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A Poisoned Mind
Jonathon Browne knows the voice in his head. It belongs to his deadly enemy, but he never expected the voice to take him over, both mentally and physically. This supernatural force hijacks his body, takes it to his top-secret government office, and spills blood. With a helpless battle within, Jonathon must get control and escape from his own team before they execute him. Will a life in exile be his only choice? Or will the Exalls once again claim another victim?
This is a short story spin off from Andre's debut novel, Followed Home. The story will be available for FREE to all subscribers to Andre's mailing list at www.andregonzalez.net
This is a short story spin off from Andre's debut novel, Followed Home. The story will be available for FREE to all subscribers to Andre's mailing list at www.andregonzalez.net
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2017
44 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Andre Gonzalez
59 books278 followersAndre Gonzalez is the international bestselling author of the Wealth of Time Series, and co-owner of M4L Publishing.
After surviving the Aurora Theater Shooting in 2012, Andre was inspired to chase his lifelong dream of pursuing a career as an author. This tragedy gave him a new appreciation for life along with a drive to make the world a better place by publishing books readers all around the world can enjoy.
He has written over twenty time-travel, thriller, and horror books after spending many years reading and studying the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Keeping readers up late and their hearts pumping faster than normal is his ultimate goal. Andre was the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2021 Independent Writer of the Year award.
When he’s not writing, you can find Andre buried underneath a long to-do list or chasing around his three hyper children. He and his wife are raising their family in their hometown of Denver, CO.
Author Website: www.andregonzalez.net
After surviving the Aurora Theater Shooting in 2012, Andre was inspired to chase his lifelong dream of pursuing a career as an author. This tragedy gave him a new appreciation for life along with a drive to make the world a better place by publishing books readers all around the world can enjoy.
He has written over twenty time-travel, thriller, and horror books after spending many years reading and studying the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Keeping readers up late and their hearts pumping faster than normal is his ultimate goal. Andre was the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2021 Independent Writer of the Year award.
When he’s not writing, you can find Andre buried underneath a long to-do list or chasing around his three hyper children. He and his wife are raising their family in their hometown of Denver, CO.
Author Website: www.andregonzalez.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 28, 2018
This story is broken up into two parts and is fast-paced with an action scene. This is a sci-fi read, short, and is sort of interesting, but not a story that I enjoyed.
June 27, 2017
Good, fast paced novelette that is a spin-off of Followed Home!!
April 22, 2017
This short story was a very unexpected surprise. The story was excellent and a little frightening. The strange and the weird lives in the mind of Andre Gonzalez!
February 2, 2017
Okay! Did not know I HAD to read this until I started reading it!!!! Was extremely well written, fast paced, complex just WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 7, 2017
A great little short story. I would definitely recommend this book as it had some twists along the way. Will be reading more from Andre gonzalez.
June 6, 2018
Sorry. Andre, this one just doesn't grab me.
But, it seems to grab a lot of others. I guess you just have to read this one for yourself.
But, it seems to grab a lot of others. I guess you just have to read this one for yourself.
December 15, 2017
I love, love, love the premise for this short tale. I wish there had been more background, description and scenery though. The characters were pretty strong, but the writing was a lot of 'telling'. This story did fall a little flat for me at the end, it was such a great build and I felt a little let down, but it's an open gate for the author to write more on this story which I'd love.
July 1, 2017
When you work for a secret department in the Pentagon and when that department deals with aliens and their presence on Earth, you may unknowingly put your life in danger. I have not read the original book that this is a spin-off from (of) but reading this story and the intro to Followed Home, I have to know what the family secret is. Thank you Andre Gonzalez for the free copy and for introducing yourself to me =)
June 14, 2022
This had me thoroughly hooked from start to finish. Wonderfully written without a superfluous word to distract you and an enticing premise.
As it is a short story tied into the author's main novel, I can't say more without revealing spoilers. Suffice to say that it draws you in and you NEED to know more about the situation.
Highly recommended short read.
As it is a short story tied into the author's main novel, I can't say more without revealing spoilers. Suffice to say that it draws you in and you NEED to know more about the situation.
Highly recommended short read.
August 5, 2017
This eBook was gifted to me by this fantastic author, (Andre Gonzalez) for an honest review. I have to say this story captured my attention from page 1 all the way to the end!! I love the way he describes the details of the characters in the story. Highly recommended read. Can't wait to read his other book "Followed Home"
September 10, 2019
I liked this book a lot. It had no direct ending to speak of, but it gave a general idea of the basic story “Followed home” from which it’s derived.
