The Breakdown: A Novel

B. A. Paris has followed up Behind Closed Doors with another Domestic Noir psychological thriller, The Breakdown.

On a dark and stormy night, Cass Anderson dismisses her husband's warning to stick to the main roads and takes a short cut through a woods. She notices a stopped car and pulls over wondering if the driver needs help. Seeing no flashing lights or the driver getting out of the car, Cass drives on. The next morning she learns that the parked driver was found murdered in the car--and that Cass knew her.

Consumed by guilt thinking she could have saved a life, and unable to admit to her husband Matthew or best friend Rachel that she had driven by, Cass becomes obsessed and nervous. Then strange things happen and she wonders if stress is affecting her, or if she has inherited her mother's early onset dementia. Plus, an unknown silent caller rings all day when she is alone. Cass is certain the caller is the murderer.

Told in the first person, the bulk of the novel follows Cass's mental health breakdown into paranoia, curtailed only by powerful drugs that leave her stupefied, until by chance she discovers that it is not her own sanity that she should mistrust.

Personally, I liked this novel better than Behind Closed Doors. Although I early on guessed the villain, it was not from any intentional clues left by the author. Some readers may want the plot to move more quickly, but Cass's breakdown is presented in a very probable way. It is the psychological intensity and the expectation that drives the narrative. If I found anything to be slow, it was the method of how the chain of events is revealed, which although thorough, went on too long for this reader eager for the wrap-up.

I expect this to be a successful 'beach read' but I will warn you: you won't want to stop reading and may end up with a bad sunburn!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

It's readable, but it didn't knock my socks off. There's many good things about this book: It's easy to read, intriguing, and the story is interesting. I simply found it a little too predictable and the characters a bit too frustrating to give it a higher rating. I also wasn't a big fan of how the ending was executed. It has been getting a lot of four and five star ratings, so if you're interested in it, it could still be worth a shot. While I was interested enough to read it within the span of a day, it didn't completely work for me.

Cass is haunted by a decision she made one rainy night. When she took a shortcut home, she passed a car pulled over on the side of road. There's no one else around, and though she pulls over to help, she doesn't want to get out of her car and get soaked. She instead waits to see if the woman she can barely see in the car comes to her. She doesn't, and Cass is wary it could be some kind of trap. Or maybe someone has already gone for help. So she drives away...

Shocking news the next day: a woman has been found dead on that very road. She's racked with guilt, believing perhaps the woman killed herself. She soon learns that's not the case... the woman she saw has been brutally murdered... and no one knows who did it.

Could the murderer have been there watching Cass that night? Do they know who she is? Do they think she saw them? She's soon a paranoid mess, feeling guilt over not approaching the woman and fearful for her own safety. She then starts receiving regular phone calls during the day from a silent caller: they just listen and don't say a word. They don't even breathe. And is someone watching the house?

Adding to her frustrations, she's been forgetting things here and there. A present she'd buy, a lunch date with a friend... it starts small but then she's forgetting much bigger things. Her mom was diagnosed with early onset dementia. Is this how it starts? Her attentive husband is supportive and as understanding as he can be, since she hasn't told him she passed that ill-fated woman that dark night because she swore she wouldn't take that dangerous shortcut. He simply doesn't get her worries. He also doesn't believe her claims that she's being watched or stalked, though she's convinced... but with these heavy burdens on her shoulders, is she simply being paranoid?

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

This is one book that lived up to the hype (for the most part)! I was a tad intimated to jump in because of the hype, but once I did, I was hooked! Now, I am glad I ended up reading it.

The Breakdown is a psychological thriller and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I had to know what happened next! It's a pretty clever book. I feel like I took my time with this novel, even though it only took me two days. I would read a chapter (day), and set it down for a minute. I had to let everything sink in. This is the type of book where it doesn't happen suddenly. It gradually happens, and you're hanging on for dear life.

I only had one major downside to reading this book. From about 100(ish) pages in, I got serious The Girl on the Train vibes. Strong vibes. So much so as I guessed one of the major twists, and I got it right. From that early on. While I still enjoyed the book, it's not a 5 star for me because of those vibes. However, I was surprised at the turn of events Paris brings us, through this wicked tale of breakdowns and paranoia.

I loved B. A. Paris's debut novel, Behind Closed Doors. I was very excited to see what she had in store for readers in her newest book, The Breakdown.

Cass takes a shortcut home late one rainy night through a dark wooded area. She comes across a parked vehicle and wonders if the woman driver needs help. She pulls over, but the woman never exits her vehicle, so Cass drives on, thinking she will phone the police to let them know there's a possible breakdown. But she forgets to call and is stunned to find out that a woman named Jane was murdered on that same shortcut road last night. Cass seems to forget a lot these days and she is terrified that she has the same early onset dementia that her mother had. And she is just as terrified that the murderer may have seen her license plate as she drove by. And then things start happening....

"It's hard to believe that my split-second decision to take a shortcut through the woods that fateful Friday night has had such a devastating impact on my life. Jane may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time but so was I. So was I."

Wonderful premise! And a decidedly unreliable narrator - are the 'things' happening all in her own mind? Or are they real? Is the murderer after her as well? And her memory seems to be rapidly deteriorating....

Paris introduces a set of friends and family and because we only meet them through Cass, I was suspicious of them all. The tension builds and builds as Cass becomes even more paranoid and terrified. The last one hundred pages turns everything upside down, providing the twist that psychological suspense lovers like myself are just waiting to discover. Read carefully as Paris drops little snippets of dialogue along the way that will point the reader in the right direction for the final whodunit. There are one or two pieces of the resolution that require a few grains of salt to be taken, but this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book in any way. (In fact it ended up being read in a day on the weekend!) The Breakdown was another great read for me and I will be looking forward to Paris's next book.

I always enjoy a clever title - Breakdown can be interpreted a couple of ways in this case.

I was a huge fan of B.A. Paris’ “Behind Closed Doors” and was anxious to read her next release.
THE BREAKDOWN was a letdown for me. I did finish reading it and was pleasantly surprised by a tiny plot twist in the ending, but the main character’s overall responses and reactions to what was happening to her were repetitive and wore very thin by halfway through the book. I believe I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a tighter plot and novella length.
The story is told by Cass, who returns home on stormy night via a road through the woods. She almost wrecks avoiding a car pulled to the side. She stops, but when the driver doesn’t come to her car, she continues home and forgets about it. She is later horrified to realize the woman in the car was a new friend that was murdered sometime later that night in her car. She is wracked with guilt and tells no one, not her husband or best friend, who worked with the murdered woman.
The reader also learns that Cass has been forgetting small things and is worried that she may be experiencing early onset dementia like her mother. This makes Cass a possible unreliable narrator. As she becomes more afraid and paranoid some of her reactions are just not believable. This is when I would have liked less Cass and fewer pages.
I finished to see if my assumptions were correct and they were. There are not that many characters in the story, so it is not hard to figure out, especially if you read a lot of this type of book. As stated earlier, there is a small plot twist at the end that did surprise me, but there is a lot of emotional drama to get through for the surprise. This was just an average thriller for me.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC 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.

Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book.

I was excited for The Breakdown. B.A. Paris’s previous novel, Behind Closed Doors, was a fast paced, quick thriller. and I was ready for another one. I was ready to lose myself in spine-tingling suspense.

And I was immediately engrossed in The Breakdown. I was immersed in Cass’s drama, and moving quickly through the expediency of her descent into seeming madness or Alzheimer’s.

And then it snagged. The middle almost lost me. I almost put it down.

It wasn’t in confusion, either. I expect that in a thriller, especially one where the protagonist is potentially losing her grip on reality. But it was Cass — I really just wanted to shake her, to tell her to go to her own doctor and start telling the truth, to fact check a few things. I didn’t give up, because I was interested, but she was seriously Driving Me Nuts!!!

But I hung on and continued. And it did pay off. I still wanted to shake Cass, but I understood the meandering and lag. It was part of the storytelling.

The ending is good, although pretty predictable. Paris did throw in some interesting twists at the end, but the who was pretty obvious — at least to me.

All in all, The Breakdown was decent. A bit of thriller that will get you through a long plane ride or car trip. I didn’t love it, it wasn’t everything I hoped it would be, but it was okay. And sometimes okay is all you need.

After reading B.A. Paris's previous book Behind Closed Doors, I was anxious to read another book by her because I found her handling of suspenseful material to be well done and continually engaging. This continued in The Breakdown, where I found myself suspicious from page one and trying to figure out what was going on.

Paris is cunning in that she leaves hints that you think will lead one way and then they may or may not end up in the place you expected. Those moments are fun because you're not sure which are the important ones and which are the red herrings.

I won't say that the ending was entirely satisfactory, however. I found the culprits behind Cass's "madness" to not be very surprising, nor their motives for commiting such a crime. The murderer wasn't who I thought it was, I'll give the author that, but it didn't feel like a satisfactory ending. There wasn't a shock or interesting factor behind it, reminding me instead of something like a Lifetime movie plot.

The best parts of the books were Cass trying to deal with what she thought was her dissent into early onset dementia, something her mother had had before her death. These chapters were suspenseful and, until the discovery of a key piece of evidence, as a reader I couldn't be sure that this wasn't the case. 

As to that bit of evidence I mentioned, it is incredibly lucky that Cass came into contact with it. If not, the rest of the book couldn't possibly have happened. Something of a Deus ex machina, that mobile phone.  

I liked the pathways the story took well enough, though I was disappointed in the ending. I hope Cass will be alright, considering the trauma she's been through during the story and the revelations at the end. Til the next book, eh?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The Breakdown” is the story of a young woman who feels she may be on the verge of a mental breakdown. It also incorporates the story of another woman who appears to have had her car breakdown on a horrible stormy night. The two stories converge early on in the book and each has an effect on the other.

Cassie returns home on the stormy evening after spending the night out with co-workers even though her husband made her promise to stay on the main road. She decides to take the short cut through the woods and comes across a car which seems to have broken down. She can't quite convince herself to leave the safety of her own car to see if the other driver needs help (though she does stop to see if the other driver will get out of her car to seek help.) When she doesn't, Cassie drives home. Because she broke her promise to her husband, Cassie can't talk about the other driver or where she saw her.

In addition to her guilt for not helping the other driver, Cassie is suddenly forgetting all manner of things. From day to day items to promises and get-together dates, she is progressively forgetting more and more. As her mother suffered from (and passed away recently) from early-onset dementia with memory loss, Cassie is concerned that she, too, has the same issue.

The characters in the story were compelling and the plot even more so. I figured out quite a bit of the story line just ahead of the reveal in the book but must admit I did not see the whodunnit coming. It made sense but somehow I missed the clues. For me, that is the making of an excellent mystery – which the book is as well as a compelling suspense novel. I'll be looking for more books by this author in the future.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

For three years, Cass Anderson had been taking care of her mother who had dementia.  It has taken its toll on her, and has also made her worry that she too may have dementia some day.

The worry actually seemed to be coming true since Cass has been forgetting everything including appointments, where she left money given to her to buy a gift, and lunch dates.

On her way home from a work party, Cass passed by a car on a deserted road and didn't stop because the driver gave no indication that any help was needed. The next morning the news announced that a woman had been murdered on that same road.

The guilt Cass felt from not stopping to help caused her memory to get worse and her fears that the murderer saw her that night and was after her escalated.  She did get phone calls that had no one on the other end of the line as well as many other instances that made her think she was heading the path of her mother. Was it dementia or stress?  Or could it be someone making her think her memory was declining.

THE BREAKDOWN was very tense, and did have me thinking someone was purposely doing all of these things to stress her to the point of losing her memory and deciding to not go back to work.

THE BREAKDOWN had me turning the pages as well as being nervous for Cass, but it was nothing like the tension and terror of her first book.

As the ending neared, the suspense was very high as the truth came out.

I sort of figured out toward the end what was going on, but the plot and revelation were carefully and cleverly carried out by Ms. Paris.

ENJOY!!  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

“The Breakdown” follows Cass Anderson after rushing home one night, she sees a woman stopped in a car in the storm. Fearing for her own safety, Cass heads home instead of getting out of her car to help and forgets about calling the police. That is, until the next morning, when splashed all over the news is the story of a woman who was brutally murdered- right in the place where Cass last saw her alive. This starts Cass down a dangerous path, stressed out and fearful of the murderer never found and losing her mind with fears of early-onset dementia (which her mother had).

Cass is continuously confronted by things that weren’t as she remembered and things she cannot remember doing. It begins with small things like forgetting that she was supposed to buy luggage for a friend’s birthday and forgetting to bring her purse to the shops. It escalates to bigger things such as not remembering ordering an alarm for the house (including filling out a contract) and seeing things which were not there. As her fears over her mind and competence grow, she begins to retreat and find solace in some kind of medication (not explicitly stated) which knocks her out all day.

We get the feeling very early that something sinister is going on, and the culprit is pretty obvious. The book was pretty predictable overall and got a little bogged down in details. The suspense was not so great, as it mostly seems to be memory-related and the consequences are rather small. The cause was really easy to guess, although the motive was unclear.

I really enjoyed “Behind Closed Doors” and was hoping for another, similar suspenseful book, but this one fell a little flat for me. Everything is wrapped up neatly at the end, which was satisfying, and I did find myself wanting to get all the way to the end, but it was a little slower and less suspenseful than what I was expecting. I have mixed feelings about the overall rating because I did keep reading until the end, but I didn’t feel surprised or caught up in it- I was left with a bit of an overall “meh” for a book which held such promise (maybe my expectations were too high). Long scenes focused on relatively minor things (fear of answering the phone for instance) and it felt a little too drawn out overall for my taste.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Cass is heading home through a heavy thunderstorm and taking a shortcut on a dangerous road. When she sees a woman sitting in a car on the side of the road, she wants to help but is afraid to stop. The next day she learns that the woman she saw is dead. She feels guilty for not stopping to help her especially when she learns the woman had been brutally murdered. She does not dare tell her husband, Matthew, that she had driven that road because he had made her promise not to go that way.

Soon, Cass learns that the woman killed is Jane someone she has recently met and hoped to become good friends with her. She is very upset by this. She is also afraid that the killer may have seen her car that night on the road and may want to harm her.

Cass is a school teacher and is off for the summer break. When her parents passed away, she received a large inheritance from them. Even with the money, she is happy to continue working.

When things begin happing that makes it look Cass is forgetting things, she wonders about herself. She gets phone calls with no one there and cannot seem to operate appliances like she used to. She worries that she is becoming forgetful and thinks she may be in the early stages of dementia that too her mother’s life at age 55. Cass clings to her husband, Matthew, and her best friend, Rachel, to help support her during the confusion she is going through. Is she losing her mind or quickly sinking into dementia? Is Jane's murderer after her?

This is a great story that keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. As the author of “Behind Closed Doors” I was looking forward to reader this second novel by her.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

On a dreadfully rainy night Cass, against her husband's advice, takes a shortcut while driving to her home. On the winding rural road she comes across a car on the side of the road with a woman inside. Cass convinces herself the woman has the situation under control and rather than stopping to offer help, she proceeds to her home. The next day Cass learns the terrible news that a woman was found murdered in a car on the same road Cass traveled on the night before. As Cass is wracked with guilt over not stopping to offer assistance, she also is afraid everyone will find out she was in the area at the time of the murder. Cass also finds herself forgetting things,so many that her husband and best friend start to notice she is not acting like herself. Add in the silent phone calls she keeps receiving and the eerie feeling someone knows her secret, Cass can't help but feel like she is losing control.

I know this book has some flaws but to me it was the perfect reading experience. This is a book where the ending is fairly easy to spot early on but I truly had a fun time reading it. B.A. Paris's writing style might not be for everyone but for me she is one of those authors whose books I want to read the day they come out. The Breakdown is not quite as good as her previous book, Behind Closed Doors, but I still couldn't put this one down either.

I'd recommend this book to anyone that loved Behind Closed Doors. To those who didn't like that book, I would say pass on this since it is slightly weaker than her previous book.

I won this book in a giveaway a few days after I had purchased it from Book Depository. So now I am the proud owner of two copies of this book. All views expressed in this review are my honest opinions.

Review can also be found in chillandreadblog.wordpress.com

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’ve spent this summer reading page-turners and I have to say, it’s be a really pleasant summer for these types of reads. In The Breakdown, we meet Matthew and Cass. Newly married, they live in a large home in rural part of town. A home that backs to the woods and a road that Matthew has warned Cass not to take late at night. After an evening out with friends and the horrible storm-related traffic on the highway, Cass goes against her better judgement and takes the shortcut home. What she didn’t expect to see was a woman pulled over to the side of the road. She makes a snap decision to NOT stop to see if she needs assistance and to her horror, the woman turns up dead the next morning.

