Broken Trust

Nora Abbott #2

by Shannon Baker

When a chance meeting on a hiking trail leads to a position at a nonprofit in Boulder, Colorado, Nora feels lucky to have a job . . . even after she finds out that the previous financial director has gone missing.

With her suspicions of foul play confirmed by her Kachina guardian, Nora doesn't know who to trust in an organization that's rife with deceit and corruption. As she's pulled deeper into a treacherous conspiracy, an unannounced visit from her mother and a reunion with Cole Huntsman have Nora playing tug of war with her own feelings. Fearful for her own life and the safety of those she loves the most, Nora wonders if her new beginning in Boulder will turn out to be a deadly mistake.

Praise:

"Baker deftly escalates the stakes of her initially straightforward story, which takes a much more serious turn before arriving at its unexpected conclusion." --Publishers Weekly

Genres: Mystery

360 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Shannon Baker writes mysteries about strong women in dangerous situations. Her books are set in the iconic landscapes of the American West, from the Colorado Rockies to the Nebraska prairies, to the deserts of southern Arizona. Baker spent 20 years in the Nebraska Sandhills, where cattle outnumber people by more than 50:1, and too few years living on Colorado’s front range. Her dark suspense, The Desert Behind Me, is a 2019 Winner of the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award.
Seconds before quitting writing forever and taking up competitive drinking, Shannon was voted Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s 2014 Writer of the Year and, buoyed with that confidence, continued to write, earning another RMFW Writer of the Year nod in 2017-18. Shannon makes her home in Tucson where she enjoys cocktails by the pool, breathtaking sunsets, a crazy Weimaraner, and killing people (in the pages of her books).

A lover of the outdoors, she can be found backpacking in the Rockies, traipsing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, skiing mountains and plains, kayaking lakes, river running, hiking, cycling, and scuba diving whenever she gets the chance. Arizona sunsets notwithstanding, Baker is, and always will be, a Nebraska Husker, heartbreaking as the last two decades have been. Go Big Red.

Reviews

[Christine Kuffel]

Loved this! The characters, the pace, the settings, solid mystery, too!

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: Broken Trust

3 1/2stars

I believe this is book 2 of Nora Abbott Mysteries. It is the first book of it that I have read. I was surprised at some of the twists and turns the story took. The science of the book is over my head not sure what parts are fiction and what is real. But left me curious to find out more.

Since I had not read the first book I wonder how much I had missed they refer to it a lot though.
Nora sees Hopi Kachinas that no one else sees. She wonders if she is crazy for it. Nora for the past year has been by herself since she moved to Colorado. She has a hard time getting over the murder of her husband and a 17 year old girl. She is now scared of heights.

Nora finds a job at Loving Earth Trust after last accountant left in a hurry. She was murdered.
The body is found on day one of her job. Also her mom shows up at her work and a Cole from the first book turns up too.

Loving Earth Trust is supposed to be saving the planet. One of the top people is more worried about finding the right $50,000 light fixture for her house.

There are plenty of wacky characters in the story. Some you want to hate and others you pity.
The romance part is very weak and somewhat confusing on a couple of couples.
I think I would probably enjoy the book more if I had read the first book. Or at least understand some more of the characters.
was enjoyable. Loved the setting at top of mountain peak of Colorado.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review by NetGalley and Midnight Ink.
publication: March 8th 2014 by Midnight Ink 360 pages ISBN:9780738734255

[Stephen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Nora Abbot mystery, and it certainly won't be my last. Nora Abbot is interesting and likeable character, and the author surrounds her with a richly developed set of characters in this first rate mystery.

The story takes place in and around Boulder Colorado and combines Hopi Indians, environmental activists, controversial high tech devices, true to life business practices, and an excellent set of characters. You'll have to read the book to get a real sense of the character development, but let's just say that the character of Petal, will stay will me for some time.

The protagonist, Nora Abbot, is dealing with personal, financial and family issues when she takes a job as the Finance Director for an environmental trust. The work, which initially seems like a dream come true, quickly turns into a quagmire, setting up the rest of the story.

I really enjoyed this novel, and look forward to more in the Nora Abbot series.

[Deborah Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Ms. Baker’s first novel TAINTED MOUNTAIN so much that I read her latest release soon after. Book two of a series aren’t always as captivating, but not so for BROKEN TRUST. This compelling mystery with a bit of Hopi spirit takes off with a bullet and rockets forward to the end. I’m now a big Nora Abbott fan and look forward to more of her adventures.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, while being enthralled in the suspense, the reader learns new things about the ecosystem and how greed constantly seeks to contaminate it for profit. Thank heavens for the Nora Abbotts of the world! Another fantastic Nora Abbott thriller!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can only give this one 3 stars. While I read the whole book, I can't see giving a higher rating to a book by an author who apologizes that some of the content of her book might be offensive to Native Americans. Why write an offensive book?

[Jeanette Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've come to love Nora Abbott, and her mother too! This is another humorous mystery with plenty of quirky characters in a satisfying mystery. Nora's new job comes with plenty of drawbacks, not least of which is murder. A great love of wilderness suffuses the story. You will love this book.

[Amyem]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12733582

[Kim hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great continuation of the first book.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. Didn't care about the characters and plot was predictable. Glad it came from the library.

[CaliNativeBalboa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge improvement over her debut Tainted Mountain, Broken Trust follows Nora Abbott to the hipster college town of Boulder, Co. Broke and unemployed, Nora is thrilled when a chance meeting leads of an offer to oversee the finances of an environmentally friendly land trust.
Nora's first day begins less than auspiciously with the discovery that her predecessor was murdered and the Trust's Star scientist is potentially looting the company coffers. Add to the mix an unexpected visit from her meddlesome mother, Abigail and appearance of would be knight-in-shining armor, Cole, Nora's troubles grow with the number of beetle kill pine trees.