I liked the concept of this novel
but felt it was lacking something
which made me feel I could not connect with it
I did like the twist at the end

Thank you netgalley, Toni Jordan and Text Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book

I loved this book by Toni Jordan, an award winning Australian author. The book is set in Brisbane in the 1980's but the plot takes us back to the 1830's in New York an revolves around a literary mystery. Perhaps the greatest literary mystery of all time! You will enjoy the twists and turns and mind-minding suspense as the book hurtles you forward to a surprise ending. Five stars!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

For Caddie Walker, who is a super fangirl of famed author Inga Karlson, viewing the fragments of her last book, "The Days, The Minutes", which remained after the fire in 1938 took the life of the author and the rest of the book, is a dream come true; but while meandering the display she meets an elderly lady who quoted words she know the author never had printed but she is sure are from her. The book follows in a dual timeline, told in 1938 before the fire and 1986, the current timeline. I love dual timeline stories, they are by far one of my favourites.

While this book had a lot going on for it, I could not get into the main character, she made ridiculous decisions, and I just could not connect with her. This made my enjoyment of the book less, I wanted more suspense and less personal stuff. but I felt the middle section the book dragged on and on, but I did enjoy the ending quite a bit.

Toni Jordan fabricates an absorbing account around the existence of seven fragments that are all that remains of author Inga Karlson’s legendary second novel.

Caddie Walker, named for the primary character in Karlson’s Pulitzer winning first novel, All Has an End, visits an exhibit of the author’s life and work where she encounters Rachel Lehrer who quotes a line that does not appear on any of the fragments. There is no one alive, supposedly, who has read The Days, The Minutes, the second novel that was completely destroyed in a warehouse fire in 1938 that also took the lives of Karlson and her publisher, Charles Cleborn. Now, Caddie is curious, so she begins to investigate the possibility that someone else read the novel.

The narrative in The Fragments moves back and forth between Rachel and Inga’s story in the 1930’s and Caddie’s in 1986. Caddie researched and wrote her thesis on All Has an End only to have it stolen and published as a successful paper by Professor Philip Carmichael, her adviser at the time. With this new clue, Caddie reaches out to two professors, Jamie Ganivet and Philip Carmichael, seeking information that might reveal who else might have had access to the novel in 1939.

Ms. Jordan spins a fascinating yarn with believable characters and sets a compelling pace. An impressive read.

When Inga Karlson died in a fire in a NYC warehouse in the 1930s, she was the acclaimed author of a best-selling novel. Her second novel was eagerly awaited by the thousands and thousands of fans around the world. Karlson only allowed two people to see the new novel: her publisher and herself. The warehouse she died in was the depository for her new novel. The only thing left after the fire was extinguished were a few fragments of her new book and two bodies.

In the 1980s, Caddie Walker, in Brisbane, is a huge fan of Karlson so is willing to stand in the heat of the scorching summer to see an exhibition of Karlson memorabilia, including the fragments of the author’s second novel. In a chance conversation with an older woman standing in that same line who quotes a few words that Caddie, and only Caddie, believe is from the book that only two people had ever seen. The woman disappears before Caddie can question her leaving Caddie with a quest.

This is a well written book, told in two different timelines, that hold your attention as Caddie begins to investigate a mystery that everyone else believes is already solved. As Jordan leads Caddie down that rabbit hole, she is careful to dole out just enough information so the reader may assumes she knows what the outcome will be. If that will be you, don’t stop reading because the mystery continues on through the last chapter.

If you like mysteries that subtle, well-written with well-drawn characters this is the book for you. You’ll want to put at or near the top of your to-be-read pile.

Thanks to Text Publishing and NetGalley for an eArc.

When I realised that Toni Jordan's The Fragments was published by Text Publishing, I knew I had to read it. Their fiction list is superb and I have enjoyed every novel of theirs I have read. The Fragments is no exception.,

A dual narrative, The Fragments is a literary mystery that tells the story of famous first time author Inga Karlson who died in a mysterious fire before the publication of her second novel in the 1930s, and Caddie Walker, a bookshop worker and fan of Karlson's writing., living in 1980s Brisbane. While visiting an Inga Karlson exhibition (the 'fragments' of the title, Caddie falls into conversation with an old woman who appears to know lines from the lost second novel. Intrigued, Caddie tries her hand at solving the mystery that has stumped the literary world (and the New York police) for over fifty years.

The narrative switches between Caddie's search for the truth, and Rachel Lehrer, a young woman who befriends Inga in New York and becomes close to her.. Both 1930s America and 1980s Brisbane are well-drawn and as the narratives become ever more entwined, I genuinely was willing Caddie on to find the answer (and ditch the dreadful Phillip!).

I did find the ending a little abrupt and the plot twist quite obvious, but I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.

I just could not get into this one. I felt wholly disconnected from and not immersed in the characters and setting. I don’t know if it was me or if it was the book, so I will be generous with my stars.

I wanted so much to love this. I wanted to love this so much. Everyone who reads must have wanted to love this.
Instead it was OK. It was another of those stories that forced two stories together. I have noticed others who thought is was redeemed by the "twist" ending. Unfortunately, the twist was apparent from the first chapter. I wish I could have liked this more. I didn't hate it. I just wanted so much more. There was some romances that I didn't particularly care about because I didn't think they added to the story. Instead, there were a lot of details that added nothing but surprisingly little real depth.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, and initially it had me hooked: the fragments of a novel lost to a 1939 fire which also killed the author, and now displayed in the State Gallery in Brisbane, Australia, in the mid-1980s. These fragments captivate our protagonist, Caddie, and a chance discussion with an elderly lady propels her onto a journey in which she searches for answers regarding the novel, the fire, and the author.

This is an intriguing book. It follows dual timelines, one running up to the fateful fire, and the other following Caddie’s search. It has elements of historical fiction, mystery, and thriller, with a sprinkle of romance. The author has a lovely, lyrical way of writing and there are some lovely sentences in this book. However, I found that I had to suspend my disbelief at various points and struggled with this a bit — for instance, would you really risk your career, your relationships, etc, on a hunch after a chance encounter with a stranger? I also found some of the concidences to be a little too neatly wrapped up. The twist felt flimsy and the ending abrupt — but I did like Caddie’s journey as she discovered herself along the way.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Text Publishing, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Fragments is a literary thriller which alternates between the mid-1980's in Brisbane, Australia and NYC in the 1930's. It is a very interesting blend of mystery, historical fiction and romance. Highly recommended for fans of any of these genres and especially for bookworms!

I'm a sucker for a good thriller novel and this one lived up to my hopes! The world, characters, and story were so creative, so enjoyable, and so intriguing. It was such a fun and exciting read! I did not guess any of the twists

*Thank you to Toni Jordan, Text Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was absolutely fantastic! Being a book lover myself, I immediately connected with the main character Caddie and loved seeing her grow throughout the book. The idea that a historical mystery could be solved after 50 years because the right person looks into the right things in fascinating to say the least. If you're looking for a quick read that's a bit mystery, a bit history, and all bookish love then this is the book for you!

3.5 stars (rounded down)

A Fire in New York, in the 1930’s took the life of author Inga Karlson, along with all the copies of her soon-to-be published second novel, “The Days, The Minutes.”

All that remained were the damaged remains of just a few pages. in order, they were 46, 53, 108, 117, 187, 200 and 238. Page 108 has suffered only charting down the right hand side, and a small oblong hole. Page 200 has one whole corner burnt away, and other parts are crumbling.

The fragments are on display at the new State Gallery , in Brisbane, Queensland in 1986, and bookseller, and fan, Caddie Walker is taking her time with the exhibit. While there she meets an elderly woman, who asks her what words from the author she likes best....
“And in the end, all we have are the hours and the days, the minutes and the way we bear them” answers Caddie without hesitation.

The woman says it’s her favorite as well, and she finishes the partial sentence that remains with ”the seconds spent on this earth and the number of them that truly mattered.”

Caddie becomes convinced that despite all that has been written about this tragedy, that this unknown woman somehow KNEW what had been written and that the words she spoke were the actual words once written and not words that she just made up.

So begins a mystery, fifty years in the making that will have Caddie Walker looking into that long ago fire and the woman who may just have answers, the World has been waiting for, told from two alternating timelines ...1938 and 1986.

I thought this would be a book for bibliophiles, and I loved the concept!

But, both narratives got a bit sidetracked as the women in each narrative got sidetracked by romance, and by poor decisions! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Fortunately, the book redeems itself in the end, just as I was giving up hope!!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Text Publishing and Toni Jordan for the digital ARC which I received in exchange for a candid review! This book has a U.S. release date of September 10, 2019!

Inga Karlson's debut novel published in 1935, 'All Has an End' was a major literary success loved and read by all. Four years later her much anticipated second book, 'The Days, the Minutes' was on the verge of being released in New York, when Inga, her publisher and all copies of the book were engulfed in a fire in the warehouse where the books were stored. All that remains are a few scorched fragments, with snippets of beautiful prose hinting at the lost promise of the novel.

In 1986, Caddie Walker, a young woman working in a Brisbane bookstore, queues to see an exhibition on Inga Karlson and in particular the fragments of that second book. At the exhibition she meets an older woman called Rachel who, just as she's leaving in a taxi, quotes a passage from the fragments to her, but Caddie realises it's an extended version of the passage. Has she discovered someone who has read 'The Days, the Minutes'? Together with Jamie Ganivet, an ex-graduate student and expert on Inga Karlson, Caddie delves back into the history of Inga's life and the cause of the fire to find out if it's possible that someone other than Inga and her publisher read a copy the book before it was destroyed.

Written in two time lines, the Fragments tells the story of the writing of 'The Days, the Minutes' and the events leading up to the catastrophic fire in 1939 and Caddie's search for answers in 1986. The novel is beautifully written with gorgeous prose and snippets of wry humour and the plot is well paced with a rising tension as Rachel's and Caddie's stories unfold. Rachel's life in her tiny apartment in New York in the 1930s, with the world on the brink of war feels authentic, as does Caddies life in 1980s Queensland, in a time before internet made research so much easier. A little twist at the end makes for a surprising and very satisfying ending.

I enjoyed this book. I love a mystery and The Fragments delivered.
Sometimes I thought that the main character of the book was Brisbane weather, rather Brisbane heat. It played such an important role in the events and in the interaction between characters. The heat impacted on the choices made by the characters. I think, if the novel would have been set in colder climate, we would have gotten a completely different story.
The story of Inga and Rachel, Caddie and Jamie and Caddie and Phillip are all intervene for the purpose of finding the truth. But the truth here is many things for different people.
It all depends on how much you want the truth, the reward, the recognition. It all depends on how much you want other people to be happy... or do you even care.
Toni Jordan created characters that done the mystery its dues. The good has prevail, the mystery uncovered so many other secrets even more important than the first mystery itself. The knights (Caddie and Jamie) of the literary world protected the 'damsel in distress' and the monster did not get the treasure.
All ended well, even though with more questions than answers.
Sometimes all you need are the fragments to start you on the journey of finding answers and finding yourself.

A brilliant narrative distortion at the beginning goes up in smoke (no pun intended) at the end with a very ridiculous (illogical) trope. But thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

A novel about an author and a book, "the fragments" references the few fragments of famed author Inga Karlsson's never published book that remain after a fire. Caddie is a young woman, slightly aimless, who is obsessed with Karlsson's famous book and with the fragments and soon discovers that she might be able to get to the truth about what happened to Karlsson and to her unpublished book.

I'd say this book is about 90% there. If you go along for the ride and suspend disbelief a couple of times, it's very engaging. Set in Brisbane and New York, with separate timelines for Karlsson in the 30s and Caddie in the 80s, the book is filled with wonderful descriptions that establish place and time beautifully. The ending just fell flat for me and I'm not sure I can put it into words why I feel that way. In fact, I actually picked the book back up a few days later thinking I hadn't finished it and was disappointed to realize I had and was just unsatisfied with the abrupt finish.

Overall the book is engaging, the hunt for the truth is pretty well developed and the mystery is mostly well resolved. Definitely worth the read.

3.75/5

I’m prefacing this review by saying that I like Toni Jordan’s writing (and in particular, Addition was a terrific book).

The Fragments is a literary mystery (in every sense of the word). The story alternates between 1930s New York and Brisbane in the 1980s. In New York, celebrated author Inga Karlson dies in a fire and her highly anticipated second book is also burnt, leaving just a few scorched fragments of the manuscript.

Fifty years later, Brisbane bookseller Caddie Walker is at a Karlson exhibition featuring the famous fragments when she meets a charismatic older woman. The woman quotes a phrase from the Karlson fragments that Caddie knows does not exist, and yet to Caddie, it feels genuine. Caddie decides to investigate.

It’s really, really difficult to give yourself over to a book when the premise isn’t plausible, and that’s why I ran into strife with The Fragments. Is it possible to have just one book that is universally adored? That is meaningful to so many people? That creates a cult-like following decades after it was published? And if this book existed, how likely is it that there would be multiple academics sitting in the English Department of a university in Queensland studying it?

I wondered if this story was inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman – it was the closest real-life example I could think of to bolster Inga Karlson’s plausibility. And yet, even Harper Lee falls short – would people queue at a museum for hours to see bits of her manuscripts? Are there still multiple (funded) academics making Lee’s writing their fulltime work?

There was more to struggle with – as the mystery-solving is gathering momentum, Caddie becomes involved with a person from her past, essentially trading a blossoming relationship for an old, unhappy one. It didn’t ring true, although I liked Jordan’s writing around Caddie meeting with ex again –

Philip was good at silences, she remembers. Manufacturing holes for you to step in.

And another struggle – Jordan’s fine writing gets lost in the melodrama. There are some lovely phrases – ‘The joints in Rachel’s wrists click and sigh’ and ‘Every breath is the scraping of a thin shale across river sand’ – but the action out-paces them. Overall, disappointing.

2.5/5 It’s me, not the book.

I received my copy of The Fragments from the publisher, Text Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

"Books are time travel and space travel and mind-altering drugs. They are mind-melds and telepathy and past-life regression. How people can stand here and not sense the magic in them--it's inconceivable to her."

Anybody who understands this about books immediately has my attention. Toni Jordan not only understands it, but delivers it up for us to enjoy.

I hated to see The Fragments end.

I loved this story and read it in one sitting. I especially enjoyed the plot twist which I did not see coming.

My thanks to Netgalley for an EARC in exchange for my honest feedback.