Fractured: A Gay Thriller

Don't... Book 6

By: Jack L. Pyke

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Length: 18 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Don’t let them leave us behind at the roadside, Jan.” (Jack Harrison)

Both psychopath and sinner, Gray Raoul’s falling deep into dangerous territory with Martin and his own “born this bastard way, baby” innateness. But when Gray’s son, Light, is thrown into Gray’s world on the back of a CS gas terror attack at a rave, life never becomes more...fractured. Under the decaying influence of Martin, Gray’s about to interrogate his son with all the coldness of an MI5 director of counterterrorism edge that’s teetering too close to culler roots. 

When Gray’s suicidal fall is played to the full with Martin, leaving Jan facing nothing but himself and the culler in Gray, the ultimate questions are tested to the fullest: Standing in the shadow of two psychopaths, two sinners who are locked in death-play, did Jan’s “soft lad” soul really ever have a voice in Gray’s dark world? And just where does this all leave Jack Harrison?

©2019 Jack L. Pyke (P)2020 Jack L. Pyke

Too much angst and it' s not okay anymore.

There's too much things happening in this.
it sometimes feels too dragging and unbearable at times.

EPIC

Absolutely phenomenal conclusion to the Dont series. I applaud Jack for the research and heart she poured into this book making fiction very fact based. I love her writing style, word play and dynamics. I loved all the characters and didn't want the series to end. I hope with all my might she will dive back into this world giving us more Raif, Ash, Lucy, more on Craig, Ray, Jack, Martin, Gray........and then a must more for Andrews and Light. I could live here for a long time. And that would just be f'n peachy, mate! Dan Calley rocked this!

Brilliant

As always, incredible writing, incredible story telling, and incredible narration (Dan Calley has quickly become one of my all-time faves)!

Great story. Great narration.

Another amazing addition to this series. Both the narration and I he storytelling are excellent.

This book was very focused on family. As with so many of my favorite books, this book taught me something about myself and the world I live in. That moment when Gray realizes who his son looks like, annihilated me. The scene was so well written that it pulled me into a similar moment in my own life. So much intense emotion in this book.

This was a decent conclusion, but by I really hope for more. I very much want to see more of Jack/Martin. I also want the writer to continue to spread awareness on the horrors of having a garlic allergy. Garlic is a vile poison that should be labeled as such. Seriously! It's deadly.

Amazing!!

This is another absolutely amazing listen! Jack L. Pyke has a way of pull me right into this journey. Then to have Dan Calley narrating this story is absolutely perfection. He brings all the emotions in this story right to life. I just can't get enough of how much he brings these characters to life and he is so perfect for these stories.

he’d disrupted Jack and broken his mould [Jan]

Would I listen to it again: yes
Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Was I invested in the characters: yes

Story comment: Looking back, the plot of the series has felt like a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. Each book has been a story in itself, but every character and event that has occurred has contributed to create in intricately woven, multilayered mystery, all masterfully bought together in Fractured ... if there are any plot-holes, there's so much going on I never noticed.

The characters, old and new have continually kept me engaged and wanting more. This story is an action packed, dark, violent and often torturous road to redemption.

Narrator comment: Dan Calley's narration has been a huge contributor to my enjoyment of this series. He knows the characters now and that familiarity comes through as he breathes life and emotion into the suspense and intrigue of the story.

There were times some of the characters had heavy accents, which I sometimes found hard to understand if i wasn't focused on the story - it's not a complaint, just my own personal lack of experience with dialects.

Overall, not an easy listen on an emotional level and the story is very complex, if this must be the end then i'm satisfied.
I've enjoyed this series and am sure I will listen to again.

[if you're wondering why I haven't given this 5 stars overall - there are over 1,000 occurrences of the "f-bomb" in this book - these guys aren't princesses, but at times it felt excessive and unnecessary. - sorry!]

Thrilling Story, Dan Calley is Fantastic!

Jack L. Pyke continues her incredible Don’t… series with the release of Fractured. If you’re a fan of dark mysteries and soul-stirring romances, and haven’t tried this phenomenal series, I can’t recommend it strongly enough. Reading them in order is a must, so begin with Don’t…, book 1, or pick it up in audio, I promise you won’t regret it!

It would be tough to review any one of the books in the Don’t… series without praising the story as a whole. In addition to being one of the finest psychological thrillers I’ve ever read, this is an absolutely stupendous ménage romance. The depth Ms. Pyke goes in exploring these complex characters, which spans seven novels thus far and some truly dramatic events, is simply amazing.

I stumbled upon Jack, Jan, and Gray through another series, and was immediately struck by how interesting their dynamic is as a threesome. Jack L. Pyke was a new author to me then, and her expressive and compelling writing style had me hooked from the first chapter of Don’t… These three men quickly claimed a place in my heart, and following them over the course of the story arc has been a very moving experience.

Apprehensive to find out what would happen with my beloved characters, it’s taken me a while to gather my courage and discover how this saga continues in Fractured. A multilayered, intelligent mystery, Fractured also cleverly includes all the major players from the earlier novels. Without giving anything away I can say this is an emotional ride, beautifully written, and so worth it!

The entire Don’t… series is now available in audio. Dan Calley delivers an incredible performance, and thanks to this varied cast, shows off his skill with accents. I was impressed by the passion Mr. Calley infuses into these emotional scenes. From the bravado of eighteen-year-old Light and his friends, to the anguish of an eighty-year-old man, missing his long dead daughter, Dan Calley pulls out all the stops.

Over the course of this series, and especially with Fractured, Jack L. Pyke has taken me from tremendous heights of joy, to some of the darkest places imaginable, and I can’t wait to experience it all over again. This time through, with the benefit of Dan Calley’s thrilling narration, I’m anticipating an even more intense and rewarding experience.

Brilliant

This is hands down, THE BEST mm series I've ever read. Jack L Pyke is an amazing author and the world she has created within the pages of this series is simply stunning in its intensity and depth. When I read her writing, I feel as though I am actually there, experiencing every single thing the characters are experiencing as they happen. This has never been so evident as when Dan Calley is narrating. Every time I read one of her novels, something has changed within me and the book stays with me for weeks. Fractured is no different in that way..maybe more so than some of the rest. Take a chance and start at the beginning...you won't regret it!

Last in series but I’m hoping for more

I’ve adored this series and followed it obsessively since the first book was released. A gay BDSM thriller. Talk about having all the elements I love! I’m seriously sad to see this go and what a way to end. With a bang to be sure (or several).

The series started with Jack. A car mechanic with a penchant for walking on the dark side. He was a sub for the Master’s Circle and submitted to being used as a vehicle for vetting potential future Dominants. He was under the control of an enigmatic MI5 officer and then he met a man who intrigued him. Jan wasn’t into BDSM, but he was into Jack. Just a few years his junior, the two men connected. Jan was a ‘soft lad’, and he saw through Jack’s rough edges. At the time they were also dealing with a killer who seemed to have it out for Jack. Jack who had once been involved with the psychopath Cutter. Jack whose OCD could sometimes rage out of control.

In the next book, Jan and Jack were kidnapped and brutally raped and tortured. Man, that was a tough book. It was no wonder both men began downward spirals into despair and distrust. Jan turned to heroin and Jack started to literally crack under the weight of the knowledge of what had been done to him. His ‘alter’ Martin began to appear. Gray, the enigmatic MI5 officer and the third member of their triad, tried to keep control, but soon Jack had to be turned over to medical professionals.

Through the next couple of books, the men coped with the aftermath and, as time went on, Jack disappeared more and more to the point where he was gone by the end of Book 5. That was good because Martin was needed to do a horrible thing, but that didn’t make the loss of Jack any easier. I knew this book would centre around the triad again but, of course, new characters had to be added. I’ll admit, I was a bit overwhelmed. There are a bunch of uni students who have a YouTube channel.

But I digress. This book begins with the murder of a young gamer. It’s called cellular cavitation – the vaporization of liquid within organ cells. Apparently you can send a signal through headphones that cause someone to…die. I-dosing. Wow. Just like…wow. MI5 and MI6 are trying to track down the people in charge of this ring and, I’ll admit, I didn’t always completely understand. Some of it is my lack of knowledge when it comes to the dark web and some of it was just because of the huge cast of characters. And one of them is linked to Gray and good luck figuring that one out. It did eventually become clear but by then I was cursing for having guessed wrong so many times.

Of all the new characters, Brin and Light are the most important. Born on the same day, they are brothers by adoption as Brin’s parents are dead. Light’s parents adopted him and have cared for him. The boys are as close as two people can be. Those bonds are tested in this book as they find themselves fighting against the killer, MI5, and themselves.

There are bombs, there is torture, there is violence, and there is redemption. This book was as much of a mind f-k as all the previous ones and that’s why I loved it. I could continue trying to explain what happened, but that might ruin it. This is one of those books where reading the others is fairly important although valiant souls might try this one without all the history. At around eighteen hours it’s an investment and one worth making.

Dan Calley has narrated the entire series and I’m so pleased he did. His voices for Jan, Gray, and Jack/Martin were spot on. He added another pile with these teenagers and he did it brilliantly. Kudos to him for managing these hours and hours of listening pleasure.

Finally, I want to say that I loved Light. He broke my heart in so many ways, and yet I still believe there’s a spark in him. If there were a spin-off series involving him and his man, I would be first in line to read it.

Psychopaths are sexy

4 Blue Roses
4 Blue Flames

Narrator Dan Calley gave another sensational performance, dragging my sanity, myself, and my reason with every word through this gripping psychological thriller. His delivery voiced another captivating brain-twister. The cadence of his voice and ability to give his characters different English accents are extraordinary. Some of the characters’ voices are extremely thick English, which was hard to understand, but I’m 100% sure it’s even worse in reality. So, I’m not complaining, just thinking listeners who are not used to the dialects may find it difficult to understand. This caused me to rewind and replay many times to ensure I don’t miss a word.

I want to start screaming: I LOVE MARTIN! Best mischief-maker ever!

Secondly, I want to scream: I LOVE GRAY!
The author brilliantly created these men and their psychopathic personalities, yet totally intelligent, so damaged and almost past the point of functioning in a sane world. Gray, had a child and yes, his personality and intellectual capabilities were in his genes. Light’s his boy, who he truly wants to get to know. As they interact with each other, the cunning intelligence of Martin figures out the conundrum in minutes.

I’m tolerating Jan. He says he protects Jack from Gray, but so does Gray’s father. So much meddling and protecting.

Jan, Gray, and Jack, (including Martin) broke my heart. I was so happy to hear the three are back together again,,, and phew, the hotness of it. 🥵

The plot of the series is magnificently woven. Each character and scene fit like puzzle pieces into the Don’t series. Since the first book in the series, each book is a unique story, but in the big scheme of things, fit into each other.

Fractured left me once more hoping this was not the last. I seem to never get enough. There are so many moving pieces, and I’m stuck in one of the gears; Martin!

I definitely recommend this audiobook.

Happy Listening

Wow

This was such an amazing conclusion to the series and I love that there is wriggle room if the author ever wants to write more in this world. (Please, please, pretty please 💜) such an in-depth world that the author was able to create and definitely worth listening to. This is one series that I know I will listen to again and I think it will be one that I will notice new things in. Absolutely mind blowingly good.

Somethings get, some things are fractured

Another triumph for the Pyke/Calley duo. Literally I cannot think of anyone better to breath life into the men I fell in love with what feels like a lifetime ago.

I'd already read the Kindle version (several times) so the story held no surprises for me, or so I thought. Dan Calley's ability to pick up on the smallest nuances of the characters speaks volumes for his skill as an audio narrator, but also makes Jack's amazingly complex world and the men who inhabit it, literally come to life which is no mean feat.

Hooked, that's the best word to use to describe how this audio made me feel. A little bit like the i-dosing which plays a central part of the story-line, the more you listen, the more you want to listen to and this audio definitely delivers. You're pulled so deep into a dark world which you might never be able to escape from once you go down the rabbit hole of Fractured and the Don't universe.

I already knew there were events in this book *NO SPOILERS* that shook me to the core when reading the book, but add in the emotional intensity and feeling Dan Calley adds to these scenes and I literally cried my eyes out and that feeling and reaction to those scenes will stay with me for a long time. You WILL need tissues as the story reaching its climax that’s for sure, Just listening to this book you’ll embark on a rollercoaster of emotions.

In terms of the storyline, my heart ached for Light, as when his path crossed with Gray's the effect can only be likened to throwing a massive concrete breezeblock into a very small pond. The ripples flow right through this book, and undoubtedly far beyond.

The complexity and detail Jack goes into while researching and weaving the world these characters inhabit is evident as is the love for the characters, giving each one their own unique voice which does come across so easily through the audiobook, which could be tricky when there are so many characters in some of the scenes, but it’s always easy to keep track of who is who, you’re made to care for and about them as their lives implode in the aftermath of a chemical attack and their world’s shift, change and evolve.

Of course we get to hear from Gray, Jan and Martin (sighs, I love him), as for Jack Harrison? Well if you want to know if Martin ever relinquishes his vice like hold on the man we meet in the other books, you're gonna have to listen for yourself.

I adore Jack L Pyke, her writing and these men and now we have a kick-ass narrator working with her and showing unique understanding of her work while breathing life into them it's just amazing and they make a formidable duo.

This is one series of books I've read more than five times and that's due to the intricate and engaging stories woven through her words and the fact I've never read anything like this before and probably never will again, so I know without doubt I will be re-listening to the audio in a massive binge listening session.

The journey into the Don't universe is one you won't regret taking.

More please, book seven, eight, nine… *bats eyelashes*

Intense

I’m so unqualified to write a review of this book. There is so much to it and it is so intense that as I even try and write it, I’m a little shaky. I love these characters. They are all so broken in their own way and yet they are so invested and protective of each other. Gray is really put through more than most people could endure. So much comes out about him and it made me love his character that much more. I got to find out about his son Light and his mother and that in itself could have been a separate book. This story contains most of the characters from the previous books and defines them at the current time. The intensity of the previous books gave me book hangover but this one goes beyond. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes psychological thrillers on the dark side. I’m getting ready to read Natural Born Cullers and I’m glad there is more and I’m hoping this author will continue this unique style of story. I also want to give credit to Dan Calley for really bringing these characters to life. There are so many and he has given each a distinctive voice.

Don't - gather the clan

Barely legal at just about 18, Light and his brother Bryn share house with the others that make and promote their Youtube videos. Light's key loves of music, chemistry and running keeps him busy producing soundtracks for the vids, pyrotechnics for raves and uni, and fit in that order. Only there's something he's not telling about his late night runs.

When the group go to an illegal rave where CS gas is released into the crowd, the incident is categorised as a terrorist attack, and Gray is called in on official MI5 business.

Discovering the group is already under observation by MI6, the question of why, as well as the search for the mind behind the attack, causes Grey to look into his past and question his family connections. As danger levels increase, perceiving an external threat his natural instinct is to pull everyone connected behind safe and secure walls. The manor is soon filled with three generations of Gray's family. But, is placing all your precious eggs in one basket a good idea? And what exactly is Gray missing here?

Trust is in short supply. With Martin still protecting Jack, and Jan looking out for both his lovers, it's Gray's behaviour that's causing concern. His tricky relationship with his father isn't helping, nor is the mystery of his mother's death, or the bad history over his son's hidden identity. And if the one thing his family seems good at is walking away, then what hope is there for the youngest generation?

Once again a brilliant story and narration, where the dots are joined across Wales, London, the Midlands, across Gray's family tree, and across MI5 and MI6 re who's been watching who, for how long, and for why. Always, why? The whole series is also about control. From Jack and Gray's BDSM lifestyle, to whether Jack or Martin are in control of 'Jack's body', or whether a violent outside force is controlling you, your body or your actions. The same with knowledge - do you have access to it or are you being denied? Intriguing, thrilling, fast paced and sexy. What more do you want?

just what we've been waiting for.

Lovely ending to the series. Although if she so wish the author could easily continue. I'm sure none of us would mind the story continuing on.
Loads of story left with Jack, Jan, Gray & Light oh plus Andrews. The ending was closure but could easily be carried on.
One piece of advice for fellow listeners, at the start of the book you're easily lost if you can't recall word for word the previous book/books. I had to listen to the whole of the last book before been able to continue on to this one.
Didn't bother me because I've loved them all and will be listening the the whole lot again very soon.
Wonderful narration also, as always by Dan Calley