Fall to Pieces Review and Giveaway

 

Fall to Pieces

by Becky Flade

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GENRE: Romantic suspense

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BLURB:

Detective Alexandra Danvers is determined to bring child killer, Arthur Book, to justice, no matter the cost. Detective Xavier Knight is asked to evaluate Lexi’s fitness for duty. He fears investigating Lexi could allow a monster to walk free. Holding onto their own secrets, they launch a covert investigation into Arthur Book who could cost Lexi and Xavier their careers, including their lives.

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Excerpt 

It was an order. One Xavier briefly considered disregarding, but he hadn’t seen Sharon in over a year. “The way you reacted when I took that job with Internal Affairs in Boston, I would’ve bet my left nut you’d never follow suit.” Xavier grinned. “But here you are Divisional Commander of Internal Affairs.”

“It was, is, a smart career move.” Jack stood and opened the door wide.

Xavier followed him inside. The interior was charming. He recognized furniture, photos, and knick-knacks from their old home in Baltimore mixed among newer pieces. It felt both familiar and foreign. The story of my life. He hadn’t had a home, not a real one, in years. He didn’t know why, didn’t want to know why. That fact made him melancholy. Xavier chose the solitary, nearly vagabond lifestyle intentionally. Moving from city to city, police department to police department, no friends, no roots, no obligations - like the one that had brought him here and partnered him with Alexandra Danvers.

“I will not railroad her.”

“You won’t need to. She’s a train wreck.”

The door closed behind Xavier, and the snick of the lock catching felt oddly final.

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Review

Becky Flade doesn't mess around. You know who her heroine, Lexi, is from the first page. Tough, gritty, jaded, broken; Lexi has suffered horrific loss that left scars on her soul. Lexi has PTSD and a penchant for self-destructive behavior.

Xavier Knight is assigned as Lexi's new partner. The first day on the job, the pair are sent to investigate the murder of a child. But Xavier isn't just a new partner. He's been sent by the Divisional Commander of  Internal Affairs to assess Lexi's fitness for duty.

The book is broken into brief chapters written in a straightforward style.

The book could be triggering for more sensitive readers or anyone who has experienced the loss of a child. The scene where the victim's mother describes him to the police and Lexi confirms the boy's identity grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go.

The story has a dark, brooding atmosphere that I appreciated. The emotions between Lexi and Xavier emerge naturally, never seeming forced. Lexi and Xavier need to work together against inept and/or corrupt police officials and procedures if they are going to have a chance of bringing young Tommy's killer to justice.

As a writer myself I sometimes have difficulty reviewing books without thinking what I'd have done differently. Not in this case. This book has a very distinct personality. It defied me to try and make changes to the story or structure and I was unable to rise to the challenge. I respectfully backed off on my editor's tendencies and let this riveting tale lead me into the darkest of places.

Fall to Pieces is a story that readers won't soon forget. It is definitely suitable only for adult audiences and best suited to readers who prefer their detective fiction on the grungy and gritty side.

I only had a few minor quibbles with the story. For instance, a seasoned cop like Lexi would surely know what HIPAA is, but she doesn't. There is a scene in the bar where Lexi thinks of herself as the "odd man out." Since Lexi isn't a man, it would be better to phrase this as the odd woman out, the odd person out, or the odd one out. Also, although some people find this trope romantic, I dislike scenes where a man silences a woman by kissing her. 

My personal preferences don't detract from the overall quality of the story. This is a brief but intense read. It took me a week to read it. Some readers may move through it more quickly. I rate Fall to Pieces a solid four out of five stars.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

When I was little I thought everyone had stories in their head. When I found out that wasn’t true and that only special people had stories to tell, I wanted to be one of the people who shared their stories with the world. Here I am, making my own dreams come true, one happily ever after at a time.

I'd love to have you visit with me at any of my virtual homes or write to me directly at beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Flade_Becky/

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Purchase links for Fall to Pieces:

Kindle US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KT3PCBY

Kindle UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09KT3PCBY

Kindle CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09KT3PCBY

Kindle AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09KT3PCBY

Smashwords – Fall to Pieces – a book by Becky Flade

The entries for Nook, Apple, and Kobo are not yet live

The book will be $0.99.

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Becky Flade will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.