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Logan McKenna #1
Shattered
A car crash and a pink shoebox change Logan's life forever. Then, her best friend is accused of murder.
In the first novel of Davisson's thrilling, best-selling series, Logan loses her husband, her illusions, the company they built together, her music, and now, probably her job.
But when a young glassblower is brutally killed at the local arts festival and her good friend, Thomas Delgado, a Native American artist, is accused of the crime, Logan drops everything and comes to his defense.
It doesn't help that Thomas is refusing to defend himself. As Logan struggles to maintain her still tenuous hold on her new life, she delves into the dangerous world of glassblowing in order to clear her friend's name.
The deeper Logan digs, the more secrets she unearths, and the more unhinged the real killer becomes. Logan must find the truth before they kill again.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2014
279 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Davisson
18 books38 followersA book addict from way back, I cut my teeth on fairy tales and C.S. Lewis, skipping class to hang out in the library. Later, I moved on to Tolkein and Twain. During graduate school, I only had time to read Anthropology books, so it wasn't until later I got hooked on Mysteries and Thrillers. Michael Conneally's Bosch, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone, C.J. Box, J.A. Jance's Sheriff Brady, and Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon. I don't know about you, but I burned through those books as fast as I could discover a new series. Still do!
But it wasn't until I had a serious back injury that I realized how important well-written stories were to me. I could get lost in a good book. They kept my mind off of things over which I had not control. And even though they were pure fiction, the ones with strong, female protagonists inspired me to overcome my own hurdles in life. I realized I not only enjoyed reading them, but I wanted to write books like that.
Somewhere during that time, the character of Logan McKenna began to take shape, eventually turning into my first book of the Logan series, SHATTERED. With 8 books and a novella prequel in the series so far, I am grateful readers have enjoyed getting to know Logan and friends and keep buying the books, allowing me to do what I love. I am rarely happier than when I am at my keyboard, headphones clamped on my head, listening to ocean waves crashing on rocks (my go-to white noise), allowing the story to flow out of my fingertips.
I also love to hear from readers. It may take a while due to my research and writing schedule, but I will answer!
My husband and I live in our dream forest cottage on the Oregon coast with our dog, Finn. We have six children and numerous grandchildren, grand dogs and a few grand cats. When I'm not at the computer, I'm usually out walking Finn or in the kitchen trying new recipes.
But it wasn't until I had a serious back injury that I realized how important well-written stories were to me. I could get lost in a good book. They kept my mind off of things over which I had not control. And even though they were pure fiction, the ones with strong, female protagonists inspired me to overcome my own hurdles in life. I realized I not only enjoyed reading them, but I wanted to write books like that.
Somewhere during that time, the character of Logan McKenna began to take shape, eventually turning into my first book of the Logan series, SHATTERED. With 8 books and a novella prequel in the series so far, I am grateful readers have enjoyed getting to know Logan and friends and keep buying the books, allowing me to do what I love. I am rarely happier than when I am at my keyboard, headphones clamped on my head, listening to ocean waves crashing on rocks (my go-to white noise), allowing the story to flow out of my fingertips.
I also love to hear from readers. It may take a while due to my research and writing schedule, but I will answer!
My husband and I live in our dream forest cottage on the Oregon coast with our dog, Finn. We have six children and numerous grandchildren, grand dogs and a few grand cats. When I'm not at the computer, I'm usually out walking Finn or in the kitchen trying new recipes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 24, 2023
Logan McKenna is trying to get her life back together after a series of harrowing incidents: there was the car accident, the loss of her husband, Jack, and the arrival of a pink box, left by his mistress. It contained meticulous evidence of their affair and appeared on her doorstep the day of Jack’s funeral. Then, Logan lost her father and dismantled and sold the tech business that she and her husband had built. Her beloved music fell by the wayside. When a young woman with natural glassblowing talent is horrifically murdered at the town’s local arts festival, one her best friends, Thomas Delgado, himself a talented Native American artist, is accused of her murder and arrested. No one except for the police think Thomas would ever harm anyone, but a mysterious bank transfer happened between him and the girl who was killed, and Thomas is refusing to talk or even try to defend himself. As Logan tries to start over while also faced with a written accusation of cheating with regard to the high test scores achieved by her students and pending dismissal, she investigates the glassblowing compound to see what clues she can uncover to help clear Thomas’s name. The further she digs, the more psychopathic the murderer becomes, and the more danger Logan is in as she races to find the killer before becoming the next victim.
This is an engrossing read with so many clever themes interwoven throughout, the pages flew by and I was unable to put it down. I loved the descriptive words that carried me along, and learned a lot about some of the fine arts, like glassblowing and obsidian-bladed knife making. There are also teaching moments about the Native American powwow and healing arts, and the mention of a disease that I am, unfortunately, all too intimately familiar with—Lupus. The writing is tense and taut, and there are many storylines and characters throughout, but each is purposeful and familiar. Included are the personality types everyone knows, and can relate to someone with whom they are familiar. The scenery is beautifully painted with Valerie Davisson’s words and phrases, the characters are well-drawn, and the dialog is believable. I was very fond of the will-they-or-won’t-they spark between Logan and the hunk who lives next door, Ben, and hopeful that Logan will finally find the relationship she deserves after all she’s lost. It is so easy to root for her character! I would highly recommend this to readers of mysteries, thrillers, and action/adventures, and personally can not wait to read the next books in the Logan McKenna series.
I’d like to thank AuthorsXP, Valerie Davisson, and Vaughn House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This is an engrossing read with so many clever themes interwoven throughout, the pages flew by and I was unable to put it down. I loved the descriptive words that carried me along, and learned a lot about some of the fine arts, like glassblowing and obsidian-bladed knife making. There are also teaching moments about the Native American powwow and healing arts, and the mention of a disease that I am, unfortunately, all too intimately familiar with—Lupus. The writing is tense and taut, and there are many storylines and characters throughout, but each is purposeful and familiar. Included are the personality types everyone knows, and can relate to someone with whom they are familiar. The scenery is beautifully painted with Valerie Davisson’s words and phrases, the characters are well-drawn, and the dialog is believable. I was very fond of the will-they-or-won’t-they spark between Logan and the hunk who lives next door, Ben, and hopeful that Logan will finally find the relationship she deserves after all she’s lost. It is so easy to root for her character! I would highly recommend this to readers of mysteries, thrillers, and action/adventures, and personally can not wait to read the next books in the Logan McKenna series.
I’d like to thank AuthorsXP, Valerie Davisson, and Vaughn House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
August 22, 2020
Shattered is the first novel in the Logan McKenna series by Valerie Davisson. This my first novel by this author.
From the first few sentences, I was hooked by this novel. I learned not to read this at night for I get scared easily and the tone of the novel left me with vivid images of the events taking place. This has thriller and mystery vibes to it.
I couldn’t put the book down cause I wanted to know what was going to happen and who the killer was.
It has been some time since I read a good mystery and it had elements that I enjoyed. The killer was not easy to figure out and the main character was likable.
I hope to read more of this series.
From the first few sentences, I was hooked by this novel. I learned not to read this at night for I get scared easily and the tone of the novel left me with vivid images of the events taking place. This has thriller and mystery vibes to it.
I couldn’t put the book down cause I wanted to know what was going to happen and who the killer was.
It has been some time since I read a good mystery and it had elements that I enjoyed. The killer was not easy to figure out and the main character was likable.
I hope to read more of this series.
November 17, 2021
Logan McKenna’s life is unraveling. Two years ago, she lost her husband in an auto accident. After selling the computer business she and Jack had built together, she accepts a job teaching in a middle school, only to find she is “too good” at it. Her students do so well on standardized tests that another teacher accuses her of helping them cheat. As she begins the summer break, she faces the real possibility of having no job to return to in the fall.
In an effort to heal, she buys a small house near the beach in southern California, close to the annual Otter Arts Festival in Jasper, an event at which she had spent every summer of her adolescence. Her Native American friends Thomas and Lisa ask her to help them at their booth in the festival. She will use the summer to regroup and decide what to do with the rest of her life—until a dead body is found in the glass-blowers booth nearby. The police are convinced that Thomas is the killer, and Logan must solve the mystery to save her friend and herself.
Author Davisson has crafted an engaging cozy mystery with a strong and likeable female lead. I found the glimpse into the art of glass-blowing to be particularly fascinating. Shattered introduces us to Logan McKenna, the amateur sleuth trying to get her life back together, afraid to get romantically involved with another man—yet. But who knows what the future holds? Driving her ’58 Corvette she has affectionately named “Lola,” Logan is sure to lead us on many more delightful adventures. This is quintessential beachside and poolside reading. (Or fireside reading in the winter!) Enjoy!
In an effort to heal, she buys a small house near the beach in southern California, close to the annual Otter Arts Festival in Jasper, an event at which she had spent every summer of her adolescence. Her Native American friends Thomas and Lisa ask her to help them at their booth in the festival. She will use the summer to regroup and decide what to do with the rest of her life—until a dead body is found in the glass-blowers booth nearby. The police are convinced that Thomas is the killer, and Logan must solve the mystery to save her friend and herself.
Author Davisson has crafted an engaging cozy mystery with a strong and likeable female lead. I found the glimpse into the art of glass-blowing to be particularly fascinating. Shattered introduces us to Logan McKenna, the amateur sleuth trying to get her life back together, afraid to get romantically involved with another man—yet. But who knows what the future holds? Driving her ’58 Corvette she has affectionately named “Lola,” Logan is sure to lead us on many more delightful adventures. This is quintessential beachside and poolside reading. (Or fireside reading in the winter!) Enjoy!
January 18, 2016
Although I understand that all books have flaws, reading Shattered quickly got to a point where it confused me to tears. Despite the semi well written story line and semi believable character development, I could not actually follow the book due to how many times the author skipped around and I lost track of who was who was dead, when they died and where flashbacks applied. Now, I have read many books whose character development is told in the forms of past and present, however, Shattered takes it past the norm until you finally realize that you've been re-reading chapters just to make sure you didn't miss anything.
I did enjoy the overall story. The main character of Logan was somewhat likeable and sincere enough to keep me reading, as were the supporting cast. I had trouble engaging with the antagonist of the story though, as I was never exactly sure which one it was. And not because of well written intrigue. More because Davisson just threw her in at the last moment. Eventually it became blatantly obvious just who our antagonist is when the author practically wrote "_____ DID IT!" at the 80% mark, allowing virtually no need for a climax and finale.
The two red herrings thrown at me around the 30% mark were given little to know explanation and I had to fill in the blanks on my own. As for the final reveal? There was little to no build up and the motive was shoddy at best. The antagonist must be the dumbest person in the world for randomly collecting stolen things with no logical reason behind why they were chosen as keepsakes and the vague description of personality in general made me hope that there would be more shock value as I read on. The character of Leah was the blandest of all. We are given a brief glance at her back story before understanding that she is a religious nut. And she flip flops as much as the continuity. One minute she is honored to do things for people, her belief is that the more good deeds she completes the closer to Heaven she will be. The next minute she's thinking about how tired she is of doing for everyone and not having it recognized. Which is it Leah? My dislike deepened when she decided that her fiancé had cheated on her simply because her co-worker had left a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom. I get it, Leah has some major issues. But can we stay on point and let the story flow please? She also likes to make pointless statements such as "... and now for your baby!” which go nowhere.
Then there's the protagonist, Logan. A teacher with an edge to teaching that gets her students engaged and learning. It's clear the author has a strong dislike for standardize tests (who doesn't?) but that Logan gets a letter accusing her of "cheating" because her students scored higher on said tests is a bit ridiculous. The character developed well from start to finish but apparently little details were over looked; example being she tells us she has only folding chairs and a bed in her new house for furniture but, at around 84%, she suddenly has a couch. No shopping, no delivery. Just. Poof. A couch. Her personal relationships are not particularly deep and she seems more interested in being an amateur sleuth than in actually helping her friends. Also, let's throw in an adulterous husband so she doesn't feel guilt dating two years after he died.
Aside from the time hop/flip flops, I can say that this series may being delegated to being sold for under a buck or in the Kindle Unlimited free book section; mind you I do still have book two yet to read and I am praying the continuity issues are less severe allowing me to enjoy the story for what it is opposed to what I can piece together myself.
I did enjoy the overall story. The main character of Logan was somewhat likeable and sincere enough to keep me reading, as were the supporting cast. I had trouble engaging with the antagonist of the story though, as I was never exactly sure which one it was. And not because of well written intrigue. More because Davisson just threw her in at the last moment. Eventually it became blatantly obvious just who our antagonist is when the author practically wrote "_____ DID IT!" at the 80% mark, allowing virtually no need for a climax and finale.
The two red herrings thrown at me around the 30% mark were given little to know explanation and I had to fill in the blanks on my own. As for the final reveal? There was little to no build up and the motive was shoddy at best. The antagonist must be the dumbest person in the world for randomly collecting stolen things with no logical reason behind why they were chosen as keepsakes and the vague description of personality in general made me hope that there would be more shock value as I read on. The character of Leah was the blandest of all. We are given a brief glance at her back story before understanding that she is a religious nut. And she flip flops as much as the continuity. One minute she is honored to do things for people, her belief is that the more good deeds she completes the closer to Heaven she will be. The next minute she's thinking about how tired she is of doing for everyone and not having it recognized. Which is it Leah? My dislike deepened when she decided that her fiancé had cheated on her simply because her co-worker had left a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom. I get it, Leah has some major issues. But can we stay on point and let the story flow please? She also likes to make pointless statements such as "... and now for your baby!” which go nowhere.
Then there's the protagonist, Logan. A teacher with an edge to teaching that gets her students engaged and learning. It's clear the author has a strong dislike for standardize tests (who doesn't?) but that Logan gets a letter accusing her of "cheating" because her students scored higher on said tests is a bit ridiculous. The character developed well from start to finish but apparently little details were over looked; example being she tells us she has only folding chairs and a bed in her new house for furniture but, at around 84%, she suddenly has a couch. No shopping, no delivery. Just. Poof. A couch. Her personal relationships are not particularly deep and she seems more interested in being an amateur sleuth than in actually helping her friends. Also, let's throw in an adulterous husband so she doesn't feel guilt dating two years after he died.
Aside from the time hop/flip flops, I can say that this series may being delegated to being sold for under a buck or in the Kindle Unlimited free book section; mind you I do still have book two yet to read and I am praying the continuity issues are less severe allowing me to enjoy the story for what it is opposed to what I can piece together myself.
July 19, 2018
If you like books with deeply developed characters and a strong female lead you’ll enjoy this one, even if you don’t normally read mysteries. Logan may be rebuilding her life after a tragedy, but she’s certainly not given up on finding purpose and happiness again. As a reader I would have liked less exposition (but that is a personal preference, not a fault with the book) and yet the storyline pulled me through the book and kept me caring about the characters. That said, the many arts and crafts detailed in the story were written with authenticity and were interesting – the author did her research. I found it refreshing that the growing friendship between Logan and her neighbor, Ben, was realistic and not overly romanticized. I’ll definitely be reading the other books in the series.
July 31, 2020
I enjoyed this suspense-thriller book. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from this author. This is the first book in this series and I can’t wait to read the next one. This is a well written story that has characters that are well rounded and made the story easy to read. The twists and turns had me turning pages fast just waiting to see what was lurking around the corner. This is Logan’s story. She has lost everything and just when she thinks she is starting again her best friend is accused of murder. She now needs to find the murderer but the more she digs the more secrets reveal themselves. Will she find the murderer before they strike again? This is a great story that I read in one afternoon. It kept me wanting to see what happened next. I highly recommended this book.
April 7, 2015
Shattered tells the story of Logan McKenna, a widow that is just now starting to get her bearings. She’s building a new life for herself with a new career and a new house. The location of the new house helps her meet new people, including a hot neighbor. Davisson’s writing is easy to read and flows quickly. It is extremely easy to read and the pages fly by. There were some issues with changes in tense and timing, but all in all the writing was solid.
Although Davisson has talent as a writer, the story didn’t work for me. It starts very slow and includes entirely too many mundane facts and actions. Perhaps some of these details were meant to be whimsical? The story was nearly 40% finished before the murder occurred. Of course, there’s no hard and fast rule about mysteries and when the ‘main event’ needs to happen, but as a reader I was just waiting and waiting for something to happen. Despite spending a large chunk of the book providing the reader with background information, I didn’t buy Logan as an inquisitive person. In fact, I was surprised when she started going all gung-ho to solve the mystery.
The mystery itself was a letdown. It was easily solved, but for some reason the police were just bungling around. In my opinion (which is a bit biased as I’ve been a police officer and a lawyer), police are not that inept. There were certain procedures they would have followed, which would have lead them directly to the murderer.
Although Davisson has talent as a writer, the story didn’t work for me. It starts very slow and includes entirely too many mundane facts and actions. Perhaps some of these details were meant to be whimsical? The story was nearly 40% finished before the murder occurred. Of course, there’s no hard and fast rule about mysteries and when the ‘main event’ needs to happen, but as a reader I was just waiting and waiting for something to happen. Despite spending a large chunk of the book providing the reader with background information, I didn’t buy Logan as an inquisitive person. In fact, I was surprised when she started going all gung-ho to solve the mystery.
The mystery itself was a letdown. It was easily solved, but for some reason the police were just bungling around. In my opinion (which is a bit biased as I’ve been a police officer and a lawyer), police are not that inept. There were certain procedures they would have followed, which would have lead them directly to the murderer.
August 3, 2020
Shattered: a Logan McKenna Mystery Book 1 (The Logan McKenna Series)
By Valerie Davisson
5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading the book Shattered: a Logan McKenna Mystery Book 1 (The Logan McKenna Series) by Valerie Davisson. It is a story that pulled me in from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until the final page. It is a story of suspense, mystery, and murder. I loved the character of Logan. The author does an amazing job of developing her character and I felt like she would be someone I would want as a friend. Logan is determined to help her good friend Thomas when he is accused of murder. Logan knows that she must find the murderer to clear his name. The book is written in such a way that I felt like I was right there with Logan as she investigates. The story also does have a bit of romance and in parts had my emotions going up and down. I found myself turning pages wanting to know what was going to happen next. Don’t miss out on a book that will hook you in and won’t let you go. I highly recommend reading it.
By Valerie Davisson
5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading the book Shattered: a Logan McKenna Mystery Book 1 (The Logan McKenna Series) by Valerie Davisson. It is a story that pulled me in from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until the final page. It is a story of suspense, mystery, and murder. I loved the character of Logan. The author does an amazing job of developing her character and I felt like she would be someone I would want as a friend. Logan is determined to help her good friend Thomas when he is accused of murder. Logan knows that she must find the murderer to clear his name. The book is written in such a way that I felt like I was right there with Logan as she investigates. The story also does have a bit of romance and in parts had my emotions going up and down. I found myself turning pages wanting to know what was going to happen next. Don’t miss out on a book that will hook you in and won’t let you go. I highly recommend reading it.
August 10, 2020
5/5 Stars
Shattered: A Logan McKenna Mystery #1 (The Logan McKenna Series) By Valerie Davisson
This is the first book I've read by Mrs. Davisson. She did a wonderful job putting the book together. The characters are so life-like. It was like a movie playing in my mind.
Logan McKenna is a wonderful character and I'm glad I got to meet her. Her husband passed away, her daughter is off on an adventure, and she just bought a home. Things are looking up until one bad day.
Logan finds that someone has died and she takes it into her own hands to clear a friend's name. Things don't make sense and it confuses her to no end. What happens when the person who killed Elizabeth comes to Logan's? The quote I choose for Logan is: “So, why did Thomas give Elizabeth $ 8,000? Had she found out about all this somehow?”
I highly recommend this book. It's got mystery and a splash of romance. Valerie has done one fantastic job. I can't wait for the next book.
Shattered: A Logan McKenna Mystery #1 (The Logan McKenna Series) By Valerie Davisson
This is the first book I've read by Mrs. Davisson. She did a wonderful job putting the book together. The characters are so life-like. It was like a movie playing in my mind.
Logan McKenna is a wonderful character and I'm glad I got to meet her. Her husband passed away, her daughter is off on an adventure, and she just bought a home. Things are looking up until one bad day.
Logan finds that someone has died and she takes it into her own hands to clear a friend's name. Things don't make sense and it confuses her to no end. What happens when the person who killed Elizabeth comes to Logan's? The quote I choose for Logan is: “So, why did Thomas give Elizabeth $ 8,000? Had she found out about all this somehow?”
I highly recommend this book. It's got mystery and a splash of romance. Valerie has done one fantastic job. I can't wait for the next book.
November 19, 2017
Intriguing, Fascinating, and a little Scary
I'm absolutely delighted with Valerie Davisson's first Logan McKenna mystery. It's successfully met my three requirements for a well-written mystery: It drew me right into the story as an observer/recorder, living with the characters and participating in their lives. The characters and surroundings are well detailed, but the forward momentum continues, even when someone is sitting quietly and thinking. AND, the villain's identity is successfully hidden from me until the last possible moment. While not requirements, I always appreciate a satisfyingly positive resolution and good grammar. I encourage readers seeking a well-written mystery to choose "Shattered." I think you'll enjoy it as much as I have.
I'm absolutely delighted with Valerie Davisson's first Logan McKenna mystery. It's successfully met my three requirements for a well-written mystery: It drew me right into the story as an observer/recorder, living with the characters and participating in their lives. The characters and surroundings are well detailed, but the forward momentum continues, even when someone is sitting quietly and thinking. AND, the villain's identity is successfully hidden from me until the last possible moment. While not requirements, I always appreciate a satisfyingly positive resolution and good grammar. I encourage readers seeking a well-written mystery to choose "Shattered." I think you'll enjoy it as much as I have.
August 12, 2020
Shattered : A Logan McKenna Mystery Book by Valerie Davisson
Five Stars
Shattered: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book is the first in the Logan McKenna series by Valerie Davisson. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Davisson, but definitely won’t be the last. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. I love a good mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. I love even more a strong female character that can hold her own. This book really fits these issues. Logan is a strong character and very relatable. As she digs in to finding a murderer and keeping her friend out of jail, she finds herself delving into the world of glass working. If you like a good mystery with a fast pace, this is the story for you. Can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
Five Stars
Shattered: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book is the first in the Logan McKenna series by Valerie Davisson. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Davisson, but definitely won’t be the last. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. I love a good mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. I love even more a strong female character that can hold her own. This book really fits these issues. Logan is a strong character and very relatable. As she digs in to finding a murderer and keeping her friend out of jail, she finds herself delving into the world of glass working. If you like a good mystery with a fast pace, this is the story for you. Can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
August 6, 2020
Shattered: Logan Book 1 by Valerie Davisson is the first book in the Logan McKenna Series. Logan is a recently widowed woman who has become an amateur detective. I really enjoyed the character of Logan and look forward to how she will develop over the series. This is an interesting mystery with a good development of the story. I also enjoyed the secondary characters who added a lot to the story. I do not want to speak about the plot because there is nothing then worse than a mystery plot being wrecked. There are twists and turns and much more in the story. I will definitely look forward to reading more in this series soon.
April 28, 2023
Solid beginning for a series of mysteries - and ready for the next one!
*** NO SPOILERS ***
I'm always interested to see how an author new to me writes. The characters and how well they are developed and inter-relate. The plot, whether convoluted or straight line, surprise turns (if any) and how well it moves. The setting - with some it is almost like another character while others are simply sketched out and the story could just as easily be staged elsewhere. I especially like to see attention to details and how they are woven into the story.
This was my first read of anything by this author. I was not disappointed. Her characters were an interesting mix and the major ones fleshed out nicely. Some others were not essential to the plot but added color. The plot moved nicely. The setting is one with which I am familiar - coastal southern California. The way the settings were described took me back to my years living there. You can tell that she wasn't just writing from what she had read elsewhere or seen on TV.
The protagonist is a young woman who is dealing with a lot of issues. The possibility of getting fired from her teaching job for actually teaching and inspiring her students rather than just following the path she was given to use. Her husband had recently died. Her young adult daughter is working overseas. No real family, a few friends are her only support system. She gets reconnected to people with whom she grew up and went to school with and is helping one couple with their booth for summer festivals. Along the way, she meets a neighbor to whom she is attracted but not ready to go beyond friends - even though there is an obvious connection growing between them. Some of her thoughts and actions (criticized in a review) I took to be a good representation of her unsettled life and difficulty sorting everything out. An interesting person.
The murder mystery starts off with the cross connection between two of the crafts taking place at the festival. One is that of glass blowing, the other of native American traditional crafts. You'll have to read the book for the details (no spoilers). The author did a great job in describing details of both crafts beyond what was "necessary" for the plot but for me, that was the frosting on the cake, or in this case, cinnamon bun. It is nice reading a story where the author either has personal knowledge of that subject, or who has investigated it enough to understand key details, procedures and nomenclature. As a hobbyist glass blower, though not of the skill of the characters I think she did a great job of explaining the processes any why it isn't as simple as it might appear to be. The native American craft she already knew from her own background. You really can't fake this level of details and make things up and have the story work. I've seen some books where the technical details and procedures were so incorrect it was off-putting enough to not finish the book regardless of anything else. Clearly not the case here.
Bottom line - a solid beginning to a series and a solid recommendation for you to give it a read. I suspect the series will get even better as she goes. Four stars.
I was given a review copy of this book through a site that gets authors exposure for their works. That does not affect my reviews as they objectively score my evaluation of the author's craft and the quality of the story. Some honest reviews are two stars or less.
*** NO SPOILERS ***
*** NO SPOILERS ***
I'm always interested to see how an author new to me writes. The characters and how well they are developed and inter-relate. The plot, whether convoluted or straight line, surprise turns (if any) and how well it moves. The setting - with some it is almost like another character while others are simply sketched out and the story could just as easily be staged elsewhere. I especially like to see attention to details and how they are woven into the story.
This was my first read of anything by this author. I was not disappointed. Her characters were an interesting mix and the major ones fleshed out nicely. Some others were not essential to the plot but added color. The plot moved nicely. The setting is one with which I am familiar - coastal southern California. The way the settings were described took me back to my years living there. You can tell that she wasn't just writing from what she had read elsewhere or seen on TV.
The protagonist is a young woman who is dealing with a lot of issues. The possibility of getting fired from her teaching job for actually teaching and inspiring her students rather than just following the path she was given to use. Her husband had recently died. Her young adult daughter is working overseas. No real family, a few friends are her only support system. She gets reconnected to people with whom she grew up and went to school with and is helping one couple with their booth for summer festivals. Along the way, she meets a neighbor to whom she is attracted but not ready to go beyond friends - even though there is an obvious connection growing between them. Some of her thoughts and actions (criticized in a review) I took to be a good representation of her unsettled life and difficulty sorting everything out. An interesting person.
The murder mystery starts off with the cross connection between two of the crafts taking place at the festival. One is that of glass blowing, the other of native American traditional crafts. You'll have to read the book for the details (no spoilers). The author did a great job in describing details of both crafts beyond what was "necessary" for the plot but for me, that was the frosting on the cake, or in this case, cinnamon bun. It is nice reading a story where the author either has personal knowledge of that subject, or who has investigated it enough to understand key details, procedures and nomenclature. As a hobbyist glass blower, though not of the skill of the characters I think she did a great job of explaining the processes any why it isn't as simple as it might appear to be. The native American craft she already knew from her own background. You really can't fake this level of details and make things up and have the story work. I've seen some books where the technical details and procedures were so incorrect it was off-putting enough to not finish the book regardless of anything else. Clearly not the case here.
Bottom line - a solid beginning to a series and a solid recommendation for you to give it a read. I suspect the series will get even better as she goes. Four stars.
I was given a review copy of this book through a site that gets authors exposure for their works. That does not affect my reviews as they objectively score my evaluation of the author's craft and the quality of the story. Some honest reviews are two stars or less.
*** NO SPOILERS ***
August 21, 2021
Logan’s Attempt at A New Life Maybe Be Shattered … Just Like Her Old One Was
Shattered is not only the title of the book, but also a good description of Logan McKenna’s life at the start of it. Her husband has died in a car crash and she gave up the business they had built from the ground up. So, she’s starting a new life as a substitute teacher and working over the summer with an old friend, Thomas, at his and his wife’s booth at an arts festival. Unfortunately, it looks like this new chapter could end in pieces as well. She’s accused of cheating on the job and Thomas is arrested for murder. So, Logan largely ignores her personal problem to help the friend she’s sure isn’t a killer.
Overall, the book has the feel of a cozy mystery with no sex and no profanity (unless I just missed it). There is violence in the murder scene, but it’s not graphic. And the story has a sweetness that’s typical of the genre. Logan is always running into old friends and making new ones, all of whom have time for her; no one slammed the door in her face when she started asking about the murder. Though apparently old enough to have a grown daughter, there is a youth and vibrancy to Logan. That characteristic is perhaps nowhere more apparent than in her romantic interest in a neighbor, with her concerns seeming more typical of a teenager than an adult. Basically, Shattered is not a violent mystery investigated by a hardboiled detective, but the woman next door, trying to build a new life and save a friend. And Logan’s definitely an amateur at the later, frequently admitting to herself she doesn’t know what she’s doing but muddling along until the murderer is revealed.
The detail given in some areas of the story seemed excessive, as they did little to move the plot forward. For example, “Lisa completely shredded the tissue, balled it up and placed it in the ashtray on the coffee table. Thomas still smoked.” In the midst of this emotional scene, do we need to know Thomas is a smoker? Would it make any difference if the ashtray was there for visitors? This is a first of a series, so some additional background is necessary, but things like descriptions of every meal Logan ate felt unnecessary. The larger distraction for me, however, was the author’s use of flashbacks and flashforwards. They were introduced at odd times; we got the thumbnail of the victim’s life, for example, after she’s dead. And some of the shifts in timeframe crossed chapters without warning. That confused me more than once.
Overall, Shattered is a solid start to a series and a good introduction to a female amateur sleuth worth following.
Shattered is not only the title of the book, but also a good description of Logan McKenna’s life at the start of it. Her husband has died in a car crash and she gave up the business they had built from the ground up. So, she’s starting a new life as a substitute teacher and working over the summer with an old friend, Thomas, at his and his wife’s booth at an arts festival. Unfortunately, it looks like this new chapter could end in pieces as well. She’s accused of cheating on the job and Thomas is arrested for murder. So, Logan largely ignores her personal problem to help the friend she’s sure isn’t a killer.
Overall, the book has the feel of a cozy mystery with no sex and no profanity (unless I just missed it). There is violence in the murder scene, but it’s not graphic. And the story has a sweetness that’s typical of the genre. Logan is always running into old friends and making new ones, all of whom have time for her; no one slammed the door in her face when she started asking about the murder. Though apparently old enough to have a grown daughter, there is a youth and vibrancy to Logan. That characteristic is perhaps nowhere more apparent than in her romantic interest in a neighbor, with her concerns seeming more typical of a teenager than an adult. Basically, Shattered is not a violent mystery investigated by a hardboiled detective, but the woman next door, trying to build a new life and save a friend. And Logan’s definitely an amateur at the later, frequently admitting to herself she doesn’t know what she’s doing but muddling along until the murderer is revealed.
The detail given in some areas of the story seemed excessive, as they did little to move the plot forward. For example, “Lisa completely shredded the tissue, balled it up and placed it in the ashtray on the coffee table. Thomas still smoked.” In the midst of this emotional scene, do we need to know Thomas is a smoker? Would it make any difference if the ashtray was there for visitors? This is a first of a series, so some additional background is necessary, but things like descriptions of every meal Logan ate felt unnecessary. The larger distraction for me, however, was the author’s use of flashbacks and flashforwards. They were introduced at odd times; we got the thumbnail of the victim’s life, for example, after she’s dead. And some of the shifts in timeframe crossed chapters without warning. That confused me more than once.
Overall, Shattered is a solid start to a series and a good introduction to a female amateur sleuth worth following.
August 5, 2020
3 Stars
“Logan tossed the letter back on her desk. She’d definitely landed in the City of Oz and was in dire need of a pair of ruby slippers.
Not for the first time this year, she wondered why anyone would work in the public school system unless they had a lobotomy or were working off jail time. It all started last October when, as a favor to her friend Bonnie, she’d taken a long-term sub job for a seventh grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Tilcott, CA.
She’d spent the last two years since her husband Jack died wrapping up and selling the computer business they’d built together. The process had been wrenching. After paying off business debts—Jack had been more charmer than money manager—there wasn’t a whole lot left.
Truth be told, she needed the job.”
Shattered: a Logan McKenna Mystery Book 1 (The Logan McKenna Series) by Valerie Davisson is a murder mystery- with action, drama, crime investigation, art community elements, Native American characters and cultural references, and more.
This is my first read by Valerie Davisson, so I really didn’t know what to expect going into the story- but as I love a good thrilling mystery, I was excited to jump in and get going. I really wanted to love this book so much more than I did. It should have been right in my wheelhouse and should have grabbed me right from the get-go. But it didn’t. I had trouble connecting with Logan and the other characters- which in turn made it difficult to settle in and invest in the outcome of the story.
Parts of the story felt rushed- while other parts lagged, which really disrupted the flow of the story for me. At times I felt that the story got a little off track- making things a little confusing and I found myself re-reading parts to clarify where and what was happening. But, I have had a really busy and tiring week- so maybe it was just me- so I intend to revisit this book again in the near future, to see if I still feel the same way, or whether I was just having an ‘off’ day when reading it.
As it is the first book in the series, I would be interested to read the next book, or books- to see if some of the issues I had with this story have been resolved in the other additions. I did find the crime/murder part quite interesting, as with the glassblowing/artistic element.
Thank you, Valerie Davisson!
“Logan tossed the letter back on her desk. She’d definitely landed in the City of Oz and was in dire need of a pair of ruby slippers.
Not for the first time this year, she wondered why anyone would work in the public school system unless they had a lobotomy or were working off jail time. It all started last October when, as a favor to her friend Bonnie, she’d taken a long-term sub job for a seventh grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Tilcott, CA.
She’d spent the last two years since her husband Jack died wrapping up and selling the computer business they’d built together. The process had been wrenching. After paying off business debts—Jack had been more charmer than money manager—there wasn’t a whole lot left.
Truth be told, she needed the job.”
Shattered: a Logan McKenna Mystery Book 1 (The Logan McKenna Series) by Valerie Davisson is a murder mystery- with action, drama, crime investigation, art community elements, Native American characters and cultural references, and more.
This is my first read by Valerie Davisson, so I really didn’t know what to expect going into the story- but as I love a good thrilling mystery, I was excited to jump in and get going. I really wanted to love this book so much more than I did. It should have been right in my wheelhouse and should have grabbed me right from the get-go. But it didn’t. I had trouble connecting with Logan and the other characters- which in turn made it difficult to settle in and invest in the outcome of the story.
Parts of the story felt rushed- while other parts lagged, which really disrupted the flow of the story for me. At times I felt that the story got a little off track- making things a little confusing and I found myself re-reading parts to clarify where and what was happening. But, I have had a really busy and tiring week- so maybe it was just me- so I intend to revisit this book again in the near future, to see if I still feel the same way, or whether I was just having an ‘off’ day when reading it.
As it is the first book in the series, I would be interested to read the next book, or books- to see if some of the issues I had with this story have been resolved in the other additions. I did find the crime/murder part quite interesting, as with the glassblowing/artistic element.
Thank you, Valerie Davisson!
June 11, 2022
Who Killed the Glass Blower at the Otter Arts Festival?
Valerie Davisson presents Shattered as a Logan McKenna novel. As the first novel in a series, it does its job well. It introduces us to the main character and makes us like her and feel sympathetic toward her problems. Two years ago, her husband Jack died in a car crash, and she���s struggled to put the pieces of her shattered life back together. However, a jealous teacher where she works has convinced the principal that she’s too successful with students and has cheated to get her results. She faces being fired in the fall when she returns or working under difficult and demeaning conditions. Which course will she choose? We keep reading to find out.
At the Otter Arts Festival, Logan plays a violin and helps out her vendor friends. A blonde glass blower is murdered there, her broken body stuffed into an annealing oven. Who killed Elizabeth, and what was his motive? In a more traditional mystery, that would be the main focus, but for a long time, Davisson focuses on the art of glass blowing at the festival and on a native American festival and powwow. In general, both are excellent. We are given an inside view of glass blowing and all it entails, and a deeper look at native American culture, which in mainstream culture is usually presented though simple stereotypes. However, sometimes I felt this coverage could be pruned, such as when we are told at length what folks eat. Occasionally, I felt the focus should be sharpened, especially since the Prologue introduced us to Elizabeth’s horrible murder, her body “angrily stuffed…into a white cinder block box”.
In addition, some problems in the closing chapters are resolved too easily, such as Logan’s employment situation at the school. It almost seems that a deus-ex-machina solution is provided. However, the next novel awaits, and I’ve got to admit that so far, this series has me hooked. I’ve got to find out what problems will develop when Logan returns to work. Also, what about Logan’s big, blond, muscular, next-door neighbor Ben? Will Logan hook up with him, and if so, will that romance work out? For the record, I plan to check out Logan’s future adventures.
Valerie Davisson presents Shattered as a Logan McKenna novel. As the first novel in a series, it does its job well. It introduces us to the main character and makes us like her and feel sympathetic toward her problems. Two years ago, her husband Jack died in a car crash, and she���s struggled to put the pieces of her shattered life back together. However, a jealous teacher where she works has convinced the principal that she’s too successful with students and has cheated to get her results. She faces being fired in the fall when she returns or working under difficult and demeaning conditions. Which course will she choose? We keep reading to find out.
At the Otter Arts Festival, Logan plays a violin and helps out her vendor friends. A blonde glass blower is murdered there, her broken body stuffed into an annealing oven. Who killed Elizabeth, and what was his motive? In a more traditional mystery, that would be the main focus, but for a long time, Davisson focuses on the art of glass blowing at the festival and on a native American festival and powwow. In general, both are excellent. We are given an inside view of glass blowing and all it entails, and a deeper look at native American culture, which in mainstream culture is usually presented though simple stereotypes. However, sometimes I felt this coverage could be pruned, such as when we are told at length what folks eat. Occasionally, I felt the focus should be sharpened, especially since the Prologue introduced us to Elizabeth’s horrible murder, her body “angrily stuffed…into a white cinder block box”.
In addition, some problems in the closing chapters are resolved too easily, such as Logan’s employment situation at the school. It almost seems that a deus-ex-machina solution is provided. However, the next novel awaits, and I’ve got to admit that so far, this series has me hooked. I’ve got to find out what problems will develop when Logan returns to work. Also, what about Logan’s big, blond, muscular, next-door neighbor Ben? Will Logan hook up with him, and if so, will that romance work out? For the record, I plan to check out Logan’s future adventures.
December 24, 2017
This was an interesting story. I could have done without the mystery, especially the murdery bit. But I kept reading beyond when the book didn't work for me.
As I have stated before, I have trouble reading tree-books. It has to do with my tracking abilities. But I am a life long reader that doesn't give up that easily. So I set up my Kindle with black background and largish white font. Then I use the text-to-speech to track with what I do read. I don't do well with just audio as I tend to ADD away with shiny things. But with both modalities working I can get into stories very deeply.
This version was difficult for me. I don't know what happened but I couldn't use the black background/white font. It only wanted white background black font or everything went black. The text-to-speech worked but I couldn't follow with my eyes. I finally gave up. At about 60%! I do hope the author and or the publisher got that all fixed. Since I was asked to review this book I have to be honest, the font/formatting, was the worst for me.
I let it go for a couple months but the story kept haunting me. I wanted to know what happened. I had loved the research shown about glassblowing. Native American bits. And seeing what seemed to me a realistic look at bereavement. I loved the realism of teaching and use of music. Honestly, I didn't need the murder bit. I did like the character that did the killing and I thought it gave her a humanity having lupus and all. But I guess some people like to have the tension a good old murder gives a book. Just not me.
Still, I can't wait to see what happens next. For book two I have the Audible version. I'm getting better at keeping my hands busy doing sudoku, knitting, or drawing. So in the next few days I will review that one, too.
I think others will enjoy this story, too.
As I have stated before, I have trouble reading tree-books. It has to do with my tracking abilities. But I am a life long reader that doesn't give up that easily. So I set up my Kindle with black background and largish white font. Then I use the text-to-speech to track with what I do read. I don't do well with just audio as I tend to ADD away with shiny things. But with both modalities working I can get into stories very deeply.
This version was difficult for me. I don't know what happened but I couldn't use the black background/white font. It only wanted white background black font or everything went black. The text-to-speech worked but I couldn't follow with my eyes. I finally gave up. At about 60%! I do hope the author and or the publisher got that all fixed. Since I was asked to review this book I have to be honest, the font/formatting, was the worst for me.
I let it go for a couple months but the story kept haunting me. I wanted to know what happened. I had loved the research shown about glassblowing. Native American bits. And seeing what seemed to me a realistic look at bereavement. I loved the realism of teaching and use of music. Honestly, I didn't need the murder bit. I did like the character that did the killing and I thought it gave her a humanity having lupus and all. But I guess some people like to have the tension a good old murder gives a book. Just not me.
Still, I can't wait to see what happens next. For book two I have the Audible version. I'm getting better at keeping my hands busy doing sudoku, knitting, or drawing. So in the next few days I will review that one, too.
I think others will enjoy this story, too.
October 5, 2023
Shattered is Book One in the Logan McKenna Mystery series. It is a crime thriller full of suspense, action, drama, mystery, suspense, and murder. The story centers around the character of Logan McKenna whose life is quickly going downhill as one bad thing after another keeps coming at her. Two years ago, she lost her husband, which devastated her but then she learned details of an affair he had which crushed her. Her father passed away and with so much going on her music fell by the wayside. Looking for a fresh start Logan sells the computer business her and her husband built and moves to a small home near the beach in Southern California. There she takes a teaching job but is accused of helping her students cheat when their test scores are too high. Now with the threat of losing her job looming in the air Logan needs something to keep her busy and help her regroup. She helps her friends Lisa, and Thomas, a Native American artist, at their booth at the annual Otter Arts Festival. When a local glassblower turns up dead at the booth beside Thomas he is accused of her murder and arrested. Thomas is under suspicion of the girl’s murder because of a mysterious bank transfer he sent to the girl prior to her murder which he refuses to explain. Now it is up to Logan to play amateur detective as she tries to find the real killer and prove her friend’s innocence. As Logan digs deeper the murderer becomes more vicious and danger lurks around every corner. Will she have what it takes to solve the case before it is too late? Logan is a character that is easy to relate to and feel a connection to. She is smart, feisty, plucky, courageous, and never gives up. I look forward to reading more of Logan McKenna’s adventures!
November 10, 2023
Having read a couple of later Logan series novels as my introduction to her fantastic stories, I felt she was like an old friend who had suffered trauma in her past. Reading this filled in so much more and was so well written. There are multiple characters with well understood storylines without muddying up the journey - expertly woven and playing off one another throughout the story.
Logan McKenna hears of a car accident that has taken the life of her husband. While she considered THIS the life altering scenario that shattered her, she suffers through so much more - the box that appears on her doorstep from her husband's mistress on the day of his funeral, sharing every dirty detail of the betrayal - to the selling the parts of the computer/tech company the two of them had built up together, to just learning to live a new life without both her husband and their company. Logan takes a job as a teacher, and is excellent at it...so good, in fact, that her students perform exceptionally well on their tests and a jealous fellow teacher accuses her of cheating to make herself look good. She truly fears she will lose her job over the accusation.
Buying a new house is a move to help her find herself and relax into this new life - but now she has heard a close friend has been accused of the horrific murder at a festival. Thomas refuses to talk about it at all, even to defend himself, the cops have found evidence of payments between the victim and Thomas, and Logan can't help but try to get to the bottom of it to save her friend. As the situation gets progressively more dangerous, Logan proves herself strong and capable throughout the book. Will she catch the killer? Is it Thomas, or will she redeem him?
Logan McKenna hears of a car accident that has taken the life of her husband. While she considered THIS the life altering scenario that shattered her, she suffers through so much more - the box that appears on her doorstep from her husband's mistress on the day of his funeral, sharing every dirty detail of the betrayal - to the selling the parts of the computer/tech company the two of them had built up together, to just learning to live a new life without both her husband and their company. Logan takes a job as a teacher, and is excellent at it...so good, in fact, that her students perform exceptionally well on their tests and a jealous fellow teacher accuses her of cheating to make herself look good. She truly fears she will lose her job over the accusation.
Buying a new house is a move to help her find herself and relax into this new life - but now she has heard a close friend has been accused of the horrific murder at a festival. Thomas refuses to talk about it at all, even to defend himself, the cops have found evidence of payments between the victim and Thomas, and Logan can't help but try to get to the bottom of it to save her friend. As the situation gets progressively more dangerous, Logan proves herself strong and capable throughout the book. Will she catch the killer? Is it Thomas, or will she redeem him?
December 24, 2023
What a gripping mystery crime thriller with lots of action and adventure!! This set of books had me not wanting to sleep so I could finish them! I, of course had to sleep, so it took me longer than I even wanted, but I was not disappointed at all!! The author weaves these stories so well. I could easily see these as movies! With this first book the author paints you a picture of a local arts festival that is based around glass blowing demonstrations. You are placed into their world of art and music. But then a young glassblower is brutally murdered at the festival before hours. Logan has lost so much. Her husband, the company they built together, her music, and probably her job that she really came to enjoy. Having the summer "off" because she's a teacher, a couple friends invite her to the festival to help with their booth. She of course is excited to help and to make a little income while waiting to see her fait with the schoolboard. Her friend Thomas is accused of the murder and Logan isn't convinced. He refuses to defend himself and Logan doesn't understand why. She starts to look into the glassblowers and everyone connected to them. There is more to this murder and with a slam-dunk suspect the detective isn't looking elsewhere. Logan digs into secrets while diving into the world of glassblowing. The real killer becomes more dangerous and Logan must find out who it is before it's to late for her friend, but also herself! With killer now after her, can she find the proof needed to free her friend before she herself is killed? Such a great book!! I didn't see a few things coming and it was so wonderful! I love it when I can't guess who the killer is right away. I can't wait to finish the whole set!!
August 10, 2020
Shattered is the first book in Valerie Davisson’s Logan McKenna series that introduces us to … well… Logan McKenna who has to rebuild her life after a tragedy that threw everything she knew about herself and her life up in the air. I think at times she feels like there is nothing there for her to fall back onto, she has to not only get a new place to live but also a new career. It was my first read by the writer and as I like a good thriller like most of us and I have been curious about Native Americans and their art then I decided to pick up a copy. The writer’s style as such was very reader friendly and it was surprising that the story didn’t pull me in as I would have expected. At times I did struggle with what time we were in and whether it was a flashback or present or … also I found it challenging to connect with Logan and the other characters. I also felt at times that the story slowed down too much and then got a jump on and rushed.
This IS the first book of the series and I am open to give it another try and go and read the second book as I liked that Logan was different from other ‘investigators’ I have met. She is not young or naïve, she has learnt from the challenges the life has thrown at her and she has had to step outside of her sheltered past.
I also wonder whether it was my expectations that got the best of me and I should have simply breathed in and the breathed out and gone with the flow …
This IS the first book of the series and I am open to give it another try and go and read the second book as I liked that Logan was different from other ‘investigators’ I have met. She is not young or naïve, she has learnt from the challenges the life has thrown at her and she has had to step outside of her sheltered past.
I also wonder whether it was my expectations that got the best of me and I should have simply breathed in and the breathed out and gone with the flow …
August 11, 2020
This is the first book in Valerie Davisson’s new, ‘The Logan McKenna Series’, and features recently widowed Logan McKenna. Following her husbands death, the loss of their company, and with her grown up daughter living away Logan is feeling as though her life is falling apart. Making a dramatic decision, Logan decides to moves away, ready to start life again. Logan joins friends Thomas and Lisa and helps them out on their booth at an arts festival, where she enjoys looking round all the arts and craft booths. Then one of the young glass blowers is murdered and her best friend Thomas is accused of the crime. Thomas Delgado, a Native American artist, is accused of the brutal murder and so Logan readily comes to his defence, but unhelpfully Thomas is refusing to defend himself. Logan decides to dig deeper in the hope of clearing her friends name but she soon discovers that the world of glassblowing is dangerous. Whilst still reeling with the loss and major changes in her own life, Logan discovers more and more secrets in her quest to clear Thomas name, meanwhile the real killer is still out there.
This was a page turner of a novel, a real crime, thriller, murder mystery, which had me hooked from the start. The storyline moves along at a good pace and keeps you guessing. I found the main character, Logan McKenna a very likeable and relatable, independent women who held the storyline together well. I look forward to further novels in this series.
This was a page turner of a novel, a real crime, thriller, murder mystery, which had me hooked from the start. The storyline moves along at a good pace and keeps you guessing. I found the main character, Logan McKenna a very likeable and relatable, independent women who held the storyline together well. I look forward to further novels in this series.
October 28, 2023
What a brilliant start to what looks like is going to be a phenomenal series !
So Logan and Jack were married and ran their their computer business . After he dies I. And accident she’s left settling debts and selling the business . She now needs a job and starts working at a school but it would seem that her job is under threat but she takes everything in her stride ….
She buys a small house at the beach in South Calafornia , she has friends there that partake I the annual otter festival and she’s going to help them at their stall and play her fiddle and wait for this she loves Edith Piaf ( like hello new best friend ) oh and she has a yummy Viking looking neighbour named Ben . He welcomes her to the neighbourhood with coffee , how sweet is this man !?
I enjoyed the way both the arts of knife making and glass blowing was explained and it really did intrigue me I even shared parts of the knife making with a friend of mine whose husband makes knives !!
I fell in with little Dimebox 🐾❣️ thank you Logan for giving the little fur ball another chance at life 🥰
Thomas and Lisa , married friends of Logan have their stall at the festival and she helps them , all things seems to be going well until a body is found at the glassblowers stall !
Thomas is a suspect and Logan isn’t having any of it and is determined to prove his innocence .
I’m keen to find out if things will develop between her and Ben but more I’d like to go for a drive with her in Lola , her ‘58 Corvette 😉
So Logan and Jack were married and ran their their computer business . After he dies I. And accident she’s left settling debts and selling the business . She now needs a job and starts working at a school but it would seem that her job is under threat but she takes everything in her stride ….
She buys a small house at the beach in South Calafornia , she has friends there that partake I the annual otter festival and she’s going to help them at their stall and play her fiddle and wait for this she loves Edith Piaf ( like hello new best friend ) oh and she has a yummy Viking looking neighbour named Ben . He welcomes her to the neighbourhood with coffee , how sweet is this man !?
I enjoyed the way both the arts of knife making and glass blowing was explained and it really did intrigue me I even shared parts of the knife making with a friend of mine whose husband makes knives !!
I fell in with little Dimebox 🐾❣️ thank you Logan for giving the little fur ball another chance at life 🥰
Thomas and Lisa , married friends of Logan have their stall at the festival and she helps them , all things seems to be going well until a body is found at the glassblowers stall !
Thomas is a suspect and Logan isn’t having any of it and is determined to prove his innocence .
I’m keen to find out if things will develop between her and Ben but more I’d like to go for a drive with her in Lola , her ‘58 Corvette 😉
August 3, 2024
To whomever reviewed this book & compared it to Nevada Barr, James Patterson, Michael Connelly, J.A. Vance & others I would like to ask have you ever read any of these authors?? I’m tired of buying books because the reviews are so dishonest & people are comparing them to actual literary greats which unfortunately this author is not. At least not yet! She may get there, but not if people coddle her & tell her that sub-par work is outstanding?!? This society where everybody gets a trophy is what’s wrong with the world!! It’s okay when you are 5 years old, but for an adult to be told “Hey you write as well as James Patterson” when clearly she does not is offensive. This book was a waste of my money & my time & I quit reading it at 39%, I don’t know or care if it got better because it should have already been better!! I’m sorry if this review hurts her feelings, sometimes things have to sting because that’s what makes us better!! And I couldn’t help but notice when I scrolled thru to the end so that I could leave a review, she only asked for readers to leave a review IF they enjoyed the book?!? How in the heck is that supposed to help her grow as an author & improve her craft if no one tells her when it’s bad? Yeah, nope this review is going up here & on Amazon. Again it wasted my time & it wasted my money. I also truly believe that the person who compared her to those other writers owe THEM a HUGE APOLOGY!!!
November 3, 2023
In this book we are introduced to Logan McKenna and the recent activities of her life. Her life recently seems to be falling apart. Logan recently lost her husband in a car accident a couple of years ago and is put into the position of having to sell the business that she and her husband built. Since the sale of her business, Logan finds herself being called into being a teacher, everything seems to be going great until she is accused of helping her students cheat. Logan is appalled because she can't help that she is such a great teacher, and her students are excelling on the standardized tests. Now Logan is a position that has her job on the line. Logan moves to California in hopes that maybe reconnecting with an important part of her past life might help her on her journey to rediscovering who she is.
Everything is going well, until a body is found, and her friend is being considered as a person of interest. Logan now has something to do that will help her try to forget everything that has been going wrong for her.
I loved this story and the amount of detail that Valerie put into Logan and her story. I am impatiently waiting to see what happens to Logan next and to see if she continues to find herself in unique murder mysteries.
Everything is going well, until a body is found, and her friend is being considered as a person of interest. Logan now has something to do that will help her try to forget everything that has been going wrong for her.
I loved this story and the amount of detail that Valerie put into Logan and her story. I am impatiently waiting to see what happens to Logan next and to see if she continues to find herself in unique murder mysteries.
November 11, 2023
This is the first book in this series. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book and to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Well, I am not sure you could say pleasantly surprised since I didn't have any idea what I was getting into. The way the author writes this book just draws you in. It gives you a great background so you instantly feel connected to the main character. You go through the emotions that she goes through. Her friends are there to help her rebuild and start over. I immediately wanted to be their friends. This is how you can tell great writing, if you feel as if you are one of the group or want to be one of the group. What happens when there is a dead body and the main characters friend is being looked at? This is exactly how things end up. She is a strong female in this book and she decides that she needs to help her friend. This is a series and I feel like we are going to see amazing growth with this character. I can't wait to see the journey she takes and if her super sleuthing will help her friend. I am also wanting her to find love but that is the romantic in me. She isn't in the market for that in this book but it is a series so never say never.
October 16, 2023
Shattered
By: Valerie Davisson
In this book we are introduced to Logan McKenna. Her entire life seems to be falling apart. She recently lost her husband in a car accident. She sells the business that she had build with her husband and becomes a teacher. She then is accused of helping her students cheat because they are doing so well on standardized tests. This means that her job is on the line.
She decides to move to the beach in SoCal. Near a very important part of her life of her childhood - the Otter Arts Festival. She decides that she will reconnect with her old friends and just relax and figure out her next steps. Well this is until a body is found and her friend is a person of interest. This gives Logan something to do other than think about everything that has been going wrong in her life recently.
I LOVED this story. I loved Logan as a character and all the chaos that she has been through. I feel that it made her even more likable. I loved the aspect of glass blowing as this is an art that has literally always been of interest to me. I loved everything about this book and I cannot wait to see more of Logan McKenna.
By: Valerie Davisson
In this book we are introduced to Logan McKenna. Her entire life seems to be falling apart. She recently lost her husband in a car accident. She sells the business that she had build with her husband and becomes a teacher. She then is accused of helping her students cheat because they are doing so well on standardized tests. This means that her job is on the line.
She decides to move to the beach in SoCal. Near a very important part of her life of her childhood - the Otter Arts Festival. She decides that she will reconnect with her old friends and just relax and figure out her next steps. Well this is until a body is found and her friend is a person of interest. This gives Logan something to do other than think about everything that has been going wrong in her life recently.
I LOVED this story. I loved Logan as a character and all the chaos that she has been through. I feel that it made her even more likable. I loved the aspect of glass blowing as this is an art that has literally always been of interest to me. I loved everything about this book and I cannot wait to see more of Logan McKenna.
October 29, 2023
4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secrets, lies, murder with twists and turns along the way! Shattered is Book 1 in The Logan McKenna Series and this is the first book I have read by this author. I thought this book was very good, engaging crime thriller as I try to piece together a murder mystery and love to find out the "who done it".
Logan McKenna is trying to move on her life after losing her husband two years prior and the aftermath. Picking up a job as a substitute teacher, Logan helps students learn who end up doing well in test, but the there are other teachers who accuse Logan of students and cheating. Taking a break in teaching and these horrible accusations, Logan decides to help at a local festival with her friends, unfortunately there is a murder at the glass blowing booth and Logan's best friend, Thomas is accused of this crime. Will Logan be able to piece together and find out who the true murderer is before it is to late?
Read and find out! I love the female lead in this series and I am looking forward to reading more!
Secrets, lies, murder with twists and turns along the way! Shattered is Book 1 in The Logan McKenna Series and this is the first book I have read by this author. I thought this book was very good, engaging crime thriller as I try to piece together a murder mystery and love to find out the "who done it".
Logan McKenna is trying to move on her life after losing her husband two years prior and the aftermath. Picking up a job as a substitute teacher, Logan helps students learn who end up doing well in test, but the there are other teachers who accuse Logan of students and cheating. Taking a break in teaching and these horrible accusations, Logan decides to help at a local festival with her friends, unfortunately there is a murder at the glass blowing booth and Logan's best friend, Thomas is accused of this crime. Will Logan be able to piece together and find out who the true murderer is before it is to late?
Read and find out! I love the female lead in this series and I am looking forward to reading more!
August 11, 2020
Shattered: a Logan McKenna Mystery Book 1 (The Logan McKenna Series) by Valerie Davisson. I loved this book because its my favorite genre but also because the book was just really good. Its the story of Logan McKenna who is trying to get her feet back under her after her husband has passed away and her daughter has gone off on an adventure. She has bought a new house and things seem to be getting back to a new normal until one of her good friends is accused of murder. She had offered to help her friend Thomas Delgado at their Glass Blowing booth at a festival. Things are going great until a body turns up dead and Thomas is accused of murder. Logan makes it her mission to prove that Thomas is not guilty but when Thomas doesn't want to help himself it makes it hard. Logan digs into the case and finds out all kinds of dirt and may end up getting herself killed before its all over with. This book will grab you by the seat and you won't want to put it down until you finish. Loved it!
October 6, 2023
Shattered is the first book in Valerie Davisson's The Logan McKenna Series, and it was an amazing mystery, thriller! I was highly impressed with the way that the characters were developed with so much intrigue, they were well-developed and well-rounded in that they are very realistic. I love the setting, the eerie darkness that follows Logan is just chilling. I love that there is a killer on the loose and that we get to help solve the mystery while living the story through Logan's experiences. The fact that she works so hard to clear Thomas, who won't even fight for himself, and then having the community come together to help solve this crime is so heartwarming. What a wonderful read, I couldn't put it down from the second I opened the book. I am a huge fan of mystery books and thrillers, so combining both into a series was awesome!!! This is a must-read for all you book lovers looking for your next adventure of thrills and chills.
@Brandy Rymer
10/2023
@Brandy Rymer
10/2023
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