how do i rate this higher? absolutely one of the best books i’ve ever read. i was always so scared i’d die before i read this. the characters were amazing and i cared about them. the story had my attention. i love this sort of theme. human experiments and special powers, it reminded me so much of stephen king. no holes were left, everything was answered, and i still want more.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I was really happy when I was given this ARC as I have read all of JD Barker's previous written books. And just like all his previous books, this book was brilliant as well. A shift from his usual style, this book was brilliant from start to finish. The characters were so brilliantly created by the author who in my humble opinion is a master craftsman at the top of his game! The twist and turns in the book is something that as a fan of JD Barker, I'm used to. Overall a brilliant read from one of my favourite authors. Thank you JD Barker for this magnificent book. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me this book in exchange of my review.

Jack Thatch visited the cemetery every year, with his Aunt, on August 9th. The day his parents were killed. When he was a young boy, on one visit he met Stella, mysterious, long dark hair, dark eyes and reading her favourite book. Jack became obsessed with the thought of Stella but, she too only visited the cemetery on Aug 9th, the day her family were killed. The obsession went on for many years as their lives became more intertwined with mystery and seeking the truth.

Not my usual genre of book but I soon became involved with the characters and the their lives and wanting to know more.

Even though this book is almost 800 pages long, it doesn't feel long at all. The characters were fantastic. This would totally make a great movie! I highly recommend this story as it is very original with possible Stephen King vibes. I look forward to reading more books by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review

JD Barker is on his way to becoming one of my fav authors. This book intrigued me by the title, but under the covers was also a haunting and well written story reminiscent of some of the best horror writers today. "She has a broken thing where her heart should be" is a horror story, as well as a love story. Well written, well paced, engaging and moving. Everyone who loves Barker´s writing should put this on their reading list.

The title and cover drew me in and the book delivered. This was a thrilling, gripping novel that I enjoyed a lot. I hadn’t read any of this author’s books before but I will definitely read more.

Where to begin?! The length of this book unfortunately intimidated me into putting off reading it. Big mistake. I've never read JD Barker before but I will definitely be looking for more from him from here on. This book was a suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and pushed me to speed read through its many pages quickly without even realizing it. The characters in this book are the biggest gems for me. Jack's impossible not to love and I found my heart aching every time he picked up the bottle. Stella the same although the heartache for very different reasons. Overall an excellent story that easily spans multiple genres, a love story, a mystery, a thriller, suspense, a bit of sci fi and a bit of horror (without much gore needed). Highly recommend, don't make the same mistake I did by letting the length intimidate you into putting off reading it. Trust me it goes too quickly!

If you like to read books that will keep you at the edge of your seat and make you stay with the book until you have read the very last word, then this is your book. I could write a very wordy review but there isn't any point. This book is a tense, creepy, and suspenseful book! Grab it and read it. You won't be sorry!

It was really fun to see Barker venture into a horror thriller. I really enjoyed the story of Stella and Jack and Barker is definitely on my very short list of must read for everything he writes.

JD Barker is rapidly becoming my favorite author. I read his books the moment they are available to me, usually from Barker himeself, and then impatiently wait for the next one. At times my reviews seem a bit harsh, especially considering that I let others books slide, but this is only because I know Barker to be a masterful storyteller and there are times I want more. This book, whose title is unweidingly long, is quite near perfection. It is dark yet beautiful, suspenseful yet a love story, it has crime, suspense and marvelously witty dialogue - as always. The book is LONG but you will read it quickly because you HAVE to know where Barker is taking you, that place that resides deep in his very dark mind. To say that I loved She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Should Be is an understatement. It is a book that has now become part me. It truly is a MUST READ.

(NOTE: My original review was somehow "unsaved" but suffice it to say that I have no problem writing another. This is one of my all-time favorite books!)

Amazing!! I’m stunned that I’ve never read J.D. Barker before. I will definitely be fixing that mistake!

This book spanned decades and the length was a little intimidating at first. But I was immediately drawn into the story and vivid characters. They took on a life of themselves and will be on my mind for awhile.

It’s hard to put the story in just one category so I recommend to horror, mystery, and thriller readers. *Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Review
After the grim and compelling series 4MK, my expectations for J.D. Barker’s next novel were definitely high, and he definitely did not disappoint. While not as chilling in nature as 4MK, this novel creates not only engaging mythology and story but a wide cast of characters that elevate the story and create a wide range of emotions in the reader overall.

The mystery of the young girl this boy meets and the journey he goes on as the years go by creating a truly mind-bending thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. The genre combination of sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, and crime with a hint of romance and suspense keeps the readers guessing at every turn, questioning the character’s motives and firmly invested in the story, especially that of the protagonist, Jack.

The Verdict
One of 2020’s standout hits already, J.D. Barker wows readers everywhere once again with his novel “She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be”. The story is lengthy yet exciting as each chapter goes on, never leaving the reader unengaged and yet always exciting enough to have the reader wanting more. A thrilling novel that felt reminiscent of the early days of Stephen King, this is a must-read book for any fan of a good suspense, mystery and crime thriller. Be sure to grab your copy today!

4.5 stars

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be by J.D. Barker is a horror/thriller novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Hampton Creek Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Jack Thatch was 8 years old when, on his yearly visit to the graves of his parents,  he came across another child.  Stella was sitting alone on a bench, a little over-dressed with a coat and gloves, and reading Great Expectations.  She was beautiful.  Every year on August 8th, Jack would return to that bench to spend an hour with her, and she became his obsession.

Detective Faustino Brier finds a body every year around the same time.  The body is always terribly burned, inside and out, although the clothing remains intact.  He now has a board at the precinct that is known as  the Wall of Weird.  Year after year, there is another posting to add to it, but never any clues.

Meanwhile, there is a boy known as "Subject D",  who is locked in a room and watched.  He is only allowed to speak to certain people.

Jack, Stella, and "Subject D" have a connection, and it will be years before they come together.


My Opinions:   

First, the only reason that this book is missing 1/2 a star is due to it's length.  It didn't really drag, but there were times that the pace seemed too slow, and on a big book, that can sometimes be a monumental thing.  That, and the title is a little long, therefore awkward.

However, the plot and characters in this book were amazing.   Their emotions became your emotions.  Their tears and fears became yours.  The writing was good (even if it was a liitle wordy).  The last quarter flew by.  There were a couple of twists that I did not see coming, which is one of my favourite things (yes, along with raindrops on roses).

This book commanded your attention.  It beautifully wove the past and present together to create a story of love, of heartbreak, of fear, of obsession, of control.....and all while building a quiet suspense that you knew was going to burst at some point.

I love the books that this author has created.  You may feel a little of King's horror, or Koontz's suspense when you read his books, but there is something else that he has, which I haven't figure out yet.  I just know that I will read whatever JD Barker puts his name on!

Though this is not the type of book I usually read, I enjoyed this one. I generally like big books, but this one seemed a tad too long. It could have done with another edit. Overall, I had a great time reading this book. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Hampton Creek Press and JD Barker for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I chose to read this book after receiving a free ARC from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

There are a lot of authors I like, but J.D. Barker is one of a handful that are my absolute favorites. Every time he has a new book come out, it’s like getting a Christmas present! He has a way with words that immerses me in the book. I’ve seen him compared to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and other famous authors and that’s because, like them, he’s in a class of his own.

When I started this book, I was afraid I was going to be disappointed. The first quarter of the book is good. I wouldn’t say it was slow, but I was able to put it down when I needed to. Once the characters had been developed, and I knew what was going on (kind of, there were many surprises), I was hooked and it was difficult to put down.

There are a lot of characters in She has a Broken Thing where her Heart should be, but I had no trouble keeping track of them. There were some characters I really liked: Jack, Stella, Auntie Rose, and Stack among others. There were some I absolutely didn’t like such as Subject “D” and Olivia. Then there were those who I still am undecided about: Jack’s dad and his childhood friends.

This book is almost 800 pages long, and I savored every page. You will too!

I’m sorry but I just didn’t have enough patience to slog my way through this mammoth of a book. I read several of the meetings of Jack and Stella but I wasn’t gripped enough to continue. I even looked at what some of the other reviewers had to say before abandoning it. Sorry but I couldn’t be persuaded to carry on and may regret it but I can live with that!

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be was my first read by J.D. Barker, and I loved it. It's dark, mysterious, intense, and everything else you want from a thriller. But at its core, it's really a love story - a boy meets girl, girl has a weird living situation, boy pursues the truth, boy discovers things he never imagined. There are multiple points of view, which can at times get confusing, but everything ultimately comes together so perfectly and every single piece falls into place. I received an e-arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review.

A fan of JD Barker and his off the wall work, I was happy to get my hands on this ARC of his latest standalone. Its a great story right along the 4MK series. The story and character building was intriguing and it held my attention throughout.

Der Autor J. D. Barker ist durch seine "The Fourth Monkey"-Thrillerreihe einer breiteren Masse an Leser*innen bekannt geworden, doch wer von seinem Buch mit dem etwas sperrigen Titel "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be" eine ähnliche Geschichte erwartet, wird schnell überrascht werden - denn dieses Buch ist vor allem eines: anders.

Was schon vom Titel her klingt wie ein düsteres Märchen fängt auch ungefähr so ähnlich an: Jack Thatch wächst bei seiner Tante Jo auf, nachdem seine Eltern bei einem schrecklichen Autounfall ums Leben kamen, als Jack noch ein Kleinkind war. Für den Jungen und seine Tante ist das Leben nicht gerade leicht und Jo muss viele Extra-Schichten in einem Diner schieben, um sich und ihren Neffen halbwegs über die Runden zu bringen und die Miete für ihre kleine Wohnung zahlen zu können - was irgendwie immer gerade so klappt. Tante Jo ist dabei oft streng, aber alles in allem sind beide ein eingespieltes Team, sodass Jack trotz der traurigen Familiengeschichte und finanzieller Sorgen recht behütet aufwächst.

Mit 8 Jahren nimmt Jacks Leben dann eine weitere schicksalhafte Wendung, als er beim jährlichen Besuch der Gräber seiner Eltern - immer an deren Todestag, dem 8. August - auf dem Friedhof ein gleichaltriges Mädchen entdeckt, das ganz allein auf einer Bank sitzt und "Great Expectations" von Charles Dickens liest. Auf Jack wirkt Stella sofort eine seltsame und unerklärliche Faszination aus und auch wenn die Achtjährige nicht besonders freundlich und vielleicht sogar etwas arrogant ist, so lässt diese kurze Begegnung den Jungen einfach nicht los und er versucht in den Tagen und Wochen danach, dieses Mädchen auf dem Friedhof wiederzusehen - doch es dauert genau ein Jahr, bis das Schicksal die beiden wieder zusammenführt...

Zugegeben, auf gewisse Weise mag diese plötzliche Obsession als Grundlage einer Geschichte befremdlich wirken, was sich aus dieser zufälligen Begegnung entwickelt ist jedoch keine verstörende Stalking-Story, sondern eine Geschichte, die sich kaum einem Genre zuordnen lässt und in der alles möglich scheint. Auf der einen Seite liegt "She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be" irgendwo zwischen magisch und morbide und durchbricht auf jeden Fall die Grenzen der Realität, dazu kommen Elemente, die sich anfühlen wie aus einem Superhelden-Comic im Stil von "The Umbrella Academy" entnommen, angereichert mit rätselhaften wissenschaftlichen Experimente und einer offenbar groß angelegten Verschwörung. Dazwischen ist Barkers Roman auch noch eine bewegende Familiengeschichte, lässt Romantik ebenfalls nicht zu kurz kommen und erzählt von besonderen Freundschaften mit Höhen und Tiefen. Und zu all dem gesellt sich auch noch eine Art Thriller-Handlung, in der ein unkonventionelles Ermittlertrio bestehend aus einem Detective, seiner jüngeren Partnerin und einem Mentor im Ruhestand versucht, eine bizarre Mordserie aufzuklären, bei der komplett verbrannte Leichen auftauchen, deren Kleidung und Umgebung jedoch immer komplett unversehrt ist - und diese Todesfälle ereignen sich ausgerechnet stets am 8. August, dem Todestag von Jacks Eltern und den jährlichen Zusammentreffen von Jack und Stella...

Das alles klingt nach einer sehr ungewöhnlichen Mischung, die aber erstaunlich gut funktioniert und in der alle Elemente hervorragend ineinander greifen. Das ist umso bemerkenswerter, da dieser Roman den satten Umfang von fast 800 Seiten hat - davon ist jedoch keine einzige zu viel und es gibt nicht eine auch nur annähernd langweilige Phase. Das Erzähltempo ist zwar eher ruhig, trotzdem passieren auf so vielen unterschiedlichen Ebenen so viele spannende, interessante, berührende, lustige, traurige, ungewöhnliche und faszinierende Dinge, dass man regelrecht durch die Seiten fliegt. Hier sei zudem erwähnt, dass sich die Geschichte über mehrere Jahre und letzten Endes sogar Jahrzehnte erstreckt, sodass man wirklich das Gefühl hat, die Hauptfiguren durch ihr ganzes Leben mit allen Höhe- und Tiefpunkten zu begleiten und ihren Reifeprozess zu verfolgen - der sich auch nicht immer unbedingt nur zum Guten entwickelt.

Vom Verlag wird dieses Märchen-/Fantasy-/Thriller-/SciFi-/Horror-/Drama-Epos (oder wie auch immer man diese Genre-sprengende Werk bezeichnen möchte) mit den frühen Werken eines Stephen King oder Dean Koontz verglichen. Das sind große Fußstapfen für einen noch vergleichsweise jungen Autor, allerdings wird das Buch diesem Vergleich durchaus gerecht. J. D. Barker hat hier wirklich ein Meisterwerk geschaffen, das eine einzigartige und unvorhersehbare Geschichte erzählt, bei der man von der ersten Seite an immer wissen will, wie es weiter geht und wie die vielen Handlungsstränge irgendwann einmal zusammenpassen - und der Autor liefert eine Auflösung, die keinesfalls enttäuscht, alle Fragen zufriedenstellend beantworten kann und einen mehr als würdigen Abschluss für diese in jeder Hinsicht besondere Erzählung bietet.

Da bleibt eigentlich nur zu hoffen, dass sich auch die deutschen Verlage dieses außergewöhnliche Buch nicht entgehen lassen und sich trotz der gewissen Eigenwilligkeit an das Buch herantrauen. Wenn dann noch irgendwann mal eine Hörbuchversion mit David Nathan produziert wird, bleiben bei mir eigentlich keine Wünsche mehr offen.