I am sitting here at my computer, searching for what to say about this book. I am not sure what I expected, but I can tell you that I got more than I bargained for. B.A. Paris is definitely moving up my must-read-authors list! Two books in and both are winners!

Taking a journey in the main character, Cass's mind was a mind fuck in itself. Her slow mental decline and paranoia are contagious. The writing of this story is superb!

Let me be honest, I had my suspicions throughout the book. They all kept going back to the same place. By the time I got to the end, I knew I had been correct. However, that didn't change my shock and fist bumps as I read those last few chapters. My pom poms were waving and shaking for Cass's victory!

This is a story that I don't even want to talk about the characters. I think everyone needs to go into this book with only the blurb. I will say there was one thing that needed changed about this book that would have made it better... Buuut, I can't tell you what that is because that would be spoiling a very important aspect of the book. Let me just say that this aspect was focused on a little too much and too long for my liking.

Cass drives home along a deserted back road after a party with colleagues and passes a parked car on the way. The next day she finds out her new friend was in the car and has been murdered. Cass is devastated that she didn't stop and try to help the victim in some way. As days go by, Cass realizes the stress is causing her memory issues. Her husband Matthew and best friend Rachel offer her comfort, but then the phone calls begin. This novel is well-written and the characters are developed nicely. I figured out the plot fairly early, but there were details I never imagined that surprised me at the end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for a fair and honest review. Also reviewed on Goodreads, maestraw.

'The Breakdown' is a taut emotional thriller that kept me guessing until the end. Full of twists and turns and a wonderfully unreliable narrator, it kept me turning pages long into the night. Is Cass losing her memory and her mind? Or is she being targeted by the person who killed the woman in the car that rainy night?

I enjoyed 'The Breakdown' immensely. Highly recommended.

I am absolutely a life-long fan of this author! Her debut novel "Behind Closed Doors", was gripping, exciting, just plain awesome! And this book is terrific! I thought I had it all worked out, Cass was very forgetful, and at first I thought perhaps it was early onset dementia as her mother had had dementia at age 44. Then I thought maybe it was the recent murder causing her anxiety. I also thought perhaps it was her husband, who might be having an affair and wants to get her put away. But every time I thought I had it worked out, another twist appeared. I absolutely did not expect the ending. I read this book in 2 days. It was gripping and exciting from page one. I cannot wait for more from this author.

B. A. Paris’s second book is as amazing as the first one, “Behind Closed Doors“! “The Breakdown” is a book you can simply not put down!!!

Cass is in trouble having peace of mind as she starts forgetting things and has a feeling she will end up like her mother. She is having a mental breakdown after hearing of the killing of a young woman at her neighborhood. A woman she knew and believed she could have saved, if only she had stopped at that deserted road in the middle of the storm. But she didn’t. So guilt eats up on her.

Her husband is very understanding and supports her every way he can. He would be furious to know she took the shortcut home through the woods, so she cannot tell him that she broke her promise, took the shortcut and end up not helping a woman in need. He is very understanding with her forgetting all those things, but when the things start to get more serious he is really concerned.

“The Breakdown” is what happened to Cass. A woman that had blindly trusted her husband and her best friend, the two people she loves the most. Thank goodness she has them, but she has to keep secrets from them and this is what is tearing her apart. This and the fact that without this knowledge, they cannot justify her fear and obsession that the murderer may be after her.

Just like in “Behind Closed Doors“, the reader knows all the story from the beginning and can guess a thing or two on what is behind all the fuss. Like why Cass is having a nervous breakdown, and if she is actually becoming like her mother or not. There are some pretty clear hints on those two. The one thing the reader cannot guess is the identity of the murderer and the motive.

The beautiful thing about Paris’s books is that you understand what exactly is happening, what is the wrong thing in the situation and you live it along with her characters. And when they find a way to leave the torturous environment they have been into, you are happy for them. The author does so with the bad guys in her books, that they seem to be able to pull their act to the end, in a pure flawless way. The reader tries to find a way through for the victims in the story until the story itself turns around and the villains stumble upon their own trap. And there is justice served!

“The Breakdown” will be released in US in July by St. Martin’s Press.

I really enjoyed B.A. Paris' debut novel Behind Closed Doors, because despite its somewhat implausible plot and two dimensional characters, it was so thrilling and horrifying you really couldn't stop turning the pages. Sadly, The Breakdown has only the first part in common with her previous work.

There is some resemblance of an interesting idea buried somewhere in this novel, but it's unfortunately overpowered by too many problems. First is that for a whodunnit mystery, the answer is too obvious and predictable pretty much from the start, and there's nothing in the plot that makes you doubt that guess. The list of characters is too short, the red herrings too unsubtle. If you've ever seen an old Hollywood thriller or Hitchcock movie you're likely going to know what's going on in this story just from reading the blurb. There's not even an attempt to add something remotely original to an overused plot, which is a big disappointment because the author proved in her first book she's better than this.

Second, and probably my biggest issue with this book, is that the main character, Cass, is insufferable. I understand that not all female characters in modern literature have to be strong and smart, but if she's going to be dumb and weak, then she could at least be complex and interesting. But she isn't. She spends most of the book whining, crying, in a drugged daze or gripped by an absurd paranoia over every little thing and I can't stress enough how exhausting it is to read from her first person point of view, especially because the writing is incredibly repetitive. Cass is supposed to be a well regarded teacher that apparently in the past was very capable, but when we meet her she's useless. From the very first pages, when she inexplicably decides to take a dangerous, dark road in a storm because apparently it's easier to drive there than on a well lit highway, she shows you she's the type of character that will run up the stairs instead of out of the house if a serial killer comes in.

The blurb tells you that she's trying to put the crime out of her mind, but that's not true, she obsesses over it endlessly and goes nuts over some silent calls, which is literally the scariest (and I use that word loosely) thing that happens to her in most of the book. She does nothing all day other than obsess about the crime, about her memory lapses (that of course she chooses to cry over instead of finding a way to deal with) and go shopping. She depends on her husband for everything and can't make any decisions by herself. This woman is the nightmare of any feminist. And the worst part is that making her so dumb and weak is the only way the plot and the twist can be believable at all.

It doesn't help that most of what happens is because of coincidences and chance meetings.

Since there's nothing too complex or thought provoking about the novel, it can be read in a heartbeat, and I don't doubt most people will be entertained by it, even with all the glaring flaws. But I have to admit that at the end I was relieved to finish the story, mostly because I couldn't put up with that protagonist any longer.

Links to places my review can be seen are below.

I won B.A. Paris's first book, "Behind Closed Doors," in a Publisher giveaway. It was one of those books where you stay up till two to read, even as you cringe knowing you have to be up in just a few hours for work. I didn't have any late nights with this one. Instead I had a lunch break that seemed too short as I crammed in as much as I could. When I couldn't finish in time, the afternoon moved abnormally slow and the minute I finished work, I sank onto my bed to finish. (Sometimes, perks like that are the best thing about working from home.)

As is the case in many of these books, Grace thinks she has the perfect life with her new husband Jack. Driving late at night, Grace takes the shortcut home, the way Jack specifically advised her not to take. It's dark, it's foggy, it's all of the things that give me driving anxiety. In other words, I would not have been on that road. Grace spots a car on the side of the road and she pulls over. She's too scared to get out of the car but she tries flashing her lights a few times to see if the person needs help. (In retrospect, I'm wondering where Grace's cell phone was and why she couldn't call someone. I think they did explain it but if not, that's a small plot hole.)

The person doesn't get out and Grace goes home and falls asleep. The next day she finds out the driver, a woman who turns out to have been a new friend of hers, was murdered. Grace is racked with guilt and pretty soon she's having her own breakdown. (See the double meaning in the title?) As she starts to lose whole chunks of time and forgets almost everything, she begins to think she is developing early onset dementia like her mother. Then the phone calls start with nobody on the other end. Grace is convinced she's being stalked by the same person who killed her friend but is it possible she's just losing her mind?

B.A. Paris has written another hard to put down, fast read. Thank you Net Galley for my complimentary copy.

Having read this author's earlier novel, Behind Closed Doors, I was excited to receive this review copy of her new book from Netgalley.
This was an enjoyable read in the same vein, a psychological domestic noir thriller that I found difficult to put down once I had started it.
Cass is a teacher married to handsome Matthew for less than a year.. She is starting the summer holidays and on a night out with her colleagues. En route home to her isolated home in a terrible storm, she takes a short cut through the woods and sees a car parked in a lay by which transpires to be the start of her troubles. She does not stop to help he woman in the car although she parks up for a bit in case the woman requires help; subsequently she feels really guilty after some awful events occur.
At the same time as this incident with the car Cass seems to be forgetting a lot of things at home and she really feels like she is losing her mind.
Narrated in the first person the reader really gets inside of Cass's head and suffers along with her, experiencing Cass's own shock and horror as her life seems to disintegrate in a matter of weeks. Most of the time she seems to behave normally But periodically she will forget something and the reader then panics along with her.
The title of the novel is clever-Breakdown as it either refers to what is happening to Cass or to the broken down car which seems to be the catalyst for all her troubles.
Her friends and colleagues try to help and her husband desperately struggles to support her but things only seem to get worse. However as the novel progresses doubt arises as to whom Cass can really trust and the tension starts to build.
Being an avid thriller reader I thoroughly enjoyed this and in my opinion it has all the makings of the big Summer beach read particularly as these sort of books are so popular at the moment. Perfect for fans of The Girl on The Train and Gone Girl. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wasn't nearly as good as Behind Closed Doors

Cass is breaking down. She was driving home one night and saw a car stranded on the side of the road. She stops to help, but the woman driver doesn't seem to notice her, so she drives away. The next day, news is breaking about a woman who was killed on the side of the road. It's the same woman that Cass drove away from. Cass is beside herself with guilt, and lately things haven't seemed right. There are mysterious phone calls, strangers walking around her house and she seems to be forgetting things. Does this have anything to do with the woman's death?

I liked the beginning and the end to The Breakdown. I found that it was a quick read and I became invested with Cass and why she was losing her mind. The middle bogged down the story to me because it was about Cass breaking down. There were a lot of things that happened to Cass that added to her paranoia and memory loss and the author goes through every single one. I found myself getting tired of Cass and the things happening to her.

I enjoyed the ending, but found it to be a bit quick. I was hoping for more of a conclusion. It just seemed to end.

I can't get enough of BA Paris and her writing style and I can't wait for more!

B.A. Paris has absolutely outdone herself. I loved "Behind Closed Doors" -- as every thriller fan did -- and eagerly anticipated her follow-up. It was worth the wait. "The Breakdown" is an engrossing page-turner that's well-executed, keeping suspense high throughout. It's fast-paced, which is good because you won't want to put it down. I will recommend to my friends, and will post a full review on my blog closer to release date.

The Breakdown is the new standalone novel by B.A. Paris. Last year I read her debut novel Behind Closed Doors which was a terrifyingly amazingly good read! The Breakdown is also another fabulous read!

I found The Breakdown chilling right from the beginning. I had such a hard time putting down this excellent thriller. B.A. Paris is an excellent writer who knows just where to put the twists to keep the reader enthralled.

I found The Breakdown to be incredibly fascinating because of the references to memory. I found it terrifying as Cass struggled to remember things. She kept misplacing things and who was calling her all the time? As the novel progressed and I began to suspect what was going on it made me question the motives people can have.

I found The Breakdown to be a riveting read. Highly recommend! Another winner from B.A. Paris.

I gave BA Paris 5 stars for her first book, and I wish I could go above that for this one. Where many might fear the dreaded "sophomore slump," Paris has, in my opinion, a book even better than the last. Her future books are at the top of my most anticipated.

I was sent a copy of this via NetGalley.
Enjoyed this book, I did guess the outcome which made me happy as sometimes I'm wrong! I would definitely recommend this to anyone and will look out for the next book from this author.

Love, love, LOVED this book!!! Ahhhh such great twists that I did not see coming!!! If you're thinking of reading do yourself a favor and start now! Thank you so much to Netgalley and B.A. Paris for this incredible read!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book to read for an honest review. This book was much like a rollercoaster, a little slow at the beginning but when it took off, it was a fantastic ride...dragging the reader from page to page to page... never sure what would be around the next curve. Afterwards, catch your breath and continue to think about it. That was this book in a nutshell!

I didnt think B.A Paris could top behind closed doors but i was wrong. I actually think this is better. Had me hooked from the start, after the first page i knew i was going to love it. New favourite author!

Wow! This book had me hooked from the very beginning. Cass and Matthew are a happily married couple, residing in England. Living a comfortable life, they are enjoying themselves and contemplating starting a family. However, all of their plans come to a screeching halt on one rainy summer evening. Cass is driving home alone along an isolated road in the woods, when she spots a car parked on the side of the road. Inside a car is a woman who appears to be all by herself. Cass feels that she should offer to pull over and help the woman, but feels uneasy, as it is late at night. Would it be dangerous for her to pull over? After all, in this day and age, anything is bound to happen. Ultimately, she decides to drive on, and puts the incident out of her mind.
But not for long. The following morning, the news is reporting that a woman was murdered the previous evening. Imagine Cass's shock when she discovers that it is the same woman who she witnessed the night before. Cass is conflicted with emotions. Relieved that she did not stop and put herself in harm's way, she is also burdened by guilt. Could she somehow have intervened and prevented the woman's death?

Over the next several weeks, matters only go downhill. Cass becomes so obsessed with the murder that she can barely function. Her thoughts are constantly on the events of that summer night. Little does she know that her life is soon about to spiral out of control.

Soon afterwards, Cass begins receiving strange phone calls when she is alone. She has the constant feeling of being watched by someone. Packages begin arriving at her house....packages that she is certain that she did not order. What is happening? Is Cass going crazy? Could the guilt be eating her alive? Or, is someone toying with her mind, subconsciously threatening her, pushing her towards the brink of insanity? Who can she trust? Most importantly, is she next on the murderer's list?

The Breakdown is BA Paris' second novel, and there is no doubt that she writes a thriller that will have you flipping pages all day (or all night) long. While both of her novels have been a tad bit predictable, I have found that there have been enough twists and turns to keep me engaged throughout. I will also say....there are times in the novel when you do have to be able to suspend reality. A couple of events bordered on the ludicrous. Hopefully, as the author matures as a writer, she will be able to hone her writing skills, and eliminate some of the plot elements that are not realistic. Although, hey, she is publishing books and raking in cash, so I guess she can ultimately do what she wants, huh?

This would make an excellent summer beach read. It is tense, gripping, and easy to read. If you are in the market for a suspense novel/psychological thriller, look no further than The Breakdown.

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods. It was on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, and a woman was sitting inside—the woman who was killed.

She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm, and she probably would have been hurt herself if she’d stopped. Not only that, her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home.

But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing. Where she left the car; if she took her pills; even the alarm code.

The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

And the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…


My Thoughts: I wasn’t very far into The Breakdown before I had suspicions about at least one of the characters. Someone is working overtime to mess with Cass’s head, so I couldn’t wait to find out who was guilty.How does the murder of Jane fit into whatever is being done to Cass? How will Cass eventually figure it all out? Could it have been as simple and serendipitous as a lost article that finds its way to her?

There were numerous characters to dislike, of course, including my No. 1 Nominee for Snake of the Year. While I like being surprised, I very happily loved finding out that I wasn’t wrong about that character.

Seeing how Cass pieced it all together was delightful. I couldn’t wait to find out what she would do with what she had learned. A delightful 5 star read for me.

I was surprised to discover that this book's title, The Breakdown, didn't mean what I thought it meant. With believable characters and a quite a few plot twists, this suspenseful story kept me guessing until the last pages. Overall, it is a well written thriller.