Emancipation

Pen Pals and Serial Killers, Story 1

By: Jo Michaels

Narrated by: Norman Gilligan

Tobias Butler has been sitting on death row since being sentenced for a gruesome murder in 2007. Bored out of his mind, he decides to apply to the online pen pal program in 2012. It's a pleasant distraction - nothing more, nothing less - for three years, until he's contacted by a beautiful, smart young lawyer named Jess. She's convinced he's innocent and wants to see him freed. As they organize their attack on the judicial system, he wonders how she plans to get his conviction overturned - because he's guilty, and he knows it. Jess is desperate to release him...and he's desperate to feel his hands squeeze the life out of her once she does.

©2016 Jo Michaels (P)2016 Cherry Hill Publishing, LLC

I Have No Words!!!!

Wow!!!!! Just Wow! In the beginning I was emotionally confused by Tobias. I didn't know if he turned me on or creeped me out. Probably a little of both. Jo Michaels's mind is scary as she manipulated this story and twists the mind of the reader like a knotted braid. It was PERFECTION!

Norman Gilligan will now be type "narrator" cast. Like any time I see his name he will always be Tobias lol. His voice was perfect as the psycho, inmate.

This was my first book by Michaels and let's just say it won't be the last!

Dark, Twisted and Unique

Holy Hell. Norman Gilligan was fantastic as Tobias and Jo Michaels told a delightfully dark, unique, twisted tale that kept me listening with turns I never saw coming. Fans of Dexter, The Taker and In the Company of Killers will enjoy this standalone thriller.

If I ever wondered what it was like inside the mind of a serial killer, now I know!

What an interesting book- to say the least. Where to start.... Ok this book is an up close and personal look into the mind of a serial rapist/killer who has many victims. He's been in prison for a long time and is considerably famous. He starts writing back and forth with a pen pal who claims to be obsessed with his case and they quickly fall in love. Or do they??? Is he playing her or is she playing him? Guess you'll have to listen to find out. It will keep you wanting more and you won't want to stop listening. Although I didn't care for the narrator he really was perfect for the part he played. He was a sick killer not a hot professor :) I can't wait for the next book in this series!!!

That was something else!

Would you consider the audio edition of Emancipation to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Emancipation?

Just the fact that the killer knows he is guilty. It was a unique twist and his fantasies about her.

What does Norman Gilligan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice added the perfect about of darkness to Tobias.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really. It was a more suspenseful than moving book.Being inside Tobias' head was very freaky. I felt the end coming and was please to see how it played out.

Who is the puppet and who holds the strings?

This was a great audio. I never saw the ending coming and I’m telling you it was the perfect ending. This is the story of a man sitting on death row for the hideous crimes he has committed against women. He is guilty as sin and knows there’s no way he’s getting out of prison until one day he is contacted by a very attractive attorney who writes all the right things and he decide to play puppet master. His ultimate plan is to get out of jail and get all her money. How it turns out, you’ll have to listen to find out. The narrator did a very good job of coming off as a man who doesn’t give a crap, with deep mommy issues, and was absolutely believable. The character development was well done and the backstory was well placed throughout the story. A very good twist for those who think they know what’s going to happen but love a good juicy surprise.