Cover for Almost Mortal

The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Almost Mortal

Because Almost Mortal was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.

Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.

IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.

This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.

Bianka Walter

502647
The cover of this book led me to believe that it was a fantasy. I was interested to hear that it was a legal thriller, and I am a fan of this genre. The sample captured my attention immediately. I loved the array of characters. The author has a brilliant way of subtle tellings about who the people are below the surface. The main character, Sam, has some sort of 6th sense about what will or won't happen in the future, or rather if things will turn out ok. I liked this little added touch. It makes a same-old legal fiction a little different; it gives it an edge. The first ten pages sold me. I will be reading this book further. I found not one error, so I think this book has been very well edited. The OBC review made me want to read the book more.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 4:22 am by Bianka Walter.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Mercelle

204747
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that the author narrates a crime story entangled with ancient secrets. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the prosecutor brought in a surprise witness to testify against Scarfrowe. Since I noticed no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, but I won't read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me. As it is, there's nothing I would change about the bit I read.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 4:18 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

va2016

119030
The title and the cover do not indicate the theme of the book. There are 52 Amazon customer reviews. The Amazon summary is pretty interesting, and makes me curious to sample the book. Based on the Amazon summary, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing a lawyer reviewing the case of a murder, and a video clip that shows the murder in detail. I especially liked the way the author describes how the video clip was taken to show the minute details of the murder, and how it is most watched by the general public. Since I am interested in crime fiction, I am going to read the book in full and find out the background of the murder and who did that. I found the book professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is its crime plot. I could not find anything that can be improved with the book. Although I found one OBC review on the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 3:43 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

briellejee

309975
Based on the cover and title, I think I would have sampled the book. Legal thrillers are my kind of genre and both aspects mentioned above are appealing and caught my interest at once. As for the first few pages, I think there's a lack of urgency and and substance. I found the author's writing style a little forced. The characters, especially Jonathon, also lacked a personality that they didn't make a good first impression. The prologue also didn't urge me to wanna read more of the book, so did the first chapter. I'm pretty sure there's an element lacking in the writing style, that or I'm just not the right person for this book. The plot seems promising though. I think I could suggest to say a little more about the case in the start to get curious minds riled up. With that said, I will not be buying the book. I found no noticeable errors and the official OBC review was quite helpful to let me decide to sample it.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 3:28 am by briellejee.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Vickie Noel

249577
The title of this book is intriguing and gives off the vibe that there's more to the book than meets the eye. I couldn't make out much from the cover art, except that the "s" in "almost" looks like an altered DNA. This perhaps, lends credence to the title and is obviously well thought of. Also, the fact that it's a legal thriller is an instant qualifier for me; I'd have read it outside the program. After sampling a few pages, my opinion hasn't changed. It's a cozy read, with a tone that just has a relaxing effect without being boring, a tone that can just as quickly switch up the pace to display thrilling action and also normalize into everyday activities. I like how Scarfrowe's unconscious gesture was analysed to give the reader a background information about him and why he was facing a court case with Sam Young as his attorney. I didn't notice any grammatical errors and my reading flow was seamless, so kudos to the book's editor. My only issue is that the sample ended a bit too soon for me. I'm having a feeling that Sam Young is no ordinary lawyer, but I was unable to really get a glimpse of that. The OBC review had this lukewarm effect on me, as it praised the book but grumbled about it not having enough suspense, but as an avid reader of legal thrillers, I am undeterred and will be reading more.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 3:04 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Catherine Hsu

104096
If I had not read the sample, I would have read the book as I really love how the cover looks. After reading the official sample, I have not changed my mind. I liked the dash of humor as well, such as the repeated joke about "scooping," which I thought was really funny and made the characters seem very relatable. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision. The sample was professionally edited.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 2:04 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Annelore Trujillo

97769
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing the book. The topics in the book are honestly a little triggering. The entire beginning involves the lawyers trying to get a man out of a sentence for something he was guilty of. Because it was sexual assault that he was guilty of, I really had a difficult time reading the beginning. Then the lawyers meet the nun who wants them to help out so that the father of the church doesn’t get in trouble for not telling law enforcement about the confession from the serial killer. This is another topic that I had a difficult time with, so I won’t be reading the book. I did think the prologue does a good job of catching the reader’s attention. The book also seemed to be professionally edited.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 12:31 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Fu Zaila

878840
The cover and blurb looks good but nothing like what I got to read in the sample. The writing is exceedingly good and edited professionally. I liked the prologue and how the author described capturing the exact moment of death - it made me want to watch that footage. The prologue was quite unrelated to what I read in the first chapter. I didn't like that the author reminds us again and again how Scarfrowe is different from other criminals and does everything his own way. That constant reminding was not needed. Otherwise, I loved reading the sample. And I am interested in reading further too.

First Ten review added on April 19, 2019, at 12:05 am by Fu Zaila.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

AA1495

104697
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. However, the cover (with the orange and brown color combination) caught my attention. The title also made me curious about the content of the book. Having read the sample, I liked how the author began the book with positive reviews. It gave me a good impression of the book even before reading its actual content. However, I was a little disappointed by the lack of an introduction to the author and the lack of chapter titles. I prefer knowing a little about the chapter before actually reading it, through chapter titles. However, I felt like the book was well formatted. I liked how there was enough spacing between paragraphs, which made the book easier to read. Further, the author introduced Scarfrowe's character well. I found no major grammatical error in the sample. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be buying the book today.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 10:52 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

ritah

236447
Based on the cover and genre, I would have sampled the book because I usually go for books in this genre. I read the official review and sampled Almost Mortal. I found it funny how Scarfrowe's fingers were described as 'practiced fingers' given the seriousness of the crime he committed. I didn't like that he tried to lie to his lawyer about knowing who the serial killer was (so that he could avoide serious jail time). I did not find any errors in the pages I read. I liked the author's writing style, the intriguing plot, and the mystery of who the serial killer is captured my attention, which is why I will be reading the rest of the book.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 7:59 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Jaime Lync

155185
Almost Mortal by Christopher Leibig has such an intriguing title that I would have sampled this book even without being prompted by the first ten program. This seems to be a crime thriller which features Sam Young, a public-defendant, as the protagonist. From the first ten pages, I gathered that there will be numerous interesting cases that will come into play including, serial killings and sexual assault. There were also hints that supernatural giftings and religious themes would also heavily shape the storyline. I really enjoyed the author's writing style which allows for a build-up of suspense. On the other hand, I think that the way that dialogues are structured can be improved as I did not always know who was speaking. In general, there were no grammatical errors, so I believe that the book was professionally edited. I recommend this to persons who are looking for a character-driven thriller. I would love to know what happens to the protagonist, so I will invest time and money on this book.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 5:35 pm by Jaime Lync.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Heidi M Simone

76506
Without this program, I would not have sampled this read. Reading about serial killers aren't usually to my taste. Therefore, the blurb and genre would not pique my interest. I do like the title, but I'm confused of what the cover contains. The mixed customer ratings is a bit worrisome, but it was nice to see a fairly positive OBC rating. I did not see any glaring errors while reading. I like reading about Sam's psychic abilities. For instance, when Director for Religious Education, Sister Camille Paradisi, touched his arm, he felt small bursts of energy. Personally, I enjoy fantasy elements in books. However, reading about how Scarfrowe gropes women does not make me feel good. This makes me wonder if there will be other cases in the story that will make me feel uncomfortable. Also, it is very hard to connect and feel for any of the characters. Though the reader gets snippets of Sam's life (his mother passing and losing touch with Father Andrada), I don't really find myself sympathizing or connecting with him. Due to not feeling much of a connection with anyone and the fact that reading books that features a serial killer isn't for me, I do not plan on buying and reading this book.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 2:28 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

gen_g

697597
I have yet to come across reviews of the book on OBC; it is also professionally edited. I enjoyed the sample; Scarfrowe is a unique individual, and Paradisi an even more intriguing one. I would definitely like to learn more about the murder case mentioned and how Sam Young, Paradisi, and Scarfrowe are connected via this same case. I too like that the book pulls no punches even from the beginning. I will be buying the book today to continue the adventure; I currently have no suggestions for improvement.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 11:55 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Nisha Ward

1192566
A crime thriller with a dual narrative is something I've been thinking about all day thanks to this book. It also reminds me of Daredevil, with Sam being a lawyer, though I do love that the author took his faith in the opposite direction. His concern for his colleague and easy demeanour around his client were my favourite parts of what I read, but I can't say for certain that I would have picked it up without the review. Even though it's well edited and the text is written in a manner to hook the reader, the cover made me uncertain as to what exactly to expect from the book. I'm glad I did, though, and I fully intend to read further when I can.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 8:49 am by Nisha Ward.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Alice Heritage

173569
I wouldn't have sampled this book on the basis of the genre as I'm not prioritizing mysteries at the moment. I also won't buy and read it today because it doesn't represent my preferred genre at the moment. The book seems professionally edited as I noticed no errors. I liked the way Sam was described as an experienced lawyer through the references to his knowledge of his clients' names and histories. I was impressed by how the information was interwoven subtly with the narrative - Sam's experience shows when he advises Amelia, his less experienced colleague, not to mention in her closing argument the legal concept of ten guilty persons going free. The legal considerations were intriguing. This was a strong opening, and nothing particularly needs to be improved, certainly not from the point of view of those looking for a crime book. The OnlineBookClub review confirmed that this is a well-crafted mystery - that did not affect my decision, which was essentially made on the basis of the genre.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 8:31 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kristin Ransome

1137885
This book seems to mix the idea of fantasy with real life mystery. While not a part of my preferred genre, this mix of themes and well-done writing caught my attention enough to read it! Having found no errors, I'd say this book was professionally edited. My favourite part was the honest but aloof nature of Scarfrowe, because it emphasizes that many people who commit crimes do not realize their actions are bad. My least favourite part was how only one person originally accused Scarfrowe even though he assaulted many other women.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 7:55 am by Kristin Ransome.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Emy Katherine

94929
A criminal defense attorney, Sam Young, is determined to capture a serial killer known as the Rosslyn Ripper. He uses his physic abilities to solve the mystery. I did not like the cover, but the title caught my attention. As I love reading crime stories, I would have read and sampled the book based on the blurb and genre. Unfortunately, although the sample was entertaining, the OBC review changed my mind as it mentioned the book lacked suspense. However, I am glad to say that "Almost Mortal" by Christopher Leibig has many positive aspects. For example, I enjoyed the realistic, humorous dialogues between the characters. Also, the writing style was descriptive and absorbing, making it easy for the reader to be invested in the story. I did not notice any punctuation or grammatical errors; the book seems to be professionally edited. In all sincerity, the lack of suspense is a deal breaker for me; therefore, I will not read the book. Considering the great Amazon ratings, fans of legal thrillers will enjoy it.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 5:50 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Ekta Kumari

896308
I think Almost Mortal is a great legal thriller and suspense book. I was intrigued by its plot, so I chose to sample it. I really like the subtle tension the author has imbued into the story, and the portrayal of characters goes well with the overall vibe of the setting. I like the character of Sam Young in particular. He seems to be a character readers can relate as well as empathise with. Plus, the book seems very well edited. Everyone interested in the genre should definitely check out the sample to know if they like the feel of the storyline and the writing. The official review can also be referred to know more about the book. I'll definitely check out this book as the sample is engaging and interests me about rest of the book.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 3:54 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sonya Nicolaidis

1005818
My first thought of this book was that it might be about vampires, judging from the title. I really liked the look of the front cover and was even more impressed when I began to read. The writing was impeccable, the grammar suggested professional editing, and I thoroughly enjoyed what I read. So much so, that I was caught up in the story and was disappointed when the sample ended. The author has an oblique way of establishing his story which is unusual and very appealing. I cannot suggest any improvements so far, as there is nothing I didn’t like about the sample. The OBC reviewer was quite complimentary, although certain weaknesses in character development and in the ending were suggested. This doesn’t put me off at all, as I prefer a plot-driven story. In fact, this is the perfect book for me and a I would definitely love to read it. It’s rare to find a book that ticks all the right boxes these days!

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 3:35 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

LV2R

708077
I thought that the book cover and title were both interesting. The Amazon Blurb revealed that Sam Young had some psychic abilities and was hired by a nun, Camille to help identify a serial killer who had confessed to the church’s pastor. She shared a journal mailed to the church that may have been written from the killer/confessor. I wanted to read the sample. In Virginia, a criminal defense attorney, Sam Young, was talking to Scarfrowe, who was arrested for “groping” a woman in public. He claimed Morris Talberton confessed to him to be the Rosslyn Ripper. I best liked that Sam Young knew right away that Morris could not have been the ripper because he was in prison. I like that Sam has had seven years of experience in the public defender’s office and knew about regular clients and pending cases. The book seemed to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. I wasn’t very interested in reading the book. I wanted to read the OBC review. The review mentioned that the book was written in two stories with different writing styles and that the mystery of the serial killer was unexpected and could not be figured out until the end. I think that sounds good, but I do not want to read the book at this time. I don’t like to read about serial killers and criminals very much.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 2:49 am by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Cristina Chifane

418146
I wouldn't have sampled this book without the first ten program because the paranormal elements alluded to in the Amazon blurb would have put me off. Although I usually enjoy reading legal thrillers, I'm not sure about the supernatural elements. However, the title and cover are eye-catching and 79% of the 52 customer reviews give the novel 5 stars. The sample grabbed my attention since the author has a gift for storytelling. He knows how to make his characters believable (see Scarfrowe's description) and how to engage the readers into the plot (see the beginning in Havana and then the switch to Scarfrowe's trial in Washington, DC). I don't agree with the OBC reviewer about the lack of suspense or character development. On the contrary, I think the author did a great job with both aspects. Sam is not the only character you get to know; he also describes Scrafrowe, Plosky, Amelia, or sister Camille. The murder case is also unusual and full of suspense with the pages of the murderer's diary sent to Father Andrada. Since I couldn't find any editing errors and I liked the author's style, I'll add the novel to my reading list.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 2:04 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

MsTri

255145
Both the cover and the title for this book caught my interest. Then I read the Amazon synopsis and OBC review (the only one I read), and my initial thoughts were confirmed. I love crime mysteries, and this one with two stories in one sounds really interesting. When I read the sample, I was glad that it seemed to indicate that the book was professionally edited. I also liked the description, and introduction of, Camille. Additionally, I don't have any suggestions for changes because this tome is already written perfectly.

First Ten review added on April 18, 2019, at 12:15 am by MsTri.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Juliana_Isabella

1210914
Although I don't usually read crime novels, I was intrigued by the summary and review of this book. After reading the sample, I was on the fence but eventually decided not to buy the book for a few reasons. Although I didn't find any grammatical errors, I did find the lawyer's instincts to be a bit unbelievable, and they made his character unrelatable for me. Also, just based on the first few paragraphs, it seems like the book will involve graphic violence, which made me less likely to enjoy it. For these reasons, I chose not to buy the book in spite of the intriguing premise.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 11:24 pm by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

revna01

587493
Sam Young is a public defender in Bennett, Virginia and is listening to his client Jon describe an incident with attacking a woman that could land him in prison for life. In the prologue, a man known as the lawyer is waiting on someone but doesn't know who. In Havana in 2013, a man was shot to death and the video was captured which the lawyer is now watching. I really liked the author's writing. The flow was smooth and the sentences varied. It was a really natural style of writing. I wouldn't change a thing about the first ten pages. Also, there were no errors. I like the title and cover as well. The OBC reviewer noted two storylines and a major twist. With the awards the book had received, I was surprised to see the rating. In any case, I think this book has great writing, I'm just not in the market for this genre currently.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 11:21 pm by revna01.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Scerakor

45879
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. I don't read many serial killer who done it type books and this one didn't seem that special. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I sincerely admired how the author is able to draw in the reader immediately within the first chapter. The description of the murder in the way that it was televised was absolutely stunning. That being said, despite the amazing first chapter, the reviewer purposefully mentioned that the ending was lacking, and that really bothers me especially in crime books. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 10:40 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Sahani Nimandra

385393
Almost Mortal by Christopher Leibig is a fictional read about a serial killer. In the review: "The lack of suspense and the book's ending made it less perfect for me, but the execution of the overall story deserves more than a 2-star rating." In my opinion: Being a crime novel, and lacking suspense and thriller isn't a crime novel at all. Suspense and thriller are the most important ingredients in a crime book, so I don't agree with the reviewer's rating. In other sense, I agree with the reviewer especially on the character development view. Seems like a book that has potential to spark. First and foremost, I didn't encounter any unique characteristic in this read that sparked my interest. It was about a pervert named, Scarfrowe who deserves to be jailed permanently. The start takes us to a lawyer who had plunged himself in deep thought. I didn't encounter any grammatical hindrances while reading.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 10:37 pm by Sahani Nimandra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Jessacardinal

1130932
At first glance, I feel indifferent toward the cover and title of this book and probably would pass on it in the store. I am pleasantly surprised by the professionally edited material found between the covers of the book. Based on the sample material, I will keep Almost Mortal on my list of books to read in the future. I like the interesting plot of the book. I also enjoy reading about each of the characters, even Scarfrowe, the defendant in a disturbing case. There is nothing I dislike in the sample, thus, nothing I would recommend improving on. I have not previously seen any reviews on this book, but I would like to see what others have to say about the story.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 9:57 pm by Jessacardinal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

CinWin

717915
"Almost Mortal" by Christopher Leibig begins with a lawyer in Cuba, getting ready to meet some people regarding a famous murder. In the next chapter, we meet our protagonist, Sam Young, a criminal defense attorney. His client might have some information on a serial killer the police have been trying to catch. I enjoyed the writer's style in that the reader feels as though they are in the room listening to what is happening. It is effortless and straightforward which makes it easy to understand. I also enjoyed the mysterious tilt to the prologue. I will not be finishing it because I do not enjoy books based on serial killers. They are too violent. I did not see any typos in the first ten pages, and there is an onlinebookclub review. I did not like the cover as I could not figure out what it was supposed to be. That is the only thing I saw that could be improved.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 9:29 pm by CinWin.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Chelsy Scherba

75151
I enjoyed reading the first part of the chapter with the lawyer describing the video of the live murder that was caught on camera and the three widows that waded through the pigeons. These descriptions were beautiful and picturesque and immediately captured my interest. I really didn’t enjoy the overly detailed lewdness of Scarfrowe though. Obviously he’s meant to be detestable, but he was so much so I don’t want to continue reading another sentence about him. I liked the title, but it made me think this book was about a fantasy world instead of crime. The editing looks exceptional, I couldn’t find any errors. The review was mostly positive, but given I don’t particularly enjoy crime fiction, I’ll likely pass.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 9:28 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Jsovermyer

1045410
The title, Almost Mortal, is interesting. I'm not sure what the cover picture is supposed to be. I like crime and suspense stories. The idea of a Rosslyn Ripper serial killer is intriguing. I didn't like the part where the accused, Scarfrowe, says he was just trying to steal the lady's purse, but was really grabbing her private female parts. This is not acceptable. I didn't like any of the characters introduced in the first ten pages. The official review rated this book highly, but it was not that interesting to me. I didn't find any spelling or grammatical errors and believe that it has been professionally edited. I am not going to finish this book.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 7:45 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

unamilagra

1197956
Before sampling this book, I would probably not have picked it up. I do like crime thrillers, but the cover art makes this look like a sci-fi type of book, which I'm not as into. After reading the first ten pages, I found myself a bit confused about what was going on. I was trying to figure out who the lawyer and his guests were, and then all of a sudden it switched over to Sam and his groper client. I didn't dislike the book so far, but it didn't grab me enough to make me want to purchase it over anything else. I don't plan to continue with this book. I did not notice any errors in the section I reviewed.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 7:23 pm by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

CataclysmicKnight

67089
The title of this one along with "A legal thriller" is intriguing. I'm sure I would've looked into this if it wasn't the book of the day.

So far the book has jumped around a fair bit, from a groper/rapist practicing for court to the lead character wondering about what could potentially be psychic abilities. The sample wasn't much longer than 10 pages, so I went ahead and read it all and the more of it I read, the more intrigued I was.

With that said, I really haven't seen enough of the main plot yet to be drawn in. I love anything to do with superpowers, and that includes a villain who can control minds and a detective who has psychic abilities, but I'd need to get a good taste of that before I buy a copy.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 6:13 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

sarahmarlowe randomeducator

812327
From the thumbnail, I can't tell much about the cover other than the title design is creative and readable. But, I will say that I loved the sample. The prose flowed easily, and I enjoyed the humor and sarcasm the characters shared. I was also intrigued by the references to the murder, the interactions with Scarfrowe, Sam's connection to the priest, and the mysterious quality of the "hot nun." I will be reading the rest of this book! I have not read an OBC review.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 6:03 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kajori Sheryl Paul

997537
'Almost Mortal' is a book written by Christopher Leibig. The title, cover, OBC review, and Amazon review did a good job at convincing me to give this book a try.

The first ten pages leads me to believe that it opens in Cuba with a lawyer waiting on his guests. We also get to know of a murder that took place in front of the public eye. The story then shifts to public defender, Sam Young. Sam and Amelia are defending a sex offender named Jonathan P. Scarfrowe. After coming out of the courtroom a woman named Camille Paradisi happens upon them. Camille works in the Church of the Holy Angels. She asks Sam to help her help Father Andrada, A friend of Sam's deceased mother. Sam has some special powers. Also, there is a serial killer on the run in Banner County. I like writing style. I did not find any error. Hence, I consider it to be professionally edited. I will give this book a try as I like reading books of this genre.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 4:31 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Laura Ungureanu

620179
I don't know why, but the cover doesn't really inspire me to read this book. After reading the OBC review, I changed my opinion. The book is presented as a marvelous work of mystery. I liked the way the author portrayed Scarfrowe's character. A forty-seven years old man who sexually assaulted many women is finally being caught. He panics and would do and say anything to get away. Of course, the big mystery of the book is who the Rosslyn Ripper is. Although I enjoyed the sample, I don't usually read mystery books. It seemed professionally edited.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 3:34 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Yoli García

139064
I do not read legal thrillers, so I would not have sampled this book without this program. Even though the OBC review did not convince me to read it, I thought it was intriguing that the criminal confessed his identity to a priest. I wonder how often that happens in real life. I believe a professional edited the book because I did not find grammatical errors in the sample pages. I consider that the secondary character of Scarfrowe is disgusting. His laid-back attitude about being a sexual predator is disturbing. I liked that the book starts in Havana, Cuba because I like original settings. However, I will not read the book because I do not read this genre.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 3:10 pm by Yoli García.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

britt13

360292
I love crime thrillers and am very interested in serial killers, so this book sounded right up my alley. My only concern is that I like a robust suspenseful ending, and it seems based on the official review like this book may not have that. The prologue definitely made me want to keep reading. I did think it was kind of odd that it was just "the lawyer" instead of a name but it worked I guess because now I wanted to know who he was. Leibig has a wonderful command of imagery such as in the line "transformation of a human body from a vibrant vessel to empty flesh". I was in awe of that sentence! That great imagery continues on into the first chapter. I very much enjoyed the writing. I can not spend the money today, but I will be buying this book down the road to keep on reading! (I also found no grammatical errors).

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 2:23 pm by britt13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

srividyag1

1186486
I loved the cover of this book. Seeing the cover and the title, I thought it was a fantasy. Then I saw the subtitle "A legal thriller." I would definitely have chosen this book for reading if it was just based on the cover. Then I read the pages in the free sample as well as the reviews. I loved the preface. The first chapter starts with a criminal charged with sexual assault testifying. There was also interaction between the lawyers Sam and Amelia.The book seemed professionally edited and I couldn't find any grammatical errors. Reading the first chapter alone, I was not very much thrilled to continue. The dialogue felt dreary to me. But after reading the review, I feel that if I read more chapters, I would probably be more interested in the book. However, based on what I sampled, I won't be buying the book.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 2:20 pm by srividyag1.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Lorraine De Vos

140922
The award sticker on the cover of this book already makes it an attractive read. I would have definitely chosen to sample this book based on that alone. The sample pages were easy to read and the prologue sets up the reader for a dramatic page turner. The official OnlineBookClub review added some vital information that’s not prevalent in the sample yet, but did not contain any spoilers. I like the idea of reading from both the attorney as well as the serial killer’s perspective. So far there was nothing I disliked. The book appears to be professionally edited as I did not see any errors. I will buy this book to read. It looks interesting.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 2:05 pm by Lorraine De Vos.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

desantismt_17

604219
This book’s title made me curious. The description didn’t hook me. This sounded like a legal thriller, which isn’t the kind of mystery/suspense story I enjoy. Before sampling, I wasn’t going to read. After sampling, I’ll pass. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. The prologue, while intriguing, turned me off a bit. I don’t usually like nameless characters in prologues, as I never know if I’ll see them in the story again. Even so, the prologue was written in a way to hook interest. The writing stayed solid into chapter one. Though, while good and grammatically correct, it fell flat for me. There are many paragraphs dedicated to discussion of Scarfrowe’s criminal history. I wanted to get out of his past and into the present of the story. For me, doing so would have improved the story, but others may feel differently. The OnlineBookClub.org review was interesting and informative but didn’t change my mind. This just isn’t my kind of book.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 1:06 pm by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kristy Khem

533451
This book had an appealing cover design, blurb, and title. Amazon’s mixed reviews were my only concern. Still, I would have chosen to read this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the sample. It started off rather boring, where the lawyer was just observing things around him, like three random old women in the plaza. Furthermore, the first ‘lawyer’ scenario I was introduced to was about a perverted man named Scarfrowe who was being accused of sexual harassment. This was really unappealing to read about. I didn’t spot any errors in the sample, but based on what I read, I would not be buying and reading this book. It doesn’t seem like one I would enjoy.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 1:01 pm by Kristy Khem.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Sarah_Khan

89585
I like the cover and title of this book, they make me want to find out more. I probably would not have picked this up after reading the Amazon blurb because I don't like the idea of psychic powers and a murder mystery. The first ten pages were professionally edited. The prologue was intriguing with the video clip of a murder. Unfortunately, the psychic part of this book makes me have to pass on reading the rest. I did not read any OBC review.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 12:46 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

HRichards

741384
I normally wouldn't have picked this book up as the genre doesn't really appeal to me. Having read the sample I won't be continuing on with the book as it's not my type of read. The sample deals with a public defender talking to a lowlife who is charged with groping women. The criminal tries to bargain his way out by claiming he knows who committed some murders, but the lawyer calls his bluff. The writing is very good and I didn't notice any grammar errors. Those who like crime novels might like this book. I'm just not that interested in that genre. I haven't read any other reviews of this book.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 12:43 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

lisalynn

1211288
With a riveting prologue and an attention-grabbing opening chapter, "Almost Mortal" promises to be a great read. I'm intrigued by the mysterious details already dropped - a death caught on video, unusual instincts, a wig. Leibig offers quick, piercing character sketches of the supporting players, although, in just ten pages, I don't have quite as good a grip on the protagonist, Sam Young. The dialogue is realistic and natural. I saw no editing errors. I did not see any OnLineBookClub review, but this did not affect my decision to take a peek. I may not have picked up this book based on the title and cover art, but reading the first ten and blurb changed my mind. The first ten pages hint at something psychic happing. The blurb makes this promise openly. "Almost Mortal" is a bit more than just a crime whodunit. Definitely worth a closer look.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 12:20 pm by lisalynn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

cpru68

517613
In the opening pages of this book, readers are introduced to a lawyer who is looking over information a priest has given him while he waits for a meeting. The book then leaps to a scene where Sam Young, a public defender, along with a coworker Amelia Griffin, are trying to assist a client named Scarfrowe from going to jail for attacking a woman and groping her. His claim is that he was going to steal her purse, and he says her claims of sexual assault are a lie. However, he has a track record of doing this, and it appears no matter how much his defense tries for him, he will be going to prison.

I liked how quickly the first ten pages went by. I felt like a lot of information was shared, but it wasn’t taxing to read. It gives readers a good quick look into the premise of the book right away.

I won’t be finishing this book because I am not a big fan of crime and mystery novels. Just the scene of Scarfrowe going over what he had done to various women disturbed me, so this just isn’t the book for me.

I did not find any errors in punctuation, spelling or grammar so this seems to have been professionally edited. I probably wouldn’t have found this one on my own search without the online book club because I read non-fiction the majority of the time. I appreciate the opportunity to have read the sample pages, and I will send it out on my social media for others to look into.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 11:13 am by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mai Tran

1025684
I’m not very keen on crime thrillers, but this story sounds very intriguing, plus the supernatural element is a nice twist. I would read this book even without the program. Quite a number of interesting characters make their appearance in the first chapter, but the book unfolds at a leisurely pace that is very easy to follow. The book is well written and has a very natural narrative. It also appears professionally edited. I would love to continue reading this book and see where Sam’s cases will take him.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 11:09 am by Mai Tran.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Delaney35

1181892
I think that based off the official review and the summary, I would not buy this book. The official review mentioned that it read like two stories in one, which sounds a bit confusing, at least to me. Grammatically, there was nothing wrong with the first few pages. It described a murder. Then it jumped to an accused criminal trying to get out of the crime he was charged for by offering up information about the murder. This beginning wasn't too interesting to me. I think, after considering everything, that I will not be buying and finishing this book. The beginning wasn't engaging to warrant buying it. Also, I am not that invested in any of the books major ideas.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 10:51 am by Delaney35.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Renu G

1230512
As a legal thriller, it seems like an original work of the author. It brings out the perils of a priest who learns about a murderer but is unable to report him because of the seal of confession. The description, etc., on Amazon looks interesting. I was not sure whether to read the book. After reading the first ten pages, I find too many characters. This gives the impression that I'll need to really rack my brains to unravel the mystery. The book seems to have been professionally edited and I did not find any errors. I like the mix of legal thriller and paranormal stuff. However, I'm currently not so keen to read a book of this genre.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 9:22 am by Renu G.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Theresa Moffitt

857578
I like the title and the cover of this book. They are interesting and would have made me pick up this book based only on the cover. I haven’t read a review of this book yet. The book tells the story of a public defender defending a client accused of groping a woman on a bike path. The author’s writing style is interesting and kept me engaged in the story. There was interesting dialogue between the characters that was entertaining. I believe the book was professionally edited because I didn’t see any errors. I found the story interesting and would like to finish this book.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 8:58 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

gali

50066
I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as I am not fond of legal thrillers. I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. Neither the cover nor the blurb grabbed me, and, unfortunately, the sample didn't hook me either. The book follows a Virginia public defender with psychic abilities who tries to unmask a serial murderer. I liked that the story drops the reader right in a court scene. While I liked the mix of police procedural and paranormal, the sample didn't excite me. I didn't notice any glaring errors, always a plus. I won't read the book, as it didn't keep my interest. The official review further swayed me of the book by mentioning its lack of suspense, the uneven pace of the two story-lines, and the weak ending.

First Ten review added on April 17, 2019, at 8:57 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Total ~ 42%

Almost Mortal earned a score of 42%.

In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 42% plan to read the whole book.

IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.

Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.

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