Happy publication day, Casey Kelleher!! I am so excited to be bringing you my review of Casey’s brand new novel, ‘The Broken’, as part of her blog blitz today. Big thank you to Bookouture for the blog tour invite, as well as the ARC of the book. Here is my review:
They took her dad, but she won’t let them take her.
Nancy Byrne was the apple of her daddy’s eye. He might have been one of the most-feared gangsters in London, yet Jimmy Byrne idolised his little Nancy. But now Jimmy is dead, gunned down in cold blood – and Nancy vows to avenge his death.
She’s only twenty years old, but as the new head of the ruthless Byrne gang, running a lucrative world of drugs, sex and violence, she’s in over her head. Keeping her family together while her beloved grandma falls apart and her brother Daniel goes off the rails forces Nancy to grow up – fast.
But while Nancy takes the men on at their own game, there’s a greater danger hiding on the dark streets. Jimmy’s killer is on her trail – and will stop at nothing to shut her up.
Blood might be thicker than water, but soon, Nancy realises she can’t trust anyone. Not even her own family.
Especially her own family.
What does TWG think?
What I want to know is how an author so innocent looking, can write such jaw-droppingly twisted novels?! Personally, I would hate to get on the wrong side of Casey Kelleher, because I have no doubts in my mind that she would put me in her book, not letting me get away with murder…and then some.
‘The Broken’, thankfully, didn’t break me but I did spend time wondering if my jaw was going to ever pick itself up off the floor, or whether I was going to have to get used to walking around with my gob wide open and my jaw hanging low. Seriously.
I am in awe at Casey Kelleher’s talents. Yes her storylines are gritty and highly chilling, but she writes them in such a way which makes you become addicted to the intense gore and the twisted characters. Many times whilst reading ‘The Broken’, I found myself thinking ‘holy shizzle that’s ugh – WHAT HAPPENS NOW?!?’. I was quite shocked with my own response to this book, that’s for sure. I’m certainly not complaining though – this book is brilliant!!
The entire storyline was full of grit, with the characters each digging themselves much larger holes as the story progresses. I didn’t have a clue who was going to be in the firing line, and because I was so fixated on the overall book, I didn’t want to spend time trying to find out as I was happy to let the story take its own course.
Nancy, despite often being an absolute female dog, was such a vibrant character to read about. I loved how determined she came across, refusing to let the ‘issue’ of her gender stop her from doing her job. She took no prisoners and she let everyone know who was boss. I also think the author wrote Nancy’s personality really well because we were able to see a different side of her to the one she showed at work.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Broken’! It took me a little while to come down off the high from the intense and chilling storyline I had just been reading. Again, I’m not complaining – the entire novel was worth the goosebumps, slight nausea and raised heart rate!
Fast paced, addictive, and most definitely one to read – ‘The Broken’ will test your reactions in a way you never thought possible. Brilliant!
About the author.
Born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, Casey Kelleher grew up as an avid reader and a huge fan of author Martina Cole.
Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up her three children together with her husband, Casey penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that she could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time.
She has since published Rise and Fall, Heartless, Bad Blood, The Taken, The Promise, The Betrayed and her latest release The Broken is due for publication on the 22nd February 2018.
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http://caseykelleher.wordpress.com
Twitter: @caseykelleher
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