Broken Souls

Detective Lottie Parker, Book 7

By: Patricia Gibney

Narrated by: Michele Moran

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

An absolutely addictive mystery thriller with a brilliant twist 

"She shivered, though the kitchen was warm. Icicles of foreboding trickled down her spine. With trembling hands she whipped back her hair at the nape of her neck. As she turned away from the window, she missed the shadow passing by."

One dark winter’s morning, bride-to-be Cara Dunne is found hanging in her home, dressed in her wedding dress, with a lock of hair removed. Detective Lottie Parker is first on the scene. Looking at Cara’s bruised and battered body, she wonders who could have hated her enough to kill her at the happiest time of her life. 

The case takes a darker turn that afternoon with another shocking discovery - the broken body of a second young woman, pushed from the roof of the hospital where she worked. Fiona Heffernan was also due to be married, and her body is clad in a wedding dress, a lock of her hair cut off. 

The killings seem so personal that Lottie is convinced the girls have been killed by someone they knew. When she goes to break the news to Fiona’s family, she’s on the alert for anything suspicious. But then she makes a discovery that causes her blood to run cold - Fiona’s eight-year-old daughter Lily didn’t return home from her dance recital that afternoon. Terrified that Lily will be the next victim of a twisted and dangerous individual, Lottie takes the case into her own hands, risking her life when she comes face-to-face with the killer....

If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni, and Rachel Caine, you’ll be hooked by this heart-stopping thriller from Patricia Gibney. Broken Souls will keep you guessing!

©2019 Patricia Gibney (P)2019 Bookouture

Outstanding

I was a little disappointed in book 6 for there were so many repeats and catch up non readers I almost set it aside. Book 7 had me finish it in 12 straight hours. Could not have put it down for a second. I love Boyd and I hope to hear about him in book 8.

Mixed review

Good story line and mix of characters but this author has a seriously frustrating need to string things out much longer than is required to hold the readers interest or maintain suspense.

WOW!

Of course I was going to LOVE Broken Souls, because I LOVE Lottie Parker and I LOVE Patricia Gibney's writing! This book was absolutely AMAZING! I HAD no idea who the perpetrator was until nearly the very end! I love going clear through a book not knowing! :) Of course Book 6 was left on a MAJOR cliffhanger and now so was Book 7. Things are just getting more and more complex for Lottie and the gang! I can't wait for Book 8!!!

Amazing, but..

I have been following the Lottie Parker series since book 3 and I have been loving it. I am so used to the stories of Ragmullin and Lottie Parker that I want to keep hearing about them. But sometimes I get annoyed when the narration doesn’t get to the main point and unnecessary details are being described and dragged for so long till the big news comes out. I become so impatient and it’s annoying. But that’s just the only thing. I am always on the edge of my seat turning pages otherwise.

Ugh.

I was pretty irritated when I finished book 6, suggesting that perhaps it was time to wrap up the Parker series. Well, I'm even more irritated now. Lottie has always been flawed. I understand flawed. I appreciate flawed. However, she's become a narcissistic witch. I love these stories. I love the plots. I love the secondary characters. Lottie, however, has become so unlikable to me that I don't believe I can read book eight. She is a terrible mother. When the girls want to go to NYC for Christmas, she tries to guilt them by bursting into tears with the old, "I've failed as a mother" thing. If someone in Ragmullen were to be murdered on December 24, though, she'd not be around for her kids and grandson until the new year. Meanwhile, poor Mark is obviously ill, and, because everything is about her, she is convinced that he's cheating on her. She leaves him stranded without a way to get home in the middle of winter. This book should have been a redemption for Lottie, and instead, she crossed the line to "unbearable character." Book 8 will most likely chronicle how Boyd's illness is affecting her. Yuck!!

LOTTIE'S BACK AND ANOTHER WINNER!!!!!!!!!

This was a great addition to the Lottie Parker series. I loved the story and Michele Moran's narration just simply adds to the overall enjoyment of the listening experience. It's always a pleasure when an author finds a good narrator and retains her/him throughout the series. It truly enhances the writing talents of a good author. I'm a big fan of the Patricia Gibney/Michele Moran team. I'm looking forward to the next release in the series!

addicted

I'm addicted to this series. Already have the last one purchased. although at first the accent was hard to get used too. really hope she writes more books asap. whether for this series or another.

Confusing

I like Patricia Gibney’s books but found this one’s plot lines confusing. Why did the killer pick these particular people to murder. I kept waiting for it all to come together and become clear. When the reasons started to be revealed I found them odd and not really believable. It was a long and round about story .

Not her best work though the buildup was good

As you may have gathered from the headline, the real disappointment came in the ending. It seemed that the "solution" to the crimes and clues was as solid as tissue paper held together with chewing gum and tape. I found the killer unconvincing. And the apparent reasons for his crimes and the quirks of the plot unsatisfying. There were also unanswered questions about major characters. But on the plus side there were some good scenes and the heroine is all too human and likable on top of it. I usually like this series.

Save Your Money

This is the first book in this series that I have read and, based on my experience, it will be the last. It was too long by about a third and had too many characters to keep track of, especially when consumed via Audible when one is not always able to make notes (e.g., while driving). The main character, Lottie, is a cliche and alienating. She also makes reckless choices, which drives me nuts. The book was simply interminable and it was torture trying to get through it. I toyed with just jumping to the end to find out whodunit but ended up slogging my way through it till the end. Never again. I'm done with Little and crew!

Disappointing

I have read all books in this series & quite enjoyed them. This book, however, had a story that was disjointed &, in parts, not particularly believable. The character of Lottie Parker seems to have morphed into a mardy teenager without any common sense or any of the intelligence & wisdom that it should take to become a DI. I was extremely disappointed & will not bother to look for a Book 8.

Soporific

I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series but found this one really hard to listen to and had to keep rewinding after I fell asleep numerous times. Will persevere with next episode.

Another wonderful listen

I love these stories and the characters within them. You need to listen in order as Lottie's personal life is as much part of the story as the murders. I feel like shaking the detective sometimes when she can be so self-involved and impulsive but I always want her to come through. I did find this one a little far-fetched in it's conclusion, but it didn't matter as I really enjoyed the story anyway which, as usual, has many layers. I look forward to the next!

Pretty Good

I’ve read them all in sequence so maybe am getting a bit jaded. Ragmullen is more dangerous than Midsomer! Over all, I enjoyed it.

Another winning story

Easy to listen to the narrator's voice as she skilfully guides us through the story. I love this series of books and I am impatient to discover another new book is ready for me to enjoy. Thank you

Not the best in the series

The story started promisingly but I found it rather tedious with much repetitive language and phrases. not the best for me but the narrator is still fantastic.

Amazing as always

I love everything about this series. Love Lottie and Boyd. The plot is excellent and the narration superb as always. Can’t wait for the next one!!

Another great one

Have been a keen listener since I came across the first in the series. This is as good as any of the previous books, and I’m looking forward to the next release.

Another great Lottie Parker book

Kept me guessing and Lottie made less crazy assumptions than in previous novels. The family are moving on but poor old Ragmullin is once again under the grips of a broken soul who is wreaking havoc. A really easy on the ear listen.

Another really great listen.

This author is one of the best in her field, gripping storyline and great characters.