Shattered

By: Karen Robards

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

The past is never over. It just gets dusty.

Lisa Grant was a rising star in a prestigious law firm in Lexington, Kentucky, when the firm went bankrupt and she lost her job. With an ailing mother to care for, she takes the first job she can find: research assistant to District Attorney Scott Buchanan. Scott is as disagreeable as he is sexy, and Lisa suspects the only reason she got the job was Scott’s fond feelings for her mother, who treated him well when he was just a farmhand on the Grants’ large horse farm while Lisa was growing up.

After she misses an important court date, Lisa doesn’t get any special treatment from Scott. As punishment, he sends her to organize cold-case files in the basement of the courthouse. What Lisa expects to be a mind-numbingly boring task turns into anything but when a missing-persons case draws her attention. The details of the case are engrossing: an entire family — father, mother, and two children — disappeared without a trace more than 28 years ago. Except that’s not all: the mother in a photo Lisa finds could be her own twin.

Before Lisa can learn more, a series of catastrophes strikes close to home, and she realizes that finding the photo has put her in terrible danger. Determined to uncover the truth, she confides in Scott, and their relationship develops into something beyond that of employer and employee. Together they unravel a terrifying web of criminal connections that could shatter what Lisa knows of her past. And it’s clear someone will go to shocking lengths to make sure certain secrets stay hidden.

©2010 Karen Robards (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Robards proves once again to be a master of romantic suspense, creating likable characters and an intriguing, well-paced, and nail- biting plot." ( Booklist)

Interesting Story; Repetitive Writing

While I thought, overall, this book was interesting and it held my interest, I felt there was a lot of repetition in the author’s writing. Several times she stated things like “let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding” and overused “chagrin”. It just felt like some of her descriptions were lacking originality. I also think there were at least two times the narrator messed up during the performance (ie: stating HER instead of HIS), which was slightly annoying because then I was focused on that instead of the storyline. I did think the ending was good, however and I would recommend this to others.

Good, but could be better!

Sometimes the story seems to drag a little! I liked the narration but I found the sex scenes too long - I am sure that is just me. I prefer the mystery to be a bit more unpredictable.

OK Story Line but Boring Narrator

The plot was interesting enough to keep me engaged, but the writing style is somewhat simple and a bit trite. However, the primary downfall of this audio book is that the narrator sounds like a 45 year old uptight school teacher (which is fine) but it doesn't match the main character's persona as a 29 year old attorney with a lot of spunk and sex appeal. The romance element of this novel is completely subdued by this narrator issue.

What a nice surprise!!

I read the mixed reviews and had doubts, but I took the chance and was not disappointed. It was good, everything was in place for a great story with likable characters. Funny, emotional. suspenseful and sexy.

Great interesting story

Would you listen to Shattered again? Why?

yes not at this moment but later because it is a story keeps up your interest

What did you like best about this story?

kept my interest

Which character – as performed by Susan Ericksen – was your favorite?

No special character, great performer

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

no

Any additional comments?

no

expected better, but still a nice

the ending should have been better. the book was open with young marissa, so you feel instantly connected to her. it was a bit disappointing at the end to not know much about her..don't want say much..but yeah. too much time spent on lisa's dynamic with her family and personal life, not much time on the actual mystery suspense of the book. overall though it was nice and I couldn't figure out the mystery so it kept me interested. the narrator was great!

Amazing

An awesome book. Can't stop once you start. Twist I didn't see coming as the ending.

"Susan Was A Bit Tired"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

if you are a long time fan of author, and I am, then you will appreciate another one of her good books.

What other book might you compare Shattered to and why?

Karen's, One Summer and Paradise County are in par with this story. This book and the afore mentioned are romances with a mystery. Good entertainment

Did Susan Ericksen do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Ms Susan is an excellent reader, see her J.D.Robb series, excellent. Her Irish accent is yummy. However, she did not do her full range of voices in this one. A disappointment as she did not deepen her male voices in this one as she has in other books. She may have had so many recordings when she did this book, that she may not have had it in her to do all her deeper male voice ranges. Her young voices are great in this one so that wasn't a disappointment. She just didn't deliver on our hero Scott.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When all the truth comes out...get a hankie

Interesting story.

At first I wasn't loving the narrator but it got better. The story was really good.

Nothing Exciting

I've liked Karen Robards in the past, but this one was not great. It took way too long to develop, and once it did it sped to the end. So you have to slug through the beginning to get to the good part in the last 4 hours of the book. And while the wrap up was good, not sure it was worth the 6+ hours before that.

The romance took too long to develop.
I also didn't like her inaccuracy on alcoholism, or kids of alcoholics. Not all kids of alcoholics become alcoholics or avoid alcohol all together. Children of alcoholics can have a healthy relationship with alcohol.

I also didn't like the narrator. Her voice sounded like an older woman, rather than a 30 year old. Plus some times the character's voices ran together.