Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Tainted Morals

Rate this book
When Laura Broderick’s world was destroyed, she retreated to the woods to rebuild her life. An anonymous existence and nearly absolute solitude has gone a long way toward healing the scars. But four years later, Laura has discovered she will never truly escape the madman that is after her. Even the FBI couldn’t help her before and now she finds herself trying to trust the small town sheriff with her life.

Sheriff Trevor Holbrook has never given a second thought to the beautiful mysterious woman that lives in the woods outside of New Jackson. She made it clear to the entire town she wanted to be left alone. But when a horrifying turn of events drops a killer in the middle of the small town he is sworn to protect, he has no choice but to figure out the mystery that is Laura Broderick. Her dauntless courage awakens passionate feelings Trevor never could have anticipated. The deeper he delves into Laura’s past, the more terror seems to be unleashed on his town.

Can one small town sheriff help her stop a psychopath the FBI hasn’t been able to touch?

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2011

49 people are currently reading
388 people want to read

About the author

Janene Hudson

1 book4 followers
Janene Hudson is a 30-something year old lady who likes words. Three far above average kids call her mom and she lives in just enough pandemonium to keep her questioning her sanity. She is blessed to have a supportive husband who acquiesces to her requests for things like, ducks to raise, zip lines in the backyard, and painting one room of the house like a jungle. He lets her stay home with the chaos.

Janene has an English degree and is a certified teacher who doesn't want to teach. She's published several essays and articles to date and has won a few writing contests over the years. When she's not avidly reading (in the zoo she calls home), she is always telling some story or another. Tainted Morals just happens to be one she wrote down...

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
84 (25%)
4 stars
107 (32%)
3 stars
102 (30%)
2 stars
24 (7%)
1 star
13 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Shara.
119 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2012
You can also read my review here: http://thebookendreviews.blogspot.com...


You Can't Run From Your Past Forever.

You cannot run and hide from your problems forever. The only thing that the small town of New Jackson knows about the quiet, antisocial woman that lives on the outskirts of town is that her name is Laura Broderick. She doesn't really have any friends except for a man who she has been seen having lunch with at least once a month. There is also a young girl who lives in a foster home, that comes to visit with Laura but no one knows of that relationship (Laura just doesn't talk to anyone, and Reagan doesn't want her Foster parents to know). Soon, the town will have a lot more to deal with then just an outcast. One night a man from Laura's past, comes to her house and tells her that he is there for some unfinished business. Laura knows all to well that her past has come back to haunt her - She escaped him once, can she do it again? Little does Laura know that the longer she hides this time around, more innocent people will die. Once and for all, in order live a normal life and no longer wanting to run, Laura decides to take a stand and fight back.
I give this book ★★★★★ because it was exciting only because I couldn't be positive on who the man from her past was....it wasn't as predictable as other stories have been.
Profile Image for Cyndee Wells.
3 reviews97 followers
January 3, 2013
http://www.rudemom.com/2012/12/tainte...

More twists and turns than a roller-coaster is a great way to describe Tainted Morals. I loved this book. I first started reading it and just could not put it down! This being the authors first book made me not sure what I was getting into when I opened the book, but after the first chapter I just had to have more. Tainted Morals has three of the most interested and tormented souls I have read about in a while and I just had to know what was going to happen to them in the end. Trevor has a way of making you want to be able to comfort him; the way the author made you able to feel those feelings right along with the characters was amazing. Reagan was the one of the three that I could mostly associate with; she has been through hell and back, but she has found away to survive and become strong after all her hardships from her childhood. The killer is evil and relentless, and so hard to know what he/she is going to do next. The author did an amazing job of bringing all the characters to life and making you feel what they were feeling and I really can't wait to see what Janene Hudson comes up with for the next book. I highly recommend this book.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

16 reviews3 followers
August 10, 2011
First time novelist Janene Hudson creates a dramatic story of a young woman hunted. Laura Broderick is hiding in a small town in the Midwest to escape the serial killer who is hell-bent on purging the world of what he views to be terrible citizens and has cleaned Laura's family from the earth in an experiment in tainted blood. Danger and romance ensue when a foster kid and the local sheriff take an active interest in Laura's life.

I thought the book was well-written and engaging, it was a slow starter for me. Two of the main characters were very well-flushed out and I had no problem imagining them. However, for the rest of the cast of characters, their descriptions seemed to be lacking which led me to be a bit confused mid-way through the book. Also the plot is a bit formulaic and cliched but there were enough twists to keep me interested through the duration.

Overall, I would recommend and I hope to see more from this freshman novelist.
3 reviews
January 11, 2017
Do not read this book...

at night or when you are all alone!!! I rarely leave reviews unless I feel strongly about a book. This book is amazing!! It is a heart-pounding-heart-wrenching-suspenseful-keeps-you-on-the egde-of-your-thriller. Usually I hate head jumping because it leaves me confused or frustrated. But Ms. Hudson does it smoothly and flawlessly. The characters are...Wow! Even the killer!! It took me three days to read this book. (This is a good thing. With books I don't care for I speed read) There was nothing I did not like about this book. Fair warning about this book. This is not a romantic suspense. It is a suspenseful thriller with a little romance and a lot of friendship. It takes you into the head of the main characters and the killer. Which is why I say don't read this book at night or by yourself. It is definitely not a light read. Take time to read and digest this book.
Profile Image for Jeff.
12 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2013
I just spent 5+ straight hours finishing this book. It took some time to build at first, but once it got going, I couldn't stop. I ended up attached to the main characters and hoping for a positive outcome. This is an intriguing and engrossing story that keeps you guessing until the surprising reveal.
Profile Image for Sara Freitag.
96 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2012
I really liked this book. I was surprised by who the killer was, and I like that in a book!
13 reviews
January 11, 2016
excellent book. i had trouble getting involved over the first 5-10 pages, but very well written after that. lots of clues and questions throughout the book to keep you guessing
2,522 reviews
September 7, 2013
great book, had me hooked from the very first page.
1 review
January 23, 2020
Very good read.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and never let me down. I loved the fullness of the characters, the plot lines all tangling together, and though I guessed the killer before it was made obvious I believe that was in the design. I want more of this writer to read.
Profile Image for Patricia Hastings.
95 reviews
February 18, 2023
Great Read!

This book was a page turner from the very beginning! I couldn’t put it down! I kept telling myself just one more chapter!
5 reviews
March 5, 2017
I couldn't stop turning the pages.

Reading is my passion. This book drew me in from the beginning and kept me involved until the end. A must for anyone who likes psychological thrillers that have a happy ending.
Profile Image for Sharon Michael.
663 reviews50 followers
April 28, 2012
This was a book for a rainy afternoon read, not one that you can't put down, but reasonably entertaining. The plot was relatively well done, although I found the 'journal entries' of the killer somewhat overdone.

I am very much a character-driven reader and the orphaned teenager who was drawn into the situation I found to be the most realistic and well rounded character in the book.

I found many of the attitudes and actions of the female lead to be conflicting and somewhat confusing. It was difficult for me to get a good sense of who she was and I found the male lead character to be very poorly developed.
Profile Image for Laura.
203 reviews23 followers
May 13, 2012
I really wanted to like this book more and I am hard-pressed to explain why I didn't. It's just that intangible something is missing. All the elements are here, but somehow they just don't all come together well. I did find the journal writing style of the killer amiss somehow and not quite believable. Maybe I don't believe that killers understand their own motivations that well??? As someone who also writes, this is kind of my big fear--that I will get a book together and it will just be missing that magical spark.
Profile Image for Lisa C..
609 reviews
August 31, 2014
Solid 3.5 stars
This book kept my interest and actually had a decent plot. I thought Trevor was a great character and wished Cory/Laura wouldn't have made so many bad decisions.

Couldn't give it more stars because it desperately needed an editor and/or proofreader. I shudder when I'm reading and an author uses the wrong homophone. Formatting left a lot to be desired, as well.

The ending seemed rushed but cleared up a lot. I wasn't sure who the murderer was but it made sense when he was revealed. I think the author has great potential.
Profile Image for Melissa.
8 reviews
June 21, 2012
Sooooo i started this book but kept comming back to it at first because i couldnt get into it because im usually not into muder books but there wasnt gory detail and it was actually quite interesting with an awesome twist! I would recommend this book oh yeah the cover looks alot scarier than the book actually is sooooo thats a big relief
Profile Image for Stephanie Hicks.
81 reviews
July 17, 2012
On one hand, it was a real page turner and kept me guessing. On the other hand, it was poorly edited (lots of small mistakes) and at times, cheesy. I found my inner English teacher wanting to add comments in the margins. I haven't read a serial killer novel in a long time, so it was a welcomed departure, but....
Profile Image for Caren Krolik.
8 reviews
January 26, 2013
"Really liked this one! Great twist...thought I knew who it was, but I was wrong! The 'journal entries' get a little irritating at times, but in the end, they are ALL worth it. Will look for other books by the author - Story moved along well, great characters and not a bunch of the lovey-dovey stuff. My kind of book :)"
Profile Image for Jamie Campbell.
Author 138 books271 followers
March 17, 2013
This suspenseful thriller was a great read. I liked the characters and it did keep you guessing right up until nearly the end.

The only thing that stopped it being a 5 star was that I felt it did drag on a little. But other than that, a strong book that I really enjoyed.

The ending was good too, not quite what I expected.
Profile Image for Icie.
36 reviews4 followers
September 22, 2013
I loved it. Amazing storyline that keeps you guessing and picking your chin off the floor! I did figure out who the killer was about midway or so but that did nothing but enhance the experience. I think the author could have done more with some of the storytelling and building of some characters, hence the 4/5 rating. Overall though, a very good read. ;)
7 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2013
I enjoyed this book. it was fast moving, and had quite a few twists and turns. Just when you think you have figured out....you are wrong!!! I liked that none of the characters were pathetic or boring.
414 reviews
March 26, 2013
For a first novel I found this very well written. About a woman who is being hunted down and her friendship,with a young Foster girl named Reagan. Very well done and it will keep you guessing till the end.
Profile Image for Katherine.
231 reviews4 followers
October 22, 2013
It started promising, and then it turned into a drawn out mess that I did not feel in any way connected to. To the point where I sped read the last 10% of the book. If it wasn't because I wanted to know who the killer was, I would not have finished the book.
6 reviews
April 11, 2012
This book was written by the daughter of a friend of mine.
Although it is her first written attempt, it is well done and definately a page turner. If you enjoy a mystery you will enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Karin.
202 reviews25 followers
May 1, 2012
Very good read, 3.5 stars. I had no idea who the killer was, it was a shock. The romance was done very well, I liked that it wasn't the main theme of the book.
Profile Image for Toni O’Dell.
9 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2012
This was was a really good book. Kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing who the bad guy was right until the end. Found it on Kindle's free section and glad I did.
Profile Image for Dagmar.
13 reviews2 followers
June 23, 2012
A good page turner. Interesting characters and a fast moving plot. Just don't grab it at bed time , you won't be able to sleep!
Profile Image for Chris.
209 reviews7 followers
January 11, 2013
Pretty fast moving and extremely tricky. Never would of guessed the killer. Interesting premise. Good first novel for the writer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews