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lynguy1's review against another edition
4.0
She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be by J. D. Barker has been classified as horror, thriller, mystery and fantasy. To me, it was more of a supernatural romantic suspense than a horror suspense story.
Jack Thatch was orphaned as a child and was raised by his Auntie Jo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Every year they visit the cemetery where his parents are buried on August 8. At eight years old, he sees Stella on a bench in the cemetery. They talk briefly and he doesn’t see her again for another year. He thinks about her constantly and she is always accompanied by a woman in white who stands guard.
On August 9, a man’s body is found in an alley. Every inch of the flesh is burned, but the clothing is untouched. This isn’t the first time such a body has been found and Detective Faustino Brier is determined to find the killer.
A small boy listed as Subject “D” is locked in a lab and speaks only to his deaf doctor who reads lips. His power is immense and terrifying. What is it and how did it happen. What will become of the little boy?
The three story lines are intertwined, but how and why? The characters have depth. Their choices aren’t always what we would want them to make, but under the circumstances, made sense to them. Jack’s fascination and instant obsession with Stella seemed a little over-the-top to me as it continued to last over the years.
The book is more than 700 pages long, but it felt like it was half that. The pace, except for the last part, wasn’t fast, but it kept me fully engaged. An overall theme that came through to me was that of family, community, friends, and neighbors. But it was also about secret medical labs and the repercussions of uncontrolled experiments and the obsessions with unsolved police cases.
Overall, the novel was engrossing, emotional, compelling, fascinating, and very original. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I would like to read another by him.
I received a digital copy of this book from Hampton Creek Press and the author in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was March 31, 2020.
Jack Thatch was orphaned as a child and was raised by his Auntie Jo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Every year they visit the cemetery where his parents are buried on August 8. At eight years old, he sees Stella on a bench in the cemetery. They talk briefly and he doesn’t see her again for another year. He thinks about her constantly and she is always accompanied by a woman in white who stands guard.
On August 9, a man’s body is found in an alley. Every inch of the flesh is burned, but the clothing is untouched. This isn’t the first time such a body has been found and Detective Faustino Brier is determined to find the killer.
A small boy listed as Subject “D” is locked in a lab and speaks only to his deaf doctor who reads lips. His power is immense and terrifying. What is it and how did it happen. What will become of the little boy?
The three story lines are intertwined, but how and why? The characters have depth. Their choices aren’t always what we would want them to make, but under the circumstances, made sense to them. Jack’s fascination and instant obsession with Stella seemed a little over-the-top to me as it continued to last over the years.
The book is more than 700 pages long, but it felt like it was half that. The pace, except for the last part, wasn’t fast, but it kept me fully engaged. An overall theme that came through to me was that of family, community, friends, and neighbors. But it was also about secret medical labs and the repercussions of uncontrolled experiments and the obsessions with unsolved police cases.
Overall, the novel was engrossing, emotional, compelling, fascinating, and very original. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I would like to read another by him.
I received a digital copy of this book from Hampton Creek Press and the author in a Goodreads Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was March 31, 2020.
michelle87's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book dragged a little
daithy's review
4.25
Different from his other books but still really good. If you had to read Great Expectations in school you will enjoy this.
wendyb00ks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ploopl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
goodneighborbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This book sat on my shelf, unread, for a couple of years, which is surprising given my love of J.D. Barker. Now that I have finished it, I wish I could have the experience of picking it up off that shelf again for the first time. I want to meet Stella again, and cringe whenever Jack makes a questionable decision. At least I have the opportunity to read Great Expectations for the first time, which I plan to do in the very near future.
xfairywingreads's review against another edition
5.0
Dit boek had me meteen al bij de eerste bladzijdes, hoe verder ik las hoe meer ik antwoorden wou!
maggymags's review against another edition
5.0
Audio book.This was a long listen, but worth the 23+ hours. Moved at a steady pace, well rounded characters and a good storyline. Enough intrigue and action to keep you attention.
thereadrose's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5-3.75
During the first quarter of this book, I almost didn't finish the book, but, that was for reasons regarding my personal preference. The first quarter was very slow paced and I think it would be great if you like the vibes of Stranger Things and/or Stephen King’s writing. I however, don’t like either of those things.
I kept reading because I didn’t want to give up on a book that a friend of mine is so fond of. Now, do I regret my continued reading? Actually, no. I ended up enjoying the second half a lot more than the first quarter. I found the last half of the book to be faced paced, and adventurous, and I liked the romantic tension in the book. By the end of the book, I felt fond of the characters and I liked the way that the story wrapped up, minus one detail.
There’s just a part of me, that couldn’t give this book four stars, because I almost DNF’d it.
I have been so excited to read books by J.D. Barker and that hasn’t changed! I’m hoping to start his 4MK series soon!
During the first quarter of this book, I almost didn't finish the book, but, that was for reasons regarding my personal preference. The first quarter was very slow paced and I think it would be great if you like the vibes of Stranger Things and/or Stephen King’s writing. I however, don’t like either of those things.
I kept reading because I didn’t want to give up on a book that a friend of mine is so fond of. Now, do I regret my continued reading? Actually, no. I ended up enjoying the second half a lot more than the first quarter. I found the last half of the book to be faced paced, and adventurous, and I liked the romantic tension in the book. By the end of the book, I felt fond of the characters and I liked the way that the story wrapped up, minus one detail.
There’s just a part of me, that couldn’t give this book four stars, because I almost DNF’d it.
I have been so excited to read books by J.D. Barker and that hasn’t changed! I’m hoping to start his 4MK series soon!
marilynw's review against another edition
5.0
From the beginning of this book, I didn't want to put it down. It's a long book but it certainly didn't seem long. It's full of interesting, multi faceted characters, people that make choices, right or wrong but also full of people that are caught in something that makes them do things they would never do, under other circumstances. I think that is the scariest thing about this book, the horror of losing control of everything that you are, everything that you believe, being just a passenger inside your body, with no options but to act a certain way.
Jack is such a likeable main character. He's an honest, hardworking, smart kid and he loves his Auntie Jo, he pines for his dead parents and relives vivid dreams about something that happened to him and them, when he was four years old. Auntie Jo says those visions are just dreams but they are so real and as time goes on, there is more and more proof that what Jack dreams really did happen.
Auntie Jo is another character I really like. Smoking herself to death, working hard at her job as a waitress, she loves Jack and as harsh, blunt, and crude as she is, her heart is gold. Her customers, neighbors, and co-workers know that Jo is a diamond in the rough, a good person and Jo will do anything for her nephew Jack.
Jack and Auntie Jo visit his parents graves very August 8th, the anniversary of their death. When Jack is 8 years old, he meets a beautiful, mysterious girl, Stella, who is sitting on a bench at the cemetery. From that first meeting, Jack is obsessed with Stella and can not get her out of his mind, thinking of her, drawing pictures of her, wanting to see her again. He continues to see her on that date for several years and then things get crazy, crazier than they already seem to be, with Jack's strange dreams and strange things happening around him.
In the end, so much is connected, connected to Jack's dreams, to Stella, to the people he knows. Who can Jack trust? Why can't his heart let go of Stella? What is it that draws them together and who are the people dressed in white, who are always with Stella?
What Jack learns is bigger than two people and there is danger and death in Jack's past and future that he sees coming, sees happening in the past, and he can't stop what is happening even as he is part of it. And, there is another child, a boy, who might be the most dangerous person of all, who wants Stella and will let nothing and nobody get in his way.
This is a great book to read with buddies because there is so much to discuss!
Published March 31st 2020
Thank you to the author, J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Jack is such a likeable main character. He's an honest, hardworking, smart kid and he loves his Auntie Jo, he pines for his dead parents and relives vivid dreams about something that happened to him and them, when he was four years old. Auntie Jo says those visions are just dreams but they are so real and as time goes on, there is more and more proof that what Jack dreams really did happen.
Auntie Jo is another character I really like. Smoking herself to death, working hard at her job as a waitress, she loves Jack and as harsh, blunt, and crude as she is, her heart is gold. Her customers, neighbors, and co-workers know that Jo is a diamond in the rough, a good person and Jo will do anything for her nephew Jack.
Jack and Auntie Jo visit his parents graves very August 8th, the anniversary of their death. When Jack is 8 years old, he meets a beautiful, mysterious girl, Stella, who is sitting on a bench at the cemetery. From that first meeting, Jack is obsessed with Stella and can not get her out of his mind, thinking of her, drawing pictures of her, wanting to see her again. He continues to see her on that date for several years and then things get crazy, crazier than they already seem to be, with Jack's strange dreams and strange things happening around him.
In the end, so much is connected, connected to Jack's dreams, to Stella, to the people he knows. Who can Jack trust? Why can't his heart let go of Stella? What is it that draws them together and who are the people dressed in white, who are always with Stella?
What Jack learns is bigger than two people and there is danger and death in Jack's past and future that he sees coming, sees happening in the past, and he can't stop what is happening even as he is part of it. And, there is another child, a boy, who might be the most dangerous person of all, who wants Stella and will let nothing and nobody get in his way.
This is a great book to read with buddies because there is so much to discuss!
Published March 31st 2020
Thank you to the author, J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.