A worthy read

This is a tricky review to write because this book was not what I expected after the first quarter or so. It is also not really one of my chosen genres - this mix of romance and crime.
But for what it is, it is a worthy read.

The romance relationship bits were a bit juvenile for me - I couldn't believe a qualified divorced doctor getting angry because a man she had met the night before on a blind date had not contacted her by 8am the next morning. Very teenagery I thought, and her angst and anger was just silly.
And I also thought the mother daughter relationship was a bit cardboard cut-out

But I also have very little experience with the genre and seem to remember other books I have read (Nora Roberts) in the same genre having quite similar situations, and complaints from me. So it is clearly me not them.

I was very invested in the little boy at the centre of the crime part of the book and certainly could have lapped up a whole lot more indepth investigation into the cause of what happened. But, again, this is not a hard core psychological thriller and as the book it is, it dealt with the little boy and family as expected.

So - I would absolutely recommend this book to those who like a bit of gentle romance, some complicated families, a dash of feel good love, and an interesting criminal event and investigation upon which to hang it all.

When considering the audiobook, this narrator does a great job. I barely noticed that it even had a narrator really - the book was just in my head. And I think that is a perfect narrator.

And let it be said and recorded - I am still going to go and listen to the next in the series, and I expect that now I have my expectations more accurately set, I shall enjoy it immensely.

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Haunting

This story was a heart wrenching but pulling fabulous. Brad is found alone at home & when the police investigate they find a horrendous scene.
I felt so much for Brad, sympathy, sadness, revulsion, all mixed. The story pulls them all in. I liked the characters around the crime scene, the police officers and the investigating team. The child psychiatrists psychologists and teams were really good. Likeable people I’d like to learn more about in future stories. Hint hint!
I wasn’t sure about the narrator at 1st but after couple of chapters I didn’t even think about her. She managed the tempo & differing in voices keeping the tale running at a want to know more pace. Think I’m used to a lot of male narrators but not anymore.
Very good & all every star to me

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1 person found this helpful

Highly recommended

Any additional comments?

I was so excited to listen to this story and I was gripped from the start, by both the story and the performance. Told from multiple viewpoints, A Child is Torn introduces us to Brad, a ten year old who claims to have murdered his parents! There are other storylines woven through the main one, each as gripping as the other. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to listening to Faceless now! Four stars for Dawn Kopman Whidden.

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Enjoyable

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Overall this book was pretty good. I liked the plot (a ten year old is discovered in a house with his parents murdered) and the character development, and I think it was really well written.

I had two minor problems with the book, one being the change between first and third person, which I struggled with. The other issue was that it felt like there were two plots, one with the crime aspect which I personally liked and had expected from this novel from the outset, and the other being the character development and romance, which detracted from the crime aspect. However, the characters were good, they felt real, and it was a really enjoyable book. I look forward to book 2.

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A tragic loss

I don't normally go for these type of book's. I was astonished by Brad and his story. There was so many great characters in this book they have all found a way into my heart. Keen to try more of this series.

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An intriguing start

We meet a lot of interesting characters in this book. Dr Hope, Jean Whitley, Keal and Keal's father, The Captain being just a few of them. The only reason this book doesn't get 5 stars is because it's not really a mystery. But, I don't want to say anymore about that issue because I'll give the game away, and this is a spoiler-free zone! It is though, a very sweet love story and, as an introduction to future Whitley and Keal mysteries is absorbing and enticing. Now that I am familiar with the characters, I am looking forward to seeing them work together to solve some difficult crimes. As an introduction to a series, it's very good

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Great story by all narration

I really enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and the plot was engaging. The story was shorter than expected but drawn out by the narrator who speaks clearly too slowly for my taste. I would have given the story a five but for the narrator.

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brilliant fiction, great narrative

Really enjoyed listening to this on audio.

This book tells the story of a murder. Brad is found sitting playing video games while his parents lay murdered upstairs. But can a little boy really be to blame for a horrific murder, or is there something else going on. Who is to blame?

This book raises some really interesting questions. I didn't guess the end and will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

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great series opener

I really enjoyed this intriguing mystery. The story revolves around Brad Madison, a young boy who, as the story opens is found at home, with the bodies of his mother and father upstairs. Brad admits to their murders but gives no reason for this inexplicable crime.

The book then focuses on a range of characters, both police and the psychologist who is trying to understand what happened.

This book is very much character based so, if you are looking for a fast-moving policy procedural with non-stop action then this might not be for you. If, however, you are looking for an intelligently written novel with sympathetic and well-rounded characters then give this a go.

Some readers might feel that there is a little too much focus on the character’s private lives at the expense of moving the story on but, in what I believe is a long running series, such character development is necessary and I personally really enjoyed getting to know Jean, Hope, The Captain and Marty in particular. I’ll be reading more in the series.

Lastly, I got this as an audio book, and I loved the narration of Beth a McIntosh. I notice that another narrator is used for the rest of the series on audio which is a shame as I’ll miss Beth’s narration.

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very intense read

This was a very good read. It held my attention from the beginning until the end. I enjoyed listening to the narrator as she brought the book to life. This book was intense. There was enough action and just a tad of romance to balance out the plot. I would definitely listen or read another book by this author. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre.

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