What do you think?
Rate this book
Pine Island Coast Florida Suspense #1
Broken Stern
A life she couldn't keep, a murder she couldn’t forget.
In the clear waters of Pine Island, Florida darkness is swirling.
Trained to be a killer, Ellie O’Conner opts for a new life of quiet privacy away from the bloated bureaucracy that has become the CIA.
Now, she wants nothing more than to catch up on years lost to the wind. But when a horrifying death shocks her sleepy fishing community Ellie is compelled by a sense of duty to track down the killer.
And along the way, she finds out that some of Pine Island’s residents may have not the cleanest of hands.
And dark waters swirl fiercest in the daylight.
In the clear waters of Pine Island, Florida darkness is swirling.
Trained to be a killer, Ellie O’Conner opts for a new life of quiet privacy away from the bloated bureaucracy that has become the CIA.
Now, she wants nothing more than to catch up on years lost to the wind. But when a horrifying death shocks her sleepy fishing community Ellie is compelled by a sense of duty to track down the killer.
And along the way, she finds out that some of Pine Island’s residents may have not the cleanest of hands.
And dark waters swirl fiercest in the daylight.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2018
1503 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Jack Hardin
22 books49 followersJack Hardin currently lives in Arlington, TX, with his stunning wife and five kids. He grew up in an Army family and spent half his childhood living in Germany, traveling all over Europe prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain. At nine years old he walked through Checkpoint Charlie and into East Berlin just one year before the Berlin Wall came down. He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, is proficient with bo staff and nunchucks, and has taught women's self-defense.
Those alone do not make him awesome, but it all sounds really cool.
You’ll find Jack’s books to be in the same vein as Wayne Stinnett, Dawn Lee McKenna, and Randy Wayne White. In other words...dig in...you’re about to be seriously entertained.
Jack is driven by grace, the bedrock of his Christian faith. Shoot him an email and let him know what you think of his books. Or to give him your opinion of the moon landing, or whether or not you think it's a sin to squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle.
jack@jackhardinauthor.com
Books 1-4 in the Pine Island Coast Suspense Series form one larger story arc, with everything tied up in Book 4. Books 5+ will all be standalone installments.
Connect with him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/JackHardinAu...
Those alone do not make him awesome, but it all sounds really cool.
You’ll find Jack’s books to be in the same vein as Wayne Stinnett, Dawn Lee McKenna, and Randy Wayne White. In other words...dig in...you’re about to be seriously entertained.
Jack is driven by grace, the bedrock of his Christian faith. Shoot him an email and let him know what you think of his books. Or to give him your opinion of the moon landing, or whether or not you think it's a sin to squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle.
jack@jackhardinauthor.com
Books 1-4 in the Pine Island Coast Suspense Series form one larger story arc, with everything tied up in Book 4. Books 5+ will all be standalone installments.
Connect with him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/JackHardinAu...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 30, 2018
I don't usually give this high of a rating to any thriller that ends in a cliffhanger. However, the author warned of this at the very beginning of the book.
A well written, very smooth, novel about a former CIA operative who now does contract work for the DEA on the Florida Gulf Coast. She also lives the Florida lifestyle by working part time at a marina owned by her deceased father's best friend.
Several levels of bad guys and mystery bad guys. This is a four book series with the following book dependent upon having read the first.
A well written, very smooth, novel about a former CIA operative who now does contract work for the DEA on the Florida Gulf Coast. She also lives the Florida lifestyle by working part time at a marina owned by her deceased father's best friend.
Several levels of bad guys and mystery bad guys. This is a four book series with the following book dependent upon having read the first.
February 25, 2020
Maybe I should label it DNF as it's book 1 of a 4 part series that I have no intention of finishing. It was a good read with bad stuff (drugs and murder) going on and some good characters, but it all came to a screeching halt just as a bombshell was dropped. Since the Kindle book opened at Chapter 1, it turns out I missed the page before Chapter 1 that said it was a story spread over a 4 book series and this book was only the first part. I really have no desire to read a 4 part book series that will take a week or 2 and I never would have started reading Book 1.
October 22, 2019
Overall this was an interesting story and Ellie was a very compelling character, but the book was not without its faults.
The story is interspersed with Ellie’s back-story, which was fine, but the main storyline moved very slowly. The author seemed to describe every place, everybody and everything in excruciating detail. The second half of the book moved along much better and I was enjoying the story until the last chapter. This really pushed my ability to suspend my disbelief and I began to think the author didn’t really know where he was going.
I should also add this is really half a book, the story has only just started when the book ends. It's not even a cliff-hanger ending, there is no ending, the author has just taken a bigger book and arbitrarily ripped it in half and published the first half as this book.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
The story is interspersed with Ellie’s back-story, which was fine, but the main storyline moved very slowly. The author seemed to describe every place, everybody and everything in excruciating detail. The second half of the book moved along much better and I was enjoying the story until the last chapter. This really pushed my ability to suspend my disbelief and I began to think the author didn’t really know where he was going.
I should also add this is really half a book, the story has only just started when the book ends. It's not even a cliff-hanger ending, there is no ending, the author has just taken a bigger book and arbitrarily ripped it in half and published the first half as this book.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
March 28, 2022
Pine Island Coast Florida Suspance series seems to fall under the category of suspense/thriller but for me it feels more like a procedural mystery. Either way I enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed the fact the story was lead by a tough, kick ass, just-the-facts female person of the law. Her dog was a hoot.
November 26, 2018
It was good. Fast easy read. I do appreciate the disclaimer in the beginning that its not a stand alone book but a series. It was good enough that I will probably read the rest, when though is more the question.
November 11, 2018
Broken Stern: Pine Island Coast Florida Suspense Series Book 1 is by Jack Hardin. This series is set along the Florida Coast near Ft. Myers but along the coast. Pine Island is a small island town on a small island. There are few inhabitants compared to other places. This was where Ellie O’Conner was raised. The characters are fairly realistic and the plot of bringing in cocaine and other drugs is definitely realistic. In places, the story seems to drag a little so some changes in momentum should be in order for future books.
Ellie O’Conner has returned to Pine Island after having been with the CIA for many years. She was highly trained and highly skilled in espionage and in killing. She worked with a small group in Afghanistan for her last assignment. Something went wrong, someone said something they shouldn’t have, and the mission went south. The man and his family who they were trying to extract were killed as they attempted to leave the country. Ellie knew that only a very few knew of the mission and that someone had leaked the information. She wanted nothing to do with a group that did this so she put in her resignation. After reluctantly accepting her paperwork, she was sent home. Home to her was Pine Island, Florida. Although she had no living relatives left, her honorary Uncle lived there and owned the bar. While she was thinking of what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, she worked part time in the bar. She also spent time at The Reticle where she fired rounds at the only long-range shooting range in the area. It was run by her friend, Tyler.
Ellie and her "uncle" known as Major went fishing one day. While they were out and were catching quite a number of fish, the DEA stopped them and asked for identification. when Ellie turned to the voice, she was surprised to hear it belonged to an old friend of hers, Garrett Gage. Gage had also left the CIA but went to work for the DEA. He was now in charge of the area and based in Ft. Myers. He talked to Ellie about joining the DEA as a contracted person and helping him investigate the drug trafficking in the area. She would be able to work part time and set her own hours as well as have access to personal information as needed. Ellie first said no; but later changed her mind after the senseless murder of a twelve-year old boy. Then, she went to work for Gage.
Could they find the drug smugglers before it was too late?
Ellie O’Conner has returned to Pine Island after having been with the CIA for many years. She was highly trained and highly skilled in espionage and in killing. She worked with a small group in Afghanistan for her last assignment. Something went wrong, someone said something they shouldn’t have, and the mission went south. The man and his family who they were trying to extract were killed as they attempted to leave the country. Ellie knew that only a very few knew of the mission and that someone had leaked the information. She wanted nothing to do with a group that did this so she put in her resignation. After reluctantly accepting her paperwork, she was sent home. Home to her was Pine Island, Florida. Although she had no living relatives left, her honorary Uncle lived there and owned the bar. While she was thinking of what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, she worked part time in the bar. She also spent time at The Reticle where she fired rounds at the only long-range shooting range in the area. It was run by her friend, Tyler.
Ellie and her "uncle" known as Major went fishing one day. While they were out and were catching quite a number of fish, the DEA stopped them and asked for identification. when Ellie turned to the voice, she was surprised to hear it belonged to an old friend of hers, Garrett Gage. Gage had also left the CIA but went to work for the DEA. He was now in charge of the area and based in Ft. Myers. He talked to Ellie about joining the DEA as a contracted person and helping him investigate the drug trafficking in the area. She would be able to work part time and set her own hours as well as have access to personal information as needed. Ellie first said no; but later changed her mind after the senseless murder of a twelve-year old boy. Then, she went to work for Gage.
Could they find the drug smugglers before it was too late?
September 29, 2018
This is an exciting adventure of espionage, drug dealing and murder, which creates an endearing context of truth and reality. I was hooked from the beginning and it the adrenaline only increased as the excitement continuously grew the more I read. This is my first novel by Mr. Jack Hardin and it was love at first bite. This novel starts strong and finishes with plenty of suspenseful thrills and ongoing adventures that kept me guessing from beginning to end. I, most definitely, will follow Ellie, and her colleagues, throughout this exciting investigative piece of suspenseful investigative masterpiece.
Certainly worthy of the five stars as the excitement and continuous thrilling adventures created a fever that never abated , once the suspenseful investigative procedure began. Ellie, and her cohorts, old and new, are very confident in their many endeavors.
This series stars with a serious issue, somewhat like the Big Lake episodes, but with a lot more covert affairs involved. The author does a magnificent selection of heavy duty characters, and his storylines are unsurpassed in their explicit cunningness and actions.
This story was impressive from beginning to end and the settings were effectively initiated by the author, who apparently did his research before penning a word. I have purchased book two, and looking forward to the next thrilling adventures of Ellie and her exciting colleagues.
Most definitely recommend this story to readers loving exciting adventures of the true unknown, and somewhat dangerous missions into the unknown. The suspense is unending and the excitement never ceases from beginning to end. If you love suspense at its finest you will be well entertained, and some events are are inspiring.😈
Certainly worthy of the five stars as the excitement and continuous thrilling adventures created a fever that never abated , once the suspenseful investigative procedure began. Ellie, and her cohorts, old and new, are very confident in their many endeavors.
This series stars with a serious issue, somewhat like the Big Lake episodes, but with a lot more covert affairs involved. The author does a magnificent selection of heavy duty characters, and his storylines are unsurpassed in their explicit cunningness and actions.
This story was impressive from beginning to end and the settings were effectively initiated by the author, who apparently did his research before penning a word. I have purchased book two, and looking forward to the next thrilling adventures of Ellie and her exciting colleagues.
Most definitely recommend this story to readers loving exciting adventures of the true unknown, and somewhat dangerous missions into the unknown. The suspense is unending and the excitement never ceases from beginning to end. If you love suspense at its finest you will be well entertained, and some events are are inspiring.😈
July 30, 2023
Ellie O’Connor was a top notch CIA agent for years, highly skilled, very well trained, intelligent on many levels, and well regarded by her superiors. But she opted out, blaming political games, and went home to Pine Island Florida to rest, recuperate and recover amid old friends. In Broken Stern, the first book of the series, an old schoolmate asked her to join his DEA crew, and after a child was murdered she agreed. Her DEA crew was tasked with taking down the drug runners, but their real aim was to stop the next level kingpins. We get a close look at some of those kingpins in chapters alternating with the DEA crew’s efforts to track and take down their syndicates. It can be very fast-paced, and Ellie’s amazing skills are dazzling. In the islands along the west coast of Florida, there are many secluded places where drug runners deposit their Mexican goods which are picked up and transported north. Ellie and her team use technology, drones, and old fashioned cloak and dagger methods to track and apprehend them. Exciting and smart reading.
December 10, 2023
What the? This Book is just part of 4 book series, which I didn't discover until it ended without any resolution… it turns out there was a warning but the kindle book opened on chapter 1 and I didn't see the warning. I was actually looking forward to the end of the story because it kept bogging down in so much backstory detail that I discovered that when listening to the book I didn't have to pay all that much attention to it while not missing anything. I just wanted the story to end and boy am I disappointed. My recommendation –don't buy this book.
June 8, 2018
Marco Island
After being a resident of Marco Island for nearly 30 years and then moving to Central Florida, I was intrigued by the locations mentioned in this book. Little did I know how much I wou!d enjoy reading this book. It is a great read and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Thanks Jack!
After being a resident of Marco Island for nearly 30 years and then moving to Central Florida, I was intrigued by the locations mentioned in this book. Little did I know how much I wou!d enjoy reading this book. It is a great read and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Thanks Jack!
June 17, 2018
Jack Hardin gives this story more twists and curves than an Everglades python! This book starts rolling and keeps picking up speed as it goes along. It all happens in a place that takes me back to a cross between the Cedar Key and Everglades City of a couple decades ago. Well done, and I'm off to the next installment! Keep 'em coming!
July 20, 2018
good book
I enjoyed this book very much, it flowed very well and it seems like this series will keep you guessing. First time in a long time that I have read a mystery novel where the first in the series just set the plot and provided background for the next book. Definitely worth each one of the five stars.
I enjoyed this book very much, it flowed very well and it seems like this series will keep you guessing. First time in a long time that I have read a mystery novel where the first in the series just set the plot and provided background for the next book. Definitely worth each one of the five stars.
February 10, 2020
Happened on what I found eventually to be no. 5 of a series and liked what I read, so started on no. 1. Enjoyed reading Ellie’s background as well as her current status. Sounds like a great series. The ending of this one a surprise, but that’s what makes it a series. So am anxious to get the second of the series.
March 28, 2020
Terrific!
First entry in this series is exciting, entertaining, and enjoyable. Characters are very real and location is terrific. I live in Southwest Florida and the descriptions of the locale are correct. Ending is a cliffhanger but the author warned of this in his preface; I plan to immediately download the next book. Enjoy!
First entry in this series is exciting, entertaining, and enjoyable. Characters are very real and location is terrific. I live in Southwest Florida and the descriptions of the locale are correct. Ending is a cliffhanger but the author warned of this in his preface; I plan to immediately download the next book. Enjoy!
February 27, 2021
Discovered a new author for me and I will continue to read him. I just love his main character Elle taking place in Florida at Pine Island. He fleshes out the different people so that you can easily feel like you know them. There is plenty of action and he leaves you wanting to read more by the end of the book. If your looking for a great book then this series will not disappoint.
Read
March 31, 2021When a close college friend writes a novel and it becomes a huge success, I decided to get a copy and read. Hardin does a wonderful job detailing in vivid fashion, the scenery of South Florida life, but most importantly developing a compelling story that begins in the CIA and ends in the DEA. The whole thing was fun to read.
July 16, 2018
I like the Florida locale. Am a fan of Wayne Stinnett. Was a very good read, but ended too abruftly. Keep up the good work, Jack.
but ended too abruptly. Keep up the good work, Jack. I plan to recommend this book to my friend, Richard.
but ended too abruptly. Keep up the good work, Jack. I plan to recommend this book to my friend, Richard.
October 1, 2018
Another strong female character. YEA!!!!!!!
I was hooked from the very beginning. I am a fan of Lee Child, Dana Stabenow, James Lee Burke, and many more fine writers. I may now be developing a fondness for Jack Hardin's characters and writing style. Keep the books coming please.
I was hooked from the very beginning. I am a fan of Lee Child, Dana Stabenow, James Lee Burke, and many more fine writers. I may now be developing a fondness for Jack Hardin's characters and writing style. Keep the books coming please.
October 25, 2018
I want more! Hooked from the first page, I had to pick up this book at every chance. Good description of the location and possibilities of action, but a reader doesn't have to be from south Florida to appreciate this read.
May 22, 2019
M. Hamilton
I fell in love with the main character immediately. I like the locale. I mistrust most government agencies but the CIA and the DEA the most. Hate cliffhangers and this one is a doozy!
I fell in love with the main character immediately. I like the locale. I mistrust most government agencies but the CIA and the DEA the most. Hate cliffhangers and this one is a doozy!
July 15, 2020
Long winded.
Took a while to get used to the drug-out pace, felt like stretching a story out to fulfill a page count. But I'll stick it out at least one more story, love the Charlotte Harbor location.
Took a while to get used to the drug-out pace, felt like stretching a story out to fulfill a page count. But I'll stick it out at least one more story, love the Charlotte Harbor location.
April 23, 2021
Broken Stern
Very intriguing. The writer keeps you engaged, developing the story at a good pace. Strong character development makes you feel the story with them. Looking forward to book two of the series.
Very intriguing. The writer keeps you engaged, developing the story at a good pace. Strong character development makes you feel the story with them. Looking forward to book two of the series.
October 9, 2021
Rip off
Story was not finished...continued in next book...which was not free to read. Story was good, but I have an idea you would have to read the whole series to finish the first plot.Would not recommend anything by this author.
Story was not finished...continued in next book...which was not free to read. Story was good, but I have an idea you would have to read the whole series to finish the first plot.Would not recommend anything by this author.
June 6, 2022
Former Team 99 member and CIA spook, Ellie is now back at home trying to settle into civilian life.
I enjoyed this book and I've already started book 2 in the series. There are so many possibilities as to who is the "top" person in the cocaine smuggling ring.
I enjoyed this book and I've already started book 2 in the series. There are so many possibilities as to who is the "top" person in the cocaine smuggling ring.
May 30, 2018
Great read!
Loved the setting. Pine Island is perfect even if names have been changed! PI is my 2nd home, and I love SWF mysteries! Thanks for a fun read!
Loved the setting. Pine Island is perfect even if names have been changed! PI is my 2nd home, and I love SWF mysteries! Thanks for a fun read!
June 27, 2018
Loved it
i am looking forward to the next one. As a fan of The Forgotten Coast series, this book did not disappoint. It was a very suspenseful read.
i am looking forward to the next one. As a fan of The Forgotten Coast series, this book did not disappoint. It was a very suspenseful read.
July 22, 2018
Solid
Solid start to a series. I'm not a huge fan of cliffhangers but enjoyed the characters enough to keep me interested and looking forward to the next book
Solid start to a series. I'm not a huge fan of cliffhangers but enjoyed the characters enough to keep me interested and looking forward to the next book
September 3, 2018
How
Can a person take chapter after chapter to say "you killed the kid". I won't be reading his books again!!!ii
Can a person take chapter after chapter to say "you killed the kid". I won't be reading his books again!!!ii
September 16, 2018
Great read!
Really enjoyed reading this book. Gotta start on the next one right away. Highly recommend everyone to read this book.
Really enjoyed reading this book. Gotta start on the next one right away. Highly recommend everyone to read this book.
September 26, 2018
Just as good and the rest of the series.
Very well written and keeps you wanting more. Once you start you can't put it down. You will loose sleep with this series.
Very well written and keeps you wanting more. Once you start you can't put it down. You will loose sleep with this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews