Les nouveaux voisins

by Catherine McKenzie

Julie Prentice, son mari Daniel et leurs jumeaux de six ans déménagent à Cincinnati pour échapper à une femme qui harcèle Julie depuis la parution de son roman Le Jeu de l’assassin, devenu un best-seller. Le charmant quartier de Mount Adams semble l’endroit parfait pour un nouveau départ.
Mais l’intégration dans cette nouvelle ville n’est pas si facile, et Julie fait rapidement face à une certaine hostilité de la part de ses voisins, notamment Cindy Sutton, la présidente de l’association du quartier. Quoi que Julie fasse, ça ne fait qu’empirer la situation. Heureusement qu’elle peut compter sur John Dunbar, qui vit à côté, et avec qui elle se lie très vite d’amitié. Mais elle est loin d’imaginer qu’une banale conversation avec lui va faire éclater sa vie en morceaux.
Julie et sa famille deviennent bientôt la cible de brimades de plus en plus troublantes et le bonheur apparent de Mount Adams se transforme en cauchemar. La harceleuse de Julie l’a-t-elle retrouvée, ou est-ce que ce sont ses voisins qui lui veulent du mal ? Alors que les tensions grandissent au sein du voisinage, les ennemis se révèlent et les répercussions pourraient être mortelles.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook, Adult

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill in History and Law, Catherine practiced law in Montreal for twenty years before retiring to write full time. An avid runner and skier, she's the author of numerous bestsellers including HIDDEN, FRACTURED, THE and the GOOD LIAR. I'LL NEVER TELL was a #1 Amazon Bestseller, a Globe & Mail and Toronto Star Bestseller, shortlisted for the Hugh McLennan Prize for Fiction.

On April 30, 2024 Catherine will publish the first in a new funny mystery series named EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES as Catherine Mack.

Reviews

[Catherine McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Everyone! This is my new book, coming out in October! I am so excited for you to read it and hope that you help spread the word about it by adding it to your to-read shelf!

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done Catherine; I'm convinced this is your best book yet! I had a fantastic time reading this story; the book is written in such an easy, readable manner, yet the story is a complex web of suspense, emotion, and deceit. The amount of effort behind such a flawless execution must have been immensely time consuming and brain melting; however, anyone who follows McKenzie knows how insanely brilliant and talented she is, resulting in pulling off a book that few could accomplish. Fractured is one of those books that doesn't easily fit in one genre; yes it is a mysterious and suspenseful tale to boot, but it is equal parts domestic fiction brimming with emotion and appeal to all genders.

The mystery aspect had me completely fooled. I thought I knew where it was going and that I had it figured out but I was wrong. There's no greater pleasure for me in reading a mystery than when I've been duped and this gave me those feelings galore. At last count I've read 214 books in 2016, and I'd say about 70% of those would fall in the mystery/thriller/suspense category. This is in the maybe 10% that I didn't have figured out before the big reveal. I think this alone proves that McKenzie is a seasoned writer who knows how to fool her readers, even those who are proficient in the genre and become wary of books claiming to give the reader a good twist but utterly disappoint in the end.

I also really enjoyed the layers and depth the author gave to her characters. The sole focus of the book isn't on any one aspect, so for me I found reading about the personal, dramatic relationships between characters just as enjoyable as the suspenseful scenes revolving around the mystery. My only complaint (and one only based on personal tastes, not quality of writing) was that I felt a few sections could have been shaved down a bit. If the page count had been lowered by 30-40 pages, I think this would have been a full 5 star read for me. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to mystery and fiction lovers alike. This is a rare instance where you find a compelling mystery and fleshed out characters in one book! I find it rare that a writer doesn't sacrifice one or the other in their tales, but Catherine has managed to include both, making this one of my favorite winter reads. Get your hands on this one; you don't want to miss out! As if she wasn't enough of a winner, the author has also published a companion novel as mentioned in the details above from the perspective of her main character Julie; this book is "the book" discussed in Fractured and I can't wait to pick it up as well to complete my reading experience!

*I'd like to thank the author and publisher for my copy; it was a pleasure to provide an honest review in return.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Every time I pick up a new book, I’m hoping for an experience like this one. The clever plot, the mixed bag of characters and the frantic need for the truth, had me turning the pages at a rapid pace. It was exciting. Addicting. Unputdownable.

I loved the entire premise of the story. Julie, an author that's penned a popular bestseller, relocates with her family to a picturesque neighborhood in Cincinnati. Being in her head and seeing her writing process was so interesting to me. I always imagined that people who were meant to be writers could just sit down and let the words flow. It's nice to get a dose of reality - it isn't easy for anyone. Anyway, back to Julie. This is her chance to start over and crank out book number two. To leave behind the constant fear brought on by her very own stalker. Or is it?

When do you cross the line from curious to obsessed? From fan to fanatic? Compliment to threat?

What she doesn’t expect is to connect with the married man across the street. Or for her new neighbors to turn on her after a few mishaps. The neighborhood is rampant with gossip, ridiculous bylaws and nosiness. I would’ve packed up my family and gotten the heck out of there.

Close neighbors make good neighbors!

The way the author tells the story is engaging. She switches between the past and present, from the perspective of Julie to the husband from across the street, all while leading up to the major incident that essentially changes everything. Did something happen to Julie or was she responsible? Did her stalker track her down or was it someone living much closer? I had my theories, ideas about how things were going to play out, but I missed the mark. Which only made the story that much more enjoyable. I love when I'm wrong.

There are a ton of twists and turns and even a companion book. One I’m incredibly excited to read. “The Book” that Julie Apple wrote is actually a real book being released by Ms. McKenzie. What a clever idea.

*Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stayed up all night reading stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

This is my second stellar book by,Catherine McKenzie, she is fast becoming a favorite! This book sucked me in from the very beginning..... told from dual viewpoints... Julie a successful author who moved her family across the country to avoid a stalker.... and John the husband and father who lives across the street, who might be a little too interested..... it is also told from different time periods... from before the incident... and after the incident... the incident that changed everything... the incident that you don’t have any idea of what it is until very late in the book... did Julie get killed? Did Julie cause something to happen? Or did it have to do with somebody else? These are questions I asked myself throughout this book....

This book had such lively and well developed characters... in particular Julie, the author trying to get that second book written after the amazing success of her first novel.... the first book that was said to have been loosely based on real life events, but how close is reality and fiction? And now that Julie has moved across the country to escape her stalker has she just found herself in the middle of another nightmare? The nosiest neighborhood ever? Throughout this book there were exerts from the neighborhood newsletter that were downright hilarious and over-the-top! (Well they were hilarious if you didn’t live in that neighborhood)

So as I said this book sucked me in and I literally stayed up all night reading and then at about 85%...... when things started getting revealed, I was like did I miss something? This book was way too amazing to end like this.... I was expecting a firework show and I got a sparkler(Just one sparkler) that’s not to say I hated the ending... I was just expecting so much more.... it was a nice pleasant happy ending.... but I guess I didn’t want nice, pleasant,and happy.... I wanted fireworks!

I would absolutely recommend this book, it was a fabulous page turner, the ending just was a little lackluster... but the book as a whole was wonderful!

~~~ interesting note you can also read a copy of Julie’s first best-selling book Julie Apple
Brilliant right? Super excited to read this!

This was a Traveling Sister read and as always it was amazing reading with these girls! We all quickly turned those pages.... I believe we were all a little disappointed with the ending.... we also are planning on reading Julie’s book together😍

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you live on a street with rules and regulations? Pine Street in Cincinnati is run by one woman, Cindy Sutton, and it has become her own private fiefdom with many rules and regulations to follow. She constantly sends emails to all the neighbours on a regular basis with some serious guidelines to follow which seem to become more outrageous as time goes by. There are several other captivating main characters besides quirky Cindy. Fearing a stalker from her past, Julie Prentice has recently moved in with her husband Daniel and two children, unaware that the neighbour across the road, John Dunbar has taken a keen interest in her. He cautiously peeks out from the lacy curtains every morning waiting for Julie to start her early run so he can join her hoping his wife doesn’t catch on to what he’s up to. The plot builds slowly with each chapter creating tension with a splash of edginess thrown in. Fractured is guaranteed to provide a well rounded, riveting novel from beginning to end keeping the reader well entertained. Recommended!!

** Thank you to Publisher Lake Union and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. **

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not have lasted in this neighborhood for more than two weeks. As soon as I received that patronizing and bossy welcome wagon letter, I would have been planning to move. Julie and her family have moved here to escape a stalker, an ex college acquaintance that has latched on after the success of Julie's first novel, The Murder Game. So the drama begins, a control freak block president, a hypersensitive neighbor whose husband has more than a passing interesting in Julie and two young people starting their own contentious relationship.

This book and I were not a good fit, it is definitely well written, and I did keep reading, wanting to find out what happened, but even that was a bit anti climatic. For me this book was like an adult soap opera, a Desperate Housewives kind of thing. An easy read but one I found not terribly interesting.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say about this book Yes it was a page turner, Yes I finished it BUT for me this was a bit all over the place in the beginning. It was told in 2 points of view John & Julie it took me a while to work out what was going on as everything was fractured ( pardon the pun) I didn't like any of the characters, felt like when Julie, Cindy & Susan were in the dialogue I felt a cat fight was about to start they all were flawed & had too many issues for me it made me think PEOPLE WHY DON"T YOU GET A LIFE!! just thought the plot was too easy to work out & the ending was poor for me , I thought Cindy was an outright bitch to put it mildly but as I said this one really did not get my heart pumping just my pov that's it.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Catherine McKenzie Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.

WHERE IS THE SIXTH STAR OPTION?!

International bestselling author Catherine McKenzie presents readers with a stellar mystery that unfolds in a highly unconventional manner. Julie Prentice and her family arrive in a seemingly bucolic community tucked in the corner of Cincinnati, hoping to put their past behind them. Having fled Tacoma because of a stalker, the Prentices hope to hit the proverbial reset button on Pine Street. Greeted with a welcome basket and note from Cindy Sutton, the self-proclaimed Chair of the Pine Street Neighborhood Association. (PSNA), Julie and her family soon realise that this is not the laid-back row of houses with picket fences for which they were searching. As a full-time writer, Julie is home all day, alone while her husband and children attend work and school. In the early stages, her only social interactions are with John Dunbar, the neighbour with whom she runs early mornings. This fitness regimen soon blossoms into a friendship, where they can swap ideas and complain about the mind-numbing and fascist ways Chairperson Cindy seeks to regulate every aspect of the Pine Street community, down to pet walking and suggested curfews for those with children under 17 years of age. When John loses his job, he ends up spending more time at home, which offers Julie the chance for more time around her neighbour. An IT specialist, John soon notices some weakness in Julie's computer network and offers to assist. This seemingly innocent act sticks in the craw of the reader, who is fully aware of the stalker situation that has pushed the Prentices to Ohio. While she is proud of her first novel, The Murder Game, Julie is torn about admitting who she is to those around her, though her secret is soon revealed in one of the weekly PSNA e-newsletters. As John grows closer to Julie, the latter continues to make a bad impression on most of her neighbours, particularly Cindy and John's wife, Hanna. As the story unfolds, McKenzie takes the reader through an ever-advancing timeline, a twelve-month arc, where an event has occurred, vaguely defined but that is fleshed-out as the narrative advances; something so horrid that no one wishes to mention it other than to call it 'the accident' but that also requires legal intervention. As Julie alienates herself from the neighbours and must sever ties with John for reasons of marital stability, she finds herself feeling more isolated than ever before, which creates a feeling of instability and heightens her sense of vulnerability. This is exacerbated as new actions and events occur around her home. Has Julie's previous stalker returned, or are the neighbours trying to drive her off Pine Street? All this, and the elusive 'accident' to which McKenzie refers as she advances the plot, keeps the readers guessing until the last sentence. A well-crafted piece of fiction that will keep readers guessing, wondering, and hoping as the peaks and valleys of the non-linear plot develop.

This is the first novel of Catherine McKenzie's that I have read and I am kicking myself for waiting so long. When I received an advance copy of her next book (read on to see how it ties in), I thought I ought to begin here, laying the groundwork to better understand the author and her writing style. McKenzie shows that she is able to create wonderful characters, all of whom are believable and varied, which caters to the vast array of readers who will pick up this book. The plot is wonderfully paced and, while it advances over a year, it is peppered with flash-forwards to the present, which deal with a vague and somewhat opaque legal issue that has a number of the characters testifying before a grand jury. McKenzie uses the interesting technique not only of segmenting events in month-long chapters, but also by handing the narrative voice to a few key characters, Julie Prentice and John Dunbar. This allows the reader to feel a stronger connection to these protagonists, rather than a beige omnipresent narrator who can only present superficial thought processes. Of greatest interest is the novel for which Julie 'Apple' Prentice is so well-known. Its plot is hinted at throughout and the eventual dust jacket summary appears in an early chapter. Whether this is based on an event from Julie's time in law school remains unknown, though McKenzie does offer the backstory of a friend's death in Julie's student days. The Murder Game, this blockbuster story hinted at in this novel is the next published work that McKenzie will release in the coming weeks (and the book I mentioned above that NetGalley has offered me). So, while there will be little to resolve the cliffhangers or ideas that fall within this novel, The Murder Game might pave the way towards better understanding Julie Prentice and some of the characteristics she presents in this McKenzie novel. Why not read The Murder Game first, as it stands two years before the happenings of this novel? I thought I ought to check out all the hype and discover how lured in I would get, then see if I can create some 'aha!' moments for myself by reading the Apple novel. Bring on 'The Book' as Julie calls it, which I am sure will be stellar, as it is sure to hold McKenzie's powerful writing punch. I might, however, need a night to pick my jaw up from off the floor, as I remain amazed at how drawn I was to all aspects of this story.

Kudos, Madam McKenzie for this stellar piece of work. How have I not known about you for all these years? I won't lament it and be glad I did. Now then, The Murder Game awaits!

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for FRACTURED by Catherine McKenzie. This was definitely a page turner and extremely hard to put down.

The story was told by John and Julie in alternating past and present perspectives before and after the accident. Even though the storyline flipped back and forth it was not a difficult read and was easily followed. The anticipation and plot building was done very well by the author which had us guessing the mystery throughout the novel. I mostly loved all the characters that were introduced in John and Julie's voice as they were believable and relatable and I was really absorbed in each of their stories.

The way that the plot played out it was not easily detected until the story climaxed. I didn't really get a chance to guess as I was so entranced in the way the author was telling the story. I really enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more novels by Catherine McKenzie.

It was a fast-paced, quick, and easy read with a satisfying ending. Would recommend!!

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book disappointed me. I had high hopes while I was reading it. I did like the character development even though it was filled with unlikeable characters. The plot was good it kept on going to past to present which was confusing and also it had two different people telling the story. It didn't take long when I plunged into it that I got a better understanding of what was going on and I started turning the pages and I was so intrigued to find out what was happening only to find a very bad ending. It didn't seem to be creative. It just seemed like it was rushed. I did enjoy it but just didn't care for the ending.

Julie is an author trying to escape a stalker. Her and her family move to to Cincinnati. Julie finds that fitting into her neighborhood is more difficult than she thought and she really only gets along with her neighbor, John. It’s apparent right from the start that something awful has happened, but McKenzie kept me in suspense, turning the pages until the very end keeping me in the dark. I had to wait too long to find out what was going on and if it had a better ending it could of been a lot better book. I have to admit though it kept me intrigued. Overall I give it a 3.5 rating.

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fractured is a decent page turner. Julie Apple is an author who was being stalked by a reader of her first novel. She and her family move to a tight knit neighbourhood in Cincinnati where they hope to find some peace and get away from the stalker. But the neighbourhood has its own issues, and it turns out to be harder than expected for Julie to shake off her past. What makes this one a page turner is the structure. The story is told from the alternating points of view of Julie and her neighbour John. It also goes back and forth in time over a one year period, letting the reader know that something bad happens at the end, but exactly what that event is does not get revealed until the last few pages. It’s a tangled web that comes into focus at the end. This is not a book made up of likable characters; rather, the ground feels like it keeps shifting, and it’s never clear who can be trusted and whether anyone’s motivations are straightforward. I found that there was a bit too much thrown in at the end, but otherwise I was glad to let McKenzie take me along on this ride. This one seems less literary and more aimed at a mass market than McKenzie’s earlier books. But she pulls it off, and I would be happy to read her books in the future. In fact, it looks like Mckenzie has written another book -- The Murder Game -- to be published soon under the pseudonym Julie Apple which is meant to be the book that triggered Julie’s stalker. This seems a bit hokey, but has me curious enough to want to give it a try. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They say that if a butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazonian rain forest, it can change the weather half a world away. Chaos theory. What it means is that everything that happens in this moment is an accumulation of everything that’s come before it. Every breath. Every thought. There is no innocent action. Some actions end up having the force of a tempest. Their impact cannot be missed. Others are the blink of an eye. Passing by unnoticed. Perhaps only God knows which is which. All I know today is that you can think that what you’ve done is only the flap of a butterfly wing, when it’s really a thunderclap. And both can result in a hurricane."

This quote is the epitome of Catherine McKenzie's Fractured. Both big and small events occur in this story but the ten-second moment from weeks ago is the one that made the life-altering fracture in so many lives. Chaos theory.

Ms. McKenzie uses two POV's and alternating timeframes to allow the reader full engagement into multiple settings, characters, relationships, and even a neighborhood structure. Reminiscent of Liane Moriarty, Fractured is a genre blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and women's fiction, keeping readers guessing at how these several lives are eventually going to climactically intersect...and I wasn't disappointed. Check it out!

My favorite quote:
“Life is made up of turning points. Forks in the road. We make choices every day that take us down one path over another. The thing I’ve learned is, there generally aren’t any signposts along the way.”

Note: Fractured follows a novelist named Julie Apple, whose best-selling first book The Murder Game was loosely based on her own experience in law school. For curious readers who want to go deeper, Catherine McKenzie self-published The Murder Game under the pen name Julie Apple. Clever, huh?

[Arah-Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close Neighbors Make Good Neighbors

Julie (Apple) Prentice has written a best selling novel called The Murder Game.  Things should be wonderful for her and her family right now, but the reality is that Julie has a crazed stalker, one so determined to insert herself into Julie’s world that Julie and her family have picked up sticks in Tacoma and fled across the country to lay down roots in the beautiful Eden Park area, set on the slopes of Mount Adams in Cincinnati.

On behalf of the Pine Street Neighborhood Association, Julie and her family are welcomed to the Pine Street community by the Founder and Chair, one Cindy Sutton.  You are not going to believe this controlling, manipulative shrew of a woman and her ridiculous rules, or for that matter how the neighborhood responds to her and her outrageous rules.

Shortly after their arrival in Eden Park, Julie meets her next door neighbour from across the street, John Dunbar, an unemployed IT tech who like Julie likes to start his day off jogging.  It isn’t long before they are taking these early morning runs together.

Told in alternating chapters between past and present, from both John and Julie’s POV, Fractured is a compulsively readable tale both leading up to and immediately following a tragic event that occurred within their neighborhood.  We meet John’s wife and children as well as Julie’s husband ( a real sweetheart and my favourite character in the book) and their twins.  It doesn’t take long for the reader to realize that not all is at it seems here.  There is from the get go a sense of something murky and foreboding lurking in the background.  

As a reader I found myself riveted and rushing to get to the next chapter and uncover, perhaps, the next set of clues.  And my interest was not just confined to the tragic event that happened in Eden Park but also questions surrounding the mysterious and as yet unexplained death of Kathryn one of Julie’s  former friends and cohorts from her law school days.  What really happened that night?  How does a young woman who most assuredly drank too much, fall asleep and never wake up?  And more to the point, just how much does Julie really know?  Did she and her friends not develop a game focused on committing the perfect crime?  A game which Julie, by the way, subsequently used as the basis for her best selling novel!

This story held me spellbound from start to finish, questioning everything, including everybody's motives along the way. McKenzie manages the plot, the pace and the tension here with a deft hand, doling out just enough information to keep me firmly in her grip and obsessively turning the pages.

Believe it or not the author has a new book coming out in November called The Murder Game which is the same novel our protagonist Julie Apple wrote.  Now that is clever.  Sign me up!

Kudos Catherine McKenzie, this one gets a solid five stars from me!


My thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Netgalley and Catherine McKenzie for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie (Apple) Prentice's first novel, THE MURDER GAME, was a smashing success, but is it fact or truly fiction......

After publication, a terrorizing stalker forces the Prentice family to relocate, but OMGOSH take heed; some moves can be dangerous, and living in the Pine Street neighborhood will absolutely shock you with its absurd rules and regulations that change moment-to-moment according to the whims of Crazy Cindy, but entertain you throughout the entire novel.

FRACTURED is an intriguing mystery-thriller with creative plots and sub-plots weaving its way in a countdown of the last twelve months, chapter by alternating chapter, while keeping the reader guessing to its deadly conclusion. (no spoiler here)

Now a must read.....Catherine McKenzie's THE MURDER GAME.....coming November 1st!

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an impartial review!

[Mary Kubica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel extremely fortunate to have gotten a sneak peek at an early copy of FRACTURED. I'm a huge Catherine McKenzie fan, and this is without a doubt one of her best books yet. McKenzie does a phenomenal job weaving together the stories of Julie (a novelist who moves to Cincinnati with her family to escape a troubled past) and John (a neighbor who befriends Julie after her arrival) while creating an aura of conflict, mystery and romance in this story that unfolds in various time frames. There are so many puzzles to solve, and McKenzie is a master at laying meticulous clues. A must read!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRACTURED, a mystery and psychological thriller, was my first book by Catherine McKenzie, and it won’t be my last. This is a captivating mystery with fleshed out characters, even though I didn’t like any of the characters.

Julie Prentice, a bestselling author and her husband move across the country to the Cincinnati, to avoid a stalker that has been terrifying them since the publication of her bestselling novel, “The Murder Game.”

“Since Julie doesn’t know anyone in her new town, when she meets her neighbor John Dunbar, their instant connection brings measured hope for a new beginning. But she never imagines that a simple, benign conversation with him could set her life spinning so far off course.

After a series of misunderstandings, Julie and her family become the target of increasingly unsettling harassment. Has Julie’s stalker found her, or are her neighbors out to get her, too? As tension in the neighborhood rises, new friends turn into enemies, and the results are deadly.”

Julie and her husband just wanted peace, and a relaxed setting that would enable Julie to work on her second book, “The Murder Game”, that Julie Apple wrote is actually a real book being released by Ms. McKenzie.

But the neighborhood is not what it seems!

The story alternates point of view between Julie and John Dunbar, her next door neighbor. Julie never expected to connect with a married man! What was she thinking? And the neighbors are all noisy and two-faced full of juicy gossip ready to spread.

This well written novel was very hard to put down, as I wanted to find out what was going on and how it would end. I liked that I didn't guess the ending. Tidbits of information were released by the author on a need-to-know basis, increasing the tension and suspense.

I highly recommend Fractured to readers of mystery and psychological thrillers. I now plan to read the author’s published companion novel, ”The Murder Game”, from the perspective of her main character Julie.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC.

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the Cincinnati version of Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane! Julie, an author who wrote the book, The Murder Game, moves across the country with her husband to Cincinnati to escape the person stalking her since the book’s publication. She hopes to live quietly under the radar as she works on her next novel. Her first inkling that all is not as it seems is when Cindy, the neighborhood organizer (i.e. the busybody control freak), sends out the welcome letter (this is where I would have been packing my bags).

Even so, Julie makes an immediate connection with her neighbor John. Before long the street’s busybodies engage in speculation and gossip and soon Julie and her husband are the victims once again of harassment while she continues to be hounded by her stalker. Things spin out of control and tensions escalate. Has her stalker found her or is it someone in the neighborhood?

Also, the reader knows from the start that a devastating event occurs although we don’t know who, what, or how. From there the story is told in alternating chapters by Julie and John, switching from one year in the past to the present. The story unfolds with subtle hints and twists and turns leading up to the mysterious incident, keeping the reader guessing until all is revealed in the last few chapters.

I found this a fun, addictive read full of unlikable characters. I wasn't sure who to trust or believe, which always makes for a page-turning read. The multiple narrators of the audio version added to my enjoyment.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery writer is forced to move her family to Ohio to escape a stalker after she writes a bestseller. Something happens in the new neighborhood, but we, the readers, aren't privy to that info. The story is told from her perspective along with that of the neighbor across the street, John. It's also told from present day and one year before, when her family first moved in. It teases you, giving you clues piecemeal.

It seems this trick of multiple POV and multiple time periods must be the new hot idea. Or am I just picking books that contain both? Sometimes it works better than others. Here, it works.

I found the characters well developed and both sides sympathetic. The one character that grates is Cindy Sutton, the self appointed block leader. I kept hoping whatever nasty happened involved her.

Well written and fast paced, this book kept me riveted. It’s one of those books you find yourself trying to make time for just one more chapter.

My thanks to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this mystery.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Prentice, with family in tow, has moved from Tacoma, Washington to scenic Mount Adams near Cincinnati, Ohio. Julie, author of the bestseller, "The Murder Game", is relocating to escape the harassment of "stalker" Heather Stanhope, a former law school classmate. The idyllic new neighborhood is fraught with curiosities. Cindy Sutton, self-appointed neighborhood watch coordinator, makes and modifies the neighborhood rules and thereby sets off the many events that suddenly unfold.

Julie, unnerved by Heather, is in need of friendship. Someone has tried to access her account from an unusual IP address and location. Julie is depressive and has had bouts with alcohol. Is Julie the architect of her own difficulties?

John Dunbar lives across the street from Julie Prentice. John, having lost his IT job has time on his hands. He becomes Julie's morning running partner and computer expert. The magnetism between them sets off a series of tragic and unforeseen misfortunes.

Using a non-linear timeline and the voices of Julie and John we learn about "the accident" that occurs in the so-called "tightly knit" community of close neighbors. Assumptions about the Prentice family cloud the judgement of the residents. Is Julie's tome "The Murder Game" based upon her experiences? After all, shouldn't writers write about what they know?

"Fractured" by Catherine McKenzie is a suspenseful, page turning mystery with many twists. The story is told in alternating voices. The author, by contrasting the writing techniques of present day and flashback keeps the reader guessing. The ending is a surprise. McKenzie has released "The Murder Game", a companion book written under the pseudonym of Julie Apple, this novel's central character. I can't wait to read it! Kudos to Catherine McKenzie.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Fractured".

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

A bit too many things go wrong for the main protag for me to give this a full 4 star rating, but it's so close!

I enjoyed the writing style and there was a good message here that hit close to home for me: There is a fine line between friendships that can easily be crossed and lead into an emotional relationship. These types of relationships are just as harmful, if not more, than physical relationships outside of the marriage.
I think the author did a nice job of portraying just how innocently lines can get blurred, but felt the resolution of this could have been addressed better.

I'm a bit cool on the ending, but do give credit that the storylines were all resolved. I found I wanted more from all the main characters after the 'big event' happened. It all felt a bit rushed compared to the build up.

There is a lot of good here, so I do recommend for all mystery lovers. Told from 2 points of view, bouncing from past to present, it certainly kept me guessing as to what happens, and who was behind it.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, this one was a thrilling ride to say the least!

So much ambiguity, the reader is left with so many questions as to what has happened to the characters before these pages. With alternating timelines and characters POVs, it all gets very exciting. I loved the whole storyline and premise - the author is an excellent a storyteller.

I'm not sure, I may be in the minority here, but the ending fell flat for me. I can see how it would be appealing, however (and I say this time and time again) I fall into the trap of wanting twists or a major WOW! moment with my psychological thrillers and this one was relatively straightforward.

All in all a great read, I'm looking forward to the reading the main character's "book" - what a cool device - to write a book that was supposedly written by one of your characters. Brilliant!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review can also be found at
The Book Collective Blog

[Mary Carrasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fractured was a fantastic read. The author, Catherine McKenzie, gave little away until the very end. It certainly held my interest and kept me guessing throughout. It fell just just shy of five stars for me because I never felt fully connected to the characters and I was still left with a couple of questions, though the answers weren't necessary to complete the story. Overall, Fractured was enjoyable and I would recommend it.

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this an overall 4. First novel that I have read by Catherine and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!! She definitely knows how to catch the audience and kept me engaged the whole time.

I really enjoyed Julie and John's character and how you saw both viewpoints throughout the entire novel.

Catherine was pretty clever adding the Heather twist at the end to the overall story. I thought I had the ending pinned for sure and man haha I was totally wrong!

And what I REALLY loved is how Catherine actually published "The book". Very very clever!! Now, I definitely have to pick up a copy of The Murder Game.

I would definitely recommend this to read if you have not been able to!!! :)

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My actual rating is 3.5 stars for this novel. I just could not quite stretch to 4 stars and had to really have a bit of a think why. Which I will explain in my review. I was eager to read this book, I thought it had some real promise to it with the plot and potential to be a stunner. Whilst an enjoyable read that was not boring it did lack some pizzaz and key moments that could have elevated it to a 4/5 star read. Missed opportunities I would say.

An author moves to a new neighbourhood in a new town with her husband and two children. Escaping a slightly tarred past and looking for a fresh new beginning. It's not long before things begin to be a bit sour in the neighbourhood that sees everything and misses nothing (sounded like my worst nightmare of a place to live to be honest). The entire neighbourhood and street has a somewhat dysfunctional amount of interaction and "rules" - this is not the place to move to if you want to mind your own business and by anonymous.

Through an early decision a course is set that gradually unrolls into a set of really uncomfortable and eventually devastating consequences. It's one of those books that has a slightly apprehensive undercurrent and I was really expecting some shocking, stunning reveals or twists that took my breath away as it was all geared up for them. That's where it underwhelmed me - it wasn't like that at all for me. In fact the lead up to the ending was a let down considering the long build up to it.

In saying that however it has a lot of positives - the writing is easy to follow, the characters are well-done and I had many that I liked and many that I did not, I read the book quickly and was not bored or distracted or tempted to lay it to one side. The plot held me enough to keep going to the end and I had so hoped for a really big grand finale but well...it just didn't go there for me.

A likeable novel with a lot going for it but I wish the author had pushed out some more wow factor into the plot, the potential to insert that into it is there for the taking. However a book I would recommend and do think it will sit well with a lot of readers. I had just hoped it had offered me that bit more to stretch my rating.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review, many thanks.

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[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another story told in alternating chapters from now to 12 months ago with Julie and her neighbour John as the main characters. Something shocking has happened but we are kept in total suspense until almost the end of the book before we find out what actually did occur. Throughout the book I wondered which if these characters deserved our trust, some are likeable and some not so much. Overall an enjoyable read which kept me turning the pages until the end.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie, an author whose first book, "The Murder Game", has made her successful but has also attracted some unwelcome attention, relocates to a seemingly picturesque suburb in Cincinnati with her husband Daniel and young twins in order to get a fresh start. Unfortunately, she picks an area that takes Neighborhood Watch and community regulations to a whole new level. I kept wondering whether such neighborhoods really exist? I just could not imagine living in such an environment. But anyway, I'm digressing. So, Julie's fresh start soon turns into a bit of a nightmare. But is that simply due to her new neighbors or is there something "off" about Julie as well? How much is she to blame for everything that occurs?
From the start, the reader is aware that something tragic is going to happen, but Catherine McKenzie keeps the reader guessing to whom, how exactly and who is responsible. While I sometimes find this withholding of information quite annoying, it worked well here. The author did a great job of dropping the odd statement here and there that would make you wonder about different characters' intentions, secrets, and reliability.
The alternating first-person perspectives of Julie and John, the married guy from across the road whom Julie befriends, combined with the non-linear time frame worked surprisingly well, and although these two characters had their flaws, I really liked both of them. All the way through, I was trying to predict where the story was heading and even though I amended my theories several times, I was still way off the mark. I love it when that happens. I was getting rather grumpy over the last few days because I couldn't find enough time to read this. I really didn't want to put it down.
Well-written, with believable characters and an exciting and clever plot this was a very engaging domestic psychological suspense novel.
This was my first book by Catherine McKenzie, but I intend to catch up with her back catalog and am now looking forward to reading The Murder Game, the book that McKenzie's character Julie wrote about committing the perfect murder, and which will be released in November.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for my ARC via NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

[BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC requested through Netgalley, and kindly provided by Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

“And i knew we were broken.”

My initial thoughts after reading this book is - people can be so cruel. Throughout this story, the two main characters, who alternate points of view, blamed the outcome on mistakes that they made but I, as an outsider, formed a different opinion. I held the entire community responsible, based on their “mob-like” mentality when it came to a newcomer not fitting into their mold.

Fractured tells the story of Julie Prentice, new to a close knit neighbourhood in suburbia. She and her family had moved to escape a stalker. As the story began, introducing Julie’s neighbour John Dunbar, I had an inkling of where it was headed. As each chapter passed the how's and whys were slowly filled in and I knew something dark had happened, though I admit to being surprised that I hadn’t correctly figured it all out.

Shortly after Julie and her family moved in, paranoia rose in Julie. Her neighbours started ganging up on her in ways I felt were quite unfair and Julie started to doubt everything. Even though half of the story was told from Julie’s point of view, Catherine McKenzie left us in doubt as to what was real and what was not in such a clever way, by having Julie doubt herself. After all, it seemed unlikely that so many people could turn on her for no apparent reason, similar to when her book, “The Murder Game” came out. But as I mentioned, people can be so cruel and being different is often unforgivable to some.

“My daughter’s upset and i’m taking her home. You want to play detective to a bunch of unreliable witnesses, you go right ahead.”

The mystery did sometimes get in my way while reading this story. I often had to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the story - I was so anxious to see what was going to happen next. It was a real push/pull for me. Julie and John’s growing attachment had warning bells going off in my head all while the story crept towards revealing what the aftermath would bring. I didn’t want to put the book down. I’m being purposely vague so as not to spoil it for those who have not read the story yet.

Fantastic storytelling by one of my favourite go-to authors!

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars



I don't know. I enjoyed it, but I felt like it didn't reach its full potential. The first half was confusing and slow, I wasn't sure where the author was going with it. The second half was better but kind of weird, full of irrelevant and implausible details. The ending felt kind of flat, too.

[Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I.Loved.This.Book! It got me all confused, so I'd think I knew who did what, but I was wrong. And I really enjoyed that. Not knowing the truth until the author gave the right clues.

Julie Prentice and her family move across the country to the idyllic Mount Adams district of Cincinnati, hoping to evade the stalker who’s been terrorizing them ever since the publication of her bestselling novel, The Murder Game. Since Julie doesn’t know anyone in her new town, when she meets her neighbor John Dunbar, their instant connection brings measured hope for a new beginning. But she never imagines that a simple, benign conversation with him could set her life spinning so far off course.

After a series of misunderstandings, Julie and her family become the target of increasingly unsettling harassment. Has Julie’s stalker found her, or are her neighbors out to get her, too? As tension in the neighborhood rises, new friends turn into enemies, and the results are deadly.

The story is told from both Julie's and John's POVs, and it takes place in both the present and the past. The past is actually a countdown from a year ago. And it is clear right away that something very bad happened. As we read more, we find out that somebody died, and that the Dunbars (or at least one of them) are (is) responsible. So the mystery of the victim and what happens begins. Only this is not the only mystery. There is another one as we keep wondering ourselves what really happened to the victim in The Murder Game. Was she really killed? Did Julie kill her and write about it as fiction afterward? Lord Ruler, did I love not knowing and wondering.

And I loved Julie. She's a 42 years old woman with a husband and a pair of twins. She became famous two years prior to the events in Fractured, and was stalked for it. Julie also suffers from depression and has mild issues with alcohol. As a person who's been acquainted with depression for more than three years now, I could relate to her and her problems. And I can tell you Catherine McKenzie does an excellent job at portraying Julie's struggles. The sadness and numbness, both at the same time. The tears that come at the most inappropriate moments. I know them all too well.
I also like her husband, Daniel. He's very supportive of her, and I have my very own Daniel at home.

As for John, he's also a good person. He's a husband and a father of two teenagers. He recognizes Julie as he's read The Murder Game. Throughout the book he's supportive of Julie, which makes his wife, Hanna, angry. It is true that he feels attracted to his neighbor, but their relationship is exaggerated by the gossip in the neighborhood.

Which brings me to Cindy, the self-proclaimed leader of the neighborhood. She represents everything I hate in a woman: meanness, hypocrisy and nosiness. Most of the characters in the book support her and say that she has a good heart, but I fail to see that. She dislikes Julie almost immediately and does her best to shun her. Julie is eventually avenged, but it's bittersweet.

I loved the writing style. It flows beautifully, and you just have to read one more chapter. Then one more. And so on until you discover you finished the book.

And you know what the best part is? Julie's book, The Murder Game, actually exists. That's just so clever of McKenzie.

Bottom line is you need to read Fractured and see for yourself what it's all about.



*I thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine McKenzie for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
“Fractured” is the newest novel by author Catherine McKenzie, one of my favourite Canadian writers. In this novel, an accident happens on a quiet street in the middle of the day, and it leads all the residents to accuse each other and point fingers, blaming others and themselves. The story is not told in order, but in fact it jumps around, from right before the accident, to right after, and back again. I normally do not enjoy this kind of storytelling, but with this novel, it helps build the anticipation and adds to the plot in a pleasant way. McKenzie also adds to the intrigue and mystery by not revealing who the victim of the accident is until the very end, leaving readers guessing throughout the novel.
McKenzie’s characters are genuine and (for the most part) likable and relatable (those that aren’t likable, are designed to be that way). Above all else, they are human and sincere, and this is part of what makes the novel great. The plot is plausible- on any neighbourhood, in any city, these events could believably occur—and the dysfunction of the characters add to the honesty.
I am always pleased to read any of McKenzie’s novels, and I was happy to receive this one through NetGalley. This novel sticks with you and a reader will definitely hold a personal connection with at least one of the characters. This is a genuine, believable and honest tale that has the added bonus of being extremely readable.