This is a fun book to read. I’ll admit, Cass has some issues and they get a little repetitive in the telling. For one, she has signs of early onset dementia, which her mother had so everything she does and knows cannot be relied upon because of her failing memory. Plus, she’s jumpy from the fact that a murderer is on the loose so there are a lot of false alarms but man, I couldn’t stop turning those pages.

I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors so when I heard that Paris had another book out, I jumped at the chance to read it and I am glad I did. It was fun and suspenseful even though I kind of figured out what was going on. If you like quick, psychological thrillers and don’t mind an unreliable narrator (I love them!) then be sure to pick it up.

The Breakdown is a thriller that will leave you wondering who can you really trust! Cass was driving home one dark, stormy night after a dinner with friends and thought she could take a shortcut through the woods. While driving down the road, she sees a car pulled over on the side with a woman inside but didn't think much of it until the next day when the news breaks that a woman was killed on that road around the same time as she was on it. With the fact that her husband told her to not to use that road at nighttime and with Cass having memory issues that reminds her of her mother having early onset Alzheimer's, nothing is what it seems anymore.

As Cass starts to get mysterious calls and with a husband and a close friend worried about her mental state, Cass starts to lose her mind or is she close to the truth. With everything falling into piece about what is really going on at home and what had really happened that night of the murder, Cass discovers the horrifying truth about everything in the most shocking ending to a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat!!

I don't know how B.A. Paris does it but she has to be one of the best Authors that gets you so wrapped up in a story that when everything is revealed, you can't help but to just sit there in shock over everything!!When this book first started, you can't help but to be annoyed by what Cass is doing but as things start to happen, you soon will love Cass for everything she has to endure by the end! I would highly suggest reading this book just not during a storm or by yourself unless you want to scare yourself silly for events that happen in this book that make you wonder if something like this would ever happen to you!!

Thank You to B.A. Paris for writing a great 2nd book that will keep my coming back for more!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

This book is a Lifetime movie. My husband asked me what I was reading and while I was detailing the story my husband stated, “Did you just watched this on Lifetime.”. My reply, “Yes.”

The Breakdown was well written and should be a Lifetime movie. For the first 79% of the book the actions of Cass seemed ridiculous. There was a lot of repetitive and redundant actions by Cass. I found the repetitions to be a little draining. I became bored and I was thinking about putting this book down and finishing it later. I kept on.

I felt bad for Matthew for the first two chapters. The good looking, attentive, patient man. How much more could he take? Being an avid Lifetime watcher, after a couple more chapters the writing was on the wall. I could figure out most of the conclusion.
The last 20% of the book had me engaged, it was much easier to read. The pages-turned quickly then. I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. It’s the part of the movie where you think “Get them”.

The author was able to correlate everything that happened in the first 80% of the book seamlessly in the last 20%. I liked that I could get a full play by and play and really understand why Cass thought the things she did, or why certain things occurred.

There is a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming, this was delightful. That delightfulness turned into a lackluster ending. I was left with a few unanswered questions. After being so disengaged for most of the book, then getting intrigued and then boom the book ended. I felt unfulfilled.

Conclusion: It was an ok read.

This is a good suspense/ thriller, even though I guessed right from the beginning about one of the characters. Still the end had some few surprises.
The beginning of the novel wasn't too exciting, but definitely second half and ending made up for it.

Synopsis:
Cass is happily married to Matthew, who is there for her even in difficult times. Her best friend Rachel is like her sister to her. When Cass learns about a murder of a women who she recently met, she can't forget it. And she can't forgive herself that she didn't stop to help, when the killed women car broke down. Cass health seems to worsen each day. She starts also to believe that she has first signs of early-onset dementia. The disease has mother was diagnosed at age 44.
With forgetting things each day, she believes she is going mad.

So freakin good!! Psychological thriller at its best. The entire book is told from the perspective of Cass, a young British woman who is married, works as a teacher, and has a best friend at her side but both of her parents have passed. A murder happens near her house and she becomes very caught up in it and starts to worry that the murderer is stalking her. Her mother had early onset dementia and she starts to feel that she’s either suffering from it also or is completely having a nervous breakdown and losing her mind. Everything unfurls wonderfully and you’re constantly second-guessing yourself about who the actual murderer is, and if he or she is really stalking Cass. And is Cass really forgetting things, or losing her mind? Or is something else happening entirely? Fast paced, with a first person present tense narrative that draws you in and keeps things feeling urgent all the way, this book is a page turner, and delivers a satisfying ending.

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: The 2017 Gripping Thriller from the Bestselling Author of Behind Closed DoorsThe 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.

The synopsis is key when it comes to my book reading decisions. Too much information and I feel like there’s no point in reading the book, everything is already there. Too little, and I don’t know if it is for me or not. I guess I’m a bit of a Goldilocks when it comes to the synopsis, and The Breakdown had it just right.

The Breakdown is a slow build, you have to be patient. Paris starts off by introducing the reader to Cass, the protagonist, as well as the supporting cast. She carefully led me down a path that I was happy to follow; into the deteriorating mind of Cass. I felt bad for her, asked myself why she made certain decisions. Truth be told, it was starting to get a wee bit monotonous. I wanted to know what the point was, where the story was going. It was then that B.A. Paris pulled out the sledgehammer and cracked me in the head. I did not see that coming, and that made the whole voyage worthwhile.

The more I read, the harder it is to shock and surprise me. I’ve had a few face-palm moments, when I really should have seen the twist coming. But this was different. Kudos to B.A. Paris, you completely caught me off guard.

While I know that this isn’t B.A. Paris’ first book, it is my first time reading one of her books. When I really think about how The Breakdown shocked and surprised me, I’m really curious about what else is behind her closed doors.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

The Breakdown is a suspense-filled psychological thriller about a woman who is slowly having a nervous breakdown brought on by a car that breaks down.

While driving home late one night in the midst of a storm, Cass decides to take a shortcut through isolated back roads. She passes a woman whose car appears to have broken down. Since it’s stormy and spooky out, Cass decides that rather than stop to see if she can help, she will call for help when she arrives home. However, she forgets about the woman and the next morning she wakes to discover that the woman was murdered.

Cass’s forgetfulness begins to haunt her. She feels like the murderer is watching her every move. As her paranoia grows, she becomes plagued with forgetfulness. She begins to forget making plans with friends and her husband. She forgets that she ordered things online. She forgets how the appliances in her home work. Pretty soon, she starts questioning her sanity and wonders if she has early onset dementia, a disease her mother suffered from. Cass’s behavior continues to spiral out of control until she comes to the realization that all is not right in her world and not everything she thinks to be true adds up.

While I enjoyed this book, there were times when I was just waiting for something to happen. I predicted the twist, but it was still fun to see how things played out. It goes a bit lifetime movie at times, but overall it was a quick and entertaining read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
A big storm blows in and Cass decides to take the shortcut home, rather than the more populated highway. She sees another car stopped on the side of the road near her home, but decides not to help the driver. Later she finds out that the other driver, her friend, was killed that night along the road. Cass feels guilty for not stopping the other driver. She also starts forgetting little things (where she parked her car, that she ordered items online, etc). Since her mother had early dementia, she is obviously concerned. This sophomore novel by B. A. Paris basically tells the story of Cass's mental breakdown.

My review:
This book packs a strong dose of anxiety. It reminded me of my feelings of The Girl on the Train, where you constantly want to yell at the main character to STOP DRINKING EVERYTHING. In this one, I want to shake Cass and make her REMEMBER things and stop freaking out over the silent phone calls. Just pull yourself together! But Cass's life spirals out of control and B.A. Paris does an excellent job at stressing you out as a reader and building your suspense. You constantly change your mind and wonder who is the good guy and who is the bad guy, and you don't put all of the pieces together until the end. I haven't gotten around to reading Behind Closed Doors yet, but you can bet that it is near the top of my to-read list after this one!

Overall, I rate this 4/5 stars. Its fun, its suspenseful, and makes for a quick read. Great for someone in a book rut!

I received a free e-copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I highly recommend this book for suspense/mystery lovers.

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.

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

Cass takes a short cut through the woods one stormy night, even though her husband had made her promise not to. She sees a stopped car with a woman in it but she’s too frightened to stop and just wants to get home. The next day she learns that the woman in the car had been killed. Cass is overcome with remorse and shame that she didn’t stop to help the woman. As she struggles with her guilty secret, she also struggles with her fear that she is losing her memory – or her mind. The silent phone calls she’s receiving haven’t helped as she believes they’re from the murderer.

What I liked about this book was the fact that not only did Cass not know who she could trust but she couldn’t even trust her own mind. Sure, there were times she over reacted but she was under a great deal of stress. I felt that the author’s decision to add in a fear of early-onset dementia was what held the book together for me. It made it all seem very realistic and I was pulled into the suspenseful plot. I did figure out what was going on fairly early but I still had to see what happened. I didn’t expect the ending and thought the author did a good job of pulling it together. It’s also one of those books where you just want to shake the main character and say “Just tell someone, you fool!” But of course that’s all part of the fun.

A fast entertaining book. Recommended for light summer reading.

This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

After reading "Behind Closed Doors" I couldn't wait to be able to read " The Breakdown"! B.A. Paris didn't let me down either!
Cass takes the shortcut through the forest instead of driving home by the safe crowded route during a storm, and see's a car stopped by the roadside. She slows to see if they need help, but doesn't stop, and the next day she finds out it was someone she knew. She feels an overwhelming guilt at not stopping and begins to forget things. Well a lot of things, over and over, so much that she thinks that early onset dementia has set in like it did with her mom.
She gets steadily worse and quits her job, thankfully she has a loving and understanding husband that is taking good care of her and support her throughout her ordeal. Phone calls that started after the murder lead her to believe that she was seen by the killer that night and make her paranoia even worse. Is the killer after how now?
A fast-paced thriller that will keep you glued to the pages until the end. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to those looking for a suspenseful read.

The Breakdown is a nail-biting, psychological thriller that will take you through the wringer as you read it. There is a fine line when writing books like these. The author can give too much away in the buildup and it ruins the rest of the book. It didn’t happen with The Breakdown.

I read this book within a day. I had my Kindle on me at all times, I was that engrossed in it. Everything about it had me not wanting to anything but read. See, I am the type of reader that will read a few chapters, put my Kindle down, get involved with other things and then remember…hey I was reading and repeat the cycle. So for me to actually not put down my Kindle, the book had to be good and The Breakdown was.

The two main storylines (the murder and Cass having a breakdown) were wonderfully intertwined. There was a point in the book where I couldn’t help but wonder if Cass had anything to do with the murder. But I was vindicated later in the book and then had to wonder who the murderer was. Let’s just say that I was very surprised by that and by the reason that woman was killed.

I did figure out certain elements of the book before they were revealed. But kudos to the author because she did do a wonderful job keeping who was stalking Cass under wraps until the end of the book. The details and the length that this person went through to actually drive Cass to a nervous breakdown was insane.

The end of the book was very anti-climatic but good.

B.A. Paris once again takes readers on an intense mental and emotional roller coaster of a read in THE BREAKDOWN.
Cass is not only suffering from guilt over not helping the driver she saw sitting on the side of the road late that stormy night, she’s also afraid she’s developing Early Onset Dementia just like her mother.
She’s caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
As the forgetful incidents occur more often, and the guilt multiplies when she discovers the identity of the motorist, Cass pulls you deeper into her little corner of hell.
What will this do to her young marriage, her husband Matthew, the life she’s only started living after caring for her mother? Is she losing it? Could she have helped that night or would she too have been a victim? How can she live with the guilt of not having done more? Questions abound for Cass and the reader.
Before you realize it, you’re so immersed you don’t want to come up until the last page has been read. And what a doozy those last pages are. Sly, clever, cunning, subtle, however you choose to say it, that’s THE BREAKDOWN in a nutshell.
Ms. Paris has a knack of making the improbable, probable; and THE BREAKDOWN is as engrossing as BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. Ms. Paris' sophomore release has solidified her place on my auto buy list.

Highly anticipating Ms. Paris' next book!
4.5 STARS
Reviewed for Miss Ivy's Book Nook Take II & Novels Alive TV

OOOOOOOOOO!!!!! So freaking good! I finished this book a few days ago and I am still thinking about it. It is difficult to put into words. I truly do not want to give anything away with my comments. Just know..this is a must read if you like psychological thrillers.

Cass has come upon what she thinks is a car broken down on the side of the road. She stops but does not get out her car. It is pouring down rain after all. She decides to head on home. Later she finds out the owner of the car was murdered in that very spot. Plus, the victim is someone she knew. This is the beginning of Cass' own breakdown.

"What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" A great quote for this book. It is amazing the illusions the mind can play on you, as Cass is finding out. Did she really buy that?? Did she really sign this?? Is she really going crazy?? I love how the author tangles so much within this tale. It is brilliantly contrived.

I did have part of it figured out, just didn't have the whole picture. I am trying very hard not to give anything away. Twists and turns and figments of the imagination!!! This is a read not to be missed!

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.
I did meet B.A. Paris at Book Expo. Her accent is fabulous. Sadly, I did not get a picture but, I did get a signed ARC.

I pondered these questions many times as I read this novel: I’m driving home alone, this deserted hilly backstretch takes all my concentration as the rain pounds heavily against my car, up ahead something grabs my attention. It’s a car, its pulled off to the side. I pull ahead and I see a woman inside. I wait and watch, giving this woman ample opportunities to come to my car. If she doesn’t come, should I make an attempt in the rain to reach out to her? Could this be a setup? How long should I wait? We live in changing times and being a female out alone on an isolated road , this is a delicate situation.

I found myself loving this novel, feeling like Cass, I became more paranoid and on edge as I read. Cass thought she had given the stranded woman plenty of opportunities to find sanctuary in her car that night. It isn’t until the next morning that Cass learns what actually transpired on the side of the road after she drove away. Guilt torn at her as she realized that it was a woman that she knew but Cass couldn’t identity her last night from the window. Occurring only minutes from her home, Cass quickly becomes obsessed with this unsolved murder and the attacker who is still at large. In her past, Cass has been forgetting things but now it seems Cass is forgetting things more often. Fearing she getting dementia like her mother, Cass relies on her husband for support but there is this other side of her husband that rubbed me wrong, for as it seemed to me that he kept a mental list of her lapses and he never forgot them. They occur almost instantly after the accident; mysterious events start to shake up Cass’ life. I want to believe they are occurring but somehow the proof is not there, so what is actually happening? She confines in her best friend Rachel what is occurring but she is not there all the time and Cass’ husband thinks she is losing her mind, so Cass is alone in her struggle to understand everything all the strange occurrences that seem to be happening in her life. Her doctor gives her pills but the pills leave her sleepy and unable to cope. She’s a paranoid, scared mess. Is the murderer after her? Did he see her that night when she drove by? Is the dementia taking over her mind? What actually is going on with Cass? I really loved this story, I thought I had parts of this novel put together until the end. I highly recommend this novel, it will really keep you engaged till the end.
I received a copy of this novel from Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Goodreads, St. Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for this fantastic novel!

The Breakdown is the follow-up to Paris’ 2016 release Behind Closed Doors, a book that wowed this reader. I was really excited to be approved to read an early copy of The Breakdown and opened the book with high expectations.

Cass is having a hard time. Ever since the night she saw a car on a rural road, in the middle of a downpour with a woman sitting inside. A woman who was later found dead. Cass has been trying to put the crime out of her mind. But since that night, she’s been forgetting everything from her car keys to appointments.

I read The Breakdown with a furrowed brow. What did Cass’ potential diagnosis of dementia have to do with a dead woman? I was surprised at the connection between the two events. While I was suspicious of who the bad guy might be I hadn’t figured it all out. Man! People are cold-hearted. But I thought the book ended too quickly. I needed an epilogue with just a bit more to close out the story.

This was not as page-turning intensive as Behind Closed Doors, but is still an excellent choice for the mystery lovers out there. This book didn’t live up to the expectations I set. However, Paris is still earning herself a place on my “I have to read all of her books” list. While this was not as good as her debut, I’m looking forward to what she dishes out next.

Advanced copy provided by NetGalley.

Thirty-four year old Cass Anderson, the narrator of B. A. Paris's "The Breakdown," is a deeply troubled heroine. Her late mother suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and Cass has reason to believe that she too may be losing her memory. She has a devoted husband, Matthew, who tries to comfort her. However, when she forgets appointments, punches in the wrong code for the burglar alarm, and misplaces things, she becomes increasingly worried and fearful. Adding to her distress, a woman whom she knew is murdered, and Cass believes that she may be the killer's next target.

As her emotional state continues to decline, Cass worries that Matthew will become fed up with her. At one time, she had been looking forward to starting a family. She is also beginning to doubt that she will be fit to return to her teaching job after summer vacation. One bright spot is that Cass has a close friend, Rachel Baretto, whom she has known since childhood, but even Rachel's love and support cannot keep Cass from descending into a fog. Soon, she can barely get out of bed, much less plan for the future.

B. A. Paris's "The Breakdown" is a psychological thriller set in England that, unfortunately, delivers little suspense and excitement. The plot is predictable and heavy-handed, and the heroine's gullibility makes it difficult to sympathize with her. Other flaws include simplistically portrayed characters; stilted dialogue; overwrought passages (two examples: "dread takes hold and peppers my skin with tiny beads of sweat" and "my tears increase and become huge sobs of wretchedness"); and a conclusion that is far-fetched and anticlimactic. This is a disappointing effort from a writer whose previous work of fiction, "Behind Closed Doors," was edgy, imaginative, and incredibly chilling.

"If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?"

OMG!! Intelligent and thrilling page-turner that I read in almost one sitting! The rather abrupt ending was a little unsatisfying BUT the story kept me guessing.

I think most people do something or fail to take action that may cause some guilt. Well this story begins with Cass taking a shortcut late at night and failing to stop and help a woman who is stopped on the side of the road.

The motorist ends up dead. Cass feels guilty, but just as significant are the little things she begins to forget...how to run the washing machine, making dinner plans with friends, and even rather significant purchases. Her mother suffered from early-onset Alzheimer's. What is happening to Cass?

Cass's mental well-being soon spirals out of control and she fears she will suffer the same fate as her mother.

I literally could not put this book down! I FELT Cass's hysteria and fear. The last part of the book was thrilling and surprising and gave me everything I love about thrillers. I highly recommend this one for all fans of this genre and even if you want to step outside your usual genre. Cass was a memorable heroine and I was cheering for her all throughout the book. This is my first book by B.A. Paris and she has now become one of my faves!!

*I would like to thank NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The Breakdown was a fascinating, suspenseful read. One stormy night in July, a woman named Jane is murdered in her car while parked on a little-traveled road through the woods. The book’s main character, Cass, had actually seen the car parked in the woods just a little while earlier, but did not go out and help the woman whose identity she did not know at the time. Cass, plagued with guilt as a result of not helping the murdered woman Jane and seemingly developing early-onset dementia, starts to think she is going mad not too long after that night. But is it really the guilt and the dementia making her go mad, or is it something else that she could never have imagined?
This book was a good length, and I finished it quickly. I do wish that there could have been a few more descriptions of the settings around Cass as the plot moved along, since I felt like I had no idea what pretty much anyone or anything looked like except for a few secondary characters. However, the plot was gripping and I felt like I absolutely had to know whether or not Cass was actually going insane. I really wanted to solve the various mysteries in the story, and it wasn’t too easy for me to figure out who the murderer was and what their motive could possibly have been. The situation that actually caused her forgetfulness was a very sad situation that I could believe happening to someone, and I felt all of Cass’s frustration and hopelessness as she did. I also really loved reading about all the characters themselves; they were people who also seemed very realistic, especially in the ways that they responded to Cass’s never-ending distress.
I recommend this to anyone with a vivid imagination, as well as anyone who likes a quick, suspenseful, and mysterious read that will make them think. B.A. Paris really did a very good job with her second novel.

I will admit right up front that when I was a quarter of the way through this book I read the ending. I haven't done that since I was in high school! I am sorry, I was so stressed out and up in the night anxious reading this book that I absolutely couldn't take one more minute. I had to know that it was all going to end ok. How hysterically nuts is that? Well, this book is hysterically nuts! And I one hundred percent loved every fabulous minute of it.

Cass doesn't stop to help a woman who is stranded in her car on the side of the road, in the woods, late one night. And the woman is discovered dead the next day. Then the terror begins for Cass. Phone calls with no one on the other end of the line, feeling like someone is watching her, and she begins forgetting things, like her meds and her house alarm code and if the knife in her kitchen was real and did it have blood on it.

This was one of the scariest, mind messing, truly anxiety producing books I've ever read. It was not one to read in the night when you're home alone. It definitely wasn't one to read if you need a good nights sleep. But it was definitely one to read if you adore well written characters and a plot that is fabulously delicious and reading it feels like you're living it first hand, heart pounding terror and all.

Wow, this was fantastic! I also read "Behind Closed Doors", this author's debut novel and loved that one as well. I love books with an unreliable narrator and that is what we have with Cass, our main character. Cass is on her way home late one night and takes a road she shouldn't be taking, especially during a storm. She encounters another car and can barely make out that it is a woman driver through the rain. After pulling over and getting no signal or indication from the driver that they need help, she makes the decision to keep on driving. The next morning she hears that a woman has been killed on that very same road the night before.

So begins a downward spiral for Cass, guilt consumes her and paranoia sets in. Weird things start to happen. Is she having a "breakdown"? Her mother was diagnosed with dementia at the early age of 44 and she fears that she possibly has it as well. Paris is a master on setting suspense and makes you question who is trustworthy and who is not. This was a brilliant and addictive psychological thriller and I highly recommend to all lovers of psychological thrillers. I cannot wait for this author's next book! A big thank you to St. Martin's Press an NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an early copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to preview The Breakdown" by BA Paris. I started hearing about this book, and was very happy to get the chance to preview it. The story started out slow and I did have some trouble getting into it, but quickly that turned around. This is a suspenseful story about a young woman on the verge of mental illness. She is married, has close friends, and should be very happy. Her mom passed away from dementia, and she has held this secret from her husband, Matthew.
This is written in the first person, and you can feel "Cass'" terror as she begins to realize that she may be going crazy.
Cass is driving home one night and she sees a car on a deserted road. Although she stops to check on the driver, she leaves the scene. The next day, it is revealed that the driver of this car, "Jane", has been killed. Cass is riddled with guilt - could she have saved this woman from death if she had stopped? Cass starts to get calls from an unknown person, but is she? She starts to forget things, lose things, and can feel reality sinking away? Is she the next to be murdered or is everything a figment of her imagination?
The Breakdown is well written, and one of the best for 2017 so far. RECOMMEND!!!!!
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St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Breakdown. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Cass Anderson, wracked with guilt over the death of a woman, feels that her life is coming unglued. Unmoored by the illness that took her mother from her prematurely, Cass is increasingly concerned that she may be following the same path. With forgetfulness that threatens her very safety, and that of those around her, will Cass be forced into taking drastic measures?

The biggest issue that I had with The Breakdown was the relative ease with which the main character is able to figure out her situation. With the psychological trauma coming fast and furious for weeks, I doubt that she would be able to become clearheaded so quickly. The story did have a great pace and I was genuinely interested in the outcome. Having read many psychological thrillers, I would rank this one squarely in the middle. It has good characterization and an interesting plot, but the resolution did not sit well with me. Regardless, I have enjoyed the two books that I have read by this author thus far and look forward to more in the future.

Blimey, what a rip-roaring, nail-bitingly thrilling novel from B.A. Paris The Breakdown is. I have had my eye on the second novel from this author since its original announcement, after reading the author's gripping debut, Behind Closed Doors. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, mostly to discover what the author had in store for her readers next. If her debut was anything to go by, then I hoped for twists and turns aplenty, with a storyline that would have me grasping for speech and breath once finished. Thankfully, my hopes were brought to life in The Breakdown because B.A. Paris delivered exactly that.

In The Breakdown, readers are introduced to Cass Anderson and husband, Matthew. Returning home one evening, Cass decides to ignore Matthew's plea for her not take the short-cut through the woods on the drive home, due to a bad storm coming. While driving, Cass passes by a car pulled up in the lay-by. Wondering if perhaps the driver needs a helping hand, but also worried about it being a trap, Cass decides to pull in up ahead. From her position, Cass can make out a woman in the driver's seat but when no contact is made on either end, Cass decides to continue on her way home. After all, if the woman had needed help, wouldn't she have got out of the car and asked for it? Safe in the knowledge that she at least stopped, Cass goes home and goes about her evening as normal.

But the next morning, it is announced on the news that a woman has been found dead. In the same lay-by Cass had stopped in the night before. Here is where this heart-stopping thriller truly takes hold, and here is where Cass is plunged into a nightmare that will torture her throughout the following weeks relentlessly. Could it be that if Cass had stopped that night, if she had done more, would the woman who was now dead still be breathing? Would her heart still be beating if Cass had gotten out of the car? Who knows. But it seems that someone has got their eye on Cass, and that someone will not stop until she is convinced that she cannot trust herself for a second longer. But she has kept something to herself that she fears will involve her in the murder of the woman somehow. She was there that night. She went through the woods despite the warnings not to. The guilt eats away at Cass until she is almost convinced that she has played a role in what happened that evening whether she likes it or not.

What I love most when reading a novel is that moment where you pause and think to yourself, "I really do not know what I would do if I were in this person's situation," and I did exactly that when it dawned on me as well as Cass that the woman she had passed the previous night was in fact the woman who was now gracing the news in the most sickening of circumstances. Not only that, but as more details are revealed, it so happens that Cass had met this woman too. This woman called Jane, who leaves behind a husband and two young children.

B.A. Paris drew me right into this novel from the get-go, and once started, I felt wholly involved in the events that unravelled from there. Already shaky from the death of her mother who was taken far too early due to dementia, when Cass begins misplacing and forgetting the simplest of things, the thought that maybe she will end up in the same way begins to plague her daily. As her memory slips further away, and the blank moments begin to grow worse and worse, it becomes almost suffocating in a way that alters Cass's life completely. But with the help of her loving husband, who knows nothing of her worries, she is sure that she can get through whatever lies ahead.

As the hunt for Jane's killer progresses, Cass begins to receive calls daily although no one seems to speak on the other end, feels that someone is watching her whether in or out of her own home, and begins to lose her grip on the life she once knew every corner and detail of. Never quite sure of what was real and what wasn't, I couldn't get enough of this book and thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery behind what was happening to Cass, and of course, why.

Gripped from first page to last, this was another absolutely thrilling novel from B.A. Paris, asking the questions, who can you trust? Who is really on your side? And what happens when your thoughts are so muddled that you can't differentiate between fiction and reality? With new surprises around every corner, and the threads of Cass's life coming loose with every chapter, this had me right on the very of my seat, desperate to know more, and desperate for that big reveal when everything would become clear. Razor-sharp, punchy and completely compelling, this novel delivers plenty of questions, with the answers following in the most mysterious and intriguing of ways.

Hummingbird Reviews is awarding The Breakdown by B.A. Paris with five out of five stars.
I'd like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.

The book opens as a young teacher, Cass, is completing the school year and getting ready for her summer off. She leaves a party that evening where she and fellow teachers are celebrating the end of school term. While driving home, the skies unleash a fury of rain and thunder. She decides to go a short cut to home that her husband has asked her not to use because driving is treacherous even on a good day.

She sees a woman in another car broke down and Cass pulls over. She does not get out of her car because of the storm but she waits to see if the woman will come to Cass' car. When she does not, Cass continues on.

Because she did not get out of her car to see if the woman needed help will soon haunt Cass. The woman in the car has died and Cass becomes obsessed with guilt.

Cass is so troubled with the woman's death that her own mental state begins to go downhill. As more details come out about the woman in the car, Cass finds she can't deal with reality. She begins to forget things, she won't stay home by herself and she thinks that somebody is watching her.

Fantastic story of mystery and suspense with a great twist at the end. Don't miss out on this one.

OOOOOOOOOO!!!!! So freaking good! I finished this book a few days ago and I am still thinking about it. It is difficult to put into words. I truly do not want to give anything away with my comments. Just know..this is a must read if you like psychological thrillers.

Cass has come upon what she thinks is a car broken down on the side of the road. She stops but does not get out her car. It is pouring down rain after all. She decides to head on home. Later she finds out the owner of the car was murdered in that very spot. Plus, the victim is someone she knew. This is the beginning of Cass' own breakdown.

"What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" A great quote for this book. It is amazing the illusions the mind can play on you, as Cass is finding out. Did she really buy that?? Did she really sign this?? Is she really going crazy?? I love how the author tangles so much within this tale. It is brilliantly contrived.

I did have part of it figured out, just didn't have the whole picture. I am trying very hard not to give anything away. Twists and turns and figments of the imagination!!! This is a read not to be missed!

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.
I did meet B.A. Paris at Book Expo. Her accent is fabulous. Sadly, I did not get a picture but, I did get a signed ARC.

I pondered these questions many times as I read this novel: I’m driving home alone, this deserted hilly backstretch takes all my concentration as the rain pounds heavily against my car, up ahead something grabs my attention. It’s a car, its pulled off to the side. I pull ahead and I see a woman inside. I wait and watch, giving this woman ample opportunities to come to my car. If she doesn’t come, should I make an attempt in the rain to reach out to her? Could this be a setup? How long should I wait? We live in changing times and being a female out alone on an isolated road , this is a delicate situation.

I found myself loving this novel, feeling like Cass, I became more paranoid and on edge as I read. Cass thought she had given the stranded woman plenty of opportunities to find sanctuary in her car that night. It isn’t until the next morning that Cass learns what actually transpired on the side of the road after she drove away. Guilt torn at her as she realized that it was a woman that she knew but Cass couldn’t identity her last night from the window. Occurring only minutes from her home, Cass quickly becomes obsessed with this unsolved murder and the attacker who is still at large. In her past, Cass has been forgetting things but now it seems Cass is forgetting things more often. Fearing she getting dementia like her mother, Cass relies on her husband for support but there is this other side of her husband that rubbed me wrong, for as it seemed to me that he kept a mental list of her lapses and he never forgot them. They occur almost instantly after the accident; mysterious events start to shake up Cass’ life. I want to believe they are occurring but somehow the proof is not there, so what is actually happening? She confines in her best friend Rachel what is occurring but she is not there all the time and Cass’ husband thinks she is losing her mind, so Cass is alone in her struggle to understand everything all the strange occurrences that seem to be happening in her life. Her doctor gives her pills but the pills leave her sleepy and unable to cope. She’s a paranoid, scared mess. Is the murderer after her? Did he see her that night when she drove by? Is the dementia taking over her mind? What actually is going on with Cass? I really loved this story, I thought I had parts of this novel put together until the end. I highly recommend this novel, it will really keep you engaged till the end.
I received a copy of this novel from Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Goodreads, St. Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for this fantastic novel!

The Breakdown is the follow-up to Paris’ 2016 release Behind Closed Doors, a book that wowed this reader. I was really excited to be approved to read an early copy of The Breakdown and opened the book with high expectations.

Cass is having a hard time. Ever since the night she saw a car on a rural road, in the middle of a downpour with a woman sitting inside. A woman who was later found dead. Cass has been trying to put the crime out of her mind. But since that night, she’s been forgetting everything from her car keys to appointments.

I read The Breakdown with a furrowed brow. What did Cass’ potential diagnosis of dementia have to do with a dead woman? I was surprised at the connection between the two events. While I was suspicious of who the bad guy might be I hadn’t figured it all out. Man! People are cold-hearted. But I thought the book ended too quickly. I needed an epilogue with just a bit more to close out the story.

This was not as page-turning intensive as Behind Closed Doors, but is still an excellent choice for the mystery lovers out there. This book didn’t live up to the expectations I set. However, Paris is still earning herself a place on my “I have to read all of her books” list. While this was not as good as her debut, I’m looking forward to what she dishes out next.

Advanced copy provided by NetGalley.

Thirty-four year old Cass Anderson, the narrator of B. A. Paris's "The Breakdown," is a deeply troubled heroine. Her late mother suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and Cass has reason to believe that she too may be losing her memory. She has a devoted husband, Matthew, who tries to comfort her. However, when she forgets appointments, punches in the wrong code for the burglar alarm, and misplaces things, she becomes increasingly worried and fearful. Adding to her distress, a woman whom she knew is murdered, and Cass believes that she may be the killer's next target.

As her emotional state continues to decline, Cass worries that Matthew will become fed up with her. At one time, she had been looking forward to starting a family. She is also beginning to doubt that she will be fit to return to her teaching job after summer vacation. One bright spot is that Cass has a close friend, Rachel Baretto, whom she has known since childhood, but even Rachel's love and support cannot keep Cass from descending into a fog. Soon, she can barely get out of bed, much less plan for the future.

B. A. Paris's "The Breakdown" is a psychological thriller set in England that, unfortunately, delivers little suspense and excitement. The plot is predictable and heavy-handed, and the heroine's gullibility makes it difficult to sympathize with her. Other flaws include simplistically portrayed characters; stilted dialogue; overwrought passages (two examples: "dread takes hold and peppers my skin with tiny beads of sweat" and "my tears increase and become huge sobs of wretchedness"); and a conclusion that is far-fetched and anticlimactic. This is a disappointing effort from a writer whose previous work of fiction, "Behind Closed Doors," was edgy, imaginative, and incredibly chilling.

"If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?"

OMG!! Intelligent and thrilling page-turner that I read in almost one sitting! The rather abrupt ending was a little unsatisfying BUT the story kept me guessing.

I think most people do something or fail to take action that may cause some guilt. Well this story begins with Cass taking a shortcut late at night and failing to stop and help a woman who is stopped on the side of the road.

The motorist ends up dead. Cass feels guilty, but just as significant are the little things she begins to forget...how to run the washing machine, making dinner plans with friends, and even rather significant purchases. Her mother suffered from early-onset Alzheimer's. What is happening to Cass?

Cass's mental well-being soon spirals out of control and she fears she will suffer the same fate as her mother.

I literally could not put this book down! I FELT Cass's hysteria and fear. The last part of the book was thrilling and surprising and gave me everything I love about thrillers. I highly recommend this one for all fans of this genre and even if you want to step outside your usual genre. Cass was a memorable heroine and I was cheering for her all throughout the book. This is my first book by B.A. Paris and she has now become one of my faves!!

*I would like to thank NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The Breakdown was a fascinating, suspenseful read. One stormy night in July, a woman named Jane is murdered in her car while parked on a little-traveled road through the woods. The book’s main character, Cass, had actually seen the car parked in the woods just a little while earlier, but did not go out and help the woman whose identity she did not know at the time. Cass, plagued with guilt as a result of not helping the murdered woman Jane and seemingly developing early-onset dementia, starts to think she is going mad not too long after that night. But is it really the guilt and the dementia making her go mad, or is it something else that she could never have imagined?
This book was a good length, and I finished it quickly. I do wish that there could have been a few more descriptions of the settings around Cass as the plot moved along, since I felt like I had no idea what pretty much anyone or anything looked like except for a few secondary characters. However, the plot was gripping and I felt like I absolutely had to know whether or not Cass was actually going insane. I really wanted to solve the various mysteries in the story, and it wasn’t too easy for me to figure out who the murderer was and what their motive could possibly have been. The situation that actually caused her forgetfulness was a very sad situation that I could believe happening to someone, and I felt all of Cass’s frustration and hopelessness as she did. I also really loved reading about all the characters themselves; they were people who also seemed very realistic, especially in the ways that they responded to Cass’s never-ending distress.
I recommend this to anyone with a vivid imagination, as well as anyone who likes a quick, suspenseful, and mysterious read that will make them think. B.A. Paris really did a very good job with her second novel.

I will admit right up front that when I was a quarter of the way through this book I read the ending. I haven't done that since I was in high school! I am sorry, I was so stressed out and up in the night anxious reading this book that I absolutely couldn't take one more minute. I had to know that it was all going to end ok. How hysterically nuts is that? Well, this book is hysterically nuts! And I one hundred percent loved every fabulous minute of it.

Cass doesn't stop to help a woman who is stranded in her car on the side of the road, in the woods, late one night. And the woman is discovered dead the next day. Then the terror begins for Cass. Phone calls with no one on the other end of the line, feeling like someone is watching her, and she begins forgetting things, like her meds and her house alarm code and if the knife in her kitchen was real and did it have blood on it.

This was one of the scariest, mind messing, truly anxiety producing books I've ever read. It was not one to read in the night when you're home alone. It definitely wasn't one to read if you need a good nights sleep. But it was definitely one to read if you adore well written characters and a plot that is fabulously delicious and reading it feels like you're living it first hand, heart pounding terror and all.

4.25 STARS

Is Cass Anderson losing her mind? Is she having a mental breakdown? Or has the recent murder of a woman she failed to help on the night she was killed causing her mind undue stress? Or, perhaps, could the murderer himself, be tormenting Cass--intent on silencing her for good?

Cass’ husband, Matthew, tries hard to offer up logical explanations for the recent memory lapses his wife is experiencing. And he easily explains away the silent phone calls that occur on a daily basis. But as Cass’ behavior becomes more and more erratic with each passing day, Matthew’s frustration level hits an all-time high. Cass fears that, like her mother, her memory loss is degenerative—a truth about her family she never revealed to Matthew. Only her best friend, Rachel, truly understands her underlying fear. But now Cass has an even greater fear… that the murderer knows who she is and has set his sights on her.

“The Breakdown” is a gripping, psychological suspense drama that’s more mystery than it is thriller. Still, the overall story is compelling, and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. And while I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery, I found that the story itself held few real surprises. In fact, it was drawn out a bit too long for my personal liking. These negatives aside, I found “The Breakdown” to be a story well worth reading.

I was disappointed in The Breakdown, especially after reading Behind Closed Doors. This author is so very good at creating psychological tenseness with just a few words or description of a scene and yet, that all seemed to go awry in The Breakdown.

I can imagine how Cass must have felt, seeing the car on the side of the road in a dark, deserted location, driving on after much hesitation and then finding out that the driver was murdered! I'd have a tough time with that also, wondering what if but it's the rest of the novel that left me scratching my head.

Cass just seemed so clueless and gullible. Granted, none of us are expecting to suddenly begin forgetting things out of the clear blue and even inviting others over and totally forgetting it. But there comes a point at which you have to ask yourself what is really going on. Cass never seemed to get there.

Early on in the book I was pretty sure I was right as to what was happening and in this type of novel, I can't stand that! I want to be surprised. There was way too much foreshadowing and far too many hints along the way for this type of story.

I so wanted to love this book. I was anxiously awaiting it and am sadly, disappointed. I do appreciate that Netgalley, the publishers and the author allowed me to read a complimentary copy.

Wow, this was fantastic! I also read "Behind Closed Doors", this author's debut novel and loved that one as well. I love books with an unreliable narrator and that is what we have with Cass, our main character. Cass is on her way home late one night and takes a road she shouldn't be taking, especially during a storm. She encounters another car and can barely make out that it is a woman driver through the rain. After pulling over and getting no signal or indication from the driver that they need help, she makes the decision to keep on driving. The next morning she hears that a woman has been killed on that very same road the night before.

So begins a downward spiral for Cass, guilt consumes her and paranoia sets in. Weird things start to happen. Is she having a "breakdown"? Her mother was diagnosed with dementia at the early age of 44 and she fears that she possibly has it as well. Paris is a master on setting suspense and makes you question who is trustworthy and who is not. This was a brilliant and addictive psychological thriller and I highly recommend to all lovers of psychological thrillers. I cannot wait for this author's next book! A big thank you to St. Martin's Press an NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an early copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to preview The Breakdown" by BA Paris. I started hearing about this book, and was very happy to get the chance to preview it. The story started out slow and I did have some trouble getting into it, but quickly that turned around. This is a suspenseful story about a young woman on the verge of mental illness. She is married, has close friends, and should be very happy. Her mom passed away from dementia, and she has held this secret from her husband, Matthew.
This is written in the first person, and you can feel "Cass'" terror as she begins to realize that she may be going crazy.
Cass is driving home one night and she sees a car on a deserted road. Although she stops to check on the driver, she leaves the scene. The next day, it is revealed that the driver of this car, "Jane", has been killed. Cass is riddled with guilt - could she have saved this woman from death if she had stopped? Cass starts to get calls from an unknown person, but is she? She starts to forget things, lose things, and can feel reality sinking away? Is she the next to be murdered or is everything a figment of her imagination?
The Breakdown is well written, and one of the best for 2017 so far. RECOMMEND!!!!!
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St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Breakdown. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Cass Anderson, wracked with guilt over the death of a woman, feels that her life is coming unglued. Unmoored by the illness that took her mother from her prematurely, Cass is increasingly concerned that she may be following the same path. With forgetfulness that threatens her very safety, and that of those around her, will Cass be forced into taking drastic measures?

The biggest issue that I had with The Breakdown was the relative ease with which the main character is able to figure out her situation. With the psychological trauma coming fast and furious for weeks, I doubt that she would be able to become clearheaded so quickly. The story did have a great pace and I was genuinely interested in the outcome. Having read many psychological thrillers, I would rank this one squarely in the middle. It has good characterization and an interesting plot, but the resolution did not sit well with me. Regardless, I have enjoyed the two books that I have read by this author thus far and look forward to more in the future.

Blimey, what a rip-roaring, nail-bitingly thrilling novel from B.A. Paris The Breakdown is. I have had my eye on the second novel from this author since its original announcement, after reading the author's gripping debut, Behind Closed Doors. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, mostly to discover what the author had in store for her readers next. If her debut was anything to go by, then I hoped for twists and turns aplenty, with a storyline that would have me grasping for speech and breath once finished. Thankfully, my hopes were brought to life in The Breakdown because B.A. Paris delivered exactly that.

In The Breakdown, readers are introduced to Cass Anderson and husband, Matthew. Returning home one evening, Cass decides to ignore Matthew's plea for her not take the short-cut through the woods on the drive home, due to a bad storm coming. While driving, Cass passes by a car pulled up in the lay-by. Wondering if perhaps the driver needs a helping hand, but also worried about it being a trap, Cass decides to pull in up ahead. From her position, Cass can make out a woman in the driver's seat but when no contact is made on either end, Cass decides to continue on her way home. After all, if the woman had needed help, wouldn't she have got out of the car and asked for it? Safe in the knowledge that she at least stopped, Cass goes home and goes about her evening as normal.

But the next morning, it is announced on the news that a woman has been found dead. In the same lay-by Cass had stopped in the night before. Here is where this heart-stopping thriller truly takes hold, and here is where Cass is plunged into a nightmare that will torture her throughout the following weeks relentlessly. Could it be that if Cass had stopped that night, if she had done more, would the woman who was now dead still be breathing? Would her heart still be beating if Cass had gotten out of the car? Who knows. But it seems that someone has got their eye on Cass, and that someone will not stop until she is convinced that she cannot trust herself for a second longer. But she has kept something to herself that she fears will involve her in the murder of the woman somehow. She was there that night. She went through the woods despite the warnings not to. The guilt eats away at Cass until she is almost convinced that she has played a role in what happened that evening whether she likes it or not.

What I love most when reading a novel is that moment where you pause and think to yourself, "I really do not know what I would do if I were in this person's situation," and I did exactly that when it dawned on me as well as Cass that the woman she had passed the previous night was in fact the woman who was now gracing the news in the most sickening of circumstances. Not only that, but as more details are revealed, it so happens that Cass had met this woman too. This woman called Jane, who leaves behind a husband and two young children.

B.A. Paris drew me right into this novel from the get-go, and once started, I felt wholly involved in the events that unravelled from there. Already shaky from the death of her mother who was taken far too early due to dementia, when Cass begins misplacing and forgetting the simplest of things, the thought that maybe she will end up in the same way begins to plague her daily. As her memory slips further away, and the blank moments begin to grow worse and worse, it becomes almost suffocating in a way that alters Cass's life completely. But with the help of her loving husband, who knows nothing of her worries, she is sure that she can get through whatever lies ahead.

As the hunt for Jane's killer progresses, Cass begins to receive calls daily although no one seems to speak on the other end, feels that someone is watching her whether in or out of her own home, and begins to lose her grip on the life she once knew every corner and detail of. Never quite sure of what was real and what wasn't, I couldn't get enough of this book and thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery behind what was happening to Cass, and of course, why.

Gripped from first page to last, this was another absolutely thrilling novel from B.A. Paris, asking the questions, who can you trust? Who is really on your side? And what happens when your thoughts are so muddled that you can't differentiate between fiction and reality? With new surprises around every corner, and the threads of Cass's life coming loose with every chapter, this had me right on the very of my seat, desperate to know more, and desperate for that big reveal when everything would become clear. Razor-sharp, punchy and completely compelling, this novel delivers plenty of questions, with the answers following in the most mysterious and intriguing of ways.

Hummingbird Reviews is awarding The Breakdown by B.A. Paris with five out of five stars.
I'd like to thank the publisher for the review copy of this book.

The book opens as a young teacher, Cass, is completing the school year and getting ready for her summer off. She leaves a party that evening where she and fellow teachers are celebrating the end of school term. While driving home, the skies unleash a fury of rain and thunder. She decides to go a short cut to home that her husband has asked her not to use because driving is treacherous even on a good day.

She sees a woman in another car broke down and Cass pulls over. She does not get out of her car because of the storm but she waits to see if the woman will come to Cass' car. When she does not, Cass continues on.

Because she did not get out of her car to see if the woman needed help will soon haunt Cass. The woman in the car has died and Cass becomes obsessed with guilt.

Cass is so troubled with the woman's death that her own mental state begins to go downhill. As more details come out about the woman in the car, Cass finds she can't deal with reality. She begins to forget things, she won't stay home by herself and she thinks that somebody is watching her.

Fantastic story of mystery and suspense with a great twist at the end. Don't miss out on this one.

Last year, BA Paris’ debut novel, Behind Closed Doors, catapulted her to the top of bestsellers lists on both sides of the Atlantic and this outstanding writer of psychological chillers is back with The Breakdown, a tense, taut and terrifying page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and biting their nails to the elbow once again!

Cass Anderson seems to be a woman with the world at her feet – she has a loving, handsome and kind-hearted husband who worships the ground she walks on, good friends and a lifestyle other people would envy. But recently Cass cannot help but be troubled by worrying episodes that are forcing her to question her sanity and her grip on reality. As these events start to become even more frequent, Cass finds herself asking whether she is going to be plagued by the same illness that had destroyed and claimed her mother’s life – or whether there might be something even more sinister afoot…

One night, when Cass is driving through the woods, she comes across a woman sitting in a stationary car by herself. Although Cass wants to offer her assistance, she is frightened that she might be walking into a dangerous trap that could have frightening consequences, so she drives on home and decides to put the unusual episode behind her – until news reaches her the following morning that the woman has been found murdered! She finds herself consumed by guilt and despair – and by an unsettling feeling deep within her gut that she might be the murderer’s next victim. Is Cass in danger? Can she trust anyone to keep her safe from harm? Or will she end up being let down not just by the people around her, but also by her own sanity and hazy memories of that fateful night?

As the people around her seem convinced that she is losing her mind, Cass finds herself in a desperate race against time to uncover the truth about who murdered the woman in the car that night – before she ends up paying the ultimate price…

BA Paris’ The Breakdown should come with a warning: cancel your plans, make sure all the lights are switched on at home and lock all your doors because this is a heart-pounding, nerve-shredding and absolutely terrifying thriller that will grip you from the very first sentence and keep you riveted until the final jaw-dropping twist. The pages will simply turn themselves as you find yourself completely and utterly consumed by this first class thriller that continues to cement BA Paris’ standing as one of the genre’s finest and most ingenious talents.

An outstanding tale that you will not easily forget, if you liked Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train and haven’t yet discovered BA Paris’s twisted and hair raising spine chillers, then what on earth are you waiting for?

Poor Cass, what a horrible thing to go through, to have your memory so full of holes that every day is a mess. And the horrible guilt of the infamous "what if" we all deal with from time to time. We're left in the dark to experience every bit of the confusion, fear and frustration along with Cass over the personal issues she's trying to work through. Then there's the nightmare of the possibility of a murderer stalking you, though no one believes you. It keeps you on edge and flipping pages all the way to the end, where it all adds up to a delicious twist and some amazing revelations. I also loved the format, I won't say anything else as I don't want to give anything away.

There are plenty of descriptive reviews so I'm not going to do one, bit I will say with two enthralling books in a row B.A. Paris has moved right up into my "can't miss any books from" authors. My current obsession is psychological thrillers and now I know how an addict feels, her books are my drug. The Breakdown will be added to my prized books shelf, where Behind Closed Doors already holds an honored position. Go as fast as you can and poke that buy button, you will not regret it.

Thank you to Jessica Preeg and St. Martin's Press for the free review copy, it made my day!

I will never claim to be a detective and solve crimes. I am a reader that follows the clues the author lays out for me. With that being said there were so many trails that I could follow and I followed each and every one of them. With each twist and turn there was a new guess, that I was sure was absolutely correct, as to who had killed the woman in the car. The not knowing would bother some readers, for me I love to follow the path and see where it ends without really knowing the ending ahead of time.

B.A. Paris is amazing. The talent shared while weaving a complex, twisted, and wonderful story is phenomenal. The characters were twisted, complex, and real. I kept thinking what kind of horrible person could be making Cass come unhinged…were they truly enjoying watching her lose her mind… I just couldn’t imagine what kind of person enjoys this. When the who-dun-it is told it all comes together and makes the twists and turns make sense in a twisted sort of way.

The quick pace, the anticipation, and the twists and turns made this a cannot stop reading book for me. I recommend picking up your own copy ASAP.

Thank you Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Breakdown had a lot to live up to, I absolutely loved the author’s debut novel Behind Closed Doors, and was desperate to read this book. I was worried that I would be disappointed, as so often happens when you have really high expectations, but whenever I heard from anyone who had read it it was all positive so I was excited to read it.

Cass sees a car stopped on the side of a remote road during a huge storm, she pulls over but worried for her own safety she doesn’t get out of her car and as the driver of the other car doesn’t get out or signal to Cass she decides to drive home and call someone from there. On arriving home Cass gets distracted and never makes that phone call.

When the next morning news spreads of a murder on the very same road Cass is flooded with guilt when she learns that it was the driver of the car that she saw that had been killed. Cass decides to keep it a secret, scared that she will be judged by others for not helping the driver.

With the murder so close to Cass’ isolated home it is not surprising that she feels jumpy but as time goes on Cass is sure that she is being watched and becomes convinced that the killer saw her on that fateful night and is going to come after her.

At the same time Cass starts to find her memory going, her mother had early onset dementia and it appears that the same is happening to Cass. She does her best to hide it but her husband can’t help but get frustrated at her and gradually Cass comes to accept that she is heading the same route as her mother.

The combination of her memory loss and the guilt that she feels over not helping the murdered woman causes Cass to crumble and without the support of her husband and best friend she knows that things would be even worse.

But is everything as it seems?

This book is totally different to the author’s debut which is definitely a good thing, it is an enjoyable and easy to read book, that keeps you guessing and wanting to know what will happen. I felt that the ending was rushed which was a real shame but it gets a solid 4.5*’s from me. I loved how the story took you in and you were never quite sure about what was going on. Now I have to wait for the authors next book!

4.5 Stars
This is the first book I’ve read by B.A. Paris, and I know it won’t be my last.
The beginning of the story really sucked me in. It was such a spooky setting… a stormy night, driving on a dark deserted road… Cass the main character getting herself all worked up as she drives home, taking a shortcut she knows she shouldn’t take, and sees a car parked off to the side of the road… It’s the kind of opening you can just imagine in a horror movie.
The story was cleverly written - just the kind of suspenseful thriller I love to read. About 30 percent into the book I got a little annoyed with the main character Cass and her memory loss, and of all her fears and insecurity. But by 50-60 percent the author finally starts giving us more and more insight to what’s really starting to happen, and the story gets rolling faster. By 75 percent I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it to the end. This book was filled with many twists and turns, which had me guessing right up to until the end. It was an entertaining and captivating read and I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a really good suspenseful/psychological thriller.
*A special thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing, for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.*

I recently read Behind Closed Doors and it was one of those books that I could barely put down. When I finished, I knew I needed to read everything else written by this author and found The Breakdown.

It starts out with Cass driving down a road that was a bit too dark and not very safe during a major storm where she sees a car stopped by the side of the road. Rather than offering the driver help, Cass drives away and finds out the next day that the driver had been killed. Cass's guilt soon turns into major paranoia and possible dementia.

This book took a little longer to get into and I was starting to get a bit annoyed at the MC's paranoia. But somewhere a little over halfway through, once again I couldn't put this book down. I really thought I had figured out the big reveal almost from the beginning of the book. Nope... The psychological twists were amazing and not "quite" what I suspected. It was much more than I imagined and I loved it.

I'm a sucker for a good twisty storyline and The Breakdown gave me what I hoped for, and more! I've added B.A. Paris to my insta-buy list of authors! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy!

Genre: Physiological Thriller
Type: Standalone
Pov: First Person - Female

Cassandra is a teacher living with her gorgeous husband of almost a year. Life was perfect, money wasn't a problem for her. After the death of her mother she inherited a good amount of money.

One stormy day changed her life though. She took a short cut home that evening and finds a woman broken down in the middle of the storm. I honestly don't blame her for not getting out of her vehicle to help. However; that night hunted Cass for months.

Cass life came crashing down so fast she hardly saw it coming. A murder the news said, one she thought she could have prevented or maybe not. The mystery of who the murder was, had Cass going crazy and losing her mind.

This book was a fast pace read that will have you on the edge of your seat. I honestly read it in one setting I just had to know what happened. However; I found myself guessing some of the twists way before they came up. I found myself frustrated a little with Cass because I felt she had it all in front and didn't bothered to wonder.

Even though the book was predictable I still enjoyed it because it had me glued to the pages from the beginning. I did however, felt like the ending needed a little more. I guess I'm a sucker for revenge even though justice was made I felt it could have ended bloody and more twisted.

The Breakdown' is a psychological thriller that really sucked me in from the very beginning. I honestly couldn't put it down it will be appealing to readers looking for a fast pace read. After reading this author’s debut novel, 'Behind Closed Doors', I was super excited to to read this book. This author's writing fascinated me with her well written work.

A copy was kindly gifted to me, Thank you so much.

Ever since a local woman was found murdered, Cass' life has been a mess. Cass actually drove by the victim on her way home from a party on the night she was murdered. While Cass feels guilty about not doing more to see if the woman needed help, she also doesn't contact the police because she feels extremely guilty and is afraid of what people may think of her. In the meantime, the killer is still on the loose.

Following the murder, Cass begins to receive silent phone calls that get under her skin more and more with each passing day. In addition to her feelings of guilt and fear, Cass starts forgetting things and is convinced she will have the same fate as her mother, who developed early onset dementia at a young age. Who is behind the menacing phone calls? Did the killer see Cass' car on that fateful evening?

I also read B.A. Paris' Behind Closed Doors and knew I had to check out The Breakdown. It didn't disappoint! I figured out part of what was going on, but there was an added twist I didn't see coming. Full of suspense and twists - this was a great read!

There are many 5 star ratings for this book, but I don't agree with them.

In the beginning, the writing was amateurish. Cass and Matthew Anderson felt like cardboard cutouts and dialog didn't flow naturally. Cass was weak and meek; Matthew was too sweet. Their lives were mundane. They certainly didn't act like a married couple near their one year anniversary.

As the story opened up, it improved. Cass’s anxiety, fear, guilt, and paranoia slowly increased. It took most of the book to get to her breakdown. There were times I wanted to shake her and tell her to snap out of it. I couldn't sympathize with her.

What kept me reading was curiosity. I didn't feel any suspense or tension. Chapters were dated, and I admit at one point checking the date of the final chapter to find there were about six weeks to go. There clearly were two questions that needed answering. What’s happening to Cass and who is the killer? When the author provided a pivotal event, it gave a sense of relief that the answers were coming. I did like how the reveal was made.

In the end, even though some things were predictable, I think this was an okay book.

3 stars
This book is about a woman who thinks that she is being stalked by a murderer. Cass takes a shortcut home from a party during a heavy thunderstorm through a dark forest on a hilly, curvy road. She almost hits a car stopped on the shoulder. She stops, thinking she should check on the driver, but then worries that this is a trap set up by thieves and drives away, planning to call the police when she gets home. She forgets to call the police. The next day she learns that the police have discovered the body of a woman on this road and are calling it a brutal murder.
Then she starts getting silent phone calls, always when her husband is out. Soon she is forgetting things and spiraling down into a nervous breakdown.
Pros: I liked the ending. It tied up all the various threads.
Cons: The book spent far too much time demonstrating her forgetting things and the silent phone calls. I almost gave up halfway through. I probably won't read any more books by the author.
One quote: "It's hard to believe that my split-second decision to take a shortcut through the woods that fateful Friday night has had such a devastating impact on my life."
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

The debut novel, 'Behind Closed Doors' by B. A. Paris was just brilliant. So on completion of a Book Club read over 4 long weeks, knowing I had 'The Breakdown' waiting in the wings made my next choice easy - and I was not disappointed. 24 hours! That's all it took me to read and complete; 24 hours - I couldn't put it down. It was so, so easy to rate; an easy five stars without a doubt! Just brilliant.
Cass, the main character, is very believable, haunted as she is by her past - and by the future that might lie ahead. In a moment of fear and frustration in the midst of a storm on a dark and lonely road, Cass drives on rather than stop to assist a lone female stranded in her broken down car; the next morning, she learns that the woman was 'brutally' murdered in her car - and Cass was probably the last person to see her alive! Traumatised by the news and filled with guilt and regret at her failure to take any action, Cass begins to experience a 'breakdown' of an entirely different sort. Haunted by the final years of her mother's life, as she experiences more and more instances of serious memory loss in what appears to be inexplicable circumstances, Cass fears that she is taking after her mother and suffering symptoms of early onset Dementia. Her neurosis increases to almost unmanageable levels as she begins to receive silent telephone calls and feels that she is being watched. Even the love and support of her husband Matthew, and her best friend Rachel, don't seem to help.
B. A. Paris holds the reader enthralled as she builds the suspense and tension to a critical level and Cass feels she is going mad.
I must confess, I did begin to have a little inkling as to what might be going on towards the end, but that didn't detract by any means from the final twist.
Thoroughly recommended five star read!

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgally, but does not influence my review in any way.

I simply love B.A. Paris's style of writing. It took me awhile to get into The Breakdown as I wasn't really sure what the story was trying to tell me or where the journey was heading. About mid-way through it was becoming clear that this was going to be a twisty wild ride.

Cass is a school teacher who lost her mum to early onset dementia. Her husband Matthew is a caring, doting husband who wants to help Cass (Or is he?) Cass is having short term memory issues and is really stressed about the murder of a young woman in her town. Cass didn't know her well, but they were acquaintances. Cass is trying to piece together some puzzling things, while dealing with what she think may be a stalker.

The writing is stellar, and the while I saw what was coming, It was the way everything unfolded that had me furiously turning the pages to find out what happened next.

I want to thank B.A. Paris, St. Martin's Press and Netgally for being so gracious in letting me read an early copy of this book. I am looking forward to buying it in print.

Let me start off by saying I read B. A. Paris’ first book, Behind Closed Doors and absolutely fell in love with it. When I heard a new book was coming out I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. A lot of the time when a book is extremely hyped, I tend to be disappointed. Luckily that was in no way the case with The Breakdown.

The character building in this book was amazing, I felt like I got a wonderful idea of who each character was while also questioning them all throughout the book. I found myself immediately drawn in because the book was written with an extreme air if mystery. I physically felt as though I had to keep turning each page and find out immediately what was going on. I love the fact that it touches on the subject of early on-set dementia, which I don’t hear or know much about.

Overall this book was a great mystery that was so unpredictable I couldn’t stop reading if I wanted to. It flowed so well and kept me guessing until the very end. I would highly recommend this book if you like psychological thrillers.

This book wasn't perfect but it did hold my interest. A psychological thriller that makes you wonder just how well you know the people closest to you.

One rainy evening, Cass Anderson disobeys her husbands orders and take a shortcut home. The road is windy, the rain heavy and visibility poor. Cass notices a car stopped on the side of the road and a woman behind the wheel. Too nervous to stop to help, she drives on and the following day she learns that the woman in the car was murdered -- she was someone Cass had met in the past.

What follows is a series of events that causes Cass to think she is losing her mind. She's ridden with guilt for not stopping to help, but she can't talk to her husband Matthew about that terrible night. She's forgetful, paranoid, and she wonders whether she is in the beginning stages of early onset dementia -- like her mother.

This was a quick read and page-turner for me but, I found it far from perfect. I thought it too predictable and the characters did some really crazy, hard to believe things at times.

I'm still happy I gave it a try though. 3.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Cassandra and Matthew Anderson are newly married. Cassandra, known as Cass in the book, had just inherited a large amount of money from her mother, whom she took care of until she had passed away. Her mother and been diagnosed with dementia at 44 and died when she was 55. Cass's friend Rachel also helped take care of both of Cass's parents before they died. Rachel is Cass's best friend. On the way home from a end of term party for teachers Cass takes a short cut to get home sooner due to torrent rain. She passes a car along the side of the road. She stops, but the driver doesn't give any sign of distress so Cass leaves. Then she finds out the woman was murdered and that she knew her! This is when things start going south for Cass. Her memory falls her, she gets so concerned that she is like her mother, that reality and her mind start getting mixed up. What will happen with the newlyweds? Can they over come this? Who killed the woman in the car? You can really feel the emotions in this story, and just wait till you get to the twisted ending!!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers!

Cass and Matthew are happy and newly married and living in Nook’s Corner. Cass is a teacher enjoying the holiday when during a very bad rain storm decides to take a short cut home after dinner with her co-workers. Blackwater Lane is almost un-drivable that night and why did Matthew tell her NOT to take the road home, she could be home faster when he wasn’t feeling well. She passes and stops ahead of a car with a woman, the woman makes no movement or indication she is in trouble, so Cass continues home, thankfully arriving safety. The next morning, Matthew tells Cass a woman died on Blackwater Lane, under suspicious circumstances.
Cass is troubled, could she have done something. Was she still alive when she passed her? But Cass is so guilt ridden with Jane Waters death she it starts to let it affect her life. Did Cass see something and can’t remember it – but as she plays that night over and over she forgets important events. She then begins to worry could she have early on-set Dementia like her mother is that why she can’t remember things? Her best friend Rachel is there for her but even she is beginning to wonder about Cass as well has her husband encourage her to get medical help.
Does the new neighbor have something do with Jane’s death – why is he caught watching Cass and Matthew home several times? Why can’t Cass remember? Is Cass having a breakdown? Who killed Jane and why and are they now after Cass? #whocanyoutrust #thebreakdown
Another incredible read from B.A. Paris “Behind Closed Doors” last summer’s chilling read again brings you another chilling read in the heat of summer 2017.

Perhaps I am not as jaded as I think or maybe I have too much faith in the inherent goodness of people, but B.A. Paris totally kept me guessing as to whether or not Cass was losing her mind. I was all in for the ride and enjoyed it very much. I did not see the obvious coming, but I totally bought it when it did come. This was not a glossy thriller or overly salacious, it was a cruel crime story driven by the usual petty motives and it was solid. I found the reality of that very appealing. People are cruel and petty and selfish and this story plays on those very simple facts. We are all broken at some level and the story played on the different aspects of brokenness that each character carried with them. I particularly liked that so much in life can turn on a seemingly simple turn of events – a road taken, a phone lost, keys forgotten and chance meetings – the story taps into this idea and makes it relatable to us all. In the end I found it a very satisfying story and was suitably entertained.

When Cass takes a detour home, one she will forever regret and it was the detour her husband Matthew insisted she not drive, but to stay on the highway and not go through the woods, sets the stage for a psychological thriller that will have me hooked.

After seeing a woman she knows just sitting in a car on that back road, Cass thinks the woman has already called someone and will be fine. She keeps driving home because it’s pouring down rain and it’s dark. That decision and what happens to the woman causes Cass to become paranoid, scared and forgetful which leads her to think she has early onset dementia like her now deceased mother.

Sadly, I wish I could say the story held my attention throughout the entire book, but the author's writing lost me because of factors I will not disclose to the reader because the story is a bit “weak”. Also, there are only a few characters which allowed me to figure out who did “it” in a short time.

I did enjoy both the beginning and the ending. Had the author had put little more effort into the middle this would be a five-star read.

I started reading The Breakdown with caution, but I soon realized this wasn’t necessary at all. I found myself enjoying this psychological thriller right from the very first chapter and was instantly convinced by the engaging writing style. I have a weak spot for any story with amnesia, dementia or mental health/illness elements and B.A. Paris was able to develop this element exceptionally well in The Breakdown. The main character is showing signs of early-onset dementia and this plays a huge role in both the plot and plot twists throughout the story. And I personally found this angle fascinating! True, I didn’t actually like every character, but there is no doubt that the character development of Cass is more than spot on. I had my guesses about the who and why and some of it turned out to be true, but the final part of this story without doubt came as a surprise and made me want to reread The Breakdown just to see if I missed the clues the first time. And I just love whenever that happens… I guess this story can go either way, but I recommend giving it a try anyway since you might be in for a surprise!

Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, for an egalley in exchange for my honest review.

I looked forward to this novel since I had enjoyed the author's debut novel, Behind Closed Doors.. This is also a psychological suspense/thriller that is quite a page-turner. It's well-plotted with just the right number of characters, not so many that it's hard to keep track of them.

The protagonist is Cass, a young woman who is suffering from paranoia, forgetfulness, and guilt while being frightened about losing her short-term memory like her mother. Her mental stability is tested throughout the novel. There were times when I had no idea what was going on or who to suspect was causing all the drama. But the book is so well-written, I just couldn't put it down.

Cass is traumatized by an event that starts the "breakdown" rolling. From there it's a roller coaster ride. While at times, I felt it was repetitive, but it continued to be fast-paced. Ms. Paris certainly knows how to grab you at the beginning and not let you go until you finish her novel.

The Breakdown by B. A. Paris is a wonderfully twisty novel of psychological suspense that will keep you up reading late into the night.

Cass Anderson takes a shortcut home one night along a deserted stretch of woods in the midst of a horrendous rainstorm. Along the way she sees a car stopped at the side of the road, a lone woman in the car who does nothing but stare out at her when she stops to try to offer assistance. Something just doesn’t feel right and Cass drives away, fearing for her own safety, only to learn the following morning that the woman was murdered. Cass is wracked with guilt, thinking she should have done something, the guilt growing only worse when she realizes she actually knew the murdered woman.

As she deals with the guilt, Cass finds herself starting to forget things—conversations with friends, presents she should have bought, where she parked her car, even how to operate her own washing machine. Is it stress? Something worse?—and then the phone calls start, calls she is certain are coming from the murderer…

(Advance Reading Copy obtained by request from NetGalley.)

You know a book is going to be good when you just have to keep reading it and it gives that feeling of uncertainty- a feeling of insecurity because you empathise with the characters. Cass promises her husband that she won’t take the minor road home in the storm. Despite her best intentions and a lapse of concentration she does and almost grinds to a halt in the gathering water. She carries on with care and sees a car pulled over. She slows down to see if she can help but the driver doesn’t come out and wave her down. When she sees the news the day after, she hears that the woman has been murdered and Cass starts to get rather paranoid about the whole thing. This is one brilliantly written book that encompasses you from the start. That feeling of being watched or something eerie about to happen is well portrayed and adds to that uncertain feeling as you read it. Can you become “addicted” to a book? Is there a term for it, because if there is I have it with this one? One stunning read. I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

There is stress and unease all the way through this story - definitely a compelling, 'can't put down' book, with a mystery to solve that is so artfully developed that it's difficult to guess at. This is the second psychological thriller I've read by B. A. Paris and she hasn't disappointed so far. Cass, her main character, thinks she's losing her mind. Her forgetfulness is making her edgy and highly irrational to those closest to her. Cass is particularly worried because her late mother had been diagnosed with early onset dementia and she wonders if some gene has been passed on to her. What appears to be a perfect marriage and loyal friendship are what should sustain her but she is slowly unravelling. Written in the first person, the author builds upon Cass's anxiety to produce a 'seat of the pants' novel which is tense, tense, tense to its sweet end.

Woman (Cass) has mental breakdown after new friend (Jane) is murdered. Could Cass have saved her? Did her massive guilt trip lead to her mental breakdown? Is everything as it seems?

Since Behind Closed Doors was such an engrossing read, I was so excited to read and review an early copy of this one. After flying through it, I am pleased to report that this one was, in my opinion, even better than BCD!

Upon completion, I was left speechless and definitely in the thralls of a book hangover. Twenty minutes later, my heart was still pounding and my own paranoia was running rampant. While taking my dog outside at night, a car stopped near our house, and then sped away quickly as soon as I looked at the driver. Talk about freaky timing hahaha.

This story drew me in from the very first pages, and was so well written that I totally felt Cass' paranoia, panic, frustration, and desperation. This was a fabulous page turner, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

THE BREAKDOWN by B.A. Paris is a psychological thriller that will burrow inside your head and make your pulse race. Cass' life is turned upside down when she learns that a woman whom she saw sitting in her car during a storm on her way home late one night, has been found brutally murdered. And it becomes worse when she realises that she actually knew the victim. As Cass struggles with feelings of guilt over having not done more to help, every other part of her life starts to suffer as she begins to forget things. Worried that she is taking after her deceased mother who had early onset dementia, Cass is fighting to remain calm and upbeat for her husband Matthew and her friends. But then the phone calls start. Somebody wants to scare Cass and will stop at nothing to achieve it. Convinced that the murderer has tracked her down, can Cass overcome her own issues to figure out who is out to make her their next victim? Or is it all just paranoia associated with her illness?

THE BREAKDOWN by B.A. Paris is a superb piece of criminal fiction as it kept me guessing all the way through. Just when I thought I had it figured it out, something explosive would happen and throw my theory out the window. And I have never encountered such an apt title as it encompasses everything about this story. Brimming with tension, danger, and fear, this is the type of novel that really gets under your skin. Fast-paced and gripping at every page, THE BREAKDOWN by B.A. Paris cannot be missed.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com

Reading this book took me on a journey of what guilt can do to your psyche. Having come across a stopped vehicle in the middle of a storm in a secluded area, Cass drives off feeling scared it could be a setup for attack for an unsuspecting good samaritan. Finding out the next day that the woman in the stopped vehicle had been murdered just was the icing on the cake of her guilty feelings.

You need to look beneath the surface to follow the undercurrent of emotions and danger. Our heroine is concerned she is losing her mind and might be in danger from the killer. There is so much more going on.

This author has an amazing style. Picking the correct words to paint an image in our minds, she also creates an atmosphere where you know there are hidden clues. It is like reading Agatha Christie or a Sherlock Holmes novel where the clues are given in such a subtle manner you must be alert to pick up what is going on. LOVED this story!

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the publisher for sharing a copy of this book with me.

This is without a doubt a 5 star read. And I want to rave about how well Paris has written certain aspects of the story but I cant because its a huge spoiler, one that I discovered just as I was sitting down to read the book and it was constantly there in the back of my head so I was waiting for it... and I refuse to spoil anyone else's enjoyment. So no spoilers from me.

This is my first time reading a book by BA Paris, but after devouring The Breakdown in one day I think its safe to say I shall be reading her other book Behind Closed Doors. The Breakdown was such an easy book to sit down and read. Even with Cass being an unreliable narrator, sometimes if not done well it can have a jarring effect on the flow, but thankfully that is not the case here. And to be honest I think Cass's inability to trust herself makes the book all the more interesting. Because we only ever get Cass's POV you never really know who is telling the truth and therefore who we can trust. Which all makes for fantastic reading.

I cant recommend this book enough.

I didn't understand at first what the whole point of the book was but I still couldn't put it down. Cass is not remembering a lot of stuff that she supposedly did. At the beginning of the summer her life seems to start to follow apart. She can't remember making plans or ordering things and thinks that she is starting to get dementia. There was also a murder at the beginning and she thinks the murderer is stalking her. We follow Cass through the whole summer and beginning of fall until we finally see what is really going on. The only thing I really didn't like was the ending. I found it to abrupt. You spend the whole book wondering what was going on then you get 1 chapter that tells you the whole thing and then it ends. We don't find out what happens with Cass afterwards or anyone else, it's kind of annoying.

*Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. 4.5 stars -I really wish we were allowed to give half stars in the rating!

If you liked The Girl on the Train, you will like this book. And even if you didn't like Girl, well, you should give this book a shot. The protagonist, Cass, is much more likable.

This was a very fast-paced book; I read it in an afternoon. I will say I guessed pretty quickly who had to be involved in messing with Cass, but there are enough other possibilities thrown into the mix as the book goes on that I began to doubt my earlier thoughts on that.

I enjoyed Behind Closed Doors, but I have to say I liked this book better. The plot seemed better thought out and the writing more mature. Definitely read this book if you enjoy a good psychological thriller, but don't start it unless you have the time to keep reading, because you won't want to put it down!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Breakdown by B.A. Paris.

Cass attends a celebration gathering at the end of the school year. She decides to leave early to beat the storm. She phones her husband, Matthew, to let him know she is on her way. He warns her not to take the shortcut through the woods. Of course she doesn't listen to him and takes the shortcut. She passes a car with a woman sitting inside of it that is on the side of the road. She is unsure if the woman is broken down. So, Cass pulls in front of the car. The storm is so horrendous that Cass doesn't get out of the car. The car never flashes the lights or gives any signal that she is in trouble, so Cass proceeded to go home. When she arrives home she forgets to call the police to tell them about the woman. The next day it is all over the news that a woman had been killed along the shortcut road. Now Cass feels the guilt.

This is the first breakdown of the book. This book is about love, trust, betrayal and friendship. This truly is a page turner!

Like many others, I also read Behind Closed Doors and absolutely loved it but didn't feel this quite lived up to those dizzying heights of 'grippiness', yet The Breakdown is a good tense story which has you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next. B A Paris has a talent for creating a tense atmosphere, a feeling of unease and building on that unease to unsettle the mind – both in the character's and reader's.

We start the book with Cass driving home down a little back lane one dark stormy night and noticing a car possibly broken down in a lay-by, she stops to help. She becomes too fearful of getting out of the car so waits to see if the female occupant approaches for help. When nothing happens, she drives off and goes home to bed. The next day she is distraught to hear that a young woman has been murdered in the lay-by she paused in last night. Cass feels guilt over not helping and this plays on her conscience for days and weeks to come. On top of this she is receiving silent phone calls every day and she's convinced they are from the murderer. These calls, the feeling she's being watched, the stress of the new term at the school where she is a teacher, all play on her mind to the point she has almost become housebound. There are few characters in the book, mainly Cass and Matthew and Cass's friend Rachel. It is all set over a short space of time, just a few months from summer to autumn, but such a lot of doubt, lies and mistrust are packed into what were good relationships at the beginning to disaster by the end.

This story shows how quickly a normal happy and well functioning young professional woman can be mentally brought down by guilt, stress and pressure. It may seem weak to give in to the stresses of work or the guilt of not helping when you could have, but add to that daily silent phone calls from someone you believe thinks you witnessed a murder. That's enough to push anyone towards a mental breakdown.

I think B A Paris has done an excellent job of showing how quickly and easily a person can be sucked into a spiral of mental fatigue to the point that they can't function normally. I found the book to be quite gripping, with a final satisfying twist at the end.

Promise you will not take Blackwater Lane home!!! On a stormy night Cass has a decision to make.
Battle traffic the long way home or take a short cut home that she has promised her husband Matthew that she will avoid. Visibility is poor as the rain comes down in sheets so pray that you can see a vehicle ahead and have some tail-lights to follow. But...when the car in site is stopped in the road and Cass is forced to inch past a women is behind the wheel. Does a solitaire women stop to see if help can be given? Eerie tale of regrets and the onset of dementia. Paris spent a lot of time on the dementia angle but as the story progressed characters showed their true selves. Good who done it that kept me guessing. St. Martin's Press via Netgalley supplied a copy to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and my comments here are my honest opinion.

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.

Bibliomaniac MJ review : Oh wow! BA Paris has done it again! I was rather skeptical if the author was going to be able to live up to the intrigue of her first novel, but I should never have doubted the skill of this brilliant author.

As I have read plenty of books in this genre, I find that little surprises me anymore, and a 5 star rating from me is few and far between. However both books by this author have easily earned the maximum point rating from me, being able to hold my attention with a great storyline and very clever plot twists. I fervently turned the pages, unable to put this one down, even though I had the perfect beach view in front of me whilst on holiday, I may as well have been on my couch, so oblivious was I to my surroundings.

Congratulations to the author on yet another fantastic read. Thank you. Will be eagerly awaiting the next gem by this author.

I couldn't put this book down. When Cass thinks she could have done something about a terrible tragedy the turmoil she faces while keeping it a secret is almost enough to do her in, especially when she learns that she knew the woman who was murdered. She starts to question things around her as the guilt weighs heaving on her conscience. Knowing that her mother suffered from early onset dementia only furthers her fears and anguish once she realizes she's having some of the same issues at such a young age. As things keep happening and getting worse for Cass, she feels lucky to have such a supportive husband and best friend and constantly has to question herself on decisions and choices she's making.
I do wish there was a little more at the end as I wasn't ready for the story to be over but this was a very suspenseful novel that kept me interested from page 1.

I was totally swept away by the suspense and mystery of The Break Down. Cass and Matthew have a great life together although she has secretly feared she will end up with dementia like her mother. Things begin to fall apart when Cass realizes that a murdered woman is someone she knew, and that she passed her car on the road in a terrible thunderstorm on her way home the night before. She becomes fearful that the murderer may be after her next. She starts to forget things, minor absent-mindedness at first but then it escalates to the point that she can't remember ordering packages that have been delivered, or how to work her own coffee machine. Is it just the stress? Is it the start of dementia? Or is it something more sinister? Could someone be gas lighting her? Or will she be the next murder victim? Alfred Hitchcock could not have crafted a more electrifying thriller with such a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advance copy for review

The BEST book I have read in 2017 so far! Behind Closed Doors was one of my favorite books and The Breakdown is even better. This book completely sucked me in from the beginning and I raced through every heart stopping, nail biting, jaw dropping twist and turn until the last page. I started this book before I went to bed and stayed up until the early morning hours finishing it in one sitting. Then the next day I started reading again from the beginning to see all of the hints and clues I missed.

The book starts out with a bad storm. Cass heads home in the treacherous weather, deciding to take a secluded path through the woods home. It is a risky move especially because as she continues down this empty path away from the main roads and other cars, the storm gets worse and Cass is struggling just to get home safely. As she continues on she sees a car she believes to be broken down on the side of the road and a woman inside alive. She pulls over briefly but when the woman doesn't get out or signal to Cass that she needs help, Cass continues back home safely. The next day the news reports that the woman was found dead. Cass starts to wonder what happened and if she was the last person to see the woman alive. But Cass suddenly starts forgetting everything and losing her memory after that night. What is actually true and what is in her head?

As Cass continues to mentally unravel the plot twists keep coming. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don't. You don't know who to trust, or if you can even trust Cass herself as her memory loss and paranoia increases. I am pretty good at figuring out "who did it" early on in most books but I never saw the final plot twist coming! This book will mess with your head and make you question your own sanity. A perfect psychological thriller! Trust me, this is an absolute MUST READ book! I dare you to start reading late at night and be able to put it down!

I could not wait to start reading this book. I was so happy when I found out that I had been approved to do so.

However, I think this one took way too long letting the reader know that Cass was freaking out over seeing her friend in the woods. I got it, I truly got it, pages and pages ago. And, it was pretty predictable. I was pretty sure what was going on very quickly and detested that character. However, what I thought and how the author ended the book were not exactly quite right. So, I do have to give the author an extra star for that.

That is not to say that I would not read another book by this author. I just think this one really didn't do it for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

B.A. Paris has quickly become an author to read just because she has written a book, much like Jane Green, Joshilyn Jackson or J.K. Rowling. If she writes it, I will buy it and read it. I was given a copy of Behind Closed Doors and loved it. It was an excellent novel. I quickly pre-ordered The Breakdown from the store as soon as I learned about it, but thought there was no way that book could be as good as her first. I was right. It was better. I read it in the car on the way to our vacation and the miles and the pages flew. The story started quickly and never let up. The plot was great, with many twists. But it was the characters that brought this story to life and made it so amazing. Two hours later, I closed the book but the story stayed with me. Excellent, excellent read. Highly recommend.

Wow! Did this book grab me and kept me coming back to it! I got it on a Friday from library and didn’t get chance to start it until Saturday – and finished it on Sunday afternoon! It was that good at hooking me in! I’m now on the ‘hold’ list for author’s other book when it comes back to the library.
Was it perfect? No but then not many books are to me anyway. I thought it dragged a little at times but I came to understand that IMHO, the author was “setting the stage” and she did a good job of it! The ending was satisfying and believable. One plot device was a bit of a stretch (having to do with a cell phone) but it did work.
Really enjoyed this book and recommend it for mystery and non-mystery fans alike.
OH - and love the clever title - meant more than one thing to me...

First of all, I would not compare to "Behind Closed Doors" because they are COMPLETELY different, which is high praise for B.A. Paris's first two novels.

This was a really fast, gripping read for me. I read it in about two days over vacation - so obviously I was intrigued! The beginning took a bit to get into, partly because I was tired, and partly because I was waiting for Behind Closed Doors Part 2.

However, once you get into it, you get INTO it. I kept racking my brain trying to figure out what was happening to Cass. I will admit she started to annoy me after a while just like she annoyed the people in her life. But with good reason, she knew something fishy was going on and kept racking her brain herself. It just got repetitive after a while.

The storyline is full of mystery and intrigue. The characters are well developed, and I definitely felt an emotional connection to Cass. The writing itself had a great flow and was easy to read - which was especially helpful toward the end when I couldn't put it down.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone. It's not scary (if you are worried about that). But a gripping theory where you don't know the truth until the very end. And then you can't put it down. I think most types of people and readers would enjoy this! I'm B.A. Paris's newest fan!

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

Captivating, menacing and intense!

This is a suspenseful thriller that highlights just how easily people can be psychologically and emotionally manipulated and how quickly things can spiral out of control.

It is, ultimately, a story about relationships, friendship, greed, jealousy, exploitation, deception, and murder.

The writing is crisp and clear. The characters are complex, secretive and unstable. And the plot, told through an unreliable narrator, builds nicely and has just the right of amount of tension, befuddlement, mystery, and authenticity.

This is the second novel I’ve read by Paris and although I didn't find this novel as dark and disturbing as her previous novel it is certainly just as engrossing, entertaining and enjoyable.

The follow-up to B.A. Paris' bestselling novel Behind Closed Doors is here, and its amazing! I've had this on preorder since the moment it was announced, and it was well worth the wait!
The Breakdown is told from the POV of Cass. She's a teacher in her mid-thirties, with the perfect husband, the perfect house, a lifelong best friend, and a sizable nest egg left by her mother. It seems that she has everything going for her, until, at the wrong place at the wrong time, she stops at what will minutes later turn out to be the scene of a murder. Its only later that she finds that the murdered woman was actually a friend of hers, and wracked with guilt, her life begins to unravel. Shaken by the murder, tormented by anonymous calls, and seemingly unable to remember the simplest things, Cass seems to be going mad.
With the murderer still on the loose, the harassing calls continuing, and her mind deteriorating, Cass feels terrified and helpless. Even her husband and best friend are starting to tire of her paranoia and forgetfulness. Until a bet in a bar changes everything.....

Slow start with a sluggish middle but a great ending. The middle is what prompted my 4 star rating.

Last night I updated my status for this book to 54% (around 10 pm-ish). It took me 4 days to get this far. Here, is where it really sucked me in. Turns out, I wasn't really quite done reading for the night and 3 hours later, I gobbled up that remaining 46%.

Needless to say, I'm a bit tired for work today but it was totally worth it. I enjoy Behind Closed Doors and will read Bring Me Back soon.

**Checked out from the public library**

I really enjoyed this book as I do enjoy the writing of this author. I read this book months ago and am so excited to finally be able to put up a review for this on release day. As with Paris' last book this is a psychological thriller and it is one that will keep you turning the pages until the end. The story is told from the perspective of a woman who has lost her mother due to early onset dementia and Cass is afraid that she will inherit this disease from her mother. She has not told her husband that she lost her mother to this and when she starts showing signs of it she does all she can to hide it from him. From there we are brought into her frightening world of not knowing what is going on, who people are, why things are happening and of course there is a murder of a friend of hers! All of these things combine to make this a great ride that you will easily enjoy and leave you wanting more. You can find my video review of this on my youtube channel- ReadingwithPugs

**Copy received through Netgalley for voluntary review.**

This book had its issues but I still really enjoyed it. It might be considered too suspenseful as the author used a lot of pages to describe Cass's breakdown. But stick with it. The ending is very satisfying. So much so that you won't mind the bit of monotony along the way.

I thought the "smoking gun" was a little too convenient and incredibly careless on the culprit's part. But it was still that enjoyable light bulb moment I love about mysteries.

This book really could have used an epilogue, in my opinion. That would have been the icing on the cake. But, overall, it was a good story that hooked me in and I'll be looking forward to more from this author. Well done.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Breakdown by B.A. Paris.

Cass attends a celebration gathering at the end of the school year. She decides to leave early to beat the storm. She phones her husband, Matthew, to let him know she is on her way. He warns her not to take the shortcut through the woods. Of course she doesn't listen to him and takes the shortcut. She passes a car with a woman sitting inside of it that is on the side of the road. She is unsure if the woman is broken down. So, Cass pulls in front of the car. The storm is so horrendous that Cass doesn't get out of the car. The car never flashes the lights or gives any signal that she is in trouble, so Cass proceeded to go home. When she arrives home she forgets to call the police to tell them about the woman. The next day it is all over the news that a woman had been killed along the shortcut road. Now Cass feels the guilt.

This is the first breakdown of the book. This book is about love, trust, betrayal and friendship. This truly is a page turner!

Like many others, I also read Behind Closed Doors and absolutely loved it but didn't feel this quite lived up to those dizzying heights of 'grippiness', yet The Breakdown is a good tense story which has you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next. B A Paris has a talent for creating a tense atmosphere, a feeling of unease and building on that unease to unsettle the mind – both in the character's and reader's.

We start the book with Cass driving home down a little back lane one dark stormy night and noticing a car possibly broken down in a lay-by, she stops to help. She becomes too fearful of getting out of the car so waits to see if the female occupant approaches for help. When nothing happens, she drives off and goes home to bed. The next day she is distraught to hear that a young woman has been murdered in the lay-by she paused in last night. Cass feels guilt over not helping and this plays on her conscience for days and weeks to come. On top of this she is receiving silent phone calls every day and she's convinced they are from the murderer. These calls, the feeling she's being watched, the stress of the new term at the school where she is a teacher, all play on her mind to the point she has almost become housebound. There are few characters in the book, mainly Cass and Matthew and Cass's friend Rachel. It is all set over a short space of time, just a few months from summer to autumn, but such a lot of doubt, lies and mistrust are packed into what were good relationships at the beginning to disaster by the end.

This story shows how quickly a normal happy and well functioning young professional woman can be mentally brought down by guilt, stress and pressure. It may seem weak to give in to the stresses of work or the guilt of not helping when you could have, but add to that daily silent phone calls from someone you believe thinks you witnessed a murder. That's enough to push anyone towards a mental breakdown.

I think B A Paris has done an excellent job of showing how quickly and easily a person can be sucked into a spiral of mental fatigue to the point that they can't function normally. I found the book to be quite gripping, with a final satisfying twist at the end.

Promise you will not take Blackwater Lane home!!! On a stormy night Cass has a decision to make.
Battle traffic the long way home or take a short cut home that she has promised her husband Matthew that she will avoid. Visibility is poor as the rain comes down in sheets so pray that you can see a vehicle ahead and have some tail-lights to follow. But...when the car in site is stopped in the road and Cass is forced to inch past a women is behind the wheel. Does a solitaire women stop to see if help can be given? Eerie tale of regrets and the onset of dementia. Paris spent a lot of time on the dementia angle but as the story progressed characters showed their true selves. Good who done it that kept me guessing. St. Martin's Press via Netgalley supplied a copy to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and my comments here are my honest opinion.

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.

Bibliomaniac MJ review : Oh wow! BA Paris has done it again! I was rather skeptical if the author was going to be able to live up to the intrigue of her first novel, but I should never have doubted the skill of this brilliant author.

As I have read plenty of books in this genre, I find that little surprises me anymore, and a 5 star rating from me is few and far between. However both books by this author have easily earned the maximum point rating from me, being able to hold my attention with a great storyline and very clever plot twists. I fervently turned the pages, unable to put this one down, even though I had the perfect beach view in front of me whilst on holiday, I may as well have been on my couch, so oblivious was I to my surroundings.

Congratulations to the author on yet another fantastic read. Thank you. Will be eagerly awaiting the next gem by this author.

I couldn't put this book down. When Cass thinks she could have done something about a terrible tragedy the turmoil she faces while keeping it a secret is almost enough to do her in, especially when she learns that she knew the woman who was murdered. She starts to question things around her as the guilt weighs heaving on her conscience. Knowing that her mother suffered from early onset dementia only furthers her fears and anguish once she realizes she's having some of the same issues at such a young age. As things keep happening and getting worse for Cass, she feels lucky to have such a supportive husband and best friend and constantly has to question herself on decisions and choices she's making.
I do wish there was a little more at the end as I wasn't ready for the story to be over but this was a very suspenseful novel that kept me interested from page 1.

Just finished Breakdown , It was a brilliantly entertaining psychological thriller, I loved , loved , loved this book and got great enjoyment out of reading it !! It is An easy five star rating and of course would whole heartedly recommend that you read it. Well worth the money ! I am keeping my copy and it is going on my shelf of amazing books ! The author delivers a brilliantly crafted intense psychological thriller grabbing you from the first page to the last. Gripping, riveting, and maddening, the author takes readers on a twisty, dark and scary journey. A page-turner which will keep you on the edge of your seat turning into the night. Emotional and addictive and would make a great lifetime movie. Left me wanting more. I would love to see more of Cass and maybe her end up with Janes husband.

I was totally swept away by the suspense and mystery of The Break Down. Cass and Matthew have a great life together although she has secretly feared she will end up with dementia like her mother. Things begin to fall apart when Cass realizes that a murdered woman is someone she knew, and that she passed her car on the road in a terrible thunderstorm on her way home the night before. She becomes fearful that the murderer may be after her next. She starts to forget things, minor absent-mindedness at first but then it escalates to the point that she can't remember ordering packages that have been delivered, or how to work her own coffee machine. Is it just the stress? Is it the start of dementia? Or is it something more sinister? Could someone be gas lighting her? Or will she be the next murder victim? Alfred Hitchcock could not have crafted a more electrifying thriller with such a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advance copy for review

The BEST book I have read in 2017 so far! Behind Closed Doors was one of my favorite books and The Breakdown is even better. This book completely sucked me in from the beginning and I raced through every heart stopping, nail biting, jaw dropping twist and turn until the last page. I started this book before I went to bed and stayed up until the early morning hours finishing it in one sitting. Then the next day I started reading again from the beginning to see all of the hints and clues I missed.

The book starts out with a bad storm. Cass heads home in the treacherous weather, deciding to take a secluded path through the woods home. It is a risky move especially because as she continues down this empty path away from the main roads and other cars, the storm gets worse and Cass is struggling just to get home safely. As she continues on she sees a car she believes to be broken down on the side of the road and a woman inside alive. She pulls over briefly but when the woman doesn't get out or signal to Cass that she needs help, Cass continues back home safely. The next day the news reports that the woman was found dead. Cass starts to wonder what happened and if she was the last person to see the woman alive. But Cass suddenly starts forgetting everything and losing her memory after that night. What is actually true and what is in her head?

As Cass continues to mentally unravel the plot twists keep coming. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don't. You don't know who to trust, or if you can even trust Cass herself as her memory loss and paranoia increases. I am pretty good at figuring out "who did it" early on in most books but I never saw the final plot twist coming! This book will mess with your head and make you question your own sanity. A perfect psychological thriller! Trust me, this is an absolute MUST READ book! I dare you to start reading late at night and be able to put it down!

I could not wait to start reading this book. I was so happy when I found out that I had been approved to do so.

However, I think this one took way too long letting the reader know that Cass was freaking out over seeing her friend in the woods. I got it, I truly got it, pages and pages ago. And, it was pretty predictable. I was pretty sure what was going on very quickly and detested that character. However, what I thought and how the author ended the book were not exactly quite right. So, I do have to give the author an extra star for that.

That is not to say that I would not read another book by this author. I just think this one really didn't do it for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

B.A. Paris has quickly become an author to read just because she has written a book, much like Jane Green, Joshilyn Jackson or J.K. Rowling. If she writes it, I will buy it and read it. I was given a copy of Behind Closed Doors and loved it. It was an excellent novel. I quickly pre-ordered The Breakdown from the store as soon as I learned about it, but thought there was no way that book could be as good as her first. I was right. It was better. I read it in the car on the way to our vacation and the miles and the pages flew. The story started quickly and never let up. The plot was great, with many twists. But it was the characters that brought this story to life and made it so amazing. Two hours later, I closed the book but the story stayed with me. Excellent, excellent read. Highly recommend.

Wow! Did this book grab me and kept me coming back to it! I got it on a Friday from library and didn’t get chance to start it until Saturday – and finished it on Sunday afternoon! It was that good at hooking me in! I’m now on the ‘hold’ list for author’s other book when it comes back to the library.
Was it perfect? No but then not many books are to me anyway. I thought it dragged a little at times but I came to understand that IMHO, the author was “setting the stage” and she did a good job of it! The ending was satisfying and believable. One plot device was a bit of a stretch (having to do with a cell phone) but it did work.
Really enjoyed this book and recommend it for mystery and non-mystery fans alike.
OH - and love the clever title - meant more than one thing to me...

First of all, I would not compare to "Behind Closed Doors" because they are COMPLETELY different, which is high praise for B.A. Paris's first two novels.

This was a really fast, gripping read for me. I read it in about two days over vacation - so obviously I was intrigued! The beginning took a bit to get into, partly because I was tired, and partly because I was waiting for Behind Closed Doors Part 2.

However, once you get into it, you get INTO it. I kept racking my brain trying to figure out what was happening to Cass. I will admit she started to annoy me after a while just like she annoyed the people in her life. But with good reason, she knew something fishy was going on and kept racking her brain herself. It just got repetitive after a while.

The storyline is full of mystery and intrigue. The characters are well developed, and I definitely felt an emotional connection to Cass. The writing itself had a great flow and was easy to read - which was especially helpful toward the end when I couldn't put it down.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone. It's not scary (if you are worried about that). But a gripping theory where you don't know the truth until the very end. And then you can't put it down. I think most types of people and readers would enjoy this! I'm B.A. Paris's newest fan!

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

Captivating, menacing and intense!

This is a suspenseful thriller that highlights just how easily people can be psychologically and emotionally manipulated and how quickly things can spiral out of control.

It is, ultimately, a story about relationships, friendship, greed, jealousy, exploitation, deception, and murder.

The writing is crisp and clear. The characters are complex, secretive and unstable. And the plot, told through an unreliable narrator, builds nicely and has just the right of amount of tension, befuddlement, mystery, and authenticity.

This is the second novel I’ve read by Paris and although I didn't find this novel as dark and disturbing as her previous novel it is certainly just as engrossing, entertaining and enjoyable.

The follow-up to B.A. Paris' bestselling novel Behind Closed Doors is here, and its amazing! I've had this on preorder since the moment it was announced, and it was well worth the wait!
The Breakdown is told from the POV of Cass. She's a teacher in her mid-thirties, with the perfect husband, the perfect house, a lifelong best friend, and a sizable nest egg left by her mother. It seems that she has everything going for her, until, at the wrong place at the wrong time, she stops at what will minutes later turn out to be the scene of a murder. Its only later that she finds that the murdered woman was actually a friend of hers, and wracked with guilt, her life begins to unravel. Shaken by the murder, tormented by anonymous calls, and seemingly unable to remember the simplest things, Cass seems to be going mad.
With the murderer still on the loose, the harassing calls continuing, and her mind deteriorating, Cass feels terrified and helpless. Even her husband and best friend are starting to tire of her paranoia and forgetfulness. Until a bet in a bar changes everything.....

I could not put this book down! It was one twist right after the other! Cass is driving home from a dinner at a work friend's house and takes a short cut through the woods. It is pouring down the rain but there is a car parked on the side of the road. Cass stops but the driver makes no attempt to signal her that anything is wrong so Cass goes on home. The next morning, Cass finds out the woman is murdered. Cass is beside herself with guilt. Cass starts forgetting things. Her husband and best friend are worried about Cass as Cass's mom had died of early onset Alzheimers. Is Cass having issues because of the guilt or is it Alzheimers? It is a book of love, friendship, trust, and betrayal. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Slow start with a sluggish middle but a great ending. The middle is what prompted my 4 star rating.

Last night I updated my status for this book to 54% (around 10 pm-ish). It took me 4 days to get this far. Here, is where it really sucked me in. Turns out, I wasn't really quite done reading for the night and 3 hours later, I gobbled up that remaining 46%.

Needless to say, I'm a bit tired for work today but it was totally worth it. I enjoy Behind Closed Doors and will read Bring Me Back soon.

**Checked out from the public library**

I really enjoyed this book as I do enjoy the writing of this author. I read this book months ago and am so excited to finally be able to put up a review for this on release day. As with Paris' last book this is a psychological thriller and it is one that will keep you turning the pages until the end. The story is told from the perspective of a woman who has lost her mother due to early onset dementia and Cass is afraid that she will inherit this disease from her mother. She has not told her husband that she lost her mother to this and when she starts showing signs of it she does all she can to hide it from him. From there we are brought into her frightening world of not knowing what is going on, who people are, why things are happening and of course there is a murder of a friend of hers! All of these things combine to make this a great ride that you will easily enjoy and leave you wanting more. You can find my video review of this on my youtube channel- ReadingwithPugs

**Copy received through Netgalley for voluntary review.**

This book had its issues but I still really enjoyed it. It might be considered too suspenseful as the author used a lot of pages to describe Cass's breakdown. But stick with it. The ending is very satisfying. So much so that you won't mind the bit of monotony along the way.

I thought the "smoking gun" was a little too convenient and incredibly careless on the culprit's part. But it was still that enjoyable light bulb moment I love about mysteries.

This book really could have used an epilogue, in my opinion. That would have been the icing on the cake. But, overall, it was a good story that hooked me in and I'll be looking forward to more from this author. Well done.

...THE BREAKDOWN (great title) begins on a dark rainy night with an ill-advised shortcut home on a winding secluded road surrounded by woods, and the nightmare for Cass begins when she spots a lone woman in a car who on that same eerie night becomes a murder victim. (no spoiler here)

...From here, the story becomes intense when forgetfulness begins to overwhelm Cass and suspicious phone calls leave her feeling frightened, confused and unable to function normally....or knowing who to trust.

...While the storyline is an interesting one that grabbed my attention right from the start, (for me) a good portion of the story was predictable, and a bit monotonous, hence the 3 Star rating, but the wind-up....now that was excellent!

I am in love with anything written by B.A. Paris!! This book is Captivating!! Can witnessing an automobile breakdown on a dark, rainy night involving someone you casually knew cause you to have a mental breakdown because of the actions you took on that rainy night?? The title of this book definitely provokes an enigma of a "breakdown". A crafty thriller that will surely have you stunned at the end!! I thought I had this one figured out, I was so wrong!!

What a thriller if roller coaster ride! This was the first book I read by B.A. Paris but it certainly will not be my last. The story keeps the reader not only engaged but also excited to keep reading. I saw some reviews where people said although it was a great read it was a bit predictable. I must admit I didn't start piecing it together until more than 50% into the book and the ending still blew my mind. I really did love reading this and I'm sad it's over.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

First book I have ever read by this author but won't be the last. The book was creatively written so the main character was doing all the talking first person that is. Is our recently wedded wife going mad or has early dementia? Or is a murderer after her for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Those are two questions you will ask yourself as you read this thriller. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author threw a curve ball I didn't see coming. That's why I'm the reader and B.A. Paris is the famous author. Read it you won't be disappointed.

I'm only at 30% and I'm sick of it!!! Nobody can be this forgetful and she's just getting on my nerves at this point. I try to read these great psychological thrillers but not even halfway through the book the person just seems to do things that get on my nerves. I'll try to finish it and give another review (if I ever do) but I'm going to leave these psychological thrillers alone. I realize that I don't like them and this one isn't gripping me!!!!!
(le sigh) Why I do this to myself I don't know, but I feel like breaking down trying to finish this.

B.A. Paris debut book "Behind Closed Doors" is a 5-Star read hands-down, “The Breakdown” is her second book and she has done it again, wow just WOW! You will be hanging from the edge of your seat at page one all the way thru to the end! The story is riveting, suspenseful and simply hair raising. Narration by Georgia Maguire again is sheer perfection. I can only hope there is a 3rd collaboration featuring both these extremely talented ladies. MORE PLEASE!!! Highly recommended 5-Stars

How you react in one moment can change everything that follows, or so Cass thinks. A drive down a deserted road in bad weather creates a chain of events that she never expected. The people in her life—her husband Matthew, best friend Rachel, co-worker John, supervisor Mary, and even the husband of a woman who is killed all impact her life in different ways following the aftermath of a decision she made in that one fateful moment. It causes the reader to ask—“Who can you trust?”

B.A. Paris has once again taken readers on a roller coaster ride of psychological thrill as we follow the characters to find the answer to this question. Just when I thought I knew the answer, I was surprised yet again. I learned what you think is not always it what it seems.

Overall, I was kept intrigued and would happily recommend this book to others. This review was kept short to keep spoilers out. I would say to read it to experience the full effect.

I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

I loved B. A. Paris’s first book, and I was hoping that her second would live up to her debut..... I’m so glad that I was right!

I loved this book! I probably would have read it in one sitting had I not been in vacation in Arizona, busy hiking and what-not.

There were so many possibilities that I guessed could have been the outcome of this book, and although I had gotten pretty close, I was still blown away by the actual ending.

Of course, there were many surprises thrown in along the way as well. The way in which she tells the reader the twist was vert original as well!

In The Break Down, B A Paris creates a psychological thriller about a woman who fears she has become insane. Fear and panic dominate her life as she tries to convince her husband and friends that she is not impaired. Throughout the book, the reader is unsure what is happening until the surprise ending. Romanov CurseRomanov QuestHimmler'S MistressUltimate DutyGood Fortune's CurseAn Innocent Lie

The storm at the very first of the book gives this story an ominous beginning. And then the suspense just builds from there. The Breakdown had me questioning everything that was happening to Cass. Could she have prevented that woman's murder? Why was she forgetting things? Who was calling her all the time, creeping her out? Who was out to get her?

The suspense and drama kept me turning pages. Things are not always what they seem and then the ending. Love those surprise endings! This story was totally riveting and I inhaled it in record time!

I was completely blown away by this book. I really liked the author's first book, but as good as that was, this one was so much better. I have to admit, I kind of figured part of the mystery out at the beginning and the middle dragged a bit. But once I hit that incredibly, mind-blowing last quarter of this book, I could not even believe the words on the page! I'm sure I was gasping and reading with my mouth hanging open that last part. Just- WOW! A definite add to your TBR list if you are a fan of psychological thrillers. Can't wait for more from this author.

Disappointing.

So much of the story was wildly far fetched. I get why she didn't stop. I get why she didn't tell anyone but when it spirals out of control and she keeps the pointless secret I was so annoyed. It was a plot device that just made no sense and yet it's the crux of the story. I found this to be a frustrating read which was a letdown because her first novel was beyond masterful and ingenious.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in about 24 hours because throughout the entire book the wheels in my head were turning trying to solve the two mysteries, which I felt were not connected. Paris gave us just enough to put it together but not enough to solve it correctly. And when time came for all the pieces to fall together neatly, it was the best page turner. I couldn’t read it fast enough to get to the end of the book. Loved it.

I enjoyed The Breakdown. As I read through Cass Alexander's story, I was impressed with how well B.A.Paris wrote what we would call 'crazy' but for many is a sad reality of mental illness. There was a point where I felt it dragged and I was tired of the same plot line but I persisted. And... I'm so glad I did! I enjoyed the reveal. I enjoyed the fallout. A really good psychological thriller that had my mouth dropping and finally chuckling. Very good ending. Worth the patience through the buildup. Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC!

Absolutely fabulous. Wow! I couldn't put this book down and read it in one go. Is Cass going mad? Why is she so tired and forgetting everything. Surely she isn't getting Early Onset Dementia, like her mum! Or is there another sinister reason why things keep happening? A must read story.

B. A Paris has offered readers an entertaining but all too predictable novel. I was disappointed to have figured out the plot early in the first half of the book. That made it difficult for me to believe, faced with the same facts as I, the heroine was so very clueless. As I said, the book was enjoyable, just not riveting. I have enjoyed another book by B.A. Paris, which was why I picked up The Breakdown, and I would like to read another from the author. Perhaps this novel just wasn't for me, it happens.

Having read Behind Closed doors I looked forward to reading something new from B.A. Paris. She did not disappoint but somewhere in the middle I thought the pace slowed down a bit. The story did pick up speed again towards the end. The name of the book is dual purpose as you will see when you read it. I read the book in one sitting. This book is sure to become a best seller.
If you are a fan of thrillers then you must pick up this book as I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the copy.

The clues are so obvious and story so familiar you'll have guessed the ending within the first 20-30 pages. That makes reading any more a very frustrating endeavor. The whole thing kind of reads like an extended-version of those old "Minute Mysteries" puzzles from school. Plus, the crux of the book -- that the narrator should have heaps of guilt for not stopping her car in a rainstorm to help a woman who didn't seem to want or need any help -- is also frustrating.

Really well done thriller which is hard to review because of spolilers! You can debate Case' choices but you'll be sympathetic to her plight. Is she losing her mind? I really felt the tension for her. What about Matthew? Hmmm... I sort of guessed the identity of the killer but kept reading for the twists and turns and to find out how that would be revealed. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This one is worth your time. Highly plot driven and neatly written, it would be good for travel or the beach.

I received this book as an ARC and it was amazing. I loved the diabolical way in which Cass is slowly driven mad, and begins to doubt her own sanity. While this book didn't have the shocking ending that her first novel "Behind Closed Doors" did, the storyline and characters made it well worth the read. And let's face it, B.A. Paris touched on a fear that we all have had at one time or another. A great novel and I can't wait to read her next. She has a fan for life. #TheBreakdown #WhoCanYouTrust

I absolutely loved this book! I thought it was phenomenal. I have read B. A. Paris' book, Behind Closed Doors, and really thought that was great. But in my opinion, this one is so much better. This was a book I couldn't put down. I stayed up till after 2 in the morning because I just had to finish it. Sometimes when you read a book, you are disappointed with the ending. That was not the case with this one. It was great the whole way through. If you don't read it, you're the one missing out!

THE GOOD: Interesting plot
THE BAD: The story drags on and on with example after example of the main character's forgetfulness. The ending is good, if not a little sensational, but it's easy to figure out from early on. The characters are superficial and not believable.

Leave yourself plenty of time when you start this book, because once you start, you will not be able to put it down. Thankfully, I started it on a 7 hour plane ride! The perfect place to start and finish this excellent psychological suspense story. A thrill ride of a book that has you guessing just how much to believe of this unreliable narrator's story. Nicely done, Ms. Paris! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The best book I have read in a long time. Bravo! It grabs your attention and does not let you go, even when you think you know the villain, you will be surprised. The flawed and sometimes unreliable narrator is complex, yet she is so relatable and fascinating. It has been very hard for me to concentrate lately, but this book fixed that. Other suggestions: The Woods by Harlan Coben, anything by Chevy Stevens, The Nightingale by Kristian Hannah and the novel Defending Jacob. Happy reading!

This is an enjoyable story, having said that, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's debut novel. The author did a great job with building anticipation, suspense, and nail biting moments but they were often followed by a predictable trajectory. Predictability isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I was left feeling a little disappointed. I

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, my review has been voluntarily submitted.

I received this book as a part of the book club in SheSpeaksUp. This book was written amazingly. I felt as though I was the main character and following every thought, every action and wondering in every situation what I would do. I didn't expect some of the turns and then guessed some of them too. I was on my toes wanting to finish it in one setting but could not do so due to time constraints. I highly recommend this book. Ages 15 and under should seek parental advice first.

This was a really good thriller. While I enjoyed the author"s first novel, I felt this book was really superior. The plot was interesting and the tension really ratchets up throughout - this one is hard to put down. I appreciated that there were several good red herrings thrown in too, as it kept me guessing all the way to the end. I will be looking forward to the author's next thriller to see if she can top this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a page turner. Unbelievable what will be done for money or is it? And by who, or is it? I feel so bad for Cass. How would you handle things if you were in her situation? Have you ever forgotten something? I mean, who hasn’t? What would you think was happening to you? This book kept me thinking who could be doing these things? Wonder who you’ll think it was…….
I received this book as an ARC, and was asked to give my honest opinion, which I have.

I absolutely loved Behind Closed Doors and was a little leery of the author's follow-up novel. I had absolutely NO reason to be. This book was SO good!

Cass thinks she's having a breakdown and things just keep escalating until the very end. This book kept me on the tinder hooks the entire time and didn't disappoint.

I can't wait to see what Ms. Paris comes up with next.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

After reading Behind Closed DoorsI was excited for this, however it was soooo disappointing. The main character Cass was a frustrating, whiney,weak, woman who was annoyingly gullible and got tired and was in capable of doing a simple task or even making a decision....literally getting flustered over choosing what to have for breakfast...so getting a perspective from her or an intelligent inquiry into what was happening around her as the 'mystery' (and I use the term mystery VERY lightly) started to unfold was impossible....it was so frustrating to have to read through this woman's weak, needy perception. It was such a simple & obvious plot from start to finish and if it was not for the main character being such a baby it could have been over and done with in 50 pages. UGH.

Was quite disappointed and almost stopped reading. Decided to scan to see if I was correct. Yes I was. Almost out of the gate I knew. The lead character is boring and it is too repetitive. I felt like I could slap her and say wake up. I would say wake up 300 more times to give you the flavor of reading this book..same scenario over and over..the last two chapters are the best..but the lead character is still too clueless...

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I had high hopes going into this book but unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me. I liked the premise of the story and I liked the beginning but I just found the whole in between to be long and tedious and I just wanted it to end because you know it's not going to be the dementia thing in the end . So, not the worst thing I've read but certainly not the best either.

This was the first book I've read by B. A. Paris. I will definitely watch for more of her novels. I was drawn in to Cass and her deteriorating memory and how it affected every part of her existence and relationships with her husband and friends. This was a thriller without the gore, which made it much more enjoyable for me. If you, like me, don't like the language and horrifying details found in some thrillers, I would definitely recommend this book!

B. A. Paris is my new favorite author after reading this book as well as "Behind Closed Doors". I am usually a slow reader and take a couple weeks to finish a book, yet I absolutely cannot put B. A. Paris' books down once I start them and am done within four days which is not my usual style. The suspense inherent is always compelling along with the twists of plot. She writes with such a smooth writing style making the read fast-going along with the suspense, but she doesn't stint on the attention to detail and you don't get lost with characters and scenes because everything just flows.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Breakdown, though I have to say I thought I had the entire plot figured out almost from the beginning. I kept reading because Paris is a good writer, and I wanted to see if I was right. I was except for one twist! I also thought a lot of the writing was repetitive before we get to the reveal in the last 100 pages. But I read it in one day, so in spite of all I said here, I liked it very much.

I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors. It included a sneak peek of the first few chapters of The Breakdown at the end. By the end of the sneak peek, I already had a pretty good theory about what happened. I got the book anyway because I thought I might be surprised. Sadly, it turned out to be almost exactly what I had predicted. Disappointing for a book in this genre.

Also, it seems strange that the husband in both of her books convinced other people that the wife is losing it. It was interesting for one novel, but felt a bit tired in the second.

I was disappointed with this book,Behind Closed Doors was so amazing. The main character was very annoying for over half of the book. I mean, get a grip woman and stop being a victim. I will continue to buy Miss Paris books because when you write a 5 star book the first time, it is hard to write another one. Once you reach the top there is only one way to go now but I know she will write another 5 star book again!

I'm giving this novel 4 stars because I enjoyed the story and it was easy to read, the characters were visible to the reader and I think it would make a good movie, however, the main character became a little annoying with her increased fears and inability to talk about them to her husband or anyone else. I actually found myself tiring of her after awhile. I was able to figure out the whodunit part quickly on and I thought the ending, although what the reader wanted, left me a thinking there should have been another twist to the plot. I kept thinking about Alex and did he have a part since his phone came up as unlisted as well. It seemed to end too quickly when it took the entire book to get to the end and then it just stopped abruptly. I wanted one more chapter just to make things more clear.

At the end of the first chapter, I knew who the bad guy was. The characters are not dimensional at all, they're really just names. When we learn the details of what is actually going on, it's all highly implausible. I really don't understand why this is a 4 star book. Have readers standards dropped by this much?

Really well done thriller which is hard to review because of spolilers! You can debate Case' choices but you'll be sympathetic to her plight. Is she losing her mind? I really felt the tension for her. What about Matthew? Hmmm... I sort of guessed the identity of the killer but kept reading for the twists and turns and to find out how that would be revealed. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This one is worth your time. Highly plot driven and neatly written, it would be good for travel or the beach.

I received this book as an ARC and it was amazing. I loved the diabolical way in which Cass is slowly driven mad, and begins to doubt her own sanity. While this book didn't have the shocking ending that her first novel "Behind Closed Doors" did, the storyline and characters made it well worth the read. And let's face it, B.A. Paris touched on a fear that we all have had at one time or another. A great novel and I can't wait to read her next. She has a fan for life. #TheBreakdown #WhoCanYouTrust

I absolutely loved this book! I thought it was phenomenal. I have read B. A. Paris' book, Behind Closed Doors, and really thought that was great. But in my opinion, this one is so much better. This was a book I couldn't put down. I stayed up till after 2 in the morning because I just had to finish it. Sometimes when you read a book, you are disappointed with the ending. That was not the case with this one. It was great the whole way through. If you don't read it, you're the one missing out!

THE GOOD: Interesting plot
THE BAD: The story drags on and on with example after example of the main character's forgetfulness. The ending is good, if not a little sensational, but it's easy to figure out from early on. The characters are superficial and not believable.

Leave yourself plenty of time when you start this book, because once you start, you will not be able to put it down. Thankfully, I started it on a 7 hour plane ride! The perfect place to start and finish this excellent psychological suspense story. A thrill ride of a book that has you guessing just how much to believe of this unreliable narrator's story. Nicely done, Ms. Paris! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The best book I have read in a long time. Bravo! It grabs your attention and does not let you go, even when you think you know the villain, you will be surprised. The flawed and sometimes unreliable narrator is complex, yet she is so relatable and fascinating. It has been very hard for me to concentrate lately, but this book fixed that. Other suggestions: The Woods by Harlan Coben, anything by Chevy Stevens, The Nightingale by Kristian Hannah and the novel Defending Jacob. Happy reading!

This is an enjoyable story, having said that, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's debut novel. The author did a great job with building anticipation, suspense, and nail biting moments but they were often followed by a predictable trajectory. Predictability isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I was left feeling a little disappointed. I

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, my review has been voluntarily submitted.

I received this book as a part of the book club in SheSpeaksUp. This book was written amazingly. I felt as though I was the main character and following every thought, every action and wondering in every situation what I would do. I didn't expect some of the turns and then guessed some of them too. I was on my toes wanting to finish it in one setting but could not do so due to time constraints. I highly recommend this book. Ages 15 and under should seek parental advice first.

This was a really good thriller. While I enjoyed the author"s first novel, I felt this book was really superior. The plot was interesting and the tension really ratchets up throughout - