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Clear Angel Chronicles #1
Elements of a Broken Mind
Grant Anderson is a small-town detective whose job was quiet and easy, until three girls end up dead. A serial killer is stalking the young ladies in his town. Without the high tech equipment of big cities at his fingers, Grant must rely on good old-fashioned police work; but with no discernible pattern and no clues to follow, the case seems to be grinding to a halt.
Then Grant gets a visit from a mysterious young woman. Who is Clear Angel? What is her connection to the case? If Grant is to believer her, then he must accept that she has “seen” these things. But Grant is a professional. He cannot believe in psychics! Yet when another girl goes missing, and Grant’s search is yielding nothing he is desperate enough to try.
Clear Angel has always been special. Seclusion has kept the nightmares at bay. Then the nightmares begin again. Are they premonitions of events to come? Are they the sick fantasies of a madman?
Then one evening she runs into a stranger and finds out that not only are they real, but they are happening here in her home town. After a lifetime of running and hiding from what she can do, she is now forced to reach out to the most unlikely person in an effort to save innocent girls and perhaps the world.
Grant and Clear team up to stop a madman bent on the destruction of the world. As their feelings for one another grow, they try to deny them. But when Clear goes missing, Grant must face his feelings and save her before it is too late.
Then Grant gets a visit from a mysterious young woman. Who is Clear Angel? What is her connection to the case? If Grant is to believer her, then he must accept that she has “seen” these things. But Grant is a professional. He cannot believe in psychics! Yet when another girl goes missing, and Grant’s search is yielding nothing he is desperate enough to try.
Clear Angel has always been special. Seclusion has kept the nightmares at bay. Then the nightmares begin again. Are they premonitions of events to come? Are they the sick fantasies of a madman?
Then one evening she runs into a stranger and finds out that not only are they real, but they are happening here in her home town. After a lifetime of running and hiding from what she can do, she is now forced to reach out to the most unlikely person in an effort to save innocent girls and perhaps the world.
Grant and Clear team up to stop a madman bent on the destruction of the world. As their feelings for one another grow, they try to deny them. But when Clear goes missing, Grant must face his feelings and save her before it is too late.
- GenresThriller
374 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2013
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Angell
12 books211 followersHeidi Angell is a bibliophile, lexicomaniac, and wordsmith who clearly believes in the Oxford comma. She is the author of The Hunters Saga, The Clear Angel Chronicles, The Hell School Series, Survivalist Bible series, and the Quick And Dirty series. She also created Royal Prince Vince, Creative Exercises to Inspire, and A Penslinger’s Ponderings. She has developed a series of courses covering everything from first draft to marketing, which can be found on her site. When she is not reading and writing, she can be found spending quality time with her family swimming, dancing, playing board games, or communing with nature.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 4, 2013
I received this book from the Author and the "Lovers of Paranormal" Group on Goodreads.com in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a prime example of excellent story telling by the author...a psychic heroine. A determined hero and a diabolical villain drive the plot of this page turning murder mystery. The characters are well thought out and utterly believable. The writing style is fluid and exciting which results in a fast paced and intriguing read. I was completely drawn into the suspense of this multi-faceted story. I could not put this book down, and I can't wait for the next book in this series to be released. Thank you to the Author and Carrie the LOP Book Fairy for giving me the oppertunity to read this great book.
This book is a prime example of excellent story telling by the author...a psychic heroine. A determined hero and a diabolical villain drive the plot of this page turning murder mystery. The characters are well thought out and utterly believable. The writing style is fluid and exciting which results in a fast paced and intriguing read. I was completely drawn into the suspense of this multi-faceted story. I could not put this book down, and I can't wait for the next book in this series to be released. Thank you to the Author and Carrie the LOP Book Fairy for giving me the oppertunity to read this great book.
July 25, 2013
Elements-of-a-Broken-Mind has a bit of everything I would say. It has your murder, mystery, suspense; along with a touch of paranormal and romance. Some books would not be able to handle having all these genres; however, the author managed to add just the right touch of it all to keep the attention of the readers from start to finish. She gives you clues to keep your mind wondering and questioning on the scene’s but then keeps you wanting to keeping moving on to find out the why’s and who’s of the story.
First you meet Grant Anderson, who is now a small town detective that is normally very quiet and very rarely has any crime at all. So when girls start appearing dead and missing, questions start to appear that he has no answer for. So Grant has to keep things under control in a small town that everyone knows everyone and talk spreads like wild fire. One thing he does figure out is that it is the work of a serial killer!
However, Clear Angel, who has been an outcast for most of her life may have all of the answers and will help if he can learn to trust in the abnormal and the “impossible”. She has an amazing ability that the town is unwilling to acknowledge and immediately thinks she is crazy. Clear may be the key to finding out why the girls are missing and ending up dead.
I enjoyed this book because it has a peak of all the various genres I enjoy and it doesn’t overcome you with an over abundance of descriptions and details. The scenarios that she introduces throughout makes you think that this could really happen and what would you do if either you or your daughter were in this kind of situation. The author gave you glimpses into the characters minds to keep the story interesting. I believe that glimpses into characters are good because it helps you connect with them. An example; is Clear you understood how she felt after being shunned by the town and then when she wanted to help nobody really paying her any attention. Why would a serial killer go through the hassle of returning girls dead; just to kidnap more! Can two strangers, only knowing each other for a short period overcome the obstacles and fight against time to figure out who the serial killer is and save the missing girls; or will there be more deaths before the truth is figured out?
First you meet Grant Anderson, who is now a small town detective that is normally very quiet and very rarely has any crime at all. So when girls start appearing dead and missing, questions start to appear that he has no answer for. So Grant has to keep things under control in a small town that everyone knows everyone and talk spreads like wild fire. One thing he does figure out is that it is the work of a serial killer!
However, Clear Angel, who has been an outcast for most of her life may have all of the answers and will help if he can learn to trust in the abnormal and the “impossible”. She has an amazing ability that the town is unwilling to acknowledge and immediately thinks she is crazy. Clear may be the key to finding out why the girls are missing and ending up dead.
I enjoyed this book because it has a peak of all the various genres I enjoy and it doesn’t overcome you with an over abundance of descriptions and details. The scenarios that she introduces throughout makes you think that this could really happen and what would you do if either you or your daughter were in this kind of situation. The author gave you glimpses into the characters minds to keep the story interesting. I believe that glimpses into characters are good because it helps you connect with them. An example; is Clear you understood how she felt after being shunned by the town and then when she wanted to help nobody really paying her any attention. Why would a serial killer go through the hassle of returning girls dead; just to kidnap more! Can two strangers, only knowing each other for a short period overcome the obstacles and fight against time to figure out who the serial killer is and save the missing girls; or will there be more deaths before the truth is figured out?
September 15, 2013
I give this story 4.5 stars.
The book I read was Elements of a Broken Mind and I loved it, but again, it is another book which doesn't fit neatly into one specific genre. Perhaps if I describe the story a little, you will be able to form your own opinion as to where you would categorize it.
There are two main characters Grant and Clear. Yes, the woman's name is Clear, the unfortunate product of hippy parents (the name, not the character). Grant is a detective who moved to a small town from Chicago after his divorce. He's lonely, misses his daughter terribly, and is determined not to have a drinking problem. When dead bodies of young women start turning up and Grant is frustrated at the lack of tangible leads, in walks Clear stating she "knows" what happened and she wants to help. But how can she know? The information on the case was being held close to the vest.
It takes a little while for Grant to believe that Clear is a true psychic and not just a charlatan and Grant reluctantly agrees to let Clear help him catch what now appeared to be a serial killer. Things get really amped up when the Sheriff's daughter's best friend is kidnapped. They fight against time and their growing attraction to each other.
That's all I'm going to tell you. You'll need to wind your own way through all the twists and turns of this psychic roller coaster yourself. The story draws you in and tosses you around with the characters, and at the end, you are left wanting more.
The book I read was Elements of a Broken Mind and I loved it, but again, it is another book which doesn't fit neatly into one specific genre. Perhaps if I describe the story a little, you will be able to form your own opinion as to where you would categorize it.
There are two main characters Grant and Clear. Yes, the woman's name is Clear, the unfortunate product of hippy parents (the name, not the character). Grant is a detective who moved to a small town from Chicago after his divorce. He's lonely, misses his daughter terribly, and is determined not to have a drinking problem. When dead bodies of young women start turning up and Grant is frustrated at the lack of tangible leads, in walks Clear stating she "knows" what happened and she wants to help. But how can she know? The information on the case was being held close to the vest.
It takes a little while for Grant to believe that Clear is a true psychic and not just a charlatan and Grant reluctantly agrees to let Clear help him catch what now appeared to be a serial killer. Things get really amped up when the Sheriff's daughter's best friend is kidnapped. They fight against time and their growing attraction to each other.
That's all I'm going to tell you. You'll need to wind your own way through all the twists and turns of this psychic roller coaster yourself. The story draws you in and tosses you around with the characters, and at the end, you are left wanting more.
May 9, 2016
It's been a long time since I read a good detective novel and this book has all the ingredients in the right amount - suspense, romance, murder with a little bit of psychic thrown in the mix. The story is intriguing with young girls going missing and turning up dead in a small town. Detective Grant makes it his mission to find out what's happening when he stumbles across Clear Angel, a psychic who helps him. The romance bit is rather predictable and the story straightforward without complicated plot twists which makes for an easy reading. It unfolds at a steady pace comfortably - kind of reminds me of the books I used to read in my teens. What really struck me though, is the writing. Many indie books I came across have typical telltale signs but not so with this book. Except for some minor typos, the book is well written and the sentences well crafted. I didn't feel like I was reading an indie book for the most part and enjoyed it immensely. Pick this book if you like light mystery novels with romance.
September 5, 2017
You would think that getting a psychic who can see through the eyes of the victim to help you on a murder case would solve it easily. But that's not this case.
Clear first has to prove to the police she can do what she says. Then she has to track down ALL the victims, even the ones the cops know nothing about. And victims can make terrible witnesses. And of course this isn't your average killer either. This book takes a new look at murder mysteries and makes it a lot more realistic. And just like reality this book has it all. Mystery, intrigue, drama, romance, heart break, crappy coworkers, and lonely kids.
I absolutely adored this book.It's well written and full of surprises.
Clear first has to prove to the police she can do what she says. Then she has to track down ALL the victims, even the ones the cops know nothing about. And victims can make terrible witnesses. And of course this isn't your average killer either. This book takes a new look at murder mysteries and makes it a lot more realistic. And just like reality this book has it all. Mystery, intrigue, drama, romance, heart break, crappy coworkers, and lonely kids.
I absolutely adored this book.It's well written and full of surprises.
February 20, 2017
Elements of A Broken Mind is a fast paced, well written novel. I was pulled in right from the very start. There are many well developed characters here to hold your interest. A small town detective with a broken marriage tries and fails to keep his heart hardened to the people all around him. A powerful psychic, young and beautiful, and with a past that has left her emotionally fragile, also cannot ignore those in need. The two end up in an unlikely alliance to try and stop a serial killer who is targeting young women in their small town.
The suspense is palpable right from the first page. There is a strong sense of urgency as a race against the demented plan of a mad man keep the hero and heroine always trailing just a half step behind. They gain new clues into this man’s horrific intentions only after another piece of his evil plan has fallen into place.
One thing I really loved about Elements of a Broken Mind is that the title could apply to almost any of the characters in this story. Grant Anderson and Clear Angel both battle their own inner demons while trying to help others. The victims of the madman also are broken by this man’s uncanny hold on their minds. And the mad man himself possesses a mind so powerful, and yet so twisted that there is no doubt he is also broken. I would have liked even greater insight into what caused this villain to turn so evil; to break with his own humanity so completely. The one other thing I would say is that the ending threw me. I know there is a sequel, and I imagine that what remains unresolved between Grant and Clear will be shown to us during the course of the second story, but for me, this ending felt too abrupt.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an exciting read. The story is both a crime novel and a paranormal mystery. There is even a hint of romance. I give this book a very solid four star rating.
The suspense is palpable right from the first page. There is a strong sense of urgency as a race against the demented plan of a mad man keep the hero and heroine always trailing just a half step behind. They gain new clues into this man’s horrific intentions only after another piece of his evil plan has fallen into place.
One thing I really loved about Elements of a Broken Mind is that the title could apply to almost any of the characters in this story. Grant Anderson and Clear Angel both battle their own inner demons while trying to help others. The victims of the madman also are broken by this man’s uncanny hold on their minds. And the mad man himself possesses a mind so powerful, and yet so twisted that there is no doubt he is also broken. I would have liked even greater insight into what caused this villain to turn so evil; to break with his own humanity so completely. The one other thing I would say is that the ending threw me. I know there is a sequel, and I imagine that what remains unresolved between Grant and Clear will be shown to us during the course of the second story, but for me, this ending felt too abrupt.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an exciting read. The story is both a crime novel and a paranormal mystery. There is even a hint of romance. I give this book a very solid four star rating.
September 19, 2013
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First things first, my apologies to Heidi Angell and everyone who reads this blog for my long absence. I just moved to a new state, on my own, to start a brand new job, so I've been pretty overwhelmed and busy and haven't had much time to do anything else besides get everything settled. In any case, I am very thankful to everyone for actually reading this blog, and to Ms. Angell for her patience in waiting for a review for her book (I told you it was coming though!) :) On to the book review! A fantastic tale from a wonderful author, Elements of a Broken Mind is a 5 out of 5 star book to me, for keeping me entertained and stumping the forensic psychologist in me.
So, I was sent this book by the author for an honest review. I'm so pleased that she sent it to me, and don't really have anything negative to say about it. Elements of a Broken Mind is a phenomenal, fast paced read and I'm very eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. The writing is spot on, the characters are realistic (which, given the plot, is amazing), and I had so much fun reading this book and figuring out for myself how Grant and Clear were going to find the killer and save the girls.
I have a background in forensic psychology, and have taken classes on profiling crime scenes and offenders. I still didn't know where Angell was going with her novel, and had a great time watching Grant and Clear work on solving the crimes before the killer took yet another young girl's life. Particularly when the killer would 'return' his victims, only to kidnap more to replace them, I couldn't help but begin my own profile of the type of person who would be committing such crimes.
Even better was the fact that the attraction between the two didn't take center stage in Elements, something that appears to be becoming more and more widespread a problem in books today. Yes there is romance, but it is secondary to the thrilling mystery Angell puts in place from page one for her readers. It will be very interesting seeing the chemistry between the two in the next installment in this series :)
First things first, my apologies to Heidi Angell and everyone who reads this blog for my long absence. I just moved to a new state, on my own, to start a brand new job, so I've been pretty overwhelmed and busy and haven't had much time to do anything else besides get everything settled. In any case, I am very thankful to everyone for actually reading this blog, and to Ms. Angell for her patience in waiting for a review for her book (I told you it was coming though!) :) On to the book review! A fantastic tale from a wonderful author, Elements of a Broken Mind is a 5 out of 5 star book to me, for keeping me entertained and stumping the forensic psychologist in me.
So, I was sent this book by the author for an honest review. I'm so pleased that she sent it to me, and don't really have anything negative to say about it. Elements of a Broken Mind is a phenomenal, fast paced read and I'm very eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. The writing is spot on, the characters are realistic (which, given the plot, is amazing), and I had so much fun reading this book and figuring out for myself how Grant and Clear were going to find the killer and save the girls.
I have a background in forensic psychology, and have taken classes on profiling crime scenes and offenders. I still didn't know where Angell was going with her novel, and had a great time watching Grant and Clear work on solving the crimes before the killer took yet another young girl's life. Particularly when the killer would 'return' his victims, only to kidnap more to replace them, I couldn't help but begin my own profile of the type of person who would be committing such crimes.
Even better was the fact that the attraction between the two didn't take center stage in Elements, something that appears to be becoming more and more widespread a problem in books today. Yes there is romance, but it is secondary to the thrilling mystery Angell puts in place from page one for her readers. It will be very interesting seeing the chemistry between the two in the next installment in this series :)
January 28, 2014
I'm a fan of paranormal fiction involving psychics and I've read something a little similar to this one, called "The Seventh Sense". The difference is the main character in that novel gets impressions when he touches things.
I wouldn't call this a murder mystery per se, but a mystery involving multiple girls missing and nothing in common. Clear is a psychic who's shunned because of her life gift, and most of the time, her gift is a curse.
I liked the concept of a psychic helping in an ongoing investigation, but I felt a disconnect. The author's voice is quite loud in her writing style, given the numerous exclamation points when she wanted to express something... Frustrating. I could almost hear her voice telling the story. It gave me that feel.
I noticed there's usually a life-threatening situation that involves the main character and it's because of her own stubbornness. In this case she had a point but, I felt I've read it before. This one isn't a mystery where the author leaves clues for the reader, but just writes through her characters. Clear anf Grant had that sexual tension going but the author decided a one-night stand for them and that's it. Since this is the first in a series, I'm not looking forward to the next.
So overall, while I want to thank the author from the bottom of my heart for this free read I got in Smashwords, I didn't exactly enjoy it.
I wouldn't call this a murder mystery per se, but a mystery involving multiple girls missing and nothing in common. Clear is a psychic who's shunned because of her life gift, and most of the time, her gift is a curse.
I liked the concept of a psychic helping in an ongoing investigation, but I felt a disconnect. The author's voice is quite loud in her writing style, given the numerous exclamation points when she wanted to express something... Frustrating. I could almost hear her voice telling the story. It gave me that feel.
I noticed there's usually a life-threatening situation that involves the main character and it's because of her own stubbornness. In this case she had a point but, I felt I've read it before. This one isn't a mystery where the author leaves clues for the reader, but just writes through her characters. Clear anf Grant had that sexual tension going but the author decided a one-night stand for them and that's it. Since this is the first in a series, I'm not looking forward to the next.
So overall, while I want to thank the author from the bottom of my heart for this free read I got in Smashwords, I didn't exactly enjoy it.
February 28, 2016
Twists and turns of this paranormal rollercoaster will have you pulled in from the beginning. Just when you think you have figured it out, the story changes. Great flow of the story and flawed characters. My only slight disappointment was the ending was so not what I expected. Overall a very good read.
Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & more
Matilda
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & more
February 20, 2015
Detective Grant Anderson needs to find the serial killer/kidnapper before more of his victims end up dead but he has no leads. Little does he know what the good looking girl who enters his office and offers her help brings with her. Can he believe what she is telling him and can he understand what he is feeling for her. This romantic paranormal thriller has it all. Plenty of action and emotion. Another great book from Heidi Angell.
February 2, 2014
** I received this book in exchange for an honest review. (Lovers of Paranormal, LoP)**
I really liked this book. I liked how the story progressed. The premise was very good. The story itself held my interest throughout. It was full of surprises. The characters are really great. Well thought out. I liked Clear's character. Great read. A good add to your tbr list. Recommended read.
I really liked this book. I liked how the story progressed. The premise was very good. The story itself held my interest throughout. It was full of surprises. The characters are really great. Well thought out. I liked Clear's character. Great read. A good add to your tbr list. Recommended read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews