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The Broken Room
Hector was the best of the best. A government operative who could bring armies to a halt and nations to their knees. But when his own country betrayed him, he dropped off the grid and picked up the first of many bottles.
Natalie can't remember much of her life before her family brought her to the US, but she remembers the cages. And getting taken away to the Project with dozens of other young children to become part of their nightmarish experiments. That's how she ended up with the ghost of a dead secret agent stuck in her head.
And Hector owes Natalie's ghost a big favor.
Now Hector and Natalie are on the run from an army of killers sent to retrieve her. Because the people behind the Project are willing to risk almost anything to get Natalie back and complete their experiments.
Natalie can't remember much of her life before her family brought her to the US, but she remembers the cages. And getting taken away to the Project with dozens of other young children to become part of their nightmarish experiments. That's how she ended up with the ghost of a dead secret agent stuck in her head.
And Hector owes Natalie's ghost a big favor.
Now Hector and Natalie are on the run from an army of killers sent to retrieve her. Because the people behind the Project are willing to risk almost anything to get Natalie back and complete their experiments.
382 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2022
About the author
Peter Clines
37 books4,208 followers
Peter Clines
is the author of the genre-blending
-14-
and the
Ex-Heroes
series.
He grew up in the Stephen King fallout zone of Maine and--inspired by comic books, Star Wars, and Saturday morning cartoons--started writing at the age of eight with his first epic novel, Lizard Men From The Center of The Earth(unreleased).
He made his first writing sale at age seventeen to a local newspaper, and at the age of nineteen he completed his quadruple-PhD studies in English literature, archaeology, quantum physics, and interpretive dance. In 2008, while surfing Hawaii's Keauwaula Beach, he thought up a viable way to maintain cold fusion that would also solve world hunger, but forgot about it when he ran into actress Yvonne Strahvorski back on the beach and she offered to buy him a drink. He was the inspiration for both the epic poem Beowulf and the motion picture Raiders of the Lost Ark, and is single-handedly responsible for repelling the Martian Invasion of 1938 that occurred in Grovers Mills, New Jersey. Eleven sonnets he wrote to impress a girl in high school were all later found and attributed to Shakespeare.
He is the writer of countless film articles, several short stories, The Junkie Quatrain, the rarely-read The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe, the poorly-named website Writer on Writing , and an as-yet-undiscovered Dead Sea Scroll.
He currently lives and writes somewhere in southern California.
There is compelling evidence that he is, in fact, the Lindbergh baby.
He grew up in the Stephen King fallout zone of Maine and--inspired by comic books, Star Wars, and Saturday morning cartoons--started writing at the age of eight with his first epic novel, Lizard Men From The Center of The Earth(unreleased).
He made his first writing sale at age seventeen to a local newspaper, and at the age of nineteen he completed his quadruple-PhD studies in English literature, archaeology, quantum physics, and interpretive dance. In 2008, while surfing Hawaii's Keauwaula Beach, he thought up a viable way to maintain cold fusion that would also solve world hunger, but forgot about it when he ran into actress Yvonne Strahvorski back on the beach and she offered to buy him a drink. He was the inspiration for both the epic poem Beowulf and the motion picture Raiders of the Lost Ark, and is single-handedly responsible for repelling the Martian Invasion of 1938 that occurred in Grovers Mills, New Jersey. Eleven sonnets he wrote to impress a girl in high school were all later found and attributed to Shakespeare.
He is the writer of countless film articles, several short stories, The Junkie Quatrain, the rarely-read The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe, the poorly-named website Writer on Writing , and an as-yet-undiscovered Dead Sea Scroll.
He currently lives and writes somewhere in southern California.
There is compelling evidence that he is, in fact, the Lindbergh baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
February 11, 2022
I was a fan of Peter Clines’ The Fold a few years ago, so I jumped at the chance to read his latest book, The Broken Room, which comes out in a few weeks. Hector, a down-and-out ex-Special Ops guy, is approached by a 12 year old girl, Natalie, who has escaped from a top secret facility called the Project. The horrible experiments they’ve done on her and other illegal immigrant children there have changed her in ways that aren’t entirely clear to Hector or even Natalie yet.
But the people who run the Project want Natalie back VERY badly, and they’re sending out their forces to get her back. Natalie calls in a favor Hector owed to a guy named Tim that Hector used to work with. Tim has been dead for a few years, but somehow Natalie seems to be communicating with him. It’s all very odd to Hector, but the marker he owed needs to be honored.
So Hector and Natalie go on the run. And things get more exciting—and more strange—from there.
The Broken Room is a little hard to describe; it combines science fiction with a fair amount of horror and gore, a little social commentary on the treatment of illegal immigrants and minorities, lots of action (slowing down only for flashbacks where Natalie’s past is explained), and some weird spookiness. I would’ve liked a little better explanation of some of the weird parts, like the seed pods: an effective bit of gross horror, but the logic of them escaped me a little.
This one will stick with me for a while. It’s a solid SF thriller adventure.
Full review to come! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
But the people who run the Project want Natalie back VERY badly, and they’re sending out their forces to get her back. Natalie calls in a favor Hector owed to a guy named Tim that Hector used to work with. Tim has been dead for a few years, but somehow Natalie seems to be communicating with him. It’s all very odd to Hector, but the marker he owed needs to be honored.
So Hector and Natalie go on the run. And things get more exciting—and more strange—from there.
The Broken Room is a little hard to describe; it combines science fiction with a fair amount of horror and gore, a little social commentary on the treatment of illegal immigrants and minorities, lots of action (slowing down only for flashbacks where Natalie’s past is explained), and some weird spookiness. I would’ve liked a little better explanation of some of the weird parts, like the seed pods: an effective bit of gross horror, but the logic of them escaped me a little.
This one will stick with me for a while. It’s a solid SF thriller adventure.
Full review to come! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 5, 2023
Hector was a highly trained US operative who now mostly drinks. Natalie is a 12 year old immigrant who was forced into a secret scientific experiment called the Project, until she was helped to escape by the ghostly Tim, one of Hector’s former colleagues. Tim has somehow entered Natalie’s consciousness. She hears him in her head, but she has to speak out loud to him. I’m a little hazy on how that worked out. In fact, the whole science experiment part of this book is basically nonsense. However, there was a lot of action as Hector and Natalie went on the run to evade the Project’s agents who were on their trail. Then their objective changed and Hector and Natalie headed back to the Project to rescue the other children who are still being experimented upon.
The book was generally pretty entertaining and fast paced, except that there was a gigantic, extremely boring black hole in the book where Natalie related her story in excruciating detail. There had to have been a better (and briefer) way to convey her backstory. In addition to there being a lot of action, there is also a lot of vomiting and coughing up slime and bugs. If you are squeamish about such things, avoid the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The book was generally pretty entertaining and fast paced, except that there was a gigantic, extremely boring black hole in the book where Natalie related her story in excruciating detail. There had to have been a better (and briefer) way to convey her backstory. In addition to there being a lot of action, there is also a lot of vomiting and coughing up slime and bugs. If you are squeamish about such things, avoid the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
February 25, 2022
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Peter Clines, and Blackstone for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
There is a great deal of excitement and mystery when I am handled a novel by an author with whom I have no history. Will I enjoy it, or will the style not meet all the expectations I develop when reading the dust jacket blurb? Such was the case when someone asked me to read this early copy of Peter Clines’ novel, which sounded right up my alley. Hector is minding his own business, when a young girl enters the bar he frequents and says that she was sent to find him. Baffled by this, Hector begins speaking with Natalie, only to realise that things are much more complicated than they appear at first. Now, Hector and Natalie are on the run from those who have been keeping the pre-teen girl and it does not seem as though they are much pleased with current circumstances. As Hector learns more, he discovers that Natalie could hold the key to something special, though he is not sure it’s being used effectively and wants to protect her from further harm. Clines does well to hook the reader at the outset in this sci-fi type thriller that mixes in just enough grit to be suspenseful.
Hector went by many names during his time working for the US Government. He could make a difference at the drop of a hat, though he was betrayed and this left a sour taste in his mouth. Now, to compensate, he medicates himself through the bottle, turning in one sour feeling for another and his no plans to stop.
When a young Natalie enters the bar he calls home base, Hector is leery. He wonders if this is some sort of set-up and can only hope that the prankster has no plans to do him in. However, as Natalie shares more, Hector realises that this is something even more troubling. Natalie has escaped from a facility, after being used for some odd scientific experiments. It reminds him of things he oversaw in the past and none of these were pleasant. Now, there are men out to get Natalie, which means Hector is a target as well.
As Hector and Natalie flee for safety, the young girl tells more of her story about experimentation and being subjected to ‘the broken room’, a place where radioactivity helps push test subjects to new heights. Hector soon discovers that Natalie has some powers that could prove deadly in the wrong hands and hopes to stay one step ahead of those who would recapture her and subject the pre-teen to more testing. However, it is not as easy as hiding out, as the others have guns and are determined to get their test subject back. Hector will have to use all his training and gumption to protect this girl he barely knows. Clines spins quite a tale here and leaves readers wondering throughout.
As I mentioned above, new authors tend to be a gamble for me, though Peter Clines makes a good case to add him to my list of those I follow. He develops a strong story and uses flashback sequences to tell of a past that is anything but pleasant, without overdoing things. While the plot is somewhat reminiscent of many novels I have read, the ideas are new and intriguing, with characters who bring life to the story throughout. Clines knows how to tell a story and uses that ability to get the reader eager to learn more with every page turn.
The dual protagonist roles surely go to Hector and Natalie throughout this piece. Both have their own stories to share, mired with angst and trouble, though this does not subsume the narrative. The connection between them is obvious from the get-go and any attentive reader will see that they bond as the story advances. While Hector has a lot to prove, he is also keenly aware that he is Natalie’s only hope for protection and must do what he can, which adds a parental level to this already busy story.
Peter Clines sets the scene for an intriguing piece and left me wanting more. Not that he lacked in development, but I remained curious about Natalie and Hector when I finished reading this piece, almost wondering if Clines had something else in the works to shed more light on their lives. His ability to create a strong narrative without skipping a beat of the action is present throughout, leaving the reader to delve deeper to learn even more. While the story is primarily about these two, there are some other characters that flavour the narrative effectively. Plots advance in a well-paced manner, even if some of the ideas are well-used within the genre. The reader is keenly aware of how things will likely progress, but cannot be entirely certain, which makes them all the more exciting. I would read more by Peter Clines, given the chance, if only to see what other ideas he has ruminating in his mind and wishes to put to paper.
Kudos, Mr. Clines, for a great piece of fiction. I will see if I can get my hands on more of your work to see what I think whenever the chance arises.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
There is a great deal of excitement and mystery when I am handled a novel by an author with whom I have no history. Will I enjoy it, or will the style not meet all the expectations I develop when reading the dust jacket blurb? Such was the case when someone asked me to read this early copy of Peter Clines’ novel, which sounded right up my alley. Hector is minding his own business, when a young girl enters the bar he frequents and says that she was sent to find him. Baffled by this, Hector begins speaking with Natalie, only to realise that things are much more complicated than they appear at first. Now, Hector and Natalie are on the run from those who have been keeping the pre-teen girl and it does not seem as though they are much pleased with current circumstances. As Hector learns more, he discovers that Natalie could hold the key to something special, though he is not sure it’s being used effectively and wants to protect her from further harm. Clines does well to hook the reader at the outset in this sci-fi type thriller that mixes in just enough grit to be suspenseful.
Hector went by many names during his time working for the US Government. He could make a difference at the drop of a hat, though he was betrayed and this left a sour taste in his mouth. Now, to compensate, he medicates himself through the bottle, turning in one sour feeling for another and his no plans to stop.
When a young Natalie enters the bar he calls home base, Hector is leery. He wonders if this is some sort of set-up and can only hope that the prankster has no plans to do him in. However, as Natalie shares more, Hector realises that this is something even more troubling. Natalie has escaped from a facility, after being used for some odd scientific experiments. It reminds him of things he oversaw in the past and none of these were pleasant. Now, there are men out to get Natalie, which means Hector is a target as well.
As Hector and Natalie flee for safety, the young girl tells more of her story about experimentation and being subjected to ‘the broken room’, a place where radioactivity helps push test subjects to new heights. Hector soon discovers that Natalie has some powers that could prove deadly in the wrong hands and hopes to stay one step ahead of those who would recapture her and subject the pre-teen to more testing. However, it is not as easy as hiding out, as the others have guns and are determined to get their test subject back. Hector will have to use all his training and gumption to protect this girl he barely knows. Clines spins quite a tale here and leaves readers wondering throughout.
As I mentioned above, new authors tend to be a gamble for me, though Peter Clines makes a good case to add him to my list of those I follow. He develops a strong story and uses flashback sequences to tell of a past that is anything but pleasant, without overdoing things. While the plot is somewhat reminiscent of many novels I have read, the ideas are new and intriguing, with characters who bring life to the story throughout. Clines knows how to tell a story and uses that ability to get the reader eager to learn more with every page turn.
The dual protagonist roles surely go to Hector and Natalie throughout this piece. Both have their own stories to share, mired with angst and trouble, though this does not subsume the narrative. The connection between them is obvious from the get-go and any attentive reader will see that they bond as the story advances. While Hector has a lot to prove, he is also keenly aware that he is Natalie’s only hope for protection and must do what he can, which adds a parental level to this already busy story.
Peter Clines sets the scene for an intriguing piece and left me wanting more. Not that he lacked in development, but I remained curious about Natalie and Hector when I finished reading this piece, almost wondering if Clines had something else in the works to shed more light on their lives. His ability to create a strong narrative without skipping a beat of the action is present throughout, leaving the reader to delve deeper to learn even more. While the story is primarily about these two, there are some other characters that flavour the narrative effectively. Plots advance in a well-paced manner, even if some of the ideas are well-used within the genre. The reader is keenly aware of how things will likely progress, but cannot be entirely certain, which makes them all the more exciting. I would read more by Peter Clines, given the chance, if only to see what other ideas he has ruminating in his mind and wishes to put to paper.
Kudos, Mr. Clines, for a great piece of fiction. I will see if I can get my hands on more of your work to see what I think whenever the chance arises.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 1, 2022
Peter Clines is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
RTC
RTC
January 13, 2022
Two immediate thoughts: 1. Since the novel 14, I will read anything by Peter Clines produces. 2. Generally I am not a big fan of the Thriller genre nor of action films (except for Early Steven Segal). Mr. Clines' newest, THE BROKEN ROOM, is a massively riveting cross-genre blockbuster....and I hope this one is adapted for film, because it would fill theaters to the brim.
Horror Noir plus Lovecraft + Thriller + Mad Science + Seriously Bad Guys + Antiheroes Saving the Day! A "retired" black ops agent unexpectedly enlisted to rescue and protect a "special " young child, both of them persons of color, from The Project, where Mad Science runs amok in experimentation on children and crossing the Cosmic Void; and beware what's crossing the void into our reality via "The Broken Room."
Horror Noir plus Lovecraft + Thriller + Mad Science + Seriously Bad Guys + Antiheroes Saving the Day! A "retired" black ops agent unexpectedly enlisted to rescue and protect a "special " young child, both of them persons of color, from The Project, where Mad Science runs amok in experimentation on children and crossing the Cosmic Void; and beware what's crossing the void into our reality via "The Broken Room."
February 26, 2022
As I was reading The Broken Room, I saw somewhere an elevator pitch describing this book as Stranger Things meets Jack Reacher, and it's certainly an apt comparison. I'd add, too, that it has a vintage, pre-dog worshipping Dean Koontz feel to it, a dash of Blake Crouch, and, in some ways, just a dab of Brian Keene's The Rising for good measure.
Hector is a familiar archetype - a former soldier who's lost those closest to him to tragedy and has spent the last two years slowly drinking himself to oblivion. He's sucking down booze when a girl, Natalie, finds him in a bar and tells him he's going to help her. She reminds him that he owes his friend Tim big-time, but Tim is dead and she's calling in that marker because his ghost told her to. She's also an escaped lab rat from a shady organization known only as The Project, and hot on her heels are a pair of suits with phony badges looking to bring her back.
Peter Clines doesn't waste any time throwing us into the thick of it all, and readers would do well to buckle up prior to cracking this one open, and maybe even cracking open a cold one for added enjoyment! This fast-paced narrative is routinely peppered with frenetic action scenes, and The Broken Room is basically one long, extended chase scene with Hector and Natalie on the run and pursued by mercenaries, hitmen, and cops. The most potent danger just might be Natalie herself, though, especially once the sci-fi horror elements rear their gross, ugly heads and the nature of The Project, and what they've done to her, is slowly and carefully revealed.
While The Broken Room is a crackling cross-genre thriller, what I found even more intriguing was the subtext surrounding these characters and their circumstances. Following the election of Donald Trump, the US-Mexico border crisis, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hope that the children will save us has become a rather common refrain in response to the actions and behaviors of the stupid and ignorant who gave rise to the Trump presidency, antivaxxers, and mask scofflaws. The roots of The Broken Room are inescapably twisted around Trump's cruel border policies, and the shadow cast by that repugnant creature looms large over this narrative like the dark stain it is, with the demand that migrant children be torn apart from their families, and the repugnant, disgusting treatment the imprisoned were subjected to.
Natalie is one such hostage, taken from her family and lost within the system, given to The Project to be tortured and experimented upon, along with a number of other migrant children. Her only hope for survival is Hector, a hardened Mexican-American, allowing Clines to spare us from the tired white savior trope that's unfortunately still prevalent in so many other works. Along the way, we're also given an exploration of found family as Hector and Natalie's bond deepens and they're forced to fight their way through corrupt cops, a gas station Karen, and Blackwater-esque contract killers. Ahhh, good, old America! All in all, it's pretty compelling stuff and gives a welcome bit of depth to what would otherwise be little more than a standard run-and-gun story in less capable hands.
As for the titular broken room? It's creepy, man. Creepy AF.
Hector is a familiar archetype - a former soldier who's lost those closest to him to tragedy and has spent the last two years slowly drinking himself to oblivion. He's sucking down booze when a girl, Natalie, finds him in a bar and tells him he's going to help her. She reminds him that he owes his friend Tim big-time, but Tim is dead and she's calling in that marker because his ghost told her to. She's also an escaped lab rat from a shady organization known only as The Project, and hot on her heels are a pair of suits with phony badges looking to bring her back.
