Bend Until Broken: A psychological thriller

by Hayley Hundley

When a brutal murder rocks the quiet town of Marrow Bend, Queensland police detective Adrienne Ombretta is forced to return to the place—and the memories—she spent years trying to escape.

Assigned to lead the investigation, Adrienne is determined to keep the case hidden from her older sister, Gianna, who has spent years trying to rebuild her life and escape the ghosts of Marrow Bend. But some ghosts do not want to remain buried, and Adrienne is forced to face the truth—she cannot protect Gianna forever.

Working alongside Deputy Colson Hale, a local officer and former police academy classmate, only complicates matters. Colson knows nothing of Adrienne's history in Marrow Bend, and as their partnership intensifies, so does an attraction Adrienne can't afford to act on while the investigation spirals deeper into dangerous territory. But Colson has his own secrets, and his own reasons for keeping the case quiet.

As long-buried secrets begin clawing their way to the surface, Adrienne finds herself torn between the quest for truth and the need for justice. With each new lead, the line between protector and detective begins to blur. Whispers of betrayal, buried trauma, and hidden loyalties force Adrienne to question everything she knew about the town she fled—and the sister she has sworn to protect.

Because Marrow Bend is not the quiet town it paints itself to be.

And this killer may be closer to Adrienne than she ever imagined.

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2026

Reviews

[Cait Farrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a book that makes me question and point fingers at everyone. Lots of twists and turns and not just for the sake of twists and turns.

[Allison Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a roller coaster!

Wow, this book will take you on a wild ride of emotions. Shock, sadness (with full blown tears), more shock, happiness… once I started reading I couldn’t stop and when I had to, I literally craved getting to read just one more page. You will not be disappointed by picking this one up! Hoping for future books from Hayley!

[dogsrule · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a first-time author, this writer handles suspense like a seasoned pro. Go ahead and clear your schedule because once you start reading you will not want to stop until you reach the last page. The characters are messy (in a good way :-), the plot is intense, and just when you think you have solved the mystery, you find yourself wondering if you really do know whodonit! I am impressed by this debut and hope to read more by the author.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the characters & the twist. I had so much fun trying to figure out who committed the crime. Literally everyone felt suspicious at some point 😂 I was constantly trying to piece everything together (as I do with all thrillers that I read lol). Definitely recommend!

[Lori V. Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me guessing

This story was engaging and presented turns I wasn't expecting. I'm anxious to see if Detective Ombretta will have more cases to follow. Highly recommend!

[Kimberly Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think you can figure thrillers out, I challenge you to read this book. Every suspicion I had, wrong. However, the twist is not so out there it’s unbelievable, it’s just literary perfection.

[Angela Moseley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down!

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It truly kept me guessing the entire way through. The twists were just so good. Adrienne’s story was so beautifully written and I really hope to see more from her!