This was my first book by Paris. I own Behind Closed Doors but haven't gotten around to reading it. Well guess what is next now on TBR list?

While the plot line doesn't truly blow me away, the writing did. Paris has a wonderful way with words that makes the entire book exciting and I never felt let down.

It moves fast and keeps you guessing throughout, which in a world of thriller wannabes, is no easy feat. I love the way Paris added a trickle of doubt to every character so I never really knew who was trustworthy. Not mention the fact that we have an unreliable narrator in Cass due to her ongoing mental breakdown.

Overall I can't see many fans of psychological thrillers not enjoying this book. Super excited to read Behind Closed Doors.

Another great read from an author I am already a fan of. It was exciting, suspenseful, & had just the right amount of twists & turns. I'm excited from what's next from B.A. Paris!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

Oh wow, what a book! I went into this book with very high hopes, and these hopes were exceeded, this will be one of my favourite reads of this year. This is a psychological thriller that kept me guessing the entire way. The story follows a woman named Cass, who lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband. She is driving home late one night during a thunderstorm, and her partner gives her strict instructions to not take a short cut down a windy country lane, and to instead stick to the main roads. She promises to not take the shortcut, but then drives that way anyway, despite her best instincts telling her that it's a bad idea. Upon driving that way, she stumbles across a car with a woman in and Cass briefly stops with intent on seeing if the woman needs help. It is raining very hard, and Cass worries for her own safety and so doesn't get out of her own car, the woman makes no signals for help, and so Cass drives off home and goes to bed without a second thought. When Cass wakes up the next morning, her husband tells her that a woman has been murdered close by. This is really all I think you should know when going into this book, as with any psychological thriller, less is more.

I found this book truly addictive, I couldn't think about anything else while reading it, and truth be told, I would have read it in one sitting if time had allowed. It's one of those books that you can't get out of your head, from the moment you pick it up, until weeks after even finishing it. I was totally engrossed, I was obsessed with trying to work out who was guilty of what, and had many theories from very early on, although they all proved to be wrong. This book is far too clever for me, there are twists and turns I could never have dreamed of.

The characters all feel real, and I found myself feeling genuinely sorry for Cass. When she was scared, I too was scared, in fact I can't remember the last time a book chilled me to the extent this one did. I was a little shook up reading this one home alone at night, which is something I treasure because so few authors can achieve that sort of response from me.

I can't recommend this book enough, and I hope that if you pick this up, which indeed you should, that you enjoy it as much as I did. I live in the UK, and so this book has already been out for a while here, and I've been instructing all my friends to give it a read, this is the sort of book you scream from the rooftops to get as many people to read as possible, the writing flows and makes for a quick read. Can you really afford to miss out on reading one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early review copy of The Breakdown.

*Spoiler warning*

Having taken a shortcut home on a stormy night, Cass drives by a broken down car whose driver has been murdered (though she doesn’t know this at the time nor does she know who the driver might be). She doesn’t admit to her husband (or most anyone) that she’s passed this car on that night because she feels guilty for having not done more to help. This situation is further complicated when it’s revealed that the woman who has been murdered is an acquaintance of Cass’s, someone she’s recently met and had lunch with; someone she felt instantly connected to. A mother of twins. A good woman that endured a tragic end.

Shortly after the revelation of who has been killed, Cass begins getting prank phone calls. Nothing but silence. She assumes the caller knows she passed the car, might have been a witness. Things go downhill from here. Cass has recently lost her mother from early onset dementia and believes, after a series of memory lapses, that she’s doomed for the same fate.

Most of the book from this point on focuses on mundane things Cass should but doesn’t remember, and it’s almost an effective hook that makes the reader wonder if she might know more about the murder. Almost. There’s no reason to believe Cass is involved in killing Jane, so the stakes are weak.

The story is utterly forgettable and the plot is overwhelmingly slow. “I forgot. I forgot. I forgot.” Cass’s secrecy (embarrassment that she might be ill) is what’s done her in, and the only reason this story is allowed to move forward. Had she talked to any of the people involved in her memory mishaps she’d have realized sooner that she wasn’t losing it at all.

Everything about the reveal feels convenient. The setup is telegraphed from the minute we’re told Cass has a sum of money. I suspected her husband as part of it from early on. The double entendre title might be the cleverest thing about this book.

I’m disappointed after as many rave reviews as this book has received how much I disliked it. The Breakdown is proof that having decent writing skills (putting together a plot and well-structured sentences) isn’t enough to make a compelling story. This one lacks originality and pace. The motive for the murder is the most basic. Memory loss isn’t an uncommon trope in mysteries, and while maybe early onset dementia was another way of getting that across, of making Cass easy to manipulate, the result is the same as if she’d been hit on the head or any other reason for a cognitive gap. I’m unimpressed, which isn’t to take anything away from the author’s achievement. It’s clear B.A. Paris is a talented wordsmith, but The Breakdown is lacking for me in comparison with other recent reads written by Megan Miranda (The Perfect Stranger and All the Missing Girls) and Lianne Moriarty’s Big Little Lies. As an avid reader, it’s hard not to compare books.

FOUR POINT FIVE STARS

”I veer off to the left, taking the shortcut that Matthew didn’t want me to take.”

It was a dark and stormy night when Cass was leaving a party and phoned her husband to say she’s on her way home. Her husband, Matthew, tells her to NOT take the shortcut home through the woods. He won’t be up when she gets home because he has a migraine and he’s going to sleep in the guest room.

Right away, I can relate to Cass because I’d probably take the shortcut and figure my husband would never know. I mean what can go wrong … it’s only late at night on a deserted road. Seems perfectly safe, right?

Just like Cass, it would be my luck to come upon a car pulled off the side of the road with their lights on. Cass can see there’s a woman in the car but because of the downpour, she can't make out any details. Now she has a dilemma on what is she supposed to do:
A) Does she get out of her car to see if they're okay?
B) Drive on because hey she shouldn't have been in the woods at night by herself in the first place. The boogeyman lives there.
C) Drive to where she has cell signal and phone the police?

Cass picks option B and the next morning she learns that the woman in the car has been murdered. Now her guilt sets in because she questions why she hadn’t stopped to help or at least called the police?!! Had she done that then maybe that woman would have been alive now! Or maybe Cass would have been murdered too! Gah! Her indecisions on what she had done continued to plague her throughout the story.

”Fear and guilt have become such constant companions that I can’t remember what it was like to live without them.”

Cass begins to spiral downwards with guilt. I began to feel like the story was gaslighting me because Cass couldn’t remember anything. It makes the reader question their own sanity as they read about Cass doubt her own mental health. Cass lived in a state of constant paranoia to the point that she couldn’t even hear the phone ringing without being sure someone was calling her torment her.

The last 25% is golden - it’s where the rubber meets the road and we start to see pieces of the puzzle fit together. I called the book early on and to see it come fruition was fun. Especially, when Cass started to put it all together and gain her life back.

The Breakdown is a standalone thriller. This thriller will leave you questioning who you can trust and wondering if you’re having your own mental breakdown.

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2017 (The story takes place on July 17)
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/2nkGVIP

STANDALONE

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

On the evening before the summer holidays, schoolteacher Cass Anderson says goodbye to her colleagues, gets into her car, and heads for home. A sudden thunderstorm makes road conditions hazardous so Cass takes a shortcut through dark, woodsy, isolated Blackwater Lane.....though she promised her husband she wouldn't.

On Blackwater Lane Cass spots a car pulled off in a lay-by, with a woman inside. Thinking the woman might need assistance Cass stops in front of her and waits. The woman doesn't get out, or flash her lights, or tap her horn, so Cass - thinking of stories about thieves setting traps for do-gooders - goes on her way.

The next day the BBC reports that a woman was found murdered in Blackwater Lane. Realizing it was the person in the lay-by Cass feels terrible, thinking she might have been able to help the victim. It also occurs to Cass that the killer may have been lurking about.....and seen her!

Cass is so shocked, confused, and guilt-ridden that she can't make herself call the police, or even tell her husband Matthew what happened. Worse yet, when Cass learns the name of the victim, Jane Walters, she realizes she knew her. Cass's best friend Rachel had invited her to a leaving party for a co-worker a couple of weeks back, and Jane was there. Cass and Jane had hit it off and met for lunch a couple of days later.

On top of being distraught about Jane, other worrisome things are happening to Cass:
She forgets to purchase the group gift for her friend Susie's birthday, and can't even remember getting the money.....or what she was supposed to buy.
After receiving an estimate from a security company Cass apparently agrees to have her house alarmed - but doesn't recall making the arrangements or signing the contract.
When a friend calls to ask what time his family should come over for a barbecue, Cass doesn't remember inviting them, and is completely unprepared.
While purchasing a baby outfit for a friend Cass seemingly orders a pram to be delivered to her house, but has no memory of doing this.
Cass is sure she parked her car on Level Four of the shopping center's car park, but it isn't there when she returns.
And so on.

Cass thinks she's getting early onset dementia, a condition that contributed to her mother's premature death. Cass can't decide what to do. Matthew doesn't know about her mother's illness, and Cass is afraid to tell him now - thinking he'll be sorry he married her.

To add to her troubles Cass starts getting frightening phone calls. Every morning, after Matthew leaves for work, the phone rings.....but no one speaks. Cass convinces herself that this is Jane's killer, who plans to murder her. Cass becomes increasingly anxious and fearful - jumps at every sound - and begins to behave irrationally.

Matthew realizes that something is off, but he's a very solitcitous spouse.....constantly hugging and caressing Cass, and planting kisses on her face and head. (This overdose of affection made me squirm.) Matthew even arranges for Cass to see a doctor, where she gets pills to ease her stress.

Cass tries to lessen her unease by looking in on Jane's husband and children, and confiding in her former boyfriend John. Eventually an important discovery leads to a satisfactory denoument, and that's all I can say.

For me this book is just okay. The entire narrative is told from Cass's perspective, so we follow what Cass is seeing, hearing, thinking, saying, and doing - day after day - for many weeks. This makes the book feel a bit slow and claustrophobic (to me). Moreover, Cass behaves in a naive and foolish fashion, which got on my nerves. I prefer female protagonists to be bright and and capable. And finally, many readers are likely to figure out what's going on early in the book, which lessens the pleasurable suspense.

In parting I'll say this: if you enjoyed B.A. Paris's book Behind Closed Doors you'll probably like this story - and vice versa.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book very much== at times, I felt very in touch with the main character and thought I was going mad right along with her. I did however, figure out what was going on part way through the book, which did disappoint me because I truly love being shocked while reading. I look forward to recommending this book to my customers and coworkers though.

See link to goodreads review

This book has the potential to be a great psychological thriller but it was just a bit too predictable for me. Although it was predictable it still kept my focus and kept me reading through to the end. I think that in itself makes The Breakdown a worthwhile read.

I didn’t like the main character Cass. For a supposedly intelligent woman (a teacher), she was melodramatic and weak. I found it difficult to believe someone would automatically presume that silent calls were from an anonymous killer. All of that hassle just because she was too scared to tell her husband she drove home on a road he asked her to avoid. Really?

I thought this book was unrealistic but predictable. How can a intelligent bright teacher become such a wimp in a few days. Characters were all shallow . Ending had some intrigue and revenge but a little too late .The book did just not seem believable to me.

I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I've been blessed so far this year. The books I've read are excellent, and this one is too. It took me a little while to jump into the story, because I felt bad for Cass... Her mind was failing, she was diagnosed with early onset dementia, so she -- and I -- was always questioning if she was going crazy or if everything that happened to her was real. And I'm that kind of reader: when I'm afraid for the character, I stop reading (like it's going to help them somehow)... But I raced through the 60-70 last pages like my life depended on it, heart racing.

Like I said, excellent book. Read it, you will be satisfied too.

I was a huge fan of Behind Closed Doors, so I was thrilled to be able to review this one. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. Lots of action, a compelling storyline and the main character, Cass, is one you want to root for..... all of these things make for an exciting read. This is one of those books that you will end up staying up late to finish because you don't want to put it down.

I loved the author's book Behind Closed Doors and this one was fairly close. The ending was a bit obvious and the characters seemed to lack emotions where normal people would have "felt something". I will certainly read the author again but this one fell short for me. 3.3 stars

I really enjoyed this novel. How would you live with the guilt of passing someone by who you could have helped? This is the main storyline of this novel. It becomes so much more, and keeps you turning the pages in suspense.

B.A. Paris has done it again. She is now one of my favorite authors for psychological thrillers. She is out of this world. I loved Behind Closed Doors and The Break Down did not disappoint. The first 50% of this book was good however, the last 50% will have you on the edge of your seat. I was pulled into Cass' story from the very beginning and the more you read, the more you feel her pain and frustration.

Cass is a teacher at a local school, however she took a leave of absence to care for her mother until she died. Now Cass is back at work and her life completely changes one rainy night when she takes a shorter wooded road home. She sees a woman pulled over in a car in the rain only to find out the following morning the woman was murdered after she saw her. All Cass can think about is this woman but can she trust her thoughts and actions?

This book can be read in one or two sittings if you have the time but be prepared to be wrapped up and on the edge of your seat towards the end. The character development is amazing especially of Cass and the plot is wonderful. Be prepared for a great read. B. A. Paris has done it again.

Thanks to NetGally for the opportunity to read this book and provide honest feedback.

I could not put this book down! The last book that kept me up all night was the author's previous release, Behind Closed Doors. Paris is an amazing storyteller and this one will penetrate your life, keeping you awake at night thinking about the levels of deceit that exist in this world. A definite 5-star read.

Oh wow, wowee wow wow wow! That was one terrific tilt-a-whirl ride. More to come.

OK, so here's the rest.

I love psychological suspense, especially if the plot involves domestic situations (and it seems since "Gone Girl" was published, most do), but it seems that lately many fall short of my lofty expectations. This one didn't. Paris' first book, "Behind Closed Doors" was a little too tense for me but this was just right. Even though Cass's responses to a few incidents were a little overwrought, I was in this novel's grip from the very start. And yes, I did suspect the final outcome (the author dropped a vague clue at the beginning) but the author still had a few surprises for me.

This is the perfect summer beach read, especially for fans of--OK, I'm going to say it, Gone Girl, but also lesser known titles such as The Couple Next Door and The Silent Wife. I predict this will be the blockbuster of the summer.

Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.

If you like mysteries, this is the perfect book for you! But-- You had better make sure you have plenty of time, because you will want to keep on reading!
Definitely an entertaining and suspense filled story with surprises every few pages!
Just when I though I had solved the mystery, some thing would happen in the coming pages to show me I was wrong- right up to the the last few pages.
Great storyline!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

“The Breakdown” is a psychological thriller with a slow buildup that has you tensed for whatever is really happening to Cass. Even though I found it a little slow in the beginning, I couldn't put it down since it really felt like there's something else happening here and I don't know what it is yet so I need to be ready and looking for clues. I was definitely pleasantly surprised with the last 25% of the story and thinking OMG!

Cass makes a decision to take a shortcut home on a dark and stormy night even though she's feeling like it would be safer and less scary to go the long way around. She passes a car parked near the woods with a woman inside, and she stops to offer help. After stopping though, she's afraid to get out of her car in case it's a setup so she decides the woman will approach her if she needs help. When she doesn't, Cass decides to drives off. The next morning she discovers that the woman was later found dead in the car and had been brutally murdered! Cass is beside herself with guilt wondering if she could have saved this woman or would she also have been murdered if she'd stopped to help? She becomes scared, forgetful, paranoid and begins to show signs of early onset dementia which her mother had suffered with.

You get immersed in the perspective of a character whose world seems to be spinning out of control when she can no longer trust their own mental faculties. A well written psychological thriller that I could not put down! B.A. Paris is on my automatic read list since I really enjoyed "Behind Closed Doors" as well.

I couldn't put this book down even though I had a pretty good idea of "whodunnit" early on. But, knowing the "who" does not tell you the "why" or "how". Discovering the answer to those last two was quite a wild and emotional ride. In the end, the revenge was oh so sweet. Can't say enough good things about the experience of reading this book.