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DC Charlotte Stafford #4
Broken Dolls
The all NEW heart-stopping, un-put-downable serial killer thriller from the bestselling author of Mummy's Favourite. Perfect for the fans of Angela Marsons.
A baby lies abandoned amongst the rubbish; her tiny face as white as alabaster, her body as stiff as a miniature doll.
A young prostitute lies beaten, her figure lying like a mannequin on the frozen concrete, her blood spilt, her life ebbing away.
As DC 'Charlie' Stafford and her boss DI Hunter struggle to identify the victim from the violator their hunt brings them to the crack houses of Lambeth, littered with damaged people, their lives scarred by tragedy and violence, most broken beyond repair.
As further lives hang in the balance Charlie must enpower the weak to speak out against those who seek to cause harm.
But can a broken doll ever truly be mended; or will the wounds of the past, fashion the events of the future?
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2018
126 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Flint
13 books93 followersWith a Metropolitan Police career spanning 35 years Sarah has spent her adulthood surrounded by victims, criminals and police officers. She continues to work and lives in London with her partner and has three older daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 13, 2018
4☆ A Gripping Crime Thriller
Broken Dolls is a crime thriller that left an impression.
Broken Dolls is the 4th book in the series, but my first book.
It was fine reading as a standalone.
The story opens with a young girl who we assume is a prostitute giving birth.
I assume it's her pimp takes the premature baby from her and ties it in a bag like it's rubbish. It made me so angry I was furious to think he disregarded both mother and baby like they was nothing.
The young girl is heartbroken as he refuses to let her see the baby.
He later dumps it behind a dumpster..
DC Charlie Stafford and her team are called to the dumpster where they find the baby.
They now are in a mad rush to find the young mum as they believe she could be in serious danger with her health!
But can they find her before it's too late?
Broken Dolls contains some sensitive subjects such as sex trade, violence, drugs, trafficking, that some readers may find difficult.
However Flint handles them with the right amount of sensitivity to still make an impact.
This is a hard hitting pacy read that draws the reader in. I really liked the police procedural and think it read as authentic.
The characters are well developed, many I really disliked but they wasn't meant to be likeable.
This is my first meeting with DC Stafford and I thought she was strong, not afraid to show her feelings especially when faced with horrific findings of a premature baby.
There are two story lines running side by side which could get confusing so you need time to read this one to appreciate the links.
I am surprised that I haven't read any of the previous books. So I am definitely going to look into getting them.
If you enjoy crime thrillers that are pacy and gripping, then you will want to give Broken Dolls a read!
Thank you to Aria books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Broken Dolls is a crime thriller that left an impression.
Broken Dolls is the 4th book in the series, but my first book.
It was fine reading as a standalone.
The story opens with a young girl who we assume is a prostitute giving birth.
I assume it's her pimp takes the premature baby from her and ties it in a bag like it's rubbish. It made me so angry I was furious to think he disregarded both mother and baby like they was nothing.
The young girl is heartbroken as he refuses to let her see the baby.
He later dumps it behind a dumpster..
DC Charlie Stafford and her team are called to the dumpster where they find the baby.
They now are in a mad rush to find the young mum as they believe she could be in serious danger with her health!
But can they find her before it's too late?
Broken Dolls contains some sensitive subjects such as sex trade, violence, drugs, trafficking, that some readers may find difficult.
However Flint handles them with the right amount of sensitivity to still make an impact.
This is a hard hitting pacy read that draws the reader in. I really liked the police procedural and think it read as authentic.
The characters are well developed, many I really disliked but they wasn't meant to be likeable.
This is my first meeting with DC Stafford and I thought she was strong, not afraid to show her feelings especially when faced with horrific findings of a premature baby.
There are two story lines running side by side which could get confusing so you need time to read this one to appreciate the links.
I am surprised that I haven't read any of the previous books. So I am definitely going to look into getting them.
If you enjoy crime thrillers that are pacy and gripping, then you will want to give Broken Dolls a read!
Thank you to Aria books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
September 15, 2019
Another great book in this awesome series.
I finally got to this one.
This is cringeworthy in the aspect it’s upsetting.
It looks like a prostitute has given birth and her pimp is disposing of the baby. Horrendous and upsetting. She’s not allowed to see her child and he dumps it in a dumpster.
The Police are called and DC Charlotte is now worried. They need to move fast and find the mother.
I can’t imagine the emotions in finding a dead premature baby. And Charlotte shows her emotions which was real.
There’s violence, trafficking etc in this book that doesn’t make for an easy read, but a compulsive read for sure.
I finally got to this one.
This is cringeworthy in the aspect it’s upsetting.
It looks like a prostitute has given birth and her pimp is disposing of the baby. Horrendous and upsetting. She’s not allowed to see her child and he dumps it in a dumpster.
The Police are called and DC Charlotte is now worried. They need to move fast and find the mother.
I can’t imagine the emotions in finding a dead premature baby. And Charlotte shows her emotions which was real.
There’s violence, trafficking etc in this book that doesn’t make for an easy read, but a compulsive read for sure.
August 5, 2018
'Broken Dolls' is the fourth book in the bestselling DC Charlotte 'Charlie' Stafford crime series, and begins with the discovery of the body of a premature baby who has been cruelly abandoned in a dumpster and sadly is long gone. Running parallel to this storyline is a second murder, this time of a local prostitute who appears to have endured a terrible beating at the hands of a merciless killer before expiring. In time, these two storylines converge and what at first seemed like two separate crimes with nothing in common are shown to be related.
I appreciated the two different storylines as you don't see this too often in crime fiction so kudos to Flint for managing to inject some extra plot without being tempted to go overboard with characters and unnecessarily intricate details, the writing was readable and easy-to-follow, and the pace was judged well. The author explores several sensitive subjects - human trafficking, prostitution, drug-taking, violence and murder - with tact and has you questioning whether there is any truth to the storyline - perhaps Flint witnessed these sorts of events herself having had a 35 year career in the Metropolitan police service where she spent time working in pro-active roles dealing with serious violent crime and the victims and perpetrators of such violence. She has said in the past that her books are based in the areas in which she worked and I feel they are particularly gritty and authentic as a result.
There is always the worry with a series you particularly enjoy that the next book will be a disappointment but I can honestly say that Flint has surpassed my increasingly high expectations as well as the standard of the last book. This can definitely be read as a standalone novel but as with all series, it's more beneficial to start at the beginning as you get to see from the start how the characters develop and evolve over time. I can see many crime buffs thoroughly devouring it!
Many thanks to Aria for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I appreciated the two different storylines as you don't see this too often in crime fiction so kudos to Flint for managing to inject some extra plot without being tempted to go overboard with characters and unnecessarily intricate details, the writing was readable and easy-to-follow, and the pace was judged well. The author explores several sensitive subjects - human trafficking, prostitution, drug-taking, violence and murder - with tact and has you questioning whether there is any truth to the storyline - perhaps Flint witnessed these sorts of events herself having had a 35 year career in the Metropolitan police service where she spent time working in pro-active roles dealing with serious violent crime and the victims and perpetrators of such violence. She has said in the past that her books are based in the areas in which she worked and I feel they are particularly gritty and authentic as a result.
There is always the worry with a series you particularly enjoy that the next book will be a disappointment but I can honestly say that Flint has surpassed my increasingly high expectations as well as the standard of the last book. This can definitely be read as a standalone novel but as with all series, it's more beneficial to start at the beginning as you get to see from the start how the characters develop and evolve over time. I can see many crime buffs thoroughly devouring it!
Many thanks to Aria for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
July 12, 2018
4 stars
The Broken Dolls is the 4th book in the DC Charlie Stafford crime series set in London. A dead body of a newborn baby is found in a dumpster, a local prostitute has been murdered and a Russian with unknown identity is suspicious of human trafficking. No wonder Charlie and her team have full hands investigating the crimes and trying to connect the dots.
The main theme of the book is sex trade which is depicted in quite a detail with many scenes of violence and brutality. I did not find the scenes disturbing, quite the opposite, they felt authentic to me and had me glued to the book. The same can be said about the crime investigation which comes as no surprise as the author is a former police officer, and it shows! The ending caught me totally off guard as I was sure I had it all figured out, but I was very wrong, Ms Flint saved the best for last.
Perhaps the one thing I missed in the book was more of DC Stafford's personal life story. We learn very little about her, which is a shame as she seems to be an interesting character. However, this is probably my own fault as I am yet to read the first three books in the series.
Overall, very enjoyable read, would highly recommend to fans of Robert Bryndza.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.
The Broken Dolls is the 4th book in the DC Charlie Stafford crime series set in London. A dead body of a newborn baby is found in a dumpster, a local prostitute has been murdered and a Russian with unknown identity is suspicious of human trafficking. No wonder Charlie and her team have full hands investigating the crimes and trying to connect the dots.
The main theme of the book is sex trade which is depicted in quite a detail with many scenes of violence and brutality. I did not find the scenes disturbing, quite the opposite, they felt authentic to me and had me glued to the book. The same can be said about the crime investigation which comes as no surprise as the author is a former police officer, and it shows! The ending caught me totally off guard as I was sure I had it all figured out, but I was very wrong, Ms Flint saved the best for last.
Perhaps the one thing I missed in the book was more of DC Stafford's personal life story. We learn very little about her, which is a shame as she seems to be an interesting character. However, this is probably my own fault as I am yet to read the first three books in the series.
Overall, very enjoyable read, would highly recommend to fans of Robert Bryndza.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.
January 1, 2020
Not my favourite book of the series. In fact I really enjoyed the first three. In this one, actually read the blurb, I think I've read too many people trafficking stories lately, they're all pretty much blending into each other. There was nothing new or unique in this book. I also thought the author went to very zealous lengths to ensure we thought Charlie Stafford was a good sort, so she she came across as almost too good to be true and too saccharine (almost oversell). Nevertheless, I will continue, hoping that the next case for the team will be something completely different.
June 27, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Aria for this arc.
From the publisher's description, I thought this sounded like it was right up my alley and couldn't wait to read it. It delivered less than I'd hoped for. There were actually two main story lines all mixed together, so that slowed down my reading -- trying to keep the different criminals and victims straight in my head. Which might not have been such a problem, but there were too many characters for me to also try to keep straight. Also, there was a lot of verbiage setting the scenes/moods that I found slowed down the pacing of the story. Overall, not an awful book, but I did find Charlie and Anna's "maternal instincts" to be kind of cloying about halfway through..
2.5 stars
From the publisher's description, I thought this sounded like it was right up my alley and couldn't wait to read it. It delivered less than I'd hoped for. There were actually two main story lines all mixed together, so that slowed down my reading -- trying to keep the different criminals and victims straight in my head. Which might not have been such a problem, but there were too many characters for me to also try to keep straight. Also, there was a lot of verbiage setting the scenes/moods that I found slowed down the pacing of the story. Overall, not an awful book, but I did find Charlie and Anna's "maternal instincts" to be kind of cloying about halfway through..
2.5 stars
August 9, 2018
Broken Dolls by Sarah Flint is book 4 in the DC Charlie Stafford series. I have loved the previous 3 books in this series but this one just wasn't for me. I have read a lot of great reviews of this book from people who loved it but I really did struggle with it. It is a very dark read but that did not bother me, it just seemed to drag on a bit too long and I could not get into it.
This time Charlie and DI Hunter are involved in a case when a premmie baby is found discarded in the rubbish bin. A few days later a prostitute is found beaten to death. They become caught up in the world of prostitution, murder and drugs to try to find the killer.
Thank you to Aria and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
This time Charlie and DI Hunter are involved in a case when a premmie baby is found discarded in the rubbish bin. A few days later a prostitute is found beaten to death. They become caught up in the world of prostitution, murder and drugs to try to find the killer.
Thank you to Aria and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
August 9, 2018
This is book four in the DC Charlotte Stafford series. This can be read as a stand-alone but I do recommend you read in order to get the most from the series.
DC Charlie Stafford is busy with two investigations- a dead prostitute and a dead baby. She needs to find out the cause of the murders and if they are connected. The subject isn’t an easy subject but one that needs to be written and read about.
Great praise to the author for a well written story with a clever plot. I was pretty much gripped from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
DC Charlie Stafford is busy with two investigations- a dead prostitute and a dead baby. She needs to find out the cause of the murders and if they are connected. The subject isn’t an easy subject but one that needs to be written and read about.
Great praise to the author for a well written story with a clever plot. I was pretty much gripped from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
August 26, 2022
Reading a book by this author has never been disappointing. This latest read is as good if not better than Silent Child. I was hooked from the first to the last page, once again this book goes straight to the jugular. It is bloody, gory and the premise is dark. Child prostitution, human trafficking and murder. I devoured this book in one sitting and the ending blew me away and was definitely not what I was expecting. Another hit from one of my favourite authors.
July 2, 2018
Sarah Flint, you got me good on this one with the climax. I really thought I knew the ending.
After reading the three previous books in the Charlotte Stafford series, I really couldn't wait to get my teeth into Broken Dolls and it certainly did not disappoint. It has everything to get your heart racing. I would highly recommend it.
After reading the three previous books in the Charlotte Stafford series, I really couldn't wait to get my teeth into Broken Dolls and it certainly did not disappoint. It has everything to get your heart racing. I would highly recommend it.
August 2, 2018
Sarah Flint’s latest instalment to her Charlie Stafford series is a fascinating crime novel that raises questions about human trafficking and prostitution in the current climate of human misery that is on the increase in London. The story asks a lot of issues within its fictionalised setting and with Flint’s eye for making stories personal and exciting, she rarely drops the ball.
The story starts out with a horrendous murder involving a force delivery but as the novel unfolds we find ourselves involved with two investigations and multiple storylines that follow along the same themes but via different avenues. The characters are three dimensional and the grit and dirt can be felt through the descriptive text.
At times, the story sometimes does get bogged down with a descriptive narrative dealing with the mundane but in fact, this gives it a more realistic approach. It does highlight that detective work is very tedious and Flint does marvel in the aspect of this. As a side note, when I read this, I wasn’t aware that this was part of a series and as I have no point of reference, if this theme follows through, it maybe quite tiresome. As I am new to the series, I rather enjoyed this part of the novel as it gave the struggles and tribulations of detective work a realism that doesn’t seem forced.
The novel is packed with a lot of undesirables which considering the subject matter is not surprising. Flint has taken this and was able to find some rewards when drawing out her characters which are very successful. This can be a difficult for the average author but she raises to the occasion and provides the reader enough human empathy to make us care.
The final third of the novel has an ending that is highly surprising and it does work for the most part. There does seem to be an open ended aspect that could lead to another instalment. It did keep me interested though the mechanics for me, questioned plausibility slightly.
Overall, this is an excellent crime modern crime thriller that deals with a tough subject and the novel does handle the difficult subject matter very well. Well written, in-depth page turner that sparked my interest in the themes found throughout. This is an exciting read that most readers of this genre will thoroughly enjoy.
The story starts out with a horrendous murder involving a force delivery but as the novel unfolds we find ourselves involved with two investigations and multiple storylines that follow along the same themes but via different avenues. The characters are three dimensional and the grit and dirt can be felt through the descriptive text.
At times, the story sometimes does get bogged down with a descriptive narrative dealing with the mundane but in fact, this gives it a more realistic approach. It does highlight that detective work is very tedious and Flint does marvel in the aspect of this. As a side note, when I read this, I wasn’t aware that this was part of a series and as I have no point of reference, if this theme follows through, it maybe quite tiresome. As I am new to the series, I rather enjoyed this part of the novel as it gave the struggles and tribulations of detective work a realism that doesn’t seem forced.
The novel is packed with a lot of undesirables which considering the subject matter is not surprising. Flint has taken this and was able to find some rewards when drawing out her characters which are very successful. This can be a difficult for the average author but she raises to the occasion and provides the reader enough human empathy to make us care.
The final third of the novel has an ending that is highly surprising and it does work for the most part. There does seem to be an open ended aspect that could lead to another instalment. It did keep me interested though the mechanics for me, questioned plausibility slightly.
Overall, this is an excellent crime modern crime thriller that deals with a tough subject and the novel does handle the difficult subject matter very well. Well written, in-depth page turner that sparked my interest in the themes found throughout. This is an exciting read that most readers of this genre will thoroughly enjoy.
June 2, 2019
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an eARC of this novel to read and share my review.
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I have read previous novels by Sarah Flint and character DC Charlie Stafford is one bad ass character. I love how she fights for what she believes in, is a hard worker, dedicated to her job and will do whatever it takes to find justice. She is a very likable character, and a strong, powerful female.
I enjoyed the edginess in this novel and the twists and turns it took as we explore the daily lives of some of the women in this novel who are living in crack houses. They are victims of abuse, both sexual and physical, as well as emotional and are “broken” and have nowhere or no one to turn to for help. They are true victims and it is heartbreaking to hear their story and how they live from day to day and survive in their world as they know it. I found myself flipping through the pages to uncover more of the story and to see if true justice would be found and what would become of the victims as well as the ones committing these heinous crimes.
A truly gripping novel that will have you hooked until the very end.
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an eARC of this novel to read and share my review.
....
I have read previous novels by Sarah Flint and character DC Charlie Stafford is one bad ass character. I love how she fights for what she believes in, is a hard worker, dedicated to her job and will do whatever it takes to find justice. She is a very likable character, and a strong, powerful female.
I enjoyed the edginess in this novel and the twists and turns it took as we explore the daily lives of some of the women in this novel who are living in crack houses. They are victims of abuse, both sexual and physical, as well as emotional and are “broken” and have nowhere or no one to turn to for help. They are true victims and it is heartbreaking to hear their story and how they live from day to day and survive in their world as they know it. I found myself flipping through the pages to uncover more of the story and to see if true justice would be found and what would become of the victims as well as the ones committing these heinous crimes.
A truly gripping novel that will have you hooked until the very end.
January 31, 2021
Brilliant could not stop reading, another great story from the Charlie Stafford series, Can't wait to read the last instalment!
July 26, 2018
DNF.
I tried, I really did, but I just could not finish this book. I want to be as honest as I can be with my review so that it's fair and I am grateful for the chance to read an advance copy via Net Galley, but I couldn't get past the first 15%.
I struggled with the writing, it felt...basic. Also the description of prostitutes and the violence directed towards them didn't sit right with me.
The blurb of this book gripped me, I was in, I wanted to read it all in one go, but unfortunately actually making my way through the book brought different results.
When crime and murder books are done well, they are magnificent, but they can so easily be cheesy or a cliche, and unfortunately, for me, this one was the latter.
I wish the author well with this though, as there are clearly so many people enjoying this book.
I tried, I really did, but I just could not finish this book. I want to be as honest as I can be with my review so that it's fair and I am grateful for the chance to read an advance copy via Net Galley, but I couldn't get past the first 15%.
I struggled with the writing, it felt...basic. Also the description of prostitutes and the violence directed towards them didn't sit right with me.
The blurb of this book gripped me, I was in, I wanted to read it all in one go, but unfortunately actually making my way through the book brought different results.
When crime and murder books are done well, they are magnificent, but they can so easily be cheesy or a cliche, and unfortunately, for me, this one was the latter.
I wish the author well with this though, as there are clearly so many people enjoying this book.
July 4, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for an advance copy of Broken Dolls, the fourth novel to feature DC Charlie Stafford of the Met.
When the body of a premature baby is found dead in a heap of rubbish Charlie and the team are called in to try and find its mother but what they surmise is shocking. Unfortunately this is not their only case when shortly after they have to investigate the brutal murder of a young prostitute known as Redz.
I thoroughly enjoyed Broken Dolls which is a cleverly plotted novel with some good twists and an ending I didn't see coming. The subject matter and setting may not suit all readers as it concerns the sex trade and makes for disturbing reading. It is not a subject I know much about but the brutality, violence and mindset seem all too realistic with the "girls" (and many of them are) treated like commodities rather than people. I am impressed by Ms Flint's skill in painting such a convincing picture within the confines of of the genre.
The novel is told mostly from two points of view, Charlie's and Redz' friend and "stablemate" Caz's. It makes for interesting reading to contrast both sides, with Charlie trying to shutdown the pimps and Caz dealing with one. The plot itself is fairly fast paced with plenty happening, much of it violent, and a good storyline which I found quite original. Yes, the sex trade is fertile ground for crime writers but Ms Flint's take is different and the twists are great.
The characters of Caz and her pimp, Razor, are particularly well drawn with their dysfunctional relationship to the fore. He uses her for income and she dreams of a real relationship with him. It makes for poignant reading as he uses and abuses her, shattering her dreams bit by bit.
Broken Dolls is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When the body of a premature baby is found dead in a heap of rubbish Charlie and the team are called in to try and find its mother but what they surmise is shocking. Unfortunately this is not their only case when shortly after they have to investigate the brutal murder of a young prostitute known as Redz.
I thoroughly enjoyed Broken Dolls which is a cleverly plotted novel with some good twists and an ending I didn't see coming. The subject matter and setting may not suit all readers as it concerns the sex trade and makes for disturbing reading. It is not a subject I know much about but the brutality, violence and mindset seem all too realistic with the "girls" (and many of them are) treated like commodities rather than people. I am impressed by Ms Flint's skill in painting such a convincing picture within the confines of of the genre.
The novel is told mostly from two points of view, Charlie's and Redz' friend and "stablemate" Caz's. It makes for interesting reading to contrast both sides, with Charlie trying to shutdown the pimps and Caz dealing with one. The plot itself is fairly fast paced with plenty happening, much of it violent, and a good storyline which I found quite original. Yes, the sex trade is fertile ground for crime writers but Ms Flint's take is different and the twists are great.
The characters of Caz and her pimp, Razor, are particularly well drawn with their dysfunctional relationship to the fore. He uses her for income and she dreams of a real relationship with him. It makes for poignant reading as he uses and abuses her, shattering her dreams bit by bit.
Broken Dolls is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 22, 2018
Finished reading: July 20th 2018
"Things looked good on the surface, but things were never as they seemed."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Aria in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 2, 2018
Wow where do I start with Broken Dolls? As we have become to expect from Sarah Flint this book was absolutely thrilling and heart stopping.
DC Charlie Stafford has a lot on her plate with this one with two cases a dead baby and a dead prostitute. Are they connected or are they totally random attacks? As she tries to unravel the cases we see the seedy and violent side of prostitution, people smuggling, drug taking and crack houses. These women live a dangerous life and live for their next fix.
This was an extremely well told story as I had absolutely no idea of who the killer was until the reveal at the end, and what a surprise that was! I would never have guessed it in a million years. I really enjoyed this book, I like Charlie and her team they are a cohesive group that work well together. The story was fast paced, kept me entertained and interested all the way through and kept me guessing. I had a hard time putting this one down it was a real page turner that kept me reading late into the night.
The ending was just amazing and blew my mind! It was bloody amazing!
I loved this book it was really good, I am giving it 5 stars because it deserves it, it was a great book and I highly recommend it.
Here is the publishers blurb on the book:
The all NEW heart-stopping, un-put-downable serial killer thriller from the bestselling author of Mummy's Favourite. Perfect for the fans of Angela Marsons.
A baby lies abandoned amongst the rubbish;her tiny face as white as alabaster, her body as stiff as a miniature doll.
A young prostitute lies beaten, her figure lying like a mannequin on the frozen concrete, her blood spilt, her life ebbing away.
As DC 'Charlie' Stafford and her boss DI Hunter struggle to identify the victim from the violator their hunt brings them to the crack houses of Lambeth, littered with damaged people, their lives scarred by tragedy and violence, most broken beyond repair.
As further lives hang in the balance Charlie must enpower the weak to speak out against those who seek to cause harm.
But can a broken doll ever truly be mended; or will the wounds of the past, fashion the events of the future?
August 25, 2018
I first would like to thank Netgally/Publisher for an advanced copy of this book
I want to start this review by saying that this is the 4th novel in the DC Charlotte Stafford series. I somehow missed that this was part of a series when I requested it. *Palms forehead*
Anywho, I didn't feel like I was missing much having not read the other three books. I just don't have the whole back-round on DC Charlotte Stafford. I was okay with that. This genre is new to me and this book did make me very excited to check out others like it.
*** MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING***
This book was intense and full of things that may be incredibly triggering for some. This list includes: Pregnancy loss, sexual abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, rape, extreme violence, and heavy drug use. I do feel like there is more, but these are some big ones that hit me.
This time I am going to start with what I didn't like. This book had a lot of different points of view, and it times it became hard to keep track of everyone and everything especially when we came back to the police station where they were talking about everyone. You kind of forget who is who. On the flip side of that it was really repetitive. It was getting frustrating, because each time you switched pov's they had to repeat some stuff, so it didn't feel like anything new was being added and I found mysle skimming a lot of parts like that. This story didn't seem to terribly long, so it seemed adding in the extra repetitive stuff was more filler. I didn't come to care about our main character Charlotte, and I feel that even if I had read the other three books, that wouldn't have changed. With that being said, I don't think that I am going to be continuing with the series, or read the first books that I missed.
Even though it was very dark and at times very hard to read, I did enjoy the story enough. I thought that I had it figured out and was wrong and there were other twists that I thought were well done. I thought that this book was okay. I felt it opened my eyes more to things that are happening in our world and it was truly heartbreaking. Like I stated earlier, however, I don't feel liked I liked the writing enough to carry on.
I want to start this review by saying that this is the 4th novel in the DC Charlotte Stafford series. I somehow missed that this was part of a series when I requested it. *Palms forehead*
Anywho, I didn't feel like I was missing much having not read the other three books. I just don't have the whole back-round on DC Charlotte Stafford. I was okay with that. This genre is new to me and this book did make me very excited to check out others like it.
*** MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING***
This book was intense and full of things that may be incredibly triggering for some. This list includes: Pregnancy loss, sexual abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, rape, extreme violence, and heavy drug use. I do feel like there is more, but these are some big ones that hit me.
This time I am going to start with what I didn't like. This book had a lot of different points of view, and it times it became hard to keep track of everyone and everything especially when we came back to the police station where they were talking about everyone. You kind of forget who is who. On the flip side of that it was really repetitive. It was getting frustrating, because each time you switched pov's they had to repeat some stuff, so it didn't feel like anything new was being added and I found mysle skimming a lot of parts like that. This story didn't seem to terribly long, so it seemed adding in the extra repetitive stuff was more filler. I didn't come to care about our main character Charlotte, and I feel that even if I had read the other three books, that wouldn't have changed. With that being said, I don't think that I am going to be continuing with the series, or read the first books that I missed.
Even though it was very dark and at times very hard to read, I did enjoy the story enough. I thought that I had it figured out and was wrong and there were other twists that I thought were well done. I thought that this book was okay. I felt it opened my eyes more to things that are happening in our world and it was truly heartbreaking. Like I stated earlier, however, I don't feel liked I liked the writing enough to carry on.
August 25, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria and Sarah Flint for the chance to read an ARC of this book.
‘A baby lies abandoned amongst the rubbish, her tiny face as white as alabaster, her body as stiff as a miniature doll.
A young prostitute lies beaten, her figure like a mannequin on the frozen concrete, her blood spilt, her life ebbing away.
.....As further lives hang in the balance Charlie must empower the weak to speak out against those who seek to cause harm.
But can a broken doll ever truly be mended; or will the wounds of the past fashion the events of the future?’
This fast paced book was both gripping and heart breaking from the opening page. The devastating descriptions of the tiny baby’s death and discovery by the police had me in tears. It was the most emotive book opening I can remember reading in a very long time. The book starts out as a tale about the death of a premature baby and sex trafficking and then quickly goes on to include the brutal murder of a local prostitute. Apart from them being part of the sex trade, it is unclear for most of the book how the two deaths are connected. I spend a lot of time puzzling over this knowing their must be some kind of link but was unable to ascertain it.
The plight of the young women forced into the sex trade is handled in a realistic but compassionate way. You understand their desperation and fear as they make impossible choices to survive in their violent world.
Obviously when reading a crime novel you expect violence, and I read a lot of crime and true crime, but the descriptions of what is suffered at the hands of The Punter and the things he fantasises about made me recoil. He is one of the most sadistic characters I’ve read in awhile; his love of degradation, humiliation, pain and fear is unsettling. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it. Right up until the reveal I couldn’t figure out who the mystery Punter was.
While this book offers lots of twists, turns and shocks, none compare to the ending. It wasn’t even close to anything I was thinking or expecting. Sarah Flint has delivered one epic bombshell twist and an ominous ending that has me itching for book 5.
‘A baby lies abandoned amongst the rubbish, her tiny face as white as alabaster, her body as stiff as a miniature doll.
A young prostitute lies beaten, her figure like a mannequin on the frozen concrete, her blood spilt, her life ebbing away.
.....As further lives hang in the balance Charlie must empower the weak to speak out against those who seek to cause harm.
But can a broken doll ever truly be mended; or will the wounds of the past fashion the events of the future?’
This fast paced book was both gripping and heart breaking from the opening page. The devastating descriptions of the tiny baby’s death and discovery by the police had me in tears. It was the most emotive book opening I can remember reading in a very long time. The book starts out as a tale about the death of a premature baby and sex trafficking and then quickly goes on to include the brutal murder of a local prostitute. Apart from them being part of the sex trade, it is unclear for most of the book how the two deaths are connected. I spend a lot of time puzzling over this knowing their must be some kind of link but was unable to ascertain it.
The plight of the young women forced into the sex trade is handled in a realistic but compassionate way. You understand their desperation and fear as they make impossible choices to survive in their violent world.
Obviously when reading a crime novel you expect violence, and I read a lot of crime and true crime, but the descriptions of what is suffered at the hands of The Punter and the things he fantasises about made me recoil. He is one of the most sadistic characters I’ve read in awhile; his love of degradation, humiliation, pain and fear is unsettling. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it. Right up until the reveal I couldn’t figure out who the mystery Punter was.
While this book offers lots of twists, turns and shocks, none compare to the ending. It wasn’t even close to anything I was thinking or expecting. Sarah Flint has delivered one epic bombshell twist and an ominous ending that has me itching for book 5.
July 2, 2018
Charlie is back! And this time it is the most vulnerable among us who are being targeted.
A newborn, dead in a dumpster. A young girl dead in an alleyway. Are they connected?
Feeling that time is of the utmost importance she and her boss Hunter, try to track down the baby's mother and stumble onto a trafficking outfit. Importing young girls and grooming them to be prostitutes. Treated no better than a stray dog.
There are really two tales in play here. One story line is looking at the murders of the prostitutes and the other is the sex crimes. When one of their informants helps them put the pieces together they are sure they have the right people behind bars.
But do they? If something is broken over and over, will it ever be right again? Or will it just continue the pattern of hurt and lies. Can a person be beyond repair?
I always enjoy Charlie and I am hoping for more on Ben in the next one!
Well Done!
Netgalley/Aria August 07,2018
A newborn, dead in a dumpster. A young girl dead in an alleyway. Are they connected?
Feeling that time is of the utmost importance she and her boss Hunter, try to track down the baby's mother and stumble onto a trafficking outfit. Importing young girls and grooming them to be prostitutes. Treated no better than a stray dog.
There are really two tales in play here. One story line is looking at the murders of the prostitutes and the other is the sex crimes. When one of their informants helps them put the pieces together they are sure they have the right people behind bars.
But do they? If something is broken over and over, will it ever be right again? Or will it just continue the pattern of hurt and lies. Can a person be beyond repair?
I always enjoy Charlie and I am hoping for more on Ben in the next one!
Well Done!
Netgalley/Aria August 07,2018
August 3, 2018
I would like to thank the Netgalley website and Aria editions for this partnership.
I was immediately attracted by the summary and the cover: we see a little girl holding a soft toy in her hand walking on a wooden bridge.
Charlie Stafford and his boss, DI Hunter, are investigating the abandonment of a baby in garbage and a young prostitute beaten to death. They will go to the crack houses in Lambeth and what they will discover are people whose lives do not give them gifts.
A thriller almost read in one go with endearing characters, a story that holds water, captivating, moving and filled with suspense and twists.
I was immediately attracted by the summary and the cover: we see a little girl holding a soft toy in her hand walking on a wooden bridge.
Charlie Stafford and his boss, DI Hunter, are investigating the abandonment of a baby in garbage and a young prostitute beaten to death. They will go to the crack houses in Lambeth and what they will discover are people whose lives do not give them gifts.
A thriller almost read in one go with endearing characters, a story that holds water, captivating, moving and filled with suspense and twists.
August 29, 2018
Broken Dolls tackles a difficult subject, the seedy world of human trafficking and prostitution but does it with compassion and insight. The discovery of a dead preterm baby, abandoned with the rubbish, leads the police on a hunt for her mother which ultimately uncovers the prostitution network responsible for bringing innocent, foreign girls to their tragic fate. #NetGalley
June 29, 2018
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
DC Charlie Stafford is back with the team with the case of a premature baby found dumped. How does think link to Russian criminals? A prostitute is found murdered and all evidence points to her pimp who swears blind he didn’t do it. Bodies are piling up, can Charlie solve the murder?
As always Sarah’s books are gritty and have those little twists. I would have loved more about Ben and Charlie and their developing romance maybe in the next one!
DC Charlie Stafford is back with the team with the case of a premature baby found dumped. How does think link to Russian criminals? A prostitute is found murdered and all evidence points to her pimp who swears blind he didn’t do it. Bodies are piling up, can Charlie solve the murder?
As always Sarah’s books are gritty and have those little twists. I would have loved more about Ben and Charlie and their developing romance maybe in the next one!
July 22, 2018
Broken Dolls is a dark story set against the backdrop of the seedy side of the sex trade and drug world. Girls are controlled by their pimps who abuse them. Prostitutes are turning up dead, along with an infant. It's up the crime team to figure out what is happening and who is really behind the deaths. One girl, Caz, seems to have the spirit to survive. However, Caz has a dark side to her that is slowly revealed.
The author's depiction of that world is very real, with one exception. It's far fetched to believe that a pimp would allow one of his own to see a psychologist. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.
The author's depiction of that world is very real, with one exception. It's far fetched to believe that a pimp would allow one of his own to see a psychologist. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.
August 13, 2018
Sarah Flint - you are a brilliant author! Another unforgettable book.
DC Charlie Stafford and DI Geoffrey Hunter are called when a stillborn, underdeveloped baby is found rotting in a pile of rubbish. Both are shocked, especially Charlie and she vows to catch the person who thought that they could just throw a baby out with the trash.
Charlie Stafford and Geoffrey Hunter are part of the very close-knit Community Support Unit working out of Lambeth Police Headquarters. The team, comprising of Bet, Naz, Sabira and Paul, each has their own specialist area, and as soon as Charlie and Geoffrey return to the office, each member starts working on ways to find out who the dead baby’s mother was. It soon emerges through District Source Unit and Covert Human Intelligence Sources that the baby might be that of a prostitute trafficked into the country, working for a man named Dimitri.
The investigation into the baby and her mother no sooner gets underway when Charlie and the team are called to the scene of another murder. The body of a prostitute nicknamed Redz (Grace Flaherty) has died following a shocking and brutal attack which has left her with chunks of hair missing and so severely beaten up, the body is only recognisable because of Redz distinct hair colour.
Charlie knew Redz. She, Caz and Dutch shared a flat with their pimp Razor. It’s not long after the Redz murder, that Dutch turns up dead as well, from an overdose, leaving Caz as Razor’s only working girl. Caz is happy to finally have Razor all to herself and hopes that this means they can settle down and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, pimps don’t allow their girls to fall in love with them.
Sarah Flint has written a stark and gut-wrenching tale that involves trafficking, prostitution, drugs and gruesome murders. She manages to shock her readers at the same time as giving us a team of dedicated, hardworking and passionate people who will not rest until they’ve solved the crimes and caught the perpetrators. This is the fourth book I’ve read in this series, and I grow closer to each protagonist as the series develops. Sarah Flint uses her own experience as a police officer to write some of the best, no, the best, detective series around at the moment.
The books can be read as a stand-alone, but if you enjoy following an author, then may I suggest you start with the very first book and keep reading until you finish the last page of this book. Hopefully like me, when you do reach the final page, you let out a gasp of shock at the ending. I honestly never saw it coming.
Sarah Flint is also particularly good at leaving her readers with more questions than answers. Mine after this book is why it seems so easy to traffic humans? Why in this day and age are girls not savvier? I imagine these questions are asked every single day by the police and other agencies when someone is found having been trafficked into the country for prostitution or worse, beaten black and blue by their pimp.
This book would be the perfect book for a book club. The subject of prostitution and trafficking is often in the newspapers, but this book will introduce you to the seamier and nastier side that is usually not printed in newspapers.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
DC Charlie Stafford and DI Geoffrey Hunter are called when a stillborn, underdeveloped baby is found rotting in a pile of rubbish. Both are shocked, especially Charlie and she vows to catch the person who thought that they could just throw a baby out with the trash.
Charlie Stafford and Geoffrey Hunter are part of the very close-knit Community Support Unit working out of Lambeth Police Headquarters. The team, comprising of Bet, Naz, Sabira and Paul, each has their own specialist area, and as soon as Charlie and Geoffrey return to the office, each member starts working on ways to find out who the dead baby’s mother was. It soon emerges through District Source Unit and Covert Human Intelligence Sources that the baby might be that of a prostitute trafficked into the country, working for a man named Dimitri.
The investigation into the baby and her mother no sooner gets underway when Charlie and the team are called to the scene of another murder. The body of a prostitute nicknamed Redz (Grace Flaherty) has died following a shocking and brutal attack which has left her with chunks of hair missing and so severely beaten up, the body is only recognisable because of Redz distinct hair colour.
Charlie knew Redz. She, Caz and Dutch shared a flat with their pimp Razor. It’s not long after the Redz murder, that Dutch turns up dead as well, from an overdose, leaving Caz as Razor’s only working girl. Caz is happy to finally have Razor all to herself and hopes that this means they can settle down and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, pimps don’t allow their girls to fall in love with them.
Sarah Flint has written a stark and gut-wrenching tale that involves trafficking, prostitution, drugs and gruesome murders. She manages to shock her readers at the same time as giving us a team of dedicated, hardworking and passionate people who will not rest until they’ve solved the crimes and caught the perpetrators. This is the fourth book I’ve read in this series, and I grow closer to each protagonist as the series develops. Sarah Flint uses her own experience as a police officer to write some of the best, no, the best, detective series around at the moment.
The books can be read as a stand-alone, but if you enjoy following an author, then may I suggest you start with the very first book and keep reading until you finish the last page of this book. Hopefully like me, when you do reach the final page, you let out a gasp of shock at the ending. I honestly never saw it coming.
Sarah Flint is also particularly good at leaving her readers with more questions than answers. Mine after this book is why it seems so easy to traffic humans? Why in this day and age are girls not savvier? I imagine these questions are asked every single day by the police and other agencies when someone is found having been trafficked into the country for prostitution or worse, beaten black and blue by their pimp.
This book would be the perfect book for a book club. The subject of prostitution and trafficking is often in the newspapers, but this book will introduce you to the seamier and nastier side that is usually not printed in newspapers.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
July 25, 2018
I have recently become hooked on the Charlie Stafford series by Sarah Flint. Broken dolls is the 4th book in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone without giving anything away but I definitely recommend reading them all in order.
The body of a premature baby is found tossed out with the rubbish. Whilst DC Charlie Stafford and DI Hunter try and work out where she came from and where the mother is, the beaten body of a well-known prostitute, Redz, is found. These cases take the police into the dark world of the sex and drugs trade.
I absolutely adore Charlie and Hunters characters but every character is so well written. The story switches between the points of views of Charlie and Caz, a prostitute who shared a pimp with Redz. There are 2 murders running alongside each other but they work well together and are easy to keep straight.
The story was pretty intense with a lot of detail on sex trafficking and prostitution along with drug use. Bear that in mind if you are triggered by abuse, rape or drug use. It definitely kept me hooked and the ending was not what I expected. I pretty much suspected everyone except the actual person. It was dark and gritty and I need more. I also need more of Charlie and Ben in my life.
It’s slightly slower paced than the other books in the series which is why it isn’t my favourite. However I still thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for more. If you love Angela Marsons or M.J Arlidge then you need to check out Sarah Flint.
Thank you to Aria and Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review
The body of a premature baby is found tossed out with the rubbish. Whilst DC Charlie Stafford and DI Hunter try and work out where she came from and where the mother is, the beaten body of a well-known prostitute, Redz, is found. These cases take the police into the dark world of the sex and drugs trade.
I absolutely adore Charlie and Hunters characters but every character is so well written. The story switches between the points of views of Charlie and Caz, a prostitute who shared a pimp with Redz. There are 2 murders running alongside each other but they work well together and are easy to keep straight.
The story was pretty intense with a lot of detail on sex trafficking and prostitution along with drug use. Bear that in mind if you are triggered by abuse, rape or drug use. It definitely kept me hooked and the ending was not what I expected. I pretty much suspected everyone except the actual person. It was dark and gritty and I need more. I also need more of Charlie and Ben in my life.
It’s slightly slower paced than the other books in the series which is why it isn’t my favourite. However I still thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for more. If you love Angela Marsons or M.J Arlidge then you need to check out Sarah Flint.
Thank you to Aria and Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review
September 21, 2018
The fourth one's the charm !!! Now, this author's stories have all been 5* reads for me but let down by mistakes. Don't get me wrong, this one isn't perfect but there are nowhere near as many !! So for me that means I can at last give her the coveted 5* !
I was delighted to see a change in Charlie's relationship with Ben in this story and thrilled to see Casper is still with him and doing well. This book has cases running side-by-side featuring girls on the street and it's depressing in places when you read of how easily they're replaced. At least Brexit might help in stopping the Eastern Europeans bringing girls over every week......yes, this is fiction but that happens, a lot.......it was so kind how Anna was with one of the girls, though I hope her kindness isn't going to be something she regrets, bless her.
Commas are still a bit of an issue but as I said earlier, in no way as bad as in prior stories. I always go with the reading-out-loud system....so "More likely days, but I really can't say Hunter".......yes, you CAN say Hunter quite easily. You'd read it totally differently as "....I really can't say, Hunter"......trust me. The same with this sentence..."Yeah I know that Charlie" instead of "Yeah, I know that, Charlie"......it does make a difference. THIS sentence had commas and in this case they weren't needed, aside from the first one....."Another young woman dead, no doubt from the amount of s**t, dealers like Razor, mix in with their gear these days." So there are great improvements in this book and I am betting book 5 will be even more polished.
There were apostrophes missed or misplaced here and there but that happens in digital books more than any other error for some reason. There were a couple of times I winced....once when you're was used and not your and when she wrote leant and not lent !! Ouch ! She DID address her spelling of a footwell (which I'd mentioned in a previous review) but then also referred to it as a foot-well. I would've written it the same both times, though I probably spotted this since I'd mentioned it before.
I've never heard the terms 'a carrier of officers' before and Google only directs me to aircraft carriers, so they're no help !! I hadn't known, either, that a diary of a victim couldn't be used as admissable evidence in a court case !! This is where the author's other career is educating us as it brings all her knowledge to these tales.
I chuckled again at the pub name she used.....I've made mention of a pub name in another of my reviews, though I can't recall if it was the same one. Both times they made me titter to myself, though, since they are so outlandish but so delightfully eccentric, too.
And.......the author included me in her acknowledgements !! I was so chuffed. I spotted this book had been released and Tweeted her I was pleased to see it and she told me then. I'd not expected that and she'd not mentioned it till then so hadn't even swayed me to buy it that way. I had no idea at all so it was a lovely surprise for sure and I appreciate her kindness so much in doing it.
However, she's raised her bar so I'll be expecting almost-perfection in the next instalment, of course !! No pressure, Sarah......and thankyou.
I was delighted to see a change in Charlie's relationship with Ben in this story and thrilled to see Casper is still with him and doing well. This book has cases running side-by-side featuring girls on the street and it's depressing in places when you read of how easily they're replaced. At least Brexit might help in stopping the Eastern Europeans bringing girls over every week......yes, this is fiction but that happens, a lot.......it was so kind how Anna was with one of the girls, though I hope her kindness isn't going to be something she regrets, bless her.
Commas are still a bit of an issue but as I said earlier, in no way as bad as in prior stories. I always go with the reading-out-loud system....so "More likely days, but I really can't say Hunter".......yes, you CAN say Hunter quite easily. You'd read it totally differently as "....I really can't say, Hunter"......trust me. The same with this sentence..."Yeah I know that Charlie" instead of "Yeah, I know that, Charlie"......it does make a difference. THIS sentence had commas and in this case they weren't needed, aside from the first one....."Another young woman dead, no doubt from the amount of s**t, dealers like Razor, mix in with their gear these days." So there are great improvements in this book and I am betting book 5 will be even more polished.
There were apostrophes missed or misplaced here and there but that happens in digital books more than any other error for some reason. There were a couple of times I winced....once when you're was used and not your and when she wrote leant and not lent !! Ouch ! She DID address her spelling of a footwell (which I'd mentioned in a previous review) but then also referred to it as a foot-well. I would've written it the same both times, though I probably spotted this since I'd mentioned it before.
I've never heard the terms 'a carrier of officers' before and Google only directs me to aircraft carriers, so they're no help !! I hadn't known, either, that a diary of a victim couldn't be used as admissable evidence in a court case !! This is where the author's other career is educating us as it brings all her knowledge to these tales.
I chuckled again at the pub name she used.....I've made mention of a pub name in another of my reviews, though I can't recall if it was the same one. Both times they made me titter to myself, though, since they are so outlandish but so delightfully eccentric, too.
And.......the author included me in her acknowledgements !! I was so chuffed. I spotted this book had been released and Tweeted her I was pleased to see it and she told me then. I'd not expected that and she'd not mentioned it till then so hadn't even swayed me to buy it that way. I had no idea at all so it was a lovely surprise for sure and I appreciate her kindness so much in doing it.
However, she's raised her bar so I'll be expecting almost-perfection in the next instalment, of course !! No pressure, Sarah......and thankyou.
August 15, 2018
This is the fourth book in the DC Charlie Stafford series but the first one I have read. It worked fine as a standalone book but there were a few aspects about her history and relationships that I may have appreciated more if I had read her previous books first. However, this did not detract from the power of the story.
And powerful it is. The opening scenes of this book are harrowing and hit you like a punch in the face, which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the book. The author does not hold back on the imagery and some readers may find the opening events a little hard to stomach and upsetting. This is not a crime book for the faint of heart or easily squeamish but if you like your books gritty and in your face, you will be gripped from the start as I was. I read this book in a single four-hour sitting without taking a break, i could not put it down.
There are fascinating and well drawn characters on both sides of the legal divide, some likeable and some despicable but all rounded and believable and some of them are morally ambiguous, which is always interesting to read. The main character on the police side is DC Charlie Stafford, a young detective constable who is strong and feisty but also compassionate. I really liked her and thought she was a great character to carry the story, rather than someone further up the hierarchy. Being on the lowest rung of the CID ladder, she was right at the heart and on the ground of the investigation, so we could see every development of the investigation which allowed for our full immersion in the story.
There are two other central characters telling the story. Caz, a very young prostitute who is caught up in the midst of a series of deaths in the community of working girls in Streatham and ‘The Punter’ a shadowy character whose darker thoughts and acts are peppered throughout the book. There are two separate investigations in the book which may or not be related and you have to concentrate to work out the strands of each. The stories give a fascinating insight into the world of prostitution, pimps, drugs and sex trafficking and, as previously mentioned, is not the most comfortable of reads but it is gripping.
The pace of the book is fast and furious and the plot twisty enough and with sufficient surprises to keep the reader hooked from page to page. The writing felt very authentic as to tone and language which allowed for a very smooth read. I would hesitate to say I enjoyed the book, given the harrowing subject matter, but it definitely held my interest and was a compulsive read and I would definitely look for more by this author. I love finding new authors with a back catalogue to explore and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark, pacy crime novels. Not for the delicate or squeamish.
And powerful it is. The opening scenes of this book are harrowing and hit you like a punch in the face, which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the book. The author does not hold back on the imagery and some readers may find the opening events a little hard to stomach and upsetting. This is not a crime book for the faint of heart or easily squeamish but if you like your books gritty and in your face, you will be gripped from the start as I was. I read this book in a single four-hour sitting without taking a break, i could not put it down.
There are fascinating and well drawn characters on both sides of the legal divide, some likeable and some despicable but all rounded and believable and some of them are morally ambiguous, which is always interesting to read. The main character on the police side is DC Charlie Stafford, a young detective constable who is strong and feisty but also compassionate. I really liked her and thought she was a great character to carry the story, rather than someone further up the hierarchy. Being on the lowest rung of the CID ladder, she was right at the heart and on the ground of the investigation, so we could see every development of the investigation which allowed for our full immersion in the story.
There are two other central characters telling the story. Caz, a very young prostitute who is caught up in the midst of a series of deaths in the community of working girls in Streatham and ‘The Punter’ a shadowy character whose darker thoughts and acts are peppered throughout the book. There are two separate investigations in the book which may or not be related and you have to concentrate to work out the strands of each. The stories give a fascinating insight into the world of prostitution, pimps, drugs and sex trafficking and, as previously mentioned, is not the most comfortable of reads but it is gripping.
The pace of the book is fast and furious and the plot twisty enough and with sufficient surprises to keep the reader hooked from page to page. The writing felt very authentic as to tone and language which allowed for a very smooth read. I would hesitate to say I enjoyed the book, given the harrowing subject matter, but it definitely held my interest and was a compulsive read and I would definitely look for more by this author. I love finding new authors with a back catalogue to explore and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark, pacy crime novels. Not for the delicate or squeamish.
July 14, 2018
When the body of a premature baby is found in a carrier bag, thrown away with the rubbish, DC Charlie Stafford and her team commence an investigation that will lead them to some of the most vulnerable and exploited women in society. After the body of a young prostitute is found with horrific injuries, the team soon find themselves stretched, dealing with prostitution, crack dens, trafficking and now murder. Are the cases linked or is there more than one killer on their patch? Meeting with obstructions at every turn, the police know that time is running out before more lives are damaged forever.
Broken Dolls is the fourth of Sarah Flint’s Charlie Stafford series and, having read the rest, I think I can safely say that this has definitely been my favourite. Charlie is a great character, a no-nonsense copper, devoted to her job and determined to bring the guilty to justice. Like most lead characters in police procedurals, Charlie has a less-than-perfect past, but I like how this only plays a background role in the story, the author preferring to concentrate on the case instead.
The case itself is a pretty emotional one, dealing with the trafficking of women from Europe and forcing them to work as prostitutes in brothels. It is easy to imagine how these women, desperate to provide for their families, fall into the trap of believing the promises of work and accommodation in a foreign country. I particularly liked how the author gave us the backstories of the women involved in the sex trade, showing how society had failed them and making me feel incredibly angry at how this was allowed to happen.
There are several unlikable characters in Broken Dolls, namely ‘Razor’, ‘Dimitri’ and ‘The Punter’. Each of these men use and abuse women and I was desperate for each of them to get their comeuppance. I found the conclusion of each of these story lines very satisfying and was quite surprised by what I read! The ending was very clever and left the possibility of the story being picked up in a later book.
This is a great series and I look forward to the next installment!
With thanks to Aria and Net Galley for my ARC.
Broken Dolls is the fourth of Sarah Flint’s Charlie Stafford series and, having read the rest, I think I can safely say that this has definitely been my favourite. Charlie is a great character, a no-nonsense copper, devoted to her job and determined to bring the guilty to justice. Like most lead characters in police procedurals, Charlie has a less-than-perfect past, but I like how this only plays a background role in the story, the author preferring to concentrate on the case instead.
The case itself is a pretty emotional one, dealing with the trafficking of women from Europe and forcing them to work as prostitutes in brothels. It is easy to imagine how these women, desperate to provide for their families, fall into the trap of believing the promises of work and accommodation in a foreign country. I particularly liked how the author gave us the backstories of the women involved in the sex trade, showing how society had failed them and making me feel incredibly angry at how this was allowed to happen.
There are several unlikable characters in Broken Dolls, namely ‘Razor’, ‘Dimitri’ and ‘The Punter’. Each of these men use and abuse women and I was desperate for each of them to get their comeuppance. I found the conclusion of each of these story lines very satisfying and was quite surprised by what I read! The ending was very clever and left the possibility of the story being picked up in a later book.
This is a great series and I look forward to the next installment!
With thanks to Aria and Net Galley for my ARC.
August 6, 2018
Sarah Flint has tacked the very difficult topic of children being tossed aside into prostitution and many of them ending up taking drugs. The main characters in this very dark novel are not very likeable, but one cannot help but feel sorry for them. Each girl involved in working the streets has a back story that Ms. Flint tells with empathy and detaiils that are heartbreaking. The character that I liked the best was Anna, the psychologist who tries desperately to rescue one young girl, Caz, from her broken life. Anna is a genuinely good person who wants to help, but she has to be allowed to enter into the dark places of Caz’s mind, to find out why she ended up on the streets. Added to the drama is a pimp who is nothing less than cruel, another Russian trafficker in young girls and a “punter” who is full of himself and his ability to go out at night and kill the girls who service him. The Inspectors investigating the murders are dogged and determined, and the author portrays well how hard it is for them to solve the cases without the assistance of the girls being victimized. I can’t say that I enjoyed this book because it was so dark and haunting. Readers of fiction with hauntingly believable descriptions and violence may enjoy this book. What is very sad is to know that although the book is fiction, it could be true.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions that I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions that I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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