I liked this mystery, but not enough to buy the next book in the series. ( )

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kate's on the run from a bad bad man. He tried to kill her but he failed and as a result more people are dying. Kate doesn't count on falling in love with the FBI agent sent to help close the case. Honestly, I didn't even request this book for the romance part. I love a good suspense/thriller book and this one seemed to fit that description when I came across it on NetGalley. The romance was an extra bonus. Coriell kept me guessing throughout the story and even when the killer was revealed, it took a while for me to fully comprehend why and how. Looking forward to the next book in this series. ( )

She’d discovered each attack mirrored hers except for one thing: She survived.

If you followed along with my updates, you'd know I was really enjoying this from the beginning. Kate who survived an attack by her brother goes on the run only to be found by Hayden, a FBI agent who is hunting the Broadcast Butcher serial killer. The first half has everyone thinking the Butcher is Kate's brother but there were secondary characters who had me side-eyeing them. The second half switched gears and has the Butcher's identity a secret again and the hunt continues.

The first half is more focused on the mystery/suspense plot about the serial killer, we get povs from the killer that help bring a chill to the tone (in one scene, the killer uses their latest victims blood as lube to masturbate with). There's also povs from a police sergeant helping to search for the killer and a colleague rival of Kate's, along with Kate and Hayden's povs. I thought the secondary characters were great red-herrings in the beginning and helped ramp up the mystery and suspense but the second half and ending kept some going too long and then one in particular ended up feeling a tad ridiculous.

She’d just shaken the unshakable Hayden Reed, and if she wasn’t so damned furious at him, she’d laugh.

The romance does take more of a back seat, which I thought fit the overall structure of the story but the second half does have Hayden and Kate feeling more for each other, the bedroom scene was pretty much fade to black though. This was more of a book of friendships, Kate's friendship while being a caregiver to Smokey Joe and the Apostles, what the group of FBI agents Hayden works with are called for their talent with getting the job done in unusual ways. We get a couple glimpses of other Apostle agents and I definitely want to read their stories.

This had a strong beginning but the end really overworked itself with dragging out redherrings and creating a very convoluted villain, it's probably not a good sign when your serial killer is finally identified and my first thought was "Who?" as it took me a couple seconds to remember who they were. I'm still going to search out other books in the series because the mystery was pretty intriguing there for a while. ( )

The first installment of Shelley Coriell's The Apostles series, The Broken is an intricately plotted and suspenseful mystery. Full of intriguing twists and turns, this compelling novel moves at a furious pace from beginning to end.

Broadcast journalist Katrina Erickson barely escaped with her life after a brutal attack by a knife-wielding attacker. Three years later and now living under the alias Kate Johnson, she is a live-in companion to a feisty disabled vet when she learns that her attacker has begun killing again. Knowing Katrina is the key to unmasking the Broadcast Butcher, FBI Agent Hayden Reed single-mindedly tracks her down and they, along with the other members of the elite FBI team known as The Apostles, work round the clock to catch the Butcher before he strikes again.

Kate escaped her dysfunctional and abusive childhood and through hard work and dedication, she forged a successful career as a broadcast journalist. In the aftermath of the vicious assault, she lost faith in the justice system and she now leads a lonely and fearful life. Kate is not weak or timid and despite her trepidation at emerging from hiding, she is quite determined to aid Hayden in his investigation. As the story progresses, Kate slowly regains her confidence and never lets her worries stand in the way of following where the evidence leads.

Hayden is absolutely brilliant and super dedicated to his career. Despite the atrocities he investigates, he remains hopeful he will catch the criminals he is seeking. Hayden has an uncanny ability to get into the minds of the suspects and he relentlessly pursues any and all leads. Coming off his own personal tragedy, Hayden immerses himself in the search for the Butcher and despite his concerns for Kate's safety, he concedes she has valuable insight into the investigation.

Kate has surprising information about the killer's possible identity and their investigation is off to a exciting start. The evidence takes them in several, sometimes unforeseen, directions. Ever conscious of the risks, Kate and Hayden follow the clues but dead ends and shocking discoveries leave them frustrated by their lack of progress.

Their close quarters forge an unexpected intimacy between Kate and Hayden and they are surprised by their growing attraction for one another. Although their focus remains primarily on the search for the Butcher, Kate and Hayden begin to reveal bits and pieces of their pasts and gradually, their relationship takes a personal turn. They do eventually act on their passion, but their love scenes fade to black.

The Broken is an extremely well-written and tightly plotted mystery. The murders take place off screen but there is no denying the brutality of the crimes. A series of red herrings and misdirects seamlessly and carefully conceals the killer's identity and motives for the killings until the novel's dramatic conclusion.

Shelley Coriell's The Apostles is off to a strong beginning and I cannot wait to read the next novel in the series, The Buried! ( )

Kate Johnson is in hiding.

Three years ago, her brother tried to kill her, and tried again after she left the hospital. Kate Johnson is a new name. She's gone from broadcast journalist to home health aide and online jewelry maker. For the last several months, she's been working for old soldier Smokey Joe, who is happy to run her online business in exchange for having someone who is patient and competent with his PTSD, and who doesn't think he's helpless because he's blind.

But the idyll is coming to an end. Someone has been killing women broadcast journalists, every four weeks, with the exact MO that Kate's brother Jason used when he tried to kill her. The killer has been dubbed the Broadcaster Butcher, and there's no doubt in Kate's mind that he's trying to force her out of hiding so that he can finish the job of killing her.

And FBI Special Agent Hayden Reed is on the trail of the Butcher, and has connected the unsuccessful attack on Katrina Erickson--Kate's former name--to the Butcher.

Kate is smart and tough and leads with her feelings. As a Reno tv journalist, she was famous for her "Justice for All" segments. Hayden is smart and tough and leads with logic, but the feelings are there, deep and powerful, even though locked down. They are both grownups. At no point is Kate a mere damsel in distress, and at no point is Hayden an off-the-shelf Knight in Shining Armor. They are both strong characters with their own strengths and weaknesses, and both major players in what happens.

The plot is nicely complex, with multiple very neatly laid red herrings to distract the reader from noticing the real Butcher. The secondary characters--Hatch, Evie, Smokey Joe, Maeve--are very well done, and Lottie is an absolute delight.

There are times when Coriell seems to be dragging the information out a bit slowly, but if you want a nicely exciting suspense story with good characters and good relationship building, this is it.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. ( )