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Empath Detective #3

Murder Feels Crazy

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What if you could feel people's secret emotions?

And you went and tried to use it to catch murderers.

(Lately, the kind of murderers who hire a hitman...)

Mark Falcon has a secret. As an empath, he can "vibe" other people’s emotions. They’re usually super painful...

And it's about to get worse.

Because a brand new clinic's opened in our small Virginia town, and it's handing out meds for pain.

Is the handsome, flashy new pain doctor addicting his patients to opiates?

Or am I just biased because he's hitting on my best friend Ceci? And she might be liking it...

(I'm Pete, by the way. Mark's trusty sidekick, late-paying housemate, and biggest fan.)

Why is the clinic attracting mysterious protesters who like to dress up in animal suits?

Why are former patients overdosing on heroin?

And why does Mark smell murder?

Can Mark and I catch the killer before anyone else dies?

Including us?

Whew. That's a lot of questions.

You'll love reading the answers in this third installment in the Empath Detective mystery series, because everyone loves buddy amateur detectives in a zany small town, with a crazy twist ending you'll never suspect.

Get it now.

274 pages, ebook

Published November 11, 2018

27 people are currently reading
14 people want to read

About the author

Bill Alive

52 books77 followers
You know how you keep reading piles and piles and piles of mystery series, and most of them are, like, moderately okay … at least, there weren’t too many typos … and your eyes aren’t actually bleeding …

… but then … THEN … every so often … WOW, you’re just smitten.

The style is fabulous, the people are hilarious, the action is fantastic and terrifying and gut-wrenching and you just want to shout, THIS! This right here! Why can’t they all be like THIS?

The next time you find a series like that, could you PLEASE TELL ME?

I mean, please tell this Bill Alive author guy?

Because otherwise, he’s just going to keep trying to write them.

Which is super fun. See that smile? He’s clearly enjoying himself.

But still. Once in awhile, the guy needs to see how it’s done. What’s your favorite series? He’ll probably love it too.

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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
765 reviews3 followers
November 6, 2018
The story kicks off with our empath detective, Mark Falcon and his trusty sidekick, Pete Villette, picking up Pete’s bff (and potential love interest) Cici from her shift at the hospital. Cici gets body slammed by a “furry” in a cheap panda costume demanding pain pills, injuring her back and setting her up for a host of problems. While trying to figure out who injured Cici, Mark and Pete are swept up in a case involving a corrupt physician, an opiate epidemic, and the blossoming of a heroin problem in Back Moseby, Virginia.

These books are written from Pete’s point of view, in a conversational way, like the reader is sitting right there with him as things happen and he’s engaging in a dialogue with the reader. Pete is like Dr. Watson to Mark’s Sherlock Holmes. A 20-something, enthusiastic, hyper, immature Dr. Watson with a flair for the dramatic.

Pete does remind me of a chihuahua on crank, but a funny chihuahua with a good heart. I like the way he describes things, like his and Mark’s place, “… looking, as I’ve written elsewhere, like the kind of house a retired Wal-Mart greeter might buy his aunt, if he hated her guts.” Mark is a fascinating character as well – he’s the stable older brother only child Pete didn’t have. He’s proving more useful to the local constabulary (one of whom he’s almost dating), because his ability to “vibe” what people are really thinking comes in handy at crime scenes. Pete may or may not have the same latent skills; he’s content just to follow Mark around, help people, and document their adventures for posterity.

What I particularly liked about this book is, Pete is finally getting some backbone and settling down some. Reading the first couple of entries was exhausting – Pete was always in a self-centered hyperdrive, going off on tangents, leaping to conclusions. He annoyed me, but there was something likable about him that kept me coming back. In this third book, he’s starting to grow up and find his way in the world. In addition to the character growth, the plot involving opiate abuse and what people end up doing when they are deprived of their pain meds was interesting and topical. The ending was satisfying, and a little bit alarming, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Profile Image for Madam.
224 reviews12 followers
November 13, 2018
A new pain clinic has opened in Back Mosby, so shiny and board-certified that even drug-shy Gwen is certain that its opening only heralds good. But the furries are angry, marching down the main drag with signs broadcasting accusations of drug abuse toward the practice ...

… Except for the panda at the hospital, parading through the hospital lobby clutching a sign in its bloodstained paw, I NEED PAIN PILLS. And when Ceci, the nurse on duty, calmly confronts the furry, it pushes her away and she falls to the floor with a sickening crack.

Thus begins Mark & Pete’s frantic, bloody trip through the world of opiates and addiction. Pete is suspicious — and jealous — of the handsome Dr. Milton Paul treating Ceci’s injuries, while a ghost-white hybrid car glides silently through town, emanating deadly intentions that Mark senses, but he can’t provide hard evidence to Gwen. An immensely pregnant young woman who’s the furry costumer for the community carries more secrets than the baby in her belly.

As suspicious incidents mount, Mark and Pete are convinced Dr. Paul’s clinic is the source of trouble. With the help of the geeks, they manage to access the clinic’s records and record activity in real time, revealing shaky finances, Swiss bank accounts, opioid cut-off records, and a trail to Mark’s greatest enemy, the drug dealer who long ago murdered his girlfriend, Akina. With help from perceived allies, they set up a sting, only to realize that several of the participants have their own agenda … as does Mark, which horrifies Pete … until an even more dreadful possibility reveals itself in a sadistic trap.

Murder Feels Crazy is Bill Alive’s most nail-bitingly suspenseful mystery, one that keeps both narrator and reader on the edge of their seats. Perception may be the empath’s greatest strength, but as this story reveals, it might also be his defining impotence.
Profile Image for Andria Potter.
Author 2 books95 followers
November 13, 2018
I spent about four hours reading through another exciting adventure of Pete and Mark the Empath solving crime and defeating evil and really enjoyed it. It was as fun as the first few books, with a tad bit more danger than normal towards the end. We get to deal with drug addicts, furries, and drama throughout this book. There’s danger, mystery, and romance all wrapped up together.

Pete continues to be his usual witty self, with his roommate Mark continuing to use his powers for good. But in this book, Mark begins to question whether or not he wants to continue solving cases, while Pete begins to realize that Mark has a shady history than even he realized.

There’s at least four murders in this book, plenty of suspects, and a familiar threat at the end comes back to haunt Mark. But I won’t give away spoilers since Pete hates them so much. (Hi Pete!)

It’s a fun book, with plenty of humor to ease the tension and the fact that we keep learning about Mark’s empathy power is cool as well. I like when there’s always a new thing to be learned.

My main complaint about this book was the cliffhanger. Now I have to wait another year before Bill (rather, Pete) types out the next book. Especially since it’s the kind of cliffhanger where you really want to see if a, uh, hypothetically…a main character gets killed…

And with that in mind, I’m going to wrap up this review, because it’s long enough as it is at about four hundred words. While the review is short, the book definitely isn’t, but it definitely is worth continuing the series, as I’m highly recommending the series rating this one 5/5 stars. Because the characters are realistic and make all the difference, but the storyline is intriguing, and there’s also great whodunit’s…

In any case, read the series. I promise you won’t regret it.
1,510 reviews16 followers
November 6, 2018
There is a new pain clinic in town where handsome Dr Milton Paul dispenses prescripion pain killers, legally, accurately, all above board and squeaky clean. But the group of protesters calling themselves the furries (because they dress up in animal suits) are not having any of it. One of their friends died of an opiate overdose, which she brought onto herself but the furries are convinced that Dr Paul's clinic is bad news and that his prescription is what led her to start using heroine - which is total rubbish.... or is it? Surely charming, Dr Paul, with his 24 carat smile and glowing personality cannot be connected in any way to something remotely sinister or dodgy. But when your best friend, Ceci, who hurt her back, is being wined and dined by him, he morphs into a monster-drug-dealer-child-killer and worse, and that was NOT because Pete felt anything other than friendship for Ceci - c'mon who is he kidding? But seriously, people are dying, and drugs are beginning to appear in town and the police are not fast enough to catch the dealers. And although it is painful and sometimes even life threatening, Mark has to use his gift as an empath to help find these dealers and killers before his town deteriorates into another inner city full of druggies and undesirables.

I love the books that Bill Alive writes. His humour and stories are brilliant and impossible to put down. I love that Pete writes it all down, his insecurities, his feelings, be they good or bad, noble or otherwise and allows you into his world and his head. Mark, of course, is great, it goes without saying. I cannot recommend this series highly enough; if you want a great read, a good laugh, an uncomfortable wince, every now and again at someone else's expense, get started on these books now! I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Emmie.
1,277 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2018
The more books I read by Bill Alive, the more I like the characters and story-line. Bill Alive has a way of describing situations and places so vividly and in such a humorous way, you have to smile.

I did not read book 2, but that was not a problem as Pete gave a lot of background information and history. It seems that each book is separate, though still connected to the others in the series. So, it would be advisable to read them in order.

Well, I have to say that I really like both Pete and Mike and I just love the way Gwen and Mike are tip-toeing around each other. It seems kinda sweet. Pete is a hyper, shallow 20 something, and I always wonder about Mike's patience. However I was pleasantly surprised as it seems that Pete had done some growing up.

I don't want to give away too much of the book. You have to read it, it is a crazy mix of furries, demented aunts, drugdealers and doctors. I have to admit that I did not see the ending coming.

Thank you to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Pete.
895 reviews7 followers
November 16, 2018
This is the third book in this great series, and for me it is the best. The characters are all great, especially as they are seen through the eyes of the narrator, Pete, who is a twenty-something rather nerdy character. Unfortunately Pete's emotional age seems to be stuck around 16, especially his attitudes to women and romance (if that's what it can be called!) this leads to some hilarious observations about the situations he finds himself in, and the people he encounters.
Despite this being primarily a comedy the murder mystery aspect is very clever and very well written, and actually has relevant messages about some very important social issues, especially drug dependance.
I can't wait to read the next installment in this very enjoyable series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author (thanks!) but have voluntarily written this review based on my own opinions.
Profile Image for Danielle Carpenter.
1,839 reviews11 followers
November 16, 2018
This is the third book in the series, and Pete has given up on spoilers. After I read this book, I was physically exhausted from being constantly in the head of a twenty-some guy with the mentality of a 16 year old. Pete's mind runs a mile a minute while we help find the heroin traffickers. My biggest problem with Pete is he overlooks the obvious. Although, Pete narrates, I felt the Mark our em-path was almost a side note in this story. Still, the story is funny and light-hearted. Although, this author has strange ideas of romance.
Profile Image for Nan.
1,321 reviews4 followers
November 8, 2018
Pete and Mark are at it again. Things start out very differently this time with an actually happy Mark and a very confused Pete. Mark has decided that he really can be happy as an empath, while Pete can’t stop obsessing about his feelings for Ceci. Soon enough though it’s business as usual with people dying and Mark and Pete running around trying to find answers and avoid ending up dead themselves. Once the story gets started it’s like an out of control train - it keeps careening from stop to stop (I mean this in a very positive way!). Perhaps the craziest part of the story is that Pete actually manages to grow up a bit this time! Crazy ends on a major cliffhanger so I hope it’s not too long until the next one.
Profile Image for Jay Williams.
1,718 reviews33 followers
November 11, 2018
With the characters well-defined and familiar and the relationships known, the time has come for Alive to deliver a story that overwhelms on its own merits. Fortunately, he delivers with a murder mystery that has more twists than a pretzel, and an ending that is truly a surprise. The humor factor is enhanced with the appearance of the "Furries," a group of role players in costumes representing cuddly animals. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the ending tells me there is more to come.
Profile Image for Tammy.
1,359 reviews39 followers
November 13, 2018
Another fun mystery with Pete and Mark. Both are trying to get their love lives to fall into place as well as solve their latest mystery. Neither goes as planned and have more than a few bumps along the way. Story is well paced and keeps you interested. One of my favorite series to read mystery wise. Just enough humor and seriousness to make a great mystery read.
118 reviews5 followers
November 15, 2018
Love it

Why did I choose this rating? There was no choice. I wish I could do more stars. This book was so funny. Told by clueless man-child Pete. Empath Mark, usually in pain, but still trying, thanks to encouragement from Pete. Mystery that you can't figure out till the end. Hurry up and get the next book out.
Profile Image for Rita.
15 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2018
Mark seems to have accepted
his "role" as an empath, whereas
Pete is not in such a good mood,
almost grumpy. He is more "involved"
with Ceci than Mark.
I liked the story even more than "Murder
Feels Awful". It is fast-paced and
well told.
I recommend this book.
I received a free copy and
voluntarily wrote this honest
review.
Profile Image for alice Tileston.
739 reviews5 followers
November 13, 2018
Recieved free for review:
This duo is at it again....
This time they get caught up with a group that dresses up as animals and protest a pain clinic...
A quick and funny read Mr. Alive has done it again!♡
175 reviews1 follower
November 13, 2018
Loved this story. The adventures of Mark & Pete continue in this book. Full of action and humor. While not really necessary I would recommend reading these books in order. This is my voluntary and honest review given after reading an ARC provided by the author.
Profile Image for Tobius.
143 reviews
November 9, 2018
This book was fantastic, it has been a while since I read the other 2 in the series, but it didn't take long to get back into it, I read it in one sitting.
This book was really good, it has humor, excitement and just generally a good fun read!
You really need to give this series a try, you will love it, just make sure you don't start it before work or you might miss work :-)
1,822 reviews13 followers
November 13, 2018
This is the third in this series. Each novel gets better. Mark is the empath and his side kick Pete try to solve who is responsible for the overdose victims deaths. There are deaths caused by overdoses of heroin and a shooting death. Are these related and are the heroin overdoses really murder?
Profile Image for Kim Loomer.
625 reviews9 followers
November 13, 2018
Mark, the empath and Pete, his sidekick are tangled up in another whodunit. Gwen, the Police Detective and her sister CeCe are right in the middle of this story. I liked how all the characters were much more real in this book. This story was action packed and was a real page turner, very hard to put down. I was not expecting how things wound up but now it is going to be a long wait for the next book to see where it will take us.
Profile Image for RKSmith.
5 reviews
November 13, 2018
I enjoy reading all of the empath books by Bill Alive. This one delves into the opiate crisis in the world today. I am looking forward to reading the next one in this series.
2,382 reviews28 followers
November 15, 2018
Wow! Great book! A must read! Well written! Great, interesting characters!
Profile Image for Barbara Harrison.
3,404 reviews84 followers
November 10, 2018
Allow a long, complete day for this up-to-date semi-procedural. Pete is still as obnoxious as ever, but I think he is growing on me. I read an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
December 3, 2018
kindle unlimited {1 is NOT, sometimes available non amazon as free tho, & 0 prequal that should be read AFTER 1 is free for signing up for mailing list}. Interesting Holmes/Watson type story, except empath versus sociopath {supposed, tho he calls himself that several times}. Only one of these would have given a 4 1/2 to is #3 but that means 5 in the world of amazon. 4 might be the 'rest of the story' that 3 seemed to not quite complete.

What if you could feel people's secret emotions? And you went and tried to use it to catch murderers (Lately, the kind of murderers who hire a hitman...)

Mark Falcon has a secret. As an empath, he can "vibe" other people’s emotions. They’re usually super painful... And it's about to get worse. Because a brand new clinic's opened in our small Virginia town, and it's handing out meds for pain. Is the handsome, flashy new pain doctor addicting his patients to opiates? Or am I just biased because he's hitting on my best friend Ceci? And she might be liking it (I'm Pete, by the way. Mark's trusty sidekick, late-paying housemate, and biggest fan.)

Why is the clinic attracting mysterious protesters who like to dress up in animal suits? Why are former patients overdosing on heroin? And why does Mark smell murder? Can Mark and I catch the killer before anyone else dies? Including us? Whew. That's a lot of questions.


Empath Detective NOTE: order listed below is order suggested READ in, as 0 has spoilers {can be gotten free for signing up mailing list, 1 not ku but was freebie thru something & may still be}

Murder Feels Awful 1
Origin Story: Mark Falcon, Akina, and the Condo Killer 0
Murder Feels Bad 2
Murder Feels Crazy 3
Murder Feels Deadly 4 {coming soon}
877 reviews25 followers
November 18, 2018
I received this book from the author as an ARC. This book was fairly enjoyable. I don’t like the idea that he talked about writing the book inside the story. It’s kinda weird that he talks about writing and about himself all the way through the entire book. If I read any other books of this author after this I guess I’ll just have to get used to that idea. The story itself is interesting. The characters are able to keep you engaged. The story bounces around a little and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of everything, but in general the book is a good read. Being about a detective that in an empath makes the book worthwhile.
Profile Image for Pamela Taylor.
36 reviews
January 19, 2019
Awesome

Another amazing story, still with all the fabulous humour and angst but the storyline was more serious with more deadly villains. Thank God Gwen and Pete finally got their heads out of their bums and lightened up, I freaked when you ended on a cliffhanger but hopefully it won’t be too long before the next book, I am not ready to say goodbye to everyone.
531 reviews
Read
August 12, 2019
Sad Subject

I liked the characters, I think the storyline is well written. Gwen and Mark, Pete and Ceci, or whoever Pete happens to look at next. Not in love with drugs or reading about the dark side of them, the dealing or using. Still, the series is well written, although I think Pete emotionalize, though out all these books like a dumb person. Read and enjoy!
198 reviews4 followers
November 23, 2018
While I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book, I have made an independent decision to post this review. I enjoyed his previous books in the series, but I loved this quirky book in particular!
Profile Image for Roger Brain.
12 reviews
November 30, 2018
Refreshing different format

An original different take on the format of a novel well constructed flowi g nicely hope there will be more in this series
50 reviews
November 20, 2018
Well now.

Looks like Pete finally got it! Maybe I won't need to slap him up side his head after all! This was the best of the three so far. Mark got the girl and Pete shows signs of maturity. Can't wait to see them take down Numb.
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