Great Book! 5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advance copy for honest review.

Two estranged sisters, one abusive husband and a odd psychic. This thriller will have you turning pages for the twist at the end you didn't see coming! Recommend.

I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley.

It’s like the old gum commercial said about twins: “Double your pleasure, double your fun.”

At least until one of them is brutally murdered.

Maggie and Lilly are estranged twins who had a falling out because Lilly refused to leave her abusive husband Mike. It’s been a year since Lilly and Mike left the girls’ hometown, and the sisters haven’t spoken since then. When Lilly turns up dead, Mike is instantly arrested for the crime. Now Maggie has come to the fading tourist trap of a town they were living in to try and find some personal effects that belonged to their mother that Lilly had taken. However, while Mike admits that he did beat Lilly the night she died he also insists that she was still alive when he left her.

This is one of those plots that sounds like a cheesy Lifetime TV movie when you describe it, but there’s a lot more going on than that. This isn’t just a straight up thriller like it sounds, but instead it’s more of a psychological suspense novel driven by character work. Much of the story comes to us from a the manager of the apartment building where LIlly and Mike were living, and there’s just something off about this guy from the jump that gives the entire narrative an unsettling vibe.

The sequences from Maggie’s POV cover her anger, grief, and loneliness that she she hides behind a veneer of toughness. This is a woman who just wants to do what she came there to do and then get the hell out, but she finds herself drawn to some of the people she meets like a helpful sheriff, a psychic who isn’t stingy with her pot, and an aging private detective.

At less than 300 pages John Rector delivers this with a swift no-nonsense efficiency that still manages to suck you into a moody and atmospheric book that seems seems equal parts crime thriller and tragedy.

Maggie never liked or trusted her twin sister Lily's husband Mike. Now, horribly, Lily has been murdered and Maggie has come to Beaumont Cove to find answers. She's not the only one who thinks Mile did it but the more time she spends in town, the more she comes to understand that there's something else out there. There are secrets, lies,. creepy characters, and a plot that while not unique, is well done. Rector has a nice way with red herrings. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fast entertaining read.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I’d never read anything by John Rector before, but the premise sounded intriguing. Unfortunately, for me, the book fails to live up to the premise.

By a third of the way through the book, I made a long note on my kindle. Here it is, only slightly edited:

"So far, nothing here is unusual for this genre. Dead woman, seen in flashbacks. Predator/creepy-stalky guy’s POV. Troubled past for both characters. Abusive husband. Angry sister. Not feeling much emotional attachment to anyone here. I can already see what’s going to happen and has already happened in the murky past. I’ve already figured out the big twist already. Everything else is predictable.

"John Rector is an experienced writer–as evidenced by the clean, crisp writing style and list of award-winning titles–so presumably he already knows all the clichés of the suspense genre. Surely he knows what he’s doing here isn’t unusual. So why is an experienced author choosing such predictability in his novel? If he’s making a statement about what the suspense genre has become, that’s fine. Artistic license, all that.

"But even a parody still needs to work as a story and I don’t feel like this story has enough depth to work. The characterization is rather shallow. The plot is predictable. Is it a parody of the suspense genre itself? (It’s now standard practice to have a “big twist” and unreliable narrators, for example.) But a parody would need to draw in more of the genre’s wacky elements and push them to an extreme. That’s not happening here. So I have to assume that the book is intended to be serious.

"The guy can definitely write. But the story doesn’t feel fully realized as a “fictional dream.” It’s on the shorter side, so there is plenty of room for more depth. But it’s not there.”

I finished the book, but the rest of it confirmed my early impressions. Something was missing from this story. If you’re an avid reader of suspense novels, the plot won’t hold any real surprises. It’s unfortunate, because a writer of Rector’s skill and experience could’ve produced a truly original story from this premise. But that didn’t happen.

Still, I’m giving this three stars. Why? Because John Rector flat-out knows how to write. He has a terrific way with words, and it’s refreshing to read prose that doesn’t make me wonder where the editor was. He’s good at creating a desolate tone that reflects the desolate nature of this town. I would definitely read another book by him.

Note: I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
(This will be posted to my blog on September 18, 2020.)

John Rector's The Ridge was one of my top 5 books of 2017. He has a way of writing that makes me almost manic in my need to reach the end.

Broken is the story of twins, Lilly and Maggie (Magnolia). Lilly is dead and Maggie wants to find out how and why. She's also looking for answers that she doesn't realize she needs. A sense of home and of family. Thomas is the manager of the extended stay hotel where Lilly lived, Mike is Lilly's husband and accused murderer, Clay is a private investigator, and then there's the town witch.

This book is good - I mean, I did stay up 3 hours past my bedtime to finish it, but it left me wanting something. Still - I enjoyed it as I am a John Rector fan and see nothing bad about anything he writes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book has potential but I think it's lacking that special something that makes the story a page turner.
It's well written, quirky characters but it's not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Maggie is traveling to the small seaside town of Beaumont Cove to identify her estranged twin sister, Lilly's, body. She arrives in the seemingly sleepy town on the edge of nowhere, beyond which "there be dragons" according to the old man on the bus, and finds she may have to use her own investigative skills to piece together her sister's life leading up to her murder.

Maggie and Lilly ultimately drifted apart because of Lilly's constant forgiveness of her now-husband Mike. Maggie tried to convince Lilly that Mike was no good for her and that he would never not be a volatile, abusive person. But Lilly believed in the good she could see in Mike and when Lilly and Mike moved to Beaumont Cove, it was supposed to be a fresh start. Maggie has stuck to her opinions of her sister's less than satisfactory choice for a husband, and she is determined to put him and the pain he's caused behind her. However, not too long after she arrives, she realizes she is being watched and that the small seaside town holds more secrets, both her sister's and its own, than it would originally appear.

Can she trust the psychic who knows so much about her life? Will seeking help from the local PI yield results? And who is the eager yet pleasant motel manager where Maggie's sister lived, and what did he know about her sister?

I loved the creepy story of <i>The Ridge</i> so I was excited to pick up another book by this author. This book delivered on my expectations and was quite the page-turner that I finished it in one sitting. I look forward to more books from this author!
Thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author John Rector describes the entire story by breaking it into pieces and assigning them to the characters. Readers are provided the backstory from Lilly and Thomas yet remained grounded in the present when Magnolia takes over. The past events move quickly, racing to catch up to Magnolia’s tale. When the stories collide, the suspense takes over, adding fuel to the fast pace of this entire novel.

I liked the characters in the story. You can see the pain in Thomas yet there is not enough warmth to make him likable. Magnolia – Maggie for short – stays true to who she is. Even when it is her turn to guide us through the action, her thoughts seem guarded. Ava and Clay are interesting, and definitely part of the local color in Beaumont Cove.

Separating this book from others is that Mr. Rector does not trumpet it as the first in a series. He relates a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is enough to allow us to begin liking the characters, but not so much that we feel inundated from much knowledge. There is plenty more to learn from the people of Beaumont Cove, and we can only wait patiently to see if the author will take us there once again. I hope he does. Five stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

Broken is a decent thriller, not exceptional, but it got all the elements to make it was a good and entertaining read.

After years of not talking to each other, Maggie received the devastating news of her twin sister's murder. She decides to travels to Beaumont Cove, where Lilly lived with her husband Mike, to find out what happened to her and collect some of her belongings.
Lilly's murder came as no surprise to Maggie. she always believed that Mike was violent with her sister. In fact, her trying to help Lilly live him was the reason behind their downfall. Mike never admits to the murder, and unexpectedly, Maggie can't help believing in his innocence.

The mystery was scarce but the narrative was definitely neat, fast-paced, and kept on unraveling more pieces of the story without getting boring.

Magnolia the MC, came out a little two dimensional. she is tough and effective but sometimes felt more unsympathetic than anything else. But I guess that's part of her character. In general, all the characters felt two-dimensional. But don't get me wrong I really liked them and I'd love to read more about them. I'm not sure if this book is part of series but I think it genuinely can make a great prequel to a crime series.
Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publishers for my ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for this eARC of "Broken" by John Rector in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Beaumont Cove, the quaint forgotten little tourist trap the world has forgotten about. The place Lilly is murdered, and her sister Maggie has come to identify the body. Lilly's abusive husband, Mike, is in custody for her murder. All Maggie wants to do is tend to her sister's affairs, see Mike punished, and leave. With the help of some locals, Maggie begins to piece together the truth... and finds herself on the same deadly path as Lilly.

Rector has written an evenly paced, quick read, that begs you to finish it all at once. Beaumont Cove draws you in with Rector's words and sense of nostalgia about the little beach tourist town, and the locals are just the background. Maggie's reaction to her sister's death coupled with her initial aversion to the little town make for an intriguing personality. The story flowed easily along, albeit predictable, it was still engaging. Rector has written a story that could possibly set up a series, and I hope he does. I'd definitely read more about these characters and this little town.

A really great read, highly recommended! I read a lot and will easily abandon a book if I can't get into it, this one I wished was longer. Really enjoyed the character development, the interesting mix of characters, and of course the plot - and it would have been interesting to read more about Thomas, maybe a prequel (hint hint) just on him. I am a psychologist and the nuances between the characters was very engaging, good plot, if I didn't have to work I would have read it in a day. This was my first read by this author, and won't be the last.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Magnolia (Maggie) is not surprised when her estranged twin sister is murdered by her abusive husband. She travels to Beaumont Cove, the town where her sister and Mike lived. Mike protests his innocence, and, at first, she does not believe him. Wandering around town and looking into her sister's time there, she begins to have doubts. Hiring a local PI, Maggie looks into her sister's murder and wonders if Mike is telling the truth.

Broken by John Rector is a short, quick read. It is 284 pages. The story flows well, but I did not connect with the characters. The town is supposed to feel creepy, but it came across as similar to a New Jersey tourist town during the off-season, devoid of tourists. The "big reveal" from one of the characters' past was not surprising, although it did explain his actions.

The cover and description of the book made it seem as if the story was going to be scary or suspenseful. It was neither. While it was worth reading, the book felt too short and not fully fleshed out.

According to Goodreads, Rector's short fiction won several awards, including the International Thriller Award for his novella, Lost Things.

This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/15/20.

I found this book, which is billed as a “shocking thriller,” to be a quick, easy read. From the cover I expected this book to be creepy and frightening, but I felt it missed the mark a bit. It started with a great premise. Magnolia (Maggie) comes to Beaumont Cove to identify the body of her long-lost sister Lilly. She and Lilly had an argument and Lilly ran off with her abusive boyfriend Mike whom she has since married. They eventually settled down in the boardwalk town of Beaumont Cove, described as the end of the world, where it seems Mike has finally snapped and murdered Lilly.

It seems to be a cut and dried case against Mike and Maggie just wants to put it behind her and move on. First, she just wants to know for sure what happened to her sister. Little does she know that some people and events are about to interfere with her quest.

This was not a bad book, but I felt it could have been so much more. I gave it three stars and my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it.

Interesting characters, quirky setting, quick read, just lacked substance. This book has good bones but could have been fleshed out a little more and been 50x creepier.

Nothing is as it seems...This story was slow paced and kept to the basics. Good plot but I felt as if I never got to know the characters
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Broken by John Rector. This is a fast read, and difficult to put down. This is written in two POV's - one a young woman, Maggie, who has lost her sister to murder, and Thomas, a maintenance worker with a deadly secret. When the two worlds collide, the truth is only a breath away.
Maggie goes to Beumont Cove to get her sister's things - her sister was murdered by her husband. Maggie had not spoken to her sister, Lilly, in years so she is saddled with guilt and revenge. Maggie meets with the local police to get assistance and information about Lilly's death. As Maggie starts to probe into Lilly's murder, something is off. But as Maggie searches Lilly's home, she meets Thomas, the maintenance worker. Maggie is not Lilly. Lilly was soft, trusting, and sweet; Maggie is angry, cold, and she wants answers. She must find out what happened to her sister in this small town that holds secrets and lies - but Maggie feels danger and knows she can't trust a soul in this town at the end of the world.
4 stars - fast read. Very good.

The cover is beautiful and oh so haunting. The mystery isn't that hard to figure out and maybe thats why I found myself getting a tad bored midway.
I wish the author much success but this one was just wasn't for me. I wanted more of the eerie and sinister feel I got from the cover that made me pick this to read over other books in my TBR. I wanted chills and to be scared in a broken down beach town. I say that because I have read a lot of psychological thrillers with this setting and some have made me so scared, I thanked god I don't live in a sleepy beach town for fear of being murdered. :-)
Thank you for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Started but did not finish. Sorry, wish it would have hooked me, but it did not. I will rate 3 stars since NG makes me leave a rating. Split it down the center.

✨Book Review✨
Broken, by John Rector, is just the thing I was craving. A quick read with an intense plot that would keep me guessing!
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Maddie is headed to Beaumont Cove, also known as the edge of the world, to get to the bottom.of what happened to her twin sister, Lilly. She isn't surprised to learn that Lilly's abusive husband is already behind bars for the crime, but there is something about Beaumont Cove and the interesting people she meets along the way that keeps her around.
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Rector often swaps narrator and past/present, but it is always clear and easy to follow, which is a big plus for me. I like being able to see the story from different perspectives, especially Thomas's. Some scenes are quite disturbing, even by my standards, which is the only reason I didn't love it.
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This story is not so much about getting to the bottom of a mystery, but rather understanding what happened, and examining themes like madness and unrequited love from a different lens. I also really enjoy the way it portrays a small, tourist town and how everyone comes toegether in the strangest of ways when tragedy strikes.
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This was the first time I read anything by John Rector but it probably won't be the last. I was hooked in the first few pages! I thought I had it figured out (and for the most part I did) but there were a few extra characters that popped up, making it even more interesting! Highly recommend for mystery/suspense fans!