Broken Bayou

By: Jennifer Moorhead

Narrated by: Sophie Amoss

In this debut thriller, a troubled child psychologist returns to a small Louisiana town to protect her secrets but winds up having to protect her life.

Dr. Willa Watters is a prominent child psychologist at the height of her career. But when a viral video of a disastrous television interview puts her reputation on the line, Willa retreats to Broken Bayou, the town where she spent most of her childhood summers. There she visits her aunts’ old house and discovers some of her unstable mother’s belongings still languishing in the attic—dusty mementos harboring secrets of her harrowing past.

Willa’s hopes for a respite are quickly crushed, not only by what she finds in that attic but also by what’s been found in the bayou.

With waters dropping due to drought, mysterious barrels containing human remains have surfaced, alongside something else from Willa’s past, something she never thought she’d see again. Divers, police, and media flood the area, including a news reporter gunning for Willa and Travis Arceneaux—a local deputy and old flame.

Willa’s fate seems eerily tied to the murders. And with no one to trust, she must use her wits to stay above water and make it out alive.

©2024 by Jennifer Moorhead. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Sophie Amoss handles the narration of this audio mystery wonderfully.… Amoss stays energetically involved with the plot and characters and handles a range of Southern accents beautifully. She brings drawls and pacing changes to everyone around Willa, especially her mother, whose life is filled with problems. This mystery keeps the listener involved as Amoss guides the story.” —AudioFile Magazine

“The prose here is taut. Suspense and malevolence ooze from every page…An amazing tense debut.” —Midwest Book Review

“An atmospheric debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Broken Bayou had me hooked from the first page!” —Ashley Elston, New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins

Moody Mystery Thriller

This is a pretty standard mystery thriller - girl goes back to her hometown, confronts things in her past, old secrets come to light.... but I thought this was done really well. No gratuitous violence/gore/sex. I loved the setting and really thought it added to my enjoyment of the story. While I started to piece things together, there were a few really good red herrings toward the end. This book was very enjoyable, nothing too dark, nothing to cutesy - just right.

Great ending

I loved the overall vibe. I just felt like it was a lot of description and kind of all over the place. I love the way the mini stories were added in between chapters to give descriptions of the victims. All in all a good read.

Broken Bayou

Broken Bayou started a little slow, but it picked up about half way. At the start of the climax, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend Broken Bayou to everyone.

Thrilling Southern Mystery - perfect Summer Read!

"Broken Bayou" is an electrifying thriller that takes the reader deep into the heart of Southern Louisiana. The story's setting is so vividly described that it becomes a character in its own right, with the bayou's murky waters, dense fog, and hidden dangers perfectly mirroring the novel's suspenseful and mysterious tone.

From the first page, the author hooks you with a gripping narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns. The plot is masterfully crafted, keeping you on the edge of your seat and constantly second-guessing what will happen next. Just when you think you've figured it out, the story takes another sharp turn, leading to a climax that you won't see coming.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations that add depth to the story. The interplay between them is intriguing and keeps the reader invested in their fates. The protagonist's complexity makes her vulnerable and likeable. The desciption of the dark and murky bayou is both thrilling and chilling, capturing the essence of the setting perfectly.

I loved "Broken Bayou" for its atmospheric storytelling, complex characters, and unpredictable plot. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a Southern twist. The ending is particularly satisfying, wrapping up the story in a way that feels surprising. The narrator captures the south perfectly with her dialect.

"Broken Bayou" is a testament to Jennifer Moorhead]'s storytelling prowess and a thrilling ride from start to finish. Highly recommended! Can't wait for her next book!!

Great story

Really good and interesting story keeps you listening with good plot swists ans good narrator

Held My Interest, But...

Nothing really new or exciting. The twist was disappointing. I'd rather have no twist than one that was written just to shock with zero lead-up. The whole "person you'd least expect" trope is getting cliché, especially when there was nothing that really ever pointed to them throughout the story. When a twist comes, I want it to be a surprise, yes...but I want it to be one that makes everything fall into place and make me wonder how I missed it, not say, "I could have never seen that coming because I was never given the right clues to get there." But overall, it was a decent read, and the writing style was engaging enough with some character development thrown in there.

Great read

This book was surprisingly good for it being the author's debut thriller/suspense novel. The storyline kept you drawn in and wanting to keep listening.

Compelling story

This story twists and turns in unexpected directions keeping me engaged from the start. The characters seem very human and vulnerable

Incredible plot

I loved how the story was always continuous keeping you at the end of your seat.

Not interesting

I did not like this book. I like the narrator in other books but I thought she just didn’t fit the character and it seemed a bit slow.