What do you think?
Rate this book
Broken
Trust becomes a fatal mistake in this shocking thriller by the international bestselling author of The Ridge.
Welcome to Beaumont Cove, a slowly decaying tourist town at the edge of the world, and the place where Maggie James’s worst fears for her estranged twin sister, Lilly, have come true.
Lilly is dead, and Maggie has arrived to identify her body.
Lilly’s husband, Mike, is in custody for her murder. With his long history of abuse, no one in town is surprised at the inevitable end to their stormy marriage, least of all Maggie. All she wants is to clean up her sister’s affairs, see Mike punished, and get out of Beaumont Cove.
With the help of the local sheriff, a retired private investigator, and a strange but friendly carnival psychic, Maggie begins to uncover the truth about what really happened to her sister. But the truth comes at a price, and soon Maggie finds herself walking a dark path toward the same deadly trap that killed Lilly.
The more Maggie discovers about her sister’s final days, the more she realizes that nothing is as it appears in this strange boardwalk town.
Welcome to Beaumont Cove, a slowly decaying tourist town at the edge of the world, and the place where Maggie James’s worst fears for her estranged twin sister, Lilly, have come true.
Lilly is dead, and Maggie has arrived to identify her body.
Lilly’s husband, Mike, is in custody for her murder. With his long history of abuse, no one in town is surprised at the inevitable end to their stormy marriage, least of all Maggie. All she wants is to clean up her sister’s affairs, see Mike punished, and get out of Beaumont Cove.
With the help of the local sheriff, a retired private investigator, and a strange but friendly carnival psychic, Maggie begins to uncover the truth about what really happened to her sister. But the truth comes at a price, and soon Maggie finds herself walking a dark path toward the same deadly trap that killed Lilly.
The more Maggie discovers about her sister’s final days, the more she realizes that nothing is as it appears in this strange boardwalk town.
Audio CD
First published September 15, 2020
474 people are currently reading
2620 people want to read
About the author
John Rector
23 books264 followersJohn Rector is the bestselling author of the novels Broken, The Ridge, The Cold Kiss, The Grove, Already Gone, Out of the Black, and Ruthless. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and has won several awards, including the International Thriller Award for his novella, Lost Things.
He lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
He lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 8, 2020
I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley.
It’s like the old gum commercial said about twins: “Double your pleasure, double your fun.”
At least until one of them is brutally murdered.
Maggie and Lilly are estranged twins who had a falling out because Lilly refused to leave her abusive husband Mike. It’s been a year since Lilly and Mike left the girls’ hometown, and the sisters haven’t spoken since then. When Lilly turns up dead, Mike is instantly arrested for the crime. Now Maggie has come to the fading tourist trap of a town they were living in to try and find some personal effects that belonged to their mother that Lilly had taken. However, while Mike admits that he did beat Lilly the night she died he also insists that she was still alive when he left her.
This is one of those plots that sounds like a cheesy Lifetime TV movie when you describe it, but there’s a lot more going on than that. This isn’t just a straight up thriller like it sounds, but instead it’s more of a psychological suspense novel driven by character work. Much of the story comes to us from a the manager of the apartment building where LIlly and Mike were living, and there’s just something off about this guy from the jump that gives the entire narrative an unsettling vibe.
The sequences from Maggie’s POV cover her anger, grief, and loneliness that she she hides behind a veneer of toughness. This is a woman who just wants to do what she came there to do and then get the hell out, but she finds herself drawn to some of the people she meets like a helpful sheriff, a psychic who isn’t stingy with her pot, and an aging private detective.
At less than 300 pages John Rector delivers this with a swift no-nonsense efficiency that still manages to suck you into a moody and atmospheric book that seems seems equal parts crime thriller and tragedy.
It’s like the old gum commercial said about twins: “Double your pleasure, double your fun.”
At least until one of them is brutally murdered.
Maggie and Lilly are estranged twins who had a falling out because Lilly refused to leave her abusive husband Mike. It’s been a year since Lilly and Mike left the girls’ hometown, and the sisters haven’t spoken since then. When Lilly turns up dead, Mike is instantly arrested for the crime. Now Maggie has come to the fading tourist trap of a town they were living in to try and find some personal effects that belonged to their mother that Lilly had taken. However, while Mike admits that he did beat Lilly the night she died he also insists that she was still alive when he left her.
This is one of those plots that sounds like a cheesy Lifetime TV movie when you describe it, but there’s a lot more going on than that. This isn’t just a straight up thriller like it sounds, but instead it’s more of a psychological suspense novel driven by character work. Much of the story comes to us from a the manager of the apartment building where LIlly and Mike were living, and there’s just something off about this guy from the jump that gives the entire narrative an unsettling vibe.
The sequences from Maggie’s POV cover her anger, grief, and loneliness that she she hides behind a veneer of toughness. This is a woman who just wants to do what she came there to do and then get the hell out, but she finds herself drawn to some of the people she meets like a helpful sheriff, a psychic who isn’t stingy with her pot, and an aging private detective.
At less than 300 pages John Rector delivers this with a swift no-nonsense efficiency that still manages to suck you into a moody and atmospheric book that seems seems equal parts crime thriller and tragedy.
November 13, 2020
Broken by John Rector is a mystery about twin sisters Maggie and Lilly James whose relationship had fallen apart due to Lilly’s love interest, Mike. Maggie had unsuccessfully tried to convince Lilly that being abused by Mike was not acceptable and that she should leave him. A few years later, Maggie is notified that Lilly has been murdered and she needs to go to Beaumont Cove to identify her twin’s body. Mike has been arrested for murder and is in jail and maintains that he is innocent. Maggie realizes that all is not as it seems and begins investigating on her own with the help of a local private investigator. This is the first John Rector novel I have had the pleasure to read but I hope to read more. This mystery has troubled, interesting characters and a great plot. Highly recommended. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
Maggie James makes her way to Beaumont Cover, a small tourist town without tourists. She has been notified that her twin sister, Lilly, is dead ... by the hands of her husband. She is there to identify the body.
This was not unexpected ... it wasn't the first time he had hit his wife ... but it will be the last. What Maggie wants is to take care of her sister's things, make sure her husband stays in jail, and get the heck out of this small town.
Maggie wants to talk to her sister's husband. what she learns is that she almost believes him when he said he didn't murder his wife. But he does point the finger at someone else.
Maggie gets help from the local sheriff, a private investigator and a friendly carnival psychic. What she doesn't realize is that the closer to the truth she gets, the more danger she's in.
There are no surprises at the who or why .... so the story is less suspenseful and more centered on how Maggie and her new found friends go about seeking the truth. It's a page turner, for sure. The ending was totally unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
This was not unexpected ... it wasn't the first time he had hit his wife ... but it will be the last. What Maggie wants is to take care of her sister's things, make sure her husband stays in jail, and get the heck out of this small town.
Maggie wants to talk to her sister's husband. what she learns is that she almost believes him when he said he didn't murder his wife. But he does point the finger at someone else.
Maggie gets help from the local sheriff, a private investigator and a friendly carnival psychic. What she doesn't realize is that the closer to the truth she gets, the more danger she's in.
There are no surprises at the who or why .... so the story is less suspenseful and more centered on how Maggie and her new found friends go about seeking the truth. It's a page turner, for sure. The ending was totally unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 29, 2020
Author John Rector describes the entire story by breaking it into pieces and assigning them to the characters. Readers are provided the backstory from Lilly and Thomas yet remained grounded in the present when Magnolia takes over. The past events move quickly, racing to catch up to Magnolia’s tale. When the stories collide, the suspense takes over, adding fuel to the fast pace of this entire novel.
I liked the characters in the story. You can see the pain in Thomas yet there is not enough warmth to make him likable. Magnolia – Maggie for short – stays true to who she is. Even when it is her turn to guide us through the action, her thoughts seem guarded. Ava and Clay are interesting, and definitely part of the local color in Beaumont Cove.
Separating this book from others is that Mr. Rector does not trumpet it as the first in a series. He relates a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is enough to allow us to begin liking the characters, but not so much that we feel inundated from much knowledge. There is plenty more to learn from the people of Beaumont Cove, and we can only wait patiently to see if the author will take us there once again. I hope he does. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
I liked the characters in the story. You can see the pain in Thomas yet there is not enough warmth to make him likable. Magnolia – Maggie for short – stays true to who she is. Even when it is her turn to guide us through the action, her thoughts seem guarded. Ava and Clay are interesting, and definitely part of the local color in Beaumont Cove.
Separating this book from others is that Mr. Rector does not trumpet it as the first in a series. He relates a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is enough to allow us to begin liking the characters, but not so much that we feel inundated from much knowledge. There is plenty more to learn from the people of Beaumont Cove, and we can only wait patiently to see if the author will take us there once again. I hope he does. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
October 15, 2020
The one aspect this book had going for it was it was a quick read....other than that? This is a psychological thriller.....that you keep knowing the twist. A murder happens...or did one happen because the writer had them remove the body and go on with the story...nothing secured and important objects were removed from the scene, people came and went, no murder investigation. Husband said he didn't kill, there was no proof yet he was immidiately in jail. All in all this was a sloppily written book.
November 2, 2020
Broken by John Rector is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Despite Maggie's efforts to prevent her sister from continuing a relationship with her abusive boyfriend, Lilly and Mike left town and moved to Beaumont Cove over a year ago. Maggie has not spoken to her sister since. Now she is headed to Beaumont Cove herself, to identify her sister's dead body.
Mike is in jail for Lilly's murder, but nothing is as it seems in the small town of Beaumont Cove. Something doesn't quite add up, and Maggie is determined to find answers.
My Opinions:
This was a really fast and entertaining read. It was told from the points of view of both Thomas and Maggie, and it worked well.
Although a rather dark look at spousal abuse, the author examined the reasons why the abused stays in the relationship, as well as the affects on others around them. As dark the as topic was, the book moved so swiftly that you didn't end up feeling dragged into the abuse yourself.
I loved the characters. Whether good or bad, they all had depth. The dialogue was well done, as was the plot and pace. It was told from the points of view of both Thomas and Maggie, and it worked well.
Not much to say about this one. I liked it! I will definitely be looking for other books by this author.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Read
August 19, 2020I found this book, which is billed as a “shocking thriller,” to be a quick, easy read. From the cover I expected this book to be creepy and frightening, but I felt it missed the mark a bit. It started with a great premise. Magnolia (Maggie) comes to Beaumont Cove to identify the body of her long-lost sister Lilly. She and Lilly had an argument and Lilly ran off with her abusive boyfriend Mike whom she has since married. They eventually settled down in the boardwalk town of Beaumont Cove, described as the end of the world, where it seems Mike has finally snapped and murdered Lilly.
It seems to be a cut and dried case against Mike and Maggie just wants to put it behind her and move on. First, she just wants to know for sure what happened to her sister. Little does she know that some people and events are about to interfere with her quest.
This was not a bad book, but I felt it could have been so much more. I gave it three stars and my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it.
It seems to be a cut and dried case against Mike and Maggie just wants to put it behind her and move on. First, she just wants to know for sure what happened to her sister. Little does she know that some people and events are about to interfere with her quest.
This was not a bad book, but I felt it could have been so much more. I gave it three stars and my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it.
September 15, 2020
In Rector's latest standalone thriller he delivers realism, a plethora of quirky small-town characters and raises awareness of domestic abuse issues, especially in relation to women. When first arriving in Beaumont Cove, Lilly and her husband, Mike, feel as though it is the perfect place to settle in close proximity to the seaside and the move to the village resort looks to be paying off. She hopes the move will mark a fresh start to their tumultuous relationship but that is little more than optimism on her part. With many an hour spent watching the waves lapping at the shoreline from the safety of the Starlight Pier, Lilly seemed to enjoy her time in Beaumont. Now it's a year down the line and Lilly's identical twin sister, Magnolia, aka Maggie, has arrived to identify and claim her estranged 23-year-old sister's battered and asphyxiated body. When she comes upon the once-bustling tourist destination filled with crumbling buildings, neglected infrastructure with an all-around dilapidated feel to it she wonders what her sister fell in love with about the place.
The sisters grew up close-knit but Maggie began to cut ties when Lilly refused to leave her abusive marriage unable to bear the upset after her sister was repeatedly beaten to a pulp by her drunken husband. She believes Mike, who has been arrested for Lilly’s murder, is responsible and decides to confront him before she leaves to head back home to Manitou Springs and her job as a private investigator. But after talking to Mike and seeing her sister's body she suspects there's more to this than meets the eye. Told in dual timelines with a combination of protagonist Maggie's first-person perspective and third-person flashbacks, we know from the beginning who the perpetrator is although there are plenty of interesting developments throughout. It's a quick, easy, entertaining and graphically violent read but ultimately ends up being rather forgettable. Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC.
The sisters grew up close-knit but Maggie began to cut ties when Lilly refused to leave her abusive marriage unable to bear the upset after her sister was repeatedly beaten to a pulp by her drunken husband. She believes Mike, who has been arrested for Lilly’s murder, is responsible and decides to confront him before she leaves to head back home to Manitou Springs and her job as a private investigator. But after talking to Mike and seeing her sister's body she suspects there's more to this than meets the eye. Told in dual timelines with a combination of protagonist Maggie's first-person perspective and third-person flashbacks, we know from the beginning who the perpetrator is although there are plenty of interesting developments throughout. It's a quick, easy, entertaining and graphically violent read but ultimately ends up being rather forgettable. Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC.
November 12, 2020
Magnolia James, Maggie, age twenty-three, had her worsts fear come to fruition. She has traveled to Seaside Beaumont Cove, a slightly rundown yet picturesque town, a place almost at the edge of the world, and a place with secrets. She is there to identify the body of her twin sister Lilly, and she is positive Lilly was killed by her husband, Mike. To most people, Lilly’s relationship with Mike seemed “fine,” but from the start, it never felt right to Maggie; Lilly’s death confirmed her worst fears.
The story unfolds in Maggie’s first-person narrative. She is on an emotional roller coaster and shares her despair and guilt with readers. Maggie had abandoned Lilly when her sister needed her the most; none of this was Lilly’s fault; Lilly was her best friend; she was broken, Supporting characters sometimes help and sometimes hinder Maggie’s quest to obtain justice for Lilly, but this is Maggie’s mission alone, her search for redemption for Lilly and her pursuit of peace for herself. She needs to find answers to complex questions surrounding Lilly’s murder, and people are not telling the truth. Details of the past come to light in unusual ways as Maggie searches for both physical and emotional links to Lilly.
“Broken” reveals the devastating consequences of serial abuse. I received a review copy of “Broken” from John Rector and Thomas & Mercer Publishing. It was both poignant and chilling.
The story unfolds in Maggie’s first-person narrative. She is on an emotional roller coaster and shares her despair and guilt with readers. Maggie had abandoned Lilly when her sister needed her the most; none of this was Lilly’s fault; Lilly was her best friend; she was broken, Supporting characters sometimes help and sometimes hinder Maggie’s quest to obtain justice for Lilly, but this is Maggie’s mission alone, her search for redemption for Lilly and her pursuit of peace for herself. She needs to find answers to complex questions surrounding Lilly’s murder, and people are not telling the truth. Details of the past come to light in unusual ways as Maggie searches for both physical and emotional links to Lilly.
“Broken” reveals the devastating consequences of serial abuse. I received a review copy of “Broken” from John Rector and Thomas & Mercer Publishing. It was both poignant and chilling.
September 17, 2020
This was a short and sweet crime fiction story, but it packed a punch. Identical twin sisters are the main characters of this book, one who was killed and the other who knows the way only a twin can that things aren't quite adding up.
I was drawn in right away with the issues all the characters in this story had. Not just the main characters, but all of them. The sisters being estranged, one sister being in an abusive relationship, the creepy neighbor with some unknown but shady past that has him being checked up on. The psychic in cahoots with the private investigator, what a set-up, right?
The audiobook book was narrated well and really ratcheted up the serious feel of the story.
I was drawn in right away with the issues all the characters in this story had. Not just the main characters, but all of them. The sisters being estranged, one sister being in an abusive relationship, the creepy neighbor with some unknown but shady past that has him being checked up on. The psychic in cahoots with the private investigator, what a set-up, right?
The audiobook book was narrated well and really ratcheted up the serious feel of the story.
April 28, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, publishing company and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Maggie's twin sister Lily is murdered, she is determined to stop by her new hometown to find out who did it and why. Can she find out the truth before she is the killer's next victim? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good horror suspense thriller. Fans of horror and thriller stories will enjoy this book. Be sure to check this book out for yourself wherever books and ebooks are sold when this hits bookstores on September 18, 2020.
When Maggie's twin sister Lily is murdered, she is determined to stop by her new hometown to find out who did it and why. Can she find out the truth before she is the killer's next victim? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good horror suspense thriller. Fans of horror and thriller stories will enjoy this book. Be sure to check this book out for yourself wherever books and ebooks are sold when this hits bookstores on September 18, 2020.
April 3, 2020
Really enjoyed it. short to the point, sometimes its nice to read a book like this, doesnt require alot of thinking, just sit down and enjoy. just enough character developement to know whats going on, no fluff.
April 29, 2020
A really promising and speedy thriller ride.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author but it won’t be the last.
A good solid storyline worthy of a good 3.5 stars 🌟
This is the first book I’ve read from this author but it won’t be the last.
A good solid storyline worthy of a good 3.5 stars 🌟
January 31, 2021
I have read all John Rector's books and they are well written page turners in I guess the urban noir genre. this new one reads like it would be a great film noir from the 40's. I really enjoyed this one and the pages flew by. my only wish is that there was a little more mystery as it doesn't take too long to see how everything will play out. good characters and good writing tho make up for the lack of suspense and it is interesting to see exactly how everything is dealt with. I will round this up to 4 stars, if you are a Rector fan, you will enjoy.
December 11, 2022
I enjoyed this one.
November 10, 2020
3.5/5 Stars
[I received a copy from Netgalley for an honest review]
"People don't change, Sheriff. They are who they are. It's the people around us who bring out our true nature. We're all each other's angels and demons."
Broken is a new crime thriller by author John Rector. The story of Maggie who is facing the death of her twin sister Lilly. What seems like the result of abuse gone to far turns out to be more than what it seems. Lilly tries to piece together what happened to her sister and finds herself in a disturbed individuals sights.
I devoured this book, it was easy to picture the off season boardwalk of Beaumont Cove and it gave off some creepy vibes. It switches from the heroine Maggie's prospective and that of our villain. Maggie was smart, realistic, very relatable and easily imagined. Our villain was more than slightly disturbed, and we get to watch as he looses grip on reality. My only dislike of the book was that we know who his name and who is from the very beginning. But it was still interesting to watch his mental deterioration and Maggie piecing everything together and trusting her gut instincts.
[I received a copy from Netgalley for an honest review]
"People don't change, Sheriff. They are who they are. It's the people around us who bring out our true nature. We're all each other's angels and demons."
Broken is a new crime thriller by author John Rector. The story of Maggie who is facing the death of her twin sister Lilly. What seems like the result of abuse gone to far turns out to be more than what it seems. Lilly tries to piece together what happened to her sister and finds herself in a disturbed individuals sights.
I devoured this book, it was easy to picture the off season boardwalk of Beaumont Cove and it gave off some creepy vibes. It switches from the heroine Maggie's prospective and that of our villain. Maggie was smart, realistic, very relatable and easily imagined. Our villain was more than slightly disturbed, and we get to watch as he looses grip on reality. My only dislike of the book was that we know who his name and who is from the very beginning. But it was still interesting to watch his mental deterioration and Maggie piecing everything together and trusting her gut instincts.
October 15, 2020
In the 1980s and 1990s, American supermarket checkout stands were full of mass-market paperbacks with covers featuring blood-red slashes, silver-foil knife blades, wide-eyed terrified white women, and titles like I'LL BE WATCHING YOU or A STRANGER IN HIDING or NIGHT SCREAMS. The stories were inevitably about psychosexually driven serial killers and the aspirational women they locked into their sights, and there was about nine hundred million of them, or so it seemed, because it also seemed that my mother snarfed up every single one, and even though my interest in crime fiction ran in a different vein, I'd pick up one of hers every now and then when I was visiting to pass a night when sleep proved difficult to find. They wren't great, but they did their job, and the stalked-sexy-white-woman story still has supple legs to this day.
In story form, John Rector's BROKEN is a lot like those tales of what I came to think of as "supermarket suspense." A young woman is murdered in a quiet seaside town. Her abusive husband is arrested, but it quickly becomes no secret who the real killer is — Thomas, the awkward but intense manager of their apartment building, who drifted into the job after a few teenage years in a psychiatric hospital for setting a fire that killed his parents. And when the dead woman's twin sister comes to town in search of answers and some semblance of closure, Thomas sees a second chance to secure his dream girl. All very familiar stuff. So for most of BROKEN, ostensibly a suspense-thriller there appears to be virtually no suspense about how things will play out. But —
Well, let me just say that I use the term "shocking twist" with great reluctance, because most twists in most contemporary suspense-thrillers appear to spring out of the author's all-too-obvious story scaffolding, constructed atop a foundation of cynical commercial calculated aimed at the market of the moment, rather than out of the characters’ established pathologies. But John Rector, the author of several crime-fiction novels I’ve admired, is too smart to step into that trap. Instead, he skillfully leads us into his trap. And the result is indeed a shocking twist that I’ve never seen before, all the more shocking for the casual deftness by which it’s dropped just when you’re certain you know exactly how things are going to play out. It is a white-hat white character’s sudden swerve into the darkest shade of moral gray possible, and it’s worth sticking around for.
There’s another reason to read BROKEN even you think the story has no capacity to surprise you, and that John Rector himself. Rector isn’t a high prose stylist or a thematically deep thinker on the page, but he has what I think of as a first-rate sense of glide, the ability to make the page turn not just because of how skillfully he plots and pieces together characters, and blends them into settings that take on their own deliciously dark-gray lives, but because he is a master of imbuing every passage and every page with what writing-craft guru James Scott Bell calls “pleasurable uncertainty.” Every sentence is exquisitely pitched with a sense of shadowy dread you can’t quite completely see, and there’s a sense of being in the hands of a professional with perfect tonal control who never wasted a word, and at some point you become dimly aware that you’ve lost the ability to look away.
These qualities are ultimately what make you want to power through BROKEN in a single sitting. That’s rare in a genre populated by hacks, pretenders and writers not in control of their gifts, and it’s why John Rector should be more widely read and celebrated.
In story form, John Rector's BROKEN is a lot like those tales of what I came to think of as "supermarket suspense." A young woman is murdered in a quiet seaside town. Her abusive husband is arrested, but it quickly becomes no secret who the real killer is — Thomas, the awkward but intense manager of their apartment building, who drifted into the job after a few teenage years in a psychiatric hospital for setting a fire that killed his parents. And when the dead woman's twin sister comes to town in search of answers and some semblance of closure, Thomas sees a second chance to secure his dream girl. All very familiar stuff. So for most of BROKEN, ostensibly a suspense-thriller there appears to be virtually no suspense about how things will play out. But —
Well, let me just say that I use the term "shocking twist" with great reluctance, because most twists in most contemporary suspense-thrillers appear to spring out of the author's all-too-obvious story scaffolding, constructed atop a foundation of cynical commercial calculated aimed at the market of the moment, rather than out of the characters’ established pathologies. But John Rector, the author of several crime-fiction novels I’ve admired, is too smart to step into that trap. Instead, he skillfully leads us into his trap. And the result is indeed a shocking twist that I’ve never seen before, all the more shocking for the casual deftness by which it’s dropped just when you’re certain you know exactly how things are going to play out. It is a white-hat white character’s sudden swerve into the darkest shade of moral gray possible, and it’s worth sticking around for.
There’s another reason to read BROKEN even you think the story has no capacity to surprise you, and that John Rector himself. Rector isn’t a high prose stylist or a thematically deep thinker on the page, but he has what I think of as a first-rate sense of glide, the ability to make the page turn not just because of how skillfully he plots and pieces together characters, and blends them into settings that take on their own deliciously dark-gray lives, but because he is a master of imbuing every passage and every page with what writing-craft guru James Scott Bell calls “pleasurable uncertainty.” Every sentence is exquisitely pitched with a sense of shadowy dread you can’t quite completely see, and there’s a sense of being in the hands of a professional with perfect tonal control who never wasted a word, and at some point you become dimly aware that you’ve lost the ability to look away.
These qualities are ultimately what make you want to power through BROKEN in a single sitting. That’s rare in a genre populated by hacks, pretenders and writers not in control of their gifts, and it’s why John Rector should be more widely read and celebrated.
September 27, 2020
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
This is a really dark story regarding domestic abuse and murder. Lilly and Mike move to Beaumont Cove and Lilly spends a lot of time reflecting on her life and her abusive spouse. The town of Beaumont Cove seems ideal to Lilly but when her sister, Maggie, comes to identify her twin’s body she doesn’t see the ideal town Lilly did and wonders what her sister saw in the crumbling town.
Maggie assumes Mike killed her sister but even she starts questioning everything and wonders if her brother in law is actually innocent. But one she starts investigating she starts finding out info.
I found the suspense part of the book good. I wondered what had happened to Lilly and liked the way that part was written. However, the abuse part was dark, actually a bit too dark for me.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really dark story regarding domestic abuse and murder. Lilly and Mike move to Beaumont Cove and Lilly spends a lot of time reflecting on her life and her abusive spouse. The town of Beaumont Cove seems ideal to Lilly but when her sister, Maggie, comes to identify her twin’s body she doesn’t see the ideal town Lilly did and wonders what her sister saw in the crumbling town.
Maggie assumes Mike killed her sister but even she starts questioning everything and wonders if her brother in law is actually innocent. But one she starts investigating she starts finding out info.
I found the suspense part of the book good. I wondered what had happened to Lilly and liked the way that part was written. However, the abuse part was dark, actually a bit too dark for me.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2020
Lilly is dead, and Maggie her estranged twin has arrived to identify her body.
Lilly’s husband, Mike, is in custody for her murder. With his long history of abuse, no one in town is surprised at the inevitable end to their stormy marriage, least of all Maggie. All she wants is to clean up her sister’s affairs, see Mike punished, and get out of Beaumont Cove.
With the help of the local sheriff, a retired private investigator, and a strange but friendly carnival psychic, Maggie begins to uncover the truth about what really happened to her sister. But the truth comes at a price, and soon Maggie finds herself walking a dark path toward the same deadly trap that killed Lilly.
The more Maggie discovers about her sister’s final days, the more she realizes that nothing is as it appears in this strange boardwalk town.
Compelling characters and an intriguing story, this is a novel you don’t want to miss.
Lilly’s husband, Mike, is in custody for her murder. With his long history of abuse, no one in town is surprised at the inevitable end to their stormy marriage, least of all Maggie. All she wants is to clean up her sister’s affairs, see Mike punished, and get out of Beaumont Cove.
With the help of the local sheriff, a retired private investigator, and a strange but friendly carnival psychic, Maggie begins to uncover the truth about what really happened to her sister. But the truth comes at a price, and soon Maggie finds herself walking a dark path toward the same deadly trap that killed Lilly.
The more Maggie discovers about her sister’s final days, the more she realizes that nothing is as it appears in this strange boardwalk town.
Compelling characters and an intriguing story, this is a novel you don’t want to miss.
May 26, 2020
I liked this one. It was a very quick read, more like a novella, particularly in the somewhat shallow character development and presentation. Almost from the beginning, you know who the good and bad guys are. There are no red herrings or twists - which is almost a twist in and of itself these days. The plot wasn't very complicated, the characters were straightforward and fairly predictable in their behaviors and responses to the events as they unfolded.
And yet despite all that, I enjoyed reading it.
I can't really put my finger on why, which tells me it must have something to do with the writing - which suited the story very well in all its inexplicable straightforward glory. I'd definitely read Rector again. He tells an unvarnished tale, and that's a rare thing in this day and age. And all the more enjoyable for it, I say...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
And yet despite all that, I enjoyed reading it.
I can't really put my finger on why, which tells me it must have something to do with the writing - which suited the story very well in all its inexplicable straightforward glory. I'd definitely read Rector again. He tells an unvarnished tale, and that's a rare thing in this day and age. And all the more enjoyable for it, I say...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
March 16, 2020
I got a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m not sure how much I liked this book. I think the simple way to summarize this book is to say it's an easy and predictable mystery story. It was very predictable. I also didn’t like the first-person writing. However, I gotta say I actually liked the plot and the overall story. It kept me interested even though I can tell what happened and what will happen next. I actually stayed up to finish reading it and paused my other books because it drew my interest. It’s actually my first Mystery book but I can tell it’s an easy one, and to be honest I’m now looking forward to reading more mystery. As for the author, I will consider checking out his other books since I kind of enjoyed this one.
Would I reread? No not really.
Would I recommend? Actually yes. To a friend who needs a first mystery book.
Would I reread? No not really.
Would I recommend? Actually yes. To a friend who needs a first mystery book.
September 3, 2020
John Rector's The Ridge was one of my top 5 books of 2017. He has a way of writing that makes me almost manic in my need to reach the end.
Broken is the story of twins, Lilly and Maggie (Magnolia). Lilly is dead and Maggie wants to find out how and why. She's also looking for answers that she doesn't realize she needs. A sense of home and of family. Thomas is the manager of the extended stay hotel where Lilly lived, Mike is Lilly's husband and accused murderer, Clay is a private investigator, and then there's the town witch.
This book is good - I mean, I did stay up 3 hours past my bedtime to finish it, but it left me wanting something. Still - I enjoyed it as I am a John Rector fan and see nothing bad about anything he writes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Broken is the story of twins, Lilly and Maggie (Magnolia). Lilly is dead and Maggie wants to find out how and why. She's also looking for answers that she doesn't realize she needs. A sense of home and of family. Thomas is the manager of the extended stay hotel where Lilly lived, Mike is Lilly's husband and accused murderer, Clay is a private investigator, and then there's the town witch.
This book is good - I mean, I did stay up 3 hours past my bedtime to finish it, but it left me wanting something. Still - I enjoyed it as I am a John Rector fan and see nothing bad about anything he writes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 14, 2020
Title: Broken
Author: John Rector
Genre: Fiction, thriller
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
This novel is technically sound: solid writing, unique characters, an interesting setting. But there was nothing unexpected here. I found it basically predictable—yes, even the carnival psychic—with just a tiny bit of creepy due to the setting (empty tourist town).
Maggie was not a likable character to me at all. Hateful, judgmental, and a liar, to boot. (Yes, I know what Mike was a horrible person to her sister, but still, what she did to him was Wrong.) I ended up feeling little to no sympathy for her, and that made the whole book just “meh.”
(Galley courtesy of Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
Author: John Rector
Genre: Fiction, thriller
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
This novel is technically sound: solid writing, unique characters, an interesting setting. But there was nothing unexpected here. I found it basically predictable—yes, even the carnival psychic—with just a tiny bit of creepy due to the setting (empty tourist town).
Maggie was not a likable character to me at all. Hateful, judgmental, and a liar, to boot. (Yes, I know what Mike was a horrible person to her sister, but still, what she did to him was Wrong.) I ended up feeling little to no sympathy for her, and that made the whole book just “meh.”
(Galley courtesy of Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
September 21, 2020
Maggie and Lilly are twins. They are all the family each other has left. Then a man comes between them. Mike is a bad man. A worse boyfriend. Lilly tries to get Maggie to see the good in Mike. Maggie isn’t having it. This rift leads Lilly and Mike to leave and put up roots in Beaumont Cove. An old coastal tourist town where the magic is drying up. There are good people here but something bad happens to Lilly. The one who looks for the good in all people. Mike gets locked up for killing Lilly. Maggie has to come to Beaumont Cove to identify her dead twin and clean up the pieces. But some new pieces that weren’t seen by the police become apparent to Maggie. Maggie can find no rest until she can get to the truth behind Lilly’s life and death. This is a book about relationships, failed, and successful. You can never really be sure which one you are in until it’s over.
March 30, 2020
The cover and the description for Broken by John Rector had me pretty excited, but unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me. It was an easy, quick read, but extremely predictable and just not well developed enough for me in the end. I think deeper backstories could have helped flesh out the characters better. Some things didn’t really make sense to me. I feel like there was a lot of things to do with Mike’s character that just didn’t make sense. (Spoiler alert: such as why he was so convinced he didn’t kill her given the shape he left her in and why if he was so certain he didn’t provide more details on what had happened leading up to the fight). Definitely not a bad read overall, just would have liked to see more.
April 4, 2020
Enjoyable Easy Read! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In this thriller we are introduced to Maggie James, a private investigator, who has arrived in the aging seaside town of Beaumont Cove to identify a body. As she tries to find the truth about her twin sisters death, she ignores the signs of danger and finds herself in trouble.
This fast paced well written thriller was an easy read. After reading some intense thrillers, this was a breath of fresh air. A story you don't have to overthink. Well written with insightful characters, it's paints a full picture of what it is like in Beaumont Cove. I would love to read more books about Maggie James, I do hope there is a sequel!
In this thriller we are introduced to Maggie James, a private investigator, who has arrived in the aging seaside town of Beaumont Cove to identify a body. As she tries to find the truth about her twin sisters death, she ignores the signs of danger and finds herself in trouble.
This fast paced well written thriller was an easy read. After reading some intense thrillers, this was a breath of fresh air. A story you don't have to overthink. Well written with insightful characters, it's paints a full picture of what it is like in Beaumont Cove. I would love to read more books about Maggie James, I do hope there is a sequel!
April 18, 2020
Broken starts with a heartfelt letter written by Lilly who hopes to reconcile with the sister she left behind. Lilly's
sorrow and loneliness is palpable. Next we see Maggie who has come to identify the body of her twin sister Lilly. The story takes off like an explosion when Thomas is introduced. The writing is so good it's easy to see that Thomas is trouble for anyone who interferes with his twisted fantasy life. His craziness took the story to extremes that were unpredictable. I love a story that surprises me over and over again and Broken did just that. This is a great story with skillfully crafted characters and a perfect ending.
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#Broken #NetGalley
sorrow and loneliness is palpable. Next we see Maggie who has come to identify the body of her twin sister Lilly. The story takes off like an explosion when Thomas is introduced. The writing is so good it's easy to see that Thomas is trouble for anyone who interferes with his twisted fantasy life. His craziness took the story to extremes that were unpredictable. I love a story that surprises me over and over again and Broken did just that. This is a great story with skillfully crafted characters and a perfect ending.
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#Broken #NetGalley
May 10, 2020
Broken is the story about two twins. Maggie (Magnolia) comes to Beaumont Cove when her twin is murdered. Suspect of the murder is her sisters husband who is known for his loose hands and explosive temper.
But there is more than meets the eye in this quaint seaside community and slowly Maggie discovers what happened to her sister during her last days with some help from the local retired Sheriff and his Carnival Psychic wife. Her search for the truth almost becomes fatal for Magnolia too.
Very interesting and suspenseful book in which the atmosphere of the out of season boardwalk town plays a big role.
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
But there is more than meets the eye in this quaint seaside community and slowly Maggie discovers what happened to her sister during her last days with some help from the local retired Sheriff and his Carnival Psychic wife. Her search for the truth almost becomes fatal for Magnolia too.
Very interesting and suspenseful book in which the atmosphere of the out of season boardwalk town plays a big role.
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
March 10, 2020
Broken by John Rector. Easy enough to figure out who killed Lilly. Totally felt like there were several pages missing from the story. Thomas' back story was never fully explained and there wasn't enough information on the twins to get invested in their lives. There was supposedly a creepy, sinister vibe in the community of Beaumont Cove that wasn't really felt within the story. Did enjoy CJ's and Ava's part in the investigation.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
April 1, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for this ARC. This thriller follows the story of Magnolia who is called to Beaumont Cove after the death of her twin sister. This book is well written and well paced keeping you interested to the end. The characters are dynamic and believable which made it good fun to read. I really enjoyed this book and would like to read more from this Author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews