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Emerald City #2
Inspired by Murder
He’s a master of the human mind. But can he get away with murder?
Dr. Eric Leroy hungers for literary fame. Exhausted after years of listening to his rich clients wallowing in their worries, the psychiatrist intends to pursue his true passion of writing murder mysteries. And with his most obnoxious patient in mind, he crafts a killer plot to write exactly what he knows…
The nation is shocked when a famous Seattle resident and his wife are found dead in their upscale Madison Park neighborhood. It looks like murder-suicide, but Detective Blake Stephenson isn't convinced.
As Stephenson investigates Dr. Leroy, he uncovers a dark past filled with secrets. Meanwhile, the headlines are reeling with a killer on the loose in Seattle. As the death toll rises, Stephenson struggles to find enough evidence to arrest the doctor—before he kills again.
Inspired by Murder is the second book in the dark psychological Emerald City Thriller series. If you like gripping cat-and-mouse games, twisted suspense, and pitch-black humor, then you’ll love Audrey J. Cole’s compelling page-turner.
Dr. Eric Leroy hungers for literary fame. Exhausted after years of listening to his rich clients wallowing in their worries, the psychiatrist intends to pursue his true passion of writing murder mysteries. And with his most obnoxious patient in mind, he crafts a killer plot to write exactly what he knows…
The nation is shocked when a famous Seattle resident and his wife are found dead in their upscale Madison Park neighborhood. It looks like murder-suicide, but Detective Blake Stephenson isn't convinced.
As Stephenson investigates Dr. Leroy, he uncovers a dark past filled with secrets. Meanwhile, the headlines are reeling with a killer on the loose in Seattle. As the death toll rises, Stephenson struggles to find enough evidence to arrest the doctor—before he kills again.
Inspired by Murder is the second book in the dark psychological Emerald City Thriller series. If you like gripping cat-and-mouse games, twisted suspense, and pitch-black humor, then you’ll love Audrey J. Cole’s compelling page-turner.
329 pages, ebook
First published August 14, 2018
2054 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
Audrey J. Cole
22 books1,227 followersAudrey J. Cole is a USA TODAY bestselling thriller author. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. Before writing full time, she worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse for eleven years. She’s also a pilot's daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
May 16, 2022
Another wild ride by Audrey J. Cole in her book, Inspired by Murder (Emerald City Thriller, #2) , featuring a serial killer who is a Psychiatrist.
Dr. Eric Leroy seeks literary fame for a book he is penning on murder. He wants to take real details of murder victims and put them in his book - he's obsessed with getting his book written, published, and becoming a best seller! So, with his most annoying female patient in mind, he crafts a killer plot, but something goes terribly wrong during the murder act and now someone else must die that he wasn't really planning for. This is only the beginning! Dr. Eric is covering up some very dark secrets, and it's up to a couple of young detectives to get it figured out before the body count continues and LeRoy can escape (because this guy is cool as a cucumber, brilliant, and always plans ahead the alibi).
Inspired by murder is #2, a dark psychological drama in the Emerald City Thriller series. Perfect if you like gripping cat-and-mouse games, twisted suspense, and black humor (like he's taking a pee and has his pants dropped around his ankles when the victim walks into her bathroom and surprises him! His urine is on the floor now!) He's a bit of a bumbler, but gets the murder done and when it goes wrong... of course he says "crickey"!
Audio book is fantastic. Dr. Eric is an Australian character, and the narrator (Patrick Zeller), pulls off the accent perfectly. The other character voices are distinct, and the book really comes alive with the great narration!
Clean, no sex, no foul language. Can be read as a stand alone. Recommended!
Dr. Eric Leroy seeks literary fame for a book he is penning on murder. He wants to take real details of murder victims and put them in his book - he's obsessed with getting his book written, published, and becoming a best seller! So, with his most annoying female patient in mind, he crafts a killer plot, but something goes terribly wrong during the murder act and now someone else must die that he wasn't really planning for. This is only the beginning! Dr. Eric is covering up some very dark secrets, and it's up to a couple of young detectives to get it figured out before the body count continues and LeRoy can escape (because this guy is cool as a cucumber, brilliant, and always plans ahead the alibi).
Inspired by murder is #2, a dark psychological drama in the Emerald City Thriller series. Perfect if you like gripping cat-and-mouse games, twisted suspense, and black humor (like he's taking a pee and has his pants dropped around his ankles when the victim walks into her bathroom and surprises him! His urine is on the floor now!) He's a bit of a bumbler, but gets the murder done and when it goes wrong... of course he says "crickey"!
Audio book is fantastic. Dr. Eric is an Australian character, and the narrator (Patrick Zeller), pulls off the accent perfectly. The other character voices are distinct, and the book really comes alive with the great narration!
Clean, no sex, no foul language. Can be read as a stand alone. Recommended!
September 16, 2020
I feel that Inspired by Murder contained several really promising plot and character ideas, but fell down in terms of execution and insufficient editing. Given the lack of significant online presence, I'm surmising that Rainier Publishing is a self-publishing outfit, and I have to say that the standard of Inspired by Murder is consistent with that. Not to say that there aren't some really excellent self-published books out there, but I suspect that had this book been subjected to the more rigorous editing that professionally published titles receive, it might have been a more successful addition to the Pacific Northwest crime-noir niche.
Australian-American Dr. Eric Leroy is a man dissatisfied with his life as a Seattle-based clinical psychiatrist - he feels that his true destiny is to be a highly-acclaimed crime fiction writer. While listening to his needy and self-absorbed patients (the descriptions of his practise actually sound far more like clinical psychology / therapy than they do psychiatry), he fantasises about murdering them in a way that might provide inspiration for his plots. When his middle-aged patient Patricia Watts whines about her husband's plans to travel away for work in the near future, Leroy sees an opportunity to put his plans into action - he'll strangle Patricia in her home in a way that her husband will be suspected of her murder. Not only will this give him valuable personal experience to incorporate into his writing, it will also rid him of one of his most annoying patients - permanently.
Not unexpectedly, things don't go as perfectly to plan as the megalomaniacal Leroy expects, and he's soon drawn the attention of Seattle detectives Adams and Stephenson, who are investigating a series of unexplained deaths, which may or may not be related.
Leroy is a perplexing character - on one hand, he's supposed to be a highly-qualified and professionally established psychiatrist, but on the other, he can't talk his way out of going on an unsought-for dinner date with his twenty-something receptionist. Added to which, he can't remember what her name is, despite the fact that she's worked for him for eight months! The problems he encounters in his quest to murder Patricia are almost comical in nature, and while this might possibly be foreseeable in the case of someone whose only experience of crime is vicarious, his reactions don't really ring true. Similarly, his behaviour when under the scrutiny of police is quite inexplicably provocative and self-incriminating. I would have liked to read more within the text equating Leroy's behaviour with that of a decompensating narcisistic sociopath.
By contrast, I felt that the characterisations of the two principal detective characters was good, and while occasionally cliched, the relationship and dialogue between them was the most believable and interesting in the book.
I began my "reading" of this book by listening to the accompanying Audible audiobook, but the voice-actor's attempt at an Australian accent was so ludicrous (I am Australian), I had to change over to the Kindle e-book before the end of the first chapter. Similarly, the frequency with which the main character exclaims "Crikey!" is just jaw-dropping and, for Australian readers at least, simply ridiculous. While this verbal ejaculation was made globally famous by the late Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, it is not a feature of mainstream Australian lexicon and is in the nature of caricature. While the author has reportedly spent some time living in Australia, she either hasn't developed a particularly nuanced understanding of Australian culture, or is deliberately misrepresenting and exaggerating it for the sake of an American audience.
I finished Inspired by Murder, principally because I needed it to complete a reading challenge, but I can't in all honesty really recommend it to anyone other that those with a particular interest in the Pacific Northwest setting or Psychiatrist-gone-rogue scenario.
Australian-American Dr. Eric Leroy is a man dissatisfied with his life as a Seattle-based clinical psychiatrist - he feels that his true destiny is to be a highly-acclaimed crime fiction writer. While listening to his needy and self-absorbed patients (the descriptions of his practise actually sound far more like clinical psychology / therapy than they do psychiatry), he fantasises about murdering them in a way that might provide inspiration for his plots. When his middle-aged patient Patricia Watts whines about her husband's plans to travel away for work in the near future, Leroy sees an opportunity to put his plans into action - he'll strangle Patricia in her home in a way that her husband will be suspected of her murder. Not only will this give him valuable personal experience to incorporate into his writing, it will also rid him of one of his most annoying patients - permanently.
Not unexpectedly, things don't go as perfectly to plan as the megalomaniacal Leroy expects, and he's soon drawn the attention of Seattle detectives Adams and Stephenson, who are investigating a series of unexplained deaths, which may or may not be related.
Leroy is a perplexing character - on one hand, he's supposed to be a highly-qualified and professionally established psychiatrist, but on the other, he can't talk his way out of going on an unsought-for dinner date with his twenty-something receptionist. Added to which, he can't remember what her name is, despite the fact that she's worked for him for eight months! The problems he encounters in his quest to murder Patricia are almost comical in nature, and while this might possibly be foreseeable in the case of someone whose only experience of crime is vicarious, his reactions don't really ring true. Similarly, his behaviour when under the scrutiny of police is quite inexplicably provocative and self-incriminating. I would have liked to read more within the text equating Leroy's behaviour with that of a decompensating narcisistic sociopath.
By contrast, I felt that the characterisations of the two principal detective characters was good, and while occasionally cliched, the relationship and dialogue between them was the most believable and interesting in the book.
I began my "reading" of this book by listening to the accompanying Audible audiobook, but the voice-actor's attempt at an Australian accent was so ludicrous (I am Australian), I had to change over to the Kindle e-book before the end of the first chapter. Similarly, the frequency with which the main character exclaims "Crikey!" is just jaw-dropping and, for Australian readers at least, simply ridiculous. While this verbal ejaculation was made globally famous by the late Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, it is not a feature of mainstream Australian lexicon and is in the nature of caricature. While the author has reportedly spent some time living in Australia, she either hasn't developed a particularly nuanced understanding of Australian culture, or is deliberately misrepresenting and exaggerating it for the sake of an American audience.
I finished Inspired by Murder, principally because I needed it to complete a reading challenge, but I can't in all honesty really recommend it to anyone other that those with a particular interest in the Pacific Northwest setting or Psychiatrist-gone-rogue scenario.
April 1, 2024
Inspired by Murder follows Dr. Eric Leroy a psychiatrist who wants to write a book about murder he needs more info on the subject and the best way to obtain that information is by doing a little research and the best way to obtain the research he needs is by experience. The only thing left for him to do now is by finding someone to murder which isn't very hard for the good Dr. to do. His only problem is not leaving any evidence behind for the police to convict him with. I guess the good Dr. needs a lot of info because the body count starts to rise.
Detective Blake Stephenson and his partner Detective Kyle Adams, are assigned the case. Stephenson knows who committed the murders but is having a hard time finding the evidence he needs to prove it. But he won't give up until he has what he needs to put Eric behind bars for a very long time.
Stephenson may not have to wait very long as Eric is not as bright as he believes himself to be. Eric thinks he is being very smart and is not leaving any evidence. Eric is cocky thinking he is smarter than everyone else. He has no remorse or regret or any feelings of any kind. He makes some really dumb choices at th worst of times that had me laughing. I was like no way he didn't, not here and not now of all times.
Even though I knew right away who committed the murders I still enjoyed reading Inspired by Murder very much. Even though I knew who the killer was Inspired by Murder still had its share of twists and secrets which was part of the reason I was so glued to the pages. The characters were all so amazing and played their part well. I can't wait to dive into the next book Viable Hostage in the Emerald City Thriller series.
I would recommend Inspired by Murder to anyone who loves a good murder or thriller.
Detective Blake Stephenson and his partner Detective Kyle Adams, are assigned the case. Stephenson knows who committed the murders but is having a hard time finding the evidence he needs to prove it. But he won't give up until he has what he needs to put Eric behind bars for a very long time.
Stephenson may not have to wait very long as Eric is not as bright as he believes himself to be. Eric thinks he is being very smart and is not leaving any evidence. Eric is cocky thinking he is smarter than everyone else. He has no remorse or regret or any feelings of any kind. He makes some really dumb choices at th worst of times that had me laughing. I was like no way he didn't, not here and not now of all times.
Even though I knew right away who committed the murders I still enjoyed reading Inspired by Murder very much. Even though I knew who the killer was Inspired by Murder still had its share of twists and secrets which was part of the reason I was so glued to the pages. The characters were all so amazing and played their part well. I can't wait to dive into the next book Viable Hostage in the Emerald City Thriller series.
I would recommend Inspired by Murder to anyone who loves a good murder or thriller.
January 22, 2024
Way to go Audrey! Loved this fast paced quick read.
I liked how we followed in 'real time' for the most part.
I read the alternate ending and I am glad you went with the published ending.
I look forward to reading more of your work.
I received a free copy of the book from the author and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.
I liked how we followed in 'real time' for the most part.
I read the alternate ending and I am glad you went with the published ending.
I look forward to reading more of your work.
I received a free copy of the book from the author and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.
August 14, 2019
Wow Inspired by Murder was a trippy serial killer murder mystery. The "inspiration" for the killing is the trippy part of this book. It is scary to think about such motivation. This book reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode. It also makes you think of all of the hidden agendas of people that we don't know about. All and all and entertaining read!
March 31, 2023
Another enjoyable read by Cole. I’ve read several and liked them all. This one is about a narcissistic psychiatrist who wants the experience of murdering someone in order to become a bestselling novelist. While his actions may seem to be over the top, narcissists do have such an entitled sense of self that they believe they are above everyone. The detectives who search for evidence are great characters, and there’s even a dab of romance. This is the second in her Emerald City series, and I’ll be reading the next one in the sequence soon!
May 10, 2019
3* ARC Review – Interesting inspiration for a murder mystery
I received the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Since I was getting the ARC of the second book in the series, I read the first one since it was free!! It was completely unnecessary to enjoy this story but did give you some background to the police characters. I enjoyed that book also.
From the beginning you know who the murderer is and why he is killing, which seems like a crazy idea. He is an aspiring author who wants to write a novel but thinks it will be more realistic if he has experience killing. The book has alternating perspectives between the killer and the cop chasing him. As the book goes on, you learn a little about the killer because of his own flashbacks, yet I felt as a character, Eric was incomplete. It was almost hard to understand how he determined this course of action and I wanted more about his motivation.
Overall, it was a good book, but there were times I found the story frustrating, because I did not think this guy was smart enough to not be caught. There were police procedural parts of the story that I found a little a miss. That said I would still read more by this author, as her style kept me reading and trying to see how it would end.
I received the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Since I was getting the ARC of the second book in the series, I read the first one since it was free!! It was completely unnecessary to enjoy this story but did give you some background to the police characters. I enjoyed that book also.
From the beginning you know who the murderer is and why he is killing, which seems like a crazy idea. He is an aspiring author who wants to write a novel but thinks it will be more realistic if he has experience killing. The book has alternating perspectives between the killer and the cop chasing him. As the book goes on, you learn a little about the killer because of his own flashbacks, yet I felt as a character, Eric was incomplete. It was almost hard to understand how he determined this course of action and I wanted more about his motivation.
Overall, it was a good book, but there were times I found the story frustrating, because I did not think this guy was smart enough to not be caught. There were police procedural parts of the story that I found a little a miss. That said I would still read more by this author, as her style kept me reading and trying to see how it would end.
November 11, 2018
Another creeping reality intrusion into the reader’s complacent mindset by Cole. "Inspired by Murder" is precisely that, a fictional take off on the real life serial killer Robert Durst. You will be alternately horrified and disgusted at this character’s lack thereof and his clinical narcissism. You will not be able to comprehend his illogical plans and mid-murder decisions, nor should you want to!, but he will keep you engaged with his stranglehold on your disbelief. A fast paced, less interwoven plot than "The Recipient", designed to show murder from his clinically cold perspective, leaving you with the eerie feeling that you definitely know someone like him…again, another mind gaming gift from the author.
May 29, 2022
I honestly after the first 5 or 6 chapters thought this was a comedy. I think the author might consider a comedy of the Bumbling Serial Killer! I laughed out loud. The main character is a psychiatrist who feels his destiny is to be an author of murder mysteries. He seems like an imbecile who gets giddy over the thought of murdering someone so he can write about it. He goes to the wrong house. His pick lock gets stuck. His pants are down at his ankles because he had to pee while waiting for his victim. Hysterical. But the rest of the book goes on to other murders.
November 16, 2021
First of all this story got off to a very slow start. I almost aborted it. But finally the end was in sight and it got a little better. Once again however, they caught the murderer.
August 28, 2018
3.5 stars
“Inspired by Murder” by Audrey J. Cole is part of the ‘Emerald City Thriller’ series and is a suspense thriller set around a psychiatrist, Dr. Eric Leroy. An aspiring writer, Dr. Leroy decides to conduct in-depth research on his chosen genre…and gets carried away.
This dark story starts slow and a bit ponderous but it builds in momentum with intriguing twists and surprising revelations. The doctor is not a personable guy, but he does provide an interesting slant on the premise of getting tired of one’s job and needing a change. I think the author did a good job of allowing the reader to see the slippery slope of becoming immersed in one’s research but some of the doctor’s actions strained my credulity a bit and his separation from reality was chilling, especially with the full-circle nature of his transgressions. Those who are squeamish should be advised that this is a somewhat violent story…but it is a thriller, after all.
A copy of this story was provided to me for review
“Inspired by Murder” by Audrey J. Cole is part of the ‘Emerald City Thriller’ series and is a suspense thriller set around a psychiatrist, Dr. Eric Leroy. An aspiring writer, Dr. Leroy decides to conduct in-depth research on his chosen genre…and gets carried away.
This dark story starts slow and a bit ponderous but it builds in momentum with intriguing twists and surprising revelations. The doctor is not a personable guy, but he does provide an interesting slant on the premise of getting tired of one’s job and needing a change. I think the author did a good job of allowing the reader to see the slippery slope of becoming immersed in one’s research but some of the doctor’s actions strained my credulity a bit and his separation from reality was chilling, especially with the full-circle nature of his transgressions. Those who are squeamish should be advised that this is a somewhat violent story…but it is a thriller, after all.
A copy of this story was provided to me for review
August 9, 2019
I felt that this story was a bit rushed. It had a good premise and likeable characters, but there wasn’t any type of build up to the plot to make them shine or become remembered. Perhaps there was more character building in the first book, which I haven’t read, but even so, I felt that there could have been a bit more in this one. I also felt like there could have been a bit more angst for one of the main characters upon finding that his girlfriend was cheating on him. He was getting ready to propose and then finds another guy in her house; I would think that would at least be a talkable moment between himself and his work partner or someone else instead of him becoming broody for the short time that it took him to find a new love interest. This could of been a great story but it just fell flat for me.
May 21, 2020
"𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚢"
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑦 𝐽. 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 319
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝑃𝑠𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📕📕📕
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𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝙴𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆.
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𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑫𝒓 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑳𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒚, 𝒂 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒂 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌. 𝑻𝒐 𝒎𝒆, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅.
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𝙌𝙊𝙏𝘿: 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖?
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐵𝑦 𝑀𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑦 𝐽. 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 319
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝑃𝑠𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📕📕📕
•
𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝙴𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆.
•
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑫𝒓 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑳𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒚, 𝒂 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒂 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌. 𝑻𝒐 𝒎𝒆, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅.
•
𝙌𝙊𝙏𝘿: 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖?
August 28, 2018
Inspired by Murder is a great read. It is one of those books that have twists and turns that a reader could not predict or expect. Making for a good page turner. As I was seeing if the author, Audrey J Cole, has other books released, I was excited to find out she does. Which I will be adding to my wish list. This one kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
I give Inspired by Murder four stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I give Inspired by Murder four stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
June 4, 2025
Eric is a psychiatrist but is secretly working on writing a murder mystery that he is sure will be a bestseller. He’s writing it from the killer’s point of view, so really, he’d better commit a murder just to see what it’s like. It’s for the good of his novel, right?
This was a straightforward “here’s the killer and here’s how he does everything, but will the police catch him and bring him to justice” story that I enjoyed. Two cops that are minor characters in “The Recipient” get to be main characters in this one, but other than that, this can very much be a standalone story. This was fast paced throughout and while Eric is a garbage human being, it was fun to root for the cops and hope that justice will come to the bad guy in the end. Parts of it were comedic, whether they meant to be or not. Even though there weren’t any big twists like the last book, I still enjoyed this quick and easy read. I’ve read three books so far during the first three days of June, so Goodreads can really stop shaming me for being “two books behind” in my challenge, please and thank you. Anyway, I recommend this author for a quick and fun read!
This was a straightforward “here’s the killer and here’s how he does everything, but will the police catch him and bring him to justice” story that I enjoyed. Two cops that are minor characters in “The Recipient” get to be main characters in this one, but other than that, this can very much be a standalone story. This was fast paced throughout and while Eric is a garbage human being, it was fun to root for the cops and hope that justice will come to the bad guy in the end. Parts of it were comedic, whether they meant to be or not. Even though there weren’t any big twists like the last book, I still enjoyed this quick and easy read. I’ve read three books so far during the first three days of June, so Goodreads can really stop shaming me for being “two books behind” in my challenge, please and thank you. Anyway, I recommend this author for a quick and fun read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2022
The second book of the Emerald City thrillers will not disappoint. I think this book was even better than the first one. If you're going to go around and kill people, maybe you shouldn't write a book about your crimes. Sweet justice.
