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The Enemy Inside #2
Broken
A mother is murdered in an apparent robbery.
A young woman is raped and beaten in a home invasion.
Chicago Detective Alicia “Berg” Raymond doesn’t believe in random crime and is certain both cases are more than they seem—but can she trust her instincts, or is she too distracted by the feelings she has for former partner and new boss? For Berg, the need for justice burns deep and fills the emptiness where therapy and relationships fall short.
She’s certain the husband knows more than he’s willing to admit, but the trap to catch the killer is the loophole that sets him free.
The rapist is caught and sent to prison, but when Berg gets closer to the family devastated by his depravity, their behavior doesn’t add up.
As Berg fights to prevent another murder, she crosses the line between hero and villain—and there’s no turning back.
A young woman is raped and beaten in a home invasion.
Chicago Detective Alicia “Berg” Raymond doesn’t believe in random crime and is certain both cases are more than they seem—but can she trust her instincts, or is she too distracted by the feelings she has for former partner and new boss? For Berg, the need for justice burns deep and fills the emptiness where therapy and relationships fall short.
She’s certain the husband knows more than he’s willing to admit, but the trap to catch the killer is the loophole that sets him free.
The rapist is caught and sent to prison, but when Berg gets closer to the family devastated by his depravity, their behavior doesn’t add up.
As Berg fights to prevent another murder, she crosses the line between hero and villain—and there’s no turning back.
369 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2013
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Skye
8 books16 followersVanessa Skye has always had a love of words and spent her school years writing poetry, speeches and fictional essays.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism and studying Psychology at Charles Sturt University, Vanessa got a job at Rural Press—Australia's largest publisher of regional and agricultural news and information—where she worked as a journalist in the Central West of NSW for four years.
Thousands of stories later, Vanessa decided to move back to Sydney and try her hand at public relations while studying a Master of Arts in Communication.
Skip forward a few years and Vanessa once again found herself joyfully studying various psychology subjects while managing a Sydney public relations firm. Enthralled with examining the motivations behind people’s actions, Vanessa realized what she really wanted to do in life was combine her love of words with her fascination for human behavior.
So Vanessa quit public relations to begin the significantly more impoverished life of a professional writer.
Inspired by a recurring dream, Vanessa wrote her crime fiction debut, The Enemy Inside, which challenges the concept of justice, asks if the need for vengeance sometimes justifies murder, and explores whether you can ever heal from childhood abuse. The second book in this Edge of Darkness series, Broken, soon followed. The third and final book in this series, Bloodlines, was released on January 15, 2015.
Vanessa’s first paranormal romance book, Koven, was released in May 2015.
In 2016, Vanessa released the first book in a new adult fantasy series, Phoenix.
In her spare time, Vanessa wrote a short story, The Piece, which was published in February 2012 by Dark Prints Press as a part of the One That Got Away dark fiction anthology.
Vanessa now works as a full time writer, lives in Sydney’s northern beaches and tries to immerse herself in salt water at least once a day.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism and studying Psychology at Charles Sturt University, Vanessa got a job at Rural Press—Australia's largest publisher of regional and agricultural news and information—where she worked as a journalist in the Central West of NSW for four years.
Thousands of stories later, Vanessa decided to move back to Sydney and try her hand at public relations while studying a Master of Arts in Communication.
Skip forward a few years and Vanessa once again found herself joyfully studying various psychology subjects while managing a Sydney public relations firm. Enthralled with examining the motivations behind people’s actions, Vanessa realized what she really wanted to do in life was combine her love of words with her fascination for human behavior.
So Vanessa quit public relations to begin the significantly more impoverished life of a professional writer.
Inspired by a recurring dream, Vanessa wrote her crime fiction debut, The Enemy Inside, which challenges the concept of justice, asks if the need for vengeance sometimes justifies murder, and explores whether you can ever heal from childhood abuse. The second book in this Edge of Darkness series, Broken, soon followed. The third and final book in this series, Bloodlines, was released on January 15, 2015.
Vanessa’s first paranormal romance book, Koven, was released in May 2015.
In 2016, Vanessa released the first book in a new adult fantasy series, Phoenix.
In her spare time, Vanessa wrote a short story, The Piece, which was published in February 2012 by Dark Prints Press as a part of the One That Got Away dark fiction anthology.
Vanessa now works as a full time writer, lives in Sydney’s northern beaches and tries to immerse herself in salt water at least once a day.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 17, 2015
The second book in The Enemy Inside series from Vanessa Skye, Broken, leads the reader willingly to the slaughter house only to be rudely shocked when things go awry. And awry they seriously go.
I liked the insights into Berg's thinking this time. The way she thinks and nuts things out really sing to me as a reader as being very realistic. I drew the same comparisons and came to the same conclusions she did with the same information, it meant I was left with a strong sense of camaraderie with her as a character.
I will be honest - the Jay/Berg thing was kinda getting a little annoying towards the end. I wanted to shake them and tell them to buck up and be adults...
My thoughts on the ADA: I hated her and felt that her characterisation was as such that it pigeon-holed me into not liking her. I wondered how the relationship with her could have even begun given how horrible she was, it felt a little too cliche to me, I'd have liked to see her be a little more likeable, at least to the reader so that they feel a little bad for backing Berg.
So many things that happened in this book were more personal, this made it an entirely different book to read. I liked the level of personal vs professional that was in The Enemy Inside, this time it felt a little like I was reading Berg's diary, which is why this didn't get a 5.
The crime aspect seemed a little rushed, instead focusing on the emotional reactions Berg had to certain people and events. While I understand that that's important, I felt that it drew the reader away from the crime and procedure of it all and made it into a more Berg-focused story. This isn't a bad thing, but after the amazing results of book 1, I was expecting a little more of that this time around.
One thing that has stood out in both books is the really amazingly evil antagonist/s. I loved how twisted and creepy they are and truly enjoyed the gradual exposure of the level of evil they went to in both books, but even more in Broken. While I don't share the whole drive that pushed the antagonist, I can see something like that happening in real life for certain individuals. It was eerily realistic. Well done Vanessa!
This book can be read alone, but to get a fuller picture of the characters, reading book 1 is definitely recommended! Pick up Vanessa's books today.
I can't comment on editing/typos as I have an ARC which has not been proofed, I imagine given the quality of the first book, that this will be an immaculately presented book when released
I can't wait for the next instalment.
I liked the insights into Berg's thinking this time. The way she thinks and nuts things out really sing to me as a reader as being very realistic. I drew the same comparisons and came to the same conclusions she did with the same information, it meant I was left with a strong sense of camaraderie with her as a character.
I will be honest - the Jay/Berg thing was kinda getting a little annoying towards the end. I wanted to shake them and tell them to buck up and be adults...
My thoughts on the ADA: I hated her and felt that her characterisation was as such that it pigeon-holed me into not liking her. I wondered how the relationship with her could have even begun given how horrible she was, it felt a little too cliche to me, I'd have liked to see her be a little more likeable, at least to the reader so that they feel a little bad for backing Berg.
So many things that happened in this book were more personal, this made it an entirely different book to read. I liked the level of personal vs professional that was in The Enemy Inside, this time it felt a little like I was reading Berg's diary, which is why this didn't get a 5.
The crime aspect seemed a little rushed, instead focusing on the emotional reactions Berg had to certain people and events. While I understand that that's important, I felt that it drew the reader away from the crime and procedure of it all and made it into a more Berg-focused story. This isn't a bad thing, but after the amazing results of book 1, I was expecting a little more of that this time around.
One thing that has stood out in both books is the really amazingly evil antagonist/s. I loved how twisted and creepy they are and truly enjoyed the gradual exposure of the level of evil they went to in both books, but even more in Broken. While I don't share the whole drive that pushed the antagonist, I can see something like that happening in real life for certain individuals. It was eerily realistic. Well done Vanessa!
This book can be read alone, but to get a fuller picture of the characters, reading book 1 is definitely recommended! Pick up Vanessa's books today.
I can't comment on editing/typos as I have an ARC which has not been proofed, I imagine given the quality of the first book, that this will be an immaculately presented book when released
I can't wait for the next instalment.
December 1, 2013
Review
This book .. whoah.. THIS Book!
A little insight on the author of “Haunted Book Case”… I have been diagnosed with clinical depression/situational depression years ago. It is very important that I mention this prior to reviewing “Broken” by Vanessa Skye. . . as it is very pertinent to where my mind was just prior to starting this novel. I had a depression breakdown about a week before starting this book. Little did I know, when requesting this book for review from Net Galley, that I’d be reading a book that reflects my soul at current state.
Biggest plus of this book was the creative use of song lyrics before the start of each chapter. So poignant, so stark, so dead on. The way the author writes about depression the lives within the main character is so gut twisting, I too found myself hard to breathe.
“Berg”, the main character, is an detective who is so deeply whittled with wounds from childhood it literally incapacitates her every aspect of life: Living, Breathing, Loving and accepting Love, Communicating, Sleeping. She’s a wreck of a woman… She’s BROKEN. However, the pain and abuse from childhood makes her ONE HELL OF A DETECTIVE. Her senses are sharp. She sees things her male counterparts cannot. She has the highest closure rate on cases.
However, your detective skills become questionable when she tries to juggle love and her heart, her past, a new partner that is relentless about sleeping with her, and an ADA who’s a total narcissistic bitch. The characters in the book as so well written you either hurt for them, hate them, or love them.
Vanessa Skye is a strong, poetic, articulate author. Broken is a second part novel, from the “Edge of Darkness” series. I have not read the first novel, “The Enemy Inside.” The author did a fine job of creating a second book that reading the first one is not required. This is a great stand alone book, which has areas of reflection into the first novel. I would love to read this book, as I’m highly attracted to the main character, her flaws and the author’s ability to bring it all to life.
I am so very impressed with this book. It gripped my innards and ripped them out, little by little, each time Vanessa wrote about the deep, sinking, killing feeling depression has on a person.
Negatives for Me
I was a little confused as to why we had two different murders as the plot outline. One murder, Em’s, would have been sufficient enough. The two murders did not tie into each other, but, I do understand that being a detective you are working various cases at once. It just made for too many plots. I understand that the compilation of various stressors were needed to show that Berg was cracked, and cracking further.
I was thoroughly shocked that the doctor Berg was seeing did not insist on medications to help level Berg out. If she was mandated to seek counseling from the CPD, she would probably need to be medicated as well.
This book .. whoah.. THIS Book!
A little insight on the author of “Haunted Book Case”… I have been diagnosed with clinical depression/situational depression years ago. It is very important that I mention this prior to reviewing “Broken” by Vanessa Skye. . . as it is very pertinent to where my mind was just prior to starting this novel. I had a depression breakdown about a week before starting this book. Little did I know, when requesting this book for review from Net Galley, that I’d be reading a book that reflects my soul at current state.
Biggest plus of this book was the creative use of song lyrics before the start of each chapter. So poignant, so stark, so dead on. The way the author writes about depression the lives within the main character is so gut twisting, I too found myself hard to breathe.
“Berg”, the main character, is an detective who is so deeply whittled with wounds from childhood it literally incapacitates her every aspect of life: Living, Breathing, Loving and accepting Love, Communicating, Sleeping. She’s a wreck of a woman… She’s BROKEN. However, the pain and abuse from childhood makes her ONE HELL OF A DETECTIVE. Her senses are sharp. She sees things her male counterparts cannot. She has the highest closure rate on cases.
However, your detective skills become questionable when she tries to juggle love and her heart, her past, a new partner that is relentless about sleeping with her, and an ADA who’s a total narcissistic bitch. The characters in the book as so well written you either hurt for them, hate them, or love them.
Vanessa Skye is a strong, poetic, articulate author. Broken is a second part novel, from the “Edge of Darkness” series. I have not read the first novel, “The Enemy Inside.” The author did a fine job of creating a second book that reading the first one is not required. This is a great stand alone book, which has areas of reflection into the first novel. I would love to read this book, as I’m highly attracted to the main character, her flaws and the author’s ability to bring it all to life.
I am so very impressed with this book. It gripped my innards and ripped them out, little by little, each time Vanessa wrote about the deep, sinking, killing feeling depression has on a person.
Negatives for Me
I was a little confused as to why we had two different murders as the plot outline. One murder, Em’s, would have been sufficient enough. The two murders did not tie into each other, but, I do understand that being a detective you are working various cases at once. It just made for too many plots. I understand that the compilation of various stressors were needed to show that Berg was cracked, and cracking further.
I was thoroughly shocked that the doctor Berg was seeing did not insist on medications to help level Berg out. If she was mandated to seek counseling from the CPD, she would probably need to be medicated as well.
February 20, 2014
Vanessa Skye has done it again with another amazing novel.
Detective Alicia “Burg” Raymond is back with new suspects to chase, new criminals to catch and a surprise in her personal life that she never saw coming.
I’m always a little hesitant when it comes to sequels. The second is always lacking something for me, it just never measures up to the expectations I’ve set for it as a reader. But this book? This book is amazing, just as great as Skye’s first novel. I was not disappointed.
Burg is paired with a new partner in this one since Jay (her old partner and only love interest for those of you who don’t know) has moved on up on the career ladder. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the new guy at first. I mean, sure it’s clear he’s a womanizing Casanova wanna be, but he also had softer moments with Burg that warmed my cold heart…only to quickly turn back into that jerk and freeze it over again. He was one of those characters that just couldn’t seem to get his shit together until he did in a big way.
Burg and Jay. There is a lot of run around with these two, mainly because Burg is so fucked up. Just when you think they’re finally getting somewhere she runs off and everything falls apart again. And then there’s this life changing moment for her. One, as a reader, you kind of see coming but that doesn’t take away from it or make it any less of a great twist. And then the real twist—the gut wrenching, sad twist—is thrown at you. It definitely made me see Burg in a new light. She’s presented as this woman who doesn’t give a damn about anything or anyone and in that one moment an entire life she saw for herself is destroyed and she’s left just as vulnerable and empty as any woman in her position would be.
But let’s not forget the mystery thriller part of the story. Like I said, Skye does just as great of a job in this one as she did her first with the murder mystery and “who dun it” factor. I love how she weaves her stories, how everything slowly comes together in a case while she still keeps focus on her character’s personal lives. I can’t really say much about “the bad guys” without giving away spoilers, but I have to say, I think my favourite part of the book was towards the end when Burg visits one of them. Talk about wonderful manipulation, people! You really see how dark and twisted this character (Burg) is and I love it!
I’ll be impatiently waiting Vanessa Skye’s next novel. Impatiently. Waiting.
Detective Alicia “Burg” Raymond is back with new suspects to chase, new criminals to catch and a surprise in her personal life that she never saw coming.
I’m always a little hesitant when it comes to sequels. The second is always lacking something for me, it just never measures up to the expectations I’ve set for it as a reader. But this book? This book is amazing, just as great as Skye’s first novel. I was not disappointed.
Burg is paired with a new partner in this one since Jay (her old partner and only love interest for those of you who don’t know) has moved on up on the career ladder. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the new guy at first. I mean, sure it’s clear he’s a womanizing Casanova wanna be, but he also had softer moments with Burg that warmed my cold heart…only to quickly turn back into that jerk and freeze it over again. He was one of those characters that just couldn’t seem to get his shit together until he did in a big way.
Burg and Jay. There is a lot of run around with these two, mainly because Burg is so fucked up. Just when you think they’re finally getting somewhere she runs off and everything falls apart again. And then there’s this life changing moment for her. One, as a reader, you kind of see coming but that doesn’t take away from it or make it any less of a great twist. And then the real twist—the gut wrenching, sad twist—is thrown at you. It definitely made me see Burg in a new light. She’s presented as this woman who doesn’t give a damn about anything or anyone and in that one moment an entire life she saw for herself is destroyed and she’s left just as vulnerable and empty as any woman in her position would be.
But let’s not forget the mystery thriller part of the story. Like I said, Skye does just as great of a job in this one as she did her first with the murder mystery and “who dun it” factor. I love how she weaves her stories, how everything slowly comes together in a case while she still keeps focus on her character’s personal lives. I can’t really say much about “the bad guys” without giving away spoilers, but I have to say, I think my favourite part of the book was towards the end when Burg visits one of them. Talk about wonderful manipulation, people! You really see how dark and twisted this character (Burg) is and I love it!
I’ll be impatiently waiting Vanessa Skye’s next novel. Impatiently. Waiting.
December 24, 2013
Very clear character arc. Berg may not be for everyone, and times I wanted to smack her to get her to realize the stupidity of some things, but I love that she's a flawed character. She knows she is. She thinks she's broken, which a lot of women can relate to (tho not as many have her background), and while she is to a degree, she doesn't act like a victim. Now and then she acts out, but she is trying to work through her issues and that's brave and commendable. And fucking hard!
On cases, she's like a dog with a bone. If it weren't for that, the state of book-Chicago would be moments away from needing their own RoboCop.
On cases, she's like a dog with a bone. If it weren't for that, the state of book-Chicago would be moments away from needing their own RoboCop.
February 13, 2014
Review will be posted on my website as part of the blog tour on 2-13-14 www.sarahaisling.com
June 24, 2015
If you think The Enemy Inside is a thriller, just wait 'til you get Broken!
November 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
______________________________________________________________________
Picking up where the first book left off, Detective Alicia Raymond is still working through her personal issues and her feelings for her ex-partner as two murders cross her desk. Feeling like there’s more to each case, she won’t stop until she finds the answers that she’s looking for.
Her new partner has his own secret agenda, both killers are almost getting away with murder, and her relationship with Jay is burning hot and cold in a mess of miscommunication and confusion.
Although I was able to guess the outcome to the crimes with this book, I still enjoyed the process of how Berg, Arena and Jay ended up at the same conclusion. Skye has a way of making criminals that are scarily real and it was frustrating to me that they were almost getting away with it – I felt like I was right there with Berg.
The new developments in Berg’s personal life were heartbreaking and I was devastated for her. Skye has no qualms about putting her characters through the ringer, that’s for sure!
Broken is a great sequel, although not quite on the same level as the first one (for me personally), I still couldn’t put it down and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Dark and gritty, Broken is a must for crime, thriller fiction fans.
______________________________________________________________________
Picking up where the first book left off, Detective Alicia Raymond is still working through her personal issues and her feelings for her ex-partner as two murders cross her desk. Feeling like there’s more to each case, she won’t stop until she finds the answers that she’s looking for.
Her new partner has his own secret agenda, both killers are almost getting away with murder, and her relationship with Jay is burning hot and cold in a mess of miscommunication and confusion.
Although I was able to guess the outcome to the crimes with this book, I still enjoyed the process of how Berg, Arena and Jay ended up at the same conclusion. Skye has a way of making criminals that are scarily real and it was frustrating to me that they were almost getting away with it – I felt like I was right there with Berg.
The new developments in Berg’s personal life were heartbreaking and I was devastated for her. Skye has no qualms about putting her characters through the ringer, that’s for sure!
Broken is a great sequel, although not quite on the same level as the first one (for me personally), I still couldn’t put it down and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series.
Dark and gritty, Broken is a must for crime, thriller fiction fans.
January 13, 2014
My View:
Violence, sex addiction, relationship problems, office politics and crime – this book has it all!
I think my appreciation of the characters and the back story would have been enhanced if I had read the earlier book, The Enemy Inside. There are many references to this earlier work and without this background I think it took me a little while to engage with this narrative. I struggled along piecing together the existing relationships, past misdemeanours and the serious and abusive history of Berg’s childhood and the horrendous events that took place at her workplace before this new chapter in her life begins. I had a lot to catch up on.
However once caught up I found this to be a fast paced, action packed police procedural with plenty to keep me interested. The plot twisted and turned and I feared for the inevitable as Berg’s life a spun out of control and began to disintegrate before my eyes. I must warn the potential reader; this story comes with a lot of graphic sex, explicit language and violence. It is not for the faint hearted.
Violence, sex addiction, relationship problems, office politics and crime – this book has it all!
I think my appreciation of the characters and the back story would have been enhanced if I had read the earlier book, The Enemy Inside. There are many references to this earlier work and without this background I think it took me a little while to engage with this narrative. I struggled along piecing together the existing relationships, past misdemeanours and the serious and abusive history of Berg’s childhood and the horrendous events that took place at her workplace before this new chapter in her life begins. I had a lot to catch up on.
However once caught up I found this to be a fast paced, action packed police procedural with plenty to keep me interested. The plot twisted and turned and I feared for the inevitable as Berg’s life a spun out of control and began to disintegrate before my eyes. I must warn the potential reader; this story comes with a lot of graphic sex, explicit language and violence. It is not for the faint hearted.
March 5, 2014
For the first few pages, I didn't think this was going to be very good, but when I picked it up again it was actually quite enjoyable. It was kind of like watching a well-written cop show on tv - you know that there's no way any real police work would get done with that many head case detectives running around screwing each other and yelling at each other and generally letting their personal lives intrude into every possible aspect of their work, but it's entertaining to see anyway. The plotting is sound and the characters are sympathetic for the most part. I would read more in this series. The only thing I really didn't like was the song lyrics heading each chapter - there are few cases where song lyrics written as prose don't just come across as incredibly cheesy, and this was not one of them.
Review copy provided through NetGalley
Review copy provided through NetGalley
February 27, 2014
I love Crime Fiction and was thrilled to get my hands upon this book late one Friday night. I finished it by noon the next day! I just loved it. The characters are highly believable, and I found myself (very quickly) caring for each of them. The entire story arc was brilliant, the twist towards the end of the novel was unseen until it was finally revealed in full. Isometric crime fiction is just grossly and gratuitously violent but The Enemy Inside did not fall into this category. Whilst shocking it times, the violent and/or shocking blows were delivered so well. I never like to give anything away in a review so I won't say any more.....just grab this book!
March 4, 2015
I loved this so much. The pacing was great, the twists very clever, and the characterization made you unsure of motives, which added to the suspense. I don't want to give anything away, but the bad guys here are particularly evil, and although it wasn’t quite as much of a surprise at the end as the first book, it was still a fantastic read. Some scenes broke my heart, but the ending gives us hope for Berg and Jay. Now I need the third book!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews