Book Review: She has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be by J.D. Barker

She has a Broken Thing where her Heart Should Be by J.D. Barker
Source: Physical ARC from author
Pages: 774 pages
Publisher: Hampton Creek Press
Genre: Horror/sci-fi/thriller/etc

Goodreads Description: "A haunting tale of suspense, rendered with the masterful skill only Barker could muster.

After the loss of his parents, young Jack Thatch first met Stella as a child--this cryptic little girl of eight with dark hair and darker eyes, sitting alone on a bench in the cemetery clutching her favorite book. Gone moments later, the brief encounter would spark an obsession. She'd creep into his thoughts, his every waking moment, until he finally finds her again exactly one year later, sitting upon the same bench, only to disappear again soon after.

The body of a man found in an alley, every inch of his flesh horribly burned, yet his clothing completely untouched. For Detective Faustino Brier, this wasn't the first, and he knew it wouldn't be the last. It was no different from the others. He'd find another just like it one year from today. August 9, to be exact.

Isolated and locked away from the world in a shadowy lab, a little boy known only as Subject "D" waits, grows, learns. He's permitted to speak to no one. He has never known the touch of another. Harboring a power so horrific, those in control will never allow him beyond their walls.

All of them linked in ways unimaginable.

SHE HAS A BROKEN THING WHERE HER HEART SHOULD BE conjures thoughts of early King and Koontz. A heart-pounding ride that creeps under your skin and will have you turning pages long into the night."


MY REVIEW:
"The broken heart.  You think you will die, but you just keep living, day after day after terrible day." - Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Jack Thatch meets Stella in a cemetery.  "Gone moments later, the brief encounter would spark an obsession" (from the synopsis).  Jack is haunted by Stella.  Meanwhile, Detective Brier is haunted by the unsolved case on his desk, Preacher is a killer on the move, and Subject D is locked in a secured ward.  And the people in white are coming.

This book was exceptionally amazing!  I cannot say too much about my love for this book... Not only because it was a genre-bender.  Not only because it reminded me of Stephen King's best books.  Not only because it was so readable 700 pages felt like nothing.  Not only because of the literary references...  I could go on!

Let's start with genre-bending.  If you've read J.D. Barker's 4MK series, there is a little bit of the police procedural mixed in here, as well.  BUT also, suspense, sci-fi, horror, even a bit of romance... And it totally works, guys!!

Which brings me to Stephen King (which so often happens).  And this is probably one of the highest compliments I can give a book/an author because I love Stephen King.  When Stephen King is at his best, he blends genres the way J.D. Barker has here and it makes the unbelievable completely realistic.  Not only that, the reason why I love Stephen King is that no matter how unbelievable the plot, his characters are real.  And their emotions are real.  And that's why this book reminded me of him.  J.D. Barker wrote a crazy story here, but it's believable because the characters were so real and so emotional.  I was totally invested in the characters - especially Jack and his Auntie Jo.  I loved them.  I still think about them.

Wanting to know what happened to them is partially what kept me flipping pages in this brick of a book, but the plot also was so intriguing and suspenseful.  The layout of the novel was also fabulous.  Not too many POV, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the reports sprinkled in about "Subject D."  They were so creepy!  Loved it!

Finally, for a book-lover the literary references to Great Expectations were maybe what sends this book completely over the edge.  The mystery/thriller, horror, and sci-fi genre all are looked down upon by literary snobs.  This book was smart.  And the references to Dickens added an extra layer of meaning and depth.

I loved every second of this 700 something page book!  It never lagged!  It kept me up at night and reading throughout the day when I should have been doing so many things... like unpacking ...or eating!  Read it!!

5 genre-bending, obsessive, memorable, and mind-blowing stars!

Thank you to J.D. Barker and Hampton Creek Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.