In the Appalachian town of Bone Gap, Tennessee, backwoods justice is more than just blind. It’s swift, silent, and shockingly personal. Especially for Irish Traveller turned deputy sheriff Brynn Callahan . . . “Hear No Evil.” The first message is found in a playground. A few feet away, a pair of human ears hang from the monkey bars. Deputy sheriff Brynn Callahan isn’t sure what to make of … sheriff Brynn Callahan isn’t sure what to make of this grisly scene. Do the ears belong to a murder victim? And if so, where is the body? One thing Brynn is sure of: the earring on one of the earlobes belongs to a man she met at a party the previous night. . .
“Speak No Evil.”
The second message is discovered next to a human tongue on a park pavilion. Once again, no body is found. Brynn can’t help but wonder if the crimes are rooted in the town’s long-simmering tensions between Bone Gap locals and the barely tolerated Travellers who’ve settled there.
“See No Evil.”
For Brynn, the investigation hits too close to home—forcing her to confront the demons of her own past. But time is running out. Brynn has to track down the culprit before a third message is delivered—and a third victim is claimed. Rich, atmospheric, and brilliantly chilling, Shattered Justice is the third Bone Gap Travellers novel from the acclaimed author of Splintered Silence and Fractured Truth.
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SHATTERED JUSTICE by Susan Furlong is the third book in the Bon Gap Travellers series. It’s a story set in an Appalachian town in Tennessee and centers around Brynn Callahan – Marine veteran, deputy sheriff, and whose life straddles between the Pavee (Irish Traveller or gypsy) world and the Settler’s world.
Brynn is a survivor. She survived her childhood and later being raped. She returned home from a stint in the military as one of our wounded warriors accompanied by her service dog, Wilco – a Belgian Malinois trained to detect decaying flesh. Both had been injured when they got hit by an IUD. There’s more damage than the scars allude to, but at least they have each other when others fail them or memories return. Realizing that the pills given to her for pain and the bottle she often found in her hand weren’t the answer, she’s determined to make it clean. She may slip a few times, but she knows she can make it.
When a horrific crime is committed leaving no body behind but rather a pair of severed ears hanging in a school playground, Brynn is the one able to recognize them as belonging to the male stripper, Chance Walker, by the horseshoe stud earrings. He had performed at her cousin’s bachelorette party. Then things really intensified when a severed tongue is found in a park pavilion. Will the old saying hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil mean that there will be a third incident? Will they ever find the bodies? Can the responsible parties be found and brought to justice?
The investigation has them searching for clues in the past and the present praying to find those behind these crimes before the third event happens. It leads them to searching for a man reported missing and his connection to the stripper, looking for a drug addicted woman and even exploring the backwoods finding an off the grid survivalist camp. During it all, Brynn is determined to protect the ones she loves. Especially her beloved Gran when evidence in this crime leads to a past crime that was dealt with the Clan way – fast, deadly, and vengeful.
The author’s wonderful writing will have you feeling Brynn’s struggles with pills and alcohol, the horrors of her past both as a child and an adult, her life as a Marine and the demons she still has nightmares over. You will also feel the love in her heart for her sweet Gran and her wonderful dog.
SHATTERED JUSTICE is a magnificently written book that will have you reading as fast as you can turn the pages while sitting on the edge of your seat in this heart pumping suspenseful story that you won’t want to put down. SHATTERED JUSTICE can be read as a standalone. I had no difficulty reading it and this is the first book of this series that I have read. Definitely and highly recommend this book. I already have to family and friends.
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Shattered Justice” “A Bone Gap Travellers Novel Series, #3” by Susan Furlong, Kensington, 12/19
Susan Furlong, author of “Shattered Justice” ” A Bone Gap Travellers Novel Series #3″ writes a captivating, intriguing, intense, riveting and suspenseful novel. This is the third in “The Bone Gap Travellers Series”, and I would suggest that you read the other two books for a deeper understanding. The Genres for this Novel are Mystery and Suspense. The story takes place in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events and the characters. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Brynn Callahan is a deputy sheriff, along with her dog, finds body parts of a man she had seen in a bar the night before. There are more crimes that fit the saying “hear no evil, talk no evil, see no evil”. Who is responsible for these horrific and terrible crimes.?
Brynn has some disturbing things happen that threaten her and her family. Brynn is related to the clan of Travellers, and their justice is not always the same justice as the law. At times Brynn finds herself in the middle of “nowhere”. She is not trusted by her family and often looked down upon by her co-workers. It is a very difficult world to survive, and more danger will be coming if the suspects aren’t stopped.
I would highly recommend this action-packed, chilling and thrilling story for readers who enjoy suspense and mystery.
Shattered Justice is the third book in the Bone Gap Travellers series. Just like the previous two books I grow more attached to Byrnn and her dog, this one was action packed and so intense that I read it all in one setting today. I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my own personal opinion of the book. I would certainly recommend it to everyone.
Shattered Justice, the third book in the Bone Gap Travellers Series, is filled with exciting twists and turns on every page. Deputy Sheriff Brynn Callahan and her dog, Wilco, have found themselves involved in another grisly crime scene when a pair of ears are found on the local playground with “Hear No Evil” written above them, but where is the body? As the investigation progresses, Brynn has a run in with a deadly enemy from the past, Katie Doogan. Struggling with her sobriety, Brynn feels like the world is on her shoulders with her grandmother in a nursing home, after suffering a stroke, an investigation that seems to be going no where, trying to keep her grandmother’s crime hidden, and then her ex lover, Kevin Doogan, returns to tell her that his wife Katie is out to hurt her. How much more can Brynn take? Will the secret of her grandmother’s crime finally come out? Will Katie Doogan succeed in taking everything and everyone that Brynn loves away from her? Who is behind the disappearance of two Bone Gap residents and what is the meaning behind it all? Author, Susan Furlong continues to mesmerize me with the suspenseful novels she writes. This is a series that will keep you on the edge of your seat and begging for more!
As a member of Ms. Furlong’s review team, I had the opportunity to read and review Shattered Justice.
Brynn continues to struggle with her personal battle of addiction to drugs and alcohol. Remember, Brynn is a Pavee crossing over into the “settled” world, living in Bone Gap. The Pavees have their own system of justice, but Brynn works for the local police department. She is involved in a case where they are only finding certain body parts and they need to find the person responsible, a connection. Brynn also finds herself battling her own emotions over a previous love interest and potentially a current love interest. It’s a good read that ties this series together, to its conclusion.
I find Brynn to be a relatable character … especially the connection she has to Wilco, her dog, both being war veterans. I think anyone who has gone through what Brynn goes through, even though she is a fictional character, will find some hope, some connection. I normally don’t find myself emotionally invested in the books I read, but this one … this one has a ring of truth to it which makes it more enjoyable, at least to me.
Love this series
Shattered Justice by Susan Furlong is the third A Bone Gap Travellers Novel. I have not read the other books in this series and I did feel I was missing important details especially at the beginning of the story. I picked up Shattered Justice because I enjoyed the author’s A Novel Idea Mystery series (written as Lucy Arlington). Shattered Justice is not what I expected. I like that Brynn Callahan is a veteran along with her dog, Wilco. They both suffered injuries in an explosion and, understandably, have PTSD. Poor Wilco suffers from nightmares as does Brynn who has been self-medicating with large quantities of alcohol and pain pills. If Brynn wants to keep her job, she need to give up both and begin attending AA meetings. I was not a fan of Brynn. My main reason is she feels she can take the law into her own hands (plus her addictions, attitude, etc.—felt like a cliched character). It was interesting to learn about the Irish Travellers or Pavee as they prefer to be called. It is a terrible shame that people are prejudiced against them because of their heritage. The mystery was complex with active investigating. I liked the action which helped propel the book forward which was helpful since the pacing was slow. The mystery can be solved before all the clues are revealed. As the law enforcement professionals uncover evidence, there are some descriptions that are best not read while eating (fair warning). Shattered Justice does contain graphic violence along with foul language and spousal abuse. My favorite character in the story is Wilco. I found him to be sweet and courageous. It is amazing what dogs can accomplish with training. As you can tell, Shattered Justice was not a good fit for me. Shattered Justice is a grim, tension filled story with a disturbed killer, surprising secrets, a clever canine, the amazing Appalachian, a dogged deputy, and a caring granddaughter.
I rated this book at 4*’s because the beginning was a little slow. I also felt left out in the beginning. Like trying to remember everything that happened in the other books. There was a lot of death and as the title says…Shattered Justice. As a mom it brings your worst nightmare to the forefront of your mind, and you want to find justice for the kids. Then you have all the murders that happened because of one event, and you almost feel the same way as that poor mother. The death and illness of some main characters is a little heart breaking too. But Furlong has a way of writing so you feel the emotions but at the same time you understand why and how they happened. I recommend this book. I feel they must be read in order too!
Shattered Justice by Susan Furlong
Bone Gap Travellers #3
Well done addition to the series that sees Brynn Callahan wrestling with demons that are not easy to beat. She and her dog, Wilco, were together when they were injured by an IED, both suffer flashabacks and PTSD and they rely on one another to remain grounded when triggers are pulled.
Brynn has grown up in the Traveller/Pavee community but straddles the cultures of her childhood and those they called The Settled. She has suffered and seen much with loyalty sometimes divided between her “people” and the people she works with. She has coping mechanisms that have caused her boss to require her to attend AA whether she thinks she needs to or not and that is a deeply embedded bit of her life and also it would seem of the Pavee. This is a murder mystery but it is so much more!
What I liked:
* The telling of the story – hooked me and kept me interested
* The sense of family being there for one another
* Brynn – flawed and damaged as she is
* Wilco – a K-9 companion in more ways than one – a dog that will not give up…just like the woman he lives with
* The twists and turns and surprises
* The slow revelation of who everyone was and what they had been doing
* The men who care for Brynn…even when she doesn’t realize it
* Wondering what will happen to Brynn in the future and how she will get her life together – I really hope she does
* Hoping it won’t be a LONG time till book four comes out
What I didn’t like:
* The bad guys I was meant not to like
* The prejudice and bigotry that exists in life and in this story
* The grim reality of the lives of some of the people in the story
What I want to know:
* More about the private militia – Viper seems to be a person that might be interesting to hear more about
* How Brynn will get her act together
* What will happen to some of the women Travellers mentioned in this book
* What will happen next
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Shattered Justice is the first book that I’ve read by Susan Furlong. Also it’s the 3rd in the Bone Gap Travellers Series. I didn’t realize it wasn’t the start of the series, but that did not stop me from enjoying it. Yes, there are mentions of previous things, but provided enough info so I wasn’t lost. We follow Brynn a former Marine turned deputy sheriff who is also an Irish Traveller. There is a horrific murder that she’s trying to solve along with happening with her own people. Twists and turns right to the end that I didn’t see coming! I definitely want to go back and read from the beginning.
Brynn Callahan is a former Marine and recovering from addictions to alcohol and narcotics, as well as dealing with PTSD. She and her human remains detection dog (HRD), Wilco, are now working with a sheriff’s department in Tennessee. Both Brynn and Wilco suffered loss of body parts overseas due to an IED, and Wilco is now deaf. These injuries resulted in them being deemed unfit for service. Brynn is also a Pavee (what Irish Travellers prefer to be called) and deals with discrimination as a result.
I appreciate that the author chose to show a woman veteran as I feel like we often see this from a male perspective. I loved Wilco; he’s an important character here, not just set dressing.
As you can tell from the book blurb, there are some graphic descriptions of injuries related to the current crimes, as well as Brynn’s time in the military.
I knew nothing about Irish Travellers prior to reading this book and the details, including how the clan has to deal with prejudice, make for a difficult collision of Brynn’s family and her work. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and, unfortunately, I do feel like I need to go back and read the first two in the series in order to really understand the character relationship dynamics. I hope that reading the series in order will give me a broader understanding of this ethnic group. So I’m stopping now and I anticipate coming back in the future once I’ve read the first two books.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #ShatteredJustice #mystery
In this third book of the series we find Brynn at a bachelorette party trying to be good and not drink. She ends up leaving before doing anything bad and is called out the next morning to a crime scene. She finds herself on a playground looking at a pair of ears, the crazy thing, she recognizes the earring in the ear. She saw it the previous night on the ear of a man she met while at the party. When a tongue is later found it has Brynn asking herself what these body parts symbolize. Does it have anything to do with the utter disregard the locals have for travellers? Could it be a killer trying to manipulate the police into thinking one thing when it is actually something totally different? With body parts showing up and no bodies being found the police aren’t sure exactly what direction they should take. No matter the reason Brynn must figure out who the killer is before more parts are found and someone else ends up dead. Meanwhile Brynn is going to mandatory meetings for alcoholics and drug users even though she feels like she can control things. Can Brynn pull herself through the darkness that surrounds her or will she let the past take hold. This was a great read, Brynn is such a multi-layered character that makes you just want to keep pulling away the pieces to get to know her even more.
Let me start by saying, Susan has penned another great story in her Bone Gap Travellers Series. She has done her research about the Irish Travellers and it’s been fun with each book to learn a little more about them. If you haven’t read her series yet, you’ll fall in love with her characters and they’ll become family to you as you read through the story. At the end, you don’t want to let them go; I’ve formed a special bond with each one. I like her character Deputy Brynn Callahan and her trusty K9 companion. The relationship those two have while working in the line of duty is great. Being in Law Enforcement, I see it’s important for the officer and K9 to have a good standing relationship as they perform their duties. Susan does a wonderful job taking you along with each scene and making you feel like you’re a part of her story. That is something I admire in novels and feel like she has accomplished that. If you haven’t read any of her stories, what are you waiting for? You’ll be glad you picked up a copy of Shattered Justice. I would definitely recommend this series to add to your reading list. You won’t regret it!
Another welcome addition to this fascinating series
This is the third book in the Bone Gap Travellers series. I hav loved all the books to date but this is my favorite so far.
Brynn Callahan is a deputy in the Investigative Unit with the McCreary County Sheriff’s Department but she is also a member of the Irish Travellers, a close-knit community that is looked down upon by the rest of the “settled” people in Bone Gap, Tennessee.
She is also an ex-Marine that was injured in the Middle East along with her cadaver dog, Wilco, by an IED. Both her and Wilco suffer from PTSD and she tends to over medicate with booze and prescription pain meds. But she’s trying to do better, actually starting to attend AA meetings.
This book, like the others, has plenty of action. An old friend makes another appearance and, as always seems to be the case, people start turning up dead in and around Bone Gap. This was a very twisty story that kept me guessing and had a few different surprises in it.
I admire Brynn’s character, damaged as she is. She loves her family and her dog and would do anything for them.
I’m already looking forward to the next book and this one doesn’t even get published for a couple more weeks. Darn.
I received this book from Kensington Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book (the whole series actually). I really hope it’s not done because I don’t want that to be the ending! It was very twisty, as in, The Who summit kept changing and then you were like “I so don’t know who did this!” That’s something I love in a book is not being able to figure it out and then I’m shocked at the end. Loved it! Hope there is more and definitely Recommend!