From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

The Broken Places

Mia Sheridan

Start date: January 22, 2025

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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last updated Sep 04, 2025 07:25AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 19, 2025 Diana rated it liked it

Shelves: tpam-challenge-2025, turning-pages-buddy-read

Not quite 3 stars

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I liked the story, but I didn't like any of the characters at all. I'll come back when I gather my thoughts and try to write a review.

1/21/25: I finished this book a few days ago, and I still can't stop thinking about it. What does that say about my rating? ...more

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Jan 24, 2025 Radd Reader rated it it was amazing

Shelves: damaged-hero-heroine, psychological-thriller-suspense, buddy-group-assigned-challenge, dark, emotional, kindle-unlimited, abusive-drunk-or-addicted-parent, favorite-author, big-secret-or-major-twist, guess-who

The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan is a book that really pulls you in, but in a way that can be difficult at times. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. The book focuses on two characters—Lennon and Ambrose—who both have some tragedy in the their pasts.

The story dives deep into themes of trauma, addiction, and healing, which makes it both hard to read and deeply thought-provoking. It’s one of those novels that paints a raw, honest picture of the s The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan is a book that really pulls you in, but in a way that can be difficult at times. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. The book focuses on two characters—Lennon and Ambrose—who both have some tragedy in the their pasts.

The story dives deep into themes of trauma, addiction, and healing, which makes it both hard to read and deeply thought-provoking. It’s one of those novels that paints a raw, honest picture of the struggles people face, especially those who’ve experienced abuse in childhood and later turn to drugs to numb the pain.

I’ll be honest, it’s tough to read about characters who are so lost or hurting. There’s something about how Sheridan writes about the brokenness of people that just hits hard. But at the same time, that’s what makes her a great storyteller. She doesn’t shy away from showing the messiness of life, and it’s that realism that keeps you turning the pages, even when you want to look away. The way addiction and trauma are explored in this book feels raw and real, especially the way the characters’ lives unfold because of what they’ve been through. It’s heartbreaking to realize that so much of this comes back to childhood, and the impact of abuse on these characters is devastating to read about.

One aspect of the book that I found optimistic was its exploration of alternative therapies. Traditional addiction treatment methods often fall short, especially when dealing with individuals grappling with deep-seated trauma. The Broken Places doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of addiction, but it also offers a glimmer of hope by incorporating approaches like EMDR and experiential therapy. These methods, which address the root causes of trauma rather than simply treating the symptoms, feel particularly relevant in a story like this. The book approaches healing from the perspective that true healing requires more than just abstinence; it demands confronting and processing the pain that drives the addiction. And while that confrontation can be truly hellish for some, it is through that very confrontation that freedom, and ultimately healing, can potentially be found.

The mystery aspect of the book was another part that kept me hooked. There’s a slow reveal of the person behind the killings and, of course, the “why” behind everything. I won’t spoil it, but I will say that while some of the others in my buddy read had guessed the identity of the killer early on, I had a different suspect in mind. What kept me really invested was the way the “why” played out—it was a surprise, and one that made everything come together in a way I didn’t expect. It kept me guessing the whole way through, which is always a sign of a good thriller.

By the end of the book, I was on the edge of my seat, torn between wanting to look away and being too riveted to stop. That last portion really amps up the tension, and even though part of me wanted to take a break from the heaviness, the story pulled me in.

The epilogue, which fast-forwards nearly 30 years into the future, provided a hopeful glimpse of what can happen when people receive the right support. It was a nice, hopeful ending to a book that, at times, felt quite dark.

Overall, I think Mia Sheridan does a wonderful job of balancing the heavy, hard-hitting realities of addiction and trauma with the potential for healing and redemption. It’s not an easy book to read, but it’s a powerful one that shows just how complicated and difficult life can be, especially when you’re dealing with past wounds.

If you’re looking for something that will make you think long after you’ve finished, this one definitely does the trick. ...more

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Jan 18, 2025 Stacie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-unlimited, audiobook, 2025, mystery-thriller-suspense, 2025-tpam-challenge

This book blew my mind! It is slow... and confusing. Until it's not! Then it is so sad and VERY intense. But also just WOW! Mia Sheridan's dark side is dark. Check the content warning. ...more

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Dec 03, 2024 Stephanie rated it really liked it

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the setting and premise of this book! I live pretty close to San Francisco and the way the city is discussed is spot on, as sad as that can be at times. It’s not everyday you read a mystery about the homeless population and this one definitely did the community justice! I enjoyed all the twists and honestly didn’t know where it was going to end up until the final chapters. If you like psychological thrillers and mysteries, you should d ...more

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Dec 01, 2024 CC rated it really liked it

Shelves: f-br, arc, thriller-suspense-mystery, bbs-challenge, lrq, crime-drama, 2024

4★

Assigned to a difficult case in San Francisco, Inspector Lennon Gray is temporarily partnered with Agent Ambrose Mars. As new evidence emerges from each crime scene, the focus expands to not only on the killer but also an underground project, yet to get answers they each must confront their past in order to move forward.

“In the end, all we have are stories.”

Narrated in third person, Lennon is not a stereotypical detective and this is to her detriment at times. With Ambrose’s sensibilities ...more

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Mar 04, 2025 Anne OK rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2025-reads, 2025-kindle-unlimited, 2025-5-star-reads

I can’t believe that I’ve waited over a year before finally reading this thriller! Mia Sheridan provides so much more than just romantic-suspense in this gruesome psychological mind-boggler. Told in two timeframes while giving readers little hints and clues in each chapter that tease and tempt fast-turning pages.

With its unique and fast-paced plotting, surprising twists and a maniac killer whose identity you’ll find hard to predict, there's also the budding romance between two marvelously drawn ...more

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Nov 21, 2024 Kate rated it liked it

This was a tough one for me. I love Mia Sheridan; she is one of my "Insta-Click" authors and will continue to be that. I just never really clicked with this book. Maybe because it's very plot-driven, and I am more of a character-driven girl. I really respect the story and was intrigued by the plot. I just never connected with the characters. That's not to say it wasn't a good book; it was, and the writing was excellent. I just never fully engaged with it. ...more

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Dec 19, 2024 Raylene Green rated it really liked it

Mia always delivers...

Mia always delivers a phenomenal read. This one, like most of her others, was slow to start. There were a couple times it slowed and made it difficult to keep on but I knew in the end, it would pay off. And it did. Stick with it; it's worth it in the end. Just an all around, well written piece of art. ...more

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