Compelled

by Inge-Lise Goss

New York Detective Sidney Langston is rushed to the hospital with excruciating chest pains the same night a woman who bears a remarkable resemblance to her is murdered in San Diego. Tests reveal Sidney is perfectly healthy, yet the crippling pain persists until the dead woman reaches out from beyond the grave for Sidney’s help to vindicate her wrongfully imprisoned husband and to find her murderer.

Desperate to remain pain-free, Sidney embarks on a mission to exonerate an innocent man. With a ruthless killer at large, she soon discovers the crime is more than a simple whodunit when dangerous scenarios unfold. The dead woman’s spirit relentlessly pushes Detective Langston to solve the crime and correct an injustice - or forever be tormented by an invisible bullet wound.

Genres: Mystery

Audible Audio

First published October 29, 2016

About the author

Inge-Lise Goss, a USA Today, Award-Winning Bestselling author, was born in Denmark, raised in Utah, and now lives in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon with her husband and their dog, Ted. She spends most of her time in her den writing stories. There, with her muse by her side, her imagination has no boundaries, and her dreams come alive. When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard, she can be found reading, rowing, or trying to perfect her golf game, which she fears is a lost cause.

Reviews

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (2/22/2018)! 💝

Blurb:
New York Detective Sidney Langston is rushed to the hospital with excruciating chest pains the same night a woman who bears a remarkable resemblance to her is murdered in San Diego. Tests reveal Sidney is perfectly healthy, yet the crippling pain persists until the dead woman reaches out from beyond the grave for Sidney's help to vindicate her wrongfully imprisoned husband and to find her murderer. Desperate to remain pain free, Sidney embarks on a mission to exonerate an innocent man. With a ruthless killer at large, she soon discovers the crime is more than a simple whodunit when dangerous scenarios unfold. The dead woman's spirit relentlessly pushes Detective Langston to solve the crime and correct an injustice - or forever be tormented by an invisible bullet wound.

[Lynn Hallbrooks]

I am amazed this Kindle Scout nominee didn't win.

It is a mixture of Law Enforcement, Private Detective, and Paranormal genres with a twist of Romance.

Strange events compel Sidney, a police detective, to investigate a murder in California, way out of her jurisdiction. The San Diego police believe they have the right person. Sidney isn't so sure they do. Who is right?

The author blended the various elements so well that I was able to really enjoy the story. Some parts had me holding my breath and other parts I was chuckling. Sometimes just sentences apart.

Warning: There is Violence as well as Adult Language and Situations.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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I have read this author's work before and I really like how she has a way to draw you into the mystery of murders. It isn't always just so simple there is some weaving around to find why someone murdered someone.
In this story we meet Sidney who all of a sudden has these chest pains but she isn't sure why. That is until she gets a call from Bernice a medium who believes that Sidney can help her.
It seems that Sidney and this ghost have somethings in common and that is why there is a connection between the two.
We see how Sidney decides to help clear this man she has never met before. With the help of a P.I. named Sam they uncover something more and it seems those that are involved will stop at nothing to get what they want. Even if it is framing folks. Some people are good at being two faced!
The plot was good and the pace was steady. There was never a dull moment especially with Sidney doing everything in her power to clear Aden's name.
I really liked how the ghost would try to point Sidney in the right direction even though at times Sidney didn't know it.
Now I would have given this book a solid five but I didn't feel satisfied with how Bernice the medium was handled. Why didn't Sidney call her after everything to make sure the ghost was fully in peace.
The characters were great and well developed, if you like mystery and murder with a bit of a ghost then check this book out.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narration from Jule Nelson-Duac

We start the book with a murder. Mara, waiting for the return of her husband, Aden, and is shot dead by one of his co-worker. We then meet Sidney, a police detective. It seems Sidney is experiencing a heart attack. Then we meet Bernice, a medium, whose nights are tormented by visions of a woman screaming in her head.
Sidney finds herself compelled to find the murderer and free Aden.
Brilliant detective work and undercover work. I loved the undercover scenes involving Sidney, especially the bar one with Sam.
This book will compel you to listen. Excellent characters and plot.

[Lynn Worton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic police procedural with a supernatural twist. I loved it!

Sidney Langston is a wonderful character. I liked her a lot. She is a New York Police Detective and is used to solving murders. She is a very determined woman who has her strengths and weaknesses. When a woman in San Diego is murdered, Sidney is beset with terrible chest pains and the doctors cannot find anything physically wrong with her. But when she begins to investigate the murder, things begin to get a little more complicated.

Having previously read other books by this author, I was eager to get my hands on this one. I started to read it and was instantly hooked. This story is extremely compelling (see what I did there?) reading and I read this in one sitting. This story is told through mainly Sidney's point of view, but other characters have their say too.

I really enjoyed getting to know Sidney better. However, she is not what I would call a by-the-book type policewoman. She is an instinctive and intuitive person and tends to follow her gut more often than not, even if it means breaking a few of those by-the-book rules. This made the story intriguing but in real life, it would make getting a conviction thrown out in a court of law. Nevertheless, I found myself holding my breath at times whilst she investigated. I also enjoyed meeting the other characters in the book. There are several that make an appearance: Chas Langston, Sidney's husband and New York District Attorney, Bernice, a spirit medium, and Sam Jordan, a private investigator for Mara's husband's lawyer amongst others.

I must admit that I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted that it was more of a police procedural than ghost story. Although there is a supernatural twist, it doesn't overshadow the story. The author used the supernatural angle to great effect in my opinion. However, I was a little disappointed at the explanation for the connection between the murder victim and Sidney. I think I may have jumped the gun and made my own assumption (wrongly) about their connection, but when it was revealed, the actual one didn't feel right to me. Other readers may not have the same reaction, so will leave it up to you (the reader) to decide for yourself. There is a lot of suspense, thrilling chases and danger to keep me on the edge of my seat. Though, there are some lighter moments too that had me smiling if not giggling. I love the undercover scenes involving Sidney, especially the bar one with Sam. His reaction was priceless. There are several twists I didn't see coming, though when the actual murderer was revealed I had partly guessed who it was. Having said that, I was completely thrown by the machinations of a couple of the characters and was caught off guard when their actions were revealed. I reached the end of the book with mixed feelings; sad that the story ended but happy at the outcome. There is no cliffhanger, just in case you were wondering.

Inge-Lise Goss has written an intriguing crime thriller/supernatural suspense full of danger, mystery and suspense. This is the fifth story I have read by this author, I love her fast paced writing style and the flow of the story is wonderful. I am now looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Due to some violence, although not too graphic, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love thrillers full of mystery, suspense, danger, action, adventure and romance. This book can be read as a stand-alone. - Lynn Worton

[Vickie Sarmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just imagine being away from your family for two months and come home to find your wife shot dead!! Then to make matters even worse, you can't be with your two small children to help them grieve the loss of their mother, because you've been accused of murdering your wife. This is what happened to Aden. Then Detective Sidney Langston, starts having chest pains. But the doctors can't find any medical reasons for the chest pains, and she is required to go on medical leave. Add into this mix, a medium, Bernice, keeps calling her and she refuses to talk to her. Every time she refuses to speak to Bernice, the chest pains come back. Her husband, Chas, the District Attorney, is beside himself with worry. Sidney finally speaks with Bernice and she starts to give Sidney information on the murder investigation of Aden and his murdered wife, Mara. Of course, Sidney an she and her husband do their research on Bernice to find that she is credible in her field. As soon as Sidney decides to help in the investigation, while she is supposedly on vacation, all the chest pains desist.

Sidney teams up with Sam Jordan, the investigator on the case. There is such an intricate web of deceit within the company that Aden worked for. Sidney and Sam have to do some unethical acts to delve into a cover up within Brimwell Engineering. Money, adultery, thugs, forgery, contracts, and land deals in different countries, all have to be investigated by Sam and Sidney. What a great mystery. The roller coaster ride is unbelievable! Will Sam and Sidney be able to get the necessary evidence to have Aden released from jail? Will Mara finally be able to rest? I liked the way this book was written. The author wrote this book so that the reader could relate exactly to what the characters felt and their reaction during this story. I loved Sidney and Sam. The plot was awesome and I loved how it unfolded throughout this book. What a great read!! Reviewed by Hot Box Reviews on FB. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

[Alan Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara, waiting for the return of her husband, Aden, after a long work absence, is shot dead by a co-worker of his. We then meet Chas, New York Assistant DA, and his wife Sidney, a police detective. It seems Sidney is experiencing a heart attack. Or is she? We then meet Bernice, a medium, whose nights are tormented by visions of a woman screaming in her head. Who is this woman? We learn that the dead woman resembles Sidney... So, could the intense chest pains have been in fact a simulation of a bullet entering her chest? The woman murdered in San Diego becomes inextricably linked to Sidney and her well-being. She becomes embroiled in the quest to seek out and identify a brutal killer, compelled to do so by the spirit of the victim herself. An amazing and original premise for a story, its unfolding is gripping, intense and magnetic. Great stuff.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books I have read this year. This is a very fast paced murder mystery that involves good old fashioned police work that is encouraged by a ghost. Sidney is jolted by chest pains, which go unsolved until she is contacted by a medium who has a case for her to solve. A woman is murdered and her husband is arrested, but things don't add up. I was pulled into the story at the very beginning and didn't want it to end. I loved the supernatural push to the book that took it above and beyond your typical murder mystery. The book kept me on my toes wondering "who done it" and didn't disappoint. I hope the author writes more books along this story line, I grew quite attached to Sidney and her side kick Sam.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

No. It did not really take me this long to read this book. As a matter of fact I think it took me only two sittings but I was torn over my rating. So I waited and figured I will see if the plot keeps with me. It does.
I have read all the books by this author and have always known that something about her writing is above par but until this book I could not put my finger on it.

Now I can. She has the amazing ability not to change her writing voice but to adjust it in such a subtle way as to add an entire new dimension to the plot of her book.

The characters in this book is fun, relatable and shows growth.
The plot and writing is fast and is not bogged down as I was afraid of with the mingling of two genres into one.

This is a really good story. Read it.

[Judith Lucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly well-written crime thriller by Inge-Lise Goss and I enjoyed ever minute of it! The crime involved a brutal murder of a woman and NY Detective Sydney Langston's quest to solve the case. Sydney is besieged by psychic pain as she attempts to solve the murder, mostly attributable to the energy of murdered woman. This book is fast-paced, well written with interesting twists and turns that held my interest. The characters are well described and true-to-life. The use of paranormal phenomenon enhanced the story and made it even more exciting. A great read. Recommend highly

[Dr. Simone J. Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!

This story was one of the most intriguing I've ever read. Sidney is quite a detective with ingenious solution's. In reality, I suspect it would be just a tad illegal to do those break-ins, and the information and evidence gained that way would not be admissible in court, but they certainly created suspense and explanations. I got a bit tangled in the contract details, but no matter - I loved this read!

[Sandy Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me on the edge of my seat!

I rated this novel as a 6 because it was very well thought out, researched, and written! Wes a very interesting premise. I don't necessarily believe in mediums, although I give some credence in others belief in them. What was more interesting to me was the apparent takeover of the woman officer by the dead woman's spirit when near the husband. GREAT Read. I look forward to more novels by this author.

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book. I loved the subtlety of the paranormal aspect the most. Dont get me wrong. I love paranormal books but sometime I find it a bit more than simply a bit over the top. So this was a delightful change.

Also, the character, specifically the main character is somebody I could really relate to.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I'll admit, after reading the description I was a little iffy on if I really would enjoy this book or not, but the author did an amazingly wonderful job & I can promise that this will be something that I will willingly reread again sometime.

[Eric J. Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inge-Lise Goss’ mystery thriller ‘Compelled’ had me from the deadly prologue. The plot is original, in that the displaced detective protagonist, Sydney Langston, has two clients as she investigates a murder in California. Aden Uzelac has been accused and imprisoned for the murder of his wife, Mara. Apparently, he had been involved with another woman who worked at the same engineering company. The local cops had curtailed their investigation once this love triangle had been uncovered. Gregory Fowler, Aden’s lawyer, has a private investigator called Sam working the case, but getting nowhere fast. In the Uzelac case, Sydney’s first client is Fowler, and he is collaborating all he can. However, it’s her second client in the case that is causing all the trouble. Sydney is subjected to a cruel and sadistic torture whenever she resists following up the leads offered by this client as a brutal motivation to continue.

As I mentioned, the plot is original, but I won’t say more to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say, author Goss does an outstanding job of creating the anxiety and sense of helplessness that afflicts her protagonist as the investigation continues. Her attention to detail is not just limited to the creation of a solid, three-dimensional main character though; even the PI Sam and another secondary personage called Bernice jump off the page whenever they appear. Bernice was a character I found myself wishing to reencounter, along with Sydney, in a future novel by Inge-Lise Goss.

There are some wonderfully elaborate twists throughout the tale which will keep readers glued to their seats, and there is even one, when you think it is all done and dusted, that really had my attention. This mystery thriller is simply brilliant; a great read for anyone who loves to challenge themselves by working out the whodunit before the final reveal (you won’t; it’s that good!) and I highly recommend it.

[Aaron Lazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelled by Inge-Lise Goss is a good old-fashioned, full length mystery. I say full length, because so many novels these days are really novellas, where the characters aren’t always completely fleshed out. This one keeps you captivated for all three hundred and five pages.

Ms. Goss definitely built her characters with great clarity and color, and I felt invested in both Sidney and Sam, the off duty police officer and her PI pal, as well as Mara and Aden, the star crossed couple who play a major role in the storyline.

A nice twist in this intriguing story was the presence of the spirit of a dead woman who needs justice for her beloved husband. I won’t spoil the story by going into which spirit is “present” in which character for the duration of the novel, but the presence is depicted very naturally in a believable sort of fashion.

I enjoyed the methodical way that Sidney and Sam progressed throughout their investigation. Sidney was thorough and because of her attention to detail and dogged insistence on checking out every lead, the mystery was solved.

At first you might think Sidney is almost too perfect in her abilities to scale walls and find the perfect high tech listening device for each situation, but her past life with the CIA readily explains that and the reader soon learns to look forward to her next devious scene where she breaks into multiple suspects’ home to gain evidence to free the innocent man accused of murder. She also seems to have a great knack for disguise, whether she’s posing as a college student or prostitute, she’s got the skills for it all.

Ms. Goss’s writing is easy to read and the dialog sounds very natural. You can always spot a good writer when you don’t “notice” the writing!

Well done, Ms. Goss. Thanks for a riveting story.

[Ally Doby (Schleicher) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.75 stars for book, 5 for audio performance*

This is the first time I have read/listened to anything by this author. While I’m not usually a fan of third person writing, this story held my attention.

The book itself is a solid 4.75 stars, while the audiobook is a solid five stars for the Narrator, Jule Nelson-Duac.

I haven’t listened to any of Jule’s other audiobooks she performed, but I could definitely listen to more of her work. She did an amazing job at making me experience the story. The way she can change the sound and pitch of her voice is incredible.

The book itself was interesting. I love the concept of psychics and mediums helping to gain justice (and sometimes a little revenge) for the deceased’s loved ones and selves.

It was interesting to see how the ghost of the murder victim was able to communicate and help clear the suspect while bringing the real players down. There were times I felt that there were too many suspects and I got a little confused, but I quickly caught up.

The ending was definitely interesting and I would like to see Aden and his children get a second chance at love and a family. I would’ve liked to see Sidney call Bernice after everything to give her an update. I could see her, Sam, Bernice and her psychic friend team up.

I received an advanced readers copy. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anna Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelled, by Inge-Lise Goss, is aptly named. It’s a compelling read from page one when Detective Sidney Langston is struck by what she’s convinced is a heart attack. When a visit to the hospital proves otherwise, the mystery begins. A perfectly healthy woman, stricken with pain, soon finds herself “compelled” to solve a murder—by a ghost.

This well-written, fast-paced story builds on this interesting premise. The well-developed characters at the center of the tale bring it to life. That’s especially true for the lead character, Sidney, who’s a determined resourceful woman as she sets out to find a killer, free an innocent man from prison, and bring peace to a restless spirit who won’t let go of Sidney until justice is served. To say that none of this is easy to do, is an understatement, even with the help of a medium, a Private Investigator, and her husband.

As the pressure builds, it’s harder and harder to put this book down. The twists and turns keep coming until Sidney Langston discovers the truth. This action-packed thriller is a must-read for fans of paranormal mystery but will not disappoint fans of straight up detective fiction.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sidney is now a police officer on Long Island in NY. She used to be a CIA operative so she has some skills that a regular police officer might not have. A psychic contacts her about a ghost who has been unrelenting in trying to reach Sidney through the psychic. Sidney rejects the contacts until she is provided with some facts that cause her to relent.

Sidney is home on sick leave with unrelenting heart problems that the medical experts can't explain. When she agrees to look into the case, she feels much better. She flies out to San Diego to investigate a case of a man accused of killing his wife. The police are certain that they found their man so they didn't do a complete investigation.

Sidney brings on some help in San Diego and uncovers a complex plot. She develops multiple leads and a few potential suspects. All the while, she feels the presence of the ghost urging her on and making her have strange reactions about some people in the story.

I enjoyed the book and I liked the complexity of the investigation.

I listened to the audio version, which was excellent.

The author provided me with a copy of the audio book. This is my honest review.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is compelling!

I wasn't sure at the very beginning as I find most of the novels that include an element of the spirit world are over the top and take it to one of 2 extremes.. Either jangling bracelets, scarves and stereotyped fairground mystics.. Or ghosts round every corner scaring the bejesus out of the characters. Inge-Lise has this just right, a balance between the two sides of medium-ship, those who are able to act as a conduit for those passed over and those who have the ability to see forwards..

It's as usual well written, thoroughly researched and as someone who has been able to interact with that world it felt like a true reflection of it. I don't think anyone gifted this way would be disappointed and those who believe should feel comforted by the fact that there's no mockery, no tongue in cheek asides and it's done with appreciation for us all.

Really enjoyable and, Inge-Lise, I should have known that you had it in the bag.. Again.. Beautiful..

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise for this story, and some of the characters were well rounded out and likeable, and while I was reading the book it kept my interest - especially in the second half of the book. However it didn’t grab me enough to make me rush to pick it back up, I think it was perseverance rather than excitement or interest that got me to the end (as I said above, the last half was much better and I read this part without being distracted). I read 4 other books while I read this one over a month. I would pick it up, read some, then find another story to read before going back to this one. I had no problem with the subject matter, it was more the introduction to the theme and characters was a bit clunky.

[B S LUPTON NEILSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelled Indeed!

What a great read! Loved the premise and the execution of it! A very complicated piece of literature, worthy of Tolstoy! I tried to read the whole book in one session, but finally had to sleep , but finished it the second try...I could not put it down!

Enjoyed the supernatural vein running through this work, and could have had more of it, cos those little supe nuggets were just right for the story.

I have a few books that I reread from time to time, and will re-read this one for sure! It's a keeper!

[Diane E]

Excellent mystery with a touch of paranormal

NYPD detective Sidney Langston wakes up one night with crushing chest pains. After a heart attack is ruled out , she continues to be disabled from horrible pain. She finally talks to a mediium, Bernice , in Florida .
The scenerio appears weird when the pain goes away when she agrees to listen then look into Bernice ' s concerns. Discovering the murder in San Diego she and her nurse , Jean , fly there and she starts looking into Mara ' s death .
Forgive my typos please .

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story a lot. The story was about a detective who suffered terrible chest pains at the same time that a woman who lived in another state was murdered. The detective becomes involved in the woman's murder investigation. Once I started the audiobook, I had to listen until the end as I became embroiled into the story. Jule Nelson-Duac's narration was good, and her performance added to the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

[Frank Kelso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a - Medium- supernatural tale.

I picked this up on another author's recommendation, and expected a police procedural. The supernatural element was introduced smoothly. Once I got the premise of messages from a Medium sending clues from beyond, the story moved quite well. It is well-written written and an easy to follow detective story. The romance element kept the female lead grounded in reality.

[Ulla Bisgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will keep you guessing until the end

Compelled is a classic who did it book, with a paranormal twist. It’s an exciting book that will have you at the edge of you seat and keep you guessing right to the last moment. The characters and plot line are great and the narrator knows how to spin the tale, so it gets even better. I can warmly recommend it for fans of mysteries and crime novels.

[Colleen Sipes · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

I absolutely couldn't put this book down. The story line, the characters, the suspense was mind-boggling! Such a great read! I recommend this to anyone who likes "who done it" type books! It's not really violent and there's not a lot of gore but it will keep you guessing right up til the end! Buy this book! You won't be disappointed!!

[Margaret Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelled is one of the those books that you can't put down.

This book was wonderfully written and had a fantastic plot that was easy to follow without getting lost. I would tell anyone who likes murder mysteries to give this book a chance. What I absolutely loved was there was no sex, very much cussing and it only alluded to violence.

[Kathryn Laing · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York Detective Sidney Langston suffers chest pains and no doctor can diagnose why. She is contacted by a psychic who has a message for her. Turns out a ghost needs her help to free her husband who is accused of her murder, and as long as she works on the case, her pain goes away. Lots of twists in this ghostly who done it!

[Nina Mintzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half was good, the second half was overdone.

I enjoyed the concept of this book, spirits and mediums and the mysterious ways they have in
other people's lives. After a while it became tedious and much too involved, in my opinion. The " big reveal" was not a surprise and therefore not so interesting.