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.

I went into this book without knowing anything about it! I was hooked from the first chapter! Loved the main character, had some funny remarks and a big twist that I did not see coming! Can’t wait to read more from this author!

This one starts a little slow, but ends strong. I really enjoyed it. It did keep me guessing until the last few chapters. It was well written. A great debut book, I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Moorhead, and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Whew, this book is INTENSE. But while I'm catching my breath, it needs to be said: This is such an incredible debut for an author. The characters are nuanced and well-developed, the setting is so detailed, and the plot beautifully balanced quite a few stories. I don't want to say too much for risk of revealing spoilers, but if you're a fan of thrillers — especially those with a Southern gothic feel — you'll probably enjoy this one.

A terrific, well-written story by a debut author set in Louisiana. The plot is suspenseful with multiple unexpected twists.
Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery thriller!!

In summary, “Broken Bayou” was a solid piece of writing along with great narration. There was a fine blending of times containing light-hearted moments, and these helped to offset the heaviness the overall story covered and the mystery which surrounded the location. I rather enjoyed listening and wonder what this newer author on the block has baking for a future release.

In this debut thriller, a troubled child psychologist returns to a small Louisiana town to protect her secrets but winds up having to protect her life!! Great read!! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, a great who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

📚 PUBLICATION WEEK BOOK REVIEW 📚

Broken Bayou By Jennifer Moorhead
Publication Date: July 1, 2024
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

What a thrilling read! Thomas & Mercer, I don't know how you do it, but you are absolutely KILLING IT with these 5-⭐ thrillers lately!

This debut novel from Moorhead was PHENOMENAL. Unputdownable. Gripping. Creepy. Nail-biting. Everything you want in a twisty thriller. If this is her debut book, consider me a lifelong fan! I started reading this book this morning, shortly after I poured my first cup of coffee. Two hours later, my coffee was cold and I hadn't moved from my seat on the couch because I was riveted that quickly to this story. Begrudgingly, I got up to warm my coffee -- but kept the book in my hand the entire walk to and from the kitchen because I just couldn't stop reading.

Set in a small town in Louisiana, this thriller is told from the perspective of a successful child psychologist who has deep traumas and family secrets she is desperate to keep hidden from the world. Every few chapters, the reader is given snippets into the terrifying work of a serial killer, set across multiple timelines... And these creepy chapters propelled my desire to binge this book as quickly as I could. I couldn't get enough.

The writing is brilliantly descriptive and suspenseful, both at once, leaving you feeling as if you're watching the chaos and terror unfold from your perch, hidden in the deep shadows of the Louisiana bayou. I loved the characters in this book and the different ways their lives were all impacted by different childhood traumas and toxic family environments.

I simply couldn't put this book down until I knew how it ended! The twists, the turns, and the uncertainties about how this one would ultimately turn out -- all of it made this debut novel an incredibly captivating thrill-ride. This bingeable book is one I highly recommend getting your hands on as soon as you can! If you enjoy reading gripping, edge-of-your-seat thrillers with small-town secrets and characters that make you question who to trust, I think you'll really love this book too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for gifting me this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

** And Thomas & Mercer, can you please just send me EVERY book you publish by a debut author?! I. Am. Obsessed. **

** For NetGalley members, Broken Bayou is currently a Read Now selection. Don't miss out. **

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