This was a solid detective thriller! It was a quick read, very exciting, and kept me guessing throughout. It does a great job of introducing a LOT of potential suspects, and they're all super shady. It was definitely tough to guess who was actually responsible, and there were some really interesting twists in the process.

I also enjoyed the LGBT representation in the book, I thought those characters were presented in a great, normalized way.

My only negative was the personal life of the main detective, those parts of the story were not as entertaining and distracting at times. For that, I would not seek out more books in this series, but I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this one!

20-year-old student Amber is ambushed and abducted when she’s leaving her flat to go out on a date she met on a dating app. A few days later, she’s found in a lake stabbed in her chest. She was an outgoing and happy girl with lots of friends and no enemies. Not much later, an attack on another female student goes wrong and she barely escapes. She also had a profile on the same app.

It is up to DI Gina Harte and her team to solve those crimes before another girl falls victim to this creep. But we find out that the perpetrator has his eyes on one of the policewomen that have a profile on the dating app but we don’t know who. Both Jhanvi and Paula (who’s engagement just flopped) were already on it and after she finds out that her boss and lover Briggs also has a profile, Gina makes one herself. For investigative purposes, she claims but the men that send her a smiley look very attractive.

The reader also possesses some knowledge as to the motivation of the killer that the police doesn’t but the full story is only revealed in the last pages of the book. It’s always just a bit more complicated than one thinks.



This is the 8th book in this series, but they can all be read on their own. It’s always better to read the books in the right order for the continuity of the background stories.

This book really focuses on the criminal aspects although we can say that Jahnvi Kapoor gets the main role this time. I hadn’t seen much of this very courageous PC in the last book, but she turns out to be a powerful and brave woman. I don’t know if I could do the same things that she ends up doing if I ended up in similar circumstances but it’s a well-done job! The home life of the other officers, even that of Gina and Paula is only mentioned in passing remarks or where it influences the narrative.

Carla Kovacs knows how to weave an interesting and suspenseful tale. As is customary there are a bunch of people that behave very suspiciously because they harbour secrets that have nothing to do with this investigation. This way, valuable police time gets wasted on non-related matters as ex-marital affairs and drugs that could have been used for real leads.

It was excruciating to watch Maddie and her Nanna in the knowledge that she was destined to be the next victim. She’s such a caring and loving person. I hoped that she could be saved in time. 😊

The investigation focuses mainly on the imaginary dating app that’s intended for mere dating and not for serious relationships. It also shows the inherent dangers of such apps. You never know for sure who you’re talking to and when you meet IRL, things may be different from what you expect. I have been hitched for a very long time and never tried Tinder or other dating apps and I do the pity young people of today. Even before Covid closed down pubs and parties, they seem to have lost their appeal as a meeting place for singles.

As to the culprit, I didn’t guess his identity this time. This person was actually off my radar, so it’s a good surprise. I had my eyes on a different suspect but in retrospect, there are a few, well-concealed hints.

I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.

This is the second book I have read by author, Carla Kovach, and I have to say this series is pretty damn good! I want to note that this is the 8th book in a series, but it can read as a stand alone book. I started with my first Detective Gina Harte book last year with "Their Silent Graves" and I loved it! This book was no different.

This book alternates between perspectives, which I feel gives the feel of a well rounded story, but also an air of mystery. Sure, you get "first hand" accounts of what is happening, but one particular character is unknown up until the end, which left me guessing and being completely surprised.

The murder storyline is original and intriguing in itself. I really enjoyed turning each page as I was left guessing who the murderer could be right up until the end. We also get to follow along with the ongoing saga of Detective Gina Harte I was only recently introduced to but could follow along with no issues of having only read one previous book in this series. The Detective Harte storyline takes a bit of a backseat compared to the other book in the series I've read, but fit in nicely with the overall plot.

There are quite a few characters in this book, and with the storyline jumping perspectives, I will admit I was a bit lost keeping everyone straight at first. After the first handful of chapters it was easy to follow along. The array of characters made the mystery more exciting and for awhile it seemed that everyone could have a motive for murder and everyone could be suspect.

This was a fun, quick read and I have plans to read this entire series, as the writing is phenomenal.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an e-ARC to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read for me!

"The Broken Ones" is set to be released here in the U.S. on March 1, 2021 so pre-order now!

Happy Reading!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Carla Kovach, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Broken Ones in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I have read all of the Gina Harte series and have enjoyed them all. This book was no exception.
The storyline was well thought out and written with compelling characters. I was hooked from the start.
Worth a read.

The Broken Ones by Carla Kovach is the eighth installment of an addictive series focused on Detective Gina Harte. As with previous books in the series, this one can easily be read as a standalone.

The body of Amber Slater is found near a lake and, along with ligature marks, her lips have been glued shut. DI Gina Harte is on the case, and endeavours to question those in the popular young woman's inner circle. When a second woman is discovered to be missing, DI Harte faces a race against the clock to stop an assailant who seems to have no intention of abandoning a very sinister agenda.

I have enjoyed this series from its very beginning, and always look forward to reuniting with Gina and her team.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Amber Slater heads out to a party but she never comes home. Residing with university roommates, only one of them might have a clue as to where Amber might have gone. So, as far as Detective Gina Harte is concerned, he is a probable suspect. Someone else is on Gina's radar as well. Not only did Amber not turn up at the restaurant she works at, a chef there does not have a strong alibi.

After some searching, Amber's body is found at a local park. One disturbing piece of evidence is that her lips have been sealed shut. When another woman goes missing, Gina gets really concerned. Evidence shows that Amber might not have been killed immediately, so Gina is hopeful that they will find the other missing woman in time.

I have read all but the first two books in the Detective Gina Harte series. I have come to know and respect Gina as a dedicated detective, especially as she came from a disturbing past herself. Each book in the series touches on Gina's past, as well as her expertise, so I think readers could to well with this book as a standalone. However, as much as possible, I do try and read previous series titles when I have a book for review.

One aspect of this book is that the girl who originally went missing used an app called Appydater. It is this app that proves to tie the victims together, but it also plays into other characters in this book. If you like thrilling crime fiction, then I would highly recommend this book, as well as all the previous books in this series. Whether it is the twists and the turns, the occasional surprises or the thrilling conclusion, The Broken Ones proved to be an excellent read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

That was tense!

The body of young woman, Amber Slater, a student, is found on the shores of a lake. She has ligature marks, a stab wound to the chest and, eerily, her lips had been superglued shut! DI Gina Harte and her team catch this disturbing case. From the start though you know the killer stalks his victims, he hides in the bushes and watches them, he stands outside their windows. It pretty creepy behaviour. The more people the police interview, the more question marks there are though. It seems many people have something to hide. The author dropped those little red herrings expertly throughout the book. You were never quite sure which clues were important.

Soon another girl is being stalked and, just for once, I don’t want to say any more about the plot. But I will say that I really, really enjoyed this. The police officers are such a close knit and supportive group without any dark secrets, well not too dark and not relevant in this book! The pace picked up and ramped up and then galloped away - someone’s life was in the balance! Would they be in time? The end was very suspenseful and satisfying. I didn’t guess who the killer was for a long time so well done on the whodunit side of things too.

As with many of the Gina Harte books the outcome is tinged with sadness. So many of the bad things in many of her stories could have been avoided if people had just treated each other better! She often illustrates how bullying or abuse or other neglect or mistreatment causes her perpetrators to succumb to the stresses within their minds with dire consequences. Random acts of kindness can go a long way! Anyway this particular book was suspenseful, fast paced and well plotted. It will appeal to thriller lovers and those who like a crime mystery. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Carla Kovach for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

4 strong stars.

This is one series I’m always impatient for! As soon as I see it’s available on NetGalley I request it straight away as there’s no way I can wait any longer for publication day.

