Shattered: The Final Act.

by Allan Hudson

Leaving a lover and trouble behind in Paris, Jo has settled into an easy life in New Zealand with a different name. She’s even learning to make pottery. One morning, while returning a book to the library where a new friend works, she discovers the librarian is trying to hide her tears. When pressed for details, Jo discovers the woman’s sister is missing. Along with her boyfriend, who, like Jo is a Canadian. Jo does her best to not get involved but relents with a promise to help locate the missing girl and that’s all.The trail will lead Jo to one of Diamond Harbour’s richest inhabitants, regardless of being warned away. She hears rumours of stolen cash, trading in body parts and ruthless gangsters. She’s in too deep to turn her head. The young man, the boyfriend, is being kept alive because a rich man’s daughter is on her deathbed and needs his kidneys. Both of them.Jo won’t be alone. There’s a vigilante looking for the teenager too.

153 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2023

About the author

I live on the east coast of Canada. I'm married to a wonderful lady, Gloria.

I love reading and writing.

My short story The Ship Breakers received Honorable Mention in the Writers Federation of NB short story competition and has been selected by McGraw-Hill Ryerson to be part of their iLit collection.

In 2020, my short story, In the Abyss, received Honorable Mention in the WFNB writing Competition.

My short stories have been published in a collection titled A Box of Memories.

I have a series featuring Detective Josephine (Jo) Naylor. Book 1 - Shattered Figurine. Book 2 - Shattered Lives. Book 3 - Shattered Dreams and soon to be published, Book 4 - Shattered: The Final Act.

The Drake Alexander series, Wall of War & Vigilantes.

Historical Fiction: The Alexanders Vol. 1 1911 - 1920. The Alexanders. Vol. 2 1921 - 1925.
Father is a fictionalized version of true events during WW2.
Code Name: Iron Spear 1941 is a murder mystery set in WW2.

I am a contributor to the Path Anthology series. Autumn Paths. Winter Paths. Spring Paths.

Coming soon - One Bedroom Ark. The story of Jeb Coyne, a lonely widower and Olivia Fletcher - a seventeen year old single mother with no where to go.

I write as often as possible. I love adventure and change. I am fortunate to have a loving family and am a very happy man.

Reviews

[K.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered: The Final Act is the first book I've read by Allan Hudson. Shattered is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of action and twists to keep you fully engaged. The storyline is about Jo Naylor, alias Jane Taylor, who is hiding out in Christchurch, avoiding her troubles back in Paris.
Jo loves to read and upon returning a book to the library, she finds a woman she's befriended, Julie Filmore, upset. Julie agrees to meet Jo on her lunch break and divulges that her sister Anita is missing. Jo encourages Julie to call the police, but Jo refuses because her sister is on probation. Then inadvertently, Julie finds out Jo worked for the police department and gets her to agree to help find her sister.
Julie received a message from her sister but because of her sister's duress, Julie could only catch a few words that did not make sense to her. Finally, they put some of the disconnected words together and they find themselves in Diamond Harbour.
They find Anita and discover her sister's boyfriend Seb is involved and being held. The antagonists are demanding to get back stolen money. No spoilers-
This story quickly spirals into a suspenseful, and convincing crime drama with believable, well-drawn characters, and high-octane adventure when Jo meets up with Drake Alexander. If you enjoy high-energy page-turners, look no further than Allan Hudson's Shattered!

[Anne Smith-Nochasak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered: The Final Act is the culminating book in author Allan Hudson's Shattered series.

Fans of Jo Naylor will not be disappointed. Once again, the author presents a fast-moving, action-packed plot with Jo as strong and committed to justice as ever. It is a short read, but not a light read, for, as is always the case in Allan Hudson's books, although there is an economy of words, each is necessary and well-chosen. Each character is well-developed and true to life. The sisters sound like people I have met, and Jo's alliance with the enigmatic Drake reveals the strengths of both. Especially, I appreciate receiving just enough backstory to jog the reader's memory, without retelling the first three books.

The story rushes forward to a surprising conclusion, and although this is the "final act", I am relieved to see that there simply must be another series to address this outcome.

An excellent read, highly recommended for those seeking justice with a conscience!

I believe another Allan Hudson series is next on my list; after you read, you will see why.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered: The Final Act is a fast-paced and gripping thriller that plunges readers into a shadowy world of secrets, danger, and human trafficking. Jo, a woman with a murky past, is trying to start fresh in New Zealand—until a missing girl and her Canadian boyfriend pull her back into a world she’s been trying to escape. Allan Hudson crafts a tense, tightly woven narrative that keeps the suspense high from start to finish. The stakes are life or death, and the plot, involving organ trafficking and the wealthy elite, is as unsettling as it is plausible. With sharp writing, emotional depth, and a vigilant heroine, this story delivers both thrills and heart in equal measure. A chilling, page-turning read.