Close to the Broken Hearted

Alvin, Alabama, Book 2

By: Michael Hiebert

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

At 22, Sylvie Carson has known a lifetime's worth of trouble. When she was a child, her baby brother was shot to death by a man named Preacher Eli. Orphaned in her teens, Sylvie is now raising her own baby with no partner in sight. For all these reasons, Leah Teal, the only police detective in Alvin, Alabama, tries to be patient when Sylvie calls the station day and night, always with some new false alarm. But now, Preacher Eli is out of prison and moving back to town.

As far as the law is concerned, the old man has paid his dues, although Leah's 12-year-old son, Abe, vehemently disagrees. Between that and his relentless curiosity about the daddy he hardly knew, Abe'simagination is running wild. While Leah struggles with how much of the past to reveal to Abe, she's also concerned about Sylvie's mounting panic. Something in her gut tells her the girl might be a target after all. For as Leah knows well, there's danger not just in the secrets others keep from us but in the lies that corrupt from within. It's a hunch that will be tested soon enough as tensions on both sides mount.

Evoking the South with depth and grace, Michael Hiebert's poignant, gripping novel captures the strength wrought by heartache and lost innocence - and the transformative power of forgiveness, wherever it comes.

©2014 Michael Hiebert (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Engrossing

I loved this book. The narration was excellent, one of the best I've heard. He brought every character to life and set the pace early on. The story was touching, powerful, mildly suspenseful, and I felt myself pulled into the vortex of these characters. I highly recommend it.

If you're from a small town or,,, want to know

What it was like years ago from a boys view,then read this series of books!!

Semi-predictable but Engaging

If one likes other Hiebert novels, one will like this one. Although, for myself, it is easy to figure out the culprit before the reveal. Nevertheless, it still is engaging.

great read

I really enjoyed this one. kept me guessing and thinking of who done it..... amateur investigator here

Wonderful Book

The writer took me into the story. I felt like I was part of the story. helping to solve the mystery.

Inconsistent but entertaining

There are story errors - the first most glaring example is when Ethan says his mom never shot anyone.

As a stand alone book it is a good story.

Seems like the second book was rewritten to follow the first. And ... mistakes were made.

Good story

It was a good story but I found the narration a distraction . the story was compelling and I thought the characters well developed.

Really enjoyed the story

The plot is good and the narrator did a great job. There were dine funny moments and few sad ones. I really enjoyed Abe and Dewey. I would havd liked more sbout Silvie, but maybe in the next book. The author did a wonderful job.

A wonderful sequel!

I thoroughly enjoyed this continuation of the story of Abe and his family. A mystery runs through it, but at its heart, it is the story of a loving family.

Good story

I enjoyed this book from the point of view of an 11 year old boy