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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Morag Joss's HALF BROKEN THINGS.
Gwen from Denver, CO
Have you previously read a book by Morag Joss?
This is the first Morag Joss book I've read.
What writers do you read?
Wow. That would be a long list. From this region I read: C.J. Box, Clinton McKinzie, Francine Mathews (also her books as Stephanie Barrons), Lynda Sandoval, Jeff Shelby, Christine Goff, Stephanie Kane, Mark Sullivan and Kathleen Brandt. I'm sure I've forgotten lots of people that live in the Rocky Mountains...people like master storyteller Tony Hillerman.
When it comes to other mystery thriller writers the list would include: Elizabeth George, S.J. Rozan, Lisa Scottoline, Harlan Coben, Louise Urse, Laurie R. King, Dick Francis, Michael Connelly, Laura Lippman, Kathy Reichs, Faye Kellerman, P.J. Tracy, Robert Crais, Robert B. Parker (Spenser only), James Lee Burke, Walter Mosley, Jan Burke, Ridley Pearson, Carl Hiaasen and more.
I also many books that I would describe as literary. My tastes there run the gambit. It used to be that I read 65% literary and 35% genre. Now that I have four kids I would say that the ratio has flipped and is currently more like this 80% genre and 20% literary. I also read nonfiction, but as a percentage of the titles I read annually it is under ten percent.
What did you think of HALF BROKEN THINGS?
For me the book became far more interesting once the three main characters were united in the house.
Would you ever read a future book by Morag Joss?
I would certainly pick up her next book. She's a fine writer and her premise in HALF BROKEN THINGS was unusual and compelling.
Jonathan from Chapel Hill, NC
Have you previously read a book by Morag Joss?
I have never read a book by Morag Joss before. In fact, I had never come across her name before.
What writers do you read?
Writers that I read include the following: Alan Furst, Donna Leon, George Pelecanos, Henning Mankell, Ken Bruen, Karin Fossum, Barry Eisler, Kent Haruf, Dan Chaon, Rick Bass and James Sallis among others.
What did you think of HALF BROKEN THINGS?
I thoroughly enjoyed HALF BROKEN THINGS. It is very British and quite different from a mystery by an American author. Ms. Joss is exceptionally skilled at character development. Her story was very creative --- inhabiting a manor house with three troubled strangers with secrets in their pasts. The book gained momentum and near the end of the book it became impossible to put down. A highly impressive work that I will recommend to many others. Morag Joss appears to be a well-kept secret to American readers. It is a shame they are being deprived the pleasures of reading this very talented writer.
Would you ever read a future book by Morag Joss?
I would most certainly read another book by Morag Joss. I will be on the look out for her earlier works during my next visit to my bookseller.
Mary Ann from Rocky Point, NY
Have you previously read a book by Morag Joss?
I have not previously read a book by Morag Joss.
What writers do you read?
I read: Elizabeth George, Charles Todd, T. Jefferson Parker, Thomas Cook, Dennis Lehane, Minette Walters, Nelson DeMille, Thomas Adcock, James Lee Burke, Agatha Christie, Michael Connelly, Val McDermid, Ngaio Marsh, Dexter Collin, Martha Grimes and Ruth Rendell, just to name a few.
What did you think of HALF BROKEN THINGS?
I enjoyed HALF BROKEN THINGS very much. The characters, though totally dysfunctional, were likable and Jean's rationalization of all the events that took place were written so cleverly and convincingly. I enjoyed the idea of the house being an influence in bringing about the drastic changes in Jean's, Michael's, and Steph's lives and creating and ultimately the tragic and surprising ending. You were drawn into their lives and for their brief chance at a normal life in spite of what they were doing. The descriptions were vivid and the characters well defined. The suspense of what was going to happen next made it a book that was hard to put down.
Would you ever read a future book by Morag Joss?
I would definitely read a future book by Morag Joss.
Richard from North Wales, PA
Have you previously read a book by Morag Joss?
No, this was the first book by Morag Joss that I have read.
What writers do you read?
I read a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction. I enjoy John Dunning's mysteries and have recently read THE HISTORIAN and JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL. I'm planning to read HUNGER'S BRIDES by Poul Anderson, though at over 1300 pages, it'll take a while to finish. On the nonfiction side, I enjoy Stephen E. Ambrose and David McCullough.
What did you think of HALF BROKEN THINGS?
I thought the alternating storyline with dialog and letter narrative was an interesting technique. At times, though, they were so similar in style that it was unclear whether they added to the overall story. The characters were well-developed at the start of the story, and the coming-together of Steph, Michael, and Jean was well-crafted. The book was easy to read, and the storyline easy to follow. I found it hard to feel sympathy for any of the characters. The theme of one's needs overtaking one's moral compass certainly led me to ponder the characters as they were swept up into the "family" they created.
I would have liked more detail of the town or the house to feel a part of the community that the group was interacting with, though I suppose the isolation that the house created is part of the overall story.
Would you ever read a future book by Morag Joss?
Yes, I would. I was surprised that this book had been out in the UK for a while and is now just appearing in the US.
Nikki from Bridgeville, PA
Have you previously read a book by Morag Joss?
HALF BROKEN THINGS is the first book I have read by Morag Joss.
What writers do you read?
I belong to a book readers club and we choose a variety of books and authors. We recently read books by Sue Monk Kidd and Lorna Landvik, to name a few.
What did you think of HALF BROKEN THINGS?
I found it difficult to get into the book and characters, thus my reading is slow and I'm on page 100 or so. The many errors in the advanced reading copy were distracting (clock on one line was dock on the next). Is that typical?
Would you ever read a future book by Morag Joss?
I would probably not read another book by this author...sorry.
Douglas from Fort Smith, AR
Have you previously read a book by Morag Joss?
No, I haven't ever purchased a book by Morag Joss. I hadn't been familiar with her writing before.
What writers do you read?
I read an eclectic assortment of books by science fiction and mystery writers the most, generally, though lately I have been reading a few classics, like LES MISERABLES and Dante's THE DIVINE COMEDY, and a great book by Michael Pearl called THE DANTE CLUB.
What did you think of HALF BROKEN THINGS?
I thought HALF BROKEN THINGS was a pretty good book. It was a bit hard to ignore typos, but that's to be expected in an Advance Reader's Copy, I guess. The story itself was engrossing and the switching from first to third person narratives was an interesting technique, though some people might be put off by it.
Would you ever read a future book by Morag Joss?
Yes, I would read another book by Joss --- she's a very good writer with involved plots.
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