Little Broken Things

Georgiana Germaine #3

by Cheryl Bradshaw

Detective Georgiana Germaine is back on the trail of a cold-blooded killer, and once again, the case hits close to home.

Twenty-year-old Olivia Spencer sits at her desk in her mother's bookshop, dreaming about her upcoming wedding. The shop may be closed, but Olivia's not alone, and her dream is about to become her worst nightmare.

Little Broken Things is the third book in the bestselling Georgiana Germaine mystery series. Grab your copy today and get swept up in a twisty tale of secrets and lies that will have you up reading all night.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Contemporary, Romance

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2021

About the author

Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and 11-time USA Today bestselling author writing in multiple genres, including mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, supernatural suspense, and poetry. She is a Shamus Award finalist for best private eye novel of the year, an eFestival of Words winner for best thriller, and has published over fifty books since 2011.

Raised in Southern California, she now lives in North Texas. When she's not writing, she loves jet-setting to new countries, exploring the outdoors, and playing with her grandbabies.

For a free eBook, click here: http://cherylbradshaw.com/get-a-free-...

Book series in order by Cheryl Bradshaw:

Georgiana Germaine (Mystery Series)

1. Little Girl Lost - USA Today Bestseller
2. Little Lost Secrets
3. Little Broken Things
4. Little White Lies
5. Little Tangled Webs
6. Little Shattered Dreams
7. Little Last Words
8. Little Buried Secrets
9. Little Stolen Memories
10. Little Empty Promises
11. Little Hidden Fears

Sloane Monroe Mystery/Thriller Series

0. Silent As the Grave (prequel to series)
1. Black Diamond Death
2. Murder in Mind
3. I Have a Secret
4. Stranger in Town - Shamus Award Finalist
5. Bed of Bones - USA Today Bestseller
6. Hush Now Baby - USA Today Bestseller
7. Gone Daddy Gone - USA Today Bestseller
8. Smoke and Mirrors - USA Today Bestseller

Sloane Monroe Stories - Mystery Novella Series
(with characters from the main series)

1. Deadly Sins: Sloth
2. Deadly Sins: Wrath
3. Deadly Sins: Lust
4. Deadly Sins: Greed
5. Deadly Sins: Envy
6. Deadly Sins: Pride

Sloane & Maddie Peril Awaits - Mystery Series
(Spinoff Series with Sloane Monroe & her sidekick Maddie)

1. The Silent Boy
2. The Shadow Children
3. The Broken Soul
4. The Widow Maker
5. The Familiar Stranger

Addison Lockhart Ghost Mystery Series

1. Grayson Manor Haunting
2. Rosecliff Manor Haunting
3. Blackthorn Manor Haunting
4. Belle Manor Haunting
5. Crawley Manor Haunting

Stand Alone Mystery/Thriller Novels

1. Eye for Revenge - USA Today Bestseller
2. The Perfect Lie
3. Hickory Dickory Dead - USA Today Bestseller
4. Roadkill - USA Today Bestseller

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder of a 20 year old, who happens to be the daughter of her Aunt Laura's best friend, is the latest case Detective Georgiana Germaine is working on solving.

The investigation is a little closer to home for Georgiana as its close family friends and what she uncovers at each turn is horrible. Georgiana personal life and relationship with Giovanni get dragged into her professional life and has her making a huge life changing decision by the end of the book.

Future books will be interesting with this change but I look forward to seeing where Georgiana next chapter in her life takes her.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The victim left notes, hints really, in the form of poetry. But was she writing about herself or someone else. Are all those hints actually hints about her murder or just secrets she's kept over the years. The detective has her work cut out for her, and so many of the people of interest are telling lies. GiGi not only has her cut out for her, she's also having a mini mental meltdown about her personal love life... and the next step in it. Wonderfully written characters (some new, some recurring.) Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. The mysteries are all new, but the main players carry over, as does the relationships. There is no sexual content (other than kissing,) but this particular story does feature some possible trigger's including sexual abuse. (Nothing is played out in the pages, but it is mentioned and talked about.) The book reads easily and the story flows smoothly. The mystery is intriguing. It's written from the Protagonist's POV entirely with the exception of the prologue, which is written from the victims POV.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia has finally found the love of her life. They are planning on being married shortly, and then she can leave the past where it belongs...in the past. But before that happens, she is murdered. Why? What was in her past that someone would kill her for? Georgiana is trying to solve this case that is close to home for her, but that isn't the only thing going on with Georgiana. Can she solve the case and find the answer to her other issue? I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Diane Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good thriller

Received from Goodreads giveaway. A fun and mysterious who done it. This is my first book, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. I do believe I will go back and read more of the series. Cheryl Bradshaw is great at suspense and strong characters.

[Leah Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgiana is back and embroiled in a murder whose victim has ties to her family. The case takes her to unexpected places and people. There are plenty of suspects and tension. I guessed the villain very early but it didn't take away from the story. I also enjoyed the further development of Georgiana and Giovanni's relationship. I have to say the ending wasn't one I saw coming and opens the furtherment of the series in some interesting ways.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of the author's I have read. I liked the lead character, Georgiana Germaine. In many way, she reminded me of Kinsey Milhone of the sue Grafton alphabet series - which is high praise in my world. I think I want to try another book in this series.

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start of the book was good with the build up of suspense. However, the ending let it down.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

This is the best book in this series so far. Once I started, I couldn’t stop until I finished the book. Very rarely does that happen.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series. They are all 5*. This one is who killed Olivia. What a good book.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery even though I predicted the killer fairly early on. There wasn’t anything specific that made me think I was right, just a hunch. That being said, Cheryl Bradshaw does a good job throwing you off the scent and bringing to light other issues with suspects. It’s written well with very few if any typographical errors. She addresses current events and makes you feel for the victims. I didn’t find the interactions between her and Blackwell believable but it does lead to Georgiana’s new line of work at the end of the book so I guess it was necessary. The story line is very similar to Sloane Monroe now and I miss Sloane but Gigi is worth reading.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had wanted to read this ebook, so glad i got it free

its the series that takes place in cambria

she is detective in slo , her stepdad was cheif of police until he had a heart attack and retired. no one likes her new boss

her boyfriend bought a house in cambria, where she lives in her motor home with her dog , and asked her to move in with him. he has mob connections. she is thinking about moving in with him

there was a case of a girl who drowned in the bathtub that might be connected to the case she is working on now

a girl who was engaged to be married was closing the bookstore she worked in and was hit over the head and murdered. her last words were 'its you' so she must have known who it was

she had gotten preg at 16 and only told her best friend who took her to get abortion

there is a math teacher being inappropriate with the girls in school and the detective called him out on it and made it public. more girls came forward so they could arrest him

the detective is questioning everyone several times
she has a dream about a cabin and the girls parents owned the cabin in her dreams so she went up there to see if she can find any clues

she dug up a box with the man who went up there with her
and he tried to kill her, he was the one who killed the girl
her boyfriend came right when he was going to shoot her and her boyfriend killed him. she told him to leave, she took the gun and said she killed the man in self defense

her new boss is such a jerk, she quit. im so glad
she is going to be a pi
i cant wait for the next book!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, quick-read murder mystery

I read the first book in this series in 2020, skipped the second, but picked up this third book, hoping the protagonist had mellowed somewhat. Detective Georgina Germaine still has a temper, is still aggressive, and tells non-law enforcement persons too much about her case. Plus, her investigative methods are still questionable. To add to her problems, the chief of police is felled by a clichéd heart problem of men in high-pressure jobs. The new chief of police, whose given name is Ivan, behaves like several of his namesakes.

There’s a drama storyline to do with Georgina’s personal life and her partner, Giovanni Luciana—who is an interesting, slightly mysterious character. I paid attention, because Giovanni’s his sister, in New York, is having some problems handling the family business, which hasn’t always been legal. Plus, Giovanni employs a sorta man-of-many-talents, so I hoped for mafioso tropes. I may read book #2 to find out more about Giovanni Luciana.

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a sordid tale, but told very very well

With no bad language or open bedroom doors, this is an expertly told story of mostly men, not being able to control their base human nature and inflicting terrible pain and decisions on others with long Reaching lasting effects.
Having said that though, I found it an easy read, it wasn’t a thriller for me, no heart thumping, or having to put the book down for a break, none of that, it examines peoples needs, motives and personalities or what we want other people to see at different times, the story wasn’t an overly happy one, but it ends well. I don’t want to put anyone off reading this book at all, just be aware it involves sex crimes against young teens by trusted adults in and out of family. For me it was a satisfying ending for the crimes written about.

[Kerry]

The murder of a young bride-to-be, a friend of the family of a detective, spurs the action in Cheryl Bradshaw’s Little Broken Things. This determined woman juggles her personal life, family obligations, and the case, including interacting with a new and prickly chief of police. The story starts with the victim in a bookstore when the crime occurs. Georgiana, the detective, investigates the poor girl’s fiance, her ex-boyfriend (and her fiance’s ex-girlfriend), and some other surprising suspects, and it is through the victim’s poetry and journal that major clues lead to motive and an eventual thrilling arrest. At the conclusion of this third in the series, the detective makes a major life change which promises to provide plenty of new mystery opportunities.

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgiana Germaine is now one of my favorite fictional characters. Besides the storylines, the character herself is very complex and well developed. In this latest book, a young woman of 20 is murdered, and as she begs for her life, she recognizes her killer. It turns out that Gigi has a personal connection to the victim; her Aunt Laura is the victim’s goddaughter. To add into the mix, Gigi’s stepfather who is also her chief has a heart attack and is temporarily replaced by a man who is thoroughly obnoxious. The new chief also has issues with Gigi’s boyfriend who has a mob background. There are a lot of twists and turns, and the ending is fantastic.

[PWA Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good story. There are several characters that could have been the killer. There's even a connection to the girls school, her friends and fiance. I have to admit I knew who the killer was early on, he just had a strangely suspicious way about him. It was interesting going back in time through her diary and friends to find out what her life was like. Things change at the end for Georgiana and I can't wait to see how that works out.
I've read several books by this author, each enjoyable and interesting. Well worth your time. Well written, drawing you in from the beginning to end.

[Mary Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. The author is very clever at giving her reader lots of possibilities for the perpetrator of the murder being investigated. It is not until the final scenes that we find out who the culprit is. While I enjoyed watching the interaction between Gigi and the other characters, I did feel that Olivia, the girl who was murdered, should have exposed her murderer as soon as she reached legal age instead of trying to keep their relationship a secret. I do like the writer's style and ability to keep her story moving forward. I am ready to read the next installment in this mystery series.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series. The latest case for Georgiana, GiGi, is the 20 year old daughter of her Aunt Laura's best friend. (Really liking Laura more and more)While investigating the murder she had plenty suspects and discovered that a previous classmates suicide could be linked, or is it? The poetry left behind by the victim was a big clue. This was a really good book and I was surprised by the very end and am looking forward to the direction that GiGi seems to be going. Read it, you will not be dissapointed.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Georgiana Germaine series by Cheryl Bradshaw is absolutely incredible! The author gives readers more insight into the detective's background and continues to bring this multifaceted protagonist's personality to life. The case itself in the book is expertly detailed by the author and is very intriguing. I was completely invested in Gigi Germaine from the first book in this series and have becoming increasingly drawn to her with each new book. Recommend, without reservation!

[Dorothyb]

Georgiana Germaine is smart, determined and quirky. She loves vintage clothes, her dog and eggs. She does what she needs to get to the truth who killed Olivia, the daughter of her Aunt Laura's best friend. Alot of her cases are involved with her personally which causes her to dig in. She will not stop until she solves the mystery. This book shows both sides of Georgiana, the doggedly determined detective and the uncertain girlfriend who is forced to decide what to choose in her personnel life. This series just keeps getting better and so far this is my favorite.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Georgina (Gigi) Germaine is on the case of twenty-one year old Olivia Spencer who was found murdered before she can plan her upcoming wedding. This case is close to Gigi’s family as Olivia was the goddaughter of her Aunt Laura. Gigi’s father the chief of police had a heart attack and no one in the precinct gets along with his replacement. Gigi is having relationship problems with her boyfriend Giovanni Luciana. Can Gigi solve this case without any more problems arising? I really enjoyed this wonderful psychological thriller novel.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Broken Things is the third book in this series and so far it has been the best one, I literally devoured it throughout the day. It started off interesting and kept the same pacing pretty much throughout the whole thing, although it did lose a little steam by the end. I will say it was pretty predictable, I figured out who the suspect was early on and I was right. Also there were some misogynistic undertones from various characters. I did not care for the ending, but overall it was a decent and quick read.

[Yvonne Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Great mystery and I wanted Olivia's killer to be found right away. Killing someone as the prepare for their wedding so horrible. I am a Georgiana fan and as we learn more about Olivia and all she was enduring and surviving made me want to catch the killer even more. This had several twists and turns and I was so happy with the ending as the new chief is not someone anyone should have to work alongside. I am excited for Gigi as she starts lots of aspects of her new life!

[Keith Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head spinning drama

Gigi, Georgiana Germaine, a top and well respected detective sets out to discover who killed a very dear friend. There are so many possibilities for suspects, it is hard to keep track. At the same time she discovers that the victim was not the truly innocent young girl that people thought she was. Who could be deranged enough to murder a young, soon to be married girl and why?

[Jessica Durazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a fantastic book! 🌟… the protagonist is an amazing detective, and even when her work becomes difficult and overwhelming, she fulfills it perfectly.

It is a story that meets several qualities, it is very easy to read, it catches you and you just want to continue reading, and it makes you feel emotional during reading.

It's the first time I've read something about Cheryl and I loved it!💛💛

[Stephanie Herron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery of who killed Olivia has Gigi searching for answers in Olivia's past. Gigi finds poetry that tells of a past that she must unravel no matter the cost. In addition to the mystery her step father and boss has a heart attack. Giovanni has moved into town and asked her to move in with him. There is a lot going on in this book.

[DorieLou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl Bradshaw has done it again! Another amazing story! Little Broken Things kept me reading and wanting more, I can not wait until #4 in the series! Everything you could want! Love, mystery and life changing decisions for Georgina!! Oh, and I loved the ending! I don’t want to say a lot, you need to read this book! You must read the series if you have not already done so!

[Dorothy Neveling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will keep you guessing until the end. Olivia is murdered at the bookstore where she works but with very few clues Georgiana must unravel the secrets Olivia keeps from her past. As things are revealed thru Olivia's poetry you start to think this person was the killer and that person was but not until the end does the truth come out and it is not who you imagined.

[Mandi Newbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Bradshaw delivers a suspenseful murder mystery! This is book 3 in a series with the heroine Georgiana, when her Aunt's goddaughter is murdered. The suspense builds to a shocking truth. To be honest, this is not for sensitive readers. But I have loved all of Bradshaw's books. She writes in a way that captures your attention, and hooks you in for a stay-up-all-night read!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced murder mystery with an intense female detective makes an interesting and enjoyable read. Gigi is an engaging character and, with her complicated relationship to Giovanni, I suspect we'll be seeing more of her stories.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.