Broken

by A.J. Golden

★★★★★ "Wow. What a climax. And what an ending!!!"

DO NOT read this book if you don’t like cliffhangers. Wait for the final book in the series coming in 2025.

Crime. Conspiracy. A world where AI meets age-old deceit.

When artificial intelligence promises to safeguard society, a chilling discovery casts a dark shadow on its true purpose. Twenty-two young women are abandoned on a train track, thrusting Diana into a labyrinth of deception and danger.

Armed with nothing but her wits and cryptic clues, she finds herself at the crux of an illicit game. Her quest for answers plunges her into the murky depths of organized crime, where betrayal is business, and information could be lethal.

As lines blur between savior and captor, the software's sinister uses unravel, painting innocents as criminals and shielding the corrupt. Meanwhile, Diana's confrontation with wrongdoing spirals into a life-or-death gambit, pitting her against a relentless adversary as she acts as decoy. Or is she the ultimate target?

Every step draws Diana deeper into a plot that challenges her every belief about justice and morality. She must decide who to trust, who to save, and who to bring to justice. Loyalty and treachery collide. With the clock ticking, Diana faces an impossible save those she loves or sacrifice everything for the greater good?

Broken is a taut techno-thriller that weaves a tale of corruption, courage, and indomitable human spirit. It's a race against time where the hunter becomes the hunted, and the very technology that was meant to protect threatens to tear everything apart. Can Diana expose the web of lies before it's too late?

Broken is the fifth book in this thrilling series featuring a feisty, fearless, female protagonist who is sometimes her own worst enemy. No bad language, graphic sex or violence, just plenty of excitement and suspense.

"Wowee, well worth the wait."

Praise for the Diana Hunter
"A fabulous, plausible, unique, pulse-pounding plot line with an amazing twist. I couldn’t stop reading!"
"This kept me riveted from beginning to end and then I wanted more!"
“Fantastic book! Grabbed you from the first word and wouldn’t let go.”

Books in the Diana Hunter
Hunted (Prequel)
Snatched
Stolen
Chopped
Exposed
Broken

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2024

Reviews

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compex, a media company, is promising a new software product called PAPA that will aid in reducing crime. They say that PAPA will collect and correlate all forms of crime data to predict when and where new crimes will occur. Unfortunately, PAPA is not the miracle crime solving program it claims to be. Ex-cop Leonard DuBois tells Diana Hunter that the corruption goes all the way to the top and even includes the wealthy individuals and politicians. Diana is not sure whether to believe him or not, but she can't take the chance that he might be telling the truth. One of the key targets of PAPA seems to be Shevchenko, who is accused of trafficking women. On the other hand, from what Diana has found is that Shevchenko is actually helping women escape from the crime ring. Diana and Peter devise a plan to finally determine who is involved in the crime ring and hopefully take it down.

Is PAPA legit or part of the crime family? How can Peter and Diana determine who they can trust in the VPD and CSIS? Can Peter and Diana take down the crime ring or are they doomed to fail?

Alison Golden has created an exceptionally tense suspense story. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seats throughout.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a page turning, edge of your seat thrilling read, this is it! Diana has always been straight up for justice and goes where ever the case takes her despite the probability of her not coming out alive. After she and Peter went to an introductory meeting to a new AI program that is supposed to revolutionize all police departments. They left very skeptical. There's something that just didn't sit right with Diana and she needed to look a little closer at the program and who were actually behind it. This leads Diana and Peter on a very dangerous journey involving ,trafficking and corruption at the highest level including politicians and in the department. Who can she and Peter trust? How are they going to continue getting to the bottom of this case whole and still alive? You can't stop turning page after page while on the edge of your seat until an amazing cliff hanger. This entire series is amazing with one of the strongest and best protagonists in Diana. Now, I can't wait until the coming book to see how things will resolve. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Voracious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is the best Diana Hunter Mystery Yet. Diana and Peter are brought in to check out a new program called PAPA to help determine if it would really work for law enforcement. What they discover while following up on it puts their very lives in danger as well as everyone they love.

Diana Hunter is one of my favorite mystery characters. I have watched her develop since the first book. She is very intelligent yet mysterious. Due to circumstances surrounding her parents murder she hasn't let a lot of people get close to her until recent years. She met Peter and over time they have fallen in love. She has started opening up with people more and now her life is more balanced between her work and her personal life.

Broken had me turning the pages gasping at times, smiling at times, and teary at times. It was a bit of a roller coaster ride. I am eagerly waiting for the next book in the series to come out!

I received an ARC of this book. I am voluntarily giving my opinion.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana and Peter attend a rollout celebration for a new AI system that's supposed to revolutionize the police departments across the globe.
With reservations about the new system, Diana is thrown into the underworld of human trafficking in this fast paced thriller, that brings unlikely help in the form of a disgraced former detective.
The powers that be are now after Diana, (who is on the run for her live from more that just criminals) as she doesn't know who she can or cannot trust as the upper people in power are out to disgrace her in the same way they did the former detective.
Peter and his family are not safe either.

There is quite the cliffhanger in this one, but be prepared for one wild ride.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana is so fearless. But she does tend to rush into things without a lot of thinking. When the roll out of a new program that will help the police catch more criminals starts, many are skeptical that it will actually work. It might even make some of the police a little lazy. Diana gets a call to go see one of the first cases the program spit out. There were 22 women from other countries that are being trafficked in a house near the railroad tracks. Why wasn't someone guarding them. The more Diana and Peter investigate, the more they know that there are many influential people in the community involved in the trafficking. Maybe even some in the police community. If she keeps investigating, it could cost her everything. Including Peter.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

An international mystery & crime story. Diana Hunter is straddling the line between CSIS and VPD. When a group of women, victims of human trafficking, are found, she's called in to hunt down the last known criminal involved. This leads her on a merry chase through a maze of corruption backed by a co-opted surveillance program.

In the spy world, everything is smoke and mirrors. It's fast-paced and emotion-packed. However, it comes to a horrible, broken, cliffhanger end.

Action-packed. Entertaining. Haunting. Romantic. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Toni Nyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start a review on this book. When it came out I went back and reread the series - good way to do it. This book just sucks you in. You become part of the dynamics as you try to warn Peter and Diana. The new computersystem the authorities bring in to solve crimes almost turns into the main character. The plot stays true to Diana's back story and adds so much more. Happiness, danger and heartache keep you on a rollercoaster even at the end. I certainly hope The next book turns out to be not the last. I love Diana and her stories. Please keep her going.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana is thrust into a case involving AI and it gets more challenging and terrifying as she goes forward in the investigation. Does she save those closest to her or keep going to obtain justice? Webs of lies abound and Diane doesn't know who to trust or what the end game is. So she takes the matter of her own safety and the safety of those she loves into own hands and does the unexpected.
(Thanks to the author for an advance copy)

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken is the first book I have read in this series and it read fine as a stand-alone. It is a real roller coaster of a read! Masterful storytelling, nonstop action, dizzying plot twists, and evil villians combine to keep the pages turning. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

[Mickey Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending!

I've binged the series in four and a half days, and now I can't wait to see what happens next! The plots have been well written, I love the characters and how well they fit together. I'd recommend these books for hours of entertainment!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, Diane goes up against AI. This AI is supposed to help society, not harm it. Will Diane solve the problem on time before there’s more danger. A story not to be missed, absolutely outstanding as always.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Continuation of Diana's Story

I really enjoy the Diana Hunter series. I have been waiting forever for a new installment.

Peter and Max are my favorites. I enjoy their additions to the whole story. I look forward to book 6!

[Karin Tillotson]

Who are the good guys and how do you know??? Diana will figure things out, won't she??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[MargeGordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should give it one star, the ending sucked! So when is the next book coming out?