As I dove into the next instalment I pleasantly settled back into the lives of Gina Harte and her team. All the familiar relationships come rushing back and within a couple of chapters I feel like I’m there watching from the sidelines.

The storyline for this was intriguing. I like to guess the culprit but as I settled in, I naturally fell into super sleuth mode and all my suspicions are activated and alert! Lol

I can say I was too immersed into the storyline and was totally fooled! It sometimes happens and when it does it’s a nice surprise.

Another fabulous novel and once again can’t wait for the next!

The Broken Ones by Carla Kovach is the eighth book in the Gina Harte series. I have not read any of the other books in the series but after reading this I'll definitely go back and catch up on the previous ones. I really liked this book and Gina Harte is a strong and interesting character that I would like to read more about. The book was very suspenseful and thrilling with clever twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way. I have always liked British crime novels like the Rebus series by Ian Rankin and this is on the same level. If you are looking for a fast paced crime thriller then this is a book for you, highly recommended.

Thanks to Bookouture, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book an advance and share my honest review.

Pretty good mystery. I enjoy the book. Kept my interest pretty much the whole book. I would recommend this book. Thank you

After reading ‘Her Last Mistake’ in this series, I was excited to spend time with delightful and my favorite detective Gina Harte and her brilliant team.

After the body of a student Amber was found in the lake, Gina and her team had to catch the killer before more lives were lost. The audacious killer has his/her sights set upon the one who was close to the team.

Loved to see the team in action, the painstaking way the investigation has been carried out like trawling through the crime scenes, going through every debris in it, not leaving anything, treat everyone remotely involved with the victim as suspects and carefully eliminate one by one from their list until they reach the perpetrator. To make things worse for the team, there were a lot of suspects each who had something to hide and wouldn’t co-operate and absconds from them.

Readers get glimpses of the killer's mind and his/her delusions and I was surprised to find it a little boring and failed to capture my attention. These parts were creepy and involved a lot of stalking and I was scared by this.

It was hard to pinpoint suspicions on any particular character as Kovach brilliantly plotted this in a way so there were a lot of suspects. After half way through the book, I was able to suspect one but glad I was blindsided by the reveal of the killer. It has brilliant twists and turns but the killer and their obsessions weren’t exciting enough and they were lackluster. Other than this, it was heart-warming to read about the dynamics of the team and how they look out for each other like they are one big family.

Overall, it was a compelling thriller filled with twists and turns and keeps the reader at the edge of their seat throughout it.

This is book #8 in the DI Gina Harte series. Whilst part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I would however recommend it is read in series order for better understanding of the character’s storylines. A young woman’s body is found in a park, with her lips glued shut amongst her injuries and Gina is on the case to track down the killer. I love Gina’s character and love not just seeing how she works, but also following her personal life. She’s had a hard life with her violent ex-husband, and this shows throughout all the books by her tough exterior and no-nonsense attitude and yet fragile and scared inner self.

The case is a tough one, with too many suspects and not enough evidence to pin any of them down. Told with interspersing chapters from the killer, the storyline is fast paced and gripping, with plenty of nail-biting moments to send chills down your spine. You are given no clue as to who the killer may be, and there are lots of red herrings and dead ends for you to work through. I love books which keep the suspense of who the killer is right until the end, and the author has done a fabulous job of keeping the tension high throughout!

Gina’s team are all back to investigate the case, but they all appear to be having their own personal problems too. I love Gina and Briggs’s on/off relationship and, whilst I wished they’d just get their act together and make it official, I still wonder whether Gina has too many past demons still in her life which will make it impossible for her to commit to anyone! Let’s hope future books will see her happier in her life, because if anyone deserves it it’s definitely Gina.

This was a great crime thriller, which had me hooked from the first page and didn’t let me go until the very end. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns and left me shocked in parts with the nature of the attacks! Another great book in the series, and I can’t wait for the next book to catch up with DI Harte again! Would definitely recommend.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

a young womans body is found by a lake, there is evidence that she had been restrained...as the evidence mounts up on their perp and with several lines of enquiry opening up gina and her team have their work cut out for them

with more red herrings and false leads you can feel the tension, which keeps you gripped right to the very end...

when one of their own goes missing the race is on to find them and with the clues piling up its a race against time

brilliant, just brilliant and i hadnt guessed who it was until near the end...so many red herrings

cant wait for the next book in the series

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Broken Ones, the eighth novel to feature DI Gina Harte of the Staffordshire Police.

Student Amber Slater disappears on her way to a date arranged through a dating app, then her body is found stabbed to death and her lips glued shut in a pond. Gina and the team are tasked with finding her killer, but things become more urgent when another young woman disappears in similar circumstances.

I enjoyed The Broken Ones which is a clever police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. It is told from various points of view, but mostly Gina and the killer’s. I don’t know if this or just my mood is the reason it didn’t really hold my attention. The killer’s identity is never revealed until the denouement but everything else is, including motive and modus operandi. This means that the reader is often watching Gina and her team play catch-up and personally I find that a bit boring. I also find fictional killers and their thoughts tiresome and this one’s delusions offer nothing new to the genre.

On the other hand the novel is well plotted and conceived. There are plenty of suspects and each one is plausible, until they no longer are. I found myself believing that every one of them could be guilty and marvelling at the author’s skill in making me, a confirmed skeptic, believe. I also appreciated the secrets being hidden and the crimes uncovered. They also seem plausible.

Gina’s personal life and history are starting to take a back seat in this novel. About time too. There is still her trust issue so on-off relationship with DCI Briggs is in trouble again but mostly she is focused on her investigation.

The Broken Ones is a good read.

The Broken Ones by Carla Kovach is the 8th book in the Gina Harte series. I always look forward to authors next book and this I think it is the best one yet.
When a body of a young girl is found in the local park with her mouth glued shut it’s Gina responsibility to find who killed her.
Amber a local girl, who is well liked not only by her friends and housemates. But also, her tutors at the local university. She is also popular at the pub that she works 3 nights a week. But when Gina and her team start investigating, there are lots of secrets that people are not telling. So, when another girl is found gravely wounded but alive. They find a link through a dating app called Appydater. The Police have a race against time to find the perpetrator.
This is another thrilling episode in the series that keeps you guessing through to the end, with all the potential leads that they must investigate. What is everyone hiding. I also love the camaraderie between the team, they are like one big happy family and the on/off relationship between Gina and Briggs to spice things up. 5 stars from me.

Wow what can I say this was another brilliant book by this author absolutely loved this author and already looking forward to the next instalment of Gina Hart and her escapades. Really warm to the characters in this authors books and was great to see Gina building more of a rapport with her colleagues in this one. This really kept me on my
Toes with lots of twists and turns and lots of wondering who the killer was. These books would make a
Great tv drama series.

I always start a new Carla Kovach book with high expectations , I haven't been disappointed yet , The Broken Ones was another fantastic Gina Hart Novel and I raced through it as usual . When the body of a young girl is found by a lake Gina and her team start to investigate her death . With clues leading back to so many people as usual we have plenty of red herrings , a dating site that seems to be a common denominator , and one of Gina's team very much in danger . What a great read , I love Gina's relationships with her team , they seem authentic and her on and off relationship with her boss always complicates things . Fantastic

I adore the Gina Harte series and every one of them is outstanding!
A murdered student is found in a frozen lake throwing Gina and the team into a pot of red herrings! Naughty lecturers, weird uni friends and a bizarre landlord keep the reader guessing to the end! It is a good day for me when a new Carla kovach comes out!

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

I always am happy to find out that a new Gina Harte story is available! Again, Carla Kovach does not disappoint her readers.

A solid suspense story with all of the great characters returning . This time they are investigating the death of a 20 year old girl. She was supposed to meet someone at a restaurant on a first date - yet she never appeared...

A wonderful MUST READ!

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.