I always imagined that if I ever wrote a novel, it would be a story like this one. This is the type of tale that made me fall in love with mysteries as a teenager: a young woman revisits her past by returning to the town where she spent most of her summers as a child. While uncovering dark secrets hidden in the old house she once called her summer home, she realizes a serial killer is haunting the town, and she may know more than she realizes.

Broken Bayou is deeply atmospheric, setting the characters in a hot and humid Louisiana town filled with damage, hurt, and evil. The book is quite short, at under 300 pages, which keeps the pace fast and engaging, making it hard to lose interest. I didn't realize how quickly I was turning the pages because I simply wanted to know more.

While the mystery itself isn't the story's strongest point—you might guess the outcome if you pay attention, and I was suspicious of almost everyone—it didn't detract from my enjoyment. I was captivated by the author's vivid descriptions and, most of all, the tense and harrowing family dynamics portrayed in the novel. Some parts reminded me of Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects.

What can I say? I've always loved a dark, Southern setting above all else.

Wow! This book was amazing! I was captivated during the entire thing! It was an edge of the seat nail biting adventure. If you’re looking for a thriller to keep you guessing, then you need to read this. The writing was great and everything came together in the end. I loved it so much! Thank you to NetGallery for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In her debut thriller, Jennifer Moorhead takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the hauntingly beautiful yet treacherous landscapes of Louisiana in Broken Bayou. This novel is a masterful blend of psychological intrigue, family secrets, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Dr. Willa Watters, a renowned child psychologist, finds herself at a crossroads after a disastrous television interview threatens her career. Seeking solace, she retreats to Broken Bayou, the small town where she spent her childhood summers. 

Willa Watters is a compelling protagonist. Her depth and relatability draw readers in as she navigates the complexities of her past and present. Moorhead skillfully portrays Willa’s internal struggles and her determination to uncover the truth, making her a character that readers will root for. 

Moorhead’s vivid descriptions of the Louisiana bayou are a highlight of the novel. The oppressive heat, the dense swamps, and the eerie stillness of the bayou create an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the tension and mystery. 

Broken Bayou explores themes of redemption, the impact of past traumas, and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones. 

Moorhead’s writing is engaging and fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Her ability to weave together multiple plot threads and maintain suspense throughout the novel is impressive. 

Broken Bayou is a gripping debut that showcases Jennifer Moorhead’s talent for crafting suspenseful and emotionally resonant stories. Fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries will find much to enjoy in this atmospheric and well-written novel. It’s a promising start for Moorhead, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Gripping and intense, complex bayou mystery confounded with small town secrets, dysfunction, theft, betrayal, misdirection, miscommunication, and murder - woven through with interesting and broken people, some wanting help, some not asking, and others hiding. Great mystery, a must read!

Broken Bayou by Jennifer Moorhead is a solid mystery with an evocative setting and an intriguing premise. Set in the atmospheric bayous of Louisiana, the novel successfully captures the essence of its location, immersing readers in the lush and eerie landscape that adds depth to the story.

The plot centers around a series of mysterious events that unfold in a small, tight-knit community. Moorhead excels at building suspense and creating an air of mystery that keeps readers guessing. The central mystery is engaging, with enough twists and turns to maintain interest throughout the book.

However, while the setting and plot are strong, the character development falls somewhat short. The protagonist and supporting characters, though interesting, often lack the depth needed to fully connect with the reader. Their motivations and actions sometimes feel predictable, detracting from the overall impact of the story.

The pacing of the novel is uneven at times, with certain sections dragging and others feeling rushed. This inconsistency can make it challenging to stay fully engaged with the narrative. Additionally, while the resolution of the mystery is satisfying, it may not be as surprising or impactful as some readers might hope.

Overall, Broken Bayou is a decent read with a captivating setting and a compelling mystery. While it has its shortcomings in character depth and pacing, it remains an enjoyable book for those who appreciate atmospheric mysteries and the unique charm of the Louisiana bayous.

In this debut novel, Dr. Willa Watters returns to Broken Bayou, LA. She is a psychologist that specializes in children with special needs. She used to spend her childhood summers here at her aunts house with her mother and sister. She is coming back after the death of her aunts to get some things that they left behind the last time they were there. Her mother is bipolar and a recovering alcoholic- this plays into the past part of the story. When she returns, skeletal remains of women are turning up in barrels around the town. She runs into her high school flame, Travis, who is now a police officer for the town.

Ok- so much to unpack here! The story was fast paced, and although told in primarily the present, the author weaves the past into the narrative through Willa's thoughts and memories. There are also chapters that address the abductions of the past girls. There were times when I would have to re-read and switch mindset, as when the past is told from Willa, there really is no transition.

I figured out who the villain was by about 50%. The author threw red herrings out, but so many clues were obvious that I did not believe the others were viable suspects.

My one big issue, and the reason for my rating: the portrayal of all the children that had special needs. We know from the intro that Willa is good at her job. However, in this small town, every child/person she interacted with, she diagnosed. What really upset me... As someone who works with children with special needs, you cannot read about different diagnoses and generalize them. What affects and causes reaction in one, will not be that way with another. Although there are commonalities such as stemming, walking on toes, vacant eye stare, shyness- these do not demonstrate themselves in the same way or only in people with special needs! Each child is unique and individual, and any therapist of repute would understand that they needed to be seen and treated that way. They also would not diagnose and see disability in everyone they meet.

I was engaged in the story other than being frustrated about the above. It is a quick read.
I think the author has talent, and with more research into her subject matter, and fine tuning of her thriller techniques, she will grow.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

"Broken Bayou" by Jennifer Moorehead is a riveting and atmospheric mystery novel that plunges readers into the heart of the Louisiana bayou. The story follows Claire Thibodeaux, a woman returning to her hometown to uncover the truth behind her brother's mysterious death.

Moorehead's writing is evocative and richly detailed, capturing the haunting beauty of the bayou and its complex, close-knit community. Claire is a compelling protagonist, whose determination and resilience drive the narrative as she delves into the secrets and suspicions that shroud her brother's death.

The plot is expertly crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Moorehead skillfully builds suspense, blending elements of Southern Gothic with a modern mystery. Themes of family, loss, and the search for truth are woven throughout, adding emotional depth to the story.

Overall, "Broken Bayou" is a captivating and suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of atmospheric mysteries and Southern fiction. Jennifer Moorehead delivers a powerful and engaging tale that immerses readers in the enigmatic world of the bayou and keeps them hooked from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Great writing and a solid domestic thriller. The style was easy yet deep. Recommend

Broken Bayou is Jennifer Moorhead's debut novel. This was decent for a first novel. I enjoyed the setting and could picture the small town that it took place in. The suspense was decent with some twists and turns and a red herring. I was able to figure out who did it pretty early on.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of Broken Bayou for an honest review.

Great debut novel. Fluent and easy to follow writing. The characters contained depth and personal growth. There were twists I didn’t see coming, though I did predict the perpetrator. I loved the author’s use of flashbacks from Willa’s past and thought the way they were written into the present was very well done.

A disgraced child psychologist returns to her hometown. She soon finds mysteries in her aunt's attic and things take an even more sinister turn when dead bodies keep turning up.

This one was ok for me. I think my biggest problem was not the plot but the way the characters were written (as in their voices).

Broken Bayou
By: Jennifer Moorhead

This one was a little on the scarier side, and so reading it at bedtime was just not a great idea, which was hard because at the same time, I didn't want to put it down! This one kept me guessing right until the end and honestly, some of the biggest moments were in the last 15% of the book so it keeps you on your toes right till the end! The child psychologist piece was a really nice feature as it added some interesting insights to some of the characters in the story. The scenery was also really well done, which makes sense since the author is from the area! For me it was definitely an unfamiliar setting but I felt like I was there!

I would definitely recommend this book for thriller/crime/suspense fans! This book is out now so go grab your copy! Thanks to booksforwardpr, netgalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

I received an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Willa, a successful psychologist who works with neurodivergent children, is drawn back to a family home in Louisiana where she spent most of her summers in order to keep her past secrets hidden. But when she arrives, she’s drawn into the investigation of serial murders that have just been discovered in the small town and realizes that it’s time to separate the truth from the lies.

Plot: I love a good thriller, so I was drawn to this concept immediately. The idea is very true crime, another genre that I like, so the intersection there is appreciated. At first, I kind of thought this was shaping up to be a fairly run of the mill mystery, but then the twists started happening, and a few developments definitely surprised me. I did figure out who the killer was well before the end of the story, but I’m not sure it would be that obvious if I didn’t read so much in this genre already. Oddly enough, there is also a twist that I saw earlier this summer in Riley Sager’s latest book. I won’t say what it is, because it would be a spoiler, but if you read both of these books, you’ll see it immediately. For the record, I don’t think anyone copied anyone or anything like that. These books came out within a few weeks of each other, so there’s no way that happened. It’s just like that meme, you know? It’s weird that it happened twice!

Style: I like my thrillers tight and to the point with enough atmospheric detail to make it creepy and unsettling, and this book delivers on all of those points. The pace is fast, but I still get a sense of where it’s taking place and what details are important. Louisiana is always a particularly evocative setting, I find, and that’s used to major advantage here, especially with the bayou playing a key part in the narrative.

Trigger Warnings: There’s murder, which is kind of a given. There is also quite a lot of child abuse, both emotional and physical, as well as involuntary drugging and brief instances of suicide and panic attacks.

Final Thoughts: Overall, I was really impressed with this book. There were lots of red herrings that seemed legitimate, and every chapter made me want to keep reading, which is exactly what you want in a thriller. I also liked the neurodivergent representation, and Willa’s professional perspective on how to treat neurodivergent people. All the information was accurate, and it was nice to see that, but it also didn’t get to the point of being a soapbox disguised as a novel. The integration was very organic. I’d definitely read another book from this author, free or otherwise, and I hope I get a chance to in the future.

Broken Bayou by debut author J. Moorhead, published by Thomas & Mercer, is an absolute delight to read.
Enthralled from the very first page is the book a literally unputdownable read that gripped me with both hands so to speak and didn't let go long after finishing ther book.
Fantastic, thrilling, masterfully crafted story set in the deep south. You can literally feel the muggy heat on your skin while reading - not many author's managed to take me with them to places and characters, but J. M. did a fantastic job doing just that.
This will be not the last book I'll read by her, I recommend the book and can't wait what she's coming up with next.
Blurb: Dr. Willa Watters is a prominent child psychologist at the height of her career. But when a viral video of a disastrous television interview puts her reputation on the line, Willa retreats to Broken Bayou, the town where she spent most of her childhood summers. There she visits her aunts’ old house and discovers some of her troubled mother’s belongings still languishing in the attic—dusty mementos harboring secrets of her harrowing past.
With waters dropping due to drought, mysterious barrels containing human remains have surfaced, alongside something else from Willa’s past, something she never thought she’d see again. Divers, police, and media flood the area, including a news reporter gunning for Willa and Travis Arceneaux—a local deputy and old flame.
Willa’s fate seems eerily tied to the murders. And with no one to trust, she must use her wits to stay above water and make it out alive.

This small town, unresolved past story depicts a lot of mental health/illness and I liked that.I was a good book and provided what I was looking for. I enjoyed the story even if at times it felt a bit scattered and like it was trying to include maybe too many different ideas. I think the author tied it together well at the end, I didn’t guess the twist, so that what really nice.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Broken Bayou by Jennifer Moorhead due to be published July 1, 2024.
When a horrible interview video of Dr. Willa Watters goes viral, she goes back to her hometown of Broken Bayou where she discovers boxes of her mother’s past. With bodies being found in the bayou, Willa wonders if she will be safe. Will her old boyfriend, now turned cop, be able to save her?
What a wonderful thriller – fast-paced, easy to read, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn’t wait to see where all the bodies came from, who was putting them there, and what else Willa would uncover on her journey back home. It was definitely one I loved!
This was a fabulous debut novel, and I can’t wait to read more from Jennifer Moorhead.
#NetGalley #JenniferMoorhead #Thomas&Mercer #BrokenBayou

A great debut thriller for Jennifer Moorhead. I was hooked from the very beginning! I thought I figured out the twist, then bam I was wrong and shocked! I can't wait to see more from this author.

Jennifer Moorhead’s debut novel is about long-hidden secrets that rise to the surface. While that’s a common premise for psychological thrillers, Broken Bayou takes the idea quite literally. When child psychologist Willa Watters returns to the town where she spent her summers as a child, bodies begin to emerge from the Louisiana bayou. As the water level drops, the murder count rises and police realize they’re looking at a serial killer.

The novel's premise appealed to me immediately. Last summer it seemed like skeletons were emerging all over the country. Lake Mead and its six sets of human remains comes to mind. So Moorhead had my attention as soon as I read the blurb, but the plot and the setting kept me reading. I’ve read a lot of thrillers and usually guess the murderer early on. While I did form a guess about halfway through, I wasn’t sure I was on the right track until the final pages.

Add to that the way Moorhead expertly weaves together past and present, interspersed with short interludes written from the point of view of the victims. She unravels the truth a little at a time, then comes through with the big twist at the end (more than one, actually). I also liked Willa's character, as well as the supporting cast: her mom, the aunts, her sister Mabry, the neighbors, the hungry true crime reporter and even the local waitress. As for the setting, I have been in love with Louisiana ever since I got stuck in New Orleans during a hurricane and had to stay over an extra night. It’s obvious Moorhead is a native of the state and knows the region through and through. She captures its weird beauty, as well as its dark side.

I’m still shocked this is a debut novel, it’s written very much like a seasoned writer would. I loved our characters in this story being from Louisiana and then moving to Texas myself I could relate to them so much. Also Sack N Save that’s a blast from the past for me so I loved that. The whole story was building slowly but also perfectly that you just can’t stop reading.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for this arc copy.

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I could not get invested in the story, which is very unfortunate, because I was really interested in the premise. I just think that there are other books that capture my attention more.