The Half Theft

by Brooke Nelson

Charlie Riverson led a mundane life in the nearly abandoned city of Collinswood. Always had. Always would, at least that’s what he preferred to believe. It eased his mind far more than the truth of his life as of lately—the reality of the unexplainable crime attempted in his home, just three months after the disappearance of his best friend, and a possible link between the two.

The link? The Ducartes, the city’s most notorious family of homicidal madmen—and woman—who spent the majority of their time carrying out promises of revenge upon anyone who dared to disobey them. Most dangerous of all were the children, Grant and Naomi, the two who executed their father’s plans, no matter how gruesome.

Charlie now found himself at the intersection of a terrific and terrible realization. The good news: There was a chance, even if a small one, that Charlie might yet be able to rescue his friend. The bad news: The key to her whereabouts led him straight to the very family he wanted to distance himself from most.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

Brooke Nelson is a new adult fantasy and thriller author, living in Minnesota. When she is not weaving tales, she can be found reading Greek myths and cuddling with her cats and dog. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winona State University, which has nothing to do with writing, but now you know her educational background, in case you were wondering. She has authored The Half Theft, as well as its sequel, Better Luck This Time.

Reviews

[Brooke Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're asking yourself the logical question right now--why did Brooke rate her own book five stars?-- you are more than valid for that.

The reason is not because I think it is the best book ever written, without any errors or pieces that could be improved. There are very few books in the world that I would consider "perfect," and mine is definitely not one of those.

However, with that being said, I poured my entire heart and soul into this story. I created a world that helped me find happiness and peace when I needed it most in my own life. I crafted characters that I hope will bring even just one of you the same kind of joy they have brought me with their goofy, occasionally life-threatening shenanigans.

And I think, at their core, every story that is built on love and commitment, and years of energy and dedication, is a five-star story in its own right. (Or at least I think it should be.)

(There is also just no way I would publish anything for the whole world to see that I didn't think was some of my very finest work.)

I love each and every one of you who has reviewed my book on here or on Amazon, and even those who may not have left a review but who have messaged me about The Half Theft. Your messages, no matter how small, no matter how simple, mean a lot more to me than you know. Thank you for giving me the confidence to continue my writing endeavors. There just might be another story coming from me in the near future... and it's a very different type of book than you've seen from me before.

Thank you for everything. Truly. Many virtual hugs and kisses to each of you.

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[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for The Half Theft (ebook) by Brooke Nelson.

Charlie’s life is turned upside down on his dangerous quest to save his friend. What a great group of characters and a dark and mysterious setting.

[Deb✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a suspenseful thriller that kept me guessing at every twist and turn! It drew me in right from the start, and it kept me wondering what would happen next. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, it would twist around in another direction. I loved it!

I am happy that Nelson is able to let the reader get to know each character so well. Character development is one of my favorite parts of a great story. She also does a great job of describing their surroundings.

In this story, Charlie has lost his very best friend, Elle. He awakes one night to find someone prowling around in his room but can't tell who. Suddenly, he awakes the next morning in a confused fog.

In the background is a terrible gang-style family, the Ducartes, that terrorize the city. The father is the head, but his two children, Grant and Naomi, do his bidding, and everyone is scared of them. They think nothing of killing or hurting people.

There are two main police in the story, John and Maeve, who try to help Charlie find Elle and also try to keep people safe from the Ducarte's. There is also another 'scary' part of town run by a guy named Elem that people fear. Is he involved with the Ducartes? Could he be helping with the kidnapping or disappearance of Elle?

Why is Elle missing? What is the motive? What is the significance of Elle? Is she alive? Will they be able to find and save her?

There is much more to this story, but you'll have to read it to find out just how thrilling it really is! I loved it, and I am eagerly moving on to the next book in this duology!

I hope many more of you will get to experience this exciting story from this wonderful debut author! I highly recommend it. 📚🩷

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me.

For one, I’ve never really been interested in reading self-published books. I read a couple of subpar ones over the years, so it left me with an over negative feeling towards the genre. This is why I will be ever grateful that I decided to read The Half Theft.

From the very first page I was pulled in, and every next line kept pulling me deeper. The derelict city of Collinswood creates a chilling and exciting backdrop for a twisting plot and diverse cast of characters. I genuinely cared about what happened to Charlie and his companions. And the villains were a beautiful combination of bold and shadowy.

I would highly recommend this story to anyone who wanted a suspenseful novel that doesn’t get drawn into the modern pitfall of taking itself too seriously.

[Lacie Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie, life turned upside down before he knew what was happening. This book sucks you in and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. It continue to lead you on a guessing game with excitement, and adventure. I would recommend this book.

[Flesishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for choosing me to be a proofreader for your first novel. It has been a great journey, watching your book evolve. I adore Charlie Riverson, and am certain other readers will, too! Good luck, Brooke.

[El Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suspenseful story that had me asking questions the whole time!

[Jack Hance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent first book by Brooke Nelson. The tone and style remind me of early Dean Koontz books, with the odd characters and occasional humor. The settings are surrealistic at times, giving the scenes a dreamlike quality. I'm looking forward to the continued adventures of Charlie, Maeve, Elle and John in the second book.

[Michael Amaral · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing start to the series. The twists were twisting all the way to the very end. Can’t wait to read the second one.

[Jerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is so basic and the writer doesn’t know where the story is going, waste of money don’t buy

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still not certain about everything that happened. The characters are vivid, but act so darn strange most of the time. The plot is straightforward, but the key element, what was actually going on, eluded me. The premise is finding the main character's friend Elle and rescuing her. There is a ton of action going on and antagonists striking at the group from seemingly every direction, but to me, I was lost during most of the book. I just hope the next book clears things up for me. I do realize I am an old man, so I expect not to understand everything, but to be honest, I felt a lot like Charlie, the main protagonist. However, I do recommend this book because I have faith in the author.