Broken

by J.E. Irvin

Riley Marie Finn lives a stolid, conventional life, every detail planned and unexpected and dull. But when her boyfriend dumps her and the school district where she teaches releases her due to budget concerns, Riley’s whole world turns upside down. Jilted and jobless and determined to change her fate, she heads to the Adirondacks in search of summer employment, where she ends up lost. Rescued by a broody forest ranger who directs her to the hamlet of Wanakena, she is hired in place of a woman whose dead body is discovered at the very place Riley appeared.Josh Waylon is a forest ranger haunted by the ghost of his unfaithful wife, the first victim of the Wilderness Strangler one year ago. With a battered heart and a cloud of suspicion hanging over him, he swears off human contact until Riley invades his territory.Broken and desperate and unable to resist their mutual attraction, Riley and Josh join forces to flush out the ‘Wilderness Strangler’ and clear their names. Can their growing feelings for each other heal the damage of their past lives? Can they solve the dual murders before one of them becomes the next victim?

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2021

About the author

J. E. Irvin is a novelist, poet, and educator. She grew up in Struthers, Ohio, in the industrial north area of the state. The oldest of seven children, she spent her childhood caring for her siblings and reading her way through the shelves of the local library. She holds a BA from Ohio University, an M.S. in Education from the University of Dayton, and an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Cincinnati. Her short pieces have appeared in a variety of print and online publications. Her interests include canoeing, gardening, and travel. She is a member of the Greenville Poets, Central Ohio Fiction Writers, Buckeye Crime Writers, and SistersinCrime. Irvin is a member of the Springboro Historical Society and serves on the Springboro Park Board.

Reviews

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart pumping and Action-packed

A murder or 2 mystery takes up the reader on a wilderness adventure in the Adirondacks. Breathtaking views, handsome and romantic characters, a bit of humor and a curmudgeonly matron named Carl make this delightful read one to remember.

[Michelle Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read.