What do you think?
Rate this book
Conrad Voort #1
The Broken Hearts Club
Meeting every week in the back room of a New York City bar is an informal group of men who have all suffered the sting of a broken heart. But soon the anger turns to rage and the club explodes into murderous acts of vengeance. One of its targets is the ex-girlfriend of a detective assigned to the case.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
20 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 26, 2019
The story of this book, so far is interesting and novel, but the main character is an absolute Mary-Sue. Black tells us repeatedly, about how rich he is, emphasizes how gentlemanly he is, how down-to-earth he is, and also how rich he is. Essentially he's this all around great guy. Also he's rich. It's a little much. Especially given all the women in his life praise him, think he's better than other men, and honestly treat him like a paragon for treating them like a decent human being. It's reeeeally ridiculous. He is also rich. The sex scenes are wildly hilarious, mostly because they read like they were written by a 12 year old virgin who spends too much time looking up "how to be good at sex" on the internet. Additionally, his girlfriend is a token sex object that will probably serve as incentive of a hostage type situation later in the book. Also he's rich- not sure if I mentioned that earlier, but I think it's important given how much time is spent on how R I C H he is.
I haven't finished this book yet-hell, I'm not even 1/3 of the way through yet-but so far the characters we're supposed to care about are pretty crap. The only reason I'm continuing to read it is because the killers are so engaging and the premise is so interesting. Unless this book does a complete 180, it's probably only going to be memorable for the plot and I will quite happily never pick up a Conrad Voort book again.
Edit: I have finished. It did not get better. It just repeated the complaints I listed earlier. This book is pretty awful. The killers did not live up to the opening of the book. Honestly I think it's just one giant excuse to write about sex. At one point Black calls PARTS OF THE SKY nipple like. I can't make this sh*t up. I don't think the author thinks about anything except sex. It's too bad, the story line would have been pretty interesting if it had been written better and
I haven't finished this book yet-hell, I'm not even 1/3 of the way through yet-but so far the characters we're supposed to care about are pretty crap. The only reason I'm continuing to read it is because the killers are so engaging and the premise is so interesting. Unless this book does a complete 180, it's probably only going to be memorable for the plot and I will quite happily never pick up a Conrad Voort book again.
Edit: I have finished. It did not get better. It just repeated the complaints I listed earlier. This book is pretty awful. The killers did not live up to the opening of the book. Honestly I think it's just one giant excuse to write about sex. At one point Black calls PARTS OF THE SKY nipple like. I can't make this sh*t up. I don't think the author thinks about anything except sex. It's too bad, the story line would have been pretty interesting if it had been written better and
September 16, 2020
I don't think that I'd want to meet the author, in person.
February 2, 2019
☆☆☆☆☆ 5 Protector Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely LOVE when I find a book that is all about my absolute favorite issue.
Ethan Black...this was fantastic! I am so drawn to the Hero that I am be so excited for another book with Voort as the main Hero!!
I absolutely LOVE when I find a book that is all about my absolute favorite issue.
Ethan Black...this was fantastic! I am so drawn to the Hero that I am be so excited for another book with Voort as the main Hero!!
January 15, 2022
This book got better at the end. I had solved the mystery at just before the halfway mark, it did take quite a bit of thinking though and it definitely wasn’t a bad twist. It was interesting because the story was told from both the detective and the killers perspective, the mystery still added quite the twist in pulling things together.
The reason I didn’t like this book is because it was very sexually graphic in not a nice way. It very much so feel like the entire first half of the book was just on like the sex life of characters. He talked about falling in love and being hurt and betrayed but there’s no emotional connections it all felt like purely sexual connections.
The ending was well written with the action scenes and intensity and whatnot. Hence why 2 stars and not 1.
The reason I didn’t like this book is because it was very sexually graphic in not a nice way. It very much so feel like the entire first half of the book was just on like the sex life of characters. He talked about falling in love and being hurt and betrayed but there’s no emotional connections it all felt like purely sexual connections.
The ending was well written with the action scenes and intensity and whatnot. Hence why 2 stars and not 1.
March 16, 2008
Loved it! One of those "could hardly put it down" kinda books, and when I had to put it down, you know, to eat, take care of the kids, clean something or sleep, all I could think about was this book. I was so anxious to finish it, and now that I have, I'm kinda sad it's over. I enjoyed the writing style, it was nicely paced and the twist of the story was totally unexpected!
I would definitely recommend this book!
I would definitely recommend this book!
July 22, 2016
A psychiatrist incites three unstable men to murder with his Broken Hearts Club where they discuss in graphic detail the women who did them wrong and how they want to kill them. There is absolutely no liking these men - the banker, the mechanic, the literary agent or the psychiatrist. They are all demented and totally off their rocker.
I had great difficulty getting into this book. The dialogue is very stilted and the graphic sexual situations were overdone, not realistic and unnecessary to the plot. Take this passage...
"What's Mr. Dick doing?" she says.
"Thinking about you."
"I noticed."
"What's Miss Pussy doing?"
"She's wet."
"And not from the shower, either."
This is a cop and a reporter who've been dating for 3 months and the following day she dumps him with no explanation.
About halfway through I nearly gave up on this book but I'm glad I stuck it out as the twist was amazing and really threw me for a loop. The last third of the book was exciting and very suspenseful (if a little nuts). I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going on.
I had great difficulty getting into this book. The dialogue is very stilted and the graphic sexual situations were overdone, not realistic and unnecessary to the plot. Take this passage...
"What's Mr. Dick doing?" she says.
"Thinking about you."
"I noticed."
"What's Miss Pussy doing?"
"She's wet."
"And not from the shower, either."
This is a cop and a reporter who've been dating for 3 months and the following day she dumps him with no explanation.
About halfway through I nearly gave up on this book but I'm glad I stuck it out as the twist was amazing and really threw me for a loop. The last third of the book was exciting and very suspenseful (if a little nuts). I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going on.
May 29, 2020
Recommended by a friend, had no clue what it was even about. I enjoyed it. Once I caught on to the twist the intensity seemed to fizzle.
September 3, 2007
THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB (Police Proc-New York-Cont) – NR
Black, Ethan – 1st in series
Ballantine, 1999 – Hardcover
A group of men, who have been dumped by the women they love, are brought together by a psychologist who to "vent" their pain. This turns to anger, which turns to murder. Into this you have Detective Conrad Voort, "the richest cop in New York," whose girlfriend has announced she is moving out and is now seeing the psychologist.
*** This is a book whose premise had potential to be a suspenseful, gripping novel. However, none of that potential is realized. Instead, it is badly written, filled with graphic sex and descriptions of the wealth Voort and his well-to-do partner. I found myself not caring about any of the characters. There's a twist in the middle that makes reading the rest of the book almost irrelevant. I'm always looking for new authors to add to my reading list. Based on this, Black isn't going to be one of them.
Black, Ethan – 1st in series
Ballantine, 1999 – Hardcover
A group of men, who have been dumped by the women they love, are brought together by a psychologist who to "vent" their pain. This turns to anger, which turns to murder. Into this you have Detective Conrad Voort, "the richest cop in New York," whose girlfriend has announced she is moving out and is now seeing the psychologist.
*** This is a book whose premise had potential to be a suspenseful, gripping novel. However, none of that potential is realized. Instead, it is badly written, filled with graphic sex and descriptions of the wealth Voort and his well-to-do partner. I found myself not caring about any of the characters. There's a twist in the middle that makes reading the rest of the book almost irrelevant. I'm always looking for new authors to add to my reading list. Based on this, Black isn't going to be one of them.
November 28, 2013
I just did not like this book, even at the end I was totally lost. This book was really hard to get into and hard to stay into. I'm really sorry, but that's how I feel about this one, it really was not a favorite book of mine....
January 14, 2014
The plot was kind of generic, along with all the plot twists. But I'm a sucker for thrillers, so I'm always going to be interested. Long story short, I've read worse.
October 26, 2018
This book had me wrapped up in it from the very beginning--although it felt a bit dated, I was so drawn into the characters and plot that I had a difficult time putting it down at all, and I'm already looking forward to reading more work by Black. If you like psychological thrillers and fast-paced, character-driven writing, I'd absolutely recommend this one. The one caveat to it is that it really does have something of a 90s feel, though even now I can't entirely put my finger on why. Still, I'd certainly recommend it.
October 13, 2019
I do this quick, for me it is 3.5, it is a good thriller, could've been great, up to 4.5, but I personally felt the story revealed it self to soon, by mid-book, I knew what was happening, and that took away a bit of the thrill. But it was enjoyable, also it is a great weekend book or if you are busy, a week long book. Would recommend it.
October 25, 2017
Love love loved this book. I could not put it down and what a great twist, this book had me guessing the whole way.
June 23, 2018
So many twists!! Hard to put down!!!
February 2, 2019
Well slowly developed charaters with twists.
January 4, 2021
First book in a series. Love Detective Vort.
August 19, 2021
Read in 1999. A well paced psycho-thriller about a group of lovelorn New York City men.
September 19, 2021
It was great!! I couldn’t put it down! I understand the complaint that some people said the ending was kind of telegraphed from the middle, but I enjoyed the dramatic irony. I enjoyed it a lot.
February 19, 2023
It was an OK book. Definitely a few interesting twists but I don't think I'll read more of the series.
March 10, 2023
3.5 rating. Rounded up.
January 18, 2024
Great thriller, believable characters, a real page turner with a surprise ending. Loved this book!!
April 20, 2024
it’s one of the best books i’ve ever read, great characters and non stop thriller, truly a page turner
July 20, 2010
Tried to get into this but failed miserably. A friend borrowed it and said it was very good but I only read the first chapter and couldn't read any more.
Back Cover Blurb:
Dr Ian Bainbridge, a psychologist researching a book on men who can't recover from rejection, presides over their weekly meetings in the backroom of a New York restaurant - encouraging them to express their hurt, their anger, their rage.
But when a woman is slashed to death in her apartment after a particularly emotional meeting of the Broken Hearts Club, it seems as if therapy has got out of control. Soon the police are confronted by a series of frenzied killings with no obvious link - and one curious clue.
For detective Conrad Voort, the search for the killer will take him deep into the darkest, strangest reaches of the human psyche. And the horror he finds there may be enough to break his heart....
Back Cover Blurb:
Dr Ian Bainbridge, a psychologist researching a book on men who can't recover from rejection, presides over their weekly meetings in the backroom of a New York restaurant - encouraging them to express their hurt, their anger, their rage.
But when a woman is slashed to death in her apartment after a particularly emotional meeting of the Broken Hearts Club, it seems as if therapy has got out of control. Soon the police are confronted by a series of frenzied killings with no obvious link - and one curious clue.
For detective Conrad Voort, the search for the killer will take him deep into the darkest, strangest reaches of the human psyche. And the horror he finds there may be enough to break his heart....
September 23, 2011
A psychologist has brought together a group of men to meet once a week at a tavern in New York. They all suffer from a broken heart. There is a banker, a literary agent and a mechanic. As they continue to talk they get more and more angry and then this turns to hate and finally to rage. The rejection fuels the rage and then it spins out of control.
Detective Voort, the richest cop in New York, with his partner, Mickie is assigned the case to catch the killer. But the killer seems to change identities at will and knows how to cover his tracks.
Voort is dating Camilla, who has just dumped him. Will he be dragged into this vortex of violence?
This is not the best-written book but has an interesting plot and is definitely thrilling. Note: This is a sexually graphic book.
Detective Voort, the richest cop in New York, with his partner, Mickie is assigned the case to catch the killer. But the killer seems to change identities at will and knows how to cover his tracks.
Voort is dating Camilla, who has just dumped him. Will he be dragged into this vortex of violence?
This is not the best-written book but has an interesting plot and is definitely thrilling. Note: This is a sexually graphic book.
October 27, 2014
Good book, but I was unhappy with the ending. I felt like there should have been some serious acknowledgment that the good guy was right. I raced through the last third, because I'm always anxious to know what the resolution will be for someone who is thought wrong, but proven right. Considering how many pages the build-up was, the ending was a real let-down. There was also one scene in the book that was a bit, er, racy for my taste. I've read my share of sex scenes, but I was embarrased to be reading this one at work.
August 30, 2021
Although many people I recommended this read to predicted the story, I didn’t. I was on the edge of my seat for every page and every word I read. I finished this book in less than 48 hours and would easily read it again. It was so dramatic, suspenseful, and really draws you in to the story.
It is about a man who gets his heart broken and joins a “broken hearts club” for men who have gotten dumped. And from there… it only progresses. There is death. There is romance. And there is shocking discoveries.
It is about a man who gets his heart broken and joins a “broken hearts club” for men who have gotten dumped. And from there… it only progresses. There is death. There is romance. And there is shocking discoveries.
August 18, 2009
It sounds rather odd to say that this is my first phsyco-thriller...
When I actually took the time to think about it, I really haven't read a book much like it... Wierd.
Anywho, it was definitely different reading than what I'm used to.
Aside from some rather awkward chapters, the climax made it all worth it. I can't say anythign without it completely spoiling the book - but I will say, just stick with it... once you get about two-thirds of the way in, it gets harder to put down.
When I actually took the time to think about it, I really haven't read a book much like it... Wierd.
Anywho, it was definitely different reading than what I'm used to.
Aside from some rather awkward chapters, the climax made it all worth it. I can't say anythign without it completely spoiling the book - but I will say, just stick with it... once you get about two-thirds of the way in, it gets harder to put down.
December 8, 2011
I read an article in the New Yorker about John Banville who won the Booker prize for The Sea. Under another name--Benjamin Black--he writes detective noir novels. At the library I plucked Ethan Black off the shelves by mistake. This book reads like a lot of other detective novels as does the next one of his I read, Irresistible. Finally figured out by the level of the writing that I had the wrong Black.
February 21, 2012
Book #15 read in 2006
This was a different kind of a read. The story was very predictable at times and at others very slow-going. I did enjoy the Voort character and, because of that, will give the next in the series a try before I give up.
This was a different kind of a read. The story was very predictable at times and at others very slow-going. I did enjoy the Voort character and, because of that, will give the next in the series a try before I give up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews