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Empath Detective #1
Murder Feels Awful
Another edition of ASIN B075VZWY2H can be found here
A detective who feels secrets?
That could get… awkward.
Then comes the crash. The cops call it an accident. But Mark felt murder.
In this cozy town in the Virginia mountains, Mark just wants to be left alone. He's an “empath”… so whatever you're feeling, he feels too. Which usually hurts.
Plus, he's a total amateur who knows nothing about police work. A near-hermit who can't even go out for lunch without vibing the waiter's back pain. Should he really try to catch this killer?
YES. Obviously! He's a freaking empath!
So says Pete, his new best buddy. Pete's eager to play Watson to Mark's reluctant Holmes. And he knows just how to make it all work…
But the cops aren't amused. Sergeant Gwen is less Southern sweet, more Viking goddess. She wants them both in jail…
… and the killer wants far worse.
You'll love this twisty mystery, because everyone loves a fast-paced funny cozy with characters you'll love and an amazing surprise ending.
A detective who feels secrets?
That could get… awkward.
Then comes the crash. The cops call it an accident. But Mark felt murder.
In this cozy town in the Virginia mountains, Mark just wants to be left alone. He's an “empath”… so whatever you're feeling, he feels too. Which usually hurts.
Plus, he's a total amateur who knows nothing about police work. A near-hermit who can't even go out for lunch without vibing the waiter's back pain. Should he really try to catch this killer?
YES. Obviously! He's a freaking empath!
So says Pete, his new best buddy. Pete's eager to play Watson to Mark's reluctant Holmes. And he knows just how to make it all work…
But the cops aren't amused. Sergeant Gwen is less Southern sweet, more Viking goddess. She wants them both in jail…
… and the killer wants far worse.
You'll love this twisty mystery, because everyone loves a fast-paced funny cozy with characters you'll love and an amazing surprise ending.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2017
322 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Bill Alive
52 books77 followersYou know how you keep reading piles and piles and piles of mystery series, and most of them are, like, moderately okay … at least, there weren’t too many typos … and your eyes aren’t actually bleeding …
… but then … THEN … every so often … WOW, you’re just smitten.
The style is fabulous, the people are hilarious, the action is fantastic and terrifying and gut-wrenching and you just want to shout, THIS! This right here! Why can’t they all be like THIS?
The next time you find a series like that, could you PLEASE TELL ME?
I mean, please tell this Bill Alive author guy?
Because otherwise, he’s just going to keep trying to write them.
Which is super fun. See that smile? He’s clearly enjoying himself.
But still. Once in awhile, the guy needs to see how it’s done. What’s your favorite series? He’ll probably love it too.
… but then … THEN … every so often … WOW, you’re just smitten.
The style is fabulous, the people are hilarious, the action is fantastic and terrifying and gut-wrenching and you just want to shout, THIS! This right here! Why can’t they all be like THIS?
The next time you find a series like that, could you PLEASE TELL ME?
I mean, please tell this Bill Alive author guy?
Because otherwise, he’s just going to keep trying to write them.
Which is super fun. See that smile? He’s clearly enjoying himself.
But still. Once in awhile, the guy needs to see how it’s done. What’s your favorite series? He’ll probably love it too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 17, 2017
Murder Feels Awful (Empath Detective #1) by Bill Alive is a humorous, although not a laugh out loud funny book, it is clever, witty, and off key. I like it! An empath just happens to "feel" a murder happen when he is walking by two of the craziest people around. Now they know his secret, he is stuck with them. He is somehow talked into trying to solve the murder investigation despite being told "no" too many times. It is a fun, cozy-type read with a bit of fantasy and lots of crazy thrown in. A great read and I hope to read the next one.
December 4, 2019
A New Favorite!!!
I absolutely loved this book! As an Empath myself, this book inspired me and definitely have me a sense of hope. It was also filled with laughs and great characters. I highly recommend this series!
I absolutely loved this book! As an Empath myself, this book inspired me and definitely have me a sense of hope. It was also filled with laughs and great characters. I highly recommend this series!
August 11, 2018
What if Sherlock Holmes was a reclusive, grouchy, web designer/empath and Doctor Watson was an over-caffeinated, hippy-dippy, hyperactive millennial? Say hi to Mark and Pete. When the two meet on a forest trail moments before a woman dies, a partnership created by destiny is set up to solve the case of a mysteriously murdered mom in a glider...
First things first, both the strength and weakness of this book are it's characters. Mark and Pete are excellent humourous foils for each other, their unlikely friendship giving plenty of opportunity for zingy one-upmanship and grumpy tension. Mark's knowing nerdishness in incredibly familiar (especially funny to anyone who's worked in web dev!) and Pete's constant OMGWTFBBQ attitude is very much the stereotype we've all come to expect. However, that could also be one of those weaknesses. I found Pete's frenetic narration and self-professed inability to describe things well made it difficult to always be sure what was going on. I also just couldn't quite get a read on characters' motives, Mark in particular. I can't say I really got Gwen or Ceci either, but while they're not overly present they haven't been relegated to love-interest-only duties which bodes well.
Story-wise it's a good mystery with a paranormal twist. I didn't see it coming, as the cast of suspects are all so unusual. I found it hard to keep track of all the relationships and motives! It's a bit dark for a cosy mystery, but a bit more humour-led than your average thriller. Once you get used to Pete's asides and hectic pace of narration, the writing flows well and the author's certainly nailed the art of cliffhanger chapter endings to keep you reading. One minor indie-writing-trope thing: if like me you're sick of the overuse of the word "blurt", well, dialogue might at least make you raise an eyebrow.
A fun but also serious urban(ish) fantasy read which (if you don't mind a few introductory hiccups) sets up nicely for a series with an unusual detective/assistant relationship at its heart.
First things first, both the strength and weakness of this book are it's characters. Mark and Pete are excellent humourous foils for each other, their unlikely friendship giving plenty of opportunity for zingy one-upmanship and grumpy tension. Mark's knowing nerdishness in incredibly familiar (especially funny to anyone who's worked in web dev!) and Pete's constant OMGWTFBBQ attitude is very much the stereotype we've all come to expect. However, that could also be one of those weaknesses. I found Pete's frenetic narration and self-professed inability to describe things well made it difficult to always be sure what was going on. I also just couldn't quite get a read on characters' motives, Mark in particular. I can't say I really got Gwen or Ceci either, but while they're not overly present they haven't been relegated to love-interest-only duties which bodes well.
Story-wise it's a good mystery with a paranormal twist. I didn't see it coming, as the cast of suspects are all so unusual. I found it hard to keep track of all the relationships and motives! It's a bit dark for a cosy mystery, but a bit more humour-led than your average thriller. Once you get used to Pete's asides and hectic pace of narration, the writing flows well and the author's certainly nailed the art of cliffhanger chapter endings to keep you reading. One minor indie-writing-trope thing: if like me you're sick of the overuse of the word "blurt", well, dialogue might at least make you raise an eyebrow.
A fun but also serious urban(ish) fantasy read which (if you don't mind a few introductory hiccups) sets up nicely for a series with an unusual detective/assistant relationship at its heart.
October 27, 2018
Murder Feels Awful by Bill Alive is Book One of a series called An Empath Detective Mystery. This first novel has three distinct approaches to a story which make it different from a run of the mill mystery novel that the cover suggests. Yes, there is murder, the story starts with one murder followed by characters who start dropping like flies, literally, as in out of the sky. The second approach is the story of an empath, someone who can feel the experiences, both painful and pleasant of those around him. The third approach is a type of quirky humor demonstrated in the dialogue between two almost-detectives. The combination makes for a surprisingly good entertaining read. Why surprisingly? The cover suggests something different. It looks like a very conservative, dry mystery set in wartime England. This novel remained on my TBR shelf longer than necessary in favor of more interesting looking stuff to read. So I do judge a book by its cover. I recommend the author repackage the novel to make a more engaging presentation.
The mystery part of the novel follows a tried and true formula. Lindsay Mackenzie died a somewhat unusual death by falling from the sky in a glider. Did she commit suicide, was it an unfortunate accident, or was she murdered? Given that it was a one-person glider, if she was murdered how was it done and who did it? Police believed it an accident and were ready to close the case. Lindsay was either rich or about to be rich due to the death of an unbelievably wealthy mother. But Mom didn’t really like Lindsay and there was another daughter, Sylvie, to whom Mom could leave her money. However, Mom didn’t trust Sylvie who spent most of her time and money on drugs. If the two sisters managed to die before inheriting Mom’s money, the loot went to the girls’ father, another person Mom didn’t trust because he tended to throw money at get-rich-quick schemes. Then there was Sylvie’s husband, an out and out gold digger who might inherit money if enough other people died. This mystery will keep the reader guessing with plenty of motive attached to plenty of characters
Two main characters carry the story, Pete Villette and Mark Falcon. Mark, the empath, is almost a recluse. He works from home designing websites and loves the fact that he doesn’t have to interact with anyone. Everything is done through the internet, including his billing, so Mark never has to see clients. This allows him the luxury of living like a complete and dedicated slob. His home is a total mess and looks like one from a popular TV series in which outside consultants are brought in to clean the place with a style that looks like an intervention for addicts. Mark’s independent style extends to his ancient, beat-up car which resembles a moving garbage collection vehicle in which the driver collects, but never empties, the trash. Mark does not live this lifestyle by choice. As an empath, Mark feels the emotions and “sees” the experiences of those around him. If they are in physical pain, so is Mark. If they are depressed, so is Mark. In an attempt to avoid these feelings, Mark avoids people, crowds, cities, and malls. Mark was content with his lifestyle choices until he met Pete.
Pete is the ultimate go-with-the-flow guy. He lived with his parents until they kicked him out and demanded he take responsibility for his life. His mom rented an apartment for him but after one year the parents decided to stop paying rent. Pete would have to find a job. His father wanted to give him a car but demanded Pete pay for the insurance. Pete declined because insurance was expensive, he didn’t have a job, and he had no intention of being tied down by a job. Pete experimented with Yoga, crystals, mind reading, and the possible complete control the mind can have over the body. He became disaffected over time when he failed to meet anyone who could actually levitate but was still fascinated with the potential of mind over matter. This led Pete to get a job at Valley Visions New Age Store, a place where he worked as little as possible. After meeting Mark, the two devoted most of their time to solving the mystery of Lindsay’s death. Mark used his empath skills to probe the minds of suspects. Pete tagged along to “protect” Mark, provide lively banter, and because Pete had convinced Mark they should live together in Mark’s hovel to save money that Pete didn’t have.
The third story approach is the use of humor and this novel has lots of that. Most appear in the dialogue between Mark and Pete. More humor appears as subordinate characters react, many times with incredulity, to the empath derived knowledge from Mark and the clueless behavior of Pete. Here are two examples relating to the man cave that was Mark’s house:
Pete had cleverly tricked Mark into letting him move into Mark’s house but Pete had never seen the house. His first observation of the house was “it turned out to be literally a hunting cabin that had been semi-retrofitted for semi-year-round semi-habitation. Dull red-painted concrete block walls glowered behind overgrown bushes that wished they had thorns. It was the kind of “house” that a lifelong Wal-Mart greeter entering retirement might purchase for his dying aunt, if he hated her guts.” (Kindle locations 391-393).
Again, but now describing the inside of the house “Okay, it wasn’t like Hoarders level — the stuff wasn’t trash. Everything laying around looked potentially useful and interesting. It’s just that if you tried to extract it from its pile and anything went wrong, you could trigger a domino effect that might create the next black hole.” (Kindle locations 408-410).
This was a fun, four Amazon star read. I was particularly attracted by the humor. I am sure I will read further novels by this author. The humor can sometimes be difficult to understand and there are lots of cultural references so this novel may not be for everyone. But if you like quirky and creative humor, this is very good. Also note that the story in this novel has four parts, cleverly labeled Parts I, II, III, and IV. These are followed by parts not labeled as parts but identified by numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9. Don’t ignore those last parts, your reward will be a free novella, Origin Story.
The mystery part of the novel follows a tried and true formula. Lindsay Mackenzie died a somewhat unusual death by falling from the sky in a glider. Did she commit suicide, was it an unfortunate accident, or was she murdered? Given that it was a one-person glider, if she was murdered how was it done and who did it? Police believed it an accident and were ready to close the case. Lindsay was either rich or about to be rich due to the death of an unbelievably wealthy mother. But Mom didn’t really like Lindsay and there was another daughter, Sylvie, to whom Mom could leave her money. However, Mom didn’t trust Sylvie who spent most of her time and money on drugs. If the two sisters managed to die before inheriting Mom’s money, the loot went to the girls’ father, another person Mom didn’t trust because he tended to throw money at get-rich-quick schemes. Then there was Sylvie’s husband, an out and out gold digger who might inherit money if enough other people died. This mystery will keep the reader guessing with plenty of motive attached to plenty of characters
Two main characters carry the story, Pete Villette and Mark Falcon. Mark, the empath, is almost a recluse. He works from home designing websites and loves the fact that he doesn’t have to interact with anyone. Everything is done through the internet, including his billing, so Mark never has to see clients. This allows him the luxury of living like a complete and dedicated slob. His home is a total mess and looks like one from a popular TV series in which outside consultants are brought in to clean the place with a style that looks like an intervention for addicts. Mark’s independent style extends to his ancient, beat-up car which resembles a moving garbage collection vehicle in which the driver collects, but never empties, the trash. Mark does not live this lifestyle by choice. As an empath, Mark feels the emotions and “sees” the experiences of those around him. If they are in physical pain, so is Mark. If they are depressed, so is Mark. In an attempt to avoid these feelings, Mark avoids people, crowds, cities, and malls. Mark was content with his lifestyle choices until he met Pete.
Pete is the ultimate go-with-the-flow guy. He lived with his parents until they kicked him out and demanded he take responsibility for his life. His mom rented an apartment for him but after one year the parents decided to stop paying rent. Pete would have to find a job. His father wanted to give him a car but demanded Pete pay for the insurance. Pete declined because insurance was expensive, he didn’t have a job, and he had no intention of being tied down by a job. Pete experimented with Yoga, crystals, mind reading, and the possible complete control the mind can have over the body. He became disaffected over time when he failed to meet anyone who could actually levitate but was still fascinated with the potential of mind over matter. This led Pete to get a job at Valley Visions New Age Store, a place where he worked as little as possible. After meeting Mark, the two devoted most of their time to solving the mystery of Lindsay’s death. Mark used his empath skills to probe the minds of suspects. Pete tagged along to “protect” Mark, provide lively banter, and because Pete had convinced Mark they should live together in Mark’s hovel to save money that Pete didn’t have.
The third story approach is the use of humor and this novel has lots of that. Most appear in the dialogue between Mark and Pete. More humor appears as subordinate characters react, many times with incredulity, to the empath derived knowledge from Mark and the clueless behavior of Pete. Here are two examples relating to the man cave that was Mark’s house:
Pete had cleverly tricked Mark into letting him move into Mark’s house but Pete had never seen the house. His first observation of the house was “it turned out to be literally a hunting cabin that had been semi-retrofitted for semi-year-round semi-habitation. Dull red-painted concrete block walls glowered behind overgrown bushes that wished they had thorns. It was the kind of “house” that a lifelong Wal-Mart greeter entering retirement might purchase for his dying aunt, if he hated her guts.” (Kindle locations 391-393).
Again, but now describing the inside of the house “Okay, it wasn’t like Hoarders level — the stuff wasn’t trash. Everything laying around looked potentially useful and interesting. It’s just that if you tried to extract it from its pile and anything went wrong, you could trigger a domino effect that might create the next black hole.” (Kindle locations 408-410).
This was a fun, four Amazon star read. I was particularly attracted by the humor. I am sure I will read further novels by this author. The humor can sometimes be difficult to understand and there are lots of cultural references so this novel may not be for everyone. But if you like quirky and creative humor, this is very good. Also note that the story in this novel has four parts, cleverly labeled Parts I, II, III, and IV. These are followed by parts not labeled as parts but identified by numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9. Don’t ignore those last parts, your reward will be a free novella, Origin Story.
March 27, 2018
This is certainly a cosy mystery with a difference! There are all the usual elements of a 'cosy' a murder, amateur sleuths, lots of suspects and several plot twists. But this is all served up in a very unusual way, the story is told in the first person, but the narrator is a rather unique person, who's observations are absolutely hilarious, and really make this book what it is. Then of course there is the 'empath', Mark, a hermit-like web site developer and first class nerd who accidentaly gets involved with trying to solve the crime. The characters are all very well defined and are a major strength in this story.
I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series to see what further adventures Mark and the others get involved in.
I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series to see what further adventures Mark and the others get involved in.
June 14, 2018
Reading about murder feels great
Reading Murder Feels Awful was like going through a funhouse. You know you’re going to eventually get to the end and be satisfied but all the excitement is in the surprises and scares along the way. I was guessing about whodunnit until the end and enjoyed going down all of the false trails. Pete and Mark make a perfect detective duo and I look forward to reading the next story. I received an advance copy of this book and chose to leave an honest review.
Reading Murder Feels Awful was like going through a funhouse. You know you’re going to eventually get to the end and be satisfied but all the excitement is in the surprises and scares along the way. I was guessing about whodunnit until the end and enjoyed going down all of the false trails. Pete and Mark make a perfect detective duo and I look forward to reading the next story. I received an advance copy of this book and chose to leave an honest review.
June 14, 2018
This book is hilarious. Pete is an immature riot, and is into all the "New Age" shams. Mark is an oversensitive em-path, and since most men don't know how to deal with their own feelings let alone other people, he's become a hermit. Pete and Mark meet when Mark experiences a woman in a hang glider having an epileptic attack and dies crashing the plane. These two are bumbling idiots when it comes to detective work and Pete's issues make this a great detective farce.
February 23, 2019
This is a very different read. Take an empath and a young man with nothing better to do and put them in the middle of a murder. Entertaining for sure, this was laugh out loud funny at times but always a murder mystery. This story had many twists and turns, just when you though you had it figured out it would switch again. I am looking forward to the next in the series to see where this goes.
October 14, 2017
Funny with wonderful characters that pull you along! If you love cozy mysteries, try this series.
February 15, 2018
Very enjoyable read
I enjoyed reading "Murder is Awful" and plan to read the prequel story next. My favorite character is Pete, the narrator, because of his hilarious characteristics. He's such a twenty something, thinking no one over the age of 30 could possibly be cool. He makes a great foil for Mark as the two are polar opposites. I highly recommend this book for anyone who who enjoys a murder mystery with a pinch of paranormal and a dash of humor. Well done, Bill
I enjoyed reading "Murder is Awful" and plan to read the prequel story next. My favorite character is Pete, the narrator, because of his hilarious characteristics. He's such a twenty something, thinking no one over the age of 30 could possibly be cool. He makes a great foil for Mark as the two are polar opposites. I highly recommend this book for anyone who who enjoys a murder mystery with a pinch of paranormal and a dash of humor. Well done, Bill
May 26, 2018
The story opens with Pete out for a hike with his friend Ceci. They encounter a man, Mark Falcon, who informs them that the woman pilot in an airborne glider who is already dead. The glider crashes and indeed the woman onboard is dead. Pete and Mark become roommates and we learn that Mark is an empath. He can feel people’s emotions and he is (maybe) able to read minds.
The two decide to team up to determine who killed the woman. They get “hired” to work as private investigators for no money to solve the mystery. As they stumble and bumble in their investigation, they uncover clues to the mystery. Are they helping or hindering the police?
So were they right? Was there a murder? Are they gaining skills to become real private investigators?
I enjoyed the narrative. It’s almost as if Pete is recording his thoughts as a live stream into a recorder. This is a fun read and I look forward to reading more from the author.
The two decide to team up to determine who killed the woman. They get “hired” to work as private investigators for no money to solve the mystery. As they stumble and bumble in their investigation, they uncover clues to the mystery. Are they helping or hindering the police?
So were they right? Was there a murder? Are they gaining skills to become real private investigators?
I enjoyed the narrative. It’s almost as if Pete is recording his thoughts as a live stream into a recorder. This is a fun read and I look forward to reading more from the author.
February 22, 2019
Murder Feels Awful is a fun-packed interesting tale from a different perspective. Imagine being able to feel other people's feelings...so intensely you know when a murder is happening. That could make being cheerful tough. Also, make for a good story. Check out Murder Feels Awful and see what I mean.
October 31, 2018
I enjoyed this book. It is different than many other books that I have read. Very enjoyable.
May 22, 2018
This was a great murder mystery! I can usually figure out who did it and why very early in the book but this one had a great twist at the end that I just couldn't figure out. The guy Mark has a very funny side kick named Pete that will have you laughing out loud at some of the funny things he does. I can't wait to read the next one!
December 19, 2017
Well I stayed up until 2:30 in the morning finishing "Murder Feels Awful" to find out how everything resolved itself.
I did indeed laugh out loud as I read. I also snorted out loud. You have been warned.
Bill Alive did an excellent job balancing humor, pacing, and serious social issues. At turns light-hearted and at others intense (both dark and hopeful), I always found this an accessible read. Some excellent dialog and snippy remarks, and over-all wonderful pacing. That is to say, the plot involves some difficult topics as dealt with by complex imperfect characters. Exactly how I like it.
The view point character, Pete, is a young man who thinks things and talks to women in a way that I would not want to read, normally, except that Pete is human and learning, and I appreciate that Bill Alive created him fully so that I could not easily dismiss him (I couldn't dismiss him at all... instead, I hoped he'd keep learning and evolving).
I felt a bit guilty liking this as much as I did -- it feels so light and easy to read -- because not all the characters were "like me": Pete's more (naively) sexist than any character I've read in a looooong time. But I was rooting for him and Mark (Mark really helped balance Pete). Mark made Pete think, and I appreciated reading that. We're not born enlightened (well, maybe we are and society takes that from us, but that's a different conversation); we're educated into and empathize into awareness and enlightenment.
I enjoyed the self-awareness of the book. I think the meta aspects work wonderfully. I am often delighted when art is aware of itself and when artists play with that awareness to create something different. This awareness doesn't always pay off, but in "Murder Feels Awful" it definitely did.
I also enjoy interstitial works. This is a cozy mystery that's perhaps a little more serious than what some people might term "cozy". Except that I never cared for cozy mysteries precisely because of this point -- someone dies and the characters of the story romp and hi-jinx their way as if someone hadn't just died, hadn't just been MURDERED. I could never get over that disconnect. Bill Alive bridged that disconnect beautifully.
Also, I like it when artists create characters who aren't perfect, who don't have all the money in the world to throw at their problems, who actually have to communicate with one another and who rely on one another to get by and to survive... you know, like the vast majority of us. Bill Alive has created characters who don't have perfect lives. I appreciate that. There's depth and history... I have questions, and it's a damned good thing there's more books, because I Want To Know.
For full disclosure, I received the book for free and I've met the author. I'm buying this and the whole series because I love good stories and I love the artists/authors who create them = I'm going to help them pay the rent so they can keep writing more :)
This post is a part of my effort to review more of the books I read. Also a part of my newly embraced "finished is better than done" mindset. That's why this isn't perfect. But you're reading it and getting the idea, and that's the point.
I did indeed laugh out loud as I read. I also snorted out loud. You have been warned.
Bill Alive did an excellent job balancing humor, pacing, and serious social issues. At turns light-hearted and at others intense (both dark and hopeful), I always found this an accessible read. Some excellent dialog and snippy remarks, and over-all wonderful pacing. That is to say, the plot involves some difficult topics as dealt with by complex imperfect characters. Exactly how I like it.
The view point character, Pete, is a young man who thinks things and talks to women in a way that I would not want to read, normally, except that Pete is human and learning, and I appreciate that Bill Alive created him fully so that I could not easily dismiss him (I couldn't dismiss him at all... instead, I hoped he'd keep learning and evolving).
I felt a bit guilty liking this as much as I did -- it feels so light and easy to read -- because not all the characters were "like me": Pete's more (naively) sexist than any character I've read in a looooong time. But I was rooting for him and Mark (Mark really helped balance Pete). Mark made Pete think, and I appreciated reading that. We're not born enlightened (well, maybe we are and society takes that from us, but that's a different conversation); we're educated into and empathize into awareness and enlightenment.
I enjoyed the self-awareness of the book. I think the meta aspects work wonderfully. I am often delighted when art is aware of itself and when artists play with that awareness to create something different. This awareness doesn't always pay off, but in "Murder Feels Awful" it definitely did.
I also enjoy interstitial works. This is a cozy mystery that's perhaps a little more serious than what some people might term "cozy". Except that I never cared for cozy mysteries precisely because of this point -- someone dies and the characters of the story romp and hi-jinx their way as if someone hadn't just died, hadn't just been MURDERED. I could never get over that disconnect. Bill Alive bridged that disconnect beautifully.
Also, I like it when artists create characters who aren't perfect, who don't have all the money in the world to throw at their problems, who actually have to communicate with one another and who rely on one another to get by and to survive... you know, like the vast majority of us. Bill Alive has created characters who don't have perfect lives. I appreciate that. There's depth and history... I have questions, and it's a damned good thing there's more books, because I Want To Know.
For full disclosure, I received the book for free and I've met the author. I'm buying this and the whole series because I love good stories and I love the artists/authors who create them = I'm going to help them pay the rent so they can keep writing more :)
This post is a part of my effort to review more of the books I read. Also a part of my newly embraced "finished is better than done" mindset. That's why this isn't perfect. But you're reading it and getting the idea, and that's the point.
May 10, 2018
This was a page turner
When I first started reading it it got off to a slow start but man when it picked up it was awesome !!! I look forward to reading more of these books!!! I recommend this book to anyone who like a good who dun it
When I first started reading it it got off to a slow start but man when it picked up it was awesome !!! I look forward to reading more of these books!!! I recommend this book to anyone who like a good who dun it
May 5, 2018
Murder feels awful...by Alive. The characters in this story - Pete's journal - were credible and there was a sprinkling of humour and the heavy-handedness of the police - Sergeant Gwen. Her sister, Ceci, rescues Pete a few times, giving him a lift a long way out of town. Mark is the empath and Pete is his sidekick and housemate. They blunder from interview to interview but it is the sullen Gwen who allows them to hold a Poirot-type suspect party. And the 2 guilty parties are exposed. Another good whodunnit.
December 7, 2017
“A real-life murder mystery investigated by a broke web developer who can feel people’s emotions, including murderers, who feel super bad.”
Murder Feels Awful follows the adventures of Pete, a 20-something who works in a New Age store, and Mark Falcon, a 30-something web developer by day and empath by night. They meet with a bang on a hiking trail when a woman on a glider makes a fatal landing. Mark can sense that the accident is more than an “accident,” Pete is instantly star struck by Mark, and they are off on a hair-raising ride to find out whodunnit.
I was attracted to this story by the concept of an empath solving crimes. Once I got into it, I was by turns irritated with the characters, entertained by the dialogue, and intrigued by the plot. Mark is surly and anti-social, and I didn’t particularly like him. I wanted to, but I just found him to be a self-centered prick. Pete is like a Labrador puppy on crack, and but settles into his role as Watson to Mark’s Sherlock Holmes and becomes more palatable. I might have liked the book more if it had been told from Mark’s point of view (if I had liked Mark, that is). I found some of the dialogue when Mark and Pete were trying to solve the case kind of boring, so I just paged past that.
Even with their flaws, Mark and Pete were both three-dimensional characters. The secondary characters were also well-developed, and the ending completely surprised me. And chunks of the dialogue really did make me laugh out loud.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, but absent that, I would have purchased it on. I am a sucker for weird occupations, snappy dialogue, and witty writing, and this book had all three. I look forward to following Mark and Pete on their adventures. I’m hoping Pete steps away from the caffeine, and develops some of his own empathetic skills.
Murder Feels Awful follows the adventures of Pete, a 20-something who works in a New Age store, and Mark Falcon, a 30-something web developer by day and empath by night. They meet with a bang on a hiking trail when a woman on a glider makes a fatal landing. Mark can sense that the accident is more than an “accident,” Pete is instantly star struck by Mark, and they are off on a hair-raising ride to find out whodunnit.
I was attracted to this story by the concept of an empath solving crimes. Once I got into it, I was by turns irritated with the characters, entertained by the dialogue, and intrigued by the plot. Mark is surly and anti-social, and I didn’t particularly like him. I wanted to, but I just found him to be a self-centered prick. Pete is like a Labrador puppy on crack, and but settles into his role as Watson to Mark’s Sherlock Holmes and becomes more palatable. I might have liked the book more if it had been told from Mark’s point of view (if I had liked Mark, that is). I found some of the dialogue when Mark and Pete were trying to solve the case kind of boring, so I just paged past that.
Even with their flaws, Mark and Pete were both three-dimensional characters. The secondary characters were also well-developed, and the ending completely surprised me. And chunks of the dialogue really did make me laugh out loud.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, but absent that, I would have purchased it on. I am a sucker for weird occupations, snappy dialogue, and witty writing, and this book had all three. I look forward to following Mark and Pete on their adventures. I’m hoping Pete steps away from the caffeine, and develops some of his own empathetic skills.
April 19, 2018
Title: Murder Feels Awful
Author: Bill Alive
Genre: Mystery, Humor, Suspense
Series: Book 1
Page Count:
Publisher:
Type of Book: ARC, Kindle Ebook
If Sherlock Holmes had the power of empathy, this would be how the books would feel…
Sorry, couldn’t resist that little pun up there.
Murder Feels Awful is a fun mystery to read for a few hours, filled with excitement and enthusiastic! kids that love empathes even as they try to get the empathes to help solve a murder. It was a fun, adventuresome, over the top characters all of whom had their own agendas and motives. There was even a surprise bad guy that is being reserved for book two, and I am all kinds of curious about him. A killer by the name of ‘Numb’. Similar to Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty…if I’m not mistaken as to how that’s going to go down…
This book was long, but definitely well worth reading. It had enough detail to guess most of how it would end, but the ending still had a few surprises that made me actually feel surprised. I guessed who the killer was, but was actually wrong for a change and for different reasons that I suspected. (I should note that this book does not have trigger warnings for child abuse, I’ll have to put that in a note to the author.)
There were several cliff hanging moments in the book, including one bit with a car called Thunder (I love that name for a car, I might just use it myself), and it all felt very much like watching a cheesy, fun, ridiculous kids murder-mystery movie complete with nods towards Sherlock Holmes and Poirot and a handful of other references as well.
I can’t say much more without revealing spoilers, but I will say that this is one not to be missed. The author certainly has talent with making the characters come alive (see what I did there?)!
Overall, I give this a 5/5 stars for an enjoyable few hours.
Now,
-Pass Me That Book
Author: Bill Alive
Genre: Mystery, Humor, Suspense
Series: Book 1
Page Count:
Publisher:
Type of Book: ARC, Kindle Ebook
If Sherlock Holmes had the power of empathy, this would be how the books would feel…
Sorry, couldn’t resist that little pun up there.
Murder Feels Awful is a fun mystery to read for a few hours, filled with excitement and enthusiastic! kids that love empathes even as they try to get the empathes to help solve a murder. It was a fun, adventuresome, over the top characters all of whom had their own agendas and motives. There was even a surprise bad guy that is being reserved for book two, and I am all kinds of curious about him. A killer by the name of ‘Numb’. Similar to Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty…if I’m not mistaken as to how that’s going to go down…
This book was long, but definitely well worth reading. It had enough detail to guess most of how it would end, but the ending still had a few surprises that made me actually feel surprised. I guessed who the killer was, but was actually wrong for a change and for different reasons that I suspected. (I should note that this book does not have trigger warnings for child abuse, I’ll have to put that in a note to the author.)
There were several cliff hanging moments in the book, including one bit with a car called Thunder (I love that name for a car, I might just use it myself), and it all felt very much like watching a cheesy, fun, ridiculous kids murder-mystery movie complete with nods towards Sherlock Holmes and Poirot and a handful of other references as well.
I can’t say much more without revealing spoilers, but I will say that this is one not to be missed. The author certainly has talent with making the characters come alive (see what I did there?)!
Overall, I give this a 5/5 stars for an enjoyable few hours.
Now,
-Pass Me That Book
April 29, 2018
Empath Feels Murder
(Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book. Read it and decided to provide my honest review). Murder Feels Awful, The Empath Detective Series by Bill Alive has me perplexed yet interested. It is formatted as a journal by the main character, Pete, as he goes through his day-to-day adventure solving a stumbled upon murder with his roommate who is an empath. The format in and of itself took some getting used to since you're looking through Pete's eyes as he sees the investigation unfold. This also meant constantly swimming through his diary of emotions which became tiresome very quickly. Overall, what made this read enjoyable was the different twist of the empath. It was following how he used his skills to solve successfully a murder that then became several murders. MY RECOMMENDATION: If you are able to filter then Murder Feels Alive can be an interesting read. –Tex.
(Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book. Read it and decided to provide my honest review). Murder Feels Awful, The Empath Detective Series by Bill Alive has me perplexed yet interested. It is formatted as a journal by the main character, Pete, as he goes through his day-to-day adventure solving a stumbled upon murder with his roommate who is an empath. The format in and of itself took some getting used to since you're looking through Pete's eyes as he sees the investigation unfold. This also meant constantly swimming through his diary of emotions which became tiresome very quickly. Overall, what made this read enjoyable was the different twist of the empath. It was following how he used his skills to solve successfully a murder that then became several murders. MY RECOMMENDATION: If you are able to filter then Murder Feels Alive can be an interesting read. –Tex.
April 29, 2018
Being an Empath is Complicated
Pete is hiking in the the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia when they run into a fellow hiker who suddenly goes into a pain-wracked seizure. As he writhes in agony, Pete notices a glider soaring overhead that suddenly nosedives into the valley ... and they’re locked into a murder investigation.
Mark the Hiker, it turns out, is an empath, and just before the glider came into view, he experienced the same pain the pilot felt as she convulsed and died before the glider hit the ground. He’s sequestered himself in a shack high on a Virginia mountain to avoid this type of incident, but his abilities haven’t diminished, despite his refusal to acknowledge them. Pete guides Mark to his boss, Vivian, at the New Age store Valley Visions, who teaches Mark how to shield himself, equipping him with the power to track down a variety of nefarious operators in the tiny Valley town of Back Mosby, as well as tangle with Ceci’s sister Gwen, a local police officer determined to debunk Mark’s abilities. Pete attaches himself to Mark as his roommate and fellow detective, despite the empath’s obvious reluctance, and narrates their journey in a funny and endearing millennial voice that earns not only Mark’s trust, but that of the reader.
Although I started the book skeptically, I was soon hooked not only by the story, but by Alive’s vivid characters and unusual approach to a typical murder mystery. While the tale may have seemed far-fetched a few years ago, recent news of parents inflicting sadistic horrors on their children, as well as the continued spread of opioid abuse throughout America, brings Murder Feels Awful a freshness and relativity that renders it perfectly credible. I received this ebook free, but am so hooked that I’ll willingly pay for every future adventure of Pete & Mark.
Pete is hiking in the the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia when they run into a fellow hiker who suddenly goes into a pain-wracked seizure. As he writhes in agony, Pete notices a glider soaring overhead that suddenly nosedives into the valley ... and they’re locked into a murder investigation.
Mark the Hiker, it turns out, is an empath, and just before the glider came into view, he experienced the same pain the pilot felt as she convulsed and died before the glider hit the ground. He’s sequestered himself in a shack high on a Virginia mountain to avoid this type of incident, but his abilities haven’t diminished, despite his refusal to acknowledge them. Pete guides Mark to his boss, Vivian, at the New Age store Valley Visions, who teaches Mark how to shield himself, equipping him with the power to track down a variety of nefarious operators in the tiny Valley town of Back Mosby, as well as tangle with Ceci’s sister Gwen, a local police officer determined to debunk Mark’s abilities. Pete attaches himself to Mark as his roommate and fellow detective, despite the empath’s obvious reluctance, and narrates their journey in a funny and endearing millennial voice that earns not only Mark’s trust, but that of the reader.
Although I started the book skeptically, I was soon hooked not only by the story, but by Alive’s vivid characters and unusual approach to a typical murder mystery. While the tale may have seemed far-fetched a few years ago, recent news of parents inflicting sadistic horrors on their children, as well as the continued spread of opioid abuse throughout America, brings Murder Feels Awful a freshness and relativity that renders it perfectly credible. I received this ebook free, but am so hooked that I’ll willingly pay for every future adventure of Pete & Mark.
December 3, 2018
NOT kindle unlimited, although the others are {not including prequel which is free, for signing up, and not listed except in the back of the books, and which according to them should not be read until after book 1, bit confusing but that is what the other book/s said & seems somewhat way to go}. Interesting Holmes/Watson type story, except empath versus sociopath {supposed, tho he calls himself that several times}.
He can feel people's emotions. And murderers feel awful. Mark Falcon can "vibe" other people’s emotions … and they’re usually super painful. So he hides out in rural Virginia, making websites for clients he never has to meet. It’s a not-terrible life, sort of … until he vibes the final panic of a woman’s murder. The last thing hermit Mark wants to do is go out and investigate, vibing which suspect is seething with secret hate. Even with me along, his trusty new sidekick/housemate. (I'm so cheerful that I double as an emotional air freshener.)
But Mark has no choice. He has to act, because our local cop detective is convinced that there's no killer and the woman killed herself. Unfortunately, our cop's also got the overall presence of a Viking goddess, and the last thing she wants is some delusional “psychic” website guy playing amateur sleuth. (Not to mention hitting on her.) With the cops threatening jail, small-town secrets threatening Mark’s sanity, and a crazy-gorgeous doctor suspect threatening my heart, time’s running out for Mark and I to catch the killer…Before the killer catches us.
Empath Detective NOTE: order listed below is order suggest READ in, as 0 has spoilers {can be gotten free for signing up mailing list, 1 not ku but was freebie thru something & may still be}
Murder Feels Awful 1
Origin Story: Mark Falcon, Akina, and the Condo Killer 0
Murder Feels Bad 2
Murder Feels Crazy 3
Murder Feels Deadly {coming soon}
He can feel people's emotions. And murderers feel awful. Mark Falcon can "vibe" other people’s emotions … and they’re usually super painful. So he hides out in rural Virginia, making websites for clients he never has to meet. It’s a not-terrible life, sort of … until he vibes the final panic of a woman’s murder. The last thing hermit Mark wants to do is go out and investigate, vibing which suspect is seething with secret hate. Even with me along, his trusty new sidekick/housemate. (I'm so cheerful that I double as an emotional air freshener.)
But Mark has no choice. He has to act, because our local cop detective is convinced that there's no killer and the woman killed herself. Unfortunately, our cop's also got the overall presence of a Viking goddess, and the last thing she wants is some delusional “psychic” website guy playing amateur sleuth. (Not to mention hitting on her.) With the cops threatening jail, small-town secrets threatening Mark’s sanity, and a crazy-gorgeous doctor suspect threatening my heart, time’s running out for Mark and I to catch the killer…Before the killer catches us.
Empath Detective NOTE: order listed below is order suggest READ in, as 0 has spoilers {can be gotten free for signing up mailing list, 1 not ku but was freebie thru something & may still be}
Murder Feels Awful 1
Origin Story: Mark Falcon, Akina, and the Condo Killer 0
Murder Feels Bad 2
Murder Feels Crazy 3
Murder Feels Deadly {coming soon}
Read
March 25, 2018Review of Murder is Awful by Bill Alive
reviewed by Fritzi Redgrave
Unfortunately, the perpetrator doesn't feel awful. Just a lot of other people affected by the murder.
The main two characters are as unlikely a duo as just about anyone could conjure up. One of the self-named detectives is a 22 year old with more energy than he can effectively focus on one thing at a time. His roommate, the other self-named detective, is an older thirtyish? fortyish? balding empath.
Just in case you are unfamiliar with empaths, they strongly feel the emotions and pain that others are feeling. It is nearly as uncomfortable for the empath as it is for the victim.
This unlikely pair of detectives set out to find a murderer. and they do, much to the chagrin of the local police. Bill Alive does a good job of making every character in the story suspect as the culprit, but the reader will not find out who it is until the last pages.
It is rare to read a murder mystery that is also humorous and is not impossibly cozy, but Alive has done it with this tale. I can strongly recommend that you read it.
I am giving this book 4 of 5 stars only because I cannot give it 4 1/2 stars. The only drawbacks that I found were in the opening and closing segments. They were too long and the humor got old just because it was laborious to read through it all.
That should not keep anyone from reading this story as it is well written, funny and serious. Well worth anyone's time.
reviewed by Fritzi Redgrave
Unfortunately, the perpetrator doesn't feel awful. Just a lot of other people affected by the murder.
The main two characters are as unlikely a duo as just about anyone could conjure up. One of the self-named detectives is a 22 year old with more energy than he can effectively focus on one thing at a time. His roommate, the other self-named detective, is an older thirtyish? fortyish? balding empath.
Just in case you are unfamiliar with empaths, they strongly feel the emotions and pain that others are feeling. It is nearly as uncomfortable for the empath as it is for the victim.
This unlikely pair of detectives set out to find a murderer. and they do, much to the chagrin of the local police. Bill Alive does a good job of making every character in the story suspect as the culprit, but the reader will not find out who it is until the last pages.
It is rare to read a murder mystery that is also humorous and is not impossibly cozy, but Alive has done it with this tale. I can strongly recommend that you read it.
I am giving this book 4 of 5 stars only because I cannot give it 4 1/2 stars. The only drawbacks that I found were in the opening and closing segments. They were too long and the humor got old just because it was laborious to read through it all.
That should not keep anyone from reading this story as it is well written, funny and serious. Well worth anyone's time.
November 4, 2018
Murder Feels Awful by Bill Alive is a satirical, humorous book, it is clever and witty. Foe a different twist, this story is narrated by our enthusiastic main character, Pete. I was soon hooked, not only by the story, but also intrigued by the characters and unusual approach to a typical murder mystery.
You will find this mystery filled with a multitude of suspects, motivations, murders, even an attempted murder of our heros. There's even a group of computer geeks to a help out.
Mark Falcon is a man who can feel other peoples' emotions and also physical pain from those emotions, at times he even seems to have the ability to read minds. No wonder he lives alone like a hermit.
Pete is the proverbial over-grown, over-eager puppy. His mouth never stops moving and rambles on with comments like: "he knew, that I knew, that he knew he'd just crossed the Ruby Goldberg. I mean, Ruby Canyon. Whatever, the river thing with Caesar." He jumps from topic to topic with never a stop. At times he even seems to be bouncing with eagerness.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, likes humor and satire.
Im giving 4 stars as the author's talent is obvious, but he has some growing to do with his story structure. I'm sure his skill will improve in future books.
A great read and I hope to read the next one.
You will find this mystery filled with a multitude of suspects, motivations, murders, even an attempted murder of our heros. There's even a group of computer geeks to a help out.
Mark Falcon is a man who can feel other peoples' emotions and also physical pain from those emotions, at times he even seems to have the ability to read minds. No wonder he lives alone like a hermit.
Pete is the proverbial over-grown, over-eager puppy. His mouth never stops moving and rambles on with comments like: "he knew, that I knew, that he knew he'd just crossed the Ruby Goldberg. I mean, Ruby Canyon. Whatever, the river thing with Caesar." He jumps from topic to topic with never a stop. At times he even seems to be bouncing with eagerness.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, likes humor and satire.
Im giving 4 stars as the author's talent is obvious, but he has some growing to do with his story structure. I'm sure his skill will improve in future books.
A great read and I hope to read the next one.
January 16, 2019
Awesome
Totally loved this book, it made me laugh most of the way through and even laugh out loud which is hard to do. I completely love Mark and Pete, Mark has such a dry sense of humour and he and Pete just bounce off each other so well. The girls of course both kickass which blends in so well. Can’t wait to keep reading the rest of the series.
Totally loved this book, it made me laugh most of the way through and even laugh out loud which is hard to do. I completely love Mark and Pete, Mark has such a dry sense of humour and he and Pete just bounce off each other so well. The girls of course both kickass which blends in so well. Can’t wait to keep reading the rest of the series.
October 31, 2018
Mark "vibes" other people's feeling and thoughts, a bit like mind reading on an emotional level, or walking in the other person's shoes or even being in their skin. Sounds totally impossible, improbable even, but at the same time, why not? There are some super sensitive people out there, and as Mark describes it, being sympathetic is rubbing someone's back when they are throwing up, being empathetic is chucking up along with them - I love that simile - it really explains it well.
When I first started reading it, I was not sure if this would be a book that I would enjoy, sometimes the humour can be a bit off and that spoils the book for me. But I think that Bill has got it right and the descriptions are so vivid and Pete's reactions to Mark's behaviour so funny I find myself sometimes laughing out loud. I also like the way that Pete writes the way he speaks and includes words that he has created like creeptastic - great. Cannot help myself - I really enjoyed this clever, witty book and is looking out for his next one.
When I first started reading it, I was not sure if this would be a book that I would enjoy, sometimes the humour can be a bit off and that spoils the book for me. But I think that Bill has got it right and the descriptions are so vivid and Pete's reactions to Mark's behaviour so funny I find myself sometimes laughing out loud. I also like the way that Pete writes the way he speaks and includes words that he has created like creeptastic - great. Cannot help myself - I really enjoyed this clever, witty book and is looking out for his next one.
October 31, 2018
I don't do book reviews........ I read the book and if I liked it I give it up to 5 stars, if I didn't then it gets a 2, if I didn't finish then it's a 1, that's it I'm afraid.
I read it, I like it, I want more from the author.
I don't write reviews that describe the content of the book as I don't see the point of telling everyone the storyline, plot or subject as I feel it spoils the book if you already know what it's about or what's going to happen.
As with a vast number of Kindle books there might be the odd spelling and punctuation errors.
After reading hundreds of Kindle books of all types and subjects you get use to them and they become less noticeable, unless there is an effect on the storyline.
The more these errors effect the reading of the book the less stars I give it even if the story is a good one.
Some of the books I read have been gifted to me by its author for review and my reviews and ratings are not biased in anyway.
I read it, I like it, I want more from the author.
I don't write reviews that describe the content of the book as I don't see the point of telling everyone the storyline, plot or subject as I feel it spoils the book if you already know what it's about or what's going to happen.
As with a vast number of Kindle books there might be the odd spelling and punctuation errors.
After reading hundreds of Kindle books of all types and subjects you get use to them and they become less noticeable, unless there is an effect on the storyline.
The more these errors effect the reading of the book the less stars I give it even if the story is a good one.
Some of the books I read have been gifted to me by its author for review and my reviews and ratings are not biased in anyway.
October 8, 2018
Pete tells the story of how he meets Mark, who is an empath, and becomes Marks partner and roommate. All the characters in this book are unique and fun. Pete and Mark investigate a series of killings to the great dismay of Gwen, police investigator and sister to Pete's best friend. The plot is certainly imaginative, but the best element of this book is the wonderful cast of characters and their continuing interactions. Even Mark's car, an ancient VW Pete names "Thunder," becomes a fun element as the story is told. The complexity of the murder plot is far more than I would have anticipated, giving the book a high level of suspense. I may continue this series just to keep in touch with the great characters.
December 11, 2017
I was branching out a little and trying to read more mysteries. Was offered this one to read and I am very glad I accepted. I loved this book and the unique characters. Mark and Pete's relationship cracks me up. Their snarky comments and comebacks to each other kept me laughing even with the murder mystery. Bill describes the characters so well I could see them easily including their interactions. The story moves along at a steady pace. I've downloaded the prequel to this series and will be diving into that one soon. Can't wait to read more from the Empath Detective series. This is an honest review.
April 14, 2018
This story was pleasantly surprising. Not having read anything by this author I didn't know what to expect. Humor is found throughout this story, sometimes adding to the tension. There's tension and suspense throughout the story making it a page turner wondering what was going to happen next. I had a hard time figuring out who was the guilty party. This was a surprise to me. I can usually figure out who's guilty of the crime in the first part of the book if not within the first few pages. I never figured it out. I had to read the entire story to find out who was what. Excellent job with the red herrings, twists and turns. This is a funny and exciting read. I highly recommend it.
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