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Earth Power

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EARTH POWER introduces an extraordinary team of paranormal investigators. Led by Raphael Drake and Sam Watkins, partners in the London-based Aquarius Agency, the team includes Tarot reader Gemini Quinn, young newspaper reporter Denny Finch, and a three-hundred pound English Mastiff named Doctor Dee.

When insurance salesman Harry Gill dies in a freak accident on a route the newspapers call 'The Road to Hell', no one can explain the cause. But Harry's death is only the latest in a string of unexplained events in the North of England. Crops have been destroyed, cattle are stampeded, and a family is terrorised by a violent poltergeist.

The situation calls for the unique sensory powers of Raphael Drake, and the investigative abilities of his partner, ex-Metropolitan Police detective Sam Watkins.

With bizarre incidents becoming more frequent and increasingly dangerous, the Aquarius team travel north to investigate. Who, or what, is causing escalating levels of death and mayhem in one small part of rural Derbyshire? What is the purpose of the massive concentration of destructive energy focussed on the market town of Castlebridge? And how real is the threat to their own lives suggested by a series of ominous warnings?

Raphael, Sam and their team race to find the answers in time to avert an impending disaster. But mysterious forces are already gathering, determined to stop them.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2013

14 people want to read

About the author

Adam J. Black

1 book12 followers
Adam J. Black is an award-winning British author, creator of the Aquarius Investigations series.

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Author 10 books65 followers
September 1, 2013
Ignore the slightly hippy-esque title and you'll discover this first Aquarius Investigations novel is a pacey, involving supernatural thriller with loads of style. With its quirky sense of humour, great ear for dialogue and occasional shiver-inducing scenes, it's the kind of book you can imagine being turned into a moody BBC drama.

I'm a huge fan of paranormal stories that draw on real-life phenomena, and Adam J. Black tackles that brilliantly in Earth Power. Set in and around Sheffield, he takes advantage of the rich history and spooky locations to tell a tale that you believe could really happen. Black also has a knack for creating flawed and interesting characters, with Sam Watkins a particular highlight. I was disappointed with the lack of attention to certain characters - such as Gemini, who merely drifts in and out as the plot demands - but as this is the first book in the series I imagine those characters will come more to the fore in later books.

Earth Power was a quick, involving read that felt like a cross between Poltergeist and The Wicker Man. Though some of the elements didn't come together as well as I'd have liked towards the end, that didn't stop my enjoyment of a smart, knowing thriller that isn't afraid to try new things. Can't wait for book two.

(I was given a free copy of Earth Power in return for an honest review.)
Profile Image for Debbie.
79 reviews
December 4, 2013
Earth Power by Adam J Black
I received this book in exchange for an honest review by the Author and the “Lovers of Paranormal” Group on Goodreads.com
The synopsis to this book sounded brilliant and when I started reading it I had high expectations, but I am sad to say I was quickly disappointed. The concept for this book is fantastic and has so much potential, but the book itself is a tad confusing and very disconnected. The main plot is simple enough, but there are so many other elements thrown into the mix, that the book becomes very confusing and a difficult read. Nothing in this book flows cohesively. I battled to finish this book, only to find that the climax to the story was more of a sad fizzle. The writing style flows smoothly, and the settings are wonderfully described (especially the outdoor settings and the death scenes). But the book is slow, and the characters are poorly described and just don’t seem to flourish as the book progresses, but they are likeable, especially Doctor Dee who I fell in love with. All up the story has potential, but it just drowned a slow and painful death in too many words and unnecessary detail. I really wanted to like this book, and it could be vastly improved by editing out all the unnecessary elements as the concept of the book is promising, and the author has talent but just seems to have tried too hard to squeeze every thought and idea into one book.
Profile Image for Maria Dodd.
488 reviews15 followers
December 22, 2013
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, Lovers of Paranormal.

If I'm totally honest I don't know how I feel about this book. There were times when I couldn't put it down and other times when I felt I just had to get through it and hope for better in the next page or so.

I liked the idea of the story and the basic structure was sound. The paranormal investigation agency was an intriguing idea but I would have liked more background into how they set it up and why. I think that was my main problem with the book - I was left with too many questions. Raphael and his background and 'training' was, to me, a huge area left blank. For me a good story is all in the details. There were quite a few typos and printing errors but, sadly, this is becoming very common in the books that I read.

Quite a good read if you don't feel the need for those pesky details and on the whole I did enjoy it.
Profile Image for Abigail.
17 reviews21 followers
December 30, 2013
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Lovers of Paranormal. Though I really liked the concept that this book revolved around, I ended up having a hard time getting into it. I felt as if, that I was thrown into the deep end of the pool at times. Or so to speak. I think the author could have explained a back story a bit more than he did. I wanted to enjoy the book more than I did, and I'm really sorry that I didn't so much.
Profile Image for Yzabel Ginsberg.
Author 3 books112 followers
August 29, 2013
(Book provided by the author through ReadIt & Reap 177 in the Shut Up & Read group, in exchange for an honest review.)

This book is based on interesting premises, using the theme of natural energies being gathered for a purpose, as well as people (and/or their deaths) playing a role in it. I liked the diversity of characters, each of them having their own significant traits, including strengths and witnesses and even, for some, potential for complications later on, especially in trems of relationships. I also liked how the author depicted the small town and the countryside where the investigation takes place; it had all the charm of what I imagine to be a typical English town, and even though some might say those things are cliché, they still allowed me to picture the setting very easily. The same kind of detailed description was given to death scenes, making them pretty vivid (as paradoxical as this choice of words may seem!) and pulling me in.

The story itself, alas, proved hard to read in the long run, probably because its pacing felt rather uneven, with disjointed scenes and point-of-view jumping. While Sam and Raphael found their right place as far as roles were concerned, they also seemed to overshadow the other characters in terms of development, which in turn made me feel like said other characters weren't really needed. I think what bothered me the most, in fact, was how in the end, lots of things were left unexplained, and not only the ones that were clearly kept in store for a next novel (Sam's family, for instance): I would've wanted to read more about the paranormal aspects. Another weird thing was how everything unfolded, leaving the main characters confused as to what happened, and I as a reader wondering what was actually the point of having them investigate at all if it was to have the whole mess solved by a third party.

It's the kind of book I usually tend to enjoy, and I wished I had liked this story more. I really do. But I prefer to be honest here, even though there were interesting elements in "Earth Power", and I think those can be appreciated no matter what.
Profile Image for Karen Siddall.
Author 1 book115 followers
August 26, 2013
Author Adam J. Black introduces us to a new and different paranormal investigative team or “Anomaly Investigative Consultants” in Earth Power, the first book of a new series called the Aquarius Investigations. The Aquarius Agency, comprised of Sam Watkins, fresh from a bitter divorce; his partner – Raphael Drake, trained to be sensitive to the unseen powers around them; Raphael’s 300 pound English Mastiff – Doctor Dee; tarot-reading psychic, Gemini Quinn; and efficient office manager, Magda, heads to the Peak District to investigate a series of deadly car accidents along a newly opened stretch of highway and bridge near the town of Sheffield purportedly caused by a mysteriously elusive gray monk (or his ghost!)

The story revolves around their investigation into the cause of the accidents, subsequent deaths, the unfolding back stories of the main characters, and other weirdness going on in the nearby area.

Although a great story with lots of action, mystery, and spooky goings-on, few issues are resolved to satisfaction even though the means to do so appear to be at hand. (Seven members of a Wiccan group that appear on the scene to save the day are allowed to leave without fully explaining their involvement and what the special consultants had actually stirred up.)

Still, the storylines are intriguing, the characters likeable, and with so much mystery left unsolved, I look forward to the next installment in the series.
Profile Image for Michele.
47 reviews
September 9, 2013
First, thank you Mr. Black for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It's about a group of paranormal investigators and one of their assignments to find out what is going on around a new highway pass in the countryside. I loved the inclusion of the dog and that he actually had a role in the book (and wasn't just there to be there). The abilities of each character and how they played off of each other made this am interesting book.

I must admit, it seemed a bit choppy in places. Sometime it was difficult to figure out why something was being done or said when it seemed to have no significance to the story. Even now (after completing this book), I'm wondering why certain things were included.

Although I thought this book was interesting in itself as a stand alone, I am hoping this is a part 1 of 2 because there were many things left unanswered from the book. What significance does Sam's ex-wife have to do with anything? How are the powers followed? Who is creating these powers or where are they coming from? What happens with the feelings Denny has for Raph in the book? Where does this leave Gem?

So, overall, good book, a little choppy, but interesting plot, and hoping there's a book 2 to wrap up some loose ends! Thanks again for allowing me to review this book!

Profile Image for Bookish Satty.
958 reviews32 followers
August 18, 2013
I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thank Adam J. Black, author of Earth Power for giving me this opportunity of reviewing the book.

To be honest I would like to confess that I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. The blurb really interested me and I started the book with great expectations but I'm sorry to say that the book failed to satisfy my expectations.

It was really slow-paced and the characters were not at all flourished and well described rather they were sketchy and I couldn't connect myself to the book and it's plot.

The reading didn't went smooth at all rather I had to try hard to finish it in order to submit my review. In the middle of the story the author lost me and my interest and then I just had to force myself to continue which didn't went well at all.

The story was confusing at times and the writing style was just okay but wasn't enriched.

I'm really sorry to give a negative review but I'm just being honest about how I felt about the book but all you guys can go for it and give it a shot, reviews varies on the basis of reviewers, so don't judge the book without reading it for yourself. All the very best and enjoy the reading.
Profile Image for Lauren.
20 reviews5 followers
August 27, 2013
Earth Power follows a team of semi-paranormal investigators who are called upon to look into strange happenings in a North England town, including a suspiciously high number of deaths along a particular newly-constructed stretch of road.

This was a difficult book for me to read because I did not find the book particularly compelling. Not the plot, not the characters, not the writing. Nothing.

I found the plot to be rather convoluted. The main plot seems straightforward enough, but a lot of arbitrary elements were thrown into play that were never organized or connected in a satisfactory manner.

The characters were all rather broad archetypes. I didn’t find any of them to be compelling or unique, and actually thought most of them were rather annoying. I was especially displeased with the female characters. Something about them always felt off.

The writing was what really cemented the book as a difficult read. Black would often begin the action of a scene before setting the scene, making it hard to follow what was going on. Scenes, dialogue, and action never ended up flowing cohesively.

I feel like there’s a story here that could be good with a lot more work.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Desislava Pavlova.
43 reviews43 followers
September 24, 2014
I was given the book free of charge in exchange of an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal). The following review contains spoilers.


Rating 7 of 10

I had some really good time reading that book. It's fast paced and intriguing. My favorite for sure was Doctor Dee. He believed he can beat the monster so he did. Hilarious!
Sam and Raphael make a good team. I like the fact that they are so different but respect and understand each other. They work well together.
I liked Gemini. She is real sweetheart and I would have loved to see more of her. Why she is putting up with Raphael thought, is beyond me. Still she can stood her ground when needed and I really hope we see her in next installments.
Denny is also a nice character. Not sure what her role will be in the future thought. I am curious how she will develop.
The plot was very interesting to me and I especially enjoyed the humor here and there. A bit more background on the characters and some more development would have been nice thought. How did Raphael became so sensitive for example? Training? What, when, where... And his back story with Riley is left absolute mystery too. Altogether I would really love to see what happens next. My curiosity about what Riley's game is, has no end.
22 reviews
September 7, 2013
3.5 stars (I wish goodreads allowed 1/2 stars). This was a little different than your typical paranormal PI story, but I enjoyed it. In most of these stories, the protagonist (Harry Dresden, Harper Blaine, John Taylor, etc) has special powers and the investigating is secondary to that. In Earth Power, the Aquarius Investigations team are investigators first and foremost, and there may or may not be some ties to the paranormal. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, although I wished there had been some more background on them. I would have liked to see more about how they arrived at their current stages. I particularly would have liked to see some more about Gemini's past (of which there is really nothing) and some more about Raphael and Sam before they joined up. That said, I enjoyed the reveal near the end, as well as the fact that this was something new and different. Looking forward to reading the next adventure of Aquarius Investifgations.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kel.
174 reviews7 followers
October 1, 2013
I was provided a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Earth Power by Adam J. Black : Raphael Drake and Sam Watkins are recruited to assist in a delicate matter affecting a small town and its residents. These two unlikely heroes started the London-based Aquarius Agency, with the help of Gemini, a Tarot reader, these three head out to an area that has seen many auto accidents on “the road to hell”, a poltergeist, the death of crops, and cattle stampedes. You follow along this bumpy road with Raph and Sam as they race to find out what is happening and how to stop it.

I liked the characters; Raphael, Sam, Gemini, Denny and Doctor Dee. I felt the story was complete and the author gave good background on each individual. There was humor, action, paranormal (my favorite was the poltergeist). It was just missing that spark to make it great. I can’t say that I would read this book again, as I’m prone to do, but I would suggest it to friends and family.
Profile Image for Jerry Dougherty.
27 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2013
Trying to come up with the words for my review was like trying to finish the book - difficult. I'm a very open minded person and enjoy reading many different genres of books, Science fiction/paranormal being my favorite, but I unfortunatley found the book to be a bit to jumpy and hard to hold my interest. Sometimes it felt that the chapter would end in the middle of a thought. The concept behind the book was a great idea, but unfortunatley my personal opinion is the delivery wasn't there. I also enjoy humor in the books I read and didn't find any in this, a bit to serious. I did give it 3 stars because of the great idea you had for the book and your character development. Thank you for the oppurtunity to read your book.
Profile Image for Aniket Harsh.
23 reviews6 followers
August 17, 2013
Well.....my biggest grouch was that it left things unexplained. Certain crucial phenomena that went in building the paranormal aura in the story were not brought to a closure. Also the characters and their role made no sense. They do a lot of running around but at the end of the day its someone else who ends up saving the day whereas our Aquarius agency was left rolling in the mud. The level of importance given to these characters and then all of them turning out to be little more than mute spectators to some one else's heroics leads me to conclude they were little more than background noise. I really had to put in effort to finish this book.
Profile Image for Amy (DemonKittie).
709 reviews51 followers
July 29, 2014
*I was given a free copy of this book for an unbiased review*

In the beginning I wasn't sure what to think of this book and it was what I call a slow burner. It was very interesting, but took it's time getting going. The story was good, but the pacing was a little off.

The characters were alright, but they didn't seem to have the same amount of depth. I think you get a good feel for Raphael and Sam, but all the other characters seem almost 2D compared to their 3D level.

I like the ending and the twist that I did see coming, but I am good at predicting those sorts of things. I hope this story continues because it is a story I would continue to read.
Profile Image for Denise.
1,771 reviews24 followers
December 18, 2013
**I received this book in exchange for an honest review. LoP, Lovers of Paranormal**
I loved the concept of this story. Very creative. I liked the way the author detailed so many things. Well written. The characters were quite good. The only thing I didn't love about it was that I got lost. I'm not sure why, but I thought it would have gone in a different direction. I'd still recommend this book be added to your tbr list.
Profile Image for Nichole.
981 reviews21 followers
July 31, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal). This was an ok book. The characters were interesting, although I would've liked to hear more about Raphael and Sam's back stories. There was too much scientific talk, I found myself drifting off during those parts, and there were a lot of them. Lots of unanswered questions, but not enough excitement for me to continue the series to find out the answers.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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