I have never laughed as hard as I did reading this book. Literary gold! Stomach pain, tears, and aching cheeks. I will remember that bathroom scene for the rest of my life and I'm sure it'll bring unexpected laughter every time I think about it.
I have never laughed as hard as I did reading this book. Literary gold! Stomach pain, tears, and aching cheeks. I will remember that bathroom scene for the rest of my life and I'm sure it'll bring unexpected laughter every time I think about it.
September 15, 2024
3.5 stars. I wish we could do half stars on here. Good book. I thought the first book in the emerald city thrillers was way better. But this was still a solid book! Looking forward to the next one in this series.
December 18, 2022
Twister
Ahhhh. I figured out most of the story but the author kept throwing me curve balls. Enjoyed the book. Definitely recommend.
Ahhhh. I figured out most of the story but the author kept throwing me curve balls. Enjoyed the book. Definitely recommend.
April 26, 2025
I enjoyed this crime procedural! I’ll read the next one!
July 6, 2025
If you want a book with a lot of different twist and plots this is it.
June 11, 2020
Ok book for a mystery. It felt like it ended too fast...."I've spent too much time writing this book, but I've met my number of words." ha
March 31, 2021
Actually enjoyed this more than the first one in the series ... and continue with the next one!!
in-collection-boxset
August 7, 202008/06/20 currently free in Fractured
boxset
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089X3QXW1
boxsethttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B089X3QXW1
December 17, 2020
I love Author Cole's books and this is easily my favorite one to date. It's about a serial killer and its absolutely fascinating while being compelling.
"According to the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, narcissism is an interpersonal symptom of psychopathy. Indeed, symptoms of narcissism like grandiosity, exploitive behavior and a lack of empathy are common in psychopaths. A psychopath could, and likely would, easily fit the diagnosis for narcissistic personality disorder as well, therefore, psychopaths are narcissists."
The reader gets introduced to Dr. Leroy in one of his settings. He's bored, thinks his patient is worthless, and decides she's just what he needs to help him with his crime novel. He fantasized about killing her, and quickly decides that's exactly what he's going to do. Its clear early on that Dr. Leroy is a narcissist. But is he a psychopath too? The insight the reader gets into his mind really grounds the story in a scary reality: The doctor tasked with diagnosing and treating people with mental health issues has a serial killer hobby. A quote from the book:
"His breakfast arrived and he set down the paper, still blown away that he had killed a bestselling author without even knowing it. He supposed it was one way to get rid of some competition. The scandal of Martin’s death would undoubtedly boost his book sales for the short term, but Eric hoped people would’ve forgotten about him by the time his own book was released."
Dr. Leroy thinks he is so smart, yet makes easy mistakes. He also has times where he conveniently forgets some of his actions, often making up what he thinks should have happened. Again, getting this insight is fascinating. Its Author Cole's steady hand that help you feel sorry for this man who has distorted reality to his own favor.
"If he was trying to make him feel guilty about killing the drummer, he was wasting his breath. Eric had heard the TV going in his neighbor's apartment during the day and all throughout the weekends. He shuddered at the thought. What kind of lowlife watched TV during the day? His neighbor, apparently."
The story zips along fast and furiously, written with style and true substance. Author Cole has done her homework creating this memorable killer who has moments of what appears to be empathy. But is it truly? Or is it manufactured feelings of remorse is brain thinks he should have? There are holes in his excuses and validations, reminding you that he's a very sick individual.
Author Cole has written a fast paced ode to police work and its edited and paced like she emerged herself in the culture. She continues to be a force in police procedurals with no use for cliches.
"According to the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, narcissism is an interpersonal symptom of psychopathy. Indeed, symptoms of narcissism like grandiosity, exploitive behavior and a lack of empathy are common in psychopaths. A psychopath could, and likely would, easily fit the diagnosis for narcissistic personality disorder as well, therefore, psychopaths are narcissists."
The reader gets introduced to Dr. Leroy in one of his settings. He's bored, thinks his patient is worthless, and decides she's just what he needs to help him with his crime novel. He fantasized about killing her, and quickly decides that's exactly what he's going to do. Its clear early on that Dr. Leroy is a narcissist. But is he a psychopath too? The insight the reader gets into his mind really grounds the story in a scary reality: The doctor tasked with diagnosing and treating people with mental health issues has a serial killer hobby. A quote from the book:
"His breakfast arrived and he set down the paper, still blown away that he had killed a bestselling author without even knowing it. He supposed it was one way to get rid of some competition. The scandal of Martin’s death would undoubtedly boost his book sales for the short term, but Eric hoped people would’ve forgotten about him by the time his own book was released."
Dr. Leroy thinks he is so smart, yet makes easy mistakes. He also has times where he conveniently forgets some of his actions, often making up what he thinks should have happened. Again, getting this insight is fascinating. Its Author Cole's steady hand that help you feel sorry for this man who has distorted reality to his own favor.
"If he was trying to make him feel guilty about killing the drummer, he was wasting his breath. Eric had heard the TV going in his neighbor's apartment during the day and all throughout the weekends. He shuddered at the thought. What kind of lowlife watched TV during the day? His neighbor, apparently."
The story zips along fast and furiously, written with style and true substance. Author Cole has done her homework creating this memorable killer who has moments of what appears to be empathy. But is it truly? Or is it manufactured feelings of remorse is brain thinks he should have? There are holes in his excuses and validations, reminding you that he's a very sick individual.
Author Cole has written a fast paced ode to police work and its edited and paced like she emerged herself in the culture. She continues to be a force in police procedurals with no use for cliches.
June 28, 2020
Eric was a licensed psychiatrist who was feeling unfulfilled lately. “He was bored with psychiatry. What he cared about was murder.” He wanted to be a famous writer and what he couldn’t stand was the constant b#@ching of his patients anymore. One day, a patient brought up a murder that he could use in his book. He wanted to write a bestseller so bad that he would kill for it. Wait, that was an idea.
His plan to kill the patient was organized and planned out to the T. It was very slow and agonizing. Just kill the b#@ch already! I do agree about having some respect for those murderers that get away with it. This Eric was not even a good killer. Man, you suck!
His plan to kill the patient was organized and planned out to the T. It was very slow and agonizing. Just kill the b#@ch already! I do agree about having some respect for those murderers that get away with it. This Eric was not even a good killer. Man, you suck!
December 25, 2020
I did enjoy this book but I am a little confused about the plotline he wanted to do the first murder the book so he had a reference point for the novel he's writing but we find out later in the book he had killed before. So why did he need to experience a murder again for the benefits of his novel. Otherwise a very good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2020
This is my second thriller by Audrey. Was interesting to see how a murdered thinks. While trying to become a published author Eric he wants to write what he knows of a murderer, can one get away with it.
July 2, 2023
Title: Inspired by Murder
Series: Emerald City #2
Author: Audrey J. Cole
Narrators: Patrick Zeller
Publisher: Findaway Voices
Genre: Thriller
Pub was Date: August 14, 2018
My Rating: 2.5 rounded up - as I love this author
Pages: 350
This is my sixth Audrey J. Cole. I have enjoyed all - she does not disappoint!
I requested this story as I recently read The Recipient which was Book #1 in The Emerald City series- the next adventure!
However I started off disappointed that it did not include any of the characters from the other story.
In this story Dr. Eric Leroy is a psychiatrist who is tired of his rich clients complaining. He really wants to write crime thrillers but needs to do research so decides to commit a murder (hmm I doubted my choice in selecting this book as it already has me rolling my eyes).
He finds a victim but the first attempt
• He goes to the wrong house on his first attempt
• Next his pick lock gets stuck.
• Then while waiting for his victim, he has to use the bathroom; she walks in while he has his pants are down at his ankles.
- (Yikes I am once again rolling my eyes and wondering if this is worth my time?)
One reader said the name of this story should be “The Bumbling Serial Killer”
Detective Blake Stephenson and Detective Kyle Adams, are assigned the case and question Dr. Leroy regarding the death of his secretary. Eric is shocked as he was expecting to be questioned regarding Patricia’s death.
The Detectives are sure they know whodunit but don’t have any evidence.
I hung in there but Dr. Leroy was such a jerk that I never got to the point of enjoying this story.
I do Love this author! Her newer novels are so much better!
Yes! I am looking forward to read another of her stories!
Series: Emerald City #2
Author: Audrey J. Cole
Narrators: Patrick Zeller
Publisher: Findaway Voices
Genre: Thriller
Pub was Date: August 14, 2018
My Rating: 2.5 rounded up - as I love this author
Pages: 350
This is my sixth Audrey J. Cole. I have enjoyed all - she does not disappoint!
I requested this story as I recently read The Recipient which was Book #1 in The Emerald City series- the next adventure!
However I started off disappointed that it did not include any of the characters from the other story.
In this story Dr. Eric Leroy is a psychiatrist who is tired of his rich clients complaining. He really wants to write crime thrillers but needs to do research so decides to commit a murder (hmm I doubted my choice in selecting this book as it already has me rolling my eyes).
He finds a victim but the first attempt
• He goes to the wrong house on his first attempt
• Next his pick lock gets stuck.
• Then while waiting for his victim, he has to use the bathroom; she walks in while he has his pants are down at his ankles.
- (Yikes I am once again rolling my eyes and wondering if this is worth my time?)
One reader said the name of this story should be “The Bumbling Serial Killer”
Detective Blake Stephenson and Detective Kyle Adams, are assigned the case and question Dr. Leroy regarding the death of his secretary. Eric is shocked as he was expecting to be questioned regarding Patricia’s death.
The Detectives are sure they know whodunit but don’t have any evidence.
I hung in there but Dr. Leroy was such a jerk that I never got to the point of enjoying this story.
I do Love this author! Her newer novels are so much better!
Yes! I am looking forward to read another of her stories!
November 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I think I liked it so much because I couldn't believe the killer could get away with what he did and I had to keep listening to find out how they eventually catch him. The story is told from two perspectives the killer and the detective trying to catch him, which is a clever way of building up the suspense because you hear all the mistakes the killer makes or how he thinks he got away with it and then you hear the detectives side, as they work it out. There is a few mysteries that you don't know the answer to until the end, keeping the story interesting. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Lost for inspiration for the big story that will make him famous as an author, psychiatrist Dr Eric Leroy hits on a new plan to help him with his writers block. Kill his most annoying patient and frame her poor husband for the murder because let's face it he will be doing him a favour. Things for the doctor don't go to plan and he has to improvise but believing he has got away clean he starts to write only to find two detectives at his door questioning him about the dead body of someone else. Detective Blake Stephenson knows the doctor's reaction to the news is wrong and he and his partner dig deeper but as the body count starts to rise the only common ground between all the bodies is the doctor. They just need to find some evidence to prove them right before the next body drops.
I liked the narrator and even the Australian accent for the doctor was good. I would listen to this narrator again and defiantly if he is reading a book in this series.
Lost for inspiration for the big story that will make him famous as an author, psychiatrist Dr Eric Leroy hits on a new plan to help him with his writers block. Kill his most annoying patient and frame her poor husband for the murder because let's face it he will be doing him a favour. Things for the doctor don't go to plan and he has to improvise but believing he has got away clean he starts to write only to find two detectives at his door questioning him about the dead body of someone else. Detective Blake Stephenson knows the doctor's reaction to the news is wrong and he and his partner dig deeper but as the body count starts to rise the only common ground between all the bodies is the doctor. They just need to find some evidence to prove them right before the next body drops.
I liked the narrator and even the Australian accent for the doctor was good. I would listen to this narrator again and defiantly if he is reading a book in this series.
September 29, 2018
Inspired by Murder is a twisted tale about a writer who decides that the best way to write about murder is to commit murder. Written in the third person, this book follows the perspectives of Detective Stephenson and Dr. Eric Leroy. Detective Stephenson is a character from the previous book, The Recipient. He is a homicide detective determined to solve his cases. Eric is a psychiatrist who aspires to become a best-selling author. We quickly learn that Eric is actually more messed up than the patients he sees. He is one of those characters that you love to hate. He is cocky and thinks he is smarter than everyone else, when in reality he makes some dumb mistakes along the way. Unfortunately he is smart enough to not leave behind enough evidence for the detectives to arrest him, even though they know it’s him from the beginning.
Inspired by Murder is not a typical detective murder mystery, as we know up front who the primary criminal is. Instead, we are put into the twisted mind of a killer, wondering what lengths he will go to next to not get caught. There is plenty of action, and even some surprises along the way.
The characters are complex and descriptions are vivid. The book was a page turner for sure and hard to put down. While it is the 2nd book in the series, it can easily be a standalone book.
I received a free review copy of this book, but my honest review was completely voluntary.
Inspired by Murder is not a typical detective murder mystery, as we know up front who the primary criminal is. Instead, we are put into the twisted mind of a killer, wondering what lengths he will go to next to not get caught. There is plenty of action, and even some surprises along the way.
The characters are complex and descriptions are vivid. The book was a page turner for sure and hard to put down. While it is the 2nd book in the series, it can easily be a standalone book.
I received a free review copy of this book, but my honest review was completely voluntary.
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