Hearing Voices

An Isaac Blaze Thriller

Fiction - Thriller - General
396 Pages
Reviewed on 03/23/2017
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Axel Cruise is the author of the highly acclaimed psychological thriller Hearing Voices - the first in the Isaac Blaze series.

Check out what Readers’ Favourite is saying here: https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/hearing-voices

Axel is known for his ability to craft fast paced interweaving storylines, but primarily it’s his ‘cool’ and ’compelling characters’ and ‘dialogues that read so naturally’ that draws in audiences, with readers and reviewers likening Isaac Blaze to icons such as Deadpool and Jason Bourne.

Check out the awesome book launch competition here: www.hearingvoicesbook.com/contest

British born, Axel grew up ‘pretty much in front of the TV’, and, in much the same way as Quentin Tarantino with films, Axel credits his incredible consumption of TV shows for his extensive knowledge of story craft. Some personal favourites include Spiderman TAS (‘the best thing Marvel ever made’), Seinfeld (‘the best show ever made’), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Dragonball Z.

Axel’s thoughts on writing style and ‘voice’:

‘…It’s all about the talk. That rapid back-and-forth between the characters - between the character and the reader - that creates the magic.’

On the question of plot vs character:

‘Look. Plot’s important, yeah. But really, I just want to see cool characters doing cool shit.’


You can check out the full Author Interview with Axel here: hearingvoicesbook.com/about-the-author

    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Hearing Voices: An Isaac Blaze Thriller by Axel Cruise is the story of a man named Isaac Blaze. Some might call him crazy, some might call him a sociopath, but to himself, he is just Isaac Blaze. He has two voices in his head; one is that of a British man (cool, sexy and very suave) and the other voice is that of a woman (just as unhelpful as you could expect). Needless to say, people think he is trouble and some might even agree with it wholeheartedly. He is trouble and finally a SWAT team has got hold of him. Now what can he do? Can he escape and get away before they actually “break” him? How did they find him in the first place, because the closest relationship he has is with the two voices in his head? What happens next? You will have to join Isaac to learn what happened next.

You know you have hit the cool character jackpot when the first sentence of the book starts with this much action. I love Isaac and his ability to cope. He is very much like a realistic version of Deadpool and there is nothing about him that I don’t love. I love the two voices in his head and I am very partial to his twisted humor. Hearing Voices started with a bang and Axel Cruise kept the momentum going until the very last sentence. This is one of those novels that you are glad you choose and you keep on going back for more again and again. Isaac is definitely an unforgettable character and if you do have the audacity to forget him, he will come back with a vengeance to get your attention once again. I really enjoyed it. Great character creation!

Tracy Slowiak

In an exciting and thrilling new read by author Axel Cruise, Hearing Voices: An Isaac Blaze Thriller is a book that readers will pick up and won't put down until they have read through the very last page. Follow the story of Isaac Blaze, a man wanted by almost every governmental agency there is. A man with two unhelpful voices in his head, and a constant battle within himself, Blaze is certainly a worthy adversary, and one who is able to elude capture at every turn. So when a SWAT team is able to take Isaac Blaze into custody with very little fight, alarm bells should have gone off. The agency seemed too intent on congratulating themselves for making such a high profile capture, however, instead of trying to figure out exactly what was going on in Blaze's mind. This was clearly not the right choice, and you'll need to read the book to find out exactly what havoc Blaze causes afterwards.

I very much enjoyed Hearing Voices: An Isaac Blaze Thriller. Author Axel Cruise has done a great job in creating a book that is a roller coaster of a read, an action packed adventure novel filled with intrigue and excitement at every turn. Any reader who enjoys action, adventure, thrills, an intriguing protagonist, or who is just looking for a great read of fiction in general, should absolutely grab this book. I am pleased to be able to highly recommend Hearing Voices: An Isaac Blaze Thriller, and I look forward to reading more from author Axel Cruise in the very near future!

Romuald Dzemo

Hearing Voices by Axel Cruise is a superbly accomplished psychological thriller with powerful elements of crime and investigation. From the very start of this novel the reader is pulled in when the protagonist says: “I was about to be tortured. And not in a good way.” In fact, these are the opening words of this intriguing story, but at the end of the chapter, the reader watches as the supposed victim laughs, because the man in front of him is about to die. The thrill ride begins from this point and the reader will press on, wanting to discover the mystery that is Isaac Blaze, the man described as the “Unknown,” his reputation and mission, and how dangerous he could be.

Readers will love the compelling cast of characters. I was immediately drawn to the protagonist whose voice comes across strongly in the first person narrative. The author did a great job in creating him as a free agent, affiliated with no agency. A gifted man whose exceptional skills make him a dangerous and hunted man. The reader will enjoy the way the author explores the psyche of this character, and it must be said that the work requires a lot of skill - Axel Cruise seems to have the right skills for it. Characters like Sophia and Isabel are among those that readers will love to follow, and it is interesting to see how these characters help deepen the psychological depth of the protagonist.

The writing is wonderful. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, the dialogues that read so naturally. They are, at times, witty and intelligent. The chapters are well-designed to leave the reader wanting to know what happens next. Every chapter ends with an enigmatic statement that forces the reader to turn the page. There is a lot of action in this thriller, so much to keep the reader engrossed in it. Axel Cruise is a gifted writer and the originality of style and clarity of his narrative voice will have readers enthralled. Hearing Voices is a success on many counts: the unpredictable plot, the compelling cast of characters, and the masterful handling of conflict.

Cheryl E. Rodriguez

Axel Cruise pens a top-notch psychological thriller in Hearing Voices. One must “never speak out loud to the voices in your head.” It becomes weird if you do. Isaac Blaze is a rare individual, more like a machine than a person. He is a genius who lives life on the edge. You would too if you had a continual conversation going on in your mind. Blaze is arrested, more like abducted, by a secret division of the CIA. But, maybe he got caught on purpose? Before it really begins, his interrogation turns into a blood bath. Everyone dies but him. One lone woman, beautiful and extremely well-trained, comes to his rescue, and then disappears. Could it be that he wasn’t the target at all? Nothing is as it seems. Isaac Blaze is determined to uncover the truth. Who are these people, and what have they done?

What happens when A Beautiful Mind collides with The Bourne Identity? The answer - Hearing Voices. Axel Cruise hooks you with his opening sentence, and continues to reel you in to the very end. Page after page, the intrigue and suspense keep you engaged. This book is a work of intense palpitations! Its heart beats erratically, spiking conspiracy and pulsating with trepidation. Questions multiply into more questions, before the inevitable answers are discovered. The idea of having multiple voices speaking in your mind causes both comedy and mental power simultaneously. Top that off with adrenaline pumping action, and you have a sensational read. Explosions! Car chases! Secret government agencies! Wit and genius all combined into one story. Hearing Voices is beyond entertaining ; it is mind-blowing.