!” and I’m not much of a subscriber to the soul-mate paradigm. However, I believe it was a conscious choice on Ms. Martin’s part in order to throw harsh light on David’s delusions of his style of HEA with Emily [if I can cross genre boundaries . . . ironically, of course]. It doesn’t matter whether I subscribe to the paradigm or not. It worked. So. Enough said.
The upshot? My utter fascination – and complete appreciation – for Ms. Martin’s revelation of the complex mind of a psychopath kept me endlessly entranced.
For my random thoughts on writing, visit my blog.
March 6, 2014
*** I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review***
This is a tremendous mashup of the suspense/thriller blended with the supernatural. Angie Martin has done a tremendous job of this with Emily Monroe, a good-hearted and kind woman, albeit terribly naive, a psychic working as a private investigator in a partnership with her lifelong best friend. As the novel progresses, Emily is haunted by another psychic, David Noakes, who is murdering women who call out to Emily as he lures her toward him, to bring her into his thrall. Noakes is a villain so evil as to make Hannibal Lecter look like a teen choirboy! This one starts out a bit slow as the characters necessarily develop, but about a third of the way in, it grabbed me by the throat, dragged me deep inside, and said "let's party." I outright loved it and unhesitatingly recommend it to fans of either or both genres!
Patrick Heffernan
This is a tremendous mashup of the suspense/thriller blended with the supernatural. Angie Martin has done a tremendous job of this with Emily Monroe, a good-hearted and kind woman, albeit terribly naive, a psychic working as a private investigator in a partnership with her lifelong best friend. As the novel progresses, Emily is haunted by another psychic, David Noakes, who is murdering women who call out to Emily as he lures her toward him, to bring her into his thrall. Noakes is a villain so evil as to make Hannibal Lecter look like a teen choirboy! This one starts out a bit slow as the characters necessarily develop, but about a third of the way in, it grabbed me by the throat, dragged me deep inside, and said "let's party." I outright loved it and unhesitatingly recommend it to fans of either or both genres!
Patrick Heffernan
February 15, 2016
Conduit is one of those books that will grip you from page one, and have you thinking about it even when it is over. This is the first book that I have read by Angie Martin, but I must read more.
Conduit reminds me of a roller coaster ride. This book starts out by building the reader up with well needed information. Martin starts out with a mind blowing pro-log; that leads into a book that you will never forget.
The best part of a roller coaster ride, is when you don't know what is coming next. This book will keep you guessing on what will happen next. The twist and turns through out this book is perfect. I was so rapped up into the world that Martin creates. It was so hard to put it down. Now you know a book is good when you dream about it!
Martin has created amazing characters. I have 100% respect for Emily. She is a Strong female character that you just have to love. Martin dives right into Emily's mind, and David the killers mind. David is a creepy character, but it was interesting to see inside his head. Emily is a type of psychic that I have never scene in a book before. I would love to see more psychics like this!
The best part of any roller coaster ride is the drop. Martin takes us through a world wind of details that leads up to a breath taking drop. During this free fall everything unfolds. Martin brings a lot to the table. The events in the book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
After it is all over you are left gasping for breath, and wanting to read it again. Martin leaves you wanting more and more. This is a well written book, and I am so excited to see what is next from Angie Martin!! Thanks for this wild roller coaster ride Angie!!
Book provided by the author for review.
Conduit reminds me of a roller coaster ride. This book starts out by building the reader up with well needed information. Martin starts out with a mind blowing pro-log; that leads into a book that you will never forget.
The best part of a roller coaster ride, is when you don't know what is coming next. This book will keep you guessing on what will happen next. The twist and turns through out this book is perfect. I was so rapped up into the world that Martin creates. It was so hard to put it down. Now you know a book is good when you dream about it!
Martin has created amazing characters. I have 100% respect for Emily. She is a Strong female character that you just have to love. Martin dives right into Emily's mind, and David the killers mind. David is a creepy character, but it was interesting to see inside his head. Emily is a type of psychic that I have never scene in a book before. I would love to see more psychics like this!
The best part of any roller coaster ride is the drop. Martin takes us through a world wind of details that leads up to a breath taking drop. During this free fall everything unfolds. Martin brings a lot to the table. The events in the book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
After it is all over you are left gasping for breath, and wanting to read it again. Martin leaves you wanting more and more. This is a well written book, and I am so excited to see what is next from Angie Martin!! Thanks for this wild roller coaster ride Angie!!
Book provided by the author for review.
December 31, 2015
2.5
I have to admit that this book just didn't work for me. It might for some readers, to each their own.
I have been trying to come up with the right word to describe this (and writing like it), because I encounter it a lot. Maybe someone knows and can help me out. We all recognize a Mary Sue and Gary Stu (sometime Marty Stu), but what do you call it when the whole book--plot, narrations, characters, etc all have a Mary Sue feel to them. Pat, maybe?
I actually have a litmus test for this, even if I don't have a title for it. My test is hugging. But what could hugging have to do with anything, you might ask? Well, it has been my experience, in reading several hundred books a year for several years that when you encounter a book in which there is lots and lots of hugging the author is using this small action as a weak demonstration that the MC is an open, good person, makes meaningful connections with people, etc. Similarly, it shows how comfortable those people are with him/her (usually her). Now, I'm a bit of a hugger in real life, coming from the touchy-feely hippy family that I did. But I don't hug my BFF, my ex-boyfriend, my friend's uncle, his cop partner and the nurse who cares for my mother in the nursing home. More importantly, all those people don't come up and hug me.
But it's not just about hugging. The hugging is almost always accompanied by a certain innocent narrative tone, in which small things (like a hug) are made big deals of. It's like a pearl-clad, mary jane wearing, pastel sporting teenager swooning over their first kiss while the married 40-year-old, with the kinky nightlife that's forced to listen to it thinks, 'God, it really just isn't that big a thing.' Any romance in these sorts of books are always heavily descriptive, possibly purple, and almost all tell as the narration beats the reader over the head with how awe-inspiring one person or the other is, how meaningful the small unimpressive events are, and how in looooooove they are.
The fact that this book falls within this pat(?) grouping is a guarantee that I'm not likely to enjoy it, as I almost never enjoy these books. But this book also annoyed me in other respects. I hated that as soon as Emily got together with Jake she let him start making all her decision. I didn't like their insta-love and, even worse, their insta-relationship, which was only compounded by their insistence on waiting to have sex until their relationship was more established. I don't know, 'I'm ready to let you rule my life' and 'I'm ready to die for you' seems pretty established to me.
I didn't like that the author gave Emily a rich, high-power, nice guy ex, who was still madly in love with her, just to show she was a desirable commodity. I didn't like that Emily had all this important information that she never shared with anyone. I didn't like that she pulled the cliché, TSTL, 'I'll go off and save the day by myself and require rescue' shtick a bagazillion other TSTL heroines have pulled. I didn't like that the villain was the same old, seen it a 100 times, man obsessed with a woman he wants to own for no discernible reason. I didn't like that people made un-followable intuitive leaps of logic that lead them to plot points. And I didn't like the deus ex machina-like way the characters were easily able to learn just what they needed at just the right time to save the day. Too easy!
The one thing that saved this book for me was Leo and his wife. I adored their relationship. The editing seemed pretty clean, I don't remember many cock-ups and to the right reader this might be a hit.
I have to admit that this book just didn't work for me. It might for some readers, to each their own.
I have been trying to come up with the right word to describe this (and writing like it), because I encounter it a lot. Maybe someone knows and can help me out. We all recognize a Mary Sue and Gary Stu (sometime Marty Stu), but what do you call it when the whole book--plot, narrations, characters, etc all have a Mary Sue feel to them. Pat, maybe?
I actually have a litmus test for this, even if I don't have a title for it. My test is hugging. But what could hugging have to do with anything, you might ask? Well, it has been my experience, in reading several hundred books a year for several years that when you encounter a book in which there is lots and lots of hugging the author is using this small action as a weak demonstration that the MC is an open, good person, makes meaningful connections with people, etc. Similarly, it shows how comfortable those people are with him/her (usually her). Now, I'm a bit of a hugger in real life, coming from the touchy-feely hippy family that I did. But I don't hug my BFF, my ex-boyfriend, my friend's uncle, his cop partner and the nurse who cares for my mother in the nursing home. More importantly, all those people don't come up and hug me.
But it's not just about hugging. The hugging is almost always accompanied by a certain innocent narrative tone, in which small things (like a hug) are made big deals of. It's like a pearl-clad, mary jane wearing, pastel sporting teenager swooning over their first kiss while the married 40-year-old, with the kinky nightlife that's forced to listen to it thinks, 'God, it really just isn't that big a thing.' Any romance in these sorts of books are always heavily descriptive, possibly purple, and almost all tell as the narration beats the reader over the head with how awe-inspiring one person or the other is, how meaningful the small unimpressive events are, and how in looooooove they are.
The fact that this book falls within this pat(?) grouping is a guarantee that I'm not likely to enjoy it, as I almost never enjoy these books. But this book also annoyed me in other respects. I hated that as soon as Emily got together with Jake she let him start making all her decision. I didn't like their insta-love and, even worse, their insta-relationship, which was only compounded by their insistence on waiting to have sex until their relationship was more established. I don't know, 'I'm ready to let you rule my life' and 'I'm ready to die for you' seems pretty established to me.
I didn't like that the author gave Emily a rich, high-power, nice guy ex, who was still madly in love with her, just to show she was a desirable commodity. I didn't like that Emily had all this important information that she never shared with anyone. I didn't like that she pulled the cliché, TSTL, 'I'll go off and save the day by myself and require rescue' shtick a bagazillion other TSTL heroines have pulled. I didn't like that the villain was the same old, seen it a 100 times, man obsessed with a woman he wants to own for no discernible reason. I didn't like that people made un-followable intuitive leaps of logic that lead them to plot points. And I didn't like the deus ex machina-like way the characters were easily able to learn just what they needed at just the right time to save the day. Too easy!
The one thing that saved this book for me was Leo and his wife. I adored their relationship. The editing seemed pretty clean, I don't remember many cock-ups and to the right reader this might be a hit.
April 7, 2014
I've been a fan of Angie Martin's since I read her debut novel, False Security. There is just something about her unique way to weave her tale that captivated me from the prologue. She did not disappoint me in this aspect with Conduit. In fact, from the very first word, I was sucked into the mind of David, a serial killer with a twist like you've never read before. The story starts with a soul-gripping bang with the word "Death." There is no easing you into the story gently, but when I say this, I do not mean that the author spits information at you from the get go. I mean from the moment you slide your finger across your Kindle screen your mind is captivated! I am not a fan of giving away the story in my reviews, but I'll give just a few things away. First, be prepared for your mind to wander outside of the box. Emily Monroe, our protagonist, hero of a main character is psychic, but not in the way we know it as a world. Martin has created a seamlessly, realistic, alternate reality with the world of psychics that she portrays in this book. If you don't like psychics, don't stay away from this book for that reason, because it's nothing like you know. Second, if you like a thrill and a bit of a sick mind in your antagonist, David is the killer for you. His sweet, haunting, sick, nature will captivate you and make you want more. Third, there is some sweet, light romance. Martin has a knack for weaving many different emotions into one novel that will blow your mind. When I read reviews, I want to know two things. 1. Did you like the book? YES! Can't you tell, I loved it! 2. Should I buy it? I paid $2.99 for this book and I think that's an absolute steal! I feel like I should contact the writer and send her a check for at least $20 more! I cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out.
March 7, 2014
Conduit grabs hold and doesn’t let go until the end. I was swept away by the never ending drama, mystery and intrigue. Glued to the pages. Very interesting premise that unfolds before your eyes in the most entertaining way. It was easy to get caught up in this psychological thriller that is filled with mystery and intense knock em out of the park scenes. One after another. This is not only a thriller and suspense novel but at the same time it is blended with the supernatural.
This well written book is definitely worth the read. Such a great escape that captivated my senses and overwhelmed my thoughts. I have to congratulate this author for coming up with such a riveting plot that blew me away. I would highly recommend this book to all my friends who are looking for a suspenseful escape.
What if you had psychic abilities and knew you were being stalked by a serial killer but you didn’t know where he was or how to stop him?
"David stopped listening to her spouting our worthless reasons to live and studied the animation in her eyes and face. She believed her pitiful reasons for living would work with him, that she was so indispensable to the rest of the world and deserved to live. What she didn't realize was that what she would accomplish with her death would overshadow everything she had done in life."
This well written book is definitely worth the read. Such a great escape that captivated my senses and overwhelmed my thoughts. I have to congratulate this author for coming up with such a riveting plot that blew me away. I would highly recommend this book to all my friends who are looking for a suspenseful escape.
What if you had psychic abilities and knew you were being stalked by a serial killer but you didn’t know where he was or how to stop him?
"David stopped listening to her spouting our worthless reasons to live and studied the animation in her eyes and face. She believed her pitiful reasons for living would work with him, that she was so indispensable to the rest of the world and deserved to live. What she didn't realize was that what she would accomplish with her death would overshadow everything she had done in life."
April 11, 2014
IN EXCHANGE FOR A FAIR AND HONEST REVIEW.
Clean sheer horror, if there is such a thing.
A killer who works with clinical ease, who can say, “You almost make me want to be a better person.”
Martin is a rare and accomplished writer. She uses no gratuitous violence or plot padding in this exquisite work.
The writing is mature and well thought out, the editing is great, and there is no excessive gore (even though it’s a murder!) or crude language. She incorporates fascinating descriptions of the workings of this killer’s mind and why he does what he does like he does.
The characters of Cassie and Emily, and their family - right from the very beginning the characters are well-formed and the wonderfully clean and clear images of them all are borne along consistently in the writing style.
But what an intriguing plot! This was a whole new genre for me, the paranormal, so my enjoyment of it surprised me. But by applying my same technique in reviewing this as I would in a more familiar genre I would rate this work highly. I would certainly read more of this author. In a heartbeat.
Clean sheer horror, if there is such a thing.
A killer who works with clinical ease, who can say, “You almost make me want to be a better person.”
Martin is a rare and accomplished writer. She uses no gratuitous violence or plot padding in this exquisite work.
The writing is mature and well thought out, the editing is great, and there is no excessive gore (even though it’s a murder!) or crude language. She incorporates fascinating descriptions of the workings of this killer’s mind and why he does what he does like he does.
The characters of Cassie and Emily, and their family - right from the very beginning the characters are well-formed and the wonderfully clean and clear images of them all are borne along consistently in the writing style.
But what an intriguing plot! This was a whole new genre for me, the paranormal, so my enjoyment of it surprised me. But by applying my same technique in reviewing this as I would in a more familiar genre I would rate this work highly. I would certainly read more of this author. In a heartbeat.
March 6, 2014
A word of a warning… Once you start reading you can’t stop! Conduit by Angie Martin is a masterpiece. A gripping psychological thriller that lets the ‘bogeyman’ inside your head, making your heart flutter and your hands sweat before you reach the end!
Emily is a private investigator with psychic abilities. David is a monster, a serial killer, who believes there’s a psychic bond between Emily and him.
David is like a nasty spider, creating his web and slowly trying to wind Emily closer to him. I could practically ‘see’ how the net around her got tighter and tighter, whilst my nails got shorter and shorter... David believes they’re connected and belong together and he’s willing to do anything to get her. Anything. Even if it means making her a part of his killing games…
If you love Criminal Minds, Profiler, Numb3rs, etc this book is a must read!
Emily is a private investigator with psychic abilities. David is a monster, a serial killer, who believes there’s a psychic bond between Emily and him.
David is like a nasty spider, creating his web and slowly trying to wind Emily closer to him. I could practically ‘see’ how the net around her got tighter and tighter, whilst my nails got shorter and shorter... David believes they’re connected and belong together and he’s willing to do anything to get her. Anything. Even if it means making her a part of his killing games…
If you love Criminal Minds, Profiler, Numb3rs, etc this book is a must read!
September 3, 2014
*Conduit won the Gold Medal in Fiction-Paranormal category in the 2014 Reader's Favorite International Book Awards.
*Conduit received a 5-star review from Reader's Favorite in July 2014.
Conduit is the start of a series starring savvy private investigator, Emily Monroe. Her psychic abilities are unlike any others seen before, and there is quite the twist on what it means to be psychic. As she goes up against a serial killer with equal talents, Emily must face some tough choices. I hope you enjoy this psychological thriller with its unique paranormal elements!
July 9, 2015
**** 4 Cranky Stars ****
A psychic serial killer, murdered and missing women with seemingly no connection, two police offers, and two private investigators, collide in Conduit.
Emily Monroe, private investigator, hides her psychic gifts from the outside world, using them to resolve cases. When the body count keeps rising in the serial killer case, Emily and her best friend/colleague, Cassie Read, are approached by Police to help catch the murderer before he kills again.
As events unfold, there is a link: psychic phenomena and Emily. She is up against someone with the same abilities as her and has to find a way to stop him without losing herself to the killer.
Enter: Jake, a man with similar gifts to Emily and David. He provides the counterbalance to the darkness threatening to envelop Emily and after an inauspicious start to their relationship, proves he’s a man with the gift of courage.
I’m sure Conduit will appeal to fans of Patricia Cornwell. It opens in the mind of David, the serial killer. It’s also quite gruesome in parts, so be warned, and procedural in others, providing a solid foundation on which the story is oriented.
Emily’s backstory was revealed in layers and this reader longed for more information on her psychic gifts and familial history.
I thoroughly enjoy a good suspense and Conduit kept me interested, but not riveted. I like to put my wits against the author and try to decipher the plot from hints or clues. The reader was very much aware of how this story unfolds and I could predict events right up until the conclusion.
There were also parts in the book that made me groan in frustration. I questioned the intelligence of some of the characters even though it’s reinforced they are smart and talented people. I admit it. I find it disappointing when intelligent people act the opposite and this goes double when they are trained professionals in the art of investigation.
In saying that, I did enjoy this work and will be following on in the series.
October 12, 2014
This ranks among the best of the paranormal detective books I have ever read. Ace detectives Emily Monroe and Cassie Reid bring something extra to the table with their detective work: Cassie has distinguished herself as an excellent police detective, and Emily uses her psychic abilities to solve mysteries - even when there are no clues to be found.
Angie Martin weaves a fascinating tale of a vicious serial killer who tortures and mutilates his victims for a diabolical, twisted purpose. As the tale unwinds, we learn more about Emily's powers and how they aid in building the detective agency she and Cassie have built. We also learn of her fear that others may discover the special skill she has learned to hide from the world. When the two women are drawn into the serial killer's path, they discover more and more terrifying events lie ahead.
Full of mystery, terror, suspense, and romance, this book has it all. From start to the white-knuckle ending, I enjoyed this book.
An easy five-stars. Please, Ms. Martin, tell us more tales of Emily Monroe and Cassie Reid...
Angie Martin weaves a fascinating tale of a vicious serial killer who tortures and mutilates his victims for a diabolical, twisted purpose. As the tale unwinds, we learn more about Emily's powers and how they aid in building the detective agency she and Cassie have built. We also learn of her fear that others may discover the special skill she has learned to hide from the world. When the two women are drawn into the serial killer's path, they discover more and more terrifying events lie ahead.
Full of mystery, terror, suspense, and romance, this book has it all. From start to the white-knuckle ending, I enjoyed this book.
An easy five-stars. Please, Ms. Martin, tell us more tales of Emily Monroe and Cassie Reid...
May 27, 2014
*I received this book via the author in exchange for my honest opinion, but this in no way affected my thoughts expressed in this review. Originally reviewed on Electively Paige*
There is so much I loved about Conduit, that I don't even know where to start! I was lucky enough to have attended the Facebook release party for this book a couple of months ago and it immediately drew my attention. I'm a big fan of mystery/thriller type books, and movies too, but it seems there just aren't very many that have caught my attention as of late. Conduit, I knew just from the synopsis was a bit different than what I've read before, so I honestly couldn't wait to start reading it.
Emily is a young woman who, together with her best friend Cassie, owns a P.I. company. They work everything from cases with elderly women who suspect their husbands of affairs, to figuring out whether or not someone's faking injuries for workman's comp. Sometimes, though, they work cases with the local police department, where Cassie's uncle(who's like an uncle to Emily) is a detective. He makes the difficult decision to call them on the serial killer case he's working, around the same time that Emily starts getting some pretty mysterious messages, including writing against her will. That is only the beginning. As the murders progress, the messages she receives get stronger and stronger and it is soon made evident that the killer is after Emily herself, and it doesn't look like anything is going to get in his way.
Emily is such an amazing character. She's one of my absolute favorites, as y'all know how much I like strong, intelligent female leads. She is headstrong, and doesn't back down easily. Although she is the main character in this book, I have to give props to the side characters. The book would not be the same with Lionel, Barbara, Shawn, Cassie, Jake and the others. They were all so well developed and the interactions between them were carefully and intricately written that at times I might as well have been a psychic myself, listening in on real life conversations. One thing I really loved about this book is that even though there are some pretty intense situations, the author didn't feel the need to use not-so-nice words every few sentences. All I'm saying is, Angie Martin wrote this amazing book and didn't need to drop the f-bomb like she has to meet a quota to get her point across. It's oddly refreshing and I wish more authors in the genre would follow in her footsteps.
Then there was David. Our serial killer. It was so scary at times being in his mind. The book was so well written that even though it switches the point of views quite often, as is a big part of this genre lately, Angie Martin managed to craft Conduit so seamlessly that the chapters would end perfectly enough to flow right on into the next character's head.
I read Conduit mostly on a lazy afternoon where I didn't really have any other plans. My dad was gone fishing, brother off playing video games and my mom and I in the living room reading. This book kept me so much on the edge of my seat that if my mom would go to speak with me, I would literally jump I was so deeply into the story. I am so happy there is going to be another book in this series, because I honestly cannot wait to delve into Emily's world again. For fans of thriller and mystery novels, with just the right dash of the paranormal, I highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone! Conduit is definitely going on my mental Shelf of Awesomeness. It's one that I will be rereading many, many times. When considering your next thriller, I'd definitely say go with this one. I sincerely doubt you'll regret it!
There is so much I loved about Conduit, that I don't even know where to start! I was lucky enough to have attended the Facebook release party for this book a couple of months ago and it immediately drew my attention. I'm a big fan of mystery/thriller type books, and movies too, but it seems there just aren't very many that have caught my attention as of late. Conduit, I knew just from the synopsis was a bit different than what I've read before, so I honestly couldn't wait to start reading it.
Emily is a young woman who, together with her best friend Cassie, owns a P.I. company. They work everything from cases with elderly women who suspect their husbands of affairs, to figuring out whether or not someone's faking injuries for workman's comp. Sometimes, though, they work cases with the local police department, where Cassie's uncle(who's like an uncle to Emily) is a detective. He makes the difficult decision to call them on the serial killer case he's working, around the same time that Emily starts getting some pretty mysterious messages, including writing against her will. That is only the beginning. As the murders progress, the messages she receives get stronger and stronger and it is soon made evident that the killer is after Emily herself, and it doesn't look like anything is going to get in his way.
Emily is such an amazing character. She's one of my absolute favorites, as y'all know how much I like strong, intelligent female leads. She is headstrong, and doesn't back down easily. Although she is the main character in this book, I have to give props to the side characters. The book would not be the same with Lionel, Barbara, Shawn, Cassie, Jake and the others. They were all so well developed and the interactions between them were carefully and intricately written that at times I might as well have been a psychic myself, listening in on real life conversations. One thing I really loved about this book is that even though there are some pretty intense situations, the author didn't feel the need to use not-so-nice words every few sentences. All I'm saying is, Angie Martin wrote this amazing book and didn't need to drop the f-bomb like she has to meet a quota to get her point across. It's oddly refreshing and I wish more authors in the genre would follow in her footsteps.
Then there was David. Our serial killer. It was so scary at times being in his mind. The book was so well written that even though it switches the point of views quite often, as is a big part of this genre lately, Angie Martin managed to craft Conduit so seamlessly that the chapters would end perfectly enough to flow right on into the next character's head.
I read Conduit mostly on a lazy afternoon where I didn't really have any other plans. My dad was gone fishing, brother off playing video games and my mom and I in the living room reading. This book kept me so much on the edge of my seat that if my mom would go to speak with me, I would literally jump I was so deeply into the story. I am so happy there is going to be another book in this series, because I honestly cannot wait to delve into Emily's world again. For fans of thriller and mystery novels, with just the right dash of the paranormal, I highly recommend this book to pretty much everyone! Conduit is definitely going on my mental Shelf of Awesomeness. It's one that I will be rereading many, many times. When considering your next thriller, I'd definitely say go with this one. I sincerely doubt you'll regret it!
September 22, 2014
This review contains some (minor) spoilers.
Let me start this by saying that I didn't actually finish reading this book; I stopped 80% of the way through. I only kept going for as long as I did because this book has so many 5-star reviews and I thought “it has to get better eventually, right? I’ll keep reading because it just has to get better.” (I also kept going because I was reading this for a book club, but after we realized that every member of our book club dislikes this book, we all decided to give up and skip to the next one.)
I guess I’ll just run through some of my major issues with the book (and, again, I didn't finish it, so maybe these things get better toward the end):
I found the protagonist unlikable. Unlikable protagonists are not always a bad thing; sometimes, a protagonist is a bad person on purpose, and this keeps you invested in a story for interesting reasons. This was not the case with Emily. She bothered me for so many reasons but especially because she only seemed to want to make her own decisions when they were bad decisions. She chooses not to tell anyone that she’s psychically linked to a serial killer, and then when things go too far, she lets her boyfriend start dictating her life. In the book club I was reading this for, we look for books with female protagonists, and all of us were really let down by Emily’s willingness to give up her agency so her boyfriend could make her decisions and her unwillingness to rely on Cassie (her best friend who knows she’s psychic) for help. In fact, I disliked most of the characters because their actions made little sense to me. Cassie was starting to grow on me, but I was not at all a fan of Emily or Jake.
The characters and relationships seemed shallow. Any disagreement that happens is resolved within seconds, and there seems to be no lasting resentment between anyone. Many of the conversations that occurred (especially between Emily and her ex or Emily and Cassie after Emily finally admits what’s been going on) would have been great occasions for tension in the story. This tension could have then been solved in a more natural way, which would have helped develop the characters more.
I think having chapters from the killer’s perspective did this novel a huge disservice. Often, suspenseful novels build tension and suspense by giving us the chance to learn who the murderer is and why he did it. True, the chapters from David’s point of view were interesting, but knowing from the beginning that David is killing conduits to try to lure Emily to him made me lose interest pretty quickly, especially since it was clear pretty early on that Emily would eventually come to a point where she would have to (or choose to) walk into David’s trap, and I’m honestly not entirely interested in how she gets to that point or how she gets out of it.
I couldn't get into the writing style. A lot of the language used was incredibly vague, so I was often unclear on exactly what was happening in the story.
Well anyway, I think this is more than enough to explain why I didn't like this book. It has a lot of 5-star reviews, so clearly, many people loved it. It’s just not for me.
Let me start this by saying that I didn't actually finish reading this book; I stopped 80% of the way through. I only kept going for as long as I did because this book has so many 5-star reviews and I thought “it has to get better eventually, right? I’ll keep reading because it just has to get better.” (I also kept going because I was reading this for a book club, but after we realized that every member of our book club dislikes this book, we all decided to give up and skip to the next one.)
I guess I’ll just run through some of my major issues with the book (and, again, I didn't finish it, so maybe these things get better toward the end):
I found the protagonist unlikable. Unlikable protagonists are not always a bad thing; sometimes, a protagonist is a bad person on purpose, and this keeps you invested in a story for interesting reasons. This was not the case with Emily. She bothered me for so many reasons but especially because she only seemed to want to make her own decisions when they were bad decisions. She chooses not to tell anyone that she’s psychically linked to a serial killer, and then when things go too far, she lets her boyfriend start dictating her life. In the book club I was reading this for, we look for books with female protagonists, and all of us were really let down by Emily’s willingness to give up her agency so her boyfriend could make her decisions and her unwillingness to rely on Cassie (her best friend who knows she’s psychic) for help. In fact, I disliked most of the characters because their actions made little sense to me. Cassie was starting to grow on me, but I was not at all a fan of Emily or Jake.
The characters and relationships seemed shallow. Any disagreement that happens is resolved within seconds, and there seems to be no lasting resentment between anyone. Many of the conversations that occurred (especially between Emily and her ex or Emily and Cassie after Emily finally admits what’s been going on) would have been great occasions for tension in the story. This tension could have then been solved in a more natural way, which would have helped develop the characters more.
I think having chapters from the killer’s perspective did this novel a huge disservice. Often, suspenseful novels build tension and suspense by giving us the chance to learn who the murderer is and why he did it. True, the chapters from David’s point of view were interesting, but knowing from the beginning that David is killing conduits to try to lure Emily to him made me lose interest pretty quickly, especially since it was clear pretty early on that Emily would eventually come to a point where she would have to (or choose to) walk into David’s trap, and I’m honestly not entirely interested in how she gets to that point or how she gets out of it.
I couldn't get into the writing style. A lot of the language used was incredibly vague, so I was often unclear on exactly what was happening in the story.
Well anyway, I think this is more than enough to explain why I didn't like this book. It has a lot of 5-star reviews, so clearly, many people loved it. It’s just not for me.
April 24, 2015
Let me start of by saying this is the first book that I have read by Angie Martin and I really, really enjoyed it. There were times that I was pissed that I had to put it down (it really killed me when I had to get back to work after my lunch break) I needed to know what was going to happen next. Emily is one of the strongest female characters that I have read in a long while. Emily is a private detective with psychic abilities and I am so glad that the author made her a real down to earth person instead of the stereotype we all have of psychic. I have to go back and check out other books by Angie Martin to see if there are more with Emily Monroe as a Private Detective in them, I look forward to reading more by this author either way.
This is NOT what Emily looks like:
This is a Dream Cast for the book:
***A Big Thank You to Amanda Walker who is the personal assistant to Angie Martin for sent me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
This is NOT what Emily looks like:
This is a Dream Cast for the book:
***A Big Thank You to Amanda Walker who is the personal assistant to Angie Martin for sent me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
March 27, 2014
Picking up "Conduit" is akin to jumping an empty freight train in a deserted railyard. You jump on board, grappling for a hold, and then you are whisked off to parts unknown. The excitement builds slowly, easing you in. At this point, you're merely a passenger along for the ride. Soon, you meet your fellow passengers, those who will be keeping you company for this journey. The train thunders along, and before you know it, you're white-knuckling it as you plunge at breakneck speed towards the end of the line.
This is how it was for me, reading "Conduit". The characters were clear (in David's case, a little too clear *shudder*). The story picked up after the first half in such a way that I could barely put it down after that half-way point, for fear of missing something (as if the story would go on without me and I'd need to play catch-up when I went back to it). Silly, I know - but that's how realistic it seemed. It was like watching a great movie, not wanting to take a bathroom break in case you miss something important.
Angie's writing is tight and easy to read, the characters were well-developed and the story was brilliant. I bought this book for my husband also, as I thought he would enjoy it (he is reading it currently and loving it, but I'm sure he'll leave his own review when he's done!).
I can't wait to see what Angie has up her sleeve for Emily Monroe et al next!
This is how it was for me, reading "Conduit". The characters were clear (in David's case, a little too clear *shudder*). The story picked up after the first half in such a way that I could barely put it down after that half-way point, for fear of missing something (as if the story would go on without me and I'd need to play catch-up when I went back to it). Silly, I know - but that's how realistic it seemed. It was like watching a great movie, not wanting to take a bathroom break in case you miss something important.
Angie's writing is tight and easy to read, the characters were well-developed and the story was brilliant. I bought this book for my husband also, as I thought he would enjoy it (he is reading it currently and loving it, but I'm sure he'll leave his own review when he's done!).
I can't wait to see what Angie has up her sleeve for Emily Monroe et al next!
December 28, 2015
Same old, same old clichés.
The first chapter or the prologue is told from the victim's perspective.
Characters act against simple common sense or any sane person’s better judgment in order to advance the plot (usually the hero/heroine). The heroine goes to meet the killer alone and without telling anyone where she’s going. She even leaves her phone behind so police can’t trace her.
The serial killer is this übermensch whose crimes involve a level of organization, knowledge and luck that no human being could possess. He commits murders in perfect silence and is very organized/ meticulous although he kills many women and displays their bodies in less time than it would take most people to make an omelette.
When being kidnapped the victims (vulnerable and fragile women- stereotype much?) never fight back. I would like to see more often a victim turning the tables or a serial killer who targets both sexes and whose murders are not contingent upon his/her sexual urges.
March 9, 2014
A thrill a minute!
To say CONDUIT is a thriller is an understatement. From the first page to the harrowing conclusion, this is an absolute page-turner.
It is the story of Emily Monroe, a closet psychic and private investigator, who is stalked mentally by another psychic who is also a serial killer. David, the serial killer, uses the strong psychic energy generated by his victims' terror and pain to connect to Emily, who he fantasizes is his true love. Emily and her partner, ex-cop, Cassie, are asked by veteran homicide detective, Lionel Edwards (Cassie's uncle) to consult on the case, thus involving them intimately with the details of the brutal murders. Suffice to say, the terror escalates as David gets deeper and deeper into Emily's psyche and she must use all her talents and the talents of those around her to try to find a way to survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, but must give you a word of warning: Don't read the final chapters late at night or you might find yourself sleeping with the lights on!
To say CONDUIT is a thriller is an understatement. From the first page to the harrowing conclusion, this is an absolute page-turner.
It is the story of Emily Monroe, a closet psychic and private investigator, who is stalked mentally by another psychic who is also a serial killer. David, the serial killer, uses the strong psychic energy generated by his victims' terror and pain to connect to Emily, who he fantasizes is his true love. Emily and her partner, ex-cop, Cassie, are asked by veteran homicide detective, Lionel Edwards (Cassie's uncle) to consult on the case, thus involving them intimately with the details of the brutal murders. Suffice to say, the terror escalates as David gets deeper and deeper into Emily's psyche and she must use all her talents and the talents of those around her to try to find a way to survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, but must give you a word of warning: Don't read the final chapters late at night or you might find yourself sleeping with the lights on!
May 10, 2014
I was initially hesitant to read this book because I don’t like to read about horrible crimes or anything evil. But I’ve read this author’s other book, and I really enjoyed it. So, I decided to give this one a shot. And I’m so glad I did!
Once again, the author does a great job building the characters and the plot. The villain in this book is pure evil. The book is written in third person, so the author was able to have the readers get into the killer’s head. Wow! That’s some talent.
I enjoyed all of the characters in this book. My favorite was probably Jake. He’s just that silent hero... but I don’t want to say too much and give anything away.
I like this author’s writing. She’s good with words, and she knows how to tell a story. Another great book by Angie Martin!
Once again, the author does a great job building the characters and the plot. The villain in this book is pure evil. The book is written in third person, so the author was able to have the readers get into the killer’s head. Wow! That’s some talent.
I enjoyed all of the characters in this book. My favorite was probably Jake. He’s just that silent hero... but I don’t want to say too much and give anything away.
I like this author’s writing. She’s good with words, and she knows how to tell a story. Another great book by Angie Martin!
August 4, 2014
Ms Martin has done it again with this latest read, Conduit. I am a lover of good thrillers and this is definitely a great suspenseful thriller, in every way. I am a lover of the paranormal genre and this topic was splashed into the story with great effect.
I could at this point talk about the plot but I believe that when a really good suspenseful book comes along, the reader should be allowed to savour every page without preconceptions. Emily Monroe and her nemesis, David, Emily's business partner, and love interests weave themselves into plot and sub plots as smoothly as the writing itself.
The story sparkles from the prologue and remains interesting, engaging, and tense throughout. Conduit would make a great movie.
I could at this point talk about the plot but I believe that when a really good suspenseful book comes along, the reader should be allowed to savour every page without preconceptions. Emily Monroe and her nemesis, David, Emily's business partner, and love interests weave themselves into plot and sub plots as smoothly as the writing itself.
The story sparkles from the prologue and remains interesting, engaging, and tense throughout. Conduit would make a great movie.
April 9, 2014
This engrossing story contains an intriguing concept of psychics and their conduits. I need to bond with the characters and Angie Martin does not disappoint. Aside from the suspense-driven plot, heart-hammering situations and frightening glimpse of a serial killer’s mind, we have an amazing support network of female psychics passing along their knowledge. Brilliant character plotting shines when Ms. Martin adds a compassionate male who functions as both Emily’s conduit and romantic interest. Every scene dovetails seamlessly, yet not in an obvious way. I look forward to the next adventure in the series.
March 10, 2014
Conduit is a heart pounding suspense novel that will grip you from the first sentence! The plot is killer..literally. It's not only a suspense and thriller it also packs a supernatural punch. This book is just totally captivating and will keep you in its clutches until the last word. This is a 5/5 star story and an absolutely recommended read.
For a more in depth review go to www.th3bookworm.wordpress.com.
For a more in depth review go to www.th3bookworm.wordpress.com.
March 14, 2014
***I received this book as a gift from my sister**
Wow!!! Normally I stray from this type of book because I'm a whimp and I get freaked out. And although there were times that the bumps in the night gave me chills, it wasn't so bad that I couldn't keep reading. In fact this book is so good that's all I wanted to do...keep reading! I loved the, very well done, romantic aspect of the book. The author is a greet writer and story teller. The detail is really good!
Wow!!! Normally I stray from this type of book because I'm a whimp and I get freaked out. And although there were times that the bumps in the night gave me chills, it wasn't so bad that I couldn't keep reading. In fact this book is so good that's all I wanted to do...keep reading! I loved the, very well done, romantic aspect of the book. The author is a greet writer and story teller. The detail is really good!
July 25, 2014
Conduit was a complete surprise for me. Given Angie's education and interest in criminal justice I was expecting a novel that focused more on the technical aspects of forensics with a solid who done it. And while those aspects were definitely present in her story, there were also wonderful characters with fully fleshed out lives and feelings that you believed in and rooted for. This story was so well rounded and I just cannot wait for the upcoming sequels.
July 17, 2015
This book certainly ticked all the boxes for me when it comes to a five star ranking. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Emily's story, even though the end gave me chills! Miss Martin has clearly researched her topic well, and I could find no fault with the criminological and victimology aspects of the novel. I've read The Boy's Club before, and this one surpasses that, although both are five stars. If you want something that will keep you on edge, with a rapid pace, check out Conduit today!
May 14, 2015
Mysterious and thrilling. Kept you on your toes wondering what would happen next. Great book.
April 21, 2019
Cheap sensationalism with an overly abundant and supremely non-credible serial killer POV, and that serial killer one who says things like, "Wipe your nose, you disgusting little wench." Sure, people call women wenches all the time. You know, I can suspend disbelief for a premise - that people are psychics, for example. That they have magical skills, can talk to the dead, whatever. But you'd better give me credible dialogue, or none of that works.
Tip: when you write a novel about something like psychic crime fighters, a premise corny enough that the whole thing teeters on the edge of a vast abyss of stupidity, a little more about the psychic thing or the crime fighting thing would be nice. I do not care about boyfriends broken up with, clients whose husbands turn out to not be cheating on them, the serial killer's mom and dad's relationship, or all of the rest of the blah blah blah that makes up the bulk of this book.
Just terrible.
Tip: when you write a novel about something like psychic crime fighters, a premise corny enough that the whole thing teeters on the edge of a vast abyss of stupidity, a little more about the psychic thing or the crime fighting thing would be nice. I do not care about boyfriends broken up with, clients whose husbands turn out to not be cheating on them, the serial killer's mom and dad's relationship, or all of the rest of the blah blah blah that makes up the bulk of this book.
Just terrible.
April 30, 2014
This review was originally posted on Fanboy Comics.
Emily Monroe is a highly effective personal investigator with a hidden secret; her psychic abilities give her an edge in finding things invisible to the more traditional senses. She’s successfully concealed her talents from the non-gifted humans around her, but a chance encounter with another psychic turns Emily into a dark obsession for a man enamored of control and pain. Now, she’s working against the clock with the Wichita police force to find this man before he kills one more woman in the name of drawing Emily to him. Simultaneously, the young woman finds hope in a male psychic named Jake who offers warmth, safety, and light. Can the two of them protect the connection between them while preventing the killer from flooding Emily with his darkness and death?
Conduit is the second novel from author Angie Martin, who re-released her debut novel, False Security, last December. It contains heavy doses of suspense and police procedural with touches of romance and slight supernatural that will appeal to a wide cross section of readers. The true crime angle of the story drew me in, and while I didn’t love everything, the good writing and entertaining story kept me engaged through the last page.
Angie Martin has a criminal justice background, and it shows in the details of Conduit. There are no thirty-minute DNA test results or magical single fibers that provide the key to everything. Her police officers have to work hard for every scrap of evidence that they get, and there’s a lot of red tape when dealing with potential witnesses. Her killer understands current forensics as well as the police, and the descriptions of how he removed trace evidence from his victims and avoided leaving it behind seemed plausible. This man doesn’t simply “get lucky;” he is smart, savvy, and meticulous in his techniques to evade capture until he gets his prize, Emily.
The relationships between characters in Conduit also warmed my heart, because they are rich and go beyond just romantic connections. While Lionel and Barbara’s marriage was beautiful to read about, I also loved the strong friendship between Cassie and Emily, the familial ties between Cassie and her uncle and aunt (and by extension Emily), and the strong ties between many of the victims and the friends and family left behind. While Emily shies away from sharing her psychic talents with most people, she isn’t completely isolated, and there are many people she has let in emotionally even when she doesn’t reveal everything about herself. The type of relationship network I saw with each woman in the text reflected what I have seen in real life; even if it is small, most women build a support group for themselves to survive the struggles of every day life. I enjoyed seeing it shown in a novel where it didn’t become a substitute for romantic connection.
Ironically, my least favorite part of Conduit was the romantic relationship between Jake and Emily, which, given that I found it sweet and supportive, isn’t a huge slam. It just smacked a little too much of the soul mates trope, which is one of my least-liked plot devices in romantic fiction. While Martin provides an explanation for the instant connection that goes beyond it, I still struggled a little with the concept; however, I appreciated that Emily didn’t sacrifice her personality to be with Jake, and by the end of the novel, it was clear that his light was one of the few things to save her from the killer’s psychic and physical darkness.
The author’s notes at the end of Conduit promise more Emily Monroe stories, and I hope that Ms. Martin comes through. I am curious to see more of Emily’s adventures, and I want to see how she and Jake heal after the traumatic events in this book. There are a few loose ends with other major characters I’d love to see explored more fully as well, so put me down as looking forward to the next book!
If you like suspense fiction with a blend of realism and paranormal, give Conduit a try. You may just find a new author to watch!
4.5 Eerie Psychic Messages out of 5
Emily Monroe is a highly effective personal investigator with a hidden secret; her psychic abilities give her an edge in finding things invisible to the more traditional senses. She’s successfully concealed her talents from the non-gifted humans around her, but a chance encounter with another psychic turns Emily into a dark obsession for a man enamored of control and pain. Now, she’s working against the clock with the Wichita police force to find this man before he kills one more woman in the name of drawing Emily to him. Simultaneously, the young woman finds hope in a male psychic named Jake who offers warmth, safety, and light. Can the two of them protect the connection between them while preventing the killer from flooding Emily with his darkness and death?
Conduit is the second novel from author Angie Martin, who re-released her debut novel, False Security, last December. It contains heavy doses of suspense and police procedural with touches of romance and slight supernatural that will appeal to a wide cross section of readers. The true crime angle of the story drew me in, and while I didn’t love everything, the good writing and entertaining story kept me engaged through the last page.
Angie Martin has a criminal justice background, and it shows in the details of Conduit. There are no thirty-minute DNA test results or magical single fibers that provide the key to everything. Her police officers have to work hard for every scrap of evidence that they get, and there’s a lot of red tape when dealing with potential witnesses. Her killer understands current forensics as well as the police, and the descriptions of how he removed trace evidence from his victims and avoided leaving it behind seemed plausible. This man doesn’t simply “get lucky;” he is smart, savvy, and meticulous in his techniques to evade capture until he gets his prize, Emily.
The relationships between characters in Conduit also warmed my heart, because they are rich and go beyond just romantic connections. While Lionel and Barbara’s marriage was beautiful to read about, I also loved the strong friendship between Cassie and Emily, the familial ties between Cassie and her uncle and aunt (and by extension Emily), and the strong ties between many of the victims and the friends and family left behind. While Emily shies away from sharing her psychic talents with most people, she isn’t completely isolated, and there are many people she has let in emotionally even when she doesn’t reveal everything about herself. The type of relationship network I saw with each woman in the text reflected what I have seen in real life; even if it is small, most women build a support group for themselves to survive the struggles of every day life. I enjoyed seeing it shown in a novel where it didn’t become a substitute for romantic connection.
Ironically, my least favorite part of Conduit was the romantic relationship between Jake and Emily, which, given that I found it sweet and supportive, isn’t a huge slam. It just smacked a little too much of the soul mates trope, which is one of my least-liked plot devices in romantic fiction. While Martin provides an explanation for the instant connection that goes beyond it, I still struggled a little with the concept; however, I appreciated that Emily didn’t sacrifice her personality to be with Jake, and by the end of the novel, it was clear that his light was one of the few things to save her from the killer’s psychic and physical darkness.
The author’s notes at the end of Conduit promise more Emily Monroe stories, and I hope that Ms. Martin comes through. I am curious to see more of Emily’s adventures, and I want to see how she and Jake heal after the traumatic events in this book. There are a few loose ends with other major characters I’d love to see explored more fully as well, so put me down as looking forward to the next book!
If you like suspense fiction with a blend of realism and paranormal, give Conduit a try. You may just find a new author to watch!
4.5 Eerie Psychic Messages out of 5
April 9, 2014
What can I say about “The Conduit”? First of all I would like to say that I am a big fan of stories, be it written or on screen that focus on the characters. I’m in it for the characters and I believe with this story Angie Martin hit a home run in regards to that. Her characters were all very different and easy to tell apart. They had personality that shone from the pages that made me smile. I liked every one of them and the one I wasn’t meant to like? Did his job in creeping me the hell out LOL
The Story revolves around Emily Munroe, a psychic private detective who runs her own business with her best friend Cassie Reid who is an ex-cop. It would be clear even if the reader wasn’t told that these two are best friends. They have that easy relationship that someone only has with a best friend. I enjoyed that.
Lionel and Shawn were great and professional. I’m a sucker for a buddy, buddy cop partnership/bromance if you will and I kinda got that vibe from these two. I like how opposite they were in so many respects too. Lionel was an older guy in a loving long term marriage and Shawn was the younger guy whose marriage had fallen apart. But they work well together and you can feel the mutual respect they have for each other in their dialogue and actions. I think one of my favourite Shawn moments was him talking about the golf clubs he bought that he might use … one day. He was cute.
Jake Hanley was great in his loyalty and yay a man that doesn’t have a thing against cats because contrary to popular belief men can be cat people too LOL My favourite thing about Jake and Emily’s relationship is probably how they met. It’s the old romantic comedy tale of starting off on the wrong foot and then falling madly in love with each other. But you know what? It’s an old tale because it works, right? It does for me anyways. That conversation outside of the party was great. Had me grinning. His cheeky way of seeing her again by making an appointment with her company made me like the guy even more. I liked Jake a lot.
Nate … poor guy. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy that was always gonna fall short when it came to Emily. But You cant force yourself to love someone and I like that he could respect that.
Bob … Bob the cat was a great addition to the story. He had great personality for not really having much to say or having many scenes LOL I’m a big fan of the bobcat LOL
David Noakes … what a creepy, creepy bad guy. Being inside his head was like living with an insane person. Hearing him talk through what he needed to do and justify his actions to himself and sometimes his victims with pure honesty … it was creepy and made me shiver. There are no reasoning with crazy people and that is probably the scariest thing of all.
I thought the story of the psychics and the conduits was really cool. I like that all the psychics we meet seem to have a similar story. It was almost like being part of a secret society.
All over I think the story was well written and very entertaining. I'll admit that I am more into Male protagonists but when written well I can enjoy either and I did enjoy this :) Shawn was probably my favourite though. Something about that guy :) It held all things that I find a successful story needs – Drama, action, romance and comedy … with a bit of shameless hurt/comfort thrown in there which I thank Angie for :)
Very glad I decided to read this and am happy to find out another Emily Munroe Novel is in the works.
The Story revolves around Emily Munroe, a psychic private detective who runs her own business with her best friend Cassie Reid who is an ex-cop. It would be clear even if the reader wasn’t told that these two are best friends. They have that easy relationship that someone only has with a best friend. I enjoyed that.
Lionel and Shawn were great and professional. I’m a sucker for a buddy, buddy cop partnership/bromance if you will and I kinda got that vibe from these two. I like how opposite they were in so many respects too. Lionel was an older guy in a loving long term marriage and Shawn was the younger guy whose marriage had fallen apart. But they work well together and you can feel the mutual respect they have for each other in their dialogue and actions. I think one of my favourite Shawn moments was him talking about the golf clubs he bought that he might use … one day. He was cute.
Jake Hanley was great in his loyalty and yay a man that doesn’t have a thing against cats because contrary to popular belief men can be cat people too LOL My favourite thing about Jake and Emily’s relationship is probably how they met. It’s the old romantic comedy tale of starting off on the wrong foot and then falling madly in love with each other. But you know what? It’s an old tale because it works, right? It does for me anyways. That conversation outside of the party was great. Had me grinning. His cheeky way of seeing her again by making an appointment with her company made me like the guy even more. I liked Jake a lot.
Nate … poor guy. Seemed like a genuinely nice guy that was always gonna fall short when it came to Emily. But You cant force yourself to love someone and I like that he could respect that.
Bob … Bob the cat was a great addition to the story. He had great personality for not really having much to say or having many scenes LOL I’m a big fan of the bobcat LOL
David Noakes … what a creepy, creepy bad guy. Being inside his head was like living with an insane person. Hearing him talk through what he needed to do and justify his actions to himself and sometimes his victims with pure honesty … it was creepy and made me shiver. There are no reasoning with crazy people and that is probably the scariest thing of all.
I thought the story of the psychics and the conduits was really cool. I like that all the psychics we meet seem to have a similar story. It was almost like being part of a secret society.
All over I think the story was well written and very entertaining. I'll admit that I am more into Male protagonists but when written well I can enjoy either and I did enjoy this :) Shawn was probably my favourite though. Something about that guy :) It held all things that I find a successful story needs – Drama, action, romance and comedy … with a bit of shameless hurt/comfort thrown in there which I thank Angie for :)
Very glad I decided to read this and am happy to find out another Emily Munroe Novel is in the works.
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