He's Alive

A JJ Gilbert Mystery

Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
356 Pages
Reviewed on 08/24/2018
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Linda M Williams got her love for mysteries from her parents who were avid readers. Her family watched mystery on television and tried to see who could figure out who did it first. Linda has also been fascinated with mediums and attended the shows of several prominent mediums. In a personal reading, she received multiple messages from her parents, including the suggestion that she write a book. Now she has combined her passion for mysteries and her fascination for mediums to create the character of JJ Gilbert. Linda is retired and living in Southern California.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In He's Alive by Linda M. Williams, after Jordyn Gilbert witnessed her twin brother's death in a school bus collision, she discovered a hidden gift as a medium. When the spirit of her twin visited her as she recovered from the accident, she promised him she would use her gift to help others. From that moment on she transformed into JJ. Ten years later, while visiting her brother's grave, she was given the opportunity to keep that promise when she hears a strange voice stating: "He’s alive." The voices continue and the spirit entity is so strong it pushes JJ over the edge until she has no choice but to solve this mystery. The only person she can turn to for help is her old school friend Luke, and together they uncover the identity of the spirit and the shocking truth behind the message. JJ faces hostility and threats as she investigates a crime that has gone unsolved for years. Will she discover the spirit missing son is alive? Someone’s life depends on it.

This is a fantastic concept for a story line and the author has executed the plot with sensitivity and knowledge of her subject. There are many twists and turns throughout the plot as JJ tries to uncover the identity of the son. I was gripped by the fast moving, exciting investigation by JJ and Luke. The conflict and tension throughout kept my attention and it was perfectly paced out throughout the story. The characters were all created with great detail and a fantastic backstory which was evident in the dialogue. The lead character, JJ, was a good, strong female protagonist who also had a caring compassionate side. The whole novel had a beautiful blend of sadness, excitement and tension. The ending couldn’t have been better written.

Jack Magnus

He's Alive: A JJ Gilbert Mystery is a paranormal mystery novel written by Linda M. Williams. Everything changed on that awful day, ten years ago, when JJ’s twin brother, Jackson, died in a terrifying school bus accident. That was when JJ changed her name from Jordyn to JJ, to keep a part of her brother alive. Jackson was a goofball and a class clown, blond, charming and a frequent inhabitant of the detention room. They were so different in so many ways, but the fact of their being twins went beyond those superficialities.

JJ and her parents had been hit so hard by his death. JJ’s acting out had led her mom to have her placed in a hospital, and her dad had eventually left his wife and daughter. Even now, residual hostilities between mother and daughter made their weekly dinners together an ordeal for each of them. JJ’s mom still had issues with her daughter’s paranormal abilities. She refused to accept the fact that JJ saw Jackson after he had died. Now, JJ was being bombarded with the message: “He’s alive”. She knew it couldn’t be Jackson as she had been there when he died, but try as she could not to get involved, the spirit behind the message was obviously anxious and desperately needed help.

Linda M. Williams’ paranormal mystery novel, is a taut and engrossing story about a medium who is determined to use her gift. I appreciated Williams’ perceptive look at the stresses mediums are subject to due to the skepticism and disbelief of the public, as well as their own family members and the impact that those negative attitudes can have -- particularly on young mediums who usually have no one to mentor them or help them understand their gift. William’s characters are finely honed and multi-dimensional, and her plot is well developed with plenty of red herrings for JJ and the reader to puzzle over. He's Alive: A JJ Gilbert Mystery is most highly recommended.

Deborah Lloyd

After the death of her twin brother Jackson Gilbert, Jordyn called herself JJ – the first initials of both their names. His death eventually caused the family to split apart, as her parents divorced and her relationship with her mother was always fraught with tension. JJ had the gift of communicating with the deceased, but it was not supported by her mother. One day, years after the tragic event, JJ heard the words, “He’s alive.” This message was repeated several times, and JJ was led to solve the fifteen-year-old mystery of a missing boy. In the novel, He’s Alive: A JJ Gilbert Mystery, written by Linda M. Williams, the blending of messages from the other side with real life obstacles is a refreshing whodunit plot. JJ eventually realizes her gift can be helpful to others, embracing it, rather than feeling embarrassed by it.

He’s Alive: A JJ Gilbert Mystery has an excellent plot. There are many characters introduced during the story, as the main character JJ follows the leads given to her by the spirit. As each young man is introduced, the descriptions are thorough and distinct, making it easy for the reader to remember each one. The spirit told JJ she had already met the missing boy/now young man, so the reader knew it was one of those already introduced. JJ’s best friend, Luke, always supported her gift, and he is her main sounding board during this mysterious quest. Author Linda M. Williams has written an intriguing mystery novel in He’s Alive: A JJ Gilbert Mystery. This may be the first of a unique mystery series!