Everything Mia writes gets my undivided attention. Either it’s romance, suspense or thrillers. The Broken Places has all 3. This 5 star story had me hooked from the first page to the last one.

Lennon is a police investigator who is now plunged into a potential serial killer investigation that has her questioning humanity. The victims are brutalized before plunging into their deaths. Comes in an FBI agent, Ambrose. She hasn’t felt attraction in a long time. The feeling is mutual. Ambrose has dark secrets. Lennon must set aside her morals and will help Ambrose take down this killer.

This story is not for the faint of heart and you must leave your morals at the door, because it’s a difficult story to read. I have no triggers and I had a difficult time with the nature of this storyline. Above all it’s an intense, thrilling experience that kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s enough to give someone nightmares. I was captivated by this story and their characters. Lennon’s family were a breath of fresh air in the mist of gruesome scenes.

Very well thought out storyline that flowed well. And the suspense kept me hooked until the end. A page turner that had me reading for hours on out. Beautifully mastered and planned . Bottomline this is a must read.

Story told in the third person with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.

Having read everything that Mia Sheridan has published, I definitely feel this is the darkest book she has written so far. I've read all of her other books in this genre, and this one has quite a few things that will probably trigger people, so I highly suggest checking out any and all trigger warnings before starting to read.

I think because this story is written in the third person, it was harder for me to form any type of connection or attachment to Lennon or Ambrose. Even though a lot of things are happening all throughout, the story felt very un-emotional to me. Perhaps it's because I'm used to reading everything in first person.

It is truly a fascinating story, if you are a psychology buff like I am. Getting inside people's heads and learning the how's and why's of what they do has always intrigued me. Mia really does an amazing job of delving into the human psyche, not only of the victims but Lennon, Ambrose, and many of the side characters. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

Mia had to have done a ton of research for this one, and probably picked her husband's brain quite a lot being that he is a police officer. Having said that, there were a couple of things that occur during the story that I had to suspend a bit of reality in order to accept what was happening. But overall, the storyline was solid. You have to pay close attention though, as there were a few times I felt out of my element as far as comprehension was concerned.

I didn't pay attention to page count, but the story felt a bit long to me, and the first 80% or so felt like it moved at a snail's pace, and then suddenly the last 10% of the book was moving full steam ahead and I found myself holding my breath at the climax of the whole thing. I wish there had been a bit more of the epilogue, and it was written in a way that the reader has to figure out what is going on by reading between the lines, so to speak. I suck at that; I am not good at figuring out what is being said. Just lay it out for me, because I tend to just obsess with making sure I figured out what the author is implying and if I got it right.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. As I said I was fascinated with the psychological aspect woven throughout, and what each character was thinking and feeling. I want to reiterate that people who have any kinds of triggers really should investigate those before starting this book. It really delves into some horrible topics.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The plotting and planning and thinking that must have gone into the writing of this book is outstanding. It’s complex and completely original.

Mia Sheridan’s storytelling in this book is superb.

Wouldn’t it be brilliant if we could find a cure that helps people get over a trauma? The soldier with PTSD. The abused child. The victim of violent crime. The repeated cycle of abuse could end. The homeless and the drug addicts helped to get their lives back.

Mia takes that idea and then explores how it could be exploited and go wrong.

The lead characters of Lennon and Ambrose are so engaging. I wanted to help them solve the crimes and find the perpetrator. I felt like I was right there with them looking at the clues and applying them to the things I already knew.

I was absolutely gripped. Mia does write romance well but her crime thrillers are on another level.

3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the thriller/crime aspect as well as the romance. I personally find books in third person more difficult for me to read. I just don't connect with them as much as first person and I find myself reading slower. If written in first person, probably would have been a 4 or 4.5 star read for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A great suspense with a touch of romance!

This story follows investigator Lennon, and FBI Agent Ambrose as they look into a mysterious new drug causing deaths among the homeless.

The plot became unpredictable to me, which I loved and had lots of twists and turns up until the end. I recommend going into this book blind because it will make it that much better! Definitely a little different from Mia Sheridan’s other books, but this was a thriller done well! Loved it!


📘: The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan
🗓️: December 1, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Sheridan, and Montlake for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Riveting Journey Through a Unique Crime Narrative

Mia’s latest offering is a standout addition to the genre, featuring an exceptionally unique plot that grips the reader from the very first page. The meticulous attention to detail elevates the story beyond a typical detective narrative, creating a richly layered experience that is both engaging and believable.

The author masterfully crafts a world where every element feels grounded in reality, allowing readers to suspend disbelief and imagine the unfolding events as plausible. This authenticity enhances the emotional stakes and keeps the reader invested in the characters’ journeys.

Overall, this book is a testament to Mia’s storytelling prowess, offering a refreshing take on crime fiction that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Highly recommended for those seeking a captivating read that challenges the conventions of the genre.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and like with the previous book, I felt emotionally drained afterwards. It is not a light read. It is not a quick read. But it is an excellent read. It will make you think about things you'd probably rather not think about, and it definitely gave me an education on homelessness and mental health; I was so disturbed yet riveted by the plot that I even talked about it with my family. I can't even imagine the amount of research that the author put into this story. Make sure you're ready for the deep end when you dive into this one; you won't be sorry you went in. It does move a bit slow in places, but I think that's by design. Stick with it, or skim if you have to, but don't give up. You'll come away knowing that you read something memorable instead of just another book that you'll forget by next week.

One thing I love about this author is you never know what you are going to get in a book plot wise. The concept of this book was very interesting and I’ve never read anything like it, so it is very unique.

But with that being said, it was a little hard for me to get into because of it switching timelines back-and-forth and also in the third person POV. I really did not get totally engrossed in the story until about 80% of the way through and I honestly felt like the female and male main characters had no chemistry or connection like her other books do.

The story starts with murders happening to addicts/homeless that the SFPD is investigating. An FBI agent, Ambrose, is assigned to the female main character who is an inspector with the SFPD and she is curious why the FBI would be on this case unless there’s something not being told to her. You come to find out that the addicts and homeless are being drugged by these hallucinogenic drugs that cause them to relive their traumas. You are basically following Lennon and Ambrose trying to figure out who is doing these murders. There are a lot of darker themes in this book, and people dealing with trauma/PTSD that you hope will overcome.

Read this book if you like dark twisty, thrillers, morally gray solutions on how to help people with PTSD and trauma, and police investigations.

The Broken Places, my review I loved this so much! I realized that for my review I summerize the book, but I won’t this this time. So I say take a chance and go in blind, just reading the blurb should be the teaser and it’s spot on and this did a major a abrupt stop and re-read to see if I read it correctly and I did and holy cow this was good. Loved the suspense and mystery of this story. Great job!

What a story! Fascinating!

Lennon and Ambrose are partnered up to investigate a string of horrific murders involving a new pill. There is a serial killer targeting a certain demographic of society. And wow, the events that follow are intense and eye-opening.

The writing is phenomenal and the story line fantastic. It’s filled with suspense, has great twists, and is packed with emotion.

The Broken Places showcases those who have been victimized and suffered horrific trauma. It’s enlightening and deeply emotional. It’s overcoming trauma and mending those broken places. It’s about compassion, healing, trust, and love. Fantastic romantic thriller.

There isn't much Mia Sheridan writes that I don't like. I love her romance and romantic suspense and thrillers. Ambrose and Lennon's story is not even remotely conventional. The storyline perhaps requires a bit of suspended disbelief (but I will say that I was thinking to myself all along, if only this kind of therapy could really exist - and maybe it does to some extent-just imagine the people whose lives are mired in such emotional pain finding long lasting hope). Did it drag a bit? Yes, at first, I kept putting the book down and walking away but then I'd tell myself "this is Mia Sheridan, let her lead you on this journey". I have absolutely no regrets. Some twists were a surprise, others were not but in the end, what I came away with was hope and pure love.

2,5 ✨

Honestly, I’d never read anything by Mia Sheridan before this book. I did know about her work, though, so I thought I would enjoy this. I’ll admit that thrillers aren’t usually my favorite genre, and as someone who leans more toward Romantasy, I had trouble getting into the story.

I expected a certain level of realism in this story. After all, it takes place in a real setting, but it was so hard to get into! The unrealistic plot twists, for example, felt completely off. Once you read the summary, you’ll understand how unbelievable the miracle cures sound here.

Until around 85%, the mystery was gripping and kept me hooked—I did want to know where these characters would take me, and there was even a bit of romance, which I appreciated. Plus, Mia is a good writer, and if you’re less of a realist than I am, you’ll probably enjoy it more. Overall, it’s well-written and has a solid mystery, but for me, some parts were just too hard to fully believe in.

Did I like it? I'm unsure. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but the plot and the writing weren't bad.

Lastly, the themes are heavy; if you’re thinking about reading this, I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings first.

The Broken Places pleasantly surprised me with the level of suspense that was in it. Mia Sheridan has for sure done it again with her well written and well expressed mind.

Decent mystery with some surprising twists. Mia Sheridan is best at writing characters you can connect to and honestly care about what happens to them and this book was no different. While the central mystery was a little farfetched I was still interested in seeing how it was solved and what would happen to the two main characters. Sheridan will continue to be an auto-read author for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Montlake for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Mia Sheridan for this digital ARC!

Mia Sheridan has been on my TBR list for so long, and I was excited to finally dive into one of her books. However, it took me a bit longer to get into this story than I expected, likely because I’m not used to reading mystery/thriller romances.

If you want to read this book I highly recommend checking out the trigger warnings first. There are some explicit scenes that might not be suitable for everyone, so be prepare for some dark topics.

The Broken Places is a romantic suspense writting by Mia Sheridan and if you're reading this review, you absolutley should not over look this book! While Archer's Voice is probably what lead you to wanting to read Mia Sheridan, you will want to stick around for Mia Sheridan's other books because they are all worth a read because each one is different, offering a different take on something you never thought you'd want to read. The Broken Places is filled with mystery and twists you would have never expected, but it also has some of that romance you come to expect from Mia Sheridan's writing. 4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy of The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan in exchange for my honest review.

When other officers in San Francisco start to transfer to other cities or the small town, inspector Lennon Gray stays and still does her job diligently, even though that makes her hurl everything she ate before visiting the crime scene, but a special occurrence caught her attention—a strange suicide scene that wasn't normal in any sense of the word. Ambrose Mars, the new partner of Inspector Lennon, acts suspicious; he seems different than other officers or agents, but that doesn't make him less attractive, especially when he helps Lennon state her theory about each crime and gives a different perspective to help her. Things got heated when Ambrose saved Lennon from a near-death situation, but Ambrose was hiding something, and that was the start of the mystery.
Being a police officer isn't only managing traffic lights or only calling them to arrest the thieves in your house; the visual Mia Sheridan gave was a roller coaster yet a masterpiece. I loved that the details were arranged so perfectly. Everyone knows about people dealing with their own lives, troubles, or problems; some people want to free themselves, some don't care anymore, and some want to find a way to either succeed or fail. It's so detailed that you could emphasize with them, and you're not drug addicted or selling body, but you have a clear view of their perspective. That alone is a masterpiece of the mentality of different people.
The book has so many strong points: the connection between trauma and the incidents that happened, which results in their current state, how they deal with them, some details that may be ignored but in fact have a massive influence on your life and the decision you make, and the importance of solving those trauma. I especially liked that there is reality. In the sea of people dealing with those issues, some try to save themselves, but some don't want to, or want to but don't have the courage to, like they think it's too late, but deep down they wish they could do something about it. The vivid image of the people in the book is a masterpiece that not many authors could visualize.
I rate the book 5 and the mystery a solid 5. There is not every day that I enjoy something unexpected; I feel all Ambrose and Lennon emotions without knowing who they are. There is this part of the book where I see someone, anonymous, go through the healing process, and I can say I also walk without knowing who they are. There is this part of the book where I see someone, anonymous, go through the healing process, and I can say I also walk with him. The book shows me that even though I live with my memory of something long ago, that doesn't make me always happy, and sometimes I should embrace them, and by embrace I really mean to give a hug to my younger self and tell them it's okay. I say it's not important which genre you prefer to read; all people should read this.

The premise of this book sounded so interesting, and the story sucked me in within the first chapter. However, from there I struggled to connect with the characters which lacked depth, although they were quite likeable. From there, it’s hard to really feel their romantic connection. I felt the pacing for the other plot line was a bit off as well. I appreciate Mia’s willingness to tackle really difficult and complex subjects, but this one just didn’t work for me.

I struggled with this one so had to DNF. I’m so sorry.

The book had some really heavy topics which I just did not expect so it was an unpleasant shock.

As well as this, I had a bit of an issue connecting to the story, even though the mystery was somewhat intriguing.

I love Mia Sheridan and typically she keeps me on my toes and I usually love her books but this one not so much. Not only did i have a hard connecting with this one, but the pace was very slow.

The Broken Places follows investigator Lennon and an
FBI agent Ambrose as they look into a mysterious new drug that is causing deaths among the homeless
.
As they delve into the case, their attraction to each other and personal secrets complicate their working relationship. Lennon must take control of her limits before it starts to get to her on a personal level.

I really struggled connecting with the characters in this one and with the slower pace it just wasn't for me.
The book also deals with steeper and dark themes so definitely read those TW.