Peter Clines doesn't waste any time throwing us into the thick of it all, and readers would do well to buckle up prior to cracking this one open, and maybe even cracking open a cold one for added enjoyment! This fast-paced narrative is routinely peppered with frenetic action scenes, and The Broken Room is basically one long, extended chase scene with Hector and Natalie on the run and pursued by mercenaries, hitmen, and cops. The most potent danger just might be Natalie herself, though, especially once the sci-fi horror elements rear their gross, ugly heads and the nature of The Project, and what they've done to her, is slowly and carefully revealed.
While The Broken Room is a crackling cross-genre thriller, what I found even more intriguing was the subtext surrounding these characters and their circumstances. Following the election of Donald Trump, the US-Mexico border crisis, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hope that the children will save us has become a rather common refrain in response to the actions and behaviors of the stupid and ignorant who gave rise to the Trump presidency, antivaxxers, and mask scofflaws. The roots of The Broken Room are inescapably twisted around Trump's cruel border policies, and the shadow cast by that repugnant creature looms large over this narrative like the dark stain it is, with the demand that migrant children be torn apart from their families, and the repugnant, disgusting treatment the imprisoned were subjected to.
Natalie is one such hostage, taken from her family and lost within the system, given to The Project to be tortured and experimented upon, along with a number of other migrant children. Her only hope for survival is Hector, a hardened Mexican-American, allowing Clines to spare us from the tired white savior trope that's unfortunately still prevalent in so many other works. Along the way, we're also given an exploration of found family as Hector and Natalie's bond deepens and they're forced to fight their way through corrupt cops, a gas station Karen, and Blackwater-esque contract killers. Ahhh, good, old America! All in all, it's pretty compelling stuff and gives a welcome bit of depth to what would otherwise be little more than a standard run-and-gun story in less capable hands.
As for the titular broken room? It's creepy, man. Creepy AF.
May 19, 2022
Peter Clines is one of my "go to" authors when I'm in the mood for a scifi/mystery/thriller with touches of cosmic horror and his books became insta-buys after reading 14 for the first time. I am happy to say that The Broken Room continues in the Clines' mold that I enjoy so much, somehow managing to be disturbing, exciting and emotionally moving at the same time. It's also a heck of a lot of fun.
Hector is a retired government agent. His plans to drink the rest of his life away are interrupted when 12-year-old Natalie approaches him in a restaurant, claiming to have escaped from a facility known as the Project where an experiment being performed on children left her with the ghost of a dead agent in her head. That ghost insists that Hector owes it a favor and both Natalie and the ghost need Hector's help to uncover the nature of the experiments to determine what's happened to them both.
The story alternates between the present day happenings and Natalie relating her story to Hector on how she ended up at the Project and what happened there. Natalie's story is heart breaking. Clines was inspired by real life immigrants and how they are sometimes treated at the border. At first Natalie's past felt a little info-dumpy. Then I found myself caught up in Natalie's story just as much events happening in the present. She's been through a lot more than any child should have to go experience.
Hector and Natalie make a great pair. Their story is fast paced and I found it was one that I didn't want to put down. I even learned a couple practical tips should I ever find myself on the run and needing to blend in. Fair warning, the horror elements end up in the gross category. The story also gave me Stranger Things vibes at many points.
Even though the author states this is NOT a Threshold novel, there are plenty of nods to Threshold that I enjoyed immensely.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Timothy Andres Pabon. I admit it felt a little odd to be listening to a Threshold-like book not be narrated by Ray Porter. Pabon does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, especially Natalie. The flatness Pabon gave her voice really emphasized the PTSD of a traumatized child.
-----
Initial thoughts: That was a fun scifi thriller. I enjoyed the nods to Threshold a lot. It also had some Stranger Things vibes. I bet this would be great on the big screen. I really loved the author's note at the end for the inspiration for the story. I think I learned a couple tips that can apply to real life situations too!
It was a little odd to be listening to a Clines thriller and it not be narrated by Ray Porter. Timothy Andres Pabon did a fantastic narration job.
Hector is a retired government agent. His plans to drink the rest of his life away are interrupted when 12-year-old Natalie approaches him in a restaurant, claiming to have escaped from a facility known as the Project where an experiment being performed on children left her with the ghost of a dead agent in her head. That ghost insists that Hector owes it a favor and both Natalie and the ghost need Hector's help to uncover the nature of the experiments to determine what's happened to them both.
The story alternates between the present day happenings and Natalie relating her story to Hector on how she ended up at the Project and what happened there. Natalie's story is heart breaking. Clines was inspired by real life immigrants and how they are sometimes treated at the border. At first Natalie's past felt a little info-dumpy. Then I found myself caught up in Natalie's story just as much events happening in the present. She's been through a lot more than any child should have to go experience.
Hector and Natalie make a great pair. Their story is fast paced and I found it was one that I didn't want to put down. I even learned a couple practical tips should I ever find myself on the run and needing to blend in. Fair warning, the horror elements end up in the gross category. The story also gave me Stranger Things vibes at many points.
Even though the author states this is NOT a Threshold novel, there are plenty of nods to Threshold that I enjoyed immensely.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Timothy Andres Pabon. I admit it felt a little odd to be listening to a Threshold-like book not be narrated by Ray Porter. Pabon does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, especially Natalie. The flatness Pabon gave her voice really emphasized the PTSD of a traumatized child.
-----
Initial thoughts: That was a fun scifi thriller. I enjoyed the nods to Threshold a lot. It also had some Stranger Things vibes. I bet this would be great on the big screen. I really loved the author's note at the end for the inspiration for the story. I think I learned a couple tips that can apply to real life situations too!
It was a little odd to be listening to a Clines thriller and it not be narrated by Ray Porter. Timothy Andres Pabon did a fantastic narration job.
March 27, 2024
It’s been a LONG time since I started and finished a book in one day! It’s been a LONG time since a book had me so invested in it that I had to finish it in one day. The Broken Room was that book for me!
Actually now that I think about it, Clines’ 14 was probably another one day book. So with that said, I’m obviously a big fan of Peter Clines!
Word of warning, you may not want to be eating while reading this book. Especially in the last half of the book. As always, Clines is once again delightfully creepy as heck.
In The Broken Room, the story starts off with Hector minding his own business getting blissfully drunk, again, when a little girl approaches with a message that he can’t ignore.
Hector and Natalie then proceed to have mind boggling adventures and death defying escapes as Hector does everything in his power to protect this precious kid.
I seriously can’t wait to see what Clines does next! I’m all in!
*Thanks so much to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy!*
Actually now that I think about it, Clines’ 14 was probably another one day book. So with that said, I’m obviously a big fan of Peter Clines!
Word of warning, you may not want to be eating while reading this book. Especially in the last half of the book. As always, Clines is once again delightfully creepy as heck.
In The Broken Room, the story starts off with Hector minding his own business getting blissfully drunk, again, when a little girl approaches with a message that he can’t ignore.
Hector and Natalie then proceed to have mind boggling adventures and death defying escapes as Hector does everything in his power to protect this precious kid.
I seriously can’t wait to see what Clines does next! I’m all in!
*Thanks so much to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy!*
April 26, 2022
Entertaining but one of Cline’s weaker entries . The “physic child escapes a government institution” has been done to death and this does not really add much to the trope.
March 9, 2022
03/09/2022 Notes: BR Chats
I haven't re-listened to it. The rating will stay at 4 stars. However, I'm having a great time with the buddy read discussions and added the book to the Favorite list. =)
03/07/2022 Notes: 1st Audiobook Run
Right now, the story is sitting between 4 to 4.5 stars for me. It has a lot going on within the pages, and I may be listening to it again sooner than later.
Two words for the Broken Room:
- Disturbing
- Charming
Not necessarily words that go together, right? =D
In the audiobook format, there was a part that came across as a bit rough. It did not detract from the story elements that were being shared at that point.
I'd have to say that this would be the first book by Clines that I would toss into the Thriller genre. It was great! Lots of signature Clines moments with the characters, plot flow and his blend of bizarre.
Looking forward to seeing what my friends think about the story, and getting different perspectives. It should be a fun book discussion.
I haven't re-listened to it. The rating will stay at 4 stars. However, I'm having a great time with the buddy read discussions and added the book to the Favorite list. =)
03/07/2022 Notes: 1st Audiobook Run
Right now, the story is sitting between 4 to 4.5 stars for me. It has a lot going on within the pages, and I may be listening to it again sooner than later.
Two words for the Broken Room:
- Disturbing
- Charming
Not necessarily words that go together, right? =D
In the audiobook format, there was a part that came across as a bit rough. It did not detract from the story elements that were being shared at that point.
I'd have to say that this would be the first book by Clines that I would toss into the Thriller genre. It was great! Lots of signature Clines moments with the characters, plot flow and his blend of bizarre.
Looking forward to seeing what my friends think about the story, and getting different perspectives. It should be a fun book discussion.
August 13, 2023
Suspenseful and Thrilling!
History 4/5
Narration 5/5
I really liked The Broken Room by Peter Clines!
For me, it was like watching an action horror movie. There was a lot of action and suspense. I found the plot interesting.
Hector, a former special agent, cannot refuse Natalie's request when she comes to see him unexpectedly in a bar. He can't tell her to leave him alone, as he owes a debt to the ghost attached to Natalie. So Hector has decided to protect her from any mercenaries who want to take her back to the secret facility, she escaped from. But, Natalie needs Hector’s abilities for more than protection. She needs help to save the orphans who are being treated like lab rats. This story is a race against time and survival, for the two main characters. Hector and Natalie must battle visible and invisible opponents to succeed.
If you're looking for a story full of action, torture, gruesome supernatural elements, and mystery, I recommend this one.
History 4/5
Narration 5/5
I really liked The Broken Room by Peter Clines!
For me, it was like watching an action horror movie. There was a lot of action and suspense. I found the plot interesting.
Hector, a former special agent, cannot refuse Natalie's request when she comes to see him unexpectedly in a bar. He can't tell her to leave him alone, as he owes a debt to the ghost attached to Natalie. So Hector has decided to protect her from any mercenaries who want to take her back to the secret facility, she escaped from. But, Natalie needs Hector’s abilities for more than protection. She needs help to save the orphans who are being treated like lab rats. This story is a race against time and survival, for the two main characters. Hector and Natalie must battle visible and invisible opponents to succeed.
If you're looking for a story full of action, torture, gruesome supernatural elements, and mystery, I recommend this one.
March 12, 2022
I am a Peter Clines fan. When I hear that he's coming out with a new book, I purchase it, sight unseen.
So, I was super excited when I found out that he was coming out with the broken room on March 1st; couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
Started out great; really created a great mystery. And it all went south from there.
The book felt like it was written over a weekend and had yet to complete the second and third draft. But, there was no second or third draft. Only unfinished first draft. So, there's that.
Additionally,. They were scenes that were completely pointless and unnecessary especially if they were intended to help move the story along. An example would be the scene at the gas station. Awful! That alone led me to believe it was a 200-page book that the author was determined to make into a 300-page book.
I listened to this book and let's just say that the narration was terrible. The narrator underacted the most dramatic points of the book and completely destroyed any sense of suspense and drama.
Needless to say I was extremely disappointed in this book.
So, I was super excited when I found out that he was coming out with the broken room on March 1st; couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
Started out great; really created a great mystery. And it all went south from there.
The book felt like it was written over a weekend and had yet to complete the second and third draft. But, there was no second or third draft. Only unfinished first draft. So, there's that.
Additionally,. They were scenes that were completely pointless and unnecessary especially if they were intended to help move the story along. An example would be the scene at the gas station. Awful! That alone led me to believe it was a 200-page book that the author was determined to make into a 300-page book.
I listened to this book and let's just say that the narration was terrible. The narrator underacted the most dramatic points of the book and completely destroyed any sense of suspense and drama.
Needless to say I was extremely disappointed in this book.
March 11, 2022
The Broken Room started well and ended well. I loved the action, thrill, and the anticipation of what happens next.
March 28, 2022
3.5 Admittedly, Clines tends to rub me the wrong way. But this one pulls it off and shows an impressive sense of genre craft. What begins as a mildly supernatural spy thriller, evolves into an exciting sci-fi action movie. The first half was more compelling to me as it is a very well-told tale of secret agent intrigue. But once the larger-than-life hitmen start showing up, it becomes a full-blown comic book adventure. Also, Hector is a cool lead. The book has openly Latino protagonists and touches on some serious real-world issues of America’s dark war against immigration. It’s a little over-the-top by the end, but lots of action, scenes of spycraft, and colorful characters elevate the material.
June 4, 2023
Dnf at a car switch over on a rooftop carpark somewhere. I've forgotten where. I listened to this.
It started out really well and went along at a good clip. The action was just as I like it, enough to let you know that Hector clearly knew what he was about without going into soooo much detail it stops being fun and gets in the way of the story.
And then we got Natalie's story. In. Great. Detail.
I didn't know it was possible to be horrified (by what happened to Natalie, from crossing into America all the way to the Project and the others) and bored almost to tears. I was definitely so fed up I started yelling at the audio 'Yes! I get it now, bloody get on with it, I don't care how many times you ate or went into the broken room'.
I was THRILLED when the SUV with the baddies in it tried to run them off the road, it cut Natalie's blow by blow, I'm sorry I mean 'precise' account short. Bliss!
From her tedious accounts ' I cleaned my teeth, I cleaned each tooth 42 times'. She didn't actually say she'd done that, I made that bit up, but she might as well have done it. Everything else was about as riveting as tooth cleaning.
Absolutely tedious.
I liked that she had Tim as the voice she spoke to in her head. I believe this is the same Tim from 14 (which was joyously excellent by the way). And that's all I can find to like about her.
I keep hoping Peter Clines is going to write something along the lines of 14 and The Fold. I don't mind if it's not Threshold Universe. I just loved the grown-up Scooby-Doo/horrible but not tooo awful horror.
Clearly this is not the droid I am looking for.
I'll try his next book when/if it comes along.
It started out really well and went along at a good clip. The action was just as I like it, enough to let you know that Hector clearly knew what he was about without going into soooo much detail it stops being fun and gets in the way of the story.
And then we got Natalie's story. In. Great. Detail.
I didn't know it was possible to be horrified (by what happened to Natalie, from crossing into America all the way to the Project and the others) and bored almost to tears. I was definitely so fed up I started yelling at the audio 'Yes! I get it now, bloody get on with it, I don't care how many times you ate or went into the broken room'.
I was THRILLED when the SUV with the baddies in it tried to run them off the road, it cut Natalie's blow by blow, I'm sorry I mean 'precise' account short. Bliss!
From her tedious accounts ' I cleaned my teeth, I cleaned each tooth 42 times'. She didn't actually say she'd done that, I made that bit up, but she might as well have done it. Everything else was about as riveting as tooth cleaning.
Absolutely tedious.
I liked that she had Tim as the voice she spoke to in her head. I believe this is the same Tim from 14 (which was joyously excellent by the way). And that's all I can find to like about her.
I keep hoping Peter Clines is going to write something along the lines of 14 and The Fold. I don't mind if it's not Threshold Universe. I just loved the grown-up Scooby-Doo/horrible but not tooo awful horror.
Clearly this is not the droid I am looking for.
I'll try his next book when/if it comes along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
Stranger Things + Logan + Jason Bourne
Mostly fun, and I love a Wolverine-type lead character, but I had a problem with the pacing. The sections from Natalie's POV were way too long, as were some of the action scenes. Also, there was an issue with convenience that I assume was meant to add to the action and tension, but how many times can someone get caught and escape before it becomes boring and frustrating?
Mostly fun, and I love a Wolverine-type lead character, but I had a problem with the pacing. The sections from Natalie's POV were way too long, as were some of the action scenes. Also, there was an issue with convenience that I assume was meant to add to the action and tension, but how many times can someone get caught and escape before it becomes boring and frustrating?
April 18, 2022
Read Lukasz & my full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This was an exciting new direction for Peter Clines. After the release of Terminus in 2020 which is set in his Threshold series. The Broken Room starts out immediately on a banger and the pace doesn't stop all the way till its climax. For fans looking to get a feel for Clines' work, this would be an excellent place to begin.
The story's start is very much akin to a action thriller, where one of our protagonists (Natalie Gamma Sixteen) meets the other protagonist (Hector Ramirez) in a bar and things just escalate wildly from there. Now if this set up sounds hokey or you are wondering if this is like an action movie from the 80-90s, then you will be wrong and very much so.
I trust Peter Clines to write entertaining stories while also giving richly-etched characters. He has amply proven this with his Ex-Heroes books and Threshold standalones. With The Broken Room, he stretches his mental muscles in a different direction than his past books. This action thriller has cosmic horror & SF sides mixed in superbly and it is unpredictable all the way till the end.
Firstly kudos to the author for making this insane idea work and work really well. The characterization is of the brilliant kind as Peter brilliantly gives us Hector and Natalie. Our protagonists who are both traumatized and yet resilient. Hector is special ops warrior who has resigned to booze-filled future. Natalie is searching for Hector to reclaim a past debt (but one that's not hers). Both of these characters are etched wonderfully with pathos and strength. Hector is an incredible warrior (think both Logan & Jason Bourne) and the way his analytical mind works is a sight to behold. Natalie is a survivor and trying her best to cope with how the Broken Room has made her.
The story's pace and action sequences are a fantastic highlight as the story never slacks and we get introduced to some wildly dangerous characters including one really dangerous assassin (think someone who always covers their eyes & who we have seen in some short stories and other books of Peter Clines). All in all this was a story that I had no complaints about and absolutely enjoyed it all the way till its terrific climax.
Peter Clines also slips in some terrific commentary about child detention centers on the border, racism and class issues and more. But none of it appears to be the elitist kind and its very applicably mentioned as both the protagonists are brown skinned Latinos (one a US citizen & the other an El Salvadorian immigrant). I don't think readers should find fault at these observations and if someone does, well they would reveal what they really think.
This story reads richly like a standalone and the way the book ends, I really hope we get to see some of the surviving characters in another story. As for me, I can't wait to see what new wild story that Peter imagines up next.
CONCLUSION: The Broken Room is an incredible action thriller that has some cosmic horror & SF sides, all of it making for an incredibly fun read. Think Logan meets Jason Bourne and you should have an idea about what to expect with the action, SF thrills and more...
June 17, 2022
This was quite a wild ride! It grabbed me from the first page and never let go. It's a fast paced, tense, exciting read. But it does have some gruesome parts as well. Wraps up nicely though.
May 10, 2022
3.5 stars - a fast-paced Blake Crouch-esque thriller that starts as a noir damsel in distress tale, turning into a spy novel, action thriller, and sci-fi Lovecraftian horror. Still wish Clines would write more Ex-Heroes books though …
August 25, 2022
I have no idea what story I just fell into, I picked it because I needed something different, and I got it ten-thousand-fold. It’s a cross between a suspense thriller, gothic horror, and science fiction story. Our players are Hector, an ex-military contractor gone the way of the bottle and a young girl, Natalie, escaping from somewhere that has kept her captive. Even though I was completely and absolutely alarmed by the number of INSECTS that the author wrote into the story, I had to stick with it to see what would happen. I am writing this down because I want to give fair warning about THE INSECTS!! If I had known, I would not have gone in. And now I can’t unhear the story. Great writing, fast story, ends on an okay note.
September 18, 2022
I’ve never read this author before. Just this Wednesday, I saw this book on the new fiction shelf in my library. Inclined to read the first few pages of any book I don’t know about and pick up, I was immediately captured by the pace of those pages and completed the entire first chapter standing by the shelves.That chapter didn’t end like I assumed it would at all. That’s a good thing, a very good thing. Horror and sci-fi are usually not on my reading list. Thrillers most definitely are. This one is absolutely a thriller…one that becomes more (IMHO) sci-fi as you get deeper into it. By that time I was totally hooked on Hector, Natalie, their relationship and Natalie’s back story. A good book is one you think about when you’re busy doing other things and you can’t wait to get back to it. This was one of those…
April 29, 2022
Saw some describe this book as "stranger things meet...". Surprisingly enough not many described it as "Firestarter meets..." (book where a small child and her dad are chased by "The Shop", a secret lab experimenting on people, for the government). Stephen king even revisited the idea in "the Institute" (which has a cover that looks a lot like the broken room's). I still remember when stranger things came up and was said to be "Firestarter meets the goonies".
I mean, I get it. Nazi experiments, CIA experiments on people, MK-ULTRA, project Artichoke, Project chatter, etc. Gave us a lot of fiction. Just like the "Red Scare" and the cold war gave birth to a whole lot of books and fiction about aliens, parasites and body snatchers coming to take over (they are among us!).
Fiction about secret projects experimenting on people, have been coming up constantly for a long long time. Those, along with all the "secret agent" type fiction, pretty much made a shared fictional world. A common language where you can settle in pretty easily, and wont really need much explaining done at all... which usually makes me need some sort of uniqueness; something that's special enough to stand out from all the other plethora of similar books... And this one just doesn't. It's fun, but that's it. Characters are a little flat, story a bit simple and even though the ending has a Clines kinda twist, I felt it just wasn't enough.
Don't get me wrong, this was fun ride and had some good moments. Just doesn't stand out in the crowded MK-ULTRAish fiction bundle.
I mean, I get it. Nazi experiments, CIA experiments on people, MK-ULTRA, project Artichoke, Project chatter, etc. Gave us a lot of fiction. Just like the "Red Scare" and the cold war gave birth to a whole lot of books and fiction about aliens, parasites and body snatchers coming to take over (they are among us!).
Fiction about secret projects experimenting on people, have been coming up constantly for a long long time. Those, along with all the "secret agent" type fiction, pretty much made a shared fictional world. A common language where you can settle in pretty easily, and wont really need much explaining done at all... which usually makes me need some sort of uniqueness; something that's special enough to stand out from all the other plethora of similar books... And this one just doesn't. It's fun, but that's it. Characters are a little flat, story a bit simple and even though the ending has a Clines kinda twist, I felt it just wasn't enough.
Don't get me wrong, this was fun ride and had some good moments. Just doesn't stand out in the crowded MK-ULTRAish fiction bundle.
March 4, 2022
This was balls to the walls from the start. I love Peter Clines. I couldn’t put it down. I have loved all the Fold books. I actually didn’t think this was one of them; turns out it seems like it is. It was a bit gory . It was twisty and surprising. All of the good.
April 29, 2022
Peter Clines has made a name for himself by twisting a sci-fi reality with lovecraftian spookiness through his Threshold series. Experiments gone wrong, mysterious apartment buildings, and catastrophic consequences. Though while the cover may say ‘domestic thriller’ this book is much more than that. Get ready for a fast-paced, high-stakes, grotesque sicknesses, and the threat of a catastrophe of biblical proportions.
The origins of the story start with ‘Little girl talks to a ghost’ Natalie, which evolves into a ‘little girl taken into a underground government laboratory and experimented on’ which immediately brings in the Stranger Things vibes. The second protagonist, Hector, is a former military black-ops role who can fight and shoot his way out of just about anything. Together they must right the wrongs of a government branch they know little about.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story and the little bits of reveal we get with the characters throughout. I felt engaged and eager to see what obstacles the characters will be up against and what craziness will ensue when they start the fighting. The story alternates between Natalie’s and Hectors POV as their paths unite initially and then eventually split off again. We see the world through Hector’s keen military-trained eye as well as through Natalie’s course as she’s taken back by the group she’s escaped from, all the while hearing the voice of a dead soldier in her head that helps her along he way. We follow Natalie’s ‘evolution’ and the story progresses, and I was continuously wondering; has these experiments turned her into something more sinister? IS SHE A KRAKEN? There were points that made my stomach turn a bit (which is always a plus) and the gratification of some of the fight scenes were awesome as well.
This certainly wasn’t the typical fare of the ‘Threshold’ series, but as the story progresses and the stakes get higher, I felt like this was an equal contender to The Fold and Paradox Bound, and I’m happy to see this new black-ops action-thriller-with-unhuman-creatures direction that Clines has taken with The Broken Room.
Packed with action, mysteries, gross horror, ‘evil scientists’, weaponized children, and black-ops assassins, The Broken Room was definitely an enjoyable fast read for those who want some fresh Stranger Things-esque action-scifi-horror.
The origins of the story start with ‘Little girl talks to a ghost’ Natalie, which evolves into a ‘little girl taken into a underground government laboratory and experimented on’ which immediately brings in the Stranger Things vibes. The second protagonist, Hector, is a former military black-ops role who can fight and shoot his way out of just about anything. Together they must right the wrongs of a government branch they know little about.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story and the little bits of reveal we get with the characters throughout. I felt engaged and eager to see what obstacles the characters will be up against and what craziness will ensue when they start the fighting. The story alternates between Natalie’s and Hectors POV as their paths unite initially and then eventually split off again. We see the world through Hector’s keen military-trained eye as well as through Natalie’s course as she’s taken back by the group she’s escaped from, all the while hearing the voice of a dead soldier in her head that helps her along he way. We follow Natalie’s ‘evolution’ and the story progresses, and I was continuously wondering; has these experiments turned her into something more sinister? IS SHE A KRAKEN? There were points that made my stomach turn a bit (which is always a plus) and the gratification of some of the fight scenes were awesome as well.
This certainly wasn’t the typical fare of the ‘Threshold’ series, but as the story progresses and the stakes get higher, I felt like this was an equal contender to The Fold and Paradox Bound, and I’m happy to see this new black-ops action-thriller-with-unhuman-creatures direction that Clines has taken with The Broken Room.
Packed with action, mysteries, gross horror, ‘evil scientists’, weaponized children, and black-ops assassins, The Broken Room was definitely an enjoyable fast read for those who want some fresh Stranger Things-esque action-scifi-horror.
May 29, 2022
3.5 A Real solid thriller undone a bit by its infusion of the supernatural. A retired special ops guy gets lured back into the game by an escaped young girl from a deep seated mysterious project. A large part of the story sees Hector trying to keep Nathalie safe from some nasty characters charged with bringing her back and promising the young girl to save her friends left behind. These sections are real good. What Clines does especially well here is the detail he puts into how Hector goes about trying to evade law enforcement and the bad guys. I’ve read such books before but none have provided as much detail. A few examples: (1) while walking down a street, Hector insists she walk ahead of him telling her to occasionally skip along and do twirls so as to look like a regular twelve year old out on a leisurely stroll with her dad (2) asking the clerk at a convenience store what non chain hotel would be good to stay at and then reserving a hotel room at said chain hotel room to throw off the scent should the clerk ever gets questioned as to whether he ever came across a Mexican man and young girl. Clines adds many more of these small details which gives the story so much more credibility.
The group of nasties, the Doll and Quilt (who have a past with Hector) are a bunch of fun as well. Their scenes are straight out of a John Wick movie.
So why only 3.5 stars then? Well, I felt the supernatural a tad over the top and didn’t flow well with the rest of the story. Negate these parts and Broken Room would have equated to one of the best thrillers read in some time.
The group of nasties, the Doll and Quilt (who have a past with Hector) are a bunch of fun as well. Their scenes are straight out of a John Wick movie.
So why only 3.5 stars then? Well, I felt the supernatural a tad over the top and didn’t flow well with the rest of the story. Negate these parts and Broken Room would have equated to one of the best thrillers read in some time.
February 28, 2022
Thank you Blackstone & NetGalley for gifting me an ecopy of this book.
——
I know the author is very popular but this is my first book of his and I definitely recommend it to action thriller fans!
The broken room is an ultra-secret government facility that conducts extreme inhuman experiments on illegal immigrant children. One of the victims, 12-year old Natalie, escapes the facility with the help of a “voice” who directs her to meet Hector, a former Special Ops agent, who still 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 - 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 - 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 he is about to confront (I couldn’t help using Liam Neeson’s 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 line here which is apt for this book😂).
Hector is obviously reluctant at first but quickly realizes that dangerous men are after Natalie if he doesn’t accept to help her. Because Natalie has been conditioned for years, she has a very specific way of explaining things and initially, Hector is not sure how exactly he’s supposed to help her. However Hector has to act fast because very powerful men are constantly chasing Hector and Natalie, and will not stop till they get her back, and kill Hector in the process. If you’re looking for an unputdownable, cat-and-mouse chase, this book is it. Hector is every woman’s dream as the virtuous good guy with guns, and his incredible care towards Natalie was a treat to read.
The book is a mixture of action thriller, sci-fi and supernatural elements. It does come with a huge trigger of child abuse and gore.
——
I know the author is very popular but this is my first book of his and I definitely recommend it to action thriller fans!
The broken room is an ultra-secret government facility that conducts extreme inhuman experiments on illegal immigrant children. One of the victims, 12-year old Natalie, escapes the facility with the help of a “voice” who directs her to meet Hector, a former Special Ops agent, who still 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 - 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 - 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 he is about to confront (I couldn’t help using Liam Neeson’s 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 line here which is apt for this book😂).
Hector is obviously reluctant at first but quickly realizes that dangerous men are after Natalie if he doesn’t accept to help her. Because Natalie has been conditioned for years, she has a very specific way of explaining things and initially, Hector is not sure how exactly he’s supposed to help her. However Hector has to act fast because very powerful men are constantly chasing Hector and Natalie, and will not stop till they get her back, and kill Hector in the process. If you’re looking for an unputdownable, cat-and-mouse chase, this book is it. Hector is every woman’s dream as the virtuous good guy with guns, and his incredible care towards Natalie was a treat to read.
The book is a mixture of action thriller, sci-fi and supernatural elements. It does come with a huge trigger of child abuse and gore.
April 3, 2022
This book hit me like a train and sort of blew my socks off. A total dark horse for me as I've never read or listened to anything by Peter Clines before. After this book though, I'm very sure I will check out more titles by him.
Even if I at times had the thought: "Haven't I already seen this movie?" I really, really liked this book. The way it was written played out like a movie before my inner eyes and I enjoyed it a lot.
The premiss reminded me of the movie Leon in some ways. The young girl. The weathered badass hitman.
But then the sci-fi and horror elements swept in from the sideline and turned everything into something completely else. Something exciting and pretty neat.
Gritty, dark, yet also very endearing. I very much recommend this book for a action-filled adventure about the road to freedom for a little girl and redemption for a weathered military man.
Even if I at times had the thought: "Haven't I already seen this movie?" I really, really liked this book. The way it was written played out like a movie before my inner eyes and I enjoyed it a lot.
The premiss reminded me of the movie Leon in some ways. The young girl. The weathered badass hitman.
But then the sci-fi and horror elements swept in from the sideline and turned everything into something completely else. Something exciting and pretty neat.
Gritty, dark, yet also very endearing. I very much recommend this book for a action-filled adventure about the road to freedom for a little girl and redemption for a weathered military man.
August 25, 2022
This has like a stranger things type vibe to it but it’s just weird and the ending is just bleh to me. Not a bad read though to widen your horizons
November 20, 2023
Good read. Lost me a little at the end but only because I didn’t expect the supernatural type twist. Loved the characters though! They had me engaged the entire time
February 16, 2022
A lot like Old Man Logan x Stranger Things and that doesn't bother me one lil bit :)
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