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Grafton County #2
Cleaved
Author Sage Quintano writes about crime. Her husband Niko investigates it. Together they make an unstoppable team. But no one counted on a twisted serial killer, who stalks their sleepy community, uproots their happy home, and splits the threads that bonds their family unit.
Darkness swallows the Quintanos whole—ensnared by a ruthless killer out for blood. Why he focused on Sage remains a mystery, but he won’t stop till she dies like the others.
Women impaled by deer antlers, bodies encased in oil drums, nursery rhymes, and the Suicide King. What connects these cryptic clues? For Sage and Niko, the truth may be more terrifying than they ever imagined.
Darkness swallows the Quintanos whole—ensnared by a ruthless killer out for blood. Why he focused on Sage remains a mystery, but he won’t stop till she dies like the others.
Women impaled by deer antlers, bodies encased in oil drums, nursery rhymes, and the Suicide King. What connects these cryptic clues? For Sage and Niko, the truth may be more terrifying than they ever imagined.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2017
3 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Sue Coletta
32 books146 followersSue 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 3, 2017
I just finished MARRED and it blew me away, so there was no way I was going to wait to read CLEAVED. I have to have more!
I love anything to do with water, and when I saw the Marine Patrol and Fish & Game would be involved, I became even more excited. I know what water can do to a dead body and I’m looking forward to finding out who put it there.
Sue starts her books out with a bang and I am gasping for breath right along with Sage. Then, Sue takes it to an even darker place and I excited to see how it will play out.
I feel as if the characters have become my friends and I worry for them as the serial killer adds body after body and the action continues non stop.
Sage has great instincts and after all she has been through, she listens to them.
Frankie has become my favorite character. She is humorous, brash, dresses as if she’s going out on the town instead of to a crime scene, hates authority and is quick with a sharp retort. Niko doesn’t think she would be good as the Sheriff because of these faults, so he is constantly grooming someone else to take his place when he quits.
Niko’s team has a Keystone Kop, Mayberry feel to them, but they are coming together, making constant progress.
The serial killer is back with a vengeance and I wonder if it is the same one…or is there more than one.
Sue Coletta takes us to a very dark place with a kidnapping that would make any of us cringe and rage at the villain and the world.
I love how creative Sue is in coming up with new ways for the serial killer to torture and kill his victims, really making them suffer and beg for death. She never thinks the evil is bad enough, so she piles on more and more and more…
Her ability to create so much tension and angst, at times left me white knuckled, gripping my Kindle so tight my hands hurt, making me want to reach through the screen and take matters into my own hands.
I voluntarily reviewed Marred by Sue Coletta.
To see more visit fundinmental
I love anything to do with water, and when I saw the Marine Patrol and Fish & Game would be involved, I became even more excited. I know what water can do to a dead body and I’m looking forward to finding out who put it there.
Sue starts her books out with a bang and I am gasping for breath right along with Sage. Then, Sue takes it to an even darker place and I excited to see how it will play out.
I feel as if the characters have become my friends and I worry for them as the serial killer adds body after body and the action continues non stop.
Sage has great instincts and after all she has been through, she listens to them.
Frankie has become my favorite character. She is humorous, brash, dresses as if she’s going out on the town instead of to a crime scene, hates authority and is quick with a sharp retort. Niko doesn’t think she would be good as the Sheriff because of these faults, so he is constantly grooming someone else to take his place when he quits.
Niko’s team has a Keystone Kop, Mayberry feel to them, but they are coming together, making constant progress.
The serial killer is back with a vengeance and I wonder if it is the same one…or is there more than one.
Sue Coletta takes us to a very dark place with a kidnapping that would make any of us cringe and rage at the villain and the world.
I love how creative Sue is in coming up with new ways for the serial killer to torture and kill his victims, really making them suffer and beg for death. She never thinks the evil is bad enough, so she piles on more and more and more…
Her ability to create so much tension and angst, at times left me white knuckled, gripping my Kindle so tight my hands hurt, making me want to reach through the screen and take matters into my own hands.
I voluntarily reviewed Marred by Sue Coletta.
To see more visit fundinmental
April 17, 2017
Police-procedural with touches of domestic noir and many stories to keep the intrigue going. I’m writing this review as part of Rosie’s Book Review Team and I was provided with a copy of the book that I freely chose to review.
I have just finished reading Sue Coletta’s Marred and I wanted to see what happened next. Reading the two books back-to-back allowed me to think a bit more about the genre, the characters and the style.
Here we have again the married couple of Niko Quintano, now sheriff in Alexandria, Grafton County, New Hampshire, and his wife, crime novelist Sage. They moved trying to leave behind a tragedy but it seems it followed them, and in Marred there was more heartache and family loses for the Quintanos. Now, the couple has a child, their two kids (their beloved dogs, Rugger and Colt, which I didn’t mention in my last review although they play an important role), and they are enjoying life. The book doesn’t allow us to relax though, quite the opposite, as it opens with a terrifying scene, narrated in the first person from Sage’s perspective. She is locked up somewhere, small, dark and cold, floating in water, and can’t recall how she got there. And we, the readers, share in her anguish and fear and are thrown in at the deep end from the beginning. The book then goes back and we get to know how Sage ended up there. Her plight is linked to a new bizarre wave of murders that befall the county but there are several interrelated plots and all of them touch the different characters personally. What should have been a happy time for Sage and Niko turns into another nightmare and nobody is safe.
The story is told from several of the characters’ points of view, as was the case with Marred. Sage, the writer, narrates her story in the first person and is good at observing events, but especially at talking about feelings and analysing the impact their horrific experiences might have on all of them (including her 13 months’ old baby son, Noah, and their two dogs). Her husband Niko and Frankie, the deputy sheriff with attitude, wit and a fashionable sense of dress, also have their own stories, but these are told in the third-person.
I talked about genre in the previous review but I have to come back to it. Whilst the book works as police-procedural, due to the details about murder scenes and also to the lectures on the subject (the deputies in training come handy as a justification and a stand-in for the readers, and this time even Frankie gets to explain some aspects of forensic science), there is a lot of content that relates to family relationships and also to the effects of crime and trauma on the survivors, that put me in mind of what these days is called domestic-noir (although in standard cases, the guilty party tends to be part of the family. Not so here…). Although this aspect is more evident in the fragments narrated by Sage, Frankie also gets confronted with her own relationship and how it can be a source of conflict with one’s profession and moral stance (she’s still one of my favourite characters but she behaves in a more reckless manner that I had ever imagined she would and shows less concern for the law than I expected), and Niko also struggles to try to maintain his professional demeanour when faced with attacks on his beloved family.
There are several story strands and a variety of crimes, and readers will be kept on their toes trying to decide how they related to each other (if they do), how many criminals there are and what their motives are. Although the sheriff notes the difficulties and the limitations of law enforcement in the area as it is not a high-crime place, I couldn’t help but think of series like Murder, She Wrote or Midsomer Murders where a seemingly sleepy town is attacked by an epidemic of crime, courtesy of it being the setting of a series. Also, like in most stories where both members of a couple investigate crimes (professionally or not), at some point, one or both of them end up becoming victims, and this has been Sage’s lot from the beginning, perhaps more so in this book, as she has even more to lose now. This novel might cross over several genres but it does live up to the expectations of the readers and it will keep them turning pages.
The characters keep stumbling on the same stone over and over. If in the previous book they got into serious trouble for not completely trusting each other and lying (with the best of intentions at heart), they still do it here (perhaps not to the same extent) and there is a price to be paid for it. I felt like I do sometimes when watching a horror movie when you see the characters keep getting themselves into trouble, and you want to shout at them: ‘Don’t do that! Don’t be stupid!’ but they don’t listen. The murders are as gruesome as in the previous book and varied; we get a better glimpse at Frankie’s life and some of her connections, but there is more of the personal point of view and dramatic side of the story, at least in my opinion. The book has humorous scenes and the witty dialogue that’s one of the author’s trademarks, but it is also scary and tense, and even more terrifying if you’re an author yourself. (Beware of book signings is all I’ll say.)
Once again, the ending is satisfying (as a psychiatrist I’ll keep my peace rather than discuss the details) but has a hook and leaves readers with an eerie feeling. I wasn’t sure I was totally clear in my mind as to how the different strands fitted in, especially with so many things being hidden and not fully knowing who knew what. I wouldn’t have minded one of those scenes à la Poirot or Sherlock Holmes, where the detective gives an explanation and everything is tied up with a nice ribbon. Although, perhaps it just shows that the rhythm of the novel is quite fast and if you blink, you’ve missed it.
Another novel by Sue Coletta with an irresistible story that requires a strong stomach but will be of interest to readers who like to dig into the character’s psyche and are after more than just a well-plotted book. Oh, and readers must like dogs too. Especially scary for writers.
I have just finished reading Sue Coletta’s Marred and I wanted to see what happened next. Reading the two books back-to-back allowed me to think a bit more about the genre, the characters and the style.
Here we have again the married couple of Niko Quintano, now sheriff in Alexandria, Grafton County, New Hampshire, and his wife, crime novelist Sage. They moved trying to leave behind a tragedy but it seems it followed them, and in Marred there was more heartache and family loses for the Quintanos. Now, the couple has a child, their two kids (their beloved dogs, Rugger and Colt, which I didn’t mention in my last review although they play an important role), and they are enjoying life. The book doesn’t allow us to relax though, quite the opposite, as it opens with a terrifying scene, narrated in the first person from Sage’s perspective. She is locked up somewhere, small, dark and cold, floating in water, and can’t recall how she got there. And we, the readers, share in her anguish and fear and are thrown in at the deep end from the beginning. The book then goes back and we get to know how Sage ended up there. Her plight is linked to a new bizarre wave of murders that befall the county but there are several interrelated plots and all of them touch the different characters personally. What should have been a happy time for Sage and Niko turns into another nightmare and nobody is safe.
The story is told from several of the characters’ points of view, as was the case with Marred. Sage, the writer, narrates her story in the first person and is good at observing events, but especially at talking about feelings and analysing the impact their horrific experiences might have on all of them (including her 13 months’ old baby son, Noah, and their two dogs). Her husband Niko and Frankie, the deputy sheriff with attitude, wit and a fashionable sense of dress, also have their own stories, but these are told in the third-person.
I talked about genre in the previous review but I have to come back to it. Whilst the book works as police-procedural, due to the details about murder scenes and also to the lectures on the subject (the deputies in training come handy as a justification and a stand-in for the readers, and this time even Frankie gets to explain some aspects of forensic science), there is a lot of content that relates to family relationships and also to the effects of crime and trauma on the survivors, that put me in mind of what these days is called domestic-noir (although in standard cases, the guilty party tends to be part of the family. Not so here…). Although this aspect is more evident in the fragments narrated by Sage, Frankie also gets confronted with her own relationship and how it can be a source of conflict with one’s profession and moral stance (she’s still one of my favourite characters but she behaves in a more reckless manner that I had ever imagined she would and shows less concern for the law than I expected), and Niko also struggles to try to maintain his professional demeanour when faced with attacks on his beloved family.
There are several story strands and a variety of crimes, and readers will be kept on their toes trying to decide how they related to each other (if they do), how many criminals there are and what their motives are. Although the sheriff notes the difficulties and the limitations of law enforcement in the area as it is not a high-crime place, I couldn’t help but think of series like Murder, She Wrote or Midsomer Murders where a seemingly sleepy town is attacked by an epidemic of crime, courtesy of it being the setting of a series. Also, like in most stories where both members of a couple investigate crimes (professionally or not), at some point, one or both of them end up becoming victims, and this has been Sage’s lot from the beginning, perhaps more so in this book, as she has even more to lose now. This novel might cross over several genres but it does live up to the expectations of the readers and it will keep them turning pages.
The characters keep stumbling on the same stone over and over. If in the previous book they got into serious trouble for not completely trusting each other and lying (with the best of intentions at heart), they still do it here (perhaps not to the same extent) and there is a price to be paid for it. I felt like I do sometimes when watching a horror movie when you see the characters keep getting themselves into trouble, and you want to shout at them: ‘Don’t do that! Don’t be stupid!’ but they don’t listen. The murders are as gruesome as in the previous book and varied; we get a better glimpse at Frankie’s life and some of her connections, but there is more of the personal point of view and dramatic side of the story, at least in my opinion. The book has humorous scenes and the witty dialogue that’s one of the author’s trademarks, but it is also scary and tense, and even more terrifying if you’re an author yourself. (Beware of book signings is all I’ll say.)
Once again, the ending is satisfying (as a psychiatrist I’ll keep my peace rather than discuss the details) but has a hook and leaves readers with an eerie feeling. I wasn’t sure I was totally clear in my mind as to how the different strands fitted in, especially with so many things being hidden and not fully knowing who knew what. I wouldn’t have minded one of those scenes à la Poirot or Sherlock Holmes, where the detective gives an explanation and everything is tied up with a nice ribbon. Although, perhaps it just shows that the rhythm of the novel is quite fast and if you blink, you’ve missed it.
Another novel by Sue Coletta with an irresistible story that requires a strong stomach but will be of interest to readers who like to dig into the character’s psyche and are after more than just a well-plotted book. Oh, and readers must like dogs too. Especially scary for writers.
June 16, 2017
Sage lived through a nightmare when her sister was abducted, and later died, by a crazed serial killer. Now her husband Niko is on the hunt once again for a new killer in their small town. When their son is abducted, Sage places herself in danger to save her family. Full of twists and turns, this book is a great mystery.
This book was a great continuation of Sage and Niko. This book was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat. The situation with baby Noah grabbed me and kept me in its grasp. Being a mother, I can relate to the fear and love that Sage presents. This book was written so well. It was filled with characters that I loved and the new killers that I hate. Overall, I have become a big fan of Sue Coletta. These books are gruesome, action-packed, and full of crime and drama. They are hard to put down. I loved the ending and based on that I assume there will be another book to follow and I can't wait.
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This book was a great continuation of Sage and Niko. This book was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat. The situation with baby Noah grabbed me and kept me in its grasp. Being a mother, I can relate to the fear and love that Sage presents. This book was written so well. It was filled with characters that I loved and the new killers that I hate. Overall, I have become a big fan of Sue Coletta. These books are gruesome, action-packed, and full of crime and drama. They are hard to put down. I loved the ending and based on that I assume there will be another book to follow and I can't wait.
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April 8, 2017
Just finished reading Cleaved and I was not disappointed. Sue has continued her amazing ability to pump out another great story. A definite thriller that keeps you reading and doesn't let you put it down. The emotional rollercoaster that the storyline and characters but you through is truly delightful. I do look forward to the sequel and I'm am anticipating her sequel to Wings of Mayhem also. Keep doing what you're doing, Sue, its magnificent.
July 22, 2018
Description: A sequel to Marred. Cleaved starts out with a bang!
Sage is a crime writer married to Sheriff Niko Quintana who soon discovers the sleepy little town they moved to after Sage lost her twin sister to a killer, isn’t sleepy at all.
Instead, he finds himself knee-deep in snow surrounded by a serial killer’s victims impaled to trees by deer antlers; others sealed in steel oil drums – all with their left hand cut off and the King of Hearts attached to each.
As Niko’s focus stay with the investigation, he brushes off his wife’s concerns until the killer turns his sights on Sage and their young son, Noah.
Sue does an excellent job of developing these characters. These are characters you come to know and care for very deeply. A thriller packed with psychological intrigue, twists, and OMG moments. A page-turner you won’t be able to put down.
Sage is a crime writer married to Sheriff Niko Quintana who soon discovers the sleepy little town they moved to after Sage lost her twin sister to a killer, isn’t sleepy at all.
Instead, he finds himself knee-deep in snow surrounded by a serial killer’s victims impaled to trees by deer antlers; others sealed in steel oil drums – all with their left hand cut off and the King of Hearts attached to each.
As Niko’s focus stay with the investigation, he brushes off his wife’s concerns until the killer turns his sights on Sage and their young son, Noah.
Sue does an excellent job of developing these characters. These are characters you come to know and care for very deeply. A thriller packed with psychological intrigue, twists, and OMG moments. A page-turner you won’t be able to put down.
April 24, 2019
Such a great series! It is definitely a page turner... I cannot wait for book 4...
April 8, 2017
The title alone is the stuff of nightmares. Cleaved by Sue Coletta is the latest from the writing magic of this author.
Her characters, storyline, and imagination all meld into the perfect blend of suspense, tension, action, and emotion. Her prose sings more than tells the story. The words are crafted and woven into both subtle and shocking passages.
The intricacies of the plot will keep you guessing, and catching your breath, with each twist and turn. While the nature of the story contains some gruesome aspects, Coletta handles them with aplomb. She makes her point without gratuitous descriptions so common is less skillfully written thrillers.
This is an author rising to new levels in her craft. All of her books are good, this one is exceptional.
She takes you inside the mind of her main recurring character, Sage Quintano. You experience the story as she does. (Minor spoiler alert coming up.) As part of her research for the book, Coletta actually got inside an oil drum. I’ll leave it to your imagination why. But it should give you an indication of the commitment to excellence this author brings to her work.
Read this book. Read all this author’s work. You will not be disappointed. Terrified, scared, suffering elevated blood pressure, yes. Disappointed, no.
(I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review)
Her characters, storyline, and imagination all meld into the perfect blend of suspense, tension, action, and emotion. Her prose sings more than tells the story. The words are crafted and woven into both subtle and shocking passages.
The intricacies of the plot will keep you guessing, and catching your breath, with each twist and turn. While the nature of the story contains some gruesome aspects, Coletta handles them with aplomb. She makes her point without gratuitous descriptions so common is less skillfully written thrillers.
This is an author rising to new levels in her craft. All of her books are good, this one is exceptional.
She takes you inside the mind of her main recurring character, Sage Quintano. You experience the story as she does. (Minor spoiler alert coming up.) As part of her research for the book, Coletta actually got inside an oil drum. I’ll leave it to your imagination why. But it should give you an indication of the commitment to excellence this author brings to her work.
Read this book. Read all this author’s work. You will not be disappointed. Terrified, scared, suffering elevated blood pressure, yes. Disappointed, no.
(I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review)
February 24, 2018
Oh dear, here I am again, the lone voice of dissent. This story could have been so much better but I found it really flat. I felt that the author kept throwing in gruesome details and abductions in an effort to raise the level of tension but it didn't work for me. I couldn't relate to the characters or their fear. In fact my favorite characters were the dogs, Colt and Ruger.
Often when I read a suspenseful book I need to take a little break to 'calm down' before I can keep going. With this book, I skimmed through it quickly just to get it finished. Which is quite strange as I enjoyed Scarred, an earlier book with the same characters, a lot more. I just didn't find the writing at all evocative this time around. The ending was a bit abrupt and the rationale for the killings was weak. There was no explanation either about why the killer was targeting Sage. It didn't make any sense. You'll notice there is no synopsis, this is because I thought the whole plot was silly. This book could have been about knitting for all the effect it had on me. Sorry.
Often when I read a suspenseful book I need to take a little break to 'calm down' before I can keep going. With this book, I skimmed through it quickly just to get it finished. Which is quite strange as I enjoyed Scarred, an earlier book with the same characters, a lot more. I just didn't find the writing at all evocative this time around. The ending was a bit abrupt and the rationale for the killings was weak. There was no explanation either about why the killer was targeting Sage. It didn't make any sense. You'll notice there is no synopsis, this is because I thought the whole plot was silly. This book could have been about knitting for all the effect it had on me. Sorry.
April 6, 2017
Awesome!! ok i was given this book to read so i can leave a review and i,m not a review person but here goes ! Sage is a lead detective on what looks like a serial killer is running all over this small town stuffing women in oil barrels imagine that!!! Sage not only has to deal with that but a daughter that feels displaced because mommy has to solve crime (very bad crime ) a former husband that wants to take her daughter and a well an almost boyfriend that feels neglected now back to the serial killer he wants her too !!!Only not in a good way ! more like stuffed in an oil barrel with the rest! Follow Sage as she unravels this mystery from page one you may not want to put it down ,i sure never but seems i do most of my reading at work sometimes i just had to get stuff done ! i give this book 5 stars for sure ! Sue coletta has done it again after marred and wings of mayhem i never thought it could get better but she did it again .
May 28, 2017
MARRED was a fabulous book, and somehow, CLEAVED surpassed it. The book bounces between character point of view in a perfect way to tell this story. Niko and Sage are working on their problems, but they're also taking some things for granted. This leads to situations they could have avoided had they only trusted each other. This seems so realistic to me. Coletta ramps up the terror and puts the reader right in the middle of some terrible situations. Excited to see Frankie grow as a character and play a more active role too. Definitely add this to your reading list, and if you haven't read MARRED add it too.
Read
May 8, 2017A thriller, crime story, Cleaved is the latest release from Sue Coletta, an author who enjoys delving into the twisted world of serial killers. In this case, she has created a psychologically disturbed stalker who harbors a fondness for impaling his victims with deer antlers. As always, Coletta balances her fiction with detailed and believable forensics. She clearly spends time on research, and that investment pays off in the delivery of her scenes.
The path of the clues throughout is well developed, as are all of the returning characters from Marred, book one in this series. Sage Quintano and her husband, Niko, sheriff of rural Grafton County, find their lives turned upside down when a killer sets his sites on Sage.
Yet even with darker aspects of this book, (and there are plenty), Coletta knows how to play on the emotion of the reader, allowing them to develop strong bonds with her characters. All of them—even when they’re pets. Some of my favorite scenes involved Sage and Niko’s dogs, Ruger and Colt, particularly the moment in which they stand guard to protect Sage and her son, Noah.
The ending is a pulse-pounding race to apprehend the killer as the clues strewn throughout begin to fit together. Neatly done, Cleaved is another great entry in this series and Coletta’s parcel of crime fiction.
The path of the clues throughout is well developed, as are all of the returning characters from Marred, book one in this series. Sage Quintano and her husband, Niko, sheriff of rural Grafton County, find their lives turned upside down when a killer sets his sites on Sage.
Yet even with darker aspects of this book, (and there are plenty), Coletta knows how to play on the emotion of the reader, allowing them to develop strong bonds with her characters. All of them—even when they’re pets. Some of my favorite scenes involved Sage and Niko’s dogs, Ruger and Colt, particularly the moment in which they stand guard to protect Sage and her son, Noah.
The ending is a pulse-pounding race to apprehend the killer as the clues strewn throughout begin to fit together. Neatly done, Cleaved is another great entry in this series and Coletta’s parcel of crime fiction.
January 15, 2019
Sue Coletta has a mind for murder and mayhem and she does her research well in order to do her writing justice. Reading Marred, the first book in the Grafton County series, I thought was chilling enough but after reading Cleaved, book two, it surpassed the first by leaps and bounds.
After surviving a horrible attack in her home and the loss of her twin sister at the hands of a twisted serial killer in Marred, Sage Quintano and her husband, Niko, the sheriff of Grafton County, are doing their best to get back to routine and a normal life. Aside from their two dogs, Colt and Ruger, whom they consider their children, they now have a new addition to complete their family unit, a 13-month old son, Noah and they could not be happier. However, monsters still lurking in the shadows refuse to let them have peace. After grizzly new murders occur, Niko and his police force are back in the game trying to make sense of the clues and find the madman before the body count rises. Terrifying events come to pass after Sage’s name comes up at a fresh crime scene and their life is thrown into chaos and life-and-death situations, yet again. While Niko and his deputies are racing against the clock for answers, Sage is fighting her own horrific battles when the killer threatens her family and sets his sights on her. Using her instincts and research skills, as well as her criminal role-play with Niko they work to unravel the complex and baffling evidence to find the killer before it is too late.
There are many twists and turns and a few shocking surprises woven into the pages of this suspenseful thriller. I enjoyed the many facets of police procedures that Sue sprinkles throughout the read…from the direction of blood spatter to determining the time of death by body decay and bugs (gross, but true!). It is these intricate details that really pull me in and help make the story come to life. I can picture the scenes unfolding and am totally invested in the feelings and emotions of the characters as they describe what they see and what they do. I also enjoyed the fact that Niko and Sage are not the perfect couple. They struggle with secrets and honesty, prioritizing work and family, their own emotions from past events and their relationship. I love this because it makes it easier to relate to the characters, they ‘feel real’. More details are also shared about Frankie, including tidbits from her personal life, and a shocking event I never would have guessed from her. I am extremely curious how the after effects will affect her as a person, in her job and her relationship with Niko. I cannot help but think something bad will be coming her way in the future when truths are revealed.
Cleaved will have you holding your breath and invested in the story from the first page. It is a terrifying, eerie read full of suspense, grueling murders and tragic events with the twisted mind of a killer, his heinous acts and a fascinating puzzle to solve.
After surviving a horrible attack in her home and the loss of her twin sister at the hands of a twisted serial killer in Marred, Sage Quintano and her husband, Niko, the sheriff of Grafton County, are doing their best to get back to routine and a normal life. Aside from their two dogs, Colt and Ruger, whom they consider their children, they now have a new addition to complete their family unit, a 13-month old son, Noah and they could not be happier. However, monsters still lurking in the shadows refuse to let them have peace. After grizzly new murders occur, Niko and his police force are back in the game trying to make sense of the clues and find the madman before the body count rises. Terrifying events come to pass after Sage’s name comes up at a fresh crime scene and their life is thrown into chaos and life-and-death situations, yet again. While Niko and his deputies are racing against the clock for answers, Sage is fighting her own horrific battles when the killer threatens her family and sets his sights on her. Using her instincts and research skills, as well as her criminal role-play with Niko they work to unravel the complex and baffling evidence to find the killer before it is too late.
There are many twists and turns and a few shocking surprises woven into the pages of this suspenseful thriller. I enjoyed the many facets of police procedures that Sue sprinkles throughout the read…from the direction of blood spatter to determining the time of death by body decay and bugs (gross, but true!). It is these intricate details that really pull me in and help make the story come to life. I can picture the scenes unfolding and am totally invested in the feelings and emotions of the characters as they describe what they see and what they do. I also enjoyed the fact that Niko and Sage are not the perfect couple. They struggle with secrets and honesty, prioritizing work and family, their own emotions from past events and their relationship. I love this because it makes it easier to relate to the characters, they ‘feel real’. More details are also shared about Frankie, including tidbits from her personal life, and a shocking event I never would have guessed from her. I am extremely curious how the after effects will affect her as a person, in her job and her relationship with Niko. I cannot help but think something bad will be coming her way in the future when truths are revealed.
Cleaved will have you holding your breath and invested in the story from the first page. It is a terrifying, eerie read full of suspense, grueling murders and tragic events with the twisted mind of a killer, his heinous acts and a fascinating puzzle to solve.
May 15, 2017
Great mystery!
Sage and Niko are great characters with good Interaction . Lots of action as they hunt a serial killer. The secondary characters are very likable and fit in perfectly. Along with Sages son Noah we also have her two fur babies which seemed to have their own personalities. The story kept you guessing til the end . This story grabs you from the first page and keeps your interest. Sue Coletta is definitely going on my tbr list.
Sage and Niko are great characters with good Interaction . Lots of action as they hunt a serial killer. The secondary characters are very likable and fit in perfectly. Along with Sages son Noah we also have her two fur babies which seemed to have their own personalities. The story kept you guessing til the end . This story grabs you from the first page and keeps your interest. Sue Coletta is definitely going on my tbr list.
July 16, 2024
Review to follow.
January 19, 2019
Sage Quintano is a crime story author who is married to the local sheriff in a small rural town in New Hampshire. She has been through a few disasters but has survived. She may not always come out unscathed, but she sure comes out stronger each time. Her husband Niko Quintano will do anything to keep her and their family safe, but when he dismisses her gut feelings about the current murders in their little town he will regret it.
Niko's team at the sheriffs office are great officers even with two officers that aren't as weathered as Niko and Frankie. Frankie Campanelli has been working as an officer longer than Ben or Bradley, but she is not your typical police or sheriffs officer. She doesn't follow the dress code and at times will show up to a crime scene in heels, she is quite sassy also.
I love Sage and Frankie in this series. They are both strong women who have a great friendship and are fun to read. Every time I read one of Sue's books it makes the day go by so fast. I get so drawn into the book and the story that everything around me just disappears. This one was no different. I find these stories to be so real, especially when I read lines like this; "Beside the personal connection and the tragedy that followed, I’d labored over every word to strike the right chord at the perfect moment to elicit the strongest reaction in my reader. Whether folks realized it or not, authors bared their souls in their books. Nothing quite compared to the intimacy shared between writers and readers, however subconscious it may be." I can see this in most of the books I read and feel the truth in this statement.
I am kind of reading this series backwards, but it doesn't matter because even though I know that there is another book after this one, I still get anxious wondering if all of my favorite characters will survive the book. I also get so drawn into the story that I sometimes forget that I've read the next book already. I love the characters in this series and I give this story a 5 star review. Now I have to go back and read the first book in the series. Good thing I already have it. I love to read Sue's books any time, but when I have a break and am looking for a book to read during some down time, Sue is one of my go to authors.
Niko's team at the sheriffs office are great officers even with two officers that aren't as weathered as Niko and Frankie. Frankie Campanelli has been working as an officer longer than Ben or Bradley, but she is not your typical police or sheriffs officer. She doesn't follow the dress code and at times will show up to a crime scene in heels, she is quite sassy also.
I love Sage and Frankie in this series. They are both strong women who have a great friendship and are fun to read. Every time I read one of Sue's books it makes the day go by so fast. I get so drawn into the book and the story that everything around me just disappears. This one was no different. I find these stories to be so real, especially when I read lines like this; "Beside the personal connection and the tragedy that followed, I’d labored over every word to strike the right chord at the perfect moment to elicit the strongest reaction in my reader. Whether folks realized it or not, authors bared their souls in their books. Nothing quite compared to the intimacy shared between writers and readers, however subconscious it may be." I can see this in most of the books I read and feel the truth in this statement.
I am kind of reading this series backwards, but it doesn't matter because even though I know that there is another book after this one, I still get anxious wondering if all of my favorite characters will survive the book. I also get so drawn into the story that I sometimes forget that I've read the next book already. I love the characters in this series and I give this story a 5 star review. Now I have to go back and read the first book in the series. Good thing I already have it. I love to read Sue's books any time, but when I have a break and am looking for a book to read during some down time, Sue is one of my go to authors.
May 5, 2017
Cleaved: Grafton County Series, book 2 (Tingearr Publishing, May 2017)is Sue Coletta’s sequel to Marred, a book I loved. Coletta continues to develop as a crime writer and she now has three novels and numerous short stories in print.
I’m happy to see deputy Frankie Campanelli return in the sequel to Marred, along with deputies Ben and Bradley. There’s plenty of Frankie’s snarky dialog to ease the tension when everything’s going to hell in a hand-basket. Also present are Nico and Sage’s pups, Colt and Ruger. Plus their infant son Noah plays an important part.
I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment by revealing the plot. Suffice it to say, there are gruesome murders galore in Grafton County. I’m sure Sue Grafton would approve of murders in a county named after her.
As in all of her novels, Coletta blends forensic science with fast-paced thrills. If you like a good mystery, give Cleaved a read.
I’m happy to see deputy Frankie Campanelli return in the sequel to Marred, along with deputies Ben and Bradley. There’s plenty of Frankie’s snarky dialog to ease the tension when everything’s going to hell in a hand-basket. Also present are Nico and Sage’s pups, Colt and Ruger. Plus their infant son Noah plays an important part.
I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment by revealing the plot. Suffice it to say, there are gruesome murders galore in Grafton County. I’m sure Sue Grafton would approve of murders in a county named after her.
As in all of her novels, Coletta blends forensic science with fast-paced thrills. If you like a good mystery, give Cleaved a read.
January 26, 2023
Mystery anyone?
Without doubt, Ms Coletta is a mystery lover's dream author. Words cannot describe the scenes she is able to write that will keep the reader up at night either reading until the morning light or quaking in fear. I, for one, have done both. Will baby Noah need therapy when he is older? I hope not, but I sure could understand why he would. Try to put Cleaved down. Just try to, it won't happen.
Without doubt, Ms Coletta is a mystery lover's dream author. Words cannot describe the scenes she is able to write that will keep the reader up at night either reading until the morning light or quaking in fear. I, for one, have done both. Will baby Noah need therapy when he is older? I hope not, but I sure could understand why he would. Try to put Cleaved down. Just try to, it won't happen.
April 30, 2017
Terrorizing, horrifying, intimating read!!! This
story is bone chilling producing goose bumps
and taking away your breath!!!
An emotional psychological thriller filled with
action, suspense, mystery and horror. A story
that is hard to forget.
Sheriff Niko Quintano is confronted with not
one but several horrifying crimes. Women with
their left hands cut off, impaled to trees with
deer antlers, women encased in steel oil drums
without their left hands, a King of Heart playing
card accompanies each body then the town's
veterinarian is found dead.
Are all these crime related or is there more than
one perpetrator??
Niko and his wife, Sage now live in Alexandria,
Grafton County in New Hampshire. They have a
young son, Noah and their two fur babies:
Rugger and Colt.
Sage writes about crime. She has been terrified
before by a serial killer now she is about to find
herself the victim of another deranged criminal
mind or is that minds?
Her dogs are drugged, her son kidnapped right
from her bed, nursery rhymes calling to her then
she is captured by her mysterious opponents.
Intrigue is heightened to mountainous proportions
with tension, drama, suspense plenty of thrill,
chills, twists and turns.
Another intense read from Sue Colette.
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thanks to the
author for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
story is bone chilling producing goose bumps
and taking away your breath!!!
An emotional psychological thriller filled with
action, suspense, mystery and horror. A story
that is hard to forget.
Sheriff Niko Quintano is confronted with not
one but several horrifying crimes. Women with
their left hands cut off, impaled to trees with
deer antlers, women encased in steel oil drums
without their left hands, a King of Heart playing
card accompanies each body then the town's
veterinarian is found dead.
Are all these crime related or is there more than
one perpetrator??
Niko and his wife, Sage now live in Alexandria,
Grafton County in New Hampshire. They have a
young son, Noah and their two fur babies:
Rugger and Colt.
Sage writes about crime. She has been terrified
before by a serial killer now she is about to find
herself the victim of another deranged criminal
mind or is that minds?
Her dogs are drugged, her son kidnapped right
from her bed, nursery rhymes calling to her then
she is captured by her mysterious opponents.
Intrigue is heightened to mountainous proportions
with tension, drama, suspense plenty of thrill,
chills, twists and turns.
Another intense read from Sue Colette.
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thanks to the
author for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
May 3, 2017
This crime thriller opens with a gripping prologue. A woman is trapped inside a steel drum, terrified for her life. You are instantly there with her, experiencing every gruesome and terrifying moment as she tries to escape.
Somewhere in the Lake Region of New England, a ruthless killer is on the prowl. He needs to kill Sage Quintano, the author wife of the Sheriff, Niko Quintano, but his reason is not clear.
Someone starts to follow Sage, tormenting her with a nursery rhyme and then her world starts to fall apart. I loved the way the chapters alternated sometimes, as the two women in the story, Sage and her husbands female deputy, Frankie Campanelli take turns to build the tension and the story, and you couldn’t have two more different women than these.
I thought the plot and storyline were expertly handled, for despite all the confusing clues I couldn’t tell the guilty from the innocent. The dialogue was handled well, with arguments strongly portrayed and believable. The tension builds gradually, almost painfully so. I read somewhere that the author actually experienced being inside a steel drum, for the sake of realism, I hope!
The interaction with the Quintano dogs, Colt and Ruger, was rather special too, the scene where Sage and the dogs comfort one another was really moving.
I would have preferred an English vocabulary, as some of the terms used were unfamiliar to me. And I’m not sure about the over description of the maggots!
I will be reading Marred, the first book in this series, as I know I will enjoy that one too, and I can find out what happened to Sage’s sister…
Somewhere in the Lake Region of New England, a ruthless killer is on the prowl. He needs to kill Sage Quintano, the author wife of the Sheriff, Niko Quintano, but his reason is not clear.
Someone starts to follow Sage, tormenting her with a nursery rhyme and then her world starts to fall apart. I loved the way the chapters alternated sometimes, as the two women in the story, Sage and her husbands female deputy, Frankie Campanelli take turns to build the tension and the story, and you couldn’t have two more different women than these.
I thought the plot and storyline were expertly handled, for despite all the confusing clues I couldn’t tell the guilty from the innocent. The dialogue was handled well, with arguments strongly portrayed and believable. The tension builds gradually, almost painfully so. I read somewhere that the author actually experienced being inside a steel drum, for the sake of realism, I hope!
The interaction with the Quintano dogs, Colt and Ruger, was rather special too, the scene where Sage and the dogs comfort one another was really moving.
I would have preferred an English vocabulary, as some of the terms used were unfamiliar to me. And I’m not sure about the over description of the maggots!
I will be reading Marred, the first book in this series, as I know I will enjoy that one too, and I can find out what happened to Sage’s sister…
May 3, 2017
Keeps You Guessing… and Keeps You up at Night
CLEAVED, Sue Coletta’s sequel to MARRED, is somehow even better than the first installment. We get deeper into the heads and hearts of the characters while trying to make sense of all the clues.
It’s refreshing to see a couple portrayed so realistically. Sage and Niko are happily married, but the marriage isn’t new. Sure, the love is there. But they’re at the taking-for-granted stage, and that carelessness is one of the primary reasons the murderer is able to infiltrate their lives and wreak such havoc. Watching the characters accept their failings and move past their problems, back to the acknowledgment of that love, is possibly the strongest factor in solving the mystery. It also provides a pleasing and satisfying character arc for each of them.
Add to that drama the trials of one big secondary character, and the story takes on multiple layers of meaning and possibilities. The plots entwine in unsuspected ways, the character takes on a layer of complexity I didn’t think she had, and the decisions made are shocking. Seeing how this plays out in subsequent stories already has me waiting for the next installment.
Coletta has succeeded in weaving strange and original clues into a complex and compelling thriller that kept me frantically turning the pages even as I looked over my shoulder and jumped at noises that probably weren’t even there. This is a frightening thriller that keeps you guessing… and keeps you up at night.
Highly recommended.
CLEAVED, Sue Coletta’s sequel to MARRED, is somehow even better than the first installment. We get deeper into the heads and hearts of the characters while trying to make sense of all the clues.
It’s refreshing to see a couple portrayed so realistically. Sage and Niko are happily married, but the marriage isn’t new. Sure, the love is there. But they’re at the taking-for-granted stage, and that carelessness is one of the primary reasons the murderer is able to infiltrate their lives and wreak such havoc. Watching the characters accept their failings and move past their problems, back to the acknowledgment of that love, is possibly the strongest factor in solving the mystery. It also provides a pleasing and satisfying character arc for each of them.
Add to that drama the trials of one big secondary character, and the story takes on multiple layers of meaning and possibilities. The plots entwine in unsuspected ways, the character takes on a layer of complexity I didn’t think she had, and the decisions made are shocking. Seeing how this plays out in subsequent stories already has me waiting for the next installment.
Coletta has succeeded in weaving strange and original clues into a complex and compelling thriller that kept me frantically turning the pages even as I looked over my shoulder and jumped at noises that probably weren’t even there. This is a frightening thriller that keeps you guessing… and keeps you up at night.
Highly recommended.
May 3, 2017
This second book in the Grafton County series re-introduces you to best-selling author Sage Quintano, her husband Niko, Grafton County Sheriff, and to their son Noah.
With Cleaved, Sue Coletta has created another extraordinary and fast-paced thriller about a woman who once again is confronted with a serial killer - also in her own home. What do the cards and the 'Mommy' messages mean?! The story comprises a variety of interesting characters with sufficient depth and cleverly elaborated and fast-paced interactions. Be prepared to accompany Niko and his team to some grisly crime scenes; even if the descriptions are not too stretched, you clearly see that Sue Coletta is serious about her research. I had a thrilling time reading Cleaved – it is a very compelling read; it takes you close to Sage, Niko and his partner Frankie, and to 'the kids'. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to the protagonists. Sage, Niko and Frankie are complex characters, realistic in their ways of thinking and their actions.
This is for you if you like thrillers on serial killers, psychology, likeable and interesting characters, authors who did their homework (well-researched topics), do not shy away from gory scenes.
A very compelling read.
Highly recommended!
With Cleaved, Sue Coletta has created another extraordinary and fast-paced thriller about a woman who once again is confronted with a serial killer - also in her own home. What do the cards and the 'Mommy' messages mean?! The story comprises a variety of interesting characters with sufficient depth and cleverly elaborated and fast-paced interactions. Be prepared to accompany Niko and his team to some grisly crime scenes; even if the descriptions are not too stretched, you clearly see that Sue Coletta is serious about her research. I had a thrilling time reading Cleaved – it is a very compelling read; it takes you close to Sage, Niko and his partner Frankie, and to 'the kids'. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to the protagonists. Sage, Niko and Frankie are complex characters, realistic in their ways of thinking and their actions.
This is for you if you like thrillers on serial killers, psychology, likeable and interesting characters, authors who did their homework (well-researched topics), do not shy away from gory scenes.
A very compelling read.
Highly recommended!
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