Before I start this review properly, I just want to say, pre-order this book straight away. Just do it!
I already know this will be one of my favourites reads of 2023, easily 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All Of Us Are Broken, starts dramatically in a hostage situation. Christine Hardwicke, a mother, is being held hostage with her two children. The hostage takers, Missy and Fox, give her an impossible ultimatum, choose which child should die.
After the dramatic opening, the book visits two other seemingly separate stories. As the first part of the book reveals itself, the link between these characters, and their situations, becomes apparent.

Very often when reviewing, I write notes as I read. In this instance, there was an empty page staring at me. This is far from an insult, it’s a huge compliment in fact. I couldn’t drag myself from the story, even just to jot down a few words, I was too engrossed. I can’t praise this extremely well written book, or the author, Fiona Cummins, highly enough. It is so dark, as you would expect, but with a lot of heart too.

The narrative is fast paced, it doesn’t hang around, it canters along at a pace. My reading matched the urgency of the hunt for Missy and Fox. The engrossing story made the pages turn easily and quickly. I inhaled it from cover to cover in just over 24 hours.

I really enjoyed meeting Saul and Blue again, their complex personalities making a far from easy relationship. Their characters are both imperfect, intriguing and so well developed, as are all of the characters are in this book.

There is so much more to All Of Us Are Broken than the usual thriller/police procedural novel. So many other little side stories of interest, heart breaking sub plots that stop you in your tracks. None of which I can mention, for fear of spoiling other’s reading pleasure.
This book is more than: these are the good guys, here are the bad guys, and this is the plot. If you are looking to read just one book in this genre this year, make it this one, as you really won’t regret it.

That ending. What can I say? 😞 At the 95% stage I had no idea of what was coming. By the time I reached the last page, there were tears streaming down my face. I think I’m a little broken now too.

Did I mention how much I loved this book?

I'm a big fan of Fiona Cummins so I knew I'd be in for a treat with All Of Us Are Broken. A treat doesn't come close to describing this book.

Beautifully written, I loved the way Fiona skillfully gave us the characters motivations as part of the story.

This book had me in tears, swearing at my kindle and holding my breath. It is that good. I fear anything else I add will give away spoilers which I'm not willing to do. I'd recommend this book to everyone!

The start of the book really gets you hooked and then you go back in time to three different viewpoints. Before all the paths intertwine again there is some shocking violence with heart-breaking and tender moments peppered throughout. Great books always have characters that are above the unusual and that's what makes this book so special..

I'm a keen police procedural fan so was really looking forward to this book. I was slightly disappointed since that element is a bit lighter than I expected but this is still a good book with plenty to commend it. The two main police protagonists Blue and Saul are both likeable but flawed characters which makes their relationship interesting. There had been intimacy between them, but a betrayal takes place which sends things into a spin for both during the terrible case. The 2 criminal protagonists reminded me of the couple in the first scene of Pulp Fiction - in love with each other but also both deranged. The only issue I had was with the woman, Missie, a former primary school teacher who goes completely off the rails when she is reunited with an ex, Fox. Do people change their personalities that easily? I couldn't see what all the fuss was about with Fox but each to their own. This is a good page turner with interesting sub-plots, good characters (not necessarily likeable!) and is perfectly paced. The scenes in the hotel at the end of the book had me on the edge of my seat - would Saul come through on a promise to his boss or would his own feelings about Missie and Fox make him go a different way? Good book.

3.5 stars rounded down

Not a bad thriller, but a bit over the top in my opinion. The characters felt exaggerated and a bit too stereotypical. Nevertheless, the plot was interesting and unpredictable enough, which is what you look for in a thriller. Good, gripping ending.

This is the first book by Fiona Cummins I have read and I will definitely be back for more. The plot is fast paced and has twists and turns in it. A real rollercoaster of a read. The characters are well developed and engaging and the storyline is interesting with some emotional ups and downs. Best book of 2023 so far!

Wow - I could not put this book down, I was standing at the kitchen counter whilst cooking squeezing more of it in! The story of Fox and Missy is fast paced and at times very hard to read but leaves you unable to stop as the desire to find out the outcome is overwhelming! We also pick up with Saul Anguish the detective who has lead an unusual life up until this point which makes him the ideal person to pursue this reckless couple who leave death and devastation in their wake. We are also taken on the continuing journey of his and Blue's relationship which picks up from the last book. The book also cleverly intertwines the Hardwicke family into it and all their family issues which draws you close to them and as each little bit of information is revealed about them you become emotionally entangled and want to know more. Having read all Fiona’s previous books this is the best in my opinion, I now feel bereft that I finished it so quickly and the characters are still running through my head a couple of weeks after finishing it! Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

#AllOfUsAreBroken #NetGalley
A dark tale. 4 ⭐
Thirteen-year-old Galen has wanted to see the wild dolphins at Scotland’s Chanonry Point for as long as she can remember, and her mother Christine – a lone parent since her beloved husband left – is determined she gets her wish. But their serene trip is about to be interrupted. When DC Saul Anguish is called to investigate the shooting of an ex-police officer in Midtown-on-Sea, Essex, he quickly discovers that this is the first in a string of killings by Missy and Fox, a damaged young couple hell-bent on infamy, their love story etched in blood. In pursuit, Saul follows their trail north. The paths of the Hardwickes' and the deadly couple are about to collide. When Saul and his forensic linguist partner, Blue, arrive on the scene, they witness the unthinkable: a mother forced to make an impossible choice. Saul must uncover the truth about the couple. But can he find the strength to lay the ghosts of his past to rest before they break him?
The ending could be made better but no worries, for me it was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me an advance copy.

I think this is probably the easiest five stars of 2023 so far! Can I breathe now? Wow, wow, wow.

At just after 7.30 in the morning Christine Hardwicke, her daughter Galen and son Tom leave their Essex home bound for Chanonry Point on Scotland’s Black Isle to hopefully see the dolphins which is a long held wish of Galens. Unfortunately for them a young couple, Missy and Fox are also heading their way, both with a burning desire for infamy. Giving chase from Midtown-on-Sea are DC Saul Anguish, Blue aka Dr Clover March and two other officers. The paths of all will cross in the most dramatic of ways.

Fiona Cummins is at the top of her game. I’ve given all her books five stars but this one is something else. It starts with an absolutely jaw dropping, heartbreaker of a scenario which has you uttering the first of many wows or the odd naughty. This is one breathtaking race against time, it’s a scorcher of a thriller and yes, it’s dark if not appalling on occasions but despite the ensuing havoc the author places the characters that Fox and Missy encounter at the centre so you feel the emotion, empathy and gut wrenching sympathy. This is especially true of the Hardwicke family and I’m drawn to Galen who has so much to bear in her young life. The pace is warp speed and the tension at times is positively nail biting but the author gives much needed breathing space by switching attention elsewhere.

The characterisation is exemplary, even those who only grace the pages fleetingly are deftly portrayed. DC Saul Anguish is a constant source of fascination, he has also appeared in The Collector and Into the Dark but this works perfectly well as a stand-alone. He is a darkly light conundrum but you can’t deny his bravery with he and Blue being two of the best characters in this genre. As for Missy and Fox, I’ll say little except their portrayal is excellent.

This is a dark thriller that is incredibly well written. It’s full of action packed drama from beginning to end and I don’t mind admitting to eyes brimming with tears on occasion especially at the end. This is a stunner of a book, you gasp, inhale with shock, you smile at Tom, admire the guts of Galen and others at their courage. I think Fiona Cummins has even outdone herself here in this multilayered clever novel that is a one sitting read.

Highly recommended, obviously! Also recommend the dolphins at Chanonry Point, wrap up warm!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Thanks Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for ARC.

This well-crafted thriller and police procedural is a difficult one to review. It includes a tragic incident at a primary school and some horrific gun violence, all appropriately but graphically rendered. At points I found all of that tough going, along with the meditations on grief and loss that Cummins has included in one of the narrative thread.

The Hardwicke family are heading north from Essex to see the dolphins at Chanonry Point in the Scottish Highlands. Single parent Christine and her children, teenager Galen and pre-teen Tom, have various reasons to want to take the trip and escape some of the practicalities of getting there. The family's story is one of the main threads of the novel, and emotionally charged, vibrant and powerful.

Missy is feeling adrift, or 'wonky' as she describes it. She has a great job, has just been proposed to by a steady man who loves her, but she doesn't think any of it is for her. Seemingly on a whim, she contacts an old flame and they go on a road trip. Her companion Fox's intentions for the trip become clearer as they drive, but they are both swept up in a wave of - something - that propels them forward to what they imagine is their destiny.

Meantime in Midtown-on-Sea, also in Essex, DC Saul Anguish is called to the site of a grisly murder, which quickly puts him onto the trail of the Missy-Fox duo and sends him north, along with the enigmatic forensic linguist
Dr Clover March and new PC Alex Talbot, to try and track down the fugitives and minimise the harm done as well as bring them to justice.

These threads and timelines intertwine to powerful effect. The ending is devastating, and the Hardwicke family thread will linger.

For me, there was an over-reliance on coincidence and a little too much dwelling on the darkness of Anguish's soul, but that is a quibble. There is a sub plot involving birds that I felt wasn't necessary but it may make more sense in the context of previous work featuring this detective.
I've not read Cummins' work before, but she's not a secret treasure, with five previous big sellers behind her. I've already sought out her other novels for my giant TBR pile.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan McMillan for the approval to read this and review it.

This is the second book with DC Saul Anguish as the main character. This book starts with a bang of a prologue and I wasn't expecting that. The story is well written and there are plenty of plot twists and turns. The way Fiona describes the characters, locations and their emotions are amazingly well done. No spoilers as you will have to pick up the book to read it for yourselves.

The Queen of "One More Chapter" is back with a phenomenal, twisty, psychological thriller, which is impossible to put down. I was going to read it over the weekend, but alas I finished it at 4am this morning. I just could not stop reading, it's gripping and I LOVED IT. My favourite character DC Saul Anguish is back with his partner in crime Blue, they both have a really dark side and they do let it take over at the most unexpected time. They have to race to catch Missy and Fox, the 21st century Bonnie and Clyde, who leave a very long trail of bodies in there wake. The Hardwicke family are adorable and I must admit, because all my reviews are honest, Galen left my heart broken at the end, it's a very sad ending. When {not If} this book is made into a film or series, a large supply of tissues will be needed. The book is beautifully written, it's tense, completely absorbing and PHENOMENAL from beginning to end. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED everything about it. I would highly recommend and I'd give it more than five stars if I could.

This book shows how much Fiona has developed as a writer. I absolutely devoured Fiona’s debut, Rattle, and often still recommend it now… but this book, THIS BOOK, is so much more than that. It’s more than a serial killer(s) on the loose and they need to be hunted down. All Of Us Are Broken has raw emotion. It makes you explore your mind as a reader and the characters really come alive. I can see now why so many people are already raving about it. I hope it flies off the shelves, and I think it will!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publishers. This is the first book I have read from this author and will not be the last. A real fast paced page turner, great storyline and great characters.

I recently read Finona's "Into the Dark," and was blown away. So I was super excited to see another book about Saul on NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to read this book. I really enjoy reading about Saul and Blue and their relationship. A family is headed on a vacation after losing their father/husband. They happen to run into a husband/wife team that are on a killer spree. While I thought her first book was better, this was still good and I powered through it. The killing spree was a little too gory for me, but I will def continue to read this author.

I'm not sure where to begin. I've read all of Fiona Cummins' books and they're all brilliant. With 'All Of Us Are Broken' though, it's as if all the fine tuning that Fiona has done over the last several years with her books, has come into play in this story. There are still the trademark unusual names (Galen), the time stamps, and brave children who face and endure trauma. But the emotional thread is stronger than I've seen it before in her novels. Grief and melancholy wrap themselves around you as you read, the pain ragged and raw. There were some things in there which meant so much to me, that Fiona wouldn't even know about. It's a story that's going to sit in my head for a long time, mulling it over and dealing with the emotions that surface. If you aren't already broken before reading 'All Of Us Are Broken', you will be by the end. Stunning.

OMG Fiona Cummins never fails to amaze me! I knew All Of Us Are Broken would be an enjoyable crime read as she’s such a wonderful storyteller. But what I wasn’t expecting was a phenomenal crime thriller, which evoked so many emotions! I even shed a tear or two! This has to be the most dramatic “race against time,” crime thriller I’ve EVER had the pleasure to read. From the outset, you could cut the tension with a knife.

DC Saul Anguish is called to investigate the shooting of an ex-police officer. He quickly discovers that this is the first in a string of killings and he faces a race against time to stop a brutal and bloody killing spree. The shocking prologue to All Of Us Are Broken is one that grabs your attention from the off. There’s a sense of malevolence which oozes from the pages.

The characters are multilayered. Each one is impeccably crafted. Some will find their way into your hearts, others will send shivers down your spine with their evil intent. I don’t think I have ever encountered such evil, cold, calculating individuals in fiction, and that's saying something! I was rooting for Anguish throughout. Fiona Cummins expertly uses the ‘race against time’ ploy to add a sense of urgency to the plot that never diminishes. The reader knows from the start that if Saul isn’t able to stop the killers, an impossible choice will have to be made. It’s very cleverly done as the author plays on the reader’s fear of helplessness!

I’m going to say All Of Us Our Broken is Fiona Cummins best book yet! She skillfully peels back the layers to reveal an intricate and deliciously twisted tale that will blow your socks off! Unsettling, heartbreaking, sinister and darkly disturbing. All Of Us Are Broken is one of the best crime thrillers I’ve read in a long, long time.

My review will be posted to my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebookreviewcafe and all relevant book sites

Christine is taking her teenage daughter, Galen and younger son Tom on holiday to Scotland after trying get used to live without their dad. However, they coincide with a Bonnie and Clyde duo, Missy and Fox. A young couple on a self destruct killing mission, causing carnage their wake. By the time their paths cross, Missy and Fox have killed numerous innocent people and DC Saul Anguish is hot on their trial. They force Christine to made to make the worst ultimatum decision any mother can be asked to make.
The plot is cleverly written, revealing extra snippets of detail as the story develops. A dark yet gripping plot that will have you reaching for the tissues before the end. Another winner by Fiona Cummins.

Wow, this is why I read ! This was an absolutely stunning, emotional and heart breaking read from Fiona Cummins. It's definitely her best yet and will no doubt be one of my books of the year.
DC Saul Anguish returns in a thriller that's set over a 24 hour period following Missy and Fox, a couple on a shooting spree whose paths cross with the Hardwicke family - Christine and her children Galen and Tom on a family trip to Scotland.
I won't reveal any more of the plot but it's hugely original, part crime novel and part moving family drama that is absolutely compelling. It's sensitively written and the author takes time to give us small details about the victims which I found very moving.
An amazing novel which I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Phenomenal! Absolutely Phenomenal. Everything about this book is done to the highest standard and it is easily one of the best books I've read this year. Once you start, you wont be able to stop. Of you only read one book this year, make sure it's this one