A Broken Clock Never Boils by CJ Weiss

A Mystery/Thriller, Independently Published in 2022, 275 Pages

What I Didn’t Like:

I sometimes have a problem keeping characters straight when their names are too close. That being said, Rick and Ryan were too similar for me. I had to backtrack and figure out who was who. I knew them at the moment but I would get confused when the name popped up later and have to remind myself which was which. That being said, I’m aware that was intentional.
There are some places where you feel like you skipped something important and it’s just recapped for you. It’s not often and I do think it had a purpose, but it’s there. There’s specifically one that really bothered me toward the end of the book, but I’ll refrain from giving spoilers.
I’m not 100% sure I’m sold on the supernatural component. Like the protagonist, I’m a skeptic. That colored my enjoyment of the book a little.

Sucks you right in. The board game night chapter specifically was the point for me when I knew I was HOOKED (chapter 3 or 4). You feel that anticipation and the mystery is chilling. You want answers.
Well written. From background sprinkled in to phrases that paint a picture, this one is written to grab your attention and keep it.
At first the title seemed odd. But it has a point rooted in the characters background and it works. Loved how it played into the story.
The inclusion of psychology and philosophy is handled well. Often these can be heavy handed or boring additions to a fiction story that bog the reader down. This author handles it with precision that doesn’t detract from the story. Instead, it adds a depth of thought that makes it utterly fascinating.

This one is well written and the link between psychology and the supernatural stuff was really well done.