Fractured Memories by Lynn Shannon

Fractured Memories by Lynn Shannon
Badge of Honor Series Book One
Publisher: Creative Thoughts, LLC, September 27, 2024

REVIEW BY JOAN HALL

I’m always intrigued by a story that includes an unsolved crime. When the main character was a witness, and has memory issues, that adds to my curiosity. Such was the case with Fractured Memories. (Not to mention, the book is set in my home state of Texas.)

As a teenager, Felicity Capshaw witnessed a murder, but she has no memory of that horrible night. As a member of the Texas Rangers division of the Texas DPS, she returns to her hometown, determined to solve the crime that took the life of a dear friend.

Noah Hodge is a detective with the local police. He’s a single dad, raising his young daughter Harper with the help of his aunt Imogene. He and Felicity were childhood friends. Now, they are working together to solve the ten-year-old murder.

Shortly after Felicity’s arrival, she is assaulted and nearly killed. It’s apparent someone doesn’t want her to solve the crime or regain her memory of that horrible night. It’s soon apparent Noah feels more than friendship toward her. Yet having lost both parents and his wife, he’s afraid of commitment, especially since Felicity has a dangerous job.

“I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. How painful and heartbreaking it can be. Don’t I have a right to be scared?”

“Of course you do, child.” Imogene pulled out a chair and joined him at the table. “But you can’t protect Harper from heartache. Doing so would require her never loving anyone, and I don’t think you want her going through life like that.”

Lynn Shannon, Fractured Memories.

Shannon did a good job with scene settings and description. The book is fast-paced with lots of action. It’s one of those that is hard to put down. The romance is light, the tension high, and Christian aspects are interspersed throughout the story. I had my suspicions about the killer’s identity from the start, but there were a few surprises along the way.

There is one crucial scene where I wished the author had shown the action instead of telling it. For that reason, I’m knocking off half a fish.

The second book of this series releases in late February, and I’m fairly certain I’ll be reading it.

I happily give Fractured Memories four and a half fish.

I read Fractured Memories through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.