Broken But Not Dead

by Joylene Nowell Butler

Brendell Kisêpîsim Meshango is of Métis heritage and a PhD university professor in Prince George, British Columbia. When Brendell resigns from the university and retreats to her isolated cabin to repair her psyche, she is confronted by a masked intruder. His racial comments lead her to believe she is the solitary victim of a hate crime. However, is all as it appears? After two bizarre days inflicting a sadistic captivity, the intruder mysteriously disappears.

Taught by her mother to fear and distrust the mainstream-based power structures, and with her stalker possibly linked to a high level of government, Brendell conceals the incident from the police. But will keeping quiet keep her safe?

Then her beloved daughter, Zoë, is threatened — and Brendell takes matters into her own hands. To save Zoë, Brendell searches for the stalker and confronts not just a depraved madman but her own fears and prejudices.

This second novel by Joylene Nowell Butler will keep you spellbound, taking you on suspenseful journey as the hunter becomes the hunted and the disturbing truth is discovered.

284 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2011

About the author

I am Canadian/Métis, the author of suspense novels Dead Witness, Maski: Broken But Not Dead, Break Time, Matowak, and Kiss of the Assassin. In 2012 Broken But Not Dead won the IPPY Silver Medal. Born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, (April 25, 1953) I am the youngest of three children of Charles (Charlie) Murray Nowell, veteran, farmer and truck driver, and Gabrielle Frances, (nee Desjardins), a member of the wartime singing trio The Desjardins Sisters. When my father was discharged from the Navy, he moved us from Victoria to Haney, (Maple Ridge) BC. I grew up with horses, cows, pigs and chickens. A regular tomboy. I received a Bachelor's Degree in English and Philosophy from Douglas College and attended Simon Fraser University. In 1979, my husband Ralph and I moved our five sons to Prince George, BC. In 1992 we moved an hour west of the city and built a log/stick house on Cluculz Lake, 36 km east of Vanderhoof. Twenty-five years later, we sold our home and today spend six months in Bucerias, Nayarit, and six months dividing our time between BC’s interior and anywhere else we may end up at.

Reviews

[Mike Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thriller set in the northern Canadian city of Prince George, the novel pits a Metis English professor involved in a home invasion against an assailant who lets her go but threatens her by phone. Afraid to tell the police and bent on protecting her twenty-year-old daughter, the professor fights against her dead mother's abusive voice to wrench herself from a horrifying situation to seek out the perpetrator and bring her terror to an end.
While the writing is not consistently well edited, the novel has a strong flow with continued tension. The emotional roller coaster is underscored by family relationships and a cruel past which is constantly relived during the stress of the situation. The distrust of the local police force is reinforced by flashbacks filled with deep horror and an abiding wariness. Very worth reading.

[Dannette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book free through goodreads first-reads.
The writing itself was quite good, but the story fell short.
There was not that slow building tension that I think is most effective in this type of mystery/thriller.

[Keith Pyeatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, motivated by their pasts in different ways. I loved the deep characterization, twists and turns, and I always enjoy this author's style of writing, punchy without being choppy.