Rune Gate

Rune Gate Cycle, Book 1

By: Mark E. Cooper

Narrated by: Mikael Naramore

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Alexandra Yorke is one of a few trusted clairvoyants working with police on murder cases, but she has a secret. She isn't a clairvoyant, she's a witch unlike any other she has ever met. For years she has struggled to control her gifts, but years living inside one serial killer's head after another has taken its toll, and Alex has reached the end of the road.

Barely able to control her gifts any longer, Alex retreats from the world to live at her grandparents farm where she grew up. Seclusion is her answer, but the world will not leave her alone.

A few months of peace is all she has before a friend calls her in need of help and Alex can't say no. A body has been found, and evidence points to a connection with witches. Who is it that everyone just knows is a witch? Why, that strange woman who just moved back from the big city of course.

What a coincidence!

©2012 Mark E. Cooper (P)2014 Mark E. Cooper

Great start to a new urban fantasy series

This is a great beginning to an Urban Fantasy series! Alex is a witch and clairvoyant who helps the police with some of their cases. She can see memories when she touches the victim's body, which helps the police tremendously in their investigation. Even if some of them don't believe her. She can hear people's thoughts and see visions when people touch her, so she lives alone in the forest so she can have some peace. Her world gets completely turned around when a couple of guys from another world enter into hers. This was a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to book 2.

I thought that Mikael did a fabulous job with the narration. All of the characters had their own voice and accent, which made it very easy to know who was talking at all times. He also did a great job with the female characters!

4.5 Platypires

What made the experience of listening to Rune Gate the most enjoyable?

I'd have to give a lot of credit to the narration. He did a fantastic job helping bring the story to life. I'm definitely going to be looking into more of his work.

What other book might you compare Rune Gate to and why?

To be honest, I dislike comparing books. I think it's better that they stand out on their own. You can blame my parents for this, because I have four sisters and we are (TO THIS DAY) still compared to each other.

Which character – as performed by Mikael Naramore – was your favorite?

Oh gawd... why would you ask me this? I'm going to be biased here and go with Douglas, but only because I have a weakness for Scottish accents. I blame my father for dragging me to rugby games when I was young.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. If I wasn't around young children most of the day, I'd have finished it in one sitting. Alas, I was... and there are some profanity that some people don't find acceptable for young children. I should really invest in headphones.

Any additional comments?

I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Surprises at every turn!

What made the experience of listening to Rune Gate the most enjoyable?

The narrator can change his voice to so many characters. That was a huge surprise.

What did you like best about this story?

When Douglas was introduced. I just feel in love with his character. I wanted to shake Alex and say..... Just how often does Mr. Right just fall into your lap> Duh! :)

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

I would have never picture the different characters the way I did. It totally made the story line perfect! Like icing! :)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The book is over 7 hours. So I'd say yes and no. Yes I was that into it but no I couldn't have listened for 7 straight hours.

Any additional comments?

I was so engrossed into the audio book. That I kept making that shhhhhhhhhhhh! noise to everyone that wanted to talk to me. LOL

It starts out with Alex (a witch) who is called in the middle of the night to help with a crime scene. With her psychic ability she can see the crime though the victims point of view. No matter how hard it is on her, she is determined to help as much as she can to catch the killer. Alex is sure she has seen this horrific crime before. Sheriff Thomas Edwards cares for Alex so he continues to try to keep her out but her determination continues. He is more than aware that she has the ability to read others thoughts and is very sensitive to touch. So he tries his best to keep her out of the investigation. In an attempt to protect her.

Thanks to fate she meets Douglas. Douglas is from another time and world. Douglas is trapped in our world without help from Alex. He helps her understand her psychic talent a little better. He also agrees to help her with the murder mystery. He believes that he knows the killer and is more than willing to help catch one of his enemies. Douglas is hoping that by helping Alex he will be also helping himself to return to his world.


This is the 3rd audio book I have listened to by Mikael Naramore. I was so impressed with all the different voices he had to use for the "Rune Gate" book 1. From the Sheriff sounding a little country, Douglas came across as a huge burly handsome Irish man. I could really picture the character as the narrator tells us the story.


The author has a talent for keeping us more and more interested in the story line. Until we don't want the book to end and are thankful there is a book 2 (Chosen). LOL I would only be surprised if this was never made into a TV mini series or movie. :)

Didn't think I would like it but Wow

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

Yes for sure

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alexandra

Which character – as performed by Mikael Naramore – was your favorite?

Alexandra

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure if I would like this book but to my surprise it was pretty good.

Great Story

A great story. I liked the magic system and I look forward to the sequel.

Ending is a Cliffhanger

Wiccan and witches toil and trouble... So very much love the story line and the details of how Alex explained how/what something was to Douglas. I never really gave it thought that someone from a different era or world wouldn't know what a "truck" or a "shower" was... I really like the way the reader changed his voice with each character you could almost see what that person looked like just by the voice. Mark Cooper you did a wonderful job on this.
Now on to the second one to see what happen to everyone who went through the portal..
I received this book free for an honest review.

Fantastic story with unique twists!

Wow! It is not often that I forego sleep because I have become so enthralled by a story but that is what happened to me while listening to Rune Gate. The beginning dragged a bit and I found myself losing interest but then the story line took a turn and recaptured my full attention. The story line seems a bit predictable until it begins to take some unique twists that keep the reader engaged.
Alex Yorke has returned home to her grandparent’s farm to heal her battered soul. Her work with the Los Angeles police department has left her feeling wounded and vulnerable. Pretending to be a clairvoyant has been quite taxing on Alex because she is not one at all but rather a witch. A witch who has never really been able to rein in her powers and make the most of them. She reluctantly agrees to consult on a ritualistic murder even though it means working with her ex-lover. In the midst of investigating the murder a time portal opens and Douglas is thrust into Alex’s world. He holds the key to not only the identity of the murderer but also on helping Alex learn how to use her powers.
I loved the numerous elements this story threw at the reader. Time travel, witch craft and romance to name a few. Most of the main characters were quite likeable and I found myself wondering if Alex and Thomas would reignite the old sparks or would her attentions gravitate to Douglas. I have read a few reviews that believed the ending was abrupt and designed to push the reader into pursuing the next book in the series. I have to disagree somewhat. I thought the ending was spectacular and unexpected. Yes it made me want to listen to the next book in the series but series are supposed to keep the reader on edge and eager to see what happens next.
Mikael Naramore did an excellent job narrating this story. It was my first time listening to him and he made the listening experience quite pleasurable. Each character was given their own distinct voice allowing the listener to forget that the voices all belong to one man. I will absolutely be adding both the author Mark E. Cooper and the narrator to my list of favorites.

*** I received a complimentary copy of this audio recording in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A wonderfully entertaining listen!

What made the experience of listening to Rune Gate the most enjoyable?

Everything! It was creative and entertaining! I think the author has a wonderful imagination and i will definitely be looking for more from him!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the main character Alex! She is spunky and talented. I love her compassion!

Have you listened to any of Mikael Naramore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This story is just as awesome as his other narrations I've heard! He has a wonderfully entertaining voice and way of drawing you into the story!

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. I have read a few Mark Cooper books before and can't wait for more! I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the paranormal and witches!

Contains triggers

I feel that I can assess the audio performer's work fairly, and it was quite well done, with excellent delineation of characters' voices. Unfortunately, I can only give presumptives on the story as I had to skip through because of the triggers(it's a PTSD thing). There are audiences who will be thrilled with the detailing, and the story line did seem sound. Loved the characterization of Alex and her dealing with her gift.

A cool mix of murder mystery and urban fantasy

I got this book as part of a promotion by the author, who provided the Audible credit in return for an honest review, so here goes. I really enjoyed this book. It is a good mix of a crime drama and urban fantasy. The book starts off with a murder, and the main character, a witch named Alex York, being called in to consult. Her witch powers seem more psychic in nature than magic, being of the mind reading and seeing the dead kind of thing, and thats what Alex thinks too. She is so sensitive to being around others that she cant stand being touched, since it brings on mind reading she can't control. The murders she is called in to consult on are ritualistic in nature, very gruesome. The killer is a blank to ger senses though. As the story persists, and as bodies keep popping up, Alex is at a loss as to who the culprit is. As she is driving down the road one night, thinking about the case, she is distracted and accidentally hits a man that mysteriously appeared in the road. She takes him to the doctor, who treats his broken leg. The mans name is Dug, and he, it turns out, is from an alternate dimension, where magic is real, and he is a Duke on the search for an evil wizard. Their cases cross path, and it turns out they are looking for the same person. The action picks up from there, racing to a a climactic confrontation, which ends in a cliffhanger, but which makes sense in context to the story. An excellent read, for fans of either genre. The love quadrangle in the story between Alex, the Sheriff, who dated her in the past, Dug, and a friend from Alex's past does get a little complicated, but it does start to sort itself out toward the end of the book. Fans of Kim Harrison or Jim Butcher should like this story.