If Mia writes it, I’m going to read it and LOVE it! This book did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and thought the characters had good development and the story progressed really well.

I really didn’t know what to expect going into this one. I just saw something new from
Mia Sheridan and clicked. What I got was an excellent story. Murder mystery, secrets and of course, a love story. I can’t imagine the research that went into plotting this out. Chapter 36 completely gutted me, which I wasn’t expecting. I’m a sucker for a good epilogue and this one had a beautiful one.

Thank you so much @amazonpublishing for an ARC!

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: The Broken Places
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Mia Sheridan
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: December 1, 2024

♦️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ♦️
Inspector Lennon Gray and FBI Agent Ambrose Mara must team up to work on tracking down an unknown drug causing destruction on the streets of San Francisco. Lennon is wary of Ambrose and doesn’t think she can trust him. She slowly starts to warm up to him and his mysterious side that she can’t quite figure out.

Lennon gets put into an impossible work situation in the middle of the story and does what any interesting detective does when she shouldn’t be working… she keeps on working! Seeing detectives go rogue and follow their instincts leads her to some crazy discoveries. When I got to the why and the background of what was happening with the drug being looked for; I wasn’t sure if it was totally realistic as a scenario or not… but I followed along anyway!

This story has a lot of darkness to it, highlighting trauma and the backgrounds of some people experiencing homelessness. The investigating was interesting to follow though! There was a fair mix of romance in it with the two main people having past traumas they need to learn to move past.

This was a unique storyline in itself and also features podcast elements to it as well. There was a bit of a surprise to whom the podcasts were featuring too!

✨ 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
♦️ Romantic Suspense
♦️ Police Procedural
♦️ Trauma & Healing
♦️ Psychological Suspense

Thank you Netgalley, Montlake and Mia Sheridan.

This is the first book Ive read by Mia Sheridan and even though I will try and read more from this author, I couldn't quite connect with this book. I found the narrative jumped around a little and didn't really flow as well as other books I have read in the same genre. I didn't really care for the characters or the narrative of the story/plot line. It took quite a different direction and had more of a romance feel with mystery /thriller elements rather than the other way around. Maybe it's not been marketed as well as it should have been as if I thought I was picking up a more romancey book, I would have been looking for the twists and turns of a thriller book.

I did, however swap to the audio version half way through the book as, for me, narrators can make me engage more with a book. Nicol Zanzarella , Will Damron and Leon Nixon definitely. suited this book and made the characters pop out more. All 3 of them were a pleasure to listen to.

3.5 stars for Storygraph. 3 stars for other review sites.

This was slow, way too slow....and confusing, so very confusing! There was no emotion or connection in this story. The main characters were lacking depth, and there was no gripping storyline to keep me engaged or interested.

Although there were some very dark themes covered in this story, I found the plot to be unstructured and confusing, and it wasn't written in a way that had me invested in the trauma the characters experienced.

The Broken Places is a thought-provoking addition to the romantic thriller genre. Its exploration of trauma and healing, combined with a suspenseful plot and complex characters, offers a compelling reading experience. While it may not appeal to all readers, particularly those seeking a more traditional romance, it provides a nuanced narrative that lingers long after the final page

The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan is an emotional rollercoaster with heart, heat, and healing. The characters are beautifully damaged, and their journey toward love and redemption is both raw and uplifting. While a few moments felt a bit rushed, the overall story is deeply moving and hard to put down. Sheridan’s signature blend of romance and resilience shines through—definitely a recommended read for fans of emotional love stories with depth.

This is an addictive and suspenseful read. With mystery, you will find steamy scenes also. Body count is rising and the cause of their death is a drug but how did the killer come up with an idea of creating a drug that Kills people? You won’t be able to guess the killer and twists in this book. It has such an insightful police procedurals. Expect the unexpected, secrets, murders, truth, shocking revelations and truth.

Thanks to the Publisher

I wasn’t totally sure what to make of this one at first, but overall, I enjoyed it. The story follows Lennon, a San Francisco detective working a strange and unsettling case- homeless people are going missing and turning up dead, with mysterious hallucinogens in their systems.

She teams up with her new partner, Ambrose, and the investigation quickly turns dark and unusual. Ambrose’s background was especially intriguing and added a lot of depth to the story. Some parts felt a bit far-fetched, but the plot kept me hooked with its eerie, almost surreal vibe.

Wow. Why did it take so long for me to read this one!!! With themes like addiction, abuse, and homelessness, this one pulls no punches—so check your triggers—but wow, the twists and heart in this story hit hard. I think I enjoyed this more than her romances.

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy.

This book was a reminder how much I love Mia Sheridan and I need to go back to read all the books I've missed!

It was so easy to binge read this and the pace made me not want to put it down. A real page turner, full of romantic suspense and thrills. This definitely explores some complex themes of trauma, healing and the redemption is dealt with a lot of sensitivity. It's not the first book I've come across lately which tells the story with the help of some podcast transcripts but I still enjoyed this element.

With engaging main characters that had great back stories, though some of the twists were a little predictable I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I'm a bit torn about how to rate this book. It took me a while to get into. The writing style felt monotonous? Sterile? And I don't necessarily mean it in a bad way because I think that was what helped create this dreary, monochrome atmosphere that suited the storyline. And if something stood out for me, it was that - the not exactly chilly, but definitely not warm place that I saw in front me. On the other hand, I feel like it might've been part of the reason why I felt as if I was floating outside of the story, not fully immersed in the real investigation alongside the characters. Suspense didn't hit me because it was missing... Without giving much away, I very much liked the premise of hallucinogenic drugs. Also the pace did pick up somewhere in the second half. Although I'm not sure I'd say I loved the book, I didn't hate it either. Not easy to digest, but interesting and worth a try.

I love Mia Sheridan's writing and she nails the darkness and atmosphere in this one. It was too dark for me though, as it's gritty and unflinching. There's a romance in there, along with a mystery and some police/FBI goings-on..

If you love Mia's writing, especially her mysteries and thrillers, and you don't mind reading about the urban underbelly this will be just the thing.

Thank you Mia Sheridan, Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I really tried to get into this story as I am normally a fan of Mia Sheridan, but this one fell flat for me.

Mia Sheridan has always been a top author for me. If I see chatter about a new book, I’m in. I don’t even hesitate or really even bother to read the synopsis of her books. Her books are just that good and I trust her implicitly. Her latest installment is no different. I absolutely loved this one. A mystery with romance, say less. Her characters are flawed but well fleshed out. Her story flows right off the pages. I’m obsessed.

Overall: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Plotline: 3.5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Tropes: MF Romance; Mystery; Co-Workers to Lovers; Secret Identity

Themes: 3.5/5
Romance: 3/5
Spice Factor: 1.5
Enjoyment Factor: 3.5/5

Review: This was very different from what I am accustomed to for Mia Sheridan, but not in a bad way. The thriller/mystery aspect was interesting and kept me coming back to the story. But with all the effort in the thriller/mystery, it left little room to grow the romance. The MCs just kinda ended up together, and I never really bought into their romance, but I was highly invested in their backgrounds and how they connected to the mystery. While a bit silly in concept, the medical aspect was super cool and still very interesting.
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book just didn't do it for me. The only reason why Inspector Lennon Gray went into law enforcement was because she wanted to finish what her high school boyfriend wanted to be? She didn't have the drive that you need to be a cop. I didn't feel the connection between Lennon and FBI Agent Ambrose Mars and it wasn't believable. Other than the romance, the storyline was ok.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Mia Sheridan for an ARC of 'The Broken Places'.

This story carried deep emotional weight, especially with its themes of PTSD. It was more intense than my usual reads, but the writing was exceptional. I’d suggest checking content warnings beforehand. Mia Sheridan diving into suspense romance is truly a gift! 🙌

Though some parts were a bit slow, the thrilling twists and compelling ending made up for it. The storyline was original and kept me guessing. The protagonists, Lennon and Ambrose, are investigating a string of murders connected to an unidentified drug and strange events. The beginning felt a bit disorienting since it jumps between different timelines—present, past, and even podcast episodes. However, it’s worth sticking with! Like aging wine, the story only improves. I became completely absorbed and couldn’t stop reading.

It’s written in third person, which isn’t always my preference, but it didn’t take away from the storytelling. In fact, it enhanced the layered plot. Mia Sheridan once again proves she’s a master of her craft—her intricate plotting and unexpected twists kept me hooked. This book was gripping, unique, and absolutely worth reading!

This is another great book by Mia Sheridan. It follows SFPD investigators Lennon as she tries to solve the murders of the homeless. This book has so many twists and turns and kept you guessing until the end. It also gives you a glimpse of the homeless drug addicted people living in the streets and how they ended up there.

I struggled with this one- it started off a bit slow, then it got really juicy and then it fell flat. I really struggled to finish it to be completely honest and I only did as I wanted to see what the big twist was but it wasn’t really worth it. The book could probably have been half the size as well for example the doctor’s lecture that she sat through was boring and I felt a bit pointless.
I usually quite like Mia’s books so I plodded on for that reason as well but it just felt like something was missing.