The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2024

In this twisted journey into the shadows of the Golden Gate, an inspector and an FBI agent must track down the source of an unknown drug, but their attraction and their own secrets keep getting in the way.

The streets of San Francisco aren’t as sunny as the city pretends they are. Inspector Lennon Gray has learned this the hard way, and it’s starting to wear on her. When a new case plunges her into the depths of the transient community, Lennon must once again face ugly truths about humanity.

Her new partner makes things a little easier, though.

Agent Ambrose Mars is charming—innocent, somehow, despite his own hard years in the field. The combination leaves Lennon fascinated and disturbed at the same time, and she’s even more drawn to him for it.

As they investigate the hallucinogenic drug that’s forcing homeless citizens into bizarre and dangerous role-plays, Lennon and Ambrose find their relationship intensified with every new twist. But when these revelations begin to uncover secrets she wasn’t prepared to know, Lennon will have to decide how much more she can take…before something important is taken from her.

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REVIEW:THE BROKEN PLACES by Mia Sheridan is a stand alone, contemporary,suspense thriller focusing on SFPD Inspector Lennon Gray, and Agent Ambrose Mars.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from omniscient third person perspective using present day and memories from the past, THE BROKEN PLACES follows in the wake of several murders and deaths possibility connected to a new designer drug in San Francisco. Inspector Lennon Gray has been assigned to investigate the latest series of murders but something about the killings doesn’t add up. As the body count increases, the FBI sends in one of their own, who may or may not have some knowledge about the ‘little blue pill’. Enter Ambrose Mars. Ambrose Mars has been temporarily assigned to search for the truth but Ambrose has a secret, a secret that will change the direction of the police investigation, a change that threatens Lennon’s future with the SFPD. As the case unfolds, Ambrose finds himself pulled back into the past, when his own life experiences gave way to a spiral out of control.

The world building is complex and intricate as the many of the victims have heart breaking stories of betrayal, abuse and loss. When the past comes full circle, Ambrose recognizes the how and the why, but it is Lennon Gray who may have come face to face with a possible killer.

The relationship between Lennon and Ambrose begins acrimoniously as Lennon struggles with a new partner, especially one from the FBI but all is not as it appears to be, and Lennon finds herself wondering where it all went wrong. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate

There is a large ensemble cast of law enforcements, homeless, addicts and victims. Throw in a podcaster, several family members, and the ghosts from the past, pushing our couple to reconsider the direction of their current line of thinking.

THE BROKEN PLACES is a story of betrayal and vengeance, addiction and abuse, retribution and obsession, forgiveness and love. The thought-provoking premise is dark and dramatic; the characters are desperate, determined and driven; the romance is subtle and fated. The epilogue fast forwards the story line approximately twenty-seven years, wherein we see a glimpse into the future for everyone concerned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy