The Breakdown is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you hooked from the opening lines when Cass Anderson's husband makes her promise not to take the back-woods shortcut when coming home from drinks with friends, to the very last sentence (which I won't even write about for fear of spoilers).

Cass Anderson is a woman who thinks that she did a terrible thing, by leaving the scene of a broken down car only to find out the next morning that the woman in that same car has turned up murdered. The act of leaving the women stranded compounded with the fact her own mother had dementia Cass begins to fall into despair as she starts to experience memory lapses. Forgetting scheduling lunch dates with friends, what the alarm code is, how to use the microwave are just some of these lapses and with strange phone calls during the day, the slow loss of her memory Cass begins to experience a breakdown so terrify that you can almost feel it happening to yourself.

I have to admit, although I was curious what what happening in this story right from the beginning, I didn't like Cass Anderson. Not at first at least. By the closing pages of The Breakdown though my feelings of Cass had completely changed. I think that the reason I didn't like her at first was mostly due to how she bowed down to her husband about taking the short-cut and then subsequently not telling him about it because he would get angry with her. To me this seemed like such a silly thing to lie about, especially when she was feeling so guilty about the lie. I hard a real hard time relating to her about this. As the story progressed though and her panic and despair started to rule her life, I no longer felt that I didn't like Cass and I got really concerned about her safety and sanity and by the end of the book I was rooting for her as she had my heart racing at times.

For me a good book is one that I don't want to put down and will read really quickly just so I can find out how it ends. The Breakdown was a quick read, even though I thought I knew what the ending was going to be. I was pleasantly surprised when B.A Paris managed to keep me guessing till the final few chapters.

I really like this author and was surprised to read in intro this is a new career. This book was one I couldn't put down. It read like the mind of a person confused by early onset dementia and you could feel her panic. Maybe because I watched it live in real life I knew the panic she was feeling. Maybe because the author captured that fear so brilliantly.

This was a fantastic, quick summer read. Paris does an impressive job of realistically narrating a (possible) mental breakdown, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Rating: ★★★★

One stormy night, Cass decides to take a shortcut on her way home, and her life was never the same again. Through the downpour, she saw a car stopped on the side of the road, and a woman inside it. The next day, she finds out the woman had been murdered. She tortures herself with what she should have done to help her, that the woman was probably still alive when Cass saw her... and then she starts forgetting things. She forgets having invited friends for a barbecue, having agreed on buying a gift for her co-worker, where she parked her car...

The guilt about what she could have done to save the murdered woman haunts her, and then she starts getting harassed by a silent caller, she can't help thinking it might just be the murderer.

Oh my god, this book was such a ride! It could be because I mostly read it at night by myself with an open window staring at me, but this book terrified me at times. The suspense was done so well, and it keeps you guessing until the end. This was written so well it felt like going through everything together with Cass - her fear, her frustration, her feeling of not being able to cope. 

The only negatives I have to say is that I felt sometimes that Cass wasn't acting so much to find out what was going on, as just let things happen to her without putting up too much of a fight, and that in the middle the book felt like it dragged a bit. But it picks up pace at the end, and it wraps up very satisfyingly. The story has a lot of things I've seen before in thrillers and it didn't feel entirely new, but it didn't bother me. I am very impressed with the author's writing and I look forward to read more from her.

Veredict: This is a very good thriller, and I really recommend it. It's not super innovative, but it's brilliantly written and the plot twist was something I didn't see coming at all!

Ugh. When I requested this novel I did not realize it was written by the same author as Behind Closed Doors. I wasn't a fan of that book but saw so many great reviews I thought I'd give this one a look. I also hoped there would be a dramatic investigation into the death of the woman in the car in the rain spotted by our main character Cass. Turns out the title has two meanings. And that might be the only clue you need to guess the conclusion to this novel after only a few short chapters.

Too obvious, too transparent, too over-dramatic, too mind-boggling clear to everyone except dear Cass what game was afoot. I admit to skimming one painful scene after another from the midway point until the last twenty percent of the book to watch what I hoped would be a satisfying conclusion and resolution. The ending almost made up for the rest of the book.

2.5 stars

ARC received from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for review.

Wow! B.A. Paris does it again! The Breakdown is another excellent psychological thriller. Cass lost her Mom to early-onset dementia so, even if it's not genetic, she lives with the fear of losing her memory and, eventually her mind. After being the last person to see a murdered woman, she starts forgetting little things. It may be the stress of a murder so close to home but, when she starts losing track of time and completely forgetting things and events, her life unravels. Her husband is sympathetic but how long will he put up with it, when Cass doesn't even remember how to operate the microwave? How can she know if she's really being pursued by a killer if she can't trust herself? Now, I figured out what was going to happen from the beginning, but I still loved the novel. Cass is easy to root for and the sense of doom that domestic articles emanate when seen from her eyes is impressive.

This book was sooo good! I loved behind closed doors and this one didn't disappoint either! I couldn't put this book down and when I did I had to pick it up and read more! I will be thinking about this book for a long time. Excellent!

I initially had interest in this book because of B.A. Paris as an author. I thoroughly enjoyed Behind Closed Doors and the new format of the thriller that it brought. This book has more of a traditional thriller that keeps you guessing. Starting with a murder from a car breakdown that leads to mental breakdown for the main character, this book will keep you guessing. I thought I had it figured out, then changed, then changed again and was shocked at the ending! Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, although it did have a different style from the much darker Behind Closed Doors book. I hope this author will continue writing!

I was excited when I saw this title! I have enjoyed other titles by this author and this title stepped up well. It opens with a car on the side of the road in a storm. The driver is later killed. But then the main character seems to be having a breakdown. A very satisfying read! I thoroughly enjoyed and am looking forward to other titles!

I loved her first book (“Behind Closed Doors”) so had high expectations for this one. The story is truly suspenseful. During a severe storm Cass comes across a car parked at the side of the road. She stops and waits for some indication that the female driver needs assistance. None comes so Cass drives on to her home. The next morning Cass learns from her husband that her friend Jane had been murdered. She is devastated when she learns that it had been her friend Jane’s car on the side of the road.

Besides all the guilt Cass feels wondering if she could have done something different and have saved Jane, Cass begins forgetting more and more things. Cass forgets appointments, she forgets ordering items from the shopping channels, etc. She is afraid that she may be showing signs of Early Onset Dementia, a disease her mother has. She receives silent phone calls several times a day. She sees things that later are not there. Her husband is losing his patience with her.

There are lots of suspenseful moments in the book. However, I did have it mostly figured out by 60 pages. But the writing was still good and kept me anxiously awaiting the reveal. The chapters are short so by the last several chapters I was telling myself “I have time for one more chapter – just one more – just one more.” I don’t think it is as good as the first book but it was definitely worth reading.

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Suspenseful – Riveting – Can’t put down until the truth is revealed.

Summary: One rainy night, Cass is out celebrating the end of the school year with her fellow teachers, and she promises her husband that she will not take the "shortcut" home through the woods. However, fearing for her safety from the slick, wet road, she decides to take the shortcut anyway. As she is driving down this rural road, she sees a woman sitting in her car on the side of the road. Cass pulls over, intent on helping the woman, until she decides that it's probably not the safest situation in which to put herself. So, she leaves. And, the next morning...the woman--who was very much alive when Cass saw her--is found dead inside of her car and Cass feels like she is to blame. Her guilt continues to eat away at her and, suddenly, Cass' life begins to dramatically change as she struggles to cope with her reality. And then...the silent phone calls begin. And Cass is sure that the woman's killer knows who she is.

Review: Overall, I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars because the ending was fairly easy to guess and I guessed it since early on. However, to be fair, since I read B.A. Paris' "Behind Closed Doors," I had a feeling that there would be some sort of "twist ending" so I thought of the most twisted thing that could happen and that was that.

So, overall, it was a fantastic thriller and, if it hadn't been for her other book, I would have been very surprised by the ending. This book kept me reading from page one and I really enjoyed the way that Paris went straight into the crime and didn't waste any time setting anything up in the exposition. In my opinion, a thriller needs to come running out of the gate and this story didn't disappoint!

Furthermore, I don't think that this story is very far-fetched as some thrillers can often be. It was all very realistic and, scarily enough, something that COULD happen in today's day and age.

I think the part that annoyed me just a tad is how repetitive the story felt as Cass started sinking in and out of her depression. But, I know that this isn't something I should complain about as that is exactly how depression works, thus, making this story very realistic.

I look forward to reading more of B.A. Paris' work in the future!

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust? B. A. Paris explores this quandary in her latest thriller, “The Breakdown”.

Cass’s life is just about perfect… handsome and loving husband, lots of friends, new job and a great house. The only scar on her idyllic life is the recent death of her mother, from dementia, which left her wealthy. Unbeknownst to Cass, her mother tucked away lots of money and lived a very frugal life. Oh, and her best friend and husband only tolerate each other.

Que a stormy night and a shortcut through a dark, twisting, wooded road. Cass takes said shortcut against her husband’s warnings. As she passes a lay-by, she sees a car. She does not really want to stop; it’s dark, raining and just darn right scary outside. As she pulls by the car, she sees that it is a woman. So, she pulls in front of the car. She waits for the motorist to put on her flashers, honk, get out or otherwise signal that she needs assistance. After some time, Cass goes on. She gets home, goes to bed and forgets about the incident until news of a murder on the very road she traveled last night jolts her out of her happy, perfect life.

Cass instantly feels guilty. Could she have helped? Could she have saved her? Would she have been murdered too? Then her mind jumps to the next logical question… did the murderer see her? She instantly becomes anxious. She begins forgetting things. She thinks someone is watching her and starts receiving calls from someone who does not speak. Then, she starts hallucinating. Is she going crazy or does she have dementia like her mother? Why is this happening to her? She just wants to have a baby and return to her normal life.

Does Cass find out what is going on? Does she find out who the murderer is before the murderer can drive her crazy? You must read the book to find out. It is a great read… I devoured in less than 24 hours. I really like this author and have not read her debut novel, “Behind Closed Doors”, but plan to soon.

Release/Publication Date: July 18, 2017

Genre: Thriller, suspense, crime, murder

Cover: Perfect.

Source: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

Rating: 4 stars

I read this book in one sitting as it was impossible to put down. While it kept me on my toes it was never so scary that I needed a break.

The title of the book has a double meaning and the author did a great job of showing us Cass's "breakdown."

This will be a hit of the summer.

Well about all I can say is though this book has an interesting premise, I did guess the truth early on.

The Breakdown is B.A. Paris's follow up to her amazing debut novel, Behind Closed Doors, which is one of my favorite thrillers. With Behind Closed Doors being such a great read, I went into The Breakdown with high expectations that I' sad to say weren't met. Cass tended to get on my nerves more than anything and I had no desire to keep reading. I actually didn't touch my Kindle for 3 days, which is extremely unusual for me. I still plan on reading B.A. Paris's next book with hopes that I enjoy it more than The Breakdown. 
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Behind Closed Doors (by the same author) was one of my favorite books of 2016. So I was beyond excited to read The Breakdown. The Breakdown is a standalone suspense/thriller. It is set in the UK.

The narrator is 33 year old Cass (first person POV). She is a teacher. Her husband is Matthew.

The first chapters of this book were so chilling. Cass was driving in the rain during a storm. She decided to take a faster route home through the woods. She comes across someone in a car, but ends up leaving.

The beginning was very strong and I did not want to put the book down. The whole scene in the rain was terrifying. I could not wait to find out who was in the car and how that would play out.

There are a bunch of issues that come into play in this story. One is that Cass's mother had dementia. And the other is that Cass feels extreme guilt for driving away that night. I really enjoyed how both things were worked into the story.

I had a few theories while reading this book. There was one thing that I suspected was happening and I ended up being right. There were a few people who I suspected of various things and I ended up being partially right about that.

The book definitely got very interesting towards the end. There were some reveals that made the story even more intriguing. There were some things that reminded me a lot of Behind Closed Doors. Not the storyline, but the way various things were handled.

I enjoyed how things tied together at the end. But I could have used another chapter for more closure. Overall, this was a good book. But I am not sure that everyone will find the ending satisfying. It just ended too quickly.

This was a page turner and the first book I've read from this author.  I know her last book was very popular but I haven't gotten my hands on it yet.  Cass is a likable character that seems to be suffering from anxiety and early onset dementia.  Her memory is unreliable and the fact that she was the last person to see a new friend alive, is messing with her head. 

Her husband and friends are worried about her and are trying to get her the care she needs but she is not making it easy for them.  Filled with unreliable narrators, this book will have you guessing until the very end.

NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press kindly provided me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Driving down a desolate road on her way home during a terrible storm, Cass narrowly avoids hitting a car stopped on the shoulder of the road. She stops, thinking perhaps the woman she saw through the rain-soaked window may be having car trouble; but when the woman doesn’t get out of her car, or otherwise signal for help, Cass fears it may be a trap, and drives away. The next morning, there is an announcement on the radio that a woman was found dead in her car on that same road, “under suspicious circumstances”, which can only mean murder.

Feeling guilty for having driven off, Cass doesn’t tell her husband or even her best friend that she saw the woman in her car that night, for fear of being judged for not helping the poor woman. The it occurs to Cass that perhaps the murderer may have been in the car with the woman when Cass stopped on the road, and is out to get her because he thinks she can identify him, resulting in Cass’ mental state to rapidly deteriorate, causing insomnia, paranoia, and forgetfulness. And to make matters worse, her mother was diagnosed with early onset dementia, so Cass fears she may be suffering the same fate. Then, the silent calls begin—calls she believes are from the murderer himself—taunting her, and driving her nearly to madness.

The title cleverly applies to both intertwining plots: the car stopped on the road, and the protagonist’s downward spiral. As the reader is only privy to Cass’ interpretation of events, knowing she is clearly unstable and becoming more unreliable as the plot progresses, it becomes more difficult to determine whether to believe her or not. With a small cast of characters, and the simplest explanation usually being the correct one, I was able to deduce who the culprit was and what their motives were in one of the storylines, however the other was a bit of a surprise. The conclusion was a bit of a let down, but aside from these last few pages, this was a thoroughly gripping read, and I found it difficult to put down. 4.5 stars

Are there really that many insecure women in the world that their husbands can succeed in making them think they are crazy? It's been a common theme lately. Cass's husband Matthew and her best friend Rachel, never miss a chance to make Cass feel as though she has faulty memory. And for awhile, she believes them. This story did have unusual twists and turns that could throw you off. You always knew who was the mastermind behind the plan to drive Cass over the edge, but it was the journey to the end when Cass finally wises up and turns the tables on them that makes this book a good read.

This is becoming a new favorite author of mine. Suspenseful and a quick read! I kind of figured out who did it, but had a nice twist at the end.