Dark and Broken Things

by John Mulhall

Dark and Broken Things is a psychological thriller, and is meant for an adult audience. It contains scenes that depict adult situations and graphic violence.


After losing control of his Jeep on a patch of black ice, David Grace lies helpless in the snow, watching his best friend die. He awakens in a remote hospital, snowed in, cut off from the rest of the world, and badly injured. David struggles to heal, but beneath the pain of his physical injuries, he faces the demons of his past, and begins to wonder if he's slowly losing his mind...or being haunted.

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2014

About the author

John Mulhall is a storyteller. His debut novel, the supernatural thriller Geddy’s Moon, was a #1 horror best seller on Amazon, and also named one of the best of 2013 by Suspense Magazine. His follow up novel, Dark and Broken Things, a poignant psychological thriller, met similarly enthusiastic reviews. His first collection of poetry, A Beautiful Suffering, was released in 2918. He lives in Newbury Park, CA, where he is currently at work on a second volume of poems, as well as two new novels, several short stories, and a stage play.

Reviews

[Dayna Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone interested in thrillers or mysteries, yes, but I would recommend it for those who enjoy a good character study as well. A thrilling twist on the classic hero's journey; David has been involved in a terrible accident, and as he convalesces in a remote hospital during a blizzard, he comes face to face with his demons and he must fight to make peace with choices he has made. It's not what you expect at all - and I found that I couldn't read fast enough. Without giving anything away, I will say that David is my favorite kind of hero. He is flawed and imperfect, and he is carrying things from his past like we all do. I found David's journey to be very moving and even relate-able - something you may not expect from a thriller. READ IT!!

[Laura Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insert yourself into a common situation. A drive home from a ski trip with your best friend, playful banter, a patch of ice and your like changes in an instant. From the first pages you are there. It is happening to you. Then you become a witness to David's journey. Page after page of twists and turns. Reality and fantasy. A mans decent into madness or is it true madness? This book keeps you guessing, processing, and reflecting on your own life as well.
John Mulhall shows his depth of story telling once again in this Sophmore novel.

[Michelle Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyed this story. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, the author would throw a new wrinkle in that would make me question yet again. I adore stories like this that keep you guessing and puzzling, as long as there is a satisfying conclusion. The conclusion to this story was perfect in my mind and exactly what it needed to be. Highly recommend!!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. It was very hard to leave it. I kept sneaking short little reading escapes at work.

I highly recommend.

[Amanda McReynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm apparently in the minority here, but I wasn't a huge fan of the book. It was about a man slowly spiraling into madness but while some parts were nice and creepy, other parts were just "eh" in my opinion. This book was like finding a low-production horror film, not one you'd find on the big screen or passed around as a must-see, just okay. But I could be biased because I've read some really great thriller and horror novels, and this one just didn't compete with those at all for me.

[JoJo Brenmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging and unpredictable. This is the second book I've read by this author and both were good, but very different. This is much more of a psychological thriller. Again, the ending was unpredictable and thought-provoking. I would highly recommend this book and this author!

[Ann Frohoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get's under your skin. I cried tears at the end. What happens to us in our younger years can have profound effect on us as adults. Heavy.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want those two days of my life back that I spent reading this book.