Cover Image: All the Broken Girls

All the Broken Girls

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

DNF. I tried really hard to get into it especially since the other reviews were so great. I couldn't get past the writing style. I'm in the minority here so I hope others give this book a chance

Was this review helpful?

As a fellow Latina, I really enjoyed the focus on Cuban heritage and sprinkles of Spanish. I liked how easily the story flowed while still keeping me fully entertained from start to finish. Loved Marisol’s fiery attitude and though the tension between her and Garcia was great. The accuracy in how the Latinx community interacts with each other was great. With an incredible plot twist and an ending that left me gasping, this was a chilling, fast paced ride with awesome cultural representation. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A twisted tale with Santeria religion and a Cuban background in Miami. I must say when the author is describing things, I see them, I smell them and I look over my shoulder. This was not a fast read as I would go through pages of learning, then pages of being engulfed in it all. All the Broken Girls opened up a new world to me and provided suspense, intrigue and lays the ground work for a possible relationship in future reads. The twisted tale with the children, the even more diabolical plot of revenge. This is a book with depth, family more. Thank you for the arc, I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #Entangled Publishing:Amara #allthebrokengirls #lindahurtadobond #netgalley

Was this review helpful?

I received an ARC of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I am feeling ambivalent about this one, which is unusual in my reading. It definitely kept my interest, which is obviously a positive. It was fast paced which is my preference over slow-burning. I also very much enjoyed the touches of Spanish, as that is my second language. Even better, the Spanish was correctly written and not just popped into Google translate as it seems like some authors do when trying to incorporate vocab from another language. I did not know anything about Santería prior to reading this book, so I also found that fascinating.

I think my main negative was the protagonist. To be honest, I found Mari annoying! I also felt this book read as if it were in a series - there was a lot of back story that was touched upon right from the beginning (Mari's mother's death, issues at her job). Reading these parts made me feel like I missed something, that we should have known more about the history from a prior book about Mari. But as far as I can tell this is actually a stand-alone, though (here comes another main negative for me) the ending leaves it open to a sequel. I like neatly tied up endings so this was disappointing.

However, if there is a sequel, I would probably read it - so yes, I am truly ambivalent on this one!

Was this review helpful?

I love reporters/journalists turned detectives! Mari was fun to follow. This story was fast paced and suspenseful. I loved the cultural elements, as well. I’m hoping there will be more books with these characters!

Was this review helpful?

I have always loved reading about reporters. Something about that job path is so interesting to me. I was really excited when I saw the main character in All the Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond was a reporter, who had recently been suspended. It made Mari determined to prove herself and her determination and drive are what drew me to her. I also learned so much while reading. Santeria is a part of the story line and I found it fascinating. The Cuban culture is also represented and I learned so much.

Was this review helpful?

This was a new to me author.
This book really conflicts me as it had a good premise, and some really great moments, but for me personally it got lost in the culture/religion journey that the author seemed to of wanted to take us on.
Normally I love learning about new things I normally wouldn't when reading, but this (for me) was information overload which took away the thrill part of the plot.
Also by the last page, we are still left with many loose ends in what I was sure was a standalone. I know some thrillers can be up to readers interpretation but this felt different.
Could just be me or the head space I'm in, I'm sure others won't feel like I do.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fast paced thriller with great characters and some unexpected twists. The setting in the Tampa Cuban-American community was especially effective, almost like an additional character in the novel. Highly recommended

Was this review helpful?

This was a DNF for me. I didn't like the writing style and couldn't get into it. A lot of people really enjoyed this book, so this feels like a Me Problem.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars. Entertaining (if somewhat predictable) mystery. I really liked the main character, Mari.

"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…"

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book was such a fun surprise for me! I was a little intimidated when I began, as it has some Spanish words sprinkled throughout, but Linda Hurtado Bond does a great job of clarifying without spelling things out and losing the flow.
This was a super interesting murder mystery that followed the dynamic, engaging Mari as she struggles to keep her job while managing her grief. Mari is interesting and likable, and I thought Bond did a great job of creating a realistic character. I can't wait to read the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the ARC of All the Broken GIrls by Linda Hurtado Bond. This book had me guessing and guessing as to who the serial killer was that was murdering people who were never prosecuted for crimes they committed. Not only were these people being murdered, but their lives were taken in the same way that they had taken a life. Strange clues were left at the scenes and Mari is trying her best to put them all together. She has lost so much herself, including her own mother to murder and then her father weeks later of a broken heart. She still has her Abuela and her sister, Izzy, but her sister and her don't speak much. They haven't always seen eye to eye. She is a crime reporter but she has such a need to know answers that she isn't beyond breaking the rules. Will her desire for answers cause her to lose the few family members she has left and her job?

Was this review helpful?

News investigator Mari Alvarez is already on dicey footing with her boss when she talks her cameraman into going by a murder scene that, it turns out, is much too similar to that of her mother’s several years ago. Finally facing the fallout of her mother’s unsolved murder, getting caught up in investigating current murders, and dealing with relationship complications and fears keep Mari - and the reader - on edge throughout the novel. By the middle of the book, I really did not want to put it down. While I had my suspicions about the guilty person, I never reached a point of certainty until the reveal because of skilled story development by Bond. Also, I really enjoyed the exploration of the cultural and spiritual elements that were integrated smoothly into the story.

While I struggled a bit with the pacing in the beginning, by the end of the book I was wondering when the next in the series will come out. (I do hope the author gives Mari more mysteries to solve!)

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this satisfying mystery-thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Mari Alvarez is a crime beat reporter. However, she was suspended because of a story that caused the TV station to be sued. She has now been targeted by a stalker, who is leaving clues at murder scenes. The clues seem to be tied to murders that are similar in nature to the murder of her own mother decades earlier. She has become acquaintances with Det. Tony Garcia, who notices that the clues that are being left all have one thing in common. What might that be? How does Mari fit into these murder scenes? Why isn’t anyone taking her seriously? Is the stalker involved somehow? Will the Police Department capture the murderer? This book definitely kept my attention. The plot was very well crafted. The character development kept the reader on their toes, and constantly guessing about the various characters and their motives. I enjoyed the book very much. The only thing I didn’t care for is the cliffhanger at the end of the book.

Was this review helpful?

All the Broken Girls is a murder/mystery. At the beginning I found it hard to follow but once I got into the book it went smoothly. Mari, the main character, is a very strong headed woman. She knows what she wants and will let nothing stop her from achieving her goal as an investigative journalist. The murder that happens early in the story is similar to her mother’s murder many years ago and from there the story evolves. There are many references to Cuba, Cuban culture and Santeria which I was not familiar with that made it a little difficult to figure out what was happening. A few too many subplots for me but in spite of that I did enjoy the book.

Was this review helpful?

Crime reporter Mari Alvarez was never able to solve her mother’s murder ten years ago, but when another body turns up on the doorstep of her neighborhood, she gets an eerie feeling. Another body is found, now there are 2. Are these messages for Mari, or clues as to whom the killer is? Can she solve the murders, or will it destroy her?

Was this review helpful?

All the broken girls is the first book by Linda Hurtado that I have read. Her bio describes her as an author of romantic thrillers. I'm not normally a fan of the romance genre but this book caught my eye because (1) the book description intimates that an inconvenient yet irresistible relationship between our smart and funny protagonist and the beefy but stoic, emotionally restrained cop is not a story angle; and, (2) like the main protagonist, crime reporter Mari, I am Cuban-American and grew up mainly in Florida among a large Cuban community. I was curious to see how the Cuban lifestyle compared betwwen Tampa, where this story takes place and Miami, where I grew up.

The premise of the book has promise but the author is inconsistent in her storytelling abilities. Some parts move at a fast pace, as expected from a thriller, thereby keeping my attention and desire to keep on reading; unfortunately, there is also too much content that changes the tempo and makes reading a bit of a drag. For me, the best part is when the author focuses on the murders; other aspects seem superfluous and weigh down an otherwise decent story.

Another point that was confusing for me was how the author introduced certain characters into the story. At times, it felt very random and unexpected and there was little clarity as to their role or purpose. As a result, I had to jump back too often to find the initial description to recall the character.

On a positive note, the main character was very likeable and relatable. I was moved by her concern for the younger girls. The empathy she felt for the girls because of her own traumatic past was compelling. Furthermore, representation matters and I was happy to see a strong Cuban-American woman as the lead in a book.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Wow. That is exactly how I felt while reading this book and after finishing this book. Bond never gives the reader a second to breathe! In this action-packed thriller, the mystery is constant, leaving you on the edge of your seat. Not one thing felt rushed; I was along for the ride with Mari. The character development is like none other; I understood these characters and felt these characters feelings. Honestly, I was a little sad when the book ended! I would love for this to be a series as I want to continue these characters’ journeys. This is absolutely one of the best books of 2022.

Was this review helpful?

Choosing a book is hard enough with all the choices out there. You try to find THE interesting, grabbing book to read next. You check out the author (maybe a favorite), the cover, the description on the book jacket and reviews. Sometimes you end up with a dud and then there are the times where the books hooks you right in. All the Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond is one of those books that hooks one in.

When I started the book it was before breakfast. I had my cup of tea and a little snack while I was reading. My husband woke up, came into the kitchen and made me breakfast because I was too engrossed in the story. Lunchtime came. My husband, again, made me something to eat. I just could not stop reading. Linda had me at the edge of my seat. Needless to say it is a very suspenseful story! But there is some romance blossoming and sadness also. Linda occasionally lightens up the atmosphere with a little humor. Nice touch!

I loved the book and my husband making me breakfast and lunch was an added bonus!!

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for the copy of All the Broken Girls.

Was this review helpful?

All the Broken Girls by Linda Hurtado Bond is an intriguing read full of old-world superstitions and a well-written storyline. This well-written story pulled me in from the beginning and held my attention until the shocking ending. All the Broken Girls is a satisfying mystery with black magic vibes.

Was this review helpful?