Fractured Secrets

by Lisa Alfano

Sophie Mathieson is trapped in a mediocre marriage and a mundane job that she hates. She counts the days of her life with numbers instead of calendar days; numbers that correspond with the length of her employment at the Heller Corporation, or as Sophie refers to it, Hellco. On Day 9,680, Sophie begins receiving threatening messages from a mysterious man. Terrified that her husband, Jack, will discover her secret, Sophie must find a way to deal with the faceless man behind the text messages before the life she worked so hard to construct comes tumbling down around her.


Dan Zane is a respected young doctor with a bright future. When the demons from his youth resurface pleading for help, he must choose between the family that abandoned him and his oath to, 'do no harm.' Heeding the call for help may lead to a cure for what ails his family, but in doing so, Dan risks not only his career but his soul.


When Sophie and Dan's lives collide, they discover that they are pawns in a sinister game of secrets and revenge; a game more dangerous and ruthless than either of them imagined. They must learn to trust each other if they hope to survive, but it's difficult to trust when the enemy has no face. Everyone has secrets and sometimes those secrets kill.

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2022

About the author

LISA ALFANO is a lifelong New Englander who enjoys creating twisted characters living in flawed worlds. Previously traditionally published, Lisa is excited to add the title of "indie author/publisher" to her resume.

She is the author of the psychological thriller novels, Fractured Secrets and Sleep With One Eye Open (formerly titled PMS Girls) and the prequel to her new young adult fantasy series: The Thorne Chronicles: Deal of Jagged Thornes: a Thorne Chronicles prequel, is available now on Amazon.
Cage of Tangled Thornes: Book One of the Thorne Chronicles is being released, Summer 2023. Lisa also authored several horror short stories which are published in various anthologies.

Her future projects include: Perpetual Vengeance (PMS Girls Saga: Book Two) will be released late 2023-early 2024. A Thorne as Black as Onyx: Book Two of the Thorne Chronicles will be released in 2024. Deceitful Shadows: a political thriller is scheduled for release November 2024.

When she is not busy creating new plot twists and intriguing characters, Lisa enjoys spending time with her husband and their adult sons, as well as walking on the beach with her pampered, rescue pup and working on her monthly newsletter.

Sign up on her website for her monthly newsletter to be the first to learn about her new projects as well as free books and other goodies: www.lisaalfanoauthor.com

Reviews

[Jessica Cantwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an autographed copy of Fractured Secrets from the author, Lisa Alfano. I absolutely love her writing. As with her first book, PMS Girls, I was drawn in from the start. Sophie, the main character’s, loathing of her job and despicable co-worker is hilarious, and (for anyone who has suffered working a crap job with intolerable co-workers) spot on! Trouble starts when she gets a random phone call by a mysterious Dr. Z, that takes Sophie, and readers, on a trilling journey to find out what is going on. A lot of fractured secrets are unraveled along the way. This book is an edge of your seat read.

[T.L. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gripping - Alfano keeps the suspense going from beginning to end.

Author Lisa Alfano shared short stories featuring her characters in her social media channels, and I was intrigued by what I read. It was clear that more than one character played a pivotal role in her book “Fractured Secrets” - and that there were several dark and dangerous secrets being kept. My curiosity grew!

Sophie Mathieson is certainly the protagonist in “Fractured Secrets,” but her charismatic husband Jack, and their long-time friend Kyle, figure in prominent roles as well. (Kyle is also Jack’s restaurant partner at La Famiglia.) However, the author chose to introduce a fourth character and elevate him to the status of a second main character which brought a different point of view to the same central plot. Daniel Zane is known to Jack and Kyle as a restaurant patron, but the reader has the opportunity to get to know Dan through his thoughts; his own dysfunctional family interactions; and his shifts as a doctor at the local hospital where he seeks refuge from his own self-sabotaging mind chatter.

And that’s where the separate life stories connect: Sophie and Dan have very different problems, but they both have big secrets - ones that could destroy their lives and the lives of others if exposed.

Alfano skillfully delivers the mundane along with Sophie’s more serious issues: from a mean-spirited co-worker; to a marriage that’s not all that it seems; to the internal struggles Sophie navigates consisting of a sinking confidence, relentless guilt, and even a strained relationship with the divine. There are more than ‘fractured secrets’ in Alfano’s book - so many pieces and parts of Sophie’s life are cracking.

Then the messages from an unknown threat start coming in.

The author chooses to have Sophie fight back when she can, but Sophie is dealing with diabolical forces way beyond the normal troubles and challenges a woman at mid-life faces. Alfano explores several different ways a person can try to cope when everything is falling apart: emotionally shutting down; alcohol; nicotine addiction; and seeking shelter with the divine. But Sophie can’t reconnect to her faith. At one point she silently reflects: God did not answer the prayers of the unworthy.

Dan, the other main character in “Fractured Secrets,” also faces personal demons - surviving foster care as a child; dealing with an increasingly mentally ill family member; and self-imposed isolation. Some of Dan’s coping mechanisms are similar to Sophie’s in that he capitulates to avoid confrontation. He struggles to keep things under control by trying to mitigate the harm caused by irrational family members. But at some point, things just can’t be contained.

And then, Dan’s life becomes intertwined with Sophie’s as malevolent forces bring these two together.

I want to highlight the remarkable emotional exploration the author undertook following the unexpected death of one of Sophie’s loved ones. This person betrayed Sophie horribly - delivering a shocking surprise to the reader. While it would seem despair, anger, and even relief would be the obvious feelings running through Sophie after this person’s death, Alfano interjects a deep grieving for that ‘fractured’ relationship. Even though this person tried to harm Sophie, she doesn’t sink into full-on hatred. The author’s decision to delve into this complicated range of emotions produced a thought-provoking resolution to one of the more melancholy outcomes in this book.

Fans of storylines embracing a light element of divine intervention will enjoy the fleeting glimpses Alfano weaves into Sophie’s experience as she craves relief. It is satisfying even when all is NOT revealed. Sometimes it’s better to live in wonder of the metaphysical mysteries influencing one’s life.

Throughout this book, Alfano introduces secrets that build off one another and that add to the chaos brewing in the lives of Sophie and Dan. The author manages to pull off jaw-dropping twists while keeping each layer of newly-revealed secrets believable. By the last chapter, the reader can see how situations and character acts were connected for much longer than originally assumed. However, a few choice secrets are kept by the characters we’ve come to know so intimately - and yet, perhaps not everything needs to be said. We also see how characters controlled what they could and understand the reasons why.

A couple of loose ends were purposely left by Alfano and it worked. Why? Because life rarely wraps up so tidily. Yes, you can have a satisfying ending - even if things didn’t work out the way you thought they would. Yes, you can rebuild happiness. Yes, you can do the hard things and move to a better future with people you can trust. Lisa Alfano teaches this to the reader - a message threaded through a thriller full of secrets, lies, and ultimately, second chances.

If you enjoy meticulously plotted thrillers marrying multiple moving parts and viewpoints, along with a genuine exploration of the complexities between spouses; friends; enemies; strangers; and parents and their children, “Fractured Secrets” has all of this and so much more. There are frightening scenes as well as moments of hope. A big bravo to author Lisa Alfano for her exceptional blending of well-developed characters with a storyline that will captivate you long past your bedtime!

[Susan Dalessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that pulled me in right from the beginning.

Told from two POVs, Lisa does a fabulous job building suspense, and weaving a web of lies and deceit with her characters throughout the story. Just when I thought I had a character and their situation figured out, something happened to change my mind. The suspense builds from the first page until the last.

If you like thrillers with multifaceted characters and dark secrets that control and shape their daily lives, you'll love FRACTURED SECRETS. Get your copy now!

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author. I received this novel from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review

[Mark Smola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller with nonstop excitement

This novel is brimming with edgy suspense and will keep the reader on tenterhooks throughout. It is written through the perspective of two main characters which the author cleverly alternates to chronical the events of this intoxicating fiction. The characters are twisted; and their world is indeed flawed. This is a must read for anyone that enjoys reading suspense thrillers.

[Shaleah Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Gasp* Are there even words to describe this!? Absolutely loved this and definitely recommend. I was pulled in from the first page. So hard to put down and remember you have things that need to be done. It makes you feel like this is reality and you have to be there to find out what happens. Well done!

[Shelly Bossano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so difficult to put down! This story will have you hooked!! It has everything, and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if this was made into a movie ! I'm a fan !

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the first page. The story is told from two main characters' point of view, Sophia and Dan , who both have complicated stories with secrets best left in the past. As we all know, secrets never stay buried and as the secrets are revealed through the twists and turns of this story, my jaw dropped. I liked the characters who were well fleshed out and interesting. I was stunned by the ending. I would recommend it. I received free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy stories with multifaceted characters who are not always what they seem. This was one of those books. A thriller with many twists and turns, and I especially felt the authenticity of character Jack, especially in the beginning of the book when Alfano gave hints into his personality. The message of faith and divinity sprinkled throughout the story was also a very nice touch that I appreciated because you don't see too much of that in books these days that aren't labeled as such.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapters switch between Sophie and Dan, the book broken up into 23 sections. Dan is forced to impose into Sophie's life, but this works in their favour as they work together to defeat the game. The structure is jarring, but ultimately readers get an in-depth view into both characters from their perspectives.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and enjoyed getting to know this book. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed getting into their story. Lisa Alfano has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

I received a free copy of this book for review and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Samarium Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read. One thing I don’t quite understand is the logic behind Dan’s decision to kill Sophie after finding out Maddie might be his sister. One question left unanswered, is Jack Dan’s father after all?

[Nannette Kreitzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fractured Secrets is a labyrinth of a mystery with lots of breadcrumbs to follow. Every time I thought I had picked them all up, more would crunch underfoot! Alfano’s incorporation of a spiritual element added even more intrigue to an already twisty plot. This one kept me on my toes!

[Rachel Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fractured Secrets is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Sophie and Dan, who's lives are inextricably linked by the decisions of others. I struggled to connect with either of the main characters and so I struggled to 'get along' with the book, although I know that Lisa Alfano is a great author because I loved Sleep With One Eye Open (previously PMS Girls). The ending was superb; the twist was excellent and although I had parts of it worked out, I didn't have it all worked out. It's worth a read for the ending alone and if you can connect with Sophie or Dan, then I'm sure you'll love it.