Book: Broken Girls
Author: Joy Kluver
Pub Day: July 27th 2021
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
About the Book:
Brambles catch her dress, scratch her legs, pierce her feet. To escape, she’d had no option but to go barefoot. They’d been laughing together a few minutes before, but things can change in the blink of an eye…
The woman is dark-haired and young, judging by the short red dress. Any other signs of her identity have been erased during her long wait to be found, but it’s clear she was strangled: this was a passionate and personal murder.
D.I. Bernadette Noel knows that every second counts if she is to catch this killer, but she has no leads – until the discovery that the dead woman’s rings match a stolen property report, and the rings’ owner mentions Rosa, her missing nanny.
Just when Bernie and her team think they’re getting somewhere, a shocking discovery about Rosa – and the news that another young girl has been abducted – changes everything the team thought they knew about the case.
Laura is only twelve, and her parents are beside themselves with worry – but Bernie has an additional fear. Laura’s home is right next to the woods where their murder victim was found: are the cases connected?
When Bernie notices similarities between descriptions of the man last seen with Rosa and someone Laura was messaging online, these fears grow stronger. But they still have no clear leads as to the identity of the culprit.
With few options left, and time running out, she makes a desperate plan to trap the predator. But any mistakes will mean another innocent life lost…
A gripping crime thriller with a nail-biting climax. If you like Angela Marsons, Val McDermid or Cara Hunter, you’ll love Joy Kluver.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Broken Girls' by Joy Kluver.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Joy Kluver, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 27th July 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the second book in the 'Detective Bernadette Noel' series but it can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Last Seen' which is the first book in the 'Detective Bernadette Noel' series and which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'If you like Angela Marsons, Val McDermid or Cara Hunter, you’ll love Joy Kluver'. I am a huge fan of Angela Marsons so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Joy Kluver and if this is half as good as 'Last Seen' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 68 chapters. The chapters are short in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Wiltshire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Bernadette Noel. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.
'Broken Girls' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Joy discusses/includes sexual assault and child abuse.
Wow!! Just Wow!! What can I even say?!? Joy you have absolutely slam dunked it yet again!!! Only your second novel and it is absolutely heart racing!! What an absolutely EPIC debut novel. You are going far!!! Anyway... Will I get on with my review? Best had....
As you can tell from my opening statement this book is brilliant! More than brilliant, amazing!!! It had been fantastically written and the descriptions completely absorb the reader into the storyline.
The storyline is absolutely gripping, addictive and captivating. Filled with everything you are looking for in a book... Suspense, tension, mystery, red herrings, researched police procedural, you name it this book has it. I was absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I had a complete shock at the twists and finding out who was who and who did what. A HUGE congratulations there as it is getting harder and harder to surprise me these days but that was a whooper!! I loved that there were several storylines going on and yet everything came together perfectly, nothing worse than crucial parts being mentioned and then left and not mentioned again, this was all perfectly tyed up a the end. This is an absolutely fantastic start to what promises to be a heart racing and nail biting new series. What an absolutely cliff hanger this ended on!!! Joy you best be writing your next book as we speak as I cannot wait!!!
Love, love, loved all the characters!!! I loved meeting them again and still cannot wait to meet them yet again although I'm glad I won't be hearing from a certain worthless character. The fact that Bernice is such a strong, determined and captivating female lead is a huge bonus for all female readers. Woman power!! It wasn't just Bernie who was a super woman though as Kerry was also whoop butt and Alice is definitely starting to shine. The dynamic of the team was spot on and I really enjoyed reading all the different personalities and watching friendships bond. Matt and Anderson were also excellent members of the team and Anderson will definitely be an intriguing one to continue to read about. I also enjoyed meeting Paul and Anna Bentley who are becoming integrated as part of the team.
I really cannot compliment this book and successfull author more. I would love to see this made into a movie and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.
Overall an addictive, gripping, heart racing, nail biting and page turning thriller that will keep you hooked.
Genres covered in this novel include Crime, Suspense, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller and Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans Melissa Leigh, Angela Marsons, C. L Taylor, Carol Wyer and anyone looking for a great new series.
350 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
@JoyKluver @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
Author Bio
Joy Kluver has been an avid reader and writer since childhood. More recently she's been escaping the madness of motherhood by turning her hand to crime novels. A book blogger, she's also part of the First Monday Crime team and if you've been to any of their events it's likely you've eaten one of her cookies. She also organises author talks for her local library. Joy lives in SW London with her husband and three children. 'Last Seen' is her debut novel and the first book in the DI Bernadette Noel series.
Joy is represented by Anne Williams at the Kate Horden Literary Agency.
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joykluverauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyKluver
Buy Links
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0931767LCcover
Apple: http://ow.ly/30e250EzwYE
Kobo: http://ow.ly/8ltA50EzwW8
Google: http://ow.ly/hsWr50Ezx08
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