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Splintered #1
Splintered
A string of murders targeting effeminate gay men has the GLBTQ community of Chicago on alert, but budget cuts have left many precincts understaffed and overworked. Not to mention, homophobia is alive and well within the law enforcement community and little has been done to solve the mystery. When the FBI calls in Special Agent Todd Hutchinson and his team, the locals are glad to hand the case off. But Hutch finds a bigger mystery than anyone originally realized—seventeen linked murders committed in several different jurisdictions. Hutch’s clues lead him to Noah Walker.
Working on his PhD in forensic psychology, Noah has been obsessed with serial murders since he was a child. But coming to Hutch’s attention as a suspect isn’t a good way to start a relationship. Noah finds himself hunted, striking him off Hutch’s suspect list, but not off his radar. To catch the killer before anyone else falls victim, they’ll have to work together, and quickly, to bring him to justice.
Working on his PhD in forensic psychology, Noah has been obsessed with serial murders since he was a child. But coming to Hutch’s attention as a suspect isn’t a good way to start a relationship. Noah finds himself hunted, striking him off Hutch’s suspect list, but not off his radar. To catch the killer before anyone else falls victim, they’ll have to work together, and quickly, to bring him to justice.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2014
22 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
S.J.D. Peterson
52 books1,016 followersIt's been an amazing journey since DSP first contracted Lorcan's Desire in January 2011. I've published 2 free reads with the M/M Romance group, my back list is growing, met some great people and have made some amazing friends.
I'm still in shock that I'm listed among the many talented authors at Dreamspinner Press! The little voice in the back of my head is screaming, "You are so out of your league."
Shhhhh I won't tell them if you don't :)
You can call me Jo, everyone does :)
I'm still in shock that I'm listed among the many talented authors at Dreamspinner Press! The little voice in the back of my head is screaming, "You are so out of your league."
Shhhhh I won't tell them if you don't :)
You can call me Jo, everyone does :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 4, 2016
Written June 7, 2015
3.3 Stars - Pretty good crime story but too little romance-feeling
M/M crime ~ 7 hours audiobook narrated by Rusty Topsfield. My first by this narrator but my third by the writer (I really appreciated Plan B (4.5 stars))
Good enough if you like crime / thriller stories and don't need much romance in your books. Well narrated and all in all enjoying with some very funny moments between these FBI agents with jokes and banters.
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Some gay (effeminate) men in Chicago has been murdered lately. The FBI calls in their Special Agent Todd 'Hutch' Hutchinson and his team (Byte and Granite). The quite gay-hostile, and rather uninterested, locals are just glad to hand the case off. Hutch soon finds a bigger mystery than anyone originally realized—seventeen linked murders committed in several different jurisdictions.
Hutch’s clues lead him to Noah Walker, working on PhD in forensic psychology and obsessed with serial murders since childhood. A young beautiful man that has a "thing" for the famous FBI agent.
*********************************************
I think Splintered has a quite good and interesting, terrifying nightmarish, crime case (which unfortunately was solved to fast and quick in the end). There wasn't much romance to be honest. You had to wait very long (~ 70-80%) for any kiss-stuff or endearments, but when it at least appeared was it sweet and touching nice.
I can't let go of the feeling that this novel was planned to be longer. Things were to simple and easily solved, both regarding the serial killer and our two main characters' newly started love-affair. It felt rushed. Some more explanations, deeper discussions, more development, etc had been welcomed.
# All in all; this book should probably be much better added with another 50 pages (or 1-2 hours audio).
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I LIKE - crime / thriller novels...but want more kissing
3.3 Stars - Pretty good crime story but too little romance-feeling
M/M crime ~ 7 hours audiobook narrated by Rusty Topsfield. My first by this narrator but my third by the writer (I really appreciated Plan B (4.5 stars))
Good enough if you like crime / thriller stories and don't need much romance in your books. Well narrated and all in all enjoying with some very funny moments between these FBI agents with jokes and banters.
*********************************************
Some gay (effeminate) men in Chicago has been murdered lately. The FBI calls in their Special Agent Todd 'Hutch' Hutchinson and his team (Byte and Granite). The quite gay-hostile, and rather uninterested, locals are just glad to hand the case off. Hutch soon finds a bigger mystery than anyone originally realized—seventeen linked murders committed in several different jurisdictions.
Hutch’s clues lead him to Noah Walker, working on PhD in forensic psychology and obsessed with serial murders since childhood. A young beautiful man that has a "thing" for the famous FBI agent.
*********************************************
I think Splintered has a quite good and interesting, terrifying nightmarish, crime case (which unfortunately was solved to fast and quick in the end). There wasn't much romance to be honest. You had to wait very long (~ 70-80%) for any kiss-stuff or endearments, but when it at least appeared was it sweet and touching nice.
I can't let go of the feeling that this novel was planned to be longer. Things were to simple and easily solved, both regarding the serial killer and our two main characters' newly started love-affair. It felt rushed. Some more explanations, deeper discussions, more development, etc had been welcomed.
# All in all; this book should probably be much better added with another 50 pages (or 1-2 hours audio).
*********************************************
I LIKE - crime / thriller novels...but want more kissing
January 21, 2015
If you're in the mood for a thriller/crime novel, you'll love this one, because Splintered is all about the mystery, with the romance playing second fiddle.
A serial killer is on the loose; effeminate gay men are his victims. FBI Special Agent Todd Hutchinson (Hutch) and his crew are called in to investigate and hunt down the killer. Hutch originally focuses on Noah, who's working on his doctorate in psychology, as a suspect, until he realizes that Noah may be the next victim.
The scenes with Hutch and his team, Byte and Granite, were great; the banter felt very real. However, I didn't feel the chemistry between Hutch and Noah, and the investigation took a predictable and highly annoying turn wherein one of the MCs (I'll let you guess which one) tries to play hero, while the other MC, who's more qualified to "catch" the killer, falls for a ploy that wouldn't fool a child.
The profiling was interesting, and the story was suspenseful. Peterson's writing is always engaging, but the relationship wasn't well developed and felt like an aside. The feelings between the MCs were vague, and the ending too rushed and open ended for me to have enjoyed this one fully.
I prefer more romance in my M/M books, so this one didn't wow me, not like BAMF by this author, which I loved and would recommend if you prefer more romance with your mystery.
A serial killer is on the loose; effeminate gay men are his victims. FBI Special Agent Todd Hutchinson (Hutch) and his crew are called in to investigate and hunt down the killer. Hutch originally focuses on Noah, who's working on his doctorate in psychology, as a suspect, until he realizes that Noah may be the next victim.
The scenes with Hutch and his team, Byte and Granite, were great; the banter felt very real. However, I didn't feel the chemistry between Hutch and Noah, and the investigation took a predictable and highly annoying turn wherein one of the MCs (I'll let you guess which one) tries to play hero, while the other MC, who's more qualified to "catch" the killer, falls for a ploy that wouldn't fool a child.
The profiling was interesting, and the story was suspenseful. Peterson's writing is always engaging, but the relationship wasn't well developed and felt like an aside. The feelings between the MCs were vague, and the ending too rushed and open ended for me to have enjoyed this one fully.
I prefer more romance in my M/M books, so this one didn't wow me, not like BAMF by this author, which I loved and would recommend if you prefer more romance with your mystery.
May 13, 2015
SPLINTERED by SJD Peterson is a heart-stopping thriller. The plot is sound, the characters fascinating, the crimes horrendous and bloody, and SJD Peterson's way with words is exceptional. She's so good! The slow buildup to romance between the main characters, FBI's Special Agent Todd Hutchinson, and forensic psychology student Noah Walker, is sexy and believable and sweet. I loved those two men. And when they really came together I loved them even more. If you enjoy excitement on the pages you read, try this book. Reese Dante's cover is eerily perfect. And I'd like to mention one more thing about DSP novels in general. The editing is thorough and flawless. You are hard pressed to find many editing goof-ups in DSP novels, and that raises the reader's enjoyment factor substantially. At least it does for me. With SPLINTERED, as with all of their releases, you can see the love that went into, not only the writing, but also the publishing process. DSP books really are a joy to read. I just finished three in a row and they were all great. SPLINTERED included, although you might want to be prepared to have your pants scared off while you're reading it.
July 28, 2015
You get so far into a book and decide Stuff It! I'm so close to the end I'll just stick it out. Then, when it's all over it's like......
May 31, 2016
Splintered by SJD Peterson is a crime thriller about the chase to catch a sadistic serial killer whose victims are gay men. There is suspense, mystery and a hell of an awesome team of investigators. It was creepy and dark with a lot of blood and death.
Special agent Todd Hutchinson or Hutch is leading an investigation on a serial killer running rampant. Already 18 men are dead and Hutch is running out of time before the next killing. The local authorities have all done a piss poor job to do catch the perp and there are next to nothing leads. Based on thin threads of lead and limited knowledge Hutch and his team find out about Noah Walker. Noah fits Hutch’s profile as the killer but his exceptional knowledge about forensic psychology comes as a big help to the team. Hutch insults the killer in the media once which makes an already unstable situation more dicey. Noah becomes the killer’s next target. What ensues is some exceptional investigation and near death interactions to stop the killer.
The story is completely packed with the investigation and the process of four brilliant minds collaborating to catch one vicious killer. The ending was really something. I have read quite many thrillers with graphic violence and this read falls right into that category.
If you are more interested in the thriller/crime or the mystery solving process then this book is just what you need. For those who are looking for romance then this book will disappoint you big time. Hutch and Noah did not have much chemistry. There is only one intimate scene and for which I had to wait for a really long time*sigh* Given the circumstances in which Hutch and Noah come together the absence of more romance or sexy moments feels justified.
I loved Hutch’s team. Granite and Byte made very good side characters. The dynamics among the trio was awesome. Their continuous bickering and then working together like a well-oiled machine really worked wonders for the entire story. They do make some way too stupid calls at the end but that did not quite hamper the thrill of the read.
All in all, this book can primarily be categorized under a crime thriller rather than a romance. I cannot end this review without commenting on the cover. It is too good, fit the story completely. I love anything related to law enforcement or crime so this read was treat for me.
Special agent Todd Hutchinson or Hutch is leading an investigation on a serial killer running rampant. Already 18 men are dead and Hutch is running out of time before the next killing. The local authorities have all done a piss poor job to do catch the perp and there are next to nothing leads. Based on thin threads of lead and limited knowledge Hutch and his team find out about Noah Walker. Noah fits Hutch’s profile as the killer but his exceptional knowledge about forensic psychology comes as a big help to the team. Hutch insults the killer in the media once which makes an already unstable situation more dicey. Noah becomes the killer’s next target. What ensues is some exceptional investigation and near death interactions to stop the killer.
The story is completely packed with the investigation and the process of four brilliant minds collaborating to catch one vicious killer. The ending was really something. I have read quite many thrillers with graphic violence and this read falls right into that category.
If you are more interested in the thriller/crime or the mystery solving process then this book is just what you need. For those who are looking for romance then this book will disappoint you big time. Hutch and Noah did not have much chemistry. There is only one intimate scene and for which I had to wait for a really long time*sigh* Given the circumstances in which Hutch and Noah come together the absence of more romance or sexy moments feels justified.
I loved Hutch’s team. Granite and Byte made very good side characters. The dynamics among the trio was awesome. Their continuous bickering and then working together like a well-oiled machine really worked wonders for the entire story. They do make some way too stupid calls at the end but that did not quite hamper the thrill of the read.
All in all, this book can primarily be categorized under a crime thriller rather than a romance. I cannot end this review without commenting on the cover. It is too good, fit the story completely. I love anything related to law enforcement or crime so this read was treat for me.
May 25, 2016
Chicago has a serial killer on the loose. He somehow abducts young gay men ..and days later the victims' bodies are found .... they've been brutally tortured and then murdered. By the time one police department contacts the FBI, there have been a total of 18 victims spread out among many jurisdictions.
Special Agent Todd Hutchinson (Hutch), and his team members, Granite, and Byte start investigating and find that there isn't much interest in law enforcement in finding the culprit. After all, these men were all gay, indulging in a high-risk lifestyle... much like some officers don't work too hard when prostitutes are targeted.
Their thin threads lead them to Noah Walker, a graduate student working on his PhD in Forensic Psychology. Originally thought to be the killer, he turns out to be a big help to the team. Things get real dicey when Hutch insults the killer during a press conference ... and now Noah finds himself a very real target of the killer.
Interesting concept in that the FBI team consists of one gay, one bi, and one straight. And one of them is interested in Noah .. who is also gay. There should be a warning about the language..it's rough, and very possibly offensive to some.
Hutch has a way of feeling and thinking what the killer does. Granite is an excellent FBI Agent, and is usually the one who has Hutch's back. Byte is their computer guru. I would have liked to see more background on all of them to see how they got to where they are. Seeing as this is Book 1, I'm hoping this continues as a series...maybe my questions will be answered.
Many thanks to the author / DSP Publications / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Special Agent Todd Hutchinson (Hutch), and his team members, Granite, and Byte start investigating and find that there isn't much interest in law enforcement in finding the culprit. After all, these men were all gay, indulging in a high-risk lifestyle... much like some officers don't work too hard when prostitutes are targeted.
Their thin threads lead them to Noah Walker, a graduate student working on his PhD in Forensic Psychology. Originally thought to be the killer, he turns out to be a big help to the team. Things get real dicey when Hutch insults the killer during a press conference ... and now Noah finds himself a very real target of the killer.
Interesting concept in that the FBI team consists of one gay, one bi, and one straight. And one of them is interested in Noah .. who is also gay. There should be a warning about the language..it's rough, and very possibly offensive to some.
Hutch has a way of feeling and thinking what the killer does. Granite is an excellent FBI Agent, and is usually the one who has Hutch's back. Byte is their computer guru. I would have liked to see more background on all of them to see how they got to where they are. Seeing as this is Book 1, I'm hoping this continues as a series...maybe my questions will be answered.
Many thanks to the author / DSP Publications / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
October 7, 2014
What a book! Jo has outdone herself with this one! Can't wait for the follow-up!
October 9, 2014
4 stars for me. The murder mystery and the characterisations were wonderful, and Jo's writing was clean and crisp (which is my usual experience with her stories) BUT I desperately needed some hotness/sweetness from Hutch and Noah before the 80% mark, to take my mind off the gruesome nastiness going on in the background...and believe me readers, it was truly nasty!!
I would love to think that I'll meet these guys again though, cos they were perfect for each other, and now, knowing that Byte is bi-sexual, I feel that there must be a story....AND a partner out there for him somewhere too. Granite, well tough for him I'm afraid...unless he DOES actually turn to the Dark Side instead of Black Sabbath.....
I would love to think that I'll meet these guys again though, cos they were perfect for each other, and now, knowing that Byte is bi-sexual, I feel that there must be a story....AND a partner out there for him somewhere too. Granite, well tough for him I'm afraid...unless he DOES actually turn to the Dark Side instead of Black Sabbath.....
August 1, 2015
This was an enjoyable read, and a good audio book as well. I could have used a bit more variety between the voices. Hutch (the sexy but grizzled cop), Byte (the GQ hacker), and Granite (the Goth geo-something specialist) all had uber deep and raspy Dom voice. So that fell a bit flat. But otherwise he had good emoting and tone throughout, and I'd recommend it as an easy listen.
Now the book itself. As I said, an enjoyable read. I had some vague suspicions as to possible villain that I think the Feds should have at least speculated on But despite this being a mystery, you're not really supposed to figure out who the culprit is, because they never even have any viable suspects.
This is more about the working relationships and process of trying to catch a killer. The banter between the three co-workers was cute, although got to be a bit much at times. While the romance took a back seat (which I'm fine with), I just didn't feel the chemistry between our two MC's. Part of the problem was that Noah went from the shy socially awkward nerdy professor, to the aggressor/seducer, and this just didn't feel true for me. I would have been fine with this book having no sex while they developed a friendship/attraction, and tease us into the next book with promises of smexin. It was too early here so it felt rushed and out of character.
The climax was also slightly rushed, although to be honest I didn't mind, because I wasn't look forward to some huge traumatic torture scene or something. The resolution also, felt slightly off to me in a way that could have been easily fixed
So there's a lot of criticisms here, as is typical with my 3 star reviews. But the reason it's a 3 star book is because despite all the nit-picking I did enjoy it throughout. I have read some phenomenal stuff by SJD, so I trust their writing skills, although this certainly wouldn't be an all-time favorite. That being said, I intend to keep an eye out for book 2 so I can continue on with these guys.
Received audio from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
Now the book itself. As I said, an enjoyable read. I had some vague suspicions as to possible villain that I think the Feds should have at least speculated on But despite this being a mystery, you're not really supposed to figure out who the culprit is, because they never even have any viable suspects.
This is more about the working relationships and process of trying to catch a killer. The banter between the three co-workers was cute, although got to be a bit much at times. While the romance took a back seat (which I'm fine with), I just didn't feel the chemistry between our two MC's. Part of the problem was that Noah went from the shy socially awkward nerdy professor, to the aggressor/seducer, and this just didn't feel true for me. I would have been fine with this book having no sex while they developed a friendship/attraction, and tease us into the next book with promises of smexin. It was too early here so it felt rushed and out of character.
The climax was also slightly rushed, although to be honest I didn't mind, because I wasn't look forward to some huge traumatic torture scene or something. The resolution also, felt slightly off to me in a way that could have been easily fixed
So there's a lot of criticisms here, as is typical with my 3 star reviews. But the reason it's a 3 star book is because despite all the nit-picking I did enjoy it throughout. I have read some phenomenal stuff by SJD, so I trust their writing skills, although this certainly wouldn't be an all-time favorite. That being said, I intend to keep an eye out for book 2 so I can continue on with these guys.
Received audio from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
May 31, 2016
4.5 Stars ~ Splintered is a very good, serial murder mystery, a little gory, focusing on religion and homophobia. The story is suspenseful and has just the right amount of humor to cut the tension. Investigative techniques, profiling skills and getting inside the killer’s mind lend to a well written plot by SJD Peterson.
Todd “Hutch” Hutchinson is an FBI special agent: professional, hard around the edges, and a profiler extraordinaire. When Hutch starts to revisit the crime scenes and makes a connection to the killer, he feels like he’s crossing a line. Are the vibes that he gets really himself, or those of the killer? Does Hutch have the capability to be psychic? Stress and guilt frustrate him, and sometimes he gets gruff with the team and has to be made aware of his faults.
Then there’s the nervous Noah Walker, college student, working on his PhD in forensic profiling. Can the tragedy that took place in his young life fit the profile of a murderer? Hutch seems to think the nervous young man may fit that profile.
Hutch’s team consists of Travis “Granite” Green, goth boy and geographical profiler, and Andrew “Byte” Caswell, the IT geek with an amazing sense of style. All three are diverse, but there is great banter between the team and they really get down to business and have each other’s backs.
Besides the maniacal serial killer, they have to deal with a Chicago police force that doesn’t seem to care about gay men being murdered. When the number of dead starts to increase, Hutch enlists the help of Sergeant Struk to try and get better insight into the police force and solve these horrific crimes.
Splintered was first published in October of 2014, but there are some added scenes this second time around. I read this book then, and it is just as exciting now as it was then—and I was still surprised when the murderer was revealed.
The characters are great and I’m looking forward to the sequel. There’s not exactly a HEA between Hutch and Noah, but there’s definitely a lot of ideas to build on. I could see a sequel on how Noah fits in with the team, and more on the relationship between him and Hutch. Granite’s and Byte’s characters could warrant a sequel too. I think SJD Peterson certainly delivered on what I wanted: a well-constructed plot and some really solid characters who interacted well with each other. Because I’m an avid fan of gory murder mysteries, I’m begging for book two soon.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
Todd “Hutch” Hutchinson is an FBI special agent: professional, hard around the edges, and a profiler extraordinaire. When Hutch starts to revisit the crime scenes and makes a connection to the killer, he feels like he’s crossing a line. Are the vibes that he gets really himself, or those of the killer? Does Hutch have the capability to be psychic? Stress and guilt frustrate him, and sometimes he gets gruff with the team and has to be made aware of his faults.
Then there’s the nervous Noah Walker, college student, working on his PhD in forensic profiling. Can the tragedy that took place in his young life fit the profile of a murderer? Hutch seems to think the nervous young man may fit that profile.
Hutch’s team consists of Travis “Granite” Green, goth boy and geographical profiler, and Andrew “Byte” Caswell, the IT geek with an amazing sense of style. All three are diverse, but there is great banter between the team and they really get down to business and have each other’s backs.
Besides the maniacal serial killer, they have to deal with a Chicago police force that doesn’t seem to care about gay men being murdered. When the number of dead starts to increase, Hutch enlists the help of Sergeant Struk to try and get better insight into the police force and solve these horrific crimes.
Splintered was first published in October of 2014, but there are some added scenes this second time around. I read this book then, and it is just as exciting now as it was then—and I was still surprised when the murderer was revealed.
The characters are great and I’m looking forward to the sequel. There’s not exactly a HEA between Hutch and Noah, but there’s definitely a lot of ideas to build on. I could see a sequel on how Noah fits in with the team, and more on the relationship between him and Hutch. Granite’s and Byte’s characters could warrant a sequel too. I think SJD Peterson certainly delivered on what I wanted: a well-constructed plot and some really solid characters who interacted well with each other. Because I’m an avid fan of gory murder mysteries, I’m begging for book two soon.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
October 6, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.5 Stars
Things are not good for the gay community in Chicago. Effeminate gay men are being snatched off the streets, they are being tortured and killed and dumped around the city and the lax and homophobic attitude of the police force has meant the killer is still out there committing crimes. Only when the FBI are called in does it become apparent just how serious the problem is. There are 18 deaths and counting and absolutely no leads.
When Agent Todd Hutchinson and his team are brought in to help solve the latest two murders they are incensed at the way the case has so far been handled. Although they work every hour they can after a couple of weeks they are still no clearer as to who the culprit is.
One of their leads takes them to Noah Walker who is a student in forensic psychology and who has an immense knowledge of the case. His childhood has left him with nightmares and a strange insight into serial killers but Hutch can’t decide whether he is friend of foe. When the killer takes an unhealthy interest in Noah it becomes clear he is more a victim than perpetrator.
When Noah needs protection Hutch moves him in with their team but the sexual tension between them begins to affect how they work.
As the case stagnates the only way to grab the killer’s attention is to bait him and although it works it has drastic consequences. Hutch has promised Noah that he will keep him safe no matter what but the killer is clever and this may be a promise Hutch finds himself unable to keep. Noah is haunted by his childhood memories and will have to dig deep if he is going to save himself and the team he has grown so close to.
4.5 Stars
Things are not good for the gay community in Chicago. Effeminate gay men are being snatched off the streets, they are being tortured and killed and dumped around the city and the lax and homophobic attitude of the police force has meant the killer is still out there committing crimes. Only when the FBI are called in does it become apparent just how serious the problem is. There are 18 deaths and counting and absolutely no leads.
When Agent Todd Hutchinson and his team are brought in to help solve the latest two murders they are incensed at the way the case has so far been handled. Although they work every hour they can after a couple of weeks they are still no clearer as to who the culprit is.
One of their leads takes them to Noah Walker who is a student in forensic psychology and who has an immense knowledge of the case. His childhood has left him with nightmares and a strange insight into serial killers but Hutch can’t decide whether he is friend of foe. When the killer takes an unhealthy interest in Noah it becomes clear he is more a victim than perpetrator.
When Noah needs protection Hutch moves him in with their team but the sexual tension between them begins to affect how they work.
As the case stagnates the only way to grab the killer’s attention is to bait him and although it works it has drastic consequences. Hutch has promised Noah that he will keep him safe no matter what but the killer is clever and this may be a promise Hutch finds himself unable to keep. Noah is haunted by his childhood memories and will have to dig deep if he is going to save himself and the team he has grown so close to.
October 23, 2015
Here's a story that you will either enjoy or dislike. I am somewhere in the middle of that.
I don't have any emotions when it comes to liking or not liking these characters because you don't really get to know them. This is the type of story where there isn't very much character development if any at all. We are just thrown into the middle of an investigation of a serial killer with no character background. Did this bother me? Honestly, I'm not sure it did since I ended up not caring for any of them. But then again that is probably why I didn't end up caring for them.
What was well developed was the serial killer and all the murders. This dude is sick and twisted and I really enjoyed the thriller part of this book. I enjoyed the interactions between Hutch and his team. I loved the banter and how close they were with each other. What I didn't really care for was the relationship between Noah and Hutch. It just seemed forced for the stories sake and I didn't really feel the chemistry between these guys.
I've really enjoyed other books from this author, but this one just didn't do it for me.
July 23, 2018
Weer een geslaagde detective/mm roman. Fijn dat in het verhaal het detective zijn een grotere rol had dan de romance, al kon ik niet echt meedenken over een verdachte omdat niemand simpelweg wat wist.
Ga toch kijken of ik meer boek van SJD Peterson kan vinden.
Ga toch kijken of ik meer boek van SJD Peterson kan vinden.
June 1, 2016
4.5 Stars ~ Ah, Jo, I've missed you. It feels like forever since I've had a new release from you, and, frankly, it's been hard. I've been in agony and torment, day after day, pining away for your writing. *grins* Okay, maybe not that bad, but I've missed you. So, you can imagine my reaction when I heard about 'Splintered', book one in a series by the same name. There was squealing, Jo. Squealing, I tell you. Because not only was I getting a new SJD Peterson book, but it's a serial killer murder mystery, starring a hot FBI agent and an equally gorgeous forensic psychologist. I'm in heaven.
Special Agent Todd Hutchison, Hutch, and his team have been called in after the murders of two young, male, openly gay men, who were tortured and their genitals mutilated, only to discover another fifteen cases, within the same area, but over eight different jurisdictions. Hutch is furious that Chicago's "finest" don't seem to care a whole lot about the deaths of, as they say, "faggots who were asking for it." Nice, huh? Even better is that for a few of the first murders, no evidence was collected, and the deaths were ruled suspicious instead of homicide. Hutch, Granite, and Byte sure aren't going to stop in their hunt for this killer, though. Hutch knows he's got the best team of them all. Hutch is a profiler at Quantico with an eerie ability to slip into the minds of killers, Granite is a genius at geographical profiling, and Byte, well, you guessed it, there isn't a computer system around that he can't get information out of.
“What makes someone look at a gay man as something less than human? That their death doesn’t matter because of who they shared their bed with?”
Enter Noah Walker, graduate student in criminal psychology, whom Hutch has spotted in the crowds at several of the dump sites. When Hutch and Granite go to talk to Noah, Hutch interprets his nervousness as guilty or suspicious behavior, when, in fact, Noah can't believe he's meeting the man he's admired for so long, and Hutch is even more gorgeous in person than Noah could've imagined. Noah has been fascinated with serial killers since he was in junior high. In fact, the living room walls of his apartment are covered in newspaper stories, maps, photos, etc. It's a little disconcerting to the average Joe. But Noah lived his own nightmare as a child, when he came home and found his mother and sister murdered, and that killer has never been found.
This was an exciting, thrilling, sexy, book, and an intense ride. Hutch and Noah are fascinating characters, each with their own histories and reasons for doing what they do. Hutch is not far away from burnout when he meets Noah, and Hutch really needs a little light amidst all the darkness he sees. The author penned an intricate murder mystery, with a killer I wasn't expecting. I'm really looking forward to the next book, and I can wholeheartedly recommend this one.
NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Special Agent Todd Hutchison, Hutch, and his team have been called in after the murders of two young, male, openly gay men, who were tortured and their genitals mutilated, only to discover another fifteen cases, within the same area, but over eight different jurisdictions. Hutch is furious that Chicago's "finest" don't seem to care a whole lot about the deaths of, as they say, "faggots who were asking for it." Nice, huh? Even better is that for a few of the first murders, no evidence was collected, and the deaths were ruled suspicious instead of homicide. Hutch, Granite, and Byte sure aren't going to stop in their hunt for this killer, though. Hutch knows he's got the best team of them all. Hutch is a profiler at Quantico with an eerie ability to slip into the minds of killers, Granite is a genius at geographical profiling, and Byte, well, you guessed it, there isn't a computer system around that he can't get information out of.
“What makes someone look at a gay man as something less than human? That their death doesn’t matter because of who they shared their bed with?”
Enter Noah Walker, graduate student in criminal psychology, whom Hutch has spotted in the crowds at several of the dump sites. When Hutch and Granite go to talk to Noah, Hutch interprets his nervousness as guilty or suspicious behavior, when, in fact, Noah can't believe he's meeting the man he's admired for so long, and Hutch is even more gorgeous in person than Noah could've imagined. Noah has been fascinated with serial killers since he was in junior high. In fact, the living room walls of his apartment are covered in newspaper stories, maps, photos, etc. It's a little disconcerting to the average Joe. But Noah lived his own nightmare as a child, when he came home and found his mother and sister murdered, and that killer has never been found.
This was an exciting, thrilling, sexy, book, and an intense ride. Hutch and Noah are fascinating characters, each with their own histories and reasons for doing what they do. Hutch is not far away from burnout when he meets Noah, and Hutch really needs a little light amidst all the darkness he sees. The author penned an intricate murder mystery, with a killer I wasn't expecting. I'm really looking forward to the next book, and I can wholeheartedly recommend this one.
NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
March 12, 2017
While the main premise of Splintered is compelling, I felt there was too much flotsam that got in the way of the story. As I started reading, Marv from Quentin Tarrantino's Sin City immediately came to mind as the embodiment of Special Agent Todd Hutchinson ("Hutch") - clenched jaw, mad at the world, "fucking seething" from scene to scene. The rest of his elite FBI team are stereotypes as well - Hutch's wise-cracking best friend and associate Granite ("he looked like the poster child for the Goth Nation") and Byte the computer hacker with $500 Italian ties. They share the type of comradery where Granite makes snarky asides about Hutch's ass constantly ... and I do mean constantly.There is no chemistry between the two MCs, Noah and Hutch, and the one sex scene is a fade to black. Given the bloody, downright scary serial killer plot, I thought this bizarre that Noah thinks:
He was studying one of the worst serial killers he'd ever encountered, a sick and twisted individual who was now watching him, photographing him, and yet, at the moment, none of it seemed to be enough to dampen the thrill of excitement Hutch produced in him.
That's a big huh? for me, with a side of downright creepy.
The finale of the book is truly frightening, but occurs because of a totally idiotic situation where the seasoned FBI veteran allows something to happen that is along the line of running away from the killer ... by running upstairs. No, no, no - have you never watched a horror movie?
If you read Splintered for the crime procedural aspect, the plot may appeal to you because SJD Peterson has set up a terrifying set of crimes and a very creepy killer. But please be aware the M/M romance aspect is very minimal.
I received an ARC from DSP Publications in exchange for an honest review. Review also posted at GayBook Reviews. Check it out!
September 5, 2016
Splintered (Hunting Evil: Book One)
By SJD Peterson
DSP Publications, 2016
Cover by Reese Dante
Four stars
A good, edgy, page-turning read, “Splintered” is the first in a series that, I assume, stars FBI profiler Todd Hutchinson (Hutch) and his team, Granite (Travis Green) and Byte (Andrew Caswell). Our guys have been flown to Chicago when the seemingly random discovery of a mutilated body in an isolated woodland appears to link up to as many as seventeen similar killings scattered over a wide area around the city. Now they’ve got a gay-hating serial killer on their hands.
Hutch is gay, thirty-something, and perfectly happy with that. He has an ability to get inside the head of murderers, and worries about what this might say about him. Granite is Goth on the outside, FBI on the inside, and is one of Hutch’s few close friends. Byte, a rogue hacker given to Armani suits, performs data-based miracles to help his team find killers.
When their background research turns up a twenty-six-year-old PhD candidate in criminal psychology, Noah Walker, Hutch and his buddies think they might have found their man. This turns out to be true, but not in the way they expected.
I liked all these guys; I liked the way they’re angry about police homophobia; I like the way the straight Granite teases Hutch with a long-running sexual joke that makes them both laugh. I liked Noah, obsessed and damaged, as he blunders into an investigation that’s bigger than even he understood, and realizes that he might just fit the profile of a serial killer.
The romance at the center of this thriller was, to me, awkwardly drawn. Not that I disapproved, but I just found the way Peterson handled it was clumsy. But hey, they’re her characters, not mine. I chose to go along for the ride; and I really look forward to the next installment of “Hunting Evil.”
By SJD Peterson
DSP Publications, 2016
Cover by Reese Dante
Four stars
A good, edgy, page-turning read, “Splintered” is the first in a series that, I assume, stars FBI profiler Todd Hutchinson (Hutch) and his team, Granite (Travis Green) and Byte (Andrew Caswell). Our guys have been flown to Chicago when the seemingly random discovery of a mutilated body in an isolated woodland appears to link up to as many as seventeen similar killings scattered over a wide area around the city. Now they’ve got a gay-hating serial killer on their hands.
Hutch is gay, thirty-something, and perfectly happy with that. He has an ability to get inside the head of murderers, and worries about what this might say about him. Granite is Goth on the outside, FBI on the inside, and is one of Hutch’s few close friends. Byte, a rogue hacker given to Armani suits, performs data-based miracles to help his team find killers.
When their background research turns up a twenty-six-year-old PhD candidate in criminal psychology, Noah Walker, Hutch and his buddies think they might have found their man. This turns out to be true, but not in the way they expected.
I liked all these guys; I liked the way they’re angry about police homophobia; I like the way the straight Granite teases Hutch with a long-running sexual joke that makes them both laugh. I liked Noah, obsessed and damaged, as he blunders into an investigation that’s bigger than even he understood, and realizes that he might just fit the profile of a serial killer.
The romance at the center of this thriller was, to me, awkwardly drawn. Not that I disapproved, but I just found the way Peterson handled it was clumsy. But hey, they’re her characters, not mine. I chose to go along for the ride; and I really look forward to the next installment of “Hunting Evil.”
July 30, 2015
4.5 Stars
I originally wanted to get this book on release day, but the release was pushed back and I forgot about it. Then I saw it in the new releases on audible, recently, and couldn't resist getting it.
Before discovering the M/M genre, I usually read Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal and most of all Thrillers and Mystery Novels.
I love finding great examples of those sub genres in M/M and it was wonderful to discover how well SJD Peterson did with this mystery thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
I must admit that the serial killer was most interesting, when we didn't know who it was and everyone was a suspect. The unknown, super-smart killer was more effective as a threat.
Still, the reveal of the killer'S identity and the killer's actions make for an action-filled finale, even if this story was most effective for me in the slow built romance and the cat-and-mouse game with the killer, including getting into the killer's mind (think Criminal Minds).
The book was a great, engaging read and I can strongly recommend it to fans of thrillers and mysteries.
I originally wanted to get this book on release day, but the release was pushed back and I forgot about it. Then I saw it in the new releases on audible, recently, and couldn't resist getting it.
Before discovering the M/M genre, I usually read Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal and most of all Thrillers and Mystery Novels.
I love finding great examples of those sub genres in M/M and it was wonderful to discover how well SJD Peterson did with this mystery thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
I must admit that the serial killer was most interesting, when we didn't know who it was and everyone was a suspect. The unknown, super-smart killer was more effective as a threat.
Still, the reveal of the killer'S identity and the killer's actions make for an action-filled finale, even if this story was most effective for me in the slow built romance and the cat-and-mouse game with the killer, including getting into the killer's mind (think Criminal Minds).
The book was a great, engaging read and I can strongly recommend it to fans of thrillers and mysteries.
March 23, 2015
Definitely more psychological thriller than romance. FBI agent 'Hutch' and his goth partner are part of a taskforce with local law enforcement to find a killer targeting young effeminate gay men who are subjected to torture before being killed and mutilated. Noah is a Phd student in criminal psychology who comes to Hutch's attention at the crime scene. Initially a suspect he soon becomes a potential victim and agrees to be bait for the killer. There is a relationship starting between Noah and Hutch but it has a definite HFN ending. This is clearly marked as book one in a series so hopefully more to come from these two.
June 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this audiobook. Rusty Topsfield did a great job with the narration, providing a nice variety of voices for the MCs and secondary characters.
It's not so much a love story as it is an action/suspense/adventure with a lot of gory details, but the suspense was terrific, the murderer was not who I thought it was, and the promise of a HEA was perfect.
It's not so much a love story as it is an action/suspense/adventure with a lot of gory details, but the suspense was terrific, the murderer was not who I thought it was, and the promise of a HEA was perfect.
October 7, 2014
3.5 stars - Really enjoyed this one. I thought all of the characters were great and the profiling and tracking of the serial killer intriguing. Definitely wouldn't mind seeing Hutch and Noah's story continue in another book.
July 11, 2020
Audiobook reviewI love mysteries and always have, probably always will. And when I find a gay mysteries or m/m mystery I’m always eager to start listening, ready for my next adventure.
The premise of this book was a good one; a serial killer roaming in Chicago targeting effeminate gay men in the most horrific of ways. And of course, we follow the detectives trying to find and stop the killer. This is all really good and should have been great and possibly heart-pounding listen, but to me it wasn’t for a few reasons.
The characters felt one dimensional and after finishing the book I still don’t feel like I know them any better than I did when I started. I wished for a back story for them, or something that indicated they had a past and lives before the book started. Parts of the book were really great, I mentioned the set-up before. I also enjoyed the profiling part of it, trying to get into the mind of the killer, and trying to make all the clues fit.
But then there were entirely too many clichés thrown in, too much wannabe macho-men, not to mention the TSTL moments. I mean if you know you are being stalked by a vicious serial killer, why do you run off without your police protection? There was also a distinct lack of depth and emotion in this book. I felt as if there was a distance between the story and the listener, so while listening I had a hard time to really connect and become invested. In general I don’t mind gruesome details or descriptions in my books, I can even stomach the odd abuse scene – but there has to be a place for it. They need to fit the narrative of the story and not been added as a way to manipulate the reader or reader as I felt it was here.
I think this might be my first foray with Rusty Topsfield, and it was an enjoyable one. I loved listening to his deep voice and appreciated how he varied his tone and pacing to fit the situation the characters fund themselves in. I’ve found that a particularly tricky thing for any narrator (male and female) is voicing the opposite sex in a seemingly natural way without overdoing it. Some can be downright cringe-worthy, but Topsfield portrayed really well, to the point where I stopped to take notice. Not that there were many women in this story, but it’s still something I appreciate all the same. The story might not have been for me, but the narration was, and I’ll happily listen to more of Topsfield’s books in the future.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
August 23, 2023
I'm not usually that hard to please when it comes to this genre; I genuinely enjoy most of what I read. To Splintered's credit, it wasn't a DNF for me. I did want a resolution. However, it wasn't good. Not just the resolution, although that was terrible, but the whole book.
The writing was lazy, the dual protagonists were dull, the crime was poorly planned out (and the reveal wasn't rewarding at all and felt like a cop-out), and the romance was a stretch at best.
I usually quite like when crime romance features the "crime" aspect more heavily than the "romance" aspect, because I enjoy the tension, and strong romance can sometimes pull away from that and lower the stakes when it's clearly the focus. That wasn't my problem with this book. I just didn't buy it as a romance. Vague sexual interest, sure, no problem with that, but there was no real chemistry, and no sexual tension throughout any of their interactions. I wasn't convinced they would ever be anything more after they had sex. There was nothing at all for them to build anything from and they were both involved in horribly traumatic events. With everything I read about them, they would definitely have gone their separate ways.
The comradery between Hutch, Granite and Byte felt forced in some places and just out of place in others, although I did like how accepting and sexually inappropriate Granite was to his queer friends. The goth/emo thing was a little cringey until it stopped being mentioned and I was able to forget about it. I eventually warmed up to Granite and Byte, but it took a long while. I never warmed up to Hutch and I was less interested in Noah the more I read him making ridiculous decisions.
Overall, there wasn't much character development at all.
There was far too much telling and not enough showing in the writing. We were told on multiple occasions that Hutch was a hotshot investigator, but rarely did he ever show his workings. We just had to trust it was true when something conveniently worked out. And he never came close to actually identifying the murderer. Some hotshot. The "psychic"/impossibly empathetic angle was ridiculous, too, and fed into the convenience of things.
The profile, although accurate, which we learned in the epilogue, had nothing to do with the story and had no bearing on the end result or capture.
The flagrant abuse of "ly" descriptors (dazedly, cockily etc) was infuriating and pulled me from the story with how jarring they were. I would have killed for most of them to have been replaced with stronger verbs.
This missed far more than it hit for me.
The writing was lazy, the dual protagonists were dull, the crime was poorly planned out (and the reveal wasn't rewarding at all and felt like a cop-out), and the romance was a stretch at best.
I usually quite like when crime romance features the "crime" aspect more heavily than the "romance" aspect, because I enjoy the tension, and strong romance can sometimes pull away from that and lower the stakes when it's clearly the focus. That wasn't my problem with this book. I just didn't buy it as a romance. Vague sexual interest, sure, no problem with that, but there was no real chemistry, and no sexual tension throughout any of their interactions. I wasn't convinced they would ever be anything more after they had sex. There was nothing at all for them to build anything from and they were both involved in horribly traumatic events. With everything I read about them, they would definitely have gone their separate ways.
The comradery between Hutch, Granite and Byte felt forced in some places and just out of place in others, although I did like how accepting and sexually inappropriate Granite was to his queer friends. The goth/emo thing was a little cringey until it stopped being mentioned and I was able to forget about it. I eventually warmed up to Granite and Byte, but it took a long while. I never warmed up to Hutch and I was less interested in Noah the more I read him making ridiculous decisions.
Overall, there wasn't much character development at all.
There was far too much telling and not enough showing in the writing. We were told on multiple occasions that Hutch was a hotshot investigator, but rarely did he ever show his workings. We just had to trust it was true when something conveniently worked out. And he never came close to actually identifying the murderer. Some hotshot. The "psychic"/impossibly empathetic angle was ridiculous, too, and fed into the convenience of things.
The profile, although accurate, which we learned in the epilogue, had nothing to do with the story and had no bearing on the end result or capture.
The flagrant abuse of "ly" descriptors (dazedly, cockily etc) was infuriating and pulled me from the story with how jarring they were. I would have killed for most of them to have been replaced with stronger verbs.
This missed far more than it hit for me.
July 21, 2015
So this is a book by a good writer, patterned after both a highly successful crime drama (it kind of reads like Criminal Minds fanfic) and a highly popular m/m romance series (it takes a lot of cues from the Cut & Run series). Why didn't I love it?
A few basic reasons.
1) Failures of understanding. Romance authors are constantly working outside their comfort zones and to do this, they generally do some amount of research and try to be vague enough so that everything sounds basically plausible. This book tried to delve a little deeper and in some ways that made things worse. Some of the issues are basically copied from Criminal Minds and not really a big deal, but trying to justify some bizarre behavior by saying that psychologists only need to worry about ethics and human subjects rules when they plan to publish was just an odd announcement that she just doesn't get it. Stay vague. If you don't understand the rules that govern researchers, don't try to invoke them in the story.
2) Failures of design. Criminal Minds has a formula that works really well. It has changed across the seasons, but the current formula is that they cover the murderer and the team in parallel, so the viewer always knows who the team is trying to catch. The former set-up had them covering the murders, but not showing who the killer was overtly. This book just covers the team, but uses kind of a pseudo-mystery setup so the reader isn't sure whether the killer is one of the cast of characters or not (I will only tell you that this is not a mystery. It is geared to give you a shock at the end) . During most of the book, not a lot of progress is made on the plot line "find the killer, " and then everything unfolds suddenly. Good police thrillers involve the reader in both the crime aspect and the solution. The reader is only superfluously involved in solving this crime.
3) Failures of emotion. Honestly, Hutch and Granite had way more chemistry than Hutch and Noah. Why? Because the author spent the entire book developing their relationship, while she didn't even introduce Noah until about 50%. Then she had to push them together fast. She used a seduction scene that didn't seem to fit with either character (did Hutch really seem like the guy to sleep with someone involved in a case just because he was in the mood? Was Noah really the guy to not take no for an answer even though it was the right answer logically?). The seduction scene in which one person is convinced over their ethical concerns to participate in something while the other smirks knowingly at them is so unromantic, and it was out of character for both of them, so why?
So I think the moral of the story is that if you are going to write books patterned after things that work, actually use the patterns that work. Criminal Minds has a formula that works well, why mess with it? And Cut & Run worked because the chemistry of the couple was developed over time and their seduction scene was amazing. Why use a seduction formula that doesn't fit the characters or the situation? It all resulted in a book that could have been really good but was, instead, average.
That said?. I really liked Hutch, Granite, and Byte. I think I would have loved this book if it was done just a little differently. I did not love Noah. I think either changing the Noah character a bit and introducing him sooner and building chemistry or making him a supporting character and having the romance between members of the team would have been better. It is possible that she means to make this into a series following different team members each book, but the romances have to be compelling and this one wasn't.
A few basic reasons.
1) Failures of understanding. Romance authors are constantly working outside their comfort zones and to do this, they generally do some amount of research and try to be vague enough so that everything sounds basically plausible. This book tried to delve a little deeper and in some ways that made things worse. Some of the issues are basically copied from Criminal Minds and not really a big deal, but trying to justify some bizarre behavior by saying that psychologists only need to worry about ethics and human subjects rules when they plan to publish was just an odd announcement that she just doesn't get it. Stay vague. If you don't understand the rules that govern researchers, don't try to invoke them in the story.
2) Failures of design. Criminal Minds has a formula that works really well. It has changed across the seasons, but the current formula is that they cover the murderer and the team in parallel, so the viewer always knows who the team is trying to catch. The former set-up had them covering the murders, but not showing who the killer was overtly. This book just covers the team, but uses kind of a pseudo-mystery setup so the reader isn't sure whether the killer is one of the cast of characters or not (I will only tell you that this is not a mystery. It is geared to give you a shock at the end) . During most of the book, not a lot of progress is made on the plot line "find the killer, " and then everything unfolds suddenly. Good police thrillers involve the reader in both the crime aspect and the solution. The reader is only superfluously involved in solving this crime.
3) Failures of emotion. Honestly, Hutch and Granite had way more chemistry than Hutch and Noah. Why? Because the author spent the entire book developing their relationship, while she didn't even introduce Noah until about 50%. Then she had to push them together fast. She used a seduction scene that didn't seem to fit with either character (did Hutch really seem like the guy to sleep with someone involved in a case just because he was in the mood? Was Noah really the guy to not take no for an answer even though it was the right answer logically?). The seduction scene in which one person is convinced over their ethical concerns to participate in something while the other smirks knowingly at them is so unromantic, and it was out of character for both of them, so why?
So I think the moral of the story is that if you are going to write books patterned after things that work, actually use the patterns that work. Criminal Minds has a formula that works well, why mess with it? And Cut & Run worked because the chemistry of the couple was developed over time and their seduction scene was amazing. Why use a seduction formula that doesn't fit the characters or the situation? It all resulted in a book that could have been really good but was, instead, average.
That said?. I really liked Hutch, Granite, and Byte. I think I would have loved this book if it was done just a little differently. I did not love Noah. I think either changing the Noah character a bit and introducing him sooner and building chemistry or making him a supporting character and having the romance between members of the team would have been better. It is possible that she means to make this into a series following different team members each book, but the romances have to be compelling and this one wasn't.
August 20, 2017
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; MAY 23, 2015
Narrator: Rusty Topfield
There were elements I liked very much here: the story was focused on the murder investigation; there was no gratuitous sex and the romance didn't get in the way of the FBI's job.
In fact, the romance is hardly there. Noah makes his appearance only in chapter 8. That's 30% into the story. Unlike other readers, I don't mind this at all because I went into the story with a 'murder-mystery-with-a touch-of-romance' mindset and I was actually very pleased that the romance thread wasn't intrusive. This is just me, though. Unlike other romance readers, I don't like too much romance and sex in my murder investigation books. I also liked that Hutch smoked. Yep. Taboo these days for our romance heroes to smoke or bareback the other MC unless a barrage of tests have been done and the results (positive, of course) is shared with the reader. At least here, I get my fiction undisturbed by reality and it felt good to be given a hero that's not totally conformist. Kudos to the author for daring to do this, even if it's just smoking and not barebacking.
However, what I don't like in my books overshadowed the good in the end: absolutely next-to-no chemistry between Noah and Hutch. From chapter 8 onwards, though both MCs got equal page time, their interaction didn't draw me in. I did not feel the sexual tension in the least bit despite being told, in the narrative as well as by Granite that "Hell, the sexual tension arcing in the room between you two is so intense, I swear if you don’t bang soon, you’ll both explode." As far as I'm concerned, Granite's the only person who thinks that. The single sex scene did nothing to change my mind about the MCs having feelings for each other.
Peterson also employs the usual TSTL thing to insert a (non-sexual) tension that's been missing from the start - she has Noah going back to his apartment to get a report for his professor after he gets a phone call telling him said professor wants it. Noah is pretty sure he gave his prof a copy already but, of course, he does what he's told and returns to his apartment, and right into the arms of the serial killer. Is this some kind of clause in their contracts? That these romantic suspense plots must include the MC doing a TSTL thing and get caught by the perp?
Another hackneyed trope is the insane religious nutjob spouting Scripture during his kills. Really, they are a dime a dozen and I so want them to be eradicated from RS genre.
Going by the lack of romantic development between Hutch and Noah, I'm guessing this is just the introduction to either a new series, or a trilogy and that we'll see the couple take their relationship up another level. Whether the author will be successful in the sequel where, IMO, she failed here, is uncertain.
There was some important ingredient missing in this book, for me. It's as if most of the ingredients are there and the few dodgy ones shouldn't matter much, yet as the book comes to an end I am still hungry and dissatisfied because what I did eat was so bland it's left me craving for...something...anything!
Narrator: Rusty Topfield
There were elements I liked very much here: the story was focused on the murder investigation; there was no gratuitous sex and the romance didn't get in the way of the FBI's job.
In fact, the romance is hardly there. Noah makes his appearance only in chapter 8. That's 30% into the story. Unlike other readers, I don't mind this at all because I went into the story with a 'murder-mystery-with-a touch-of-romance' mindset and I was actually very pleased that the romance thread wasn't intrusive. This is just me, though. Unlike other romance readers, I don't like too much romance and sex in my murder investigation books. I also liked that Hutch smoked. Yep. Taboo these days for our romance heroes to smoke or bareback the other MC unless a barrage of tests have been done and the results (positive, of course) is shared with the reader. At least here, I get my fiction undisturbed by reality and it felt good to be given a hero that's not totally conformist. Kudos to the author for daring to do this, even if it's just smoking and not barebacking.
However, what I don't like in my books overshadowed the good in the end: absolutely next-to-no chemistry between Noah and Hutch. From chapter 8 onwards, though both MCs got equal page time, their interaction didn't draw me in. I did not feel the sexual tension in the least bit despite being told, in the narrative as well as by Granite that "Hell, the sexual tension arcing in the room between you two is so intense, I swear if you don’t bang soon, you’ll both explode." As far as I'm concerned, Granite's the only person who thinks that. The single sex scene did nothing to change my mind about the MCs having feelings for each other.
Peterson also employs the usual TSTL thing to insert a (non-sexual) tension that's been missing from the start - she has Noah going back to his apartment to get a report for his professor after he gets a phone call telling him said professor wants it. Noah is pretty sure he gave his prof a copy already but, of course, he does what he's told and returns to his apartment, and right into the arms of the serial killer. Is this some kind of clause in their contracts? That these romantic suspense plots must include the MC doing a TSTL thing and get caught by the perp?
Another hackneyed trope is the insane religious nutjob spouting Scripture during his kills. Really, they are a dime a dozen and I so want them to be eradicated from RS genre.
Going by the lack of romantic development between Hutch and Noah, I'm guessing this is just the introduction to either a new series, or a trilogy and that we'll see the couple take their relationship up another level. Whether the author will be successful in the sequel where, IMO, she failed here, is uncertain.
There was some important ingredient missing in this book, for me. It's as if most of the ingredients are there and the few dodgy ones shouldn't matter much, yet as the book comes to an end I am still hungry and dissatisfied because what I did eat was so bland it's left me craving for...something...anything!
October 9, 2014
4 star review by Cindy
Todd Hutchinson (Hutch) is an angry man when we first meet him. He’s an FBI agent who takes every single case he works personally and the killer who is targeting young, gay men hits a little too close to home. When he realizes how much bigger the horror is and the fact the law enforcement has been deliberately ignoring it, you end up feeling that his anger is more than justified.
Noah Walker is a young man whose obsession with serial killers stems from his traumatic childhood. He starts out as a suspect to Hutch but he quickly becomes more even as he attracts the attention of the killer.
I loved these characters. Neither are your typical man and their fast growing attraction is understandable because of the connections they share personally and professionally.
The author doesn’t pull any punches with the descriptions of the torture the victims have suffered and if you’re squeamish in the least, you might be a little freaked out by the horror being described.
Hutch’s partners are worth mentioning. Granite and Byte are two completely different men but when matched up with Hutch they make a formidable force to be reckoned with. Granite’s sense of humor is only matched by his dedication to Hutch and the work they do together. Byte’s a man wearing a disguise of sorts but his determination to help the people who need it most is admirable and inspiring.
The addition of Noah to the mix gives the three friends extra incentive to find the madman who is terrorizing Chicago.
I love how the author portrays Noah. He starts out shy and nervous but as he gets to know Hutch, he soon decides that the FBI agent is what he wants as what started out as a crush evolves into something more. Once he decides to go for it, he’s all in and determined as hell.
The police force, with the exception of Officer Struk, who has personal reasons for wanting to find the killer, come across as homophobic, crude and ineffectual. They don’t care about the victims so they never even try to solve the crimes. I know that most members of the police force are really not so callus or uncaring, but these “officers of the law” made my blood boil.
Ms. Peterson knows how to spin a tale and I enjoyed this book immensely but it wasn’t perfect. Some things seemed a little rushed to me, like Hutch and Noah falling into bed, and other’s dragged on too long. I would have like the climactic scene to be a little more drawn out and well…climactic, but all in all, it’s an excellent story with smart writing and engaging characters.
I am a fan of this author and her books are always on my “must read immediately” list and I encourage you to look up her other stories as well.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
Todd Hutchinson (Hutch) is an angry man when we first meet him. He’s an FBI agent who takes every single case he works personally and the killer who is targeting young, gay men hits a little too close to home. When he realizes how much bigger the horror is and the fact the law enforcement has been deliberately ignoring it, you end up feeling that his anger is more than justified.
Noah Walker is a young man whose obsession with serial killers stems from his traumatic childhood. He starts out as a suspect to Hutch but he quickly becomes more even as he attracts the attention of the killer.
I loved these characters. Neither are your typical man and their fast growing attraction is understandable because of the connections they share personally and professionally.
The author doesn’t pull any punches with the descriptions of the torture the victims have suffered and if you’re squeamish in the least, you might be a little freaked out by the horror being described.
Hutch’s partners are worth mentioning. Granite and Byte are two completely different men but when matched up with Hutch they make a formidable force to be reckoned with. Granite’s sense of humor is only matched by his dedication to Hutch and the work they do together. Byte’s a man wearing a disguise of sorts but his determination to help the people who need it most is admirable and inspiring.
The addition of Noah to the mix gives the three friends extra incentive to find the madman who is terrorizing Chicago.
I love how the author portrays Noah. He starts out shy and nervous but as he gets to know Hutch, he soon decides that the FBI agent is what he wants as what started out as a crush evolves into something more. Once he decides to go for it, he’s all in and determined as hell.
The police force, with the exception of Officer Struk, who has personal reasons for wanting to find the killer, come across as homophobic, crude and ineffectual. They don’t care about the victims so they never even try to solve the crimes. I know that most members of the police force are really not so callus or uncaring, but these “officers of the law” made my blood boil.
Ms. Peterson knows how to spin a tale and I enjoyed this book immensely but it wasn’t perfect. Some things seemed a little rushed to me, like Hutch and Noah falling into bed, and other’s dragged on too long. I would have like the climactic scene to be a little more drawn out and well…climactic, but all in all, it’s an excellent story with smart writing and engaging characters.
I am a fan of this author and her books are always on my “must read immediately” list and I encourage you to look up her other stories as well.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
October 12, 2014
This wasn't my favorite. I'm sure this is all personal preference though, so don't let this dissuade you from reading it.
I felt like this book was all about the case. Which, in mysteries, should be the case, but I didn't feel a connection to the characters. There was a lot of sitting around, talking about how frustrated they all were at having no leads, or direction. I didn't think the banter between Hutch and Granite was all that funny either. I was awkwardly laughing, which is always a shame.
The two MC's, Hutch and Noah, didn't even get together (IE have sex) until around the 80% mark. Heck, Noah didn't even show up until several chapters in. So the romance, what there was of it, left me completely wanting. And the sex scene was.. weird. Up until this point Noah had been this shy, nervous kind of guy, and then he's all alpha in the bedroom. It was a bit jarring.
And the epilogue? They had no relationship! At least from what I read, so Hutch asking Noah to move to Virginia with him seemed really unbelievable. Is this book supposed to be the first in a series? It'd make more sense if there was going to be another story, but as it is the epilogue feels tacked on the end, put there to give the story a happily ever after.
Anyway, this one just wasn't for me. I love crime novels, but I also need that sweet moments that come with characters falling in love to make up for all the brutality of the crimes. This book just didn't have that for me.
I felt like this book was all about the case. Which, in mysteries, should be the case, but I didn't feel a connection to the characters. There was a lot of sitting around, talking about how frustrated they all were at having no leads, or direction. I didn't think the banter between Hutch and Granite was all that funny either. I was awkwardly laughing, which is always a shame.
The two MC's, Hutch and Noah, didn't even get together (IE have sex) until around the 80% mark. Heck, Noah didn't even show up until several chapters in. So the romance, what there was of it, left me completely wanting. And the sex scene was.. weird. Up until this point Noah had been this shy, nervous kind of guy, and then he's all alpha in the bedroom. It was a bit jarring.
And the epilogue? They had no relationship! At least from what I read, so Hutch asking Noah to move to Virginia with him seemed really unbelievable. Is this book supposed to be the first in a series? It'd make more sense if there was going to be another story, but as it is the epilogue feels tacked on the end, put there to give the story a happily ever after.
Anyway, this one just wasn't for me. I love crime novels, but I also need that sweet moments that come with characters falling in love to make up for all the brutality of the crimes. This book just didn't have that for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2015
Splintered by S.D.J. Peterson
This is first book I have read by this author, but it will not be my last. I loved everything about this book, I’m a sucker for a hot alpha FBI! The book flow was awesome, but the criminology was off the charts! Todd “Hutch” Hutchinson pulled me in from the first page and would not let me loose.
But lets talk about Travis “Granite” Green, this was my favorite character I have to say. Card carrying member of “The Goth Nation” he kept me snickering everytime he opened his mouth while challenging Hutch. (I’m really hoping that he is a closet case and he will get his on “Fine ass” man).
This story was very believable, the author really did her research on forensic terms and it really kept the story moving and very interesting.
October 8, 2014
S J D Peterson blows my mind with the wonderful diversity of her story telling talent. Not an author who only writes one type of story, this amazingly talented author writes about a wide range of topics, and she does them all very well.
Being a confessed fan of this author, I have to admit that she even surprised me with how much I loved this book. A gripping tale about a serial killer, and the men who catch them, was so well done that I ended up reading this from beginning to end without a break. I let real life pass me by while I was engrossed in the fascinating tale.
As I already mentioned, I am already a fan of this author, but this offering put her that much closer to the top of my favourite author's list.
Being a confessed fan of this author, I have to admit that she even surprised me with how much I loved this book. A gripping tale about a serial killer, and the men who catch them, was so well done that I ended up reading this from beginning to end without a break. I let real life pass me by while I was engrossed in the fascinating tale.
As I already mentioned, I am already a fan of this author, but this offering put her that much closer to the top of my favourite author's list.
July 12, 2016
SPLINTERED by SJD Peterson is a solid, perfectly paced gay FBI thriller - with a romantic sub-plot. One of the best gay FBI mystery/thrillers I've read to date; highly recommended. The slow buildup to a romance between the main characters, FBI's Special Agent Todd Hutchinson, and forensic psychology student Noah Walker, is a welcomed extra with just enough to get you invested in these guys, but not too much to overshadow the main plot of tracking down a vicious and brutal serial killer of gay men - especially when Walker suddenly catches the eye of the killer and Hutchinson steps in to protect him. Peterson has clearly done her research here and it shows. Fantastic job!
April 12, 2015
Putting aside that this is a page-turning procedural with great development and characters, I would just like to say, on a personal note, that I don't remember the last time I so eagerly awaited two characters to get their sexy times on, and how wonderfully that paid off for me, especially when Noah turned out to be kind of a top, which apparently delighted Hutch as well, thus making it all the better. Definite re-read as soon as my heart rate slows back to normal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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