Fractured

Fractured

On a dark, rainy night, Misty Ooten and her husband, Caleb are traveling home on a back country road, when a man, dressed all in black, suddenly appears out of nowhere. Misty swerves to avoid impact, but her efforts are futile as she slams headlong into him. Misty loses control of the car and crashes over the side of the hill, killing Caleb.

When the accident is investigated, the police are unable to locate the man’s body, and there is no evidence to suggest anyone else was on the road that night.

Amid her grief of losing her husband, Misty has recurring dreams of that horrific night. She continues to see the man she hit in her nightmares.

Robin’s Review

Triggers: Grief, psychological distress, death of spouse, trauma, paranoia

What Did I Just Walk Into?

A grief-soaked psychological mystery where reality keeps slipping sideways and the person haunting the main character might be a ghost, guilt, or something far worse.

Here’s What Slapped:

I love Ms. Hall’s books, and Fractured absolutely delivered that signature “one more chapter” energy. The story pulls you in immediately with the accident scene and refuses to let go. From that point forward, the tension builds steadily as Misty struggles with loss, guilt, and the increasingly terrifying presence of the man she believes she hit that night.

Misty is a strong emotional anchor for the story. Her grief feels real, messy, and overwhelming without ever becoming melodramatic. Watching her question her own sanity while trying to piece together what really happened keeps the suspense tight and personal. The nightmares bleeding into waking life create a constant sense of unease that works beautifully.

Carol Hall is especially good at pacing mystery reveals, and that skill is on full display here. Just when you think you understand what is happening, the story shifts slightly and makes you question everything again. The tension is psychological rather than explosive, but it keeps the pages turning just as fast.

The atmosphere is another highlight. Rainy roads, quiet towns, crowded places where Misty feels alone, all of it contributes to the sense that something is deeply wrong beneath the surface. The man in black appearing again and again creates a simple but effective recurring threat.

And the twist. Of course there is a twist. If you have read Carol Hall before, you know it is coming. You still will not see it.

What Could’ve Been Better:

Honestly, nothing major. The story does exactly what a psychological suspense novel should do and sticks the landing.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:

Psychological suspense

Mysteries with unreliable perception

Emotional thrillers

Twist endings

Page-turner suspense

Sum-Up:

A tense psychological mystery about grief, guilt, and truth that refuses to stay buried. Carol Hall proves again why her stories are so easy to devour in one sitting.

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

Walk With Me Into the Dark

View Post