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Medium with a Heart #1

Premedicated Murder

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Check out the first book in the Medium with a Heart Series Paranormal Mystery. Joanna thought being a medium was fun, until it became real.

Following her husband's death, Joanna tries regaining her long-blocked psychic powers. Fake it until you make it becomes her motto.

Though she may not be the most honest medium, she tries to bring her clients peace and closure during their grief. With the help of her two amazing assistants and her charismatic personality, her fame grows allowing her to pay off the debt from her husband’s death.

It's her fame that leads to her being contacted by a local pharmaceutical executive, Jeremy Landon. He begs her to help him find a killer.

Why should she help him? She’s a medium, not a homicide detective. What skills does she have?

The only skill that matters – she can see him.

After her initial surprise to have her powers back wears on, she digs into the investigation, Joanna finds herself caught up in this bizarre request endangering her life, but with the help of her assistants and a sexy detective, she may pull this off.

226 pages, ebook

Published April 10, 2020

421 people are currently reading
469 people want to read

About the author

Erica J. Whelton

16 books21 followers
Erica lives in Houston, Tx with her husband, three kids, and three grandsons. Plus, her dogs, cat, and tortoises. She spent time in the U.S. Navy which was a turning point in her life from awkward teen to young woman. As a child she wanted to be a teacher or a scientist but has always had a love of books. Many of her own experiences with the paranormal helped shape her first book; Premedicated Murder.

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5 stars
371 (54%)
4 stars
197 (28%)
3 stars
81 (11%)
2 stars
29 (4%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
78 reviews
March 14, 2024
Great job

This author did a great job with this first installment of the series. Could use a little editing, but all in all very entertaining.
Profile Image for Jodi Olson.
26 reviews
May 25, 2020
I purchased the book to help a co-worker and admit to being wary of a first time author but was so pleasantly surprised with an engaging plot and truly likable characters. I am looking forward to more stories to not only see character development but also watch a new author grow.
56 reviews
February 13, 2024
Kept me guessing!

Loved it! Not my usual choice. Cleverly written with believable characters. Unusual ending...no spoilers! Kept me guessing right to the end. Looking forward to the next. Thank you Erica.
Profile Image for Patricia.
1,799 reviews46 followers
October 20, 2021
When Joanna 's husband died he left a big pile of debt that Joanna had to get out of . So she decides to become a medium, she well she blocked her pyschic powers when she was a child all she has to do is to bring it back . But until then she will do her research and depend on her two friends to help her out. Until the day that Jeremy Landon comes to her to help her solve a murder well actually his murder. So with the help of her friends and a really cute police detective . Will she be able to solve the murder before she becomes a victim as well . I mean she is the only one that can see him .
The characters in this book are well rounded and complex . Joanna is a single woman actually a widow trying to get out from under her husbands debt . She is strong and feisty but there is also a little bit of sadness to her coming from how she was raised . She really goes through a lot through out this story. Detective Clinton not real sure about him. I feel that he would really grow as a hero but at first he kind of fell a little flat . He is a sweet guy that you can easily fall for and through out the story we get to see him save Joanna a few times . I feel there is going to be a romance brewing between the two of them . They really do click and want to see where the author takes them .
This is the first book I have read from this author and I must say I liked it . The author takes us on a joy ride . The characters can only get better with each book . I read this book in an evening and i did truly enjoy it . There were moments when i felt that the author kind of got lost in the story telling . I just felt that it kind of dragged on a little bit and yes there were a few grammar errors that I found through out the book. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book and can't wait to read book two in the series . So if you enjoy a mystery with some romance mixed check it out .
Profile Image for **Elle**Bee**Double U**.
2,207 reviews24 followers
October 25, 2021
When it comes to talking with the dead Joanna Webber may not be the most honest medium, but she does feel like she brings her clients some semblance of peace during their mourning period. But her "powers" weren't always faked. At one point in her life Joanna did really see and talk to the dead, but blocked her psychic powers to keep the peace between her and her mother. After her husband died with one of his many girlfriends she tried everything she could to regain her abilities to confront him and ask him how could he?
Instead of being able to confront Ted, the dead husband, she gets Jeremy Landon. A pharmaceutical executive who's death was ruled as an accident but he's convince was murder. Although he's her first spirit she's seeing in the last 18 years(?) and she's most definitely not a detective, she decides to help if only to give Jeremy's widow answers and peace. After all, Jeremy is exactly like the kind of man her ex was...a cheating scumbag. With so many people with motive to kill Jeremy Joanna's job is not easy. Especially when her asking all the questions she has been now puts her in danger.

This is a first for me from this author. I really actually liked it! There were a few times when I was sure I knew who killed Jeremy, but then I would doubt myself and think "well maybe..." If I'm being honest I did have the killer in my mind, but I did keep going back and forth on figuring it out! I absolutely loved how sweet Joanna is to everyone, even when someone doubts what she does and isn't so nice about their brushoff.
954 reviews14 followers
October 21, 2021
Joanna (a Medium with a heart) is a fun, complex character. Her celebrity side is outgoing and vivacious. Her every day persona is more unassuming as she deals with her dead husband's betrayal. To dig herself out of the debt her husband left she "fakes" her way as a medium counting on her friends Tessa and Micah to provide information on he audience. Their personalities and friendship drew me into the story from page one and I loved the way both of these unfolded throughout the the book. The mystery itself is interesting and unique as Joanna is approached by a spirit, Jeremey, who is convinced he was murdered. After her initial surprise to have her powers back and Jeremey's personal life hitting too close to home Joanna soon finds herself caught up in this bizarre request endangering her life. Some parts of the story seemed a little far fetched and dragged out but all in all a well written one. The conclusion surprised me and I look forward to reading the next one. A great beginning to a new mystery series that I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Breen.
1,554 reviews
November 5, 2021
"Wow! It's insane how quickly I finished this book! I'm gonna be plain honest and confess that the cover isn't attractive at all. I'm sorry but at least to me it gave a wrong perception of the story. Don't let the cover foul you because the plot is brilliant. Second truth, this wasn't the first time I read a plot like this thought the other books were also steamy and romantic. This book was like a combination of Ghost Whisperer and iZombie lol. It was good! Once Joanna 'opened' herself again and started being a medium again this become rather interesting when Jeremy came for help. The whole investigation part with the secrets and mystery was really intriguing and had me guess who might the killer be. There wasn't romance like romance romance and of course no ste*m in this book thoguh I felt a connection between certain detective and her so I'm hoping the author will explore more depth this connection that would be perfect for the story. If you like mysterious stories this one is definitely for you."
Profile Image for Lise.
1,066 reviews
May 10, 2023
It's a rare medium who truly can see spirits and Joanna Webber's "Medium With A Heart" shows utilise technology rather than conversations with those who have moved to the great beyond. However, there was a time in Joanna's life when she could indeed talk to the dead which coupled with Joanna's fame, brings the ghost of Jeremy Landon into her life. Jeremy claims he was murdered though his case has been resolved as an accident. Jeremy was no angel and there are many suspects to clear; can Joanna solve the case?

This was a mystery that I grabbed as a stop-gap measure when I needed a quick read to fill in a chunk of spare time. I'm so glad I didn't wait any longer because I adored everything about this read. The characters were fun and sympathetic, the plot was intriguing, and the final denouement was a surprise. My copy did have a couple of errors and a sentence that trailed off into the ether, but it was easy to overlook these minor flaws for such an enjoyable read.

Looking forward to more in this series. A must for paranormal cosy fans.
1,470 reviews18 followers
May 11, 2025
This is the first book in the Medium with Heart Paranormal by Erica J. Whelton. Joanna is known as the Medium with a Heart because she brings peace and closure to her clients during their grieving period. Joanna regains her psychic abilities after her husband's death. Initially, she uses her powers to bring peace to grieving clients, but her fame leads her to help solve a murder from a pharmaceutical executive. Joanna agrees to help in the investigation which tests her abilities and puts her life at risk. With the help of her assistants and detective Hartley, she navigates the twists and turns of this paranormal mystery. At first she struggles with regaining her powers, which had been blocked for years. However, as the murder investigation unfolds, her abilities become more pronounced and critical to solving the case. This journey adds depth to her character and raises questions about the nature of her gift and its impact on her life. I really enjoyed this fascinating paranormal mystery thriller novel.
Profile Image for SylviaV.
672 reviews9 followers
January 5, 2023
Premedicated Murder by Erica J Whelton.

The byline for this book is "A Psychic Mystery (A Medium with a Heart Paranormal Mystery Series)" and this is book 1 of a 5-book series as at the time of writing this review in January 2023, with the main character Joanna Webber a 29-year-old woman whose husband died while with his mistress and left her with a lot of debt. To get herself out of her financial difficulties she creates a business out of being a medium and has faked her way to great success. At the start of this book her medium powers are coming back after being dormant for years and she is being manipulated by Jeremy to find out who murdered him. There is a great cast of supporting characters, the story is well crafted and entertaining. I was engaged and will purchase book 2 to continue reading about what is next for our medium. There is a hint of a romance with a skeptical detective. There are not a lot of reviews and ratings on Goodreads or Amazon but if this is a genre you like to read then try a sample on amazon.com. If you subscribe to the author's website you will receive a free novella called Unsolved Murder which is the back story of Joanna Webber when she was a 10-year-old girl and why her medium powers have been dormant since then. 4 stars.
Profile Image for Monica.
2,079 reviews
October 31, 2021
Well this was fun to read. Joanna used to have powers years ago until she blocked them. After her husband's death and everything following that she's now a fake Medium. That is until she sees Jeremy who begs for help with who killed him. She might be in over her head when things get dangerous for her. With the help of her 2 assistants and a cute Detective she might be able to pull this off.... maybe.

I enjoyed the story. Pace was kinda slow sometimes. Towards the end is where it went weird for me. Her character is smart but she idiotically opens the door...face palm. Oh Joanna. I also felt that scenario with the killer is too fast and unrealistic. Timeline was too fast for something like that. I can't say what because it will spoil it. I still liked the book though.
Profile Image for M.S..
Author 6 books11 followers
October 20, 2023
Interesting premise.

Having just written a novel with a similar premise myself, I was drawn to this one out of curiosity. It's a constant worry among authors that your story has already been written, but thankfully the two bear no comparison.
This was a decent plot, told in a straightforward way. The different viewpoints told by Clint and Joanna, I felt could have been better had they had their own separate chapters instead of being slotted in here and there. I also found it hard to believe that a woman in the advanced stage of pregnancy was able to force a none-pregnant woman into the passenger seat of her car and tie her up outside her own home. But hey, that's fiction for you.
8 reviews
March 3, 2024
Good story

This is an interesting and entertaining story. It would have been helpful if the author indicated which character was speaking in the dialogues. Also wit saying through put the book the roles of Joanna assistants were. She kept repeating. I also wondered why Joanna didn't just call Jeremy when she needed him like she did the first time. Hmmmm. Good book.
417 reviews
September 1, 2024
Joanna is a medium faking it at first then really seeing spirits. Jeremy,a Ghost, convinced her to try to solve his murder. Dealing with 2 women who are both pregnant with his child, mafia type characters, a trying mother and even a super cute cop make the journey to solve the crime so much fun. The ending is a true surprise!
Profile Image for April Willis.
282 reviews15 followers
September 17, 2024
Fantastic

This marvelous mix of mystery and mysticism is a perfect read. I'm blown away at the storyline and where it takes us! Did NOT expect the ending, but made perfect sense. I read this book after I read the prequel, which set my mouth to accept and enjoy all the flavors brought forth in this book. Highly Recommended.
345 reviews4 followers
December 26, 2025
The book is an enjoyable read. When Joanna, a medium is contacted by a spirit who claims that he was murdered and wants Joanna to investigate his murder, Joanna’s life takes a completely different turn.

The book is enjoyable for the most part though a little absurd at times. I did not care for the ending, it was too convenient.
Profile Image for Lori Hammons.
2,864 reviews28 followers
November 5, 2021
I really enjoyed Jo's story. I loved getting to know the characters, and watching Jo's ability re-emerging. The reveal of the perp caught me off guard. This is a well told mystery that had my rapt attention.
1 review
January 8, 2023
Really fun read

Mystery, romance & paranormal activity all in one story. It was a fairly quick read that didn't expose the murderer until the end. Not an edge of your seat nail biter but still a fun little story.
1,146 reviews7 followers
February 28, 2023
Mystery Lite

A medium becomes involved in a murder case.

If you like cozy mysteries you will enjoy this book. It is light, clean and completely unscary. There is alot of talk, medium pace, and a few too many characters. A frothy delight.
Profile Image for Aviar Savijon.
1,220 reviews19 followers
March 8, 2023
Premeditated Murder

After reading this book I feel u worthy composing a text message let anything like a book myself. Truly full enjoyment to the end as the mystery unwinds on the pages. I loved it and in awe of Erica J. Whelton's writing style.
1,061 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2023
psychic mystery

A cute story, hard to believe Jo is so forgiving. Hard to believe she doesn’t ask the ghosts for any information. All the characters neglect to ask the important questions but it still was a light enjoyable read
419 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2023
bland mystery

The story was okay but far too drawn out. Author needs some serious research on how drug processes work, coming to market with a new drug in a year is not a thing, and FDA does not do research, it reviews. Author has potential. Ending was far too saccharine filled
13 reviews
January 29, 2024
This is my first paranormal mystery

This was a good book and a quick read. I would like to read more like this.
I usually read murder books , but this was definitely
a good read. Ill have to read more of this type.
Profile Image for Julie Stevenson.
182 reviews
July 23, 2024
I loved this book! It was a quick read and with some twists and turns of mystery, it kept you wondering what was next and who the killer really was. The ending was truly sweet but with a surprise that has me excited to read the next book!!
Profile Image for Linda Rawlins.
Author 17 books173 followers
August 10, 2024
Psychic Amateur Detective

Nice little start to Cozy mystery series about a psychic who helps to solve a murder initially just to get rid of the ghost that’s haunting her however, the story evolves and complications arise as well as more murders. Good little debut novel.
25 reviews
September 13, 2024
Pretty good

I'm not much into paranormal but this is a book of balancing out good vs. Evil. Not necessarily having to rely on ghosts for a good story, but they help with a mystery...
Profile Image for Lesley Hewitt.
832 reviews7 followers
September 13, 2024
Really good

Jo is a fake medium, she has staff that look up people on the internet then she pretends to give the audience at her show readings from their dead loved ones. That is until she sees Jeremy who is dead and wants her help. I enjoyed this book.
1,001 reviews9 followers
Read
November 17, 2024
Exciting and spooky

This high quality cozy mystery grabbed my attention right away. The fake medium seeing a ghost started off the spooky excitement into a rollercoaster of well written storytelling.
Profile Image for Becky Klauer.
Author 12 books7 followers
March 28, 2025
I loved this book!

Premedicated Murder was so much fun. Cute, tense, surprising, sweet, funny...it had all of the suspense and all of the feels. This was a great read and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Samantha Glass.
1,131 reviews6 followers
July 15, 2025
Is it a great book? No. Is it decent to pass the time with? Mostly. Some of the bits and pieces don’t seem to flow together, and the e-book version I had had spacing oddities and some typos that were distracting. MC was overall enjoyable, as were her close friend/family group.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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