Marred

Grafton County #1

by Sue Coletta

When a serial killer breaks into the home of bestselling author, Sage Quintano, she barely escapes with her life. Her husband, Niko, a homicide detective, insists they move to rural New Hampshire, where he accepts a position as Grafton County Sheriff. Sage buries secrets from that night—secrets she swears to take to her deathbed. Three years of anguish and painful memories pass, and a grisly murder case lands on Niko’s desk. A strange caller begins tormenting Sage—she can’t outrun the past. When Sage’s twin sister suddenly goes missing, Sage searches Niko’s case files and discovers similarities to the Boston killer. A sadistic psychopath is preying on innocent women, marring their bodies in unspeakable ways. And now, he has her sister. Cryptic clues. Hidden messages. Is the killer hinting at his identity? Or is he trying to lure Sage into a deadly trap to end his reign of terror with a matching set of corpses?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2015

About the author

Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs at the Kill Zone (Writer's Digest "101 Best Websites for Writers") and Writers Helping Writers.

Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and writes two psychological thriller series, the Mayhem Series and Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction.

When Sue's not writing, she teaches a virtual course about serial killers for EdAdvance in CT and a condensed version for her fellow Sisters In Crime. She's appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery (airs: summer, 2023).

Learn more about Sue and her books at: https://suecoletta.com

Reviews

[Garry Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lock your door. Turn up your lights. And be prepared to thoroughly engross in one of the best reading rides you’ll ever have. Sue Coletta’s brilliantly told crime thriller, Marred, is the emotional, gut-tearing story of Sage Quintano’s physical and psychological survival—first from a vicious sexual assault, then from the taunting stalk by a deranged serial killer who’s abducted Sage’s twin sister, Chloe.
Marred suspends you into a terrifying world through an incredibly well-structured plot. The characters are superbly developed. The dialogue is fast, sharp, and thoroughly convincing. The twists, turns, and hidden clues keep you immersed in pure story right from the heartbreaking prologue to an end that you’ll never see coming.
But what impressed me most—and this is coming from a person who spent a lifetime as a real-life homicide detective and forensic coroner—is the accuracy of detail in the crime scenes and how well the forensic evidence is woven-in.
If there were a six-star rating, I’d give it to Marred. And I’m predicting that Sue Coletta is going to be a household name in the crime thriller genre. She’s just that good a writer!
~ Garry Rodgers, Retired homicide detective, forensic coroner, and bestselling author.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning emotional and riveting read!!!
This is a power packed psychological thriller
filled with suspense, thrills and chills around
every corner. There are twists and turns that
will keep you on the edge of your seat. The
tension was very thick and well sustained.
Sage Quintano is a crime writer. Niko Quintano
is a homicide detective married to Sage.
Three years ago, Sage was held by a serial
killer. Niko was shot in the shoulder when he
came to rescue her. Sage miscarried and has
never been able to overcome the demons that
haunt her.
And now the serial killer is back holding Sage's
sister hostage. Sage must meet his demands or
lose her sister.
The author weaves the past and present together
effortlessly. The author get inside the heads of
her characters and presents them to the readers
so that the inner workings of all her characters
are understood.
Marred is a terrifying and chilling to the bone
thriller you will want to be sure to read.
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thanks to the
author via the Facebook Mystery Thriller Week
event. My opinion is my own.

[Eliza Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two reasons why you should be prepared for sleepless nights when you read Marred by Sue Coletta. Reason #1, it’s a page-turner and you’ll be staying up late to see what happens next. And #2, if you’re like me, you’ll be thinking about Coletta’s chilling story for a long, long time -- especially if your phone rings unexpectedly.

Early in the book I became completely invested in the protagonist Sage Quintano and her detective husband Niko’s quest. Coletta’s carefully researched writing style and whip-smart dialogue brings the reader inside a world of unthinkably gruesome murders, crime scene forensics, and criminal psychology as Sage and Niko try to stop a brutal, twisted killer. The intrigue builds through many plot twists and turns, and Coletta’s vivid, heart-stopping descriptions are so jarringly real that there are several scenes I'll never forget. I couldn’t put down Marred until I reached the last page, and it was such a satisfying read that I don’t even mind the hours of lost sleep. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marred by Sue Coletta starts out with a baby’s funeral and a severely broken woman who is pissed off at herself and the world because of it. I can’t help but wonder WHY.

Sage is broken in more ways than one…blaming herself for her unborn baby’s death even though she had been tortured by a serial killer and was lucky to even be alive. She is MARRED for life and now I understand why.

NOW, he’s back, terrorizing her and she has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

I cannot imagine what she has been through, though Sue Coletta’s writing makes me become totally engrossed in her story, filled with details that draw a too vivid picture in my mind. I think it is time she takes matters into her own hands and let him know she will not cow down…this time. I love when the character has been through a traumatic, life changing experience, and the past comes back to haunt them, demanding they take action to defend themselves.

Sage is a bestselling author, writing crime novels, and this adds an extra element, making it even more interesting. Does her writing bring the killer even closer, thinking of her as a challenge? She keeps secrets, pushing people away, even keeping her husband at arm’s length. She writes about crime and her husband investigates the.

The murders are described in detail and they are brutal, savage. The more gruesome the better for me. LOL I guess I am a little twisted myself.

The body count rises.

I’m almost at 50% and I see what you are doing Sue. I know what you set me up for and I think it’s going to get ugly. I am pissed off at both of them for not communicating, but if they did we wouldn’t be in this dark place, with a sense of urgency and danger making me want to read faster and slower all at the same time, savoring the story.

There is a touch of the paranormal, rape, brutal and mind numbing torture. Why do women and society place blame on the vivctim, when it is the villain’s fault?

At times I am so angry with Niko that I want to reach into my Kindle and slap him upside the head, cuss him out, and tell him, “It’s not about YOU!”

Having a couple of critters adds another element that I love. They’d put their lives on the line for her.

Uh oh, I am glad that what I was thinking at 50% was wrong. Sue…you did a great job of yanking my chain and it takes a lot to lead me down the wrong path. Fabulous!

Deputy Sheriff Frankie, a female, is becoming a favorite character for me. To say she is rough around the edges is putting it mildly. She is aggressive and a bit raunchy, but I wouldn’t want any one else by my side in a time of crises.

WOW, Sue. You can sure spin a tale that has a lot of suspense that keeps my emotions raging as I struggle to take a calming breath before moving on to more of the same. You twisted and turned the story, keeping plenty of surprises coming my way.

Marred is the first book in the Grafton County series. One villain is taken care of, but you will want to read more of the series, because one remains.

I voluntarily reviewed Marred by Sue Coletta.

To see more visit fundinmental

[Nicholas Rossis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail-biting fun, from cover to cover. Coletta starts with a bang and doesn't let go of the reader until the very last, chilling sentence.

Mind you, it does get dark. In Coletta's world, terrible things do happen to nice people.

Still, if you enjoy a well-written, well-researched thriller, then this is the perfect book for you.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years ago Sage and Niko Quintano’s lives were changed irrevocably after a horrific and brutal attack on Sage by a serial killer who also injured Niko. They left Boston where Niko was a homicide detective and relocated to a small New Hampshire town. Niko is now the Sheriff of Grafton County and he and Sage live under the radar, their location a closely guarded secret. Or so they believe.

Niko and Sage are both still suffering emotionally as well as physically from the trauma. Sage is keeping her deepest feelings buried, finding it impossible to talk about certain details of the attack. She feels a victim’s unjustified shame for not fighting her attacker, trying to save her unborn baby. Niko also fails to disclose his feelings and as a result Sage and Niko’s marriage is not what it once was, leaving Sage feeling vulnerable and easily hurt. When Niko and his deputy, Frankie Capanelli, land a homicide case with haunting similarities to the Boston serial killer coupled with Sage’s sister going missing, it seems Sage’s past is returning to torment her, and once again she is in mortal danger.

There’s no doubting the amount of research that’s gone into this story. The vivid, disturbing and grisly descriptions of crime scenes and the forensic details are chillingly detailed. A well structured, dark and suspenseful plot, which makes it easy to get caught up in the narrative and be drawn to Sage. She’s been through some of the worst things that could happen to a woman and now there’s no end in sight.

I enjoyed Frankie’s unconventionality and personality, a gruff exterior with a soft(ish) centre which she likes to keep well hidden. The writing and plot kept a good pace with unexpected twists, the main characters well drawn. The story is told in the first person from Sage’s perspective with the rest in the third person.

Personally I found some of the narrative/dialogue a little choppy, the flow could have been smoother in places, but that said, Marred is a really good debut.

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marred is a nail-biting serial killer thriller that, once started, was hard to put down.
You immediately feel drawn to the protagonist, Sage Quintano, who writes books about crime for a living and has experienced a horrendous crime herself. A vicious assault has left her struggling with every day life. Her marriage to Nico, a homicide detective, is suffering as a result of the experience and because of secrets she has been keeping from him. Moving to a rural area in order to heal and rebuild their lives, Nico takes on the position of sheriff and becomes involved in the search for a serial killer who leaves his female victims' bodies marred and displayed in a gruesome manner.
Then Sage's twin sister disappears, and everything suggests that Sage's assailant has followed her from Boston to New Hampshire to finish what he started years ago.
Told from Sage's first person point of view and alternating with chapters in the third person from Nico's and Frankie's (the deputy sheriff's) viewpoints, Marred was an intense and suspenseful thriller. The vivid descriptions of the settings and the information on the forensics were fascinating. Incredibly, Marred is Sue Coletta's debut novel. This author knows her stuff and has a very engaging style of writing and creating dialogue. I enjoyed the different points of view and particularly liked Frankie, Nico's deputy, whose viewpoint introduced a slightly lighter side to an otherwise very dark and scary story. I enjoy thrillers that manage to surprise me and Sue Coletta has definitely managed that with the unpredictable turns and developments that I did not see coming. The ending left potential for a sequel, and I will certainly seek out future publications by this author.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Chantelle Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classy crime thriller which keeps you guessing until the end. Very well written, and incredibly well researched. This is the story of Sage, who suffered a brutal ordeal at the hands of the killer her detective husband was trying to catch. In a further gut wrenching twist, she also lost their unborn child in the attack. Some years later, the couple have moved away to put the past behind them, but Sage soon finds it is impossible to do so. Firstly because the same killer seems to be back, kidnapping, torturing and murdering young women close by, and secondly, because she never really told her husband the truth about the attack on her. The plot is handled skillfully, weaving between Sage's perspective (she is also a crime writer, so has her own methods in trying to find the truth) and Niko her husband's, as well as his deputy Frankie. I really liked Frankie's character the best. A tough, and slightly unprofessional cop, she is also hiding a brutal secret. I read this in two days and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers.

[Sheila Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage Quintano is a crime writer and married to a homicide detective, Niko. Both are bearing the scars of a brutal attack perpetrated on Sage by a serial killer. After moving to a smaller town to start over, they find themselves in the grips of terror once again. The characters are well developed and pull you into their lives from page one.

I found the changing POV from first to third a bit jarring at times, but not enough that it pulled me from the suspense of the story.

If you like crime thrillers, you’ll like Marred by Sue Coletta.

[C.S. Boyack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a chilling, thrill a minute, read. Others have addressed the plot and theme, so I'm going to mention some of the background information. The supporting characters are well fleshed out, and I found myself looking forward to one deputy in particular. Coletta's settings are wonderfully described without dedicating a ton of space. This book reads well, and delivers everything it promises and more. I will seek out this author in the future.

[Olga Miret · Rating 4 out of 5]

For police procedural lovers looking for characters they can relate to. And some great secondary players. I’m reviewing this book as part of Rosie’s Book Review Team and was provided with a copy of the book that I freely chose to review.
I read and reviewed Sue Coletta’s Wings of Mayhem, book one in The Mayhem Series (check the review here), and was impressed and intrigued. Now, on the occasion of the launch of the second book in the Grafton County Series, Cleaved (yes, I’m reading and reviewing that too, try and stop me!) I managed to catch up with the author’s first book in that series, that chronicles the lives of Sage and Niko Quintano, a couple who now live in Grafton County, New Hampshire, where they took refuge after something horrific happened to Sage. Niko is the new sheriff and Sage is a successful author of crime novels, although, unfortunately, she ends up playing the part of the victim in real life more than once.
Sage and Niko are trying to recover from their personal tragedy, as Sage lost a baby she was carrying when she was assaulted but they are both keeping things from each other, in an attempt at protecting the other. During the book, they’ll realise they are stronger together and the best way to beat evil is to be honest with each other and to share the truth, however hard it might be to hear.
The novel has strong elements of the police procedural genre. Niko is an accomplished detective, although sometimes hindered by his personal feelings and his inability to see and accept the unacceptable, and as there are not as many crime fighting means in a small town, he gets to share his expertise (his training one of the deputies gives the reader the perfect opportunity to eavesdrop and learn, although it might be a bit too much detail for those with no appetite for the grosser things in the art of detecting) on issues such as blood spatter and how to process a crime scene. Frankie, his fiery and fashion conscious deputy, is a fabulous character who takes no prisoners and tolerates no fools. Sadly, that means she has little opportunity for career advancement, as tact is not her strong suit, but through the novel, we get to understand her better, see her softer side, and she’s great at one-liners and gritty and witty repartees. Although Niko might complain about Frankie’s evident disdain for authority, he enjoys the banter and their relationship is one of the fun and lighter elements in the novel. The crimes are gruesome, bizarre and puzzling, as it appears the killer is trying to send a message but nobody knows what it is or who the intended recipient might be. There are red herrings and confusion, as it becomes clear that these crimes relate to what happened to Sage years back, in Boston, but we don’t know how or why. Lies and withholding of information don’t help and Sage does a fair deal of amateur investigating too.
Apart from the police procedural aspect, there are also other elements that give the novel a distinct flavour. The strong relationship between the couple and their shared (at least in part) trauma plays a big part in the action and also in the reactions and behaviours of the characters, that at times might stretch reader’s suspension of disbelief but would fit in with somebody trying to survive to a horrible ordeal. This is not the typical novel about the lone detective, who lives only for his work and solving cases but is totally unable to have a meaningful relationship. Thanks to Sage’s memories we share some of the couple’s high and low points. Pet names, real pets and home life (including thoughts about the laundry) ground the characters and their relationship making them more relatable and real, rather than just case-solving automatons. Sage’s otherworldly encounters (she consults a spiritual guide and has a very special experience during the investigation, but I won’t spoil the story) are also outside the norm for a book otherwise very realistic and detailed.
The story is told from the points of view of several characters. Sage’s point of view is narrated in the first person and that makes the reader identify with her more closely. She is also a writer through and through and observes everybody around her, everything that happens and analyses her own thoughts and feelings in detail. Niko and Frankie are also given a narrative, although theirs is in the third person but still manages to make us see their different perspectives, helps us understand their behaviours and thought processes, and provides more information the readers can try and use to put together the jigsaw puzzle.
The book has a great sense of rhythm, and alternates very tense and dark scenes with moments of light relief (Frankie and the other deputies are always at hand with some strenuous comment or mishap, Sage and Niko also have their humorous moments and the novel is tongue-in-cheek about possible comparisons, including comments about Castle) and is particularly effective at dropping the readers right into the action and making them share the experiences and emotions of the characters.  The ending manages to be satisfyingly upbeat while also introducing a final disquieting note.
A recommended reading for those who love detailed police procedural novels (and TV series like CSI, Criminal Minds and yes, Castle), with characters who carry a heavy baggage, in a backwoods/small-town setting and with less down-to-earth elements thrown in too. A strong stomach is a necessary requirement. I’d also recommend it to writers keen on the genre as there’s much to be learned from the author.

[Roo MacLeod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unbelievable

She's married to cop and the man who attacked her is back in her life and she can't tell her cop husband because her twin sister will die. It doesn't play true. I don't believe the premise. They talk cases, but this case, the most important she can't share

[Murder in Common · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chosen as one of my recommended summer reads: MurderinCommon.com
http://wp.me/p3XU1u-4qW

[Paul Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If I was gonna kill someone, I’d probably read everything I could find on forensics,” says Ben, Sheriff Niko Quintano’s deputy, and that is so very true, not only about psychopathic serial killers but about crime writers worth their salt.

Crime writers need to read everything they can find about forensics, and it’s evident Sue Coletta has. Marred is the first published novel by Sue Coletta, a writer to watch. Sue Coletta includes lessons in forensics in every novel. She also includes keen insights on the failure of human communication gleaned from closely observing human interactions.

Sage Quintano, Niko’s wife and chief protagonist, is not only a best-selling crime writer but Sage is also a crime victim. Sage was brutally raped and nearly killed when Niko and Sage lived in Boston. Niko had arrived home in time to save Sage’s life but not the life of their unborn child. Even after moving from Boston to New Hampshire, Sage carries the scars of the killer’s intrusion on her body and in her mind. Niko thought taking a job as sheriff in a rural area of another state would keep Sage safe and help her to heal. But it seems the killer has followed Sage and Niko and now holds Sage’s twin sister hostage.

Sage’s fatal flaw is the unrelenting shame she feels from allowing herself to be raped. To save her own life—and the life of the fetus growing within her—she complied with the rapist’s demands. She should have fought. She should have screamed. But she didn’t. Sage’s shame prevents her from telling Niko the truth and keeps her from having a sexual assault examination performed that might have identified the killer through DNA; destroys the relationship she once had with her twin sister, Chloe; nearly ruins her marriage; and causes her to drive away her literary agent at a time she needs Jess’ help most. Shame and fear make Sage vulnerable. Vulnerable people tend to compound mistakes.

Niko’s fatal flaw is his failure to protect his wife. He has other shortcomings, too, and his failure to communicate—as does Sage’s failure to communicate—only compounds the situation. Niko doesn’t listen to others the way a good cop should. He seems insensitive to the feelings of others. He refuses to understand the needs of others and thinks only of himself. He needs to change if he wants to save his wife, save his job, and keep his marriage. But can he?

When they were first married, Niko and Sage made a deal. Only one of them would come unglued at the same time. Of course, that didn’t apply when both were under attack and neither could think straight. Niko and Sage both come unglued and, if the serial killer doesn’t kill them first, stress will.

Frankie Capanelli is Niko’s partner. By right of seniority, Frankie should be chief deputy and Niko’s choice to succeed him as sheriff. But Frankie is a bit too informal and unconventional in both her dress and demeanor for Niko’s tastes, and Niko decides to groom Ben to become the next sheriff instead. Ben is the perfect candidate from a male chauvinistic perspective: he wears the uniform correctly, has former military experience, follows orders, and is polite and respectful. But is Ben really what he seems?

Marred is a roller-coaster thrill ride that alternates points of view between Sages’ first person and Niko and Frankie’s third person. Human beings make mistakes, and sometimes they hurt the people they love most. Sage, Niko, Frankie, and Chloe feel hurt, so they hurt others in return.

Marred leaves open the possibility of a sequel. I can’t wait to read what happens next.

[Roland Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review 4.4 stars

I was looking forward to reading this novel as I follow the author’s blog on crime. This was my genre and it’s a well-written and crafted novel. But I’m not sure I can take more graphic details though - even with the promise of corvids in the rest of the Grafton County series.

However, there was so much excellent elements that stood out and swept me along – most of the time.

The characters were memorable and complex. At the novel’s heart, bestselling author, Sage Quintano, who is living with the painful memories and secrets from three years earlier when a serial killer broke into her home. A past that drives her to resolve things for herself and to keep things from her husband.

Not easy when her husband, Niko is a homicide detective and Grafton County Sheriff. So, when a strange caller threatens her, she doesn’t tell Niko everything – enough to disturb me as the caller made rules about who to tell. I asked, ‘Will he ignore them too?’

Anyway, with a sadistic psychopath preying on innocent women, Niko has his own concerns – as do his team. The investigation with its clever introduction of forensics explores the evidence and the other officers.

The dynamic between the deputies is realistic, especially as promotion is at stake. I was rooting for Frankie, despite her ability to rub people up the wrong way. She was my kind of detective and I wanted more of her.

But we get more bodies marred in horrific ways instead. And more graphic detail which to me felt excessive. But that’s me and most readers will lap it up. It’s realistic and Sue Coletta’s knowledge of forensics and pathology is outstanding – and why I follow her blog.

It makes for a rollercoaster read, but I get scared on some rides and even in bloody movies. The other extreme from cringe cute cozies.

Back to Niko with all his problems – a sadistic psychopath, competing deputies, and Sage…
Despite his troubles, my reaction was, ‘Why are men so difficult?’ – we struggle to multi-task unlike women. I understood his frustration but wished he could do some lateral thinking.

Unlike Sage who joins the dots between the caller and the psychopath. And now, he has her twin sister, Chloe. Sage gets a clue to Chloe’s location and, as all mystery writers do, follows down the rabbit hole. But why? Distracted Sheriff husband? Her own secrets? The killer’s rules perhaps?
But I hesitated from reading on – like that moment in the horror movie when the teenager wanders off. Who was braver Sage or me? I eventually had to keep reading.

And the plot twists kept coming – in ways I never saw coming. The tension builds. The resolution and revelation of the psychopath are unexpected – and ingenious.

There is so much to look forward to in the ongoing Grafton County series with superb characters to savour. So, I would recommend this novel from an author that researches crime meticulously – even if I felt too swamped to tackle more gore for now.

Story – four stars
Setting/World-building – five stars
Characters – five stars
Authenticity – five stars
Structure – four stars
Readability – four stars
Editing – four stars

Originally review posted at: https://rolandclarke.com/2019/07/11/m...

[Denise H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compelling thriller that will leave you chilled to the bone. You definitely want to read this book with the lights on. The author weaves a spectacular web of murder and mayhem that holds you captive. It took a moment for me to adjust to the different POV styles but once I did, I found I really enjoyed the story being told this way. The author writes in first person for Sage’s POV and then alternates with her husband, Niko, and his partner, Frankie, in third person. The third person POV’s from Niko and Frankie added another level of intrigue and suspense to this harrowing tale. And the author’s detail and description of the heinous actions of the killer were vivid and scary and I found the case details and forensics fascinating. I also really enjoyed Frankie and her snarky comments and banter; it helped to lighten up some of the more intense scenes and tension-filled dialogue among characters.

From the beginning pages you are drawn to Sage and her plight. You can feel her grief and turmoil as she wrestles with her everyday life, trying to come to terms with the brutal assault she suffered, her struggling marriage and the closely guarded secrets she has kept from her husband as well as her desperation and terror knowing her twin sister has disappeared and is in the hands of a serial killer that has his sights set on her. It was also easy to connect with and sympathize with Niko as he struggles to come to terms with his wife’s attack and continued effect is has on him and their relationship as well as his ability to perform his duties as sheriff; including his worry for keeping Sage safe. The dialogue and drama of Sage and Niko’s relationship was intense and sometimes overwhelming as they worked through their problems and struggled to understand each other’s reasons behind their secrets and lies. It was definitely an emotional journey for them both. This is a disturbing, dark tale full of suspense, turmoil and twists and turns. It is a steady paced psychological thriller that keeps you engaged and wanting more.

[Jaymee Woolhiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't want to say this book is nightmare fuel, but this isn't the kind of book you want to read before going to bed. Especially as a woman. Even more so as a single woman living alone in a dark apartment with no one to hear you scream.

*ahem*

Excuse me.

It's the kind of book you read with all the lights on and the doors locked. It's the kind of book you have a light hearted chaser for; like watching a Disney movie after watching Friday the 13th. And why, after storming through the first third of it in my initial reading that I went to bed with a harmless western in my hands instead of my Kindle.

Sue Coletta isn't going to spare you the gory details or an honest look behind the crime scene tape. She's a well versed author in all things crime who indelicately dumps you into the middle of a life which has been disrupted, disturbed, and marred by the evil acts of a solitary man. When there is a serial killer on the loose targeting young women and seemingly no connection between them it's hard for a community to sleep at night. But when your twin sister suddenly goes missing and you answer the phone to an unfamiliar, sinister voice - that's when your life comes to a screeching halt. We are there when our heroine, Sage Quintano, comes to terms with her past, when she bursts out against those she loves, and when she decides to take back control.

You won't have to wait for the action to start in this novel, so buckle up and prepare yourself for a dark ride through a dark tunnel with only Coletta to guide you out!

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I received an ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review.”

MARRED is a wonderful dark, disturbing ride from beginning to end. Sage Quintano is still emotionally shattered from a brutal assault that occurred three years earlier. Now, having relocated to rural New Hampshire with her husband, Niko, she’s hoping to put the past behind her. But as the wife of the local sheriff, that’s not easy to do. Especially when her twin sister vanishes and a string of grisly crimes resurrects more than a few restless demons of the past.

Sue Coletta delivers a strong debut novel that will keep fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction riveted to the page. Her scenes are vivid, the crime scene details clearly well-researched, and the plot one that will keep you guessing right up until the end. Her characters are people the reader can easily relate to, right down to the flaws and scars many of them carry. Perhaps that’s why the story feels so intense—a roller-coaster ride of suspense as the reader becomes caught up in the looming presence of evil. The scenes when Sage imagines her stalker lurking outside are particularly strong.

As someone who enjoys everything from detective fiction to mysteries and thrillers, this book kept me turning pages well into the night. You won’t be disappointed!

[Shelley Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage and Niko Quintano move from Boston to a small town in New Hampshire in an attempt to start over following a brutal attack on Sage three years ago. The attack resulted in a miscarriage for Sage, physical scars, and a ton of emotional damage. Her husband, Niko, who is the sheriff, sustained a bullet to the shoulder but is also suffering from the emotional after-effects of that night.
Unfortunately, trouble follows them to New Hampshire, and it is Niko’s job to keep Sage, and the town, safe from a sadistic killer.

Coletta writes a fast-paced mystery with a host of unique characters. I like Sage; you get a true sense of what she went through at the hands of a madman, although there were times I threw my hands in the air and shouted at her to seek help from her law enforcement husband! Frankie is the deputy sheriff, and I loved her spark, she is a fun character and one I’d like to see evolved more in future novels. The addition of four-legged characters in the book also adds a certain homely charm.
You will be kept guessing until the end. Coletta excels at adding plenty of twists and turns to ensure you can’t put the book down. It picks up the pace the more you read until you arrive at an explosive conclusion.

A thoroughly enjoyable thriller.

[Boundless Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage Quintano has been through hell. She is attacked by a crazed killer and now years later shes being haunted again. Niko, her husband, is a detective. He convinces her to leave Boston and move to a rural small town to start fresh, but when a killer comes to his town things begin to heat up again. Sage is now being threatened again by this man who has upped the game and took her twin sister. Now Sage has to put herself in danger to save her.

This book is a bit of a wild ride. It starts off fast and just keeps going till the very end. Its a psychological thriller filled with mysterious twists and turns on a every page. The characters are easy to fall for, especially Sage. With her dark past and her rocky present, she is a character easy to feel sorry for and get attached to. This book was definitely a late night page turner. I hated putting it down because I just wanted, NEEDED, to know what was next. 

This book had me hooked from page one. It was well written and It was filled with mystery, action, and crime. I have never read anything from this author, but I look forward to reading more in the future. Based on this book alone, I am sure I will enjoy them all.

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[Steven Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an author of horror thrillers, I'm no stranger to scenes of violence and mayhem. But-and I'm being honest here-the thought of writing a novel about a serial killer leaves me a little squeamish. I would imagine you would have to approach the subject with the same cold-bloodedness as your killer, unblinkingly laying out the carnage that both repulses and fascinates the reader. That kind of writing calls for a stiff drink, in my view.

But this is precisely what Sue Coletta has given us in Sage, a tortured survivor struggling with horrific memories while trying to be the loving wife to Niko, a homicide detective who has his own demons-not to mention a surly sidekick. And all of this set in a remote, beautiful town that, in any other universe, would seem tranquil.

What I like best about this author is, she knows she has a job to do and doesn't shy away from everything that's required to terrify the reader, at the same time creating a puzzle that requires some serious brain power. The writing is sharp, funny, and at times tender. Marred is a chilling read that will leave you wanting more, once you've caught your breath.

[Vicky Whedbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

A mind numbing amount of research must have been done in the writing of this book! There were so many twists and turns it was impossible to figure out whodunit! That's always a plus!

It was well written, though at times I felt some of the characters actions, or reactions, a bit bizarre, but who am I to say how a person should act under similar circumstances?

All in all I enjoyed the book. It's got all the hallmarks of a murder mystery, with gruesome murder scenes, suspense, adventure, intrigue and fear! As in most books with a sequel there were just a few questions left dangling to spark the urge to continue with the next installment of the series.

Interesting and diverse characters even offer some humor in certain situations, lending to a full bodied clever story. I will definitely read the sequel as well as other work by this author!

[Vera Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sage and Niko moved to rural New Hampshire after she was nearly killed by a serial killer. Been 3 years, and now seems like the killer has tracked them down and thinks her life in danger. Starts this time with telephone calls.

He leaves the bodies in very bad shape (cuts off parts of the bodies, hangs them, etc and the author is very graffic. Can't say I enjoyed the book. Started reading, and put down after a very few pages. Just knew would have to get better somewhere, so tried again.

I did finish, but not a book you would want to read if alone at night. I won the book, and wish had been one I could of give a better rating. If you enjoy reading horrible murders, might enjoy.

[Emily Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book which dragged out emotions and had me feeling for the characters. Sage is such a well developed characters who pulled at my emotions throughout the entire book. Secondary characters were as well developed and were likeable and added to the entire flow of the story. Nico and Sage's relationship was a wonderful background for this story with its ups and downs. Definitely a creep factor if your reading it at night, full of surprises and twist that kept me turning pages until the last page. I loved this book!! I am voluntarily giving an honest review on a copy of this book I received from the author.

[natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks again, Goodreads, for the opportunity to win this book. I love, love, love, murder mysteries and serial killers and dark, dark thrillers like Marred. Sue Coletta has done a great job with Marred. It is very well-written and was very hard to put down. It kept me guessing until the very end, which is very unusual for me, as I usually know what will happen.

Sometimes you just can't outrun your past. Sue Coletta leaves this great thriller open to a sequel. Anxiously awaiting that sequel!

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book because I attended a reading by Sue Coletta at our library. My original intent was just curiosity because it is set in Grafton County, NH which is where I live. The last thing I needed was to get started on another series but from the beginning, I got hooked. I love the characters, flaws and all. Besides the murders and mystery, the bad guy is just down right creepy. He falls in that category of "he needed killing". I have already completed book #2 and am immersed in book #3; whatever am I going to do then!

[Ellie Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Marred. Sue Coletta has created characters you can identify with and who you really want to root for. The attention to detail in terms of the police procedures and forensics meant that you felt a part of the investigation rather than an observer and the twists and turns kept the pages turning. All in all an excellent, if chilling, read. I can't wait to read Sue's next novel.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book was fantastic and scary all at once. I liked the characters very much and the suspense was crazy. I can’t wait to read the next book. I highly recommend this book.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not expect a turn or two this book took. I see there are other books with the same characters, so I will be looking for those to read soon.
I live in Alexandria NH, so I loved knowing the names of the roads and other local areas that were mentioned in the book.

[Peter Hogenkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan of crime fiction is going to love this debut from Sue Coletta, especially if you like them dark and twisted. It reminded me of Silence of the Lambs in a pastoral setting. Read it!