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The Broken Doll #4
Sixty-One Seconds
The hunter has captured her prey, and a sociopathic crime boss faces justice at last. But it’s not the end of the story. On a crowded street, gunfire and death are waiting to explode.
A festive street fair is underway in the shadow of the courthouse where a judge has just signed an extradition order. Paul Offenbach is escorted outside in handcuffs to a police cruiser—with another trick up his sleeve no one expects. In a matter of seconds, the killer is free, a hostage is taken from his family and Special Agent Constant Marlowe has lost her bid for justice. But is this the final chapter? As the lives of the guilty, the innocent and the vengeful converge, the winner remains uncertain.
From internationally bestselling master of suspense Jeffery Deaver comes Sixty-One Seconds, part of The Broken Doll collection, a series of interconnected short stories about killers and prey, justice and revenge, that can be read or listened to in a single breathless experience.
A festive street fair is underway in the shadow of the courthouse where a judge has just signed an extradition order. Paul Offenbach is escorted outside in handcuffs to a police cruiser—with another trick up his sleeve no one expects. In a matter of seconds, the killer is free, a hostage is taken from his family and Special Agent Constant Marlowe has lost her bid for justice. But is this the final chapter? As the lives of the guilty, the innocent and the vengeful converge, the winner remains uncertain.
From internationally bestselling master of suspense Jeffery Deaver comes Sixty-One Seconds, part of The Broken Doll collection, a series of interconnected short stories about killers and prey, justice and revenge, that can be read or listened to in a single breathless experience.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2022
1878 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
511 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
March 4, 2024
Very good series. I hope it is going to be continued. But if not, please, at least write some new short stories or even new novels About Constant Marlowe. She is a brilliant character. And don't forget about Evan Quill.
I recommend this series to everyone who likes a good read.
I recommend this series to everyone who likes a good read.
December 30, 2022
The fourth and final short story in Jeffery Deaver's The Broken Doll collection doesn't live up to the previous instalments. It's been a good series & it's a shame that this one was the weakest entry in an otherwise enjoyable ride.
February 7, 2023
Worth the read
This is the 4th book in this series. It brings everything together from the first 3. As with the other 3, I highly recommend continuing with the series. Great short reads.
The heroine is an original character and doesn't give up regardless of the circumstances. Again, lots of action and excitement.
This is the 4th book in this series. It brings everything together from the first 3. As with the other 3, I highly recommend continuing with the series. Great short reads.
The heroine is an original character and doesn't give up regardless of the circumstances. Again, lots of action and excitement.
January 1, 2023
great collection
Now that I read the entire collection and put everything together, I can say I enjoyed the characters, twists and plot. I just wish the ending was more definitive.
Now that I read the entire collection and put everything together, I can say I enjoyed the characters, twists and plot. I just wish the ending was more definitive.
September 21, 2025
Wanting to fill my reading time with a mix of novels and short stories, I came upon a collection of short stories by Jeffrey Deaver. This is the fourth and final piece. Which packs quite a punch and presents the nuanced interconnectedness of the entire collection. After Agent Constant Marlowe caught the man she had been trying to locate, Paul Offenbach, it seemed like a slam dunk to get him back to Illinois. However, something changed those odds. In the middle of a street fair, Paul Offenbach emerges, cuffed and ready to head into custody. A plan unfolds in which Offenbach is armed and headed for an escape vehicle. A shootout injures the criminal mastermind, so a hostage is taken to help. When the smoke settles, a determined Constant Marlowe begins her hunt once more for Offenbach. What follows is a series of events that will bring it all together! Deaver delivers a great final salvo in this well-paced short story collection.
I enjoy short stories and Jeffrey Deaver was the ideal choice. I have enjoyed some of his short stories before and still need to delve into his full-length work. The narrative presents many crossroads in the piece and the series in general, leaving the reader guessing how it will all turn out. Character development builds a little on the past stories and adds layers from this one, finding the glaring gaps and trying to fill them. The plot points effectively keep the reader unsure what is to come and how it all fits together, including the finale where Constant Marlowe determines her fate as it relates to capturing Paul Offenbach. Deaver has perfected this type of story and impresses again. I am so pleased to have found and devoured these four pieces.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for tying things up, while leaving a dangling thread or two!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I enjoy short stories and Jeffrey Deaver was the ideal choice. I have enjoyed some of his short stories before and still need to delve into his full-length work. The narrative presents many crossroads in the piece and the series in general, leaving the reader guessing how it will all turn out. Character development builds a little on the past stories and adds layers from this one, finding the glaring gaps and trying to fill them. The plot points effectively keep the reader unsure what is to come and how it all fits together, including the finale where Constant Marlowe determines her fate as it relates to capturing Paul Offenbach. Deaver has perfected this type of story and impresses again. I am so pleased to have found and devoured these four pieces.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for tying things up, while leaving a dangling thread or two!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 6, 2023
SIXTY-ONE SECONDS is the final entry in the “Broken Doll” series. It is also the shortest and least satisfying of the set. You do discover why it is called the “Broken Doll” series, and there is a more in-depth look at what occurred during the jailbreak that takes place in Book 1, but there are no major twists (just one minor one). Plus the ending is unsatisfactory because there is no closure.
It is interesting how everything ties together, but without a denouncement there are only hints as to how the action might eventually wrap up. Several potential outcomes are possible; what actually happens is left up to the imagination of the reader.
It is almost as if the author, Deaver, decided at the last moment that he wanted to write another set of interlocking stories about these characters and consequently chose to leave everything hanging.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Constant Marlowe, Evan Quill, and Paul Offenbach appear again in another series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for the first three novellas in the series:
The Pain Hunter (The Broken Doll, Book 1)
Dodge (The Broken Doll, Book 2)
Execution Day (The Broken Doll, Book 3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is interesting how everything ties together, but without a denouncement there are only hints as to how the action might eventually wrap up. Several potential outcomes are possible; what actually happens is left up to the imagination of the reader.
It is almost as if the author, Deaver, decided at the last moment that he wanted to write another set of interlocking stories about these characters and consequently chose to leave everything hanging.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Constant Marlowe, Evan Quill, and Paul Offenbach appear again in another series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for the first three novellas in the series:
The Pain Hunter (The Broken Doll, Book 1)
Dodge (The Broken Doll, Book 2)
Execution Day (The Broken Doll, Book 3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 19, 2022
This one took a turn quickly! I don't blame Constant at all for her actions, first with her boss and then after. I even liked the help that she got. I just hope she gets her man!
February 5, 2024
Well the interlocking stories; all four have been read and I feel I have done a thousand piece jigsaw and a couple of pieces are missing.
Each individual story is good and collectively they make for a clever and unique approach to story telling. However, as at the time of writing this review, one is left to drawn one’s own conclusions to complete the wider story.
In my imagination and understanding of these pages, if Constant puts aside the Queensberry rules, all that will be needed to finish the story are three bullets, of which two will be kill shots.
Larger than life characters, well crafted stories and an unfinished sense of jeopardy. From what we have learned of Constant Marlowe, Paul Offenbach’s hours are numbered. This is sufficient for me, but seems a little on the suspenseful side of B movies. It would be a question I’d want to ask the author: Is a concluding short story planned?
The absence of one as I say does not distract from the ride these books have taken me on but for some it will feel like visiting Alton Towers and finding Oblivion is closed for repairs.
In another sense there is never a good place when a series is ended and the final plot lines twisted and tied up. This way it remains “unfinished” but is no less complete in my opinion.
Jeffery Deaver here demonstrates the scope of his writing. Bringing horror, death and fear into the Midwest of America. He has something to say about the criminal justice system and the power that wealth can bring for some criminals to evade and avoid the harsh realities of capture, trial and imprisonment. I enjoyed the focus on individual efforts to bring about justice by doing what they could and the hypocrisy seen on other, from defending the guilty or taking bribes to subvert the legal process.
Good stories are all about the ideas, the evolving narrative and the depth of character. Authors struggle to keep all three across their work. From the evidence here Jeffery Deaver has a multitude of options available to him and the talent to continue producing quality work.
Each individual story is good and collectively they make for a clever and unique approach to story telling. However, as at the time of writing this review, one is left to drawn one’s own conclusions to complete the wider story.
In my imagination and understanding of these pages, if Constant puts aside the Queensberry rules, all that will be needed to finish the story are three bullets, of which two will be kill shots.
Larger than life characters, well crafted stories and an unfinished sense of jeopardy. From what we have learned of Constant Marlowe, Paul Offenbach’s hours are numbered. This is sufficient for me, but seems a little on the suspenseful side of B movies. It would be a question I’d want to ask the author: Is a concluding short story planned?
The absence of one as I say does not distract from the ride these books have taken me on but for some it will feel like visiting Alton Towers and finding Oblivion is closed for repairs.
In another sense there is never a good place when a series is ended and the final plot lines twisted and tied up. This way it remains “unfinished” but is no less complete in my opinion.
Jeffery Deaver here demonstrates the scope of his writing. Bringing horror, death and fear into the Midwest of America. He has something to say about the criminal justice system and the power that wealth can bring for some criminals to evade and avoid the harsh realities of capture, trial and imprisonment. I enjoyed the focus on individual efforts to bring about justice by doing what they could and the hypocrisy seen on other, from defending the guilty or taking bribes to subvert the legal process.
Good stories are all about the ideas, the evolving narrative and the depth of character. Authors struggle to keep all three across their work. From the evidence here Jeffery Deaver has a multitude of options available to him and the talent to continue producing quality work.
March 12, 2024
Final Showdown, but write your own ending
Review of the Amazon Original Stories Kindle eBook (December 13, 2022).
After several twists earlier in the series you would hope that the finale would provide a satisfactory resolution. We now get to see the actual jailbreak which preceded the doctor vs. patient confrontation in The Pain Hunter (#1) leading to a final confrontation of the lead criminal with our vigilante. But it all ends with an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert™ due to unresolved issues (no spoiler here). Frustratingly this same pattern is repeated in the author's later work The Rule of Threes (2024) (which includes some of the same characters), giving the impression that this is becoming a trademark.
The significance of The Broken Doll title becomes clear in this series finale.
Sixty-One Seconds is the final novella #4 of 4 interrelated stories issued in The Broken Doll series.
Review of the Amazon Original Stories Kindle eBook (December 13, 2022).
After several twists earlier in the series you would hope that the finale would provide a satisfactory resolution. We now get to see the actual jailbreak which preceded the doctor vs. patient confrontation in The Pain Hunter (#1) leading to a final confrontation of the lead criminal with our vigilante. But it all ends with an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert™ due to unresolved issues (no spoiler here). Frustratingly this same pattern is repeated in the author's later work The Rule of Threes (2024) (which includes some of the same characters), giving the impression that this is becoming a trademark.
The significance of The Broken Doll title becomes clear in this series finale.
Sixty-One Seconds is the final novella #4 of 4 interrelated stories issued in The Broken Doll series.
September 29, 2023
The final installment in the series!!!
It hits verily the roof, people!!!
Here comes the epic conclusion, the reader at last discovers and experiences the meaning of the broken doll...
Also, through every single one of the four novels to contemplate and enjoy how the characters grow is really awesome!!!
All in all, I did enjoy this series, that's why I do recommend it to all my friends...
Needless to say, that I want to read much more written by Jeffery Deaver, a literary master which creates clever characters, plus he knows how to kept the reader glued to the pages...
It hits verily the roof, people!!!
Here comes the epic conclusion, the reader at last discovers and experiences the meaning of the broken doll...
Also, through every single one of the four novels to contemplate and enjoy how the characters grow is really awesome!!!
All in all, I did enjoy this series, that's why I do recommend it to all my friends...
Needless to say, that I want to read much more written by Jeffery Deaver, a literary master which creates clever characters, plus he knows how to kept the reader glued to the pages...
January 10, 2023
my goodness 😳
Talk about a total mind fuck read😅 this was thrilling and super interesting, I want more. Jeffery Deaver is a gifted writer my gosh each and every book of his I’ve read has left me stunned and this series has done just that. I loved everything about it 😊
Talk about a total mind fuck read😅 this was thrilling and super interesting, I want more. Jeffery Deaver is a gifted writer my gosh each and every book of his I’ve read has left me stunned and this series has done just that. I loved everything about it 😊
August 16, 2023
No complaints for the ending of the series, every reader knows how’s it gonna end, but it was beautifully choreographed into a atmosphere of true nature of human beings.
September 7, 2024
Entertaining mystery relationship listening. 🎶😎🏠🎆
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book four of four
They are in the court house signing papers to transfer him to Illinois. His friends are outside planning on freeing him. And the fun begins.
I would recommend this series and author to readers looking for quick mystery novels 👒😎🎆
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book four of four
They are in the court house signing papers to transfer him to Illinois. His friends are outside planning on freeing him. And the fun begins.
I would recommend this series and author to readers looking for quick mystery novels 👒😎🎆
June 30, 2025
This is the final instalment in The Broken Doll series. This is kind of a prequel that leads us into the events of book 1. It gives us answers to some of the events that happened in previous books too. We also finally find out why this series is called what it is.
I actually feel this series would have been better just loaded into 1 book, I think it may have flowed better. Even though the author states in his introductions they can be read as standalones. After finishing this last book I have to disagree, you're only going to be getting parts of the story.
Had a slightly ambiguous ending... we can only hope Constant finally got to take down her man! I really did love Constant as a character. I wouldn't be surprised if she popped up again in another book by the author in the future.
Given that this book was (sort of) filling in some of the blanks, I think it's probably one of the better books in the series. Very short this one though.
I actually feel this series would have been better just loaded into 1 book, I think it may have flowed better. Even though the author states in his introductions they can be read as standalones. After finishing this last book I have to disagree, you're only going to be getting parts of the story.
Had a slightly ambiguous ending... we can only hope Constant finally got to take down her man! I really did love Constant as a character. I wouldn't be surprised if she popped up again in another book by the author in the future.
Given that this book was (sort of) filling in some of the blanks, I think it's probably one of the better books in the series. Very short this one though.
May 25, 2025
"Oh, my, Agent Marlowe. I caught you two weeks ago, doing the same thing! What’m I going to do with you?”
Aww that Constant just can't stay out of trouble😊 The fourth and last in the series and alas we're left wanting more, I suspect this won't be the last we hear of Agent Constant Marlowe, at least I hope not she is so much fun!
Aww that Constant just can't stay out of trouble😊 The fourth and last in the series and alas we're left wanting more, I suspect this won't be the last we hear of Agent Constant Marlowe, at least I hope not she is so much fun!
January 24, 2023
More of a review for the series.
I wasn’t sure where they’d all end up, so I rated the rest conservatively.
But this tied it up well, so 4 ⭐️for the whole thing!
Suspenseful ~ well-plotted ~ neat idea to break it into 4 novellas. I recommend this for sure.
I wasn’t sure where they’d all end up, so I rated the rest conservatively.
But this tied it up well, so 4 ⭐️for the whole thing!
Suspenseful ~ well-plotted ~ neat idea to break it into 4 novellas. I recommend this for sure.
December 26, 2024
I like how all the short stories in this series showed a different piece of the puzzle and this final book brought it all together. I wish I had read them back to back so I remembered them better. Maybe I will do that at a later date. Definitely worth reading.
July 31, 2024
7.5/10
Not a fan of ambiguous endings. And, IMO, the doctor was the real hero of the Broken Doll series. But still, a tight, well-written story.
Not a fan of ambiguous endings. And, IMO, the doctor was the real hero of the Broken Doll series. But still, a tight, well-written story.
December 23, 2022
A very good read!
This is just the kind of book I like. A can’t putter downer. Why do I feel like I just watched the last episode of the season? Lol
This is just the kind of book I like. A can’t putter downer. Why do I feel like I just watched the last episode of the season? Lol
December 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this and it was great to step back into the action outside of the courtroom after Book 3. But I just can't excuse the fact that the story just ended out of nowhere with no resolution. It connected to the events of Book 1, but didn't continue from that point onward. I was genuinely surprised when the story ended since I was reading on Kindle and wasn't paying attention to the completion rate.
I searched to see if there was a Book 5 even though I was pretty sure it was only a four-part series. I went back and looked to see if each book had a staggered release date and maybe 5 was still on the way. But nope, all four stories were released simultaneously.
I liked this a lot but I can't say I'm a fan of the blue balls ending.
I searched to see if there was a Book 5 even though I was pretty sure it was only a four-part series. I went back and looked to see if each book had a staggered release date and maybe 5 was still on the way. But nope, all four stories were released simultaneously.
I liked this a lot but I can't say I'm a fan of the blue balls ending.
December 19, 2022
It can't end like this
It can't end yet, what is going on? This was over too soon. It seemed like I only read a couple of pages.
It can't end yet, what is going on? This was over too soon. It seemed like I only read a couple of pages.
March 12, 2024
All the puzzle pieces come together in the fourth installment of the Broken Doll series. I really enjoyed the series and think it was incredibly well done in these bite sized pieces. This final installment was the weakest of them all, and I wish we'd gotten a little bit more in the end.
July 16, 2024
ending (spoiler)
What kind of ending is that? Left the whole story hanging. As the 4th book I found this one a bit confusing and totally lacking in any resolution. I was happy until the end.
What kind of ending is that? Left the whole story hanging. As the 4th book I found this one a bit confusing and totally lacking in any resolution. I was happy until the end.
December 4, 2024
Ebook on the trip to Oklahoma. I like Deaver and this was a short story. It was fine, but nothing to get excited about.
July 4, 2025
The final short story in the Broken Doll series delivers another fast-paced, action-packed ride.
However, I was left disappointed by the conclusion, with the lack of closure leaving me unsatisfied.
However, I was left disappointed by the conclusion, with the lack of closure leaving me unsatisfied.
December 23, 2022
Marlow is Constant
The character of Constant Marlow is well-developed. She's a cop not to be messed with. She's intelligent, tough and Constant-ly pursuing the bad guys. Love her character 💕.
The character of Constant Marlow is well-developed. She's a cop not to be messed with. She's intelligent, tough and Constant-ly pursuing the bad guys. Love her character 💕.
June 19, 2025
I need more.
February 20, 2023
First, I'd give this book 4 and a half stars. This is the final book in the Broken Doll series. There is plenty of satisfaction in the development... maybe not 100 percent, however.
December 26, 2022
VERY UNSATISFACTORY ENDING!!! Boo to The Author!
4 Stand-Alone but Integrated Short Stories.
Jumbled Order courtesy of The Author.
Mass Confusion for The Reader.
Very Unsatisfied Feeling when they stories tie together, but then there is no ending. Yes, The Reader can let their imagination go wild, but that’s what The Author is good for — except, not in this case.
Boo.
4 Stand-Alone but Integrated Short Stories.
Jumbled Order courtesy of The Author.
Mass Confusion for The Reader.
Very Unsatisfied Feeling when they stories tie together, but then there is no ending. Yes, The Reader can let their imagination go wild, but that’s what The Author is good for — except, not in this case.
Boo.
December 26, 2022
At the end of the 4 installment series, I am left feeling a little bit frustrated. I feel as if the story has not been completed. So, I am either frustrated because it was left undone, or angry because I have to look for more installments in this series. Up until I didn't get a finish (and that may have never been the author's intention), I had really liked where this story was heading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews