The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 29 October 2024

In this dark thriller set in San Francisco, Inspector Lennon Gray and FBI Agent Ambrose Mars team up to investigate a mysterious hallucinogenic drug affecting the homeless community. As they delve into the case, their mutual attraction and personal secrets complicate their partnership.

Lennon, worn down by her experiences, finds herself both fascinated and unsettled by the charming yet enigmatic Ambrose. As they uncover disturbing truths and their relationship deepens, Lennon must confront her limits before the investigation takes a personal toll.

“The Broken Places” delves into significant themes such as generational trauma, alternative therapies, and addiction, addressing these dark and important subjects thoughtfully.

However, I struggled to connect with this book, finding it emotionally detached despite the traumatic events depicted. The story felt largely emotionless, even in its darkest moments. My main motivation for continuing was the desire to unravel the ongoing mysteries, but ultimately, the revelations were not particularly surprising or impactful.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Montlake, and the author, Mia Sheridan, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

The Broken Places is about Inspector Lennon Gray solving the murder mystery behind a homemade drug that is being used to target the homeless and prostitutes in San Francisco. The pill looks similar to a drug used by a doctor who has been helping trauma and addiction patients heal.
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The Broken Places is an atmospheric experience placing readers in the central part of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods of San Francisco. There were several mentions of the recent dangers associated with San Francisco helping readers find connect with recent incidents.
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Podcaster Jamal Whitaker interviews individuals who have experienced trauma hoping their story helps someone else. There’s a connection between these individuals and those who have turned up dead.
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FBI Agent Ambrose Mars gets partnered with Inspector Lennon. He’s new to the task of working violent crimes. Inspector Lennon doesn’t like the idea of training a new partner, yet misses having one. Ambrose complicates the partnership when they cross boundary lines.
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There is some romance in this murder mystery. Mia Sheridan navigates a challenging storyline very finesse. It begins slowly illustrating all the pieces while also hiding a few surprises. Once the big picture is revealed the progression of the story begins to unfold at a much steadier pace. I found myself absorbed in the process so glad to finally connect the pieces.
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This book doesn’t read like a familiar Mia Sheridan book about romance. Mia Sheridan tackles a storyline that has not been addressed before. The concept is new and unique. I believe it will become quite the buzz. I enjoyed merging a place like San Francisco with its recent headlines and drug testing. It gave this some authenticity. I can’t tell you how many references were made regarding recent events about drug use and crime that had me wondering what’s happening in our world.
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The process to unraveling the true intent of this story wasn’t an easy task. Mia Sheridan still wrote with purpose. This was a thought provoking story that had a variety of angles that all tied to one theme. It was connecting those angles that took time to see the full picture. Once the picture comes into focus your mind will be alert to a new light. This book is so much more. Its offering of healing and pain also offers closure and acceptance. Each had an agenda drawn from the same angle but with different results.

Title: The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan

Release Date: November, 5th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

"The Broken Places" by Mia Sheridan is a gripping tale that combines the suspense of a mystery with the emotional depth of a romance, set against the backdrop of San Francisco's shadowy underbelly.

Sheridan, known for her compelling storytelling, delivers a novel that is both a page-turner and a heart-tugger, making it an irresistible read for fans of either genre.

Inspector Lennon Gray is a seasoned investigator who has seen the dark side of the city she serves. When a new case involving a dangerous and mysterious drug surfaces, she is thrust into the heart of the transient community, where the harsh realities of life are on full display. Lennon's resilience and determination make her a relatable and admirable protagonist, whose journey into the city's broken places is both harrowing and enlightening.

Enter Agent Ambrose Mars, a charming and somewhat enigmatic FBI agent who becomes Lennon's partner in the investigation. Ambrose's innocence, despite his experiences, adds an intriguing layer to his character, making him both a puzzle and a beacon of light in the darkness they navigate. The chemistry between Lennon and Ambrose is palpable from the start, and their evolving relationship adds a romantic tension that complements the suspense of the mystery.

As they delve deeper into the case, the duo uncovers a drug that is not only deadly but also forces its users into bizarre and dangerous role-plays, revealing the stark contrast between the city's glamorous facade and its hidden suffering. The investigation leads them through the city's underbelly, where they encounter the homeless and the lost, shedding light on the human stories behind the statistics.

Sheridan's skilful blend of mystery and romance kept me on the edge of my seat, as the twists and turns of the investigation are interwoven with the emotional journey of Lennon and Ambrose.

The novel explores themes of love, loss, and redemption, asking how much one person can endure before something vital is taken from them.

"The Broken Places" is a testament to Mia Sheridan's versatility as an author, proving that her talent for storytelling extends beyond the romance genre.

It is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of mystery, romance, and anyone looking for a story that offers both thrills and heart. With its richly developed characters, intricate plot, and the vivid portrayal of San Francisco's dual nature, this novel is a must-read for those who enjoy a blend of genres that keeps them guessing until the very end.

Thank you to The Publisher Montlake ,The Author Mia Sheridan & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Oh man, I hate that I’m the first to review this and it’s not going to be a positive one. I love Mia Sheridan and hate writing bad reviews. For that reason, I won’t be posting this on Goodreads (where the reviews are still a clean slate as well).


It's unfortunate that the backstory isn't revealed earlier in the narrative; it might have made the plot more engaging and easier to follow. As it stands, there are entire chunks that made no sense to me. Because I didn't fully grasp what I was reading, I struggled to connect with the story or the characters, both emotionally and physically, especially since the main characters are separated for so long. This is disappointing because Mia Sheridan excels at making readers feel deeply. The writing felt so different from Sheridan's previous work that I found myself double-checking the author’s name several times. Although it does improve towards the end, by that point, it was too late for me. I will, however, not give up on Mia Sheridan.

Mia Sheridan is an insta-read author for me, so when I saw she was coming out with a mystery/romance I was VERY intrigued.

The Broken Places follows investigator Lennon and FBI agent Ambrose as they dig into a mysterious new street drug causing horrific deaths among the homeless.

I don’t want to say too much about the storyline as it’s so juicy to go in blind to! This book was much more than I anticipated. At first I wasn’t sure if this story wanted to be a romance or thriller… but the twist around the midpoint really picked things up for me! The plot is a bit futuristic/dystopian with the crime storyline but worked well for me.

The book explores generational trauma, alternative therapies, addiction, and more dark subjects that felt important to speak upon. Highly recommend for romance and thriller lovers alike!!

Thank you Montlake publishing via Netgalley for the ARC!

Desde el capítulo se empieza con temas muy fuertes. Dios, pobre Cherish.


La inspectora Lennon tiene 9 años en la policía, le asignaron un nuevo compañero y están buscando a un asesino serial.
Dejo mucho que desear al hacer su trabajo, sólo se necesitó de una cara bonita para que Lennon rompiera su juramento como policía y se le olvidara su ética.

Ambrose es agente del fbi, es misterioso, esta escondiendo un gran secreto y tiene un pasado doloroso.

Esta entretenido, pero no hay desarrollo en el romance, en una escena Lennon desconfía de él y a la otra se están besando.

El libro es entretenido, pero lo que se plantea con los experimentos me pareció horrible.



Es un tema muy complejo lo que se plantea con los experimentos de dr porque al final puede dañar personas y aunque se pueda justificar diciendo que lo hace para ayudar a la gente, no tiene quien lo pare si al final todo sale mal.


Me mori de risa con lo del bebe en el capítulo 39, pero no porque fuera gracioso si no por lo ridículo de la escena.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story is about murders where a certain drug is left at the scene that is linked to a doctor using a similar drug to heal people. Someone is using his miracle drug for harm instead.

To be honest, I tried so hard to get into this one, but I was never fully invested. I felt a lack of emotion or connection in the story. Even with horrible, traumatic things happening to people who did not deserve it- it felt emotionless most of the time.

The only thing that kept me reading is wanting to know some of the mysteries that were going on and figure those out. But I really don’t think any of those were big twists either.

I can’t fully explain what was missing from this book, but something was.

Trigger warnings: murder, child molestation, drug use and addiction, torture