I was drawn to the cover of this book!
"When one falls, the others will break, unless she plays the game!"
Synopsis "Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her mother’s murder ten years ago. But when a woman is gunned down on the doorstep of her West Tampa neighborhood, Mari can’t shake the eerie sense of connection

Now there have been two murders in two days. Each crime scene awash with arcane clues—and without a trace of DNA from the killer. And for each victim, a doll. The first is missing an eye. The second is missing a heart. But are these clues leading to the killer…or messages for Mari?

Caught up in a maelstrom of Old-World superstition, secrets, and ties to her own past, Mari has only one option. Put the puzzle together before someone else dies—even if it destroys her career. But there’s no escaping the hungry spider’s web when it’s been made just for you"
Overall, a quick and energizing read!
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

The title and of course the book cover instantly drew my attention and telling that this would be a good book. The story of the first crime scene seemed to draw out very slowly. I would have liked to get a more visual descriptive of the crime in it’s self. Or maybe from the criminal perspective. The details of all the police and crime scene officers was great, but if the story told a little of what they contributed to the book.

Very interesting and engrossing novel by LInda Hurtado Bond. This is the first book I've read by this author and I was fascinated not only by the mystery, but how wrapped up I got in the Cuban culture and Santeria that she shared so freely and well. I didn't know much about either of those things, but I learned a lot while reading All the Broken Girls. The best part is that the subjects were engrossing and at no time did I feel like I was being lectured or spoken down to.

The mystery is very good, the settings and characters pulled me in right away, and I had difficulty putting the book aside when real life called. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries and/or thrillers.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

When one falls
Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her mother’s murder ten years ago. But when a woman is gunned down on the doorstep of her West Tampa neighborhood, Mari can’t shake the eerie sense of connection.
The others will break
Now there have been two murders in two days. Each crime scene awash with arcane clues—and without a trace of DNA from the killer. And for each victim, a doll. The first is missing an eye. The second is missing a heart. But are these clues leading to the killer…or messages for Mari?
Unless she plays the game...
Caught up in a maelstrom of Old-World superstition, secrets, and ties to her own past, Mari has only one option. Put the puzzle together before someone else dies—even if it destroys her career. But there’s no escaping the hungry spider’s web when it’s been made just for you…

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

I was captivated by the characters in this book. They were perfectly written. The author's description of West Tampa actually had me longing to take the trip a couple miles north. Besides thoroughly enjoying the twists and turns. I feel like I learned just a little about Santeria and Cuban culture.

3.5 Stars
Linda Hurtado Bond dives deep into serial killings, the Cuban Santeria religion, and the need for our Crime Beat Reporter Mari to follow her instincts no matter the danger to her and others. She is determined to solve this as it runs too close to what happened to her mother many years ago.

This has a strong thread of police work, discoveries from a crime reporter, and the inclusion of mysticism of this Cuban Santeria religion. With the career background of Linda Hurtado Bond all feel authentic.

I just love a good crime fighting quirky reporter/hot cop duo and Mari Alvaraz, a crime beat reporter and Detective Antonio Garcia have great chemistry. Crime readers will be captivated by their charm and the rich superstition laden Cuban Santeria culture.

All The Broken Girls revolves around Crime Beat Reporter Mari who has just returned from suspension for reporting a story about a local politician. Upon returning her boss immediately puts her on all of the fluff pieces about baby sloths and other easy lifestyle stories. Reluctantly on the way to her first story location she comes upon a murder crime scene that feels all too familiar. It strongly resembles her own mother's murder from 10 years prior. Risking her job, she begins investigating the murder and it begins to feel very personal. When there have been 2 murders in 2 days with creepy Broken dolls left at the scene Mari works with Detective Garcia to solve the crime and risks her career, family and own life in the process.

I really loved Mari and how strong-willed and caring she is. She practices the Cuban Santeria religion which is steeped in superstition and has African roots. I loved this aspect of the story and I really want a azabache evil eye bracelet after reading this book as well. Author Linda Hurtado Bond writes from experience as a News Anchor for Fox 13 in Tampa, FL and it shows in her work. Crime readers don't miss out on this great read!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for my complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All the Broken Girls is suspenseful book about a possible serial killer and their victims. Mari, a news reporter, just off probation is caught up in the murders of a few people that lived in her Cuban neighborhood as there are a few coincidences with her own mother’s murder. To keep her from going too far astray and impede the investigations is Tony Garcia, a police detective that shares initial attraction with her.

Trying to find the clues of the killer, Mari seeks out advice from her Santeria orisha and alter. Similar to saints, orishas are spirits to help guide their humans.

This is where it got a little too much for me. I’m not keen to read anything about any religion and while reading more of the book, I do get turned off by how much religion can be written into books.

I enjoyed reading about the West Tampa Cuban neighborhood. The murders and Mari’s Santeria beliefs were intertwined as the Santeria storyline became more evolved and a deeper part of the story itself.

This is a decent thriller with slightly religious undertones. To be honest, I can’t tell if this will be a new series (and if it is, will Santeria or another religion be just as present. And I’ve had the song “Santeria” by Sublime in my head this entire time. So that has an added bonus to the book.

This book is out now. Thanks to NetGalley and Entangles Publishing for this eARC.

All the Broken Girls is a fairly straight forward and slow burn mystery. It did keep me guessing. I liked the multiple suspects aspect because I ended up just going along for that ride with Mari instead of trying to figure it out myself. It was not obvious as to what was really going on. I enjoyed the main character Mari. While she could be frustrating, I thought she was a smart investigative journalist who wasn't given enough credit. I would like to see where her relationship with Tony goes. The only thing that I didn't like was there were a few times I felt like I was missing back story. Maybe some information could have been introduced sooner in the book. The ending leaves things open for a sequel. I'll probably read it to find out what happens with that storyline. I do recommend this one.

I went into this not sure if I would like it or not. I loved it! It helps that I have just recently gotten into Cuban cooking and eating. Okay, mostly eating. I really loved the Cuban references and issues. Also, the inclusion of Santeria was interesting. I remember watching a horror movie way back in the day that involved Santeria and that was used as the horror aspect, so I enjoyed actually learning some facts. As for the story, Mari is a crime reporter investigating a murder similar to her Mother's from years back. I was not a big fan of hers at first, but as more of her character is revealed, some of her motivations made more sense and I ended up really liking her. The story takes place in Miami and the author did a great job of making me feel as though I was there.

Murder and the ever-present threat of the evil eye create an atmospheric story of danger and dread.

All The Broken Girls was a fantastic thriller of a mystery! Mari, the disgraced reporter, had my complete and immediate sympathy. I admired how she kept her head up when all her coworkers were eyeing her, and her boss blamed her for the lawsuit when she knew she had the goods all along. I loved her relationship with her abuela and was fascinated by the inclusion of her practice of Santeria traditions, rituals, and belief system. I liked that Mari was clever and figured out the clues quicker than her police contacts. I felt her heartbreak as she identified with the two Rodriguez sisters and later discovered the betrayal of family members. I enjoyed the sprinkling of Spanish in her thoughts and dialogue throughout the story.

I also liked the police detective, Antonio ‘Tony’ Garcia, and the tension and eventual chemistry between the two main characters were fabulous. His family was delightful, especially his mother. I loved how she was so in charge of the family and her son. I liked how they and Mari’s family were such an integral part of their neighborhood.

The setting in West Tampa was unique, and I enjoyed the geographical mentions and the tantalizing inclusion of the market and other real places. The descriptions of the Cuban-American community were both colorful and comfortable. The subtle references to traditional foods and dishes teased me to find the nearest Cuban-influenced restaurant quick, fast, and in a hurry.

The action is constant, and I had trouble finding a good stopping point to put the book down. Consequently, I couldn’t leave the story alone for long; it was that absorbing and exciting. There was a sense of urgency to see what happened next. There was that feeling that whoever was behind the murders was watching the heroine, and something terrible would happen. With a creepy stalker dude hanging around somewhere just out of sight, mysterious and puzzling notes cropping up, and the ever-present threat of the evil eye, the story had a continuous atmosphere of danger and dread.

I recommend ALL THE BROKEN GIRLS to readers of mystery and thrillers who like strong female protagonists and those who would enjoy the Cuban-American flavor of its West Tampa setting.

I’m gonna be honest this book was a miss for me. I wish books that talk about elements such as the Santeria would be given in the synopsis. I would not recommend the book since it deals with things I so not deal with in my home.

Linda Hurtado Bond is a new to me author and one whom I would definitely read again. Two things prompted me to pick up All the Broken Girls, the title and the synopsis. I have no regrets. All the Broken Girls delivered a chilling and suspenseful tale set against the background of the Floridian landscape and rich in Cuban culture and religion.

In All the Broken Girls, we meet crime reporter Mari Alvarez. At the beginning of the story Mari returns to work fresh off a suspension. However, instead of covering the crime beat, her boss relegated her to cover soft issues. She accepted her new assignment reluctantly, but what choice does she have? She either accepted it or lose her job permanently and that was not an option. While heading out to cover a human interest story, she received information about a crime scene. Against her boss’s wishes, she turned up at the crime scene. While there, she recognised the scene bore similarities to her mother’s murder, which occurred ten years ago. Despite the risk of losing her job, she knew she needed to learn the truth behind this murder and that of her mother’s. Will she find the answers before the killer strikes again?

This book is every crime fiction reader’s delight. It possessed all the elements to keep the reader flipping the pages. An evenly paced tale filled with suspense, mystery, betrayal, twists and shocking revelations.

I enjoyed getting to know Mari. Her determination and her desire to fight for the victims contributed to her being a top-notch crime reporter. However, there were moments when these traits led to her acting recklessly in her pursuit of finding the truth.

The story had no romance, however, the chemistry between Mari and the Detective Antonio Garcia could not be denied. It would have been nice if they were given the chance to explore their feelings for each other.

I had a fascinating time learning about Santeria, a Cuban religion steeped in African culture. The murders and Mari’s beliefs centered on this religion. Another note of interest was the killer’s motive, revenge and the belief justice was being served. The takeaway from all of this was ‘Does it matter how justice is served if it’s deserved?" It was interesting following the clues and trying to figure out the killer’s identity. This was not an easy one to solve because of the many suspects who all had motive and opportunity.

The manner in which the story ended suggests hints at the possibility of another book. It would be nice to revisit Mari’s world. All the Broken Girls is a must read for fans of crime fiction.

I LOVE THIS COVER! And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t immediately draw me to this book. After reading it, it was enjoyable, not my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of so much backstory because I felt like I wanted to skim and it made the story slow at time. Overall interesting and a pretty complex story that I enjoyed, but didn’t LOVE. I’m looking forward to more from this author!

This novel has all the intrigue, suspense and mystery that kept my attention throughout. Mari is a character that has a lot of depth and you feel what she’s feeling. Her passion to find the connections between her mother’s murder and the new cases keeps her focused even when her employer doesn’t agree. I loved the inclusion of Mari’s culture as a Cuban American set in Tampa, Florida. I’ve spent a lot of time in this area and enjoyed the familiarity of this book’s setting. I recommend this book for all crime fiction lovers as it has a unique storyline.

All the Broken Girls was a well paced, cultural experience contained in a mystery/thriller. Well developed, likable characters that I would love to encounter again in future stories. Definitely worth your time.

Favorite Quotes:

Lately, walking in and out of these meetings feels like walking across fire. Barefoot. Under a full moon with howling wolves watching.

In my darkest hours, I dreamed of finding my mother’s killer and shooting him or her. Right in the chest, like they’d murdered my mamá. An eye for an eye. And in those dreams, I never felt remorse. The lack of any guilt, that’s what woke me up those nights, gasping for air, gripping the sheets, sweating. It wasn’t that I’d killed, it was my fear someone would sense this darkness in me. And tell the world. Or incarcerate me forever because of it.

I usually don’t trust people. The reporter in me is a natural skeptic. But my heart is stretching, like fingers, reaching out to connect with this woman.

I want to look away, because this vulnerability is a coat I don’t like to wear. It’s hot and uncomfortable.

I exhale, thankful I let the right words fly while the real words stayed inside my head. Isn’t that what life is? A constant struggle with ourselves?

My Review:

This was a tense, angsty, and gripping read that kept me on edge. The storylines were laced together with heinous crimes, the main character’s prominent OCD traits, tons of family drama, loads of unfamiliar Cuban cultural issues, and the oddly mysterious practices of Santeria which are mingled with Catholic rhetoric, a practice and belief system I confess to being grossly ignorant of. The story progressed slowly and I often wanted to give a kick in the pants to the deeply flawed main protagonist for being so prickly, arrogant, and obstinate. But of course, I am a total delight 24/7.

After reading crime fiction for years, you discover there are styles and tropes that work more for you as a reader than others. One thing I’ve come to love over the years is when an author chooses to tell their story through a journalist or reporter. While I love a good detective-led story, those with reporter narrators add an extra bit of outsider insight that I find lets me connect more with the plot. Bond takes this route with our main character, Mari, who has a lot of baggage and drama that ties her closer and closer to our killer. I loved Mari’s character and all of the secondary characters that Bond chose to add to her story. They each had just the right amount of depth to them no matter how large or small their role in the book.

Bond’s use of cold cases mixed with present day crimes was one of my favorite aspects to this story because it allowed for the reader to learn more about the community and the killer’s motives. In addition to crimes that caught your attention and pulled on your heart strings, Bond infuses a wide array of Cuban American culture and history into her story. I loved learning about all of the religious and Santeria details from the cases and our cast of characters.

ALL THE BROKEN GIRLS gave me all the feels of a well-loved crime fiction TV show with drama, heart, and mystery filling the pages.

This was a fantastic crime and investigative thriller! I enjoyed the mystery and found the characters to be interesting and easy to invest in!

Mari Alvarez lost her mother years ago to an unsolved murder. Now Mari is an investigative reporter and has found another murder that resembles her mother’s death. When the murders continue, Mari knows she has to dig into what is happening to save future victims and maybe herself.

For me, this story was an amazing mix of thriller, mystery, and life. I appreciated that Mari turns into a real person that I wanted to invest in. As I learned more about her history, I enjoyed seeing her character’s journey as the story progressed.

I think that readers who enjoy crime investigation and serial killer mysteries will enjoy this one!

I love a good police procedural and All the Broken Girls had everything I love in one. The story centers around crime reporter, Mari Alvarez who has been trying to solve her mother's murder for the last ten years. When a murder happens locally that is eerily similar to her mother's, she takes it into her own hands to try to piece it all together.

There is the potential for so many spoilers, so I won't say much more. I loved Mari's character and the inclusion of Cuban traditions and religion. I loved her drive, and I really loved the ending. It was such a fast-paced book and certainly a page-turner.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!