This is the first time I've read a mystery novel by
Karin Slaughter. "BROKEN" will lead me on a search for more of this author's books. From beginning to end the novel is filled with suspense. It was easy to feel compassion, anger and disgust for the characters in the novel. Most of the characters are living in a personal hell pit of emotional pain. Sara comes home to Grant County, Georgia from Atlanta to her family's home with every part of her body still aware of the way her husband, Jeffrey, died. There is Lena who is still coming to grips with her past. She wears a chip on her shoulder that is really a pound of guilt. There is Frank with his daily addiction. There is Allison, the young college girl, who works in the diner and goes to college. Most of the town know her because she is dutiful, nice and always carries a pink book bag. There is Lionel who owns the diner. He is a black man who carries his painful history with him wherever he goes. However, Lionel is not bitter. He is still able to laugh, give a friendly pat on the back to a buddy and is a neighbor to people of all colors. He's has time to fix a car, say good morning or have coffee, toast and eggs with any person in town on a cold morning. My favorite character is Tommy. Everybody knows Tommy. He help out around town and minds his own business. Every thing about Tommy seems simple and easy to understand until bad and horrible situations begin to happen around Grant County. Then, Tommy becomes an enigma.
"BROKEN'' is a book I would recommend to any person who has a love for suspense, small town secrets and likes inside facts about medical corporations. I had one problem. I was not prepared for the very bloody details, autopsies, etc. This is because I read cozies constantly. Reading about splattered blood, dripping blankets made me turn the pages a little bit slower out of shock and fear. Then, I would turn the pages faster because I wanted to be spared the details of death. I bet most people are use to reading these descriptive passages. These passages will not seem awful to these mystery readers. Probably, next time I will find myself more prepared for what is really seen by detectives and policemen at crime scenes.
I would like to say thank you to
Karin Slaughter for giving the details behind the title,
BROKEN. The story behind the title
"BROKEN" is heartbreaking. It is another dose of reality. All of us are not destined to live fairy tale lives or ever get to the end of the rainbow and find the pot of gold. For the "
BROKEN " I wanted to cry. Too often the
BROKEN are innocent.
