Li
fe turns from barely tolerable to complete hell when Maddy Eastin’s impulsive plan to win back the attention of her absentee father backfires. Word of her scheme spreads through her high school, but when mockery escalates to cyberbullying, Maddy and her failed stunt become headline news. But the worst is yet to come…
A disturbed man is fighting the overwhelming urge to surrender to his true nature—a moral code molded by a sadistic father who taught him that a girl needs proper training to become the perfect subservient woman. As he watches Maddy on the evening news, his already fractured psyche completely splinters. She’s the girl he’s been waiting for.
When Maddy disappears, she’s labeled a runaway even though her mother believes it was foul play. Will the two detectives investigating Maddy’s disappearance find her before it’s too late? Or has she already fallen prey to the vicious stranger hunting her?
This mystery/psychological thriller unfolds through the viewpoints of five deeply flawed characters. Each is on their own emotionally charged journey that ultimately intersects in a collision course of devastating consequences.
What’s It About?
Maddy fakes a kidnapping, in an effort to get the attention of her absentee father. When the truth comes to light, Maddy’s mother is furious, and the kids at her school tease her mercilessly. What she wasn’t expecting, was to get the attention of a seriously disturbed man…
My Thoughts
I voted for this novel to win the KDP select program in 2015, and not surprisingly, it did! I was asked by Amazon to provide a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review, upon acceptance of this book.
I got lost into this fast-paced psychological suspense quickly, immediately feeling sympathy for Maddy who craved the love of a father who left her for his new family. Her plan was impulsive and not very well thought out; typical of most teenagers. I felt terrible for her when she crossed paths with the villain. Labeled as a “troubled teen”, the police were unwilling to invest anymore time into her case. I could feel and sympathize with the frustration her mother felt.
Maddy’s character felt authentic to me. I liked her the most, despite her many flaws.
The story was dark at times and even a bit cringe-worthy – (e.g. A sadistic father who taught his sons to demean and disrespect women). Splintered definitely brings out the emotions of anger, sadness, and even happiness. At times it reminded me of a Law & Order episode, with the unpredictable twists, turns, and heart-racing suspense.
About The Author
Writing has always been in my blood. Since the age of thirteen when I coauthored a cheesy romance novel in a blue, spiral bound notebook, I knew I wanted to pursue writing as a career. But somewhere along the way, I lost my voice. Sure I could craft a witty email or write marketing copy for other authors, as I did in a previous job, but to write that great American novel seemed just out of reach.
As is often happens, life simply got in the way. I got married, had three children, and adopted a black Labrador. As a stay-at-home mom, I was lucky to get an hour a day to myself. And when I found those few precious minutes, they were spent reading a good book. A voracious reader, I’ve been researching the mystery and suspense genres for more than two decades.
It was in my search for my own identity after staying at home with the kids that ultimately lead me back to my love of writing. I started my journey towards publication in August 2010. The first draft only took four months to write, but was followed by an enormous amount of time rewriting, and an even longer time searching for a publisher. Determination, perseverance, and God’s blessing made my publishing dream a reality. I signed a contract with Black Rose Writing on May 18, 2012 and my first mystery novel, Dead Like Me, debuted in November 2012. The second installment in the Detective Kate Springer series, Deadly Fantasies, debuted December 19, 2013. Since that time, the book’s rights have reverted back to me and I’ve gone indie!
My newest mystery novel, “Splintered,” debuts in January 2016. In this story, I’m introducing my readers to a whole new set of characters. “Splintered” was chosen as a 2015 Kindle Scout winner and the e-book and audio book will be published by Kindle Press.
A Well Read Woman 