It also gave a glimpse into the writing style of the author whom I’ve never read before. I’ll definitely read more of his books and highly recommend this short novellet.
It also gave a glimpse into the writing style of the author whom I’ve never read before. I’ll definitely read more of his books and highly recommend this short novellet.
March 4, 2017
I found this novelette intriguing. How are the Exalls so advanced? I felt really sorry for Jonathan and the other crew members he took out while his body was taken over. I was hoping to read more about the first protagonist so hopefully she'll come back in the next installment.
June 19, 2017
A perfect book for commuters, or any half-hour time you have to yourself. This is a well-written sci-fi story with just enough descriptive narration to flesh out the characters and situation. I enjoyed the read.
August 6, 2017
A very short but compelling read.
The author does a excellent job of keeping the story moving.
Gripping and suspenseful.
I would like to read this authors other story from where this short story came from.
The author does a excellent job of keeping the story moving.
Gripping and suspenseful.
I would like to read this authors other story from where this short story came from.
April 28, 2017
This was a very well-written short story. The aliens introduced were interesting and I've always enjoyed the idea of mind-control. It is very well thought out, and kept me intrigued.
September 12, 2017
Well, I'm not sure what to say it was interesting, not exactly what I thought it would be, but it caught my attention, and I would probably read another book by this author
July 26, 2017
This was a quick read that had me intrigued from page one. It had a lot of twists and turns and was excellent.
May 12, 2020
A very short story about a man who works for the government, and whose mind and life are taken over by an alien force.
The author spends enough time on the characters to give you some sympathy for the plight of the vessel.
The author spends enough time on the characters to give you some sympathy for the plight of the vessel.
June 23, 2017
Perhaps if the summary fit the story, I wouldn't have expected more and been insanely disappointed (pun intended) when it fell short with so much less.
It started off with flu-like symptoms. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Then it fully took over and the first main MC (I can't even recall his name) doesn't remember a call he made then he's aware of everything the alien is saying and doing.
The backstory on that MC was completely unnecessary in the story. More like a filler because it amounted to zero to the consequences and plot. Wasted reading time.
When we get to the part of no MC, only secondary players, it turns into a blizzard of "oh! I found out..." "I discovered..." "This happened..."
Yupp. A jungle of telling, no showing. As a "between" short story, it provides no inclination to read the "before" or "after" books.
So, thank you, Mr. Andre, for preventing me from wasting (more) time and losing any money by reading this series.
It started off with flu-like symptoms. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Then it fully took over and the first main MC (I can't even recall his name) doesn't remember a call he made then he's aware of everything the alien is saying and doing.
The backstory on that MC was completely unnecessary in the story. More like a filler because it amounted to zero to the consequences and plot. Wasted reading time.
When we get to the part of no MC, only secondary players, it turns into a blizzard of "oh! I found out..." "I discovered..." "This happened..."
Yupp. A jungle of telling, no showing. As a "between" short story, it provides no inclination to read the "before" or "after" books.
So, thank you, Mr. Andre, for preventing me from wasting (more) time and losing any money by reading this series.
July 9, 2017
Short stories are interesting because they have to move quickly in order for anything to happen. I used to read a lot of them, but I haven’t read one in awhile and I forgot how it was.
You always find yourself saying “how convenient. . .” when there is less conflict than in a full novel.
A Poisoned Mind is a short story spinoff from Andre’s full-length novel Followed Home. I didn’t know this, but I think it fits fine by itself as a stand-alone story.
If you are in to aliens and government agencies, pick it up. You can get it free or super cheap, so there is really no risk to it. It is free as an ebook on Amazon right now.
It is a quick-moving story that you can use to kill some time. It is well written and moves fast.
I am not the biggest fan of extraterrestrial stories, but it was a fun read.
3.5/5 Stars
You always find yourself saying “how convenient. . .” when there is less conflict than in a full novel.
A Poisoned Mind is a short story spinoff from Andre’s full-length novel Followed Home. I didn’t know this, but I think it fits fine by itself as a stand-alone story.
If you are in to aliens and government agencies, pick it up. You can get it free or super cheap, so there is really no risk to it. It is free as an ebook on Amazon right now.
It is a quick-moving story that you can use to kill some time. It is well written and moves fast.
I am not the biggest fan of extraterrestrial stories, but it was a fun read.
3.5/5 Stars
June 15, 2017
This was an okay read. I was in doubt if I should give this short story two or three stars, but as you can see I decied to roll with three as it wasn't THAT bad. But, it wasn't good either.
My biggest problem with this story is that it was all telling instead of showing. I could hardly picture anything as it was lacking in descriptions, the scenery and the characters were all blurry.
I also think that dialogue needed some improvement. A lot of it. I don't think that dialogue should always feel natural - it doesn't in most books, especially classics - but it shouldn't feel silly either. Majority if the lines made me cringe.
It was a quick read, but not one I'd come back to.
My biggest problem with this story is that it was all telling instead of showing. I could hardly picture anything as it was lacking in descriptions, the scenery and the characters were all blurry.
I also think that dialogue needed some improvement. A lot of it. I don't think that dialogue should always feel natural - it doesn't in most books, especially classics - but it shouldn't feel silly either. Majority if the lines made me cringe.
It was a quick read, but not one I'd come back to.
August 14, 2017
Jonathan has got a new job working for The xcrew which is a secret department of the government. He learns about things that threaten national security but these aren't ordinary terrorists.
This story went down a different path then i thought it would go originally...which is great!!!
Pick this up!!!
This story went down a different path then i thought it would go originally...which is great!!!
Pick this up!!!
June 30, 2017
This story was an unexpected fast read about aliens. Quite scary. A spin-off of Followed Home.
September 9, 2018
For such a short story, there is so much packed in to every single page.
I will start this off by saying that I am, generally speaking, not very fond of science fiction. I find that a certain element of realism is necessary, for me, to really connect with a story and for it to be able to burrow its way into my soul and stick with me. Many science fiction novels are so far out there (often literally, out in space), that it's just too difficult for me to connect.
Andre Gonzalez has created a short story here that has utterly captivated me. By beginning the story with a working man who has dreams and aspirations, who works hard to build up a solid career and a loving relationship, the story immediately has a homey resonance to it. When aliens were introduced, I was already swept up in the character and easily followed into this foreign territory.
By the end of this short story - which I devoured in less than an hour - I was hoked on the concept and am eagerly looking forward to starting the parent book, "Followed Home."
I am a huge fan of Andre Gonzalez, and am excited to highly recommend this read along with his trilogy, the "Insanity" series.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
I will start this off by saying that I am, generally speaking, not very fond of science fiction. I find that a certain element of realism is necessary, for me, to really connect with a story and for it to be able to burrow its way into my soul and stick with me. Many science fiction novels are so far out there (often literally, out in space), that it's just too difficult for me to connect.
Andre Gonzalez has created a short story here that has utterly captivated me. By beginning the story with a working man who has dreams and aspirations, who works hard to build up a solid career and a loving relationship, the story immediately has a homey resonance to it. When aliens were introduced, I was already swept up in the character and easily followed into this foreign territory.
By the end of this short story - which I devoured in less than an hour - I was hoked on the concept and am eagerly looking forward to starting the parent book, "Followed Home."
I am a huge fan of Andre Gonzalez, and am excited to highly recommend this read along with his trilogy, the "Insanity" series.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
November 16, 2023
For a short story it provides quite a bit of information. Including some backstory to the main character.
I didn’t know what to expect when I chose this book as I had not heard of this author.
It was imaginative and page turning. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to reading more by this author.
I didn’t know what to expect when I chose this book as I had not heard of this author.
It was imaginative and page turning. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to reading more by this author.
September 7, 2024
I enjoyed the story, it reminds me of a prequel more than just a standalone. It can be read as one but it does leave you wondering what next. This is just part one. It has mystery and the wondering of what in the world. I will look forward to reading more of his books. I enjoy the imagination this writer showed.
May 5, 2018
Good theory
Interesting read, although short. Like unfinished story, but headed in a good direction...the ending does leave one guessing, similar to some movies, and unfortunately not my style
Interesting read, although short. Like unfinished story, but headed in a good direction...the ending does leave one guessing, similar to some movies, and unfortunately not my style
July 23, 2018
The title is a bit misleading
Short and easy read. Great beginning with a creepy ending that leaves you wanting so much more.
Because of the sudden ending you feel like there's so much more to the story
Short and easy read. Great beginning with a creepy ending that leaves you wanting so much more.
Because of the sudden ending you feel like there's so much more to the story
June 14, 2020
Fast paced but very short read. Done and dusted in about 40 mins. Sci-fi, aliens galore and top.secret government buildings.
Really enjoyed this 1uick read and will definitely be checking this author out again 😀.
Really enjoyed this 1uick read and will definitely be checking this author out again 😀.
April 25, 2021
A Poisoned Mind is well thought out and well written short story. Action packed and thrilling ! I didn't want it to end ! I hope the writer expands on the idea because he has a winner on his hands. I'd love to read how that story ends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews