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The Shattering
A woman’s suspicions and desperate attempt to save her family twist and spiral in this novel of psychological suspense by Kay Oliver.
What would cause something so horrible to creep up on a well-to-do, wealthy family who has spent their lives serving the community and the Lord? Do they really know each other?
Presented with photos and logged meet-ups from her private investigator, her suspicions are confirmed. However, her husband is cheating, but not with another woman. Worse yet, adultery is not the only dirt he has his hands in. Once she’s over her own despair and anger, she realizes her children innocently lay in the path of the coming crossfire. How can she save them from the consequences of their father’s sins?
As secret after disturbing secret surface, macabre motives and faux identities threaten to poison the family, their livelihoods, and scar the Cuningham name forever. A plan swiftly pieces itself together in Nadine’s mind. She books a grand cabin in the Pine Towers National Forest and invites the whole family to get away for the Christmas holiday. It doesn’t take long for everything she’s planned to fall apart as unknown intruders break their way into the Cuningham’s safe space.
With the illusion of happiness long gone, they confront the dangers of living double lives, the ramifications of lying and cheating, and the heartbreak of unconditional love.
A deeply compelling puzzle that will have you hooked and desperate to put the pieces together well past your bedtime.
What would cause something so horrible to creep up on a well-to-do, wealthy family who has spent their lives serving the community and the Lord? Do they really know each other?
Presented with photos and logged meet-ups from her private investigator, her suspicions are confirmed. However, her husband is cheating, but not with another woman. Worse yet, adultery is not the only dirt he has his hands in. Once she’s over her own despair and anger, she realizes her children innocently lay in the path of the coming crossfire. How can she save them from the consequences of their father’s sins?
As secret after disturbing secret surface, macabre motives and faux identities threaten to poison the family, their livelihoods, and scar the Cuningham name forever. A plan swiftly pieces itself together in Nadine’s mind. She books a grand cabin in the Pine Towers National Forest and invites the whole family to get away for the Christmas holiday. It doesn’t take long for everything she’s planned to fall apart as unknown intruders break their way into the Cuningham’s safe space.
With the illusion of happiness long gone, they confront the dangers of living double lives, the ramifications of lying and cheating, and the heartbreak of unconditional love.
A deeply compelling puzzle that will have you hooked and desperate to put the pieces together well past your bedtime.
- GenresFiction
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2021
2 people are currently reading
1080 people want to read
About the author
Kay Oliver
11 books197 followersKay Oliver lives in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah with her husband and their house full of rescued shelter animals. When she’s not brewing a bloodcurdling tale she loves to cuddle up in her reading nook at home and get lost in tales of horror, suspense, and mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 18, 2022
One of Kay's best books yet
From start to finish, I could not put this book down! As always, Kay has spun a riveting edge of your seat thriller. But this definitely one of her best books yet. Fear, uncertainty, raw emotion, all tie into a shattering tale! I definitely recommend this one!
From start to finish, I could not put this book down! As always, Kay has spun a riveting edge of your seat thriller. But this definitely one of her best books yet. Fear, uncertainty, raw emotion, all tie into a shattering tale! I definitely recommend this one!
January 11, 2022
A page turner that will keep you wondering what this poor family will do right up until the very end. This was my first book by Kay Oliver and it will not be my last.
January 11, 2022
Holy guacamole!! If you haven't read this book, be forewarned - this is as wicked as it gets!! This was seriously evil but so delicious of domestic thriller.
December 21, 2021
This one ended with me having goosebumps!! Wow! This twist was not what I thought was going to happen at all! Perfect thriller, suspense!!
January 13, 2022
This is one terrific read.
Kay Oliver writes effortlessly and she paints a picture for you from the very start with her well-written fluid prose.
The strong female main character, Nadine, is a church going proper woman with a seemingly idyllic life, but that quickly threatens to unravel after she uncovers several shocking family secrets.
Nadine comes up with a plan that will fix everything, but a series of twists threaten to sidetrack everything she's set in motion.
And the end of the book will shock you, because you won't see it coming.
There is a level of suspense in this book that will keep you guessing, and keep you rooting for Nadine all the way to the very end.
I highly recommend this book.
Kay Oliver writes effortlessly and she paints a picture for you from the very start with her well-written fluid prose.
The strong female main character, Nadine, is a church going proper woman with a seemingly idyllic life, but that quickly threatens to unravel after she uncovers several shocking family secrets.
Nadine comes up with a plan that will fix everything, but a series of twists threaten to sidetrack everything she's set in motion.
And the end of the book will shock you, because you won't see it coming.
There is a level of suspense in this book that will keep you guessing, and keep you rooting for Nadine all the way to the very end.
I highly recommend this book.
December 22, 2021
This novel has everything a great thriller needs: highly developed characters, excellent dialogue, weaving plot lines that collide and explode. Oliver pulls her readers in and leads them to the brink where the reader thinks they know what's going to happen, but then things morph and change in believable yet unexpected ways and the reader wonders how they never saw that twist coming.
December 25, 2021
Why is there only five stars to give?
This book blew my mind, it was simply one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. I loved the tension, the smart and complex characters and the twists that made me gasp out loud.
The author writes well, not describing too much or too little. No annoying details that didn’t make sense, it all came together nicely.
This book blew my mind, it was simply one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. I loved the tension, the smart and complex characters and the twists that made me gasp out loud.
The author writes well, not describing too much or too little. No annoying details that didn’t make sense, it all came together nicely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2021
A darkly addictive novel, packed full of secrets and lies, with a twist that has left me breathless. I don’t want to spoil this book for you by telling the story in my own words. You need to dive into the pages with the same fervor and innocence that I did.
December 24, 2021
This was well written with a plot that flowed smoothly from page to page. The characters were created with such great detail and depth I remained on the edge of my seat until the very last page was turned!
December 24, 2021
This book kept me guessing until the end. Without giving too much of the plot away, I knew about Krista's secret from the moment she entered. The rest was a surprise to me! I loved it! On the edge of my seat the whole way through!
January 6, 2022
A woman’s mind begins to spiral as she tries to sort out truth, lies, and mysteries about her family.
A brilliant read. Great story. I loved Zion and Cody's characters. Didn't trust Rey or Nadine from the start. I couldn't put it down.
A brilliant read. Great story. I loved Zion and Cody's characters. Didn't trust Rey or Nadine from the start. I couldn't put it down.
December 23, 2021
Psychological/domestic thriller at its finest. The author has raised the bar on crafting a well-plotted story with an ending you won’t see coming. Nadine is someone you'll love to hate!
December 25, 2021
Wow that ending! Nadine was a great character, her spiral into madness totally gripping. I felt for her and I was puzzled by her and then I was stunned by her. Devoured in a day, a must read!
December 21, 2021
Awesome domestic thriller! Great writing and characters. I could not put it down! Looking forward to more from this author.
December 9, 2021
Fantastic work, a must read!
It’s is not often that I can’t guess where the author of a thriller is going with their work. That being said Kay Oliver pulled it off brilliantly. The dynamic characters and fantastic settings keep you engaged until the very end! I highly recommend this book to all readers!
It’s is not often that I can’t guess where the author of a thriller is going with their work. That being said Kay Oliver pulled it off brilliantly. The dynamic characters and fantastic settings keep you engaged until the very end! I highly recommend this book to all readers!
January 12, 2022
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously. Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
January 7, 2022
This is a very good read - gets your interest with lots of twists till the end - a must read
January 5, 2022
I was hooked from the first page, it's suspenseful and a fresh and original plot. Nadine and Rey seemed to have the perfect marriage, the perfect family, the perfect life until a dark secret's revealed and you wonder who your husband truly is. There are many twists and it keeps you guessing til the end!
December 20, 2023
I have no memory of how this got in my Kindle Unlimited books, but however I heard about it, I'm glad it did. Nadine Cuningham, the protagonist, is overly pious, bigoted, and judgmental, and yet I couldn't read her story fast enough. I love a twisty, unexpected main character facing twisty, dark obstacles, and this domestic thriller delivers wonderfully on that count. Kudos to the author for creating an absorbing page-turner.
March 19, 2024
So good!!!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews