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The Broken

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About this listen

Best friends tell you everything - about their kitchen renovation, about their little girl’s schooling. How one of them is leaving the other for a younger model.

Best friends don’t tell lies. They don’t take up residence on your couch for weeks. They don’t call lawyers. They don’t make you choose sides.

Best friends don’t keep secrets about their past. They don't put you in danger. Best friends don’t always stay best friends.

©2014 Tamar Cohen (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd Crime Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Crime

Critic reviews

"A chillingly real psychological drama that had me in a total reading frenzy. I absolutely loved it." (Lisa Jewell)
"A brilliant and skillfully plotted depiction of the unexpected breakdown of a friendship between two couples, with one of the most chilling twists I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down." (Louise Millar)
All stars
Most relevant
For me to enjoy a story I have to feel something for at least one of the characters. The Broken fulfilled this requirement for me - Hannah, Josh and Dan particularly. The author takes a very unremarkable situation and develops it in ways that many of us may have experienced or feared to experience. The conflicts between the obligations of marriage and friendship are explored, as are the reasons for lying.

The occasional short chapter narrated by the Mystery Woman keeps the reader aware that somewhere in this domestic drama there's something sinister lurking, though, and I was pretty surprised by the twist at the very end.

Altogether a compelling tale, and although it ends with questions about what would happen next to the characters, a satisfying read.

An intriguing story, well told

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Not my usual type of book but I couldn't stop listening . I guessed the ending but enjoyed the story none the less

Pulled me in, couldn't stop listening

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Apart from the twist at the end I found this story rather drawn out and all the characters not very authentic.

Average

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Any additional comments?

This really held my attention, mainly because the characters were so richly written. It was easy to be concerned about what happened to each one of them, even those who were not so likeable! The narration was near perfect (only the Scouse accent was a bit iffy). The ending was somewhat disappointing however. I felt it merited several more chapters.

Loved it, didn't want to put it down, but . . . .

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Where does The Broken rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I love Jane Collingwood's narration, and this was no exception. I have favourite scenes in the book that I can listen to again and again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Broken?

The incident with Lilly and September.

What does Jane Collingwood bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Children's voices, very well, and the emotion. She narrates crying, anger, all very realistically.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me angry in most parts. I really disliked Hannah. There were times I wanted to shout at her. I thought she was really horrible in some parts of the book, and some may not agree with this, but I think on some levels, she got what she deserved.

Any additional comments?

I felt more sympathy for the men than the women in this book, and that's the first book I've read where I can truly say that. Definitely worth reading, and excellently narrated! Collingwood is amazing!

You certainly feel the emotion.

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