There is no way to read a JD Barker book and not love it. Nobody gets your blood racing like JD! His writing is so good that I am sure he would freak Stephen King out. I love every book that he writes. He is just awesome

Jack Thatch first meets the girl sat on a bench in the cemetery when he is 8 years old. He meets her there again exactly a year later. Who is subject D? What happened to the man found in an alley burned to death but without a mark on his clothes? How do these things all link together & what have they to do with Jack & his best mate Dunc?
This is quite a complex book with several threads going at once. The subject D thread is particularly enigmatic. However I didn't have a problem holding all the threads at once and they do all come together in the end. The book starts quite slowly but I didn't have a problem with that. It is well constructed and kept my interest throughout. There was never a time when I didn't want to continue and at times found myself struggling to out it down.
This book is very slightly futuristic/ science fiction but not so much that it couldn't be enjoyed by people who aren't big fans of science fiction. Anyone who likes a well constructed thriller or psychological thriller would enjoy this.
I got really involved with the characters. Although I generally liked Jack & his mate Dunc there were times when I really didn't like what they did. They were great examples of young boys who grow up in difficult & poor circumstances with less parental input than would be ideal.I don't want to say too much about other characters as you need to get to know them as they develop but they are well constructed & very human.
I really enjoyed this book. The ending was very satisfying and fitted entirely with the plot. I had got so so involved with the book that I felt bereft when I had finished!!! A great read that I can highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

I was perusing Netgalley when I saw this book by J.D. Barker who wrote the 4MK series, which I loved. While the writing in this one was just as good, it was a completely different type of story. I would say it’s more horror than mystery.

We start with Jack at age eight. He meets a mysterious girl named Stella while visiting his parents’ graves. We continue to follow Jack every year on August 8 visiting his parents’ graves and looking for Stella. The first half of the book follows Jack as a child and teenager. We also get the perspective of several other characters, but Jack’s story is the main focus. I thoroughly enjoyed this section of the story and couldn’t wait to see where the story would go.

The second half is mostly from the year 1998 when Jack is twenty-two. This part was significantly slower than the first half and I found myself losing interest. It did pick up again towards the end, and I couldn’t put it down until I found out how everything would turn out.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story but a bit too long in my opinion. Two reveals towards the end were obvious to me. I will say that anyone who grew up in the 80‘s and 90’s like I did will surely appreciate all the pop culture references sprinkled throughout. The nostalgia made me smile every time.

3.5 stars

FTC disclosure: I would like to thank Hampton Creek Press for providing me with an advance reader copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

An excellent book, one I couldn't put down!

I could stop there and just make a recommendation to read it, but I can't help myself to explain as to why when it comes to critiquing and there were a lot of things I loved about this book.

Starting with the overall premise and writing. There was a uniqueness both in original idea and writing style. I saw similarities to other namely authors, perhaps with some influence, but this author writes with a certain distinguished, intriguing sentiment that is all his own. It was like having a weird dream that only makes sense in your mind, materialized, taking risks in writing style, and then the retelling of such a story done right.

To begin with, it had all the essentials of what makes a good opener for a book. It sucked me in within the first few lines and chapter. I got a feel for the context, personality, setting, time frame, all with a taste of mystery, built as a nice set up with all the elements that readers crave when starting and continuing to enjoy a book like this, especially since it crossed into many types of genres. It was the seamless delivery that was carefully constructed.

Within each scene there was an ease to reading. Perhaps it was the way that each sentence was crafted. They were not so rule-hugging and rigid, formulaic, or formal, but appropriately written to enhance both personality, character growth, and the flow of the story. The writing pushed the boundaries, embracing the realm of creative thought and feeding it right back into the story.

I really appreciated the story because the detective work didn’t overtake it. Terminology wasn’t constantly being defined and explained, but instead jumped right into an occupation with use of the norms and lingo in conversation as they are understood among the people that use them. If you've ever read more than one mystery or crime novel, you will understand this and know that it is not uncommon to see stories get interrupted and cluttered with a bunch of backstories, rationales of behavior, or an over-explanation of job duties, procedures, and protocols that can so easily take you out of the story rather than be a natural progression of it.

I appreciated that there was not grab a thesaurus, word substitutions for adjectives, action verbs, words for said, and transitionals just thrown in, but actual descriptions told in unconventional ways which was both refreshing and compelling. Breaking of traditional rules by leaving in run-ons and fragments only added to the story, keeping the logical flow, the pace, the conversation, the thought-process, to speak for itself.

Even brand names, literary remarks, and historical references were mentioned without excessive descriptions or nouns to follow which made for an even smoother read. It just worked. Perhaps because the author knows his audience and can take liberty in allowing the reader to connect with the time and place, and feel like the story was just written for them.

With each character, the narrator voice was spot on consistent and distinguishable with actions, thoughts, and feelings, even through growth. The reminiscent parts were not only accurate to events but also perspective, really true to the time. The voice of internal conflict and insight was appropriate for each character age group. For example school-age memories and dialogue was told from a child’s mind, reflecting the safe, carefree life of youth, and also included the irrational fears and immature actions that resulted. I appreciated the attention to detail, even the accuracy of a growing boy’s height according to growth charts, which made it all the more believable even within the domain of nonfiction, paranormal, and fantasy.

I liked that it took me back to childhood memories of required reading, riding bikes to Circle K, skid-marks in gravel, and the fear of tetanus. It made me want to reread Great Expectations, even though I haven't had an inkling to ever read it again since its requirement in grade school. The desire to read another book as stirred up by a book you're currently reading is always a success in my mind.

There were also comedic references that were sometimes overt, sometimes subtle, and so very funny.

Lastly I loved the internal dialogue referencing deeper meanings in life.

All-in-all, it reminded me of the momentum, thrill, and excitement of choose your own adventure books, the joy in anticipation and satisfaction of what comes next.

https://ericarobbin.com

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, JD Barker, and Hampton Creek Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased 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. This book kept me up late, wondering how things would fall into place, while also impressing me with the twists embedded in the narrative. John Edward ‘Jack’ Thatch suffered quite the loss when he was four, as both his parents died in an automobile accident. He visits their gravestones every year on August 8th and when he does so in 1984, young Jack meets Stella, a mysterious little girl. Captivated by her, Jack sees her every year on the same day, but cannot understand who she is there to see or what brings her back. With no parents of her own, Stella is accompanied by a group who wear white coats and travel in sleek vehicles. Jack’s infatuation grows over the years, though Stella remains aloof about his interest. Jack’s day-to-day life heats up in Pittsburgh as he becomes a teenager, particularly when his aunt passes away and leaves him a sum of money. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh PD have been chasing down a number of cold cases, all committed around August 8th. Each of the victims seems to be ‘scorched’ but the surroundings are untouched. Acting on some curious intel, the authorities wonder if Stella might be behind the murders, even though she was just a baby when they began. At the standoff, many die, but Stella is able to elude capture. She flees into the night, on the run for crimes about which she knows all too well. Jack also falls off the grid after learning his father kept a monumental secret from him, which could explain the connection to Stella. This baffling mystery might bring Jack and Stella even closer, while explaining some of the odd things taking place around Pittsburgh for so long. A mind-bending novel that only Barker could concoct. It will leave the reader more confused than when they started, but in the best possible way. Recommended to those who love something that challenges the norms of mystery and thriller writing.

When I first discovered JD Barker, I knew I was in for an exciting ride. His stories are never a simple A to B, meandering around and keeping the reader enthralled until the very end. There is so much to them that the reader must pay close attention and hope that their comprehension hat is firmly affixed. Jack is a wonderfully complex character who develops so well throughout this book, but seems to do so in fits and starts. His backstory is thorough and keeps revealing itself, much as his developments throughout will keep the reader trying to sketch out what they know and how it all fits. There is so much on the go and yet it does not seem overwhelming when taken in small doses. Others, including Stella, develop nicely throughout, as Barker peels back their layers to discover some wonderfully juicy tidbits of their own. Many characters complement what Jack is doing, though some take the story in many tangents. Speaking of the larger story, this is a massive one and goes in so many directions. That being said, Barker keeps it grounded enough that the reader can follow what is going on and see the progression with ease. Broken into multiple parts—which are themselves divided into ‘annual chapters’—the story is more easily digested, without losing the needed narrative momentum. I found myself in awe as I finished, to see where I had come in this reading journey. This book is not for the weak of heart or superficial reader, but I can assure any who take the journey, it will not be easily forgotten.

Kudos, Mr. Barker, for a great tale that took me on quite the adventure.

Duuuuuuuuude! I don't know where to start with this book. It's almost 800 pages of pure gold! I was reluctant on this one meerly over the page count. I thought for sure it would take forever to read or maybe not keep my attention with it being so long. I WAS WRONG on both accounts. I devoured the book in a few evenings. I never got bored. I was all in from the first chapter.

I'm still not sold on the title. (I know, I'm nitpicking, but hear me out.) First of all, it's a long title. Many readers aren't fans of long titles. Secondly, after reading the book, I'm just not feeling it. For me, it doesn't fit the story. Not really. Stella is broken, sure, but not her heart. Her heart is anything but broken. 

This book definitely has a King and Koontz vibe. It's got the sci-fi element/feel, but yet it's not full on sci-fi, but it kind of is. It's hard to explain without giving away important things that need to be experienced when read. It's the perfect balance of a friendships, loss, love, heartache, action, and twists and turns. Every element fully compliments the other. 

The characters in this story are everything. You get to know Jack pretty well. You feel like you're living his life over a 30 year span. You experience his ups and his downs. You learn his strong points and his weaknesses. You don't really get a strong hold on Stella. She is one of those characters you're not quite sure of until all is revealed. She is given to you in just the right mysterious way. 

As far as the rest of the characters. There are some you know you don't like right off the bat. Some you most certainly shouldn't. Some... well, not all is as it seems. And others, well they are only human, doing what they need to do to survive.

The twists and turns aren't immediate. They are doled out slowly as pieces of the past and present are given. They might not all hit you in the gut, but that doesn't mean they are less powerful. I love that Barker doesn't just slap you in the face. Many of the twists are a slow build and almost feel like an epiphany of sorts once the pieces fall into place.

Overall, this is at the top of my must read list for the year. Just like Barker's 4MK series, this book will have you begging for more from start to finish.

This book was so weird.

It took me a while to get into and I didn't really connect with any of the characters In fact I kind of hated them all. Stella comes across as a ready snub and Jack comes across as a steroid typical "Oh poor me" poor boy, something made me keep reading.

The story took on some X-Men like elements that I wasn't anticipating but enjoyed however it dragged on for a little long I found myself flipping ahead just to get to the parts with Jack and Stella.

an intriguing read overall but something about it just didn't feel quite right for me I feel like it'd be a lot better of a TV series. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be.

I read the 4MK trilogy and enjoyed the ending, so when I saw the author had a new book, I was pleased when my request was approved.

I thought it might be the same serial killer vein, but it's not; it's a little bit like early Dean Koontz, with a heavy dose of The X-Files conspiracies.

The premise sounds straight forward with a foreboding vibe; a young boy named Jack meets an enigmatic young girl named Stella at the cemetery, once a year, where he goes to mourn the loss of his parents.

They meet, year after year, at the same cemetery and the same bench.

But, Stella is no ordinary girl, and Jack is no ordinary boy.

To say there's a little bit of everything in here is an understatement:

There is a science fiction element, combined with action scenes worthy of Michael Bay and a scheming, shady organization that would excite Fox Mulder.

Let's not forget the multitude of characters; from Jack and his aunt, Jo, Stella and her coterie of handlers in creepy white trench coats, a mysterious man (well, many mysterious people), Jack's loyal BFF, Dunc, supporting and minor players, everyone has a role here, whether it be small, they all factor into the mystery behind Jack and Stella's origins.

I liked Jack, but toward the end, I ended up liking Dunc more.

I love it when that happens, when a supporting player's admirable qualities shine through and capture your heart and interest when you least expect it.

Duncan's loyalty and friendship, his good heart (despite his drug kingpin status), is what makes a great character, a human, flawed one, but still great.

The writing is good, and a slow burn, drawing the reader in. There's plenty of exposition, teases and strange occurrences, but if you love science fiction and action (whoo boy! lots of action), an interesting cast of characters, and conspiracies out the wazoo, you'll enjoy this.

This would make a great miniseries or series on Netflix.

She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be, was a book that I just could not put down!

I read another book by JD Barker last year - Dracul which I also thought was exceptional. I will definitely be reading more of this author's collection.

A young boy Jack Thatch meets a young girl Stella every year on August 8th on a bench, in a cemetery by the graves of his parents, who were killed when Jack was just a little boy.

The story unfolds throughout events that cover a great many years of their lives. A story that is both thriller as well as sci-fi /fantasy in description, and with a little in comic book feel to it.

The readers will connect to many of these characters throughout the pages, and never a dull moment.

A highly recommended book to read in my opinion, and a strong 5 Star rating as well

Thank you to NetGalley, Hampton Creek Press, and Author J.D. Barker for my early copy in exchange for my review.

#SheHasABrokenThingWhereHerHeartShouldBe #NetGalley

OK, this is a long book. If I'd realised that before I chose to read an ebook ARC of it, maybe I would have decided against it. As it is, the book is structured really well. The chapters vary in length and viewpoint enough to remove any sense of monotony, and the story constantly moves forward without bogging down.
The characters are really good, making realistic decisions and facing challenges and changes with authentic behaviour. The way they develop and mature, yet stay essentially themselves, has been done well.
The story is interesting an engaging, although it's the characters who really take centre stage.

I have never rated a book by J.D. Barker any less than five MASSIVE stars, and I’m not about to start now!

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is so different from anything else Barker has written and it is both refreshing and unexpected. I have no idea where the man gets his ideas from but I would love to sit in a corner while his mind works and take notes.

Unlike Barker’s other novels, and especially his 4MK series, She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is set at a much slower pace. What is normally seen as a negative is expertly turned positive by forcing the reader to dig in deep with this story, pay attention and allow both the plot and character
development to grow over time rather than rush to the climax.

She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be is a journey that is best experienced by going in blind so I’m not going to dive any further into this but I will say that this is book unlike anything you’ve read and it will keep you up well into the early morning hours, begging for more.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for providing me with a copy of this book to
read and give my own, honest opinion

This book, JD Barker could write a book about toilet paper and I have to say it would be a hit. He has a way with words. This book has a supernatural/suspense theme and is a definitely read.
I do not want to give the story away but just know that you will love these characters and root for them the whole way through. I could not put this book down.

I loved this book so much; it reminded me of an early Stephen King novel with well developed characters, a mysterious story which has you totally hooked, and a good dollop of horror.

The story follows Stella and Jack from their first meeting as children and then once a year after that. We are introduced to Jacks friends and aunt, all whom we form an attachment to thanks to some great character development. I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone so I’m not going to say much more other than you have to read this book, it was amazing!

I'm a sucker for J.D. Barker's books so when I was approved for this one and saw it had elements of Great Expectations--which was a book I adored teaching to my ninth graders--I admit I salivated a little...well, maybe drooling is more like it! It's a long book for sure but SO worth it! Jack and Stella meet at the cemetery when they are young and Stella is reading Great Expectations. Wildly attracted to her, Jack is confused when Stella treats him like a commoner and belittles him every chance she gets. But he continues to visit his parent's graves on the same day each year, often running into her and falling for her as they get older. But this is just the tip of the iceberg and there is SO much more to this novel--including violence, murder--well, you know the drill if you love Barker's 4MK series! There are also many great twists and turns, love, devotion, redemption, and forgiveness. So buckle up and be prepared for a wild ride that you won't soon forget!

My first thought about this JD Barker novel was what an unwieldy title, but this terrific multi-genre mystery thriller is a captivating and emotional roller coaster of a read, revolving around Dicken's Great Expectations whilst paying tribute to Stephen King. First though, you need to ensure you have time to sink into the story, the book is long, but rest assured you will notice this as you become immersed and will not want to stop until it all concludes. Young Jack Thatch is living an impoverished life with his Aunt Jo, whose love for him runs deep, his life has been touched by heartbreaking tragedy when his parents died in a horrifying car crash. On visiting his parents grave in the cemetery, Jack encounters 8 year old Stella sitting on a bench, reading the best book in the world, Great Expectations, for Stella, Jack is Pip. Their meeting might well have been brief, but Jack is captivated and cannot forget her.

Despite turning up numerous times to see if he can see Stella again, it takes a year to the day before Jack sees Stella again, and through the years they meet on the exact same day. Detective Faustino Brier and his partner are puzzled when the body of a dead man is found in the strangest of circumstances, he is burnt and charred, yet his clothes are untouched, and every year on the same day, another body turns up. In a world of shadows, in the most secret and isolated of laboratories is a boy, codenamed Subject D, a boy with the kind of abilities that ensures he will never be released. Through the years, Barker develops his characters in a narrative that includes oodles of suspense, road trips, a Jack surrounded by death, and twists as surprising connections become clear. This is the most intriguing, haunting, and riveting of novels, of love, friendship and a coming of age tale. This is one hell of a thrill ride which I recommend highly. Many thanks to Hampton Creek Press for an ARC.

If Netflix's Stranger Things and the movie Boyhood (the one filmed over 12 years) had a crossover, I would imagine this would be the book. While I was overwhelmed by the length at first (I had just finished Steven King's IT and wasn't sure if I wanted to spend another month on one single book), I am glad I gave this one a whirl.

It does not feel like a nearly 800-page book. It was hard to put down and all the characters felt well-developed and I was truly invested in the plot. It starts out as a seemingly normal coming of age book, but quickly becomes so so much more deep and twisted.

I highly recommend this one. Honestly I would not change a single thing about it. JD Barker is quickly eclipsing some of my favorite authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I did not read the blurb for this book. I got the NetGalley email inviting me to read it and because it's J.D. Barker I immediately downloaded it. Mr. Barker has slowly entered my list of favorites. His 4MK series was the golden ticket. I had heaps of fun reading this book (even when I questioned the decisions of some of the characters many times).

She Has A Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be departs from his previous work. This book was incredibly satisfying for me. I have to say that I sensed a strong StephenKing-nesque vibe in it. Perhaps it was just the vibe of excellent storytelling.

Do not be afraid of its massive length. I often wondered (as I knew I owed NetGalley an honest review) through the story if it was too long and it could have been shortened. I suppose anything can be chopped if one wants to! I decided it was as long as the story took to be told. Some stories take longer than others. The book spans through decades in the lives of the characters, and I enjoyed knowing them as they matured and aged.

I will not repeat the blurb in my review. I can only say that I felt engaged throughout the book, that I thoroughly enjoyed its premise and that I could not put it down until it was over. There is a supernatural element to the story. One that you'll have to find out about as you read it. If this does not seem appealing to you, I encourage you to make an exception and let Barker's flawless narrative guide you. The story themes are more on family, friendship, forgiveness, and love.

If you are a Dickens' fan, you may recognize many elements of Great Expectations in this story. I believe this is Barker's homage to Charlie's work. You do not need to have read Dickens' story to enjoy it though. A quick Wikipedia search will help you connect both stories, should you be that curious (I was!) and you may get an additional kick out of the book.




I received an ARC from NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! This was awesome.

Love the author's writing style, but the pacing seemed off compared to the MK series. A lot of time devoted to build up, but the action was all tell rather than show.

“Life is a series of crossroads, and most of the time, they lead down one-way streets.”

Ladies and Gentlemen!
May I have your attention please?
I declare this book deliciously delectable. This book ROCKED! I am rocked!
I deliberately read it at a snail’s pace in order to savor every little detail, every sentence and every instance.

I love Charles Dickens and have read and cherished almost all of his work. I read Great Expectation for the first time when I was 12 and reread it a couple of years ago. Although this book is inspired by the masterpiece, it is brilliant and refreshing in its own right.

The characters (some lovable, some pleasant and a few despicable) are so well-developed and wonderfully sketched, that little by little you realize you have become a member of the family, a part of their lives and at the end, when the time to say goodbye is fast approaching (all good things must come to an end) you find yourself addicted, mesmerized, haunted.

“A moment can be an eternity, if we let it.”

Every year on August 8, on the anniversary of his patents’ death, Jack Thatch and his aunt Jo go to the cemetery and visit their graves. One day on August 8, Jack sees a girl sitting on a bench in the cemetery. Her name is Stella, she carries Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and she calls Jack “Pip”.

“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”
-Charles Dickens, Great expectations

Dear reader, if you like suspense and mystery, then this book is for you. If you like an enjoyable love story, then this book is for you. If you like to lose yourself for a while in the land of fantasy, then this book is for you. You’re going to be in for the ride of your life.

Thanks to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and the NetGalley for the book.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge fan of J.D. Barker. Having read all of his published books, I seriously could not wait to get my hand on this book. If you haven't read his previous books, do so NOW! You will not regret it. 

This book will take you on a course of Jack Thatch's life from a child to an adult. You will be introduced to many characters throughout the book and I was 100 percent invested in every single one. Every character is unique and you want to know everything about them and their backstory.

Stella is another main character and focal point in the story. I was beyond intrigued with her abilities. I wanted to know how, why, who did it, can it go away.....soooo many thoughts will run through your mind!

There were so many questions I could not wait to get the answers to and when I did get them, everything clicked into place and blew my mind. 

Some people may be afraid to pick up this book because of the "supernatural" feel to it and my only advice is, don't let that scare you off. If you want a haunting, thrilling, edge of your seat, unputdownable book...this is it! 

J.D. even throws in a little romance and had tears in my eyes. Yes, you read that right. One of my favorite thriller/horror authors had tears in my eyes!! Truly mind blowing!! 

This book is very long but reads fast. I think the length of this book allows for the details to be so precise. I swear you visualize the story as your reading it due to the amazing details in the writing. 

I would love to see this book become a movie but only if they stuck to JD's details and stayed true to the book. 

I want to talk about this book in depth but you have to experience this one without spoilers. Just pick it up and dive right it. You will get sucked in so deeply and it won't let you go until the end. It's that good!!