Shattered Hearts Club

by D.D. Black

The only thing more dangerous that someone with nothing left to lose is a couple who found each other in the darkness.

Complete description coming soon...

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2026

About the author

D.D. Black writes crime fiction set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. He is the author of the Thomas Austin Crime Thrillers and the FBI Task Force S.W.O.R.D. series. When he's not writing, he can be found strolling the beaches of the Pacific Northwest, cooking dinner for his wife, and throwing a ball for his corgi over and over and over.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Laur]

Someone is systematically murdering people connected to the justice system—a prosecutor, a retired judge, a doctor—and leaving behind the same gruesome signature: two overlapping hearts drawn in blood, one whole and one shattered.

The investigation eventually connects the victims to a single child’s case and a list of eleven names. Three are already dead, leaving the FBI scrambling to protect the others while hunting not one killer, but two who appear to be working together.

There’s certainly no shortage of murder, danger, or disturbing details in this sixth FBI Task Force S.W.O.R.D. installment. Claire Anderson also has her own mystery simmering in the background when something buried in an old case file raises troubling questions about her past.

I liked the premise and the continuing characters, but this one just didn’t hit me as strongly as some of the earlier books in the series.

3 Stars

[Patrick]

Shattered Hearts Club

This was an interesting book, but by the end I was left wondering just what the point of the story was. Yes there was the obvious plot, but it was kind of left a bit unresolved.

[Jim Augeri]

I'm honestly not sure what to say about this one! At times I found the story line and the characters difficult to follow and figure out who was doing what to who (or is it whom?). And then there was "the phrase"! I can't count how many times the author used the phrase "Her heart went"! Where exactly did her heart go? I found this usage so incredibly confusing I tried looking it up - multiple times. Everything I found said that these three words were usually part of a larger construct. Yet in this use, there was only context, from which the reader needed to build their own conclusions. Frankly, I found this very odd. Especially since there has been no counterpart to this in any previous books. So, I'm not a fan here! I still found the story line confusing the nearer it got to the end. So much so, I feel like I need to reread the entire story to see if my mind has it all sorted out correctly (which I doubt at this point). IMHO, this book was not up to the standard set in the earlier books.

[Deb]

D.D. Black’s detective mysteries are easy to read and lose myself in. He does a really good job developing characters and creates interesting relationships all as an underpinning to a complex investigation. In this one, a psychopath stays hidden almost to the end in part because the lead FBI Investigator is dealing with carry-over from the last investigation. It’s a captivating story that kept me reading all day!

Special recognition to Black who has a way of building action and fast pacing that stays clear and manageable in my reader’s eye even as the intensity grows to crescendo. This is a good read.

[Liz Krummell]

Following the clues of the deaths in this book was nicely done. Everything tracked. When we discover why Claire was brought in specifically that was good. At first I was a bit put off by the stiffness/matter of fact of the writing on this book. But I feel it was Claire keeping everything under control afte the ending the last book. How many times was Claire suspended? Though it seemed like they were able to gather a lot of information on the FBI SWOD office that I feel would be public - including Claire's kids. They also noted that Lena had ridden the ferry 9 times since August - I know she picked Claire but this seems early on in the process

[Deborah Hough]

One of the best!!

I was still in a state of shock after finishing the previous Book 5 in the S.W.O.R.D. Series. As I began this one, after a much needed ‘time out’, I was reading mostly through my tears as the story begin. This was one of the best books by DD Black and I highly recommend it. It was a very complicated journey through this Book 6 and a delightful ending. All of DD Black’s series are mesmerizing and you just don’t want them to end. But if they don’t end, then you don’t get to continue on with the next one! Thank you for all your writings DD!

[Debbie Wilson]

The Perfect Set Up

Another great thriller that keeps the suspense going and the pages turning. Eleven names on a list and the murders begin. The S.W.O.R.D. task force is assigned to the case to solve and also protect the remainder of the names on the list. It is never as easy at it is supposed to be. Plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Loyalty and trust are key words. I have read every book in this series and pray there will be more.

[Carey Mundy]

This was the 6th book in the SWORD series and was riveting from the start. In the PNW, people are being executed and the killers leave a sign with each in their own blood - two overlapping hearts, one full and the other broken. The thing they have in common is they were all involved in a child’s case, and their names are on a list. THe SWORD task force is on the case and it takes all of their combined skill to bring it to a successful resolution. Great series!

[Lisa]

Never disappoints

DD Black produced an amazing series here and each book is absolutely better than the one before, even though I thought at the time, they were! What a page turner!!! Just when you think you have it all figured out he comes in for the best ending! Definitely highly recommend! Well done!

[Laura Poppenwimer]

D.D Black is up there among my favorite authors. His books are interesting and the characters really add a lot of depth to the plot lines. I have a hard time putting one of his books down once I have started. Can't wait for the next book in this series to be released, already bought the 7th book in this series. I have my fingers crossed there will be more Thomas Austin books as well.

[Barbara Gallo]

A little disappointing

Love his books and the characters. This book was a little difficult to follow and I kept losing the thread. Thought too much time spent on the bad guys. Am happy to see that a new book is scheduled for release early next year. Probably following Sy's new lead. Looking forward ...........

[Karen Devine]

Great writing!

Such an amazing imagination to write this book. It makes you wonder what really happens to these kids when they are in the foster care system but to have a kid start a whole process to get what they want at an early age, wow!!

[Roxanne DalPos]

as always I totally enjoyed this book

The story was interesting and the stories with in the story were well done. I like Blacks writing style. I read teach book too fast though!

[Marla J Wigon]

Loved it!

I love DD Black. This book was another great one. As an aside, if anyone knows where I can find the second and third Silas West books please respond. Thank you!

[JSBL]

Read at your own risk

Truly awful. In so many ways. And I’ve read all the other books by this author. Don’t waste your time. The story doesn’t”t advance your knowledge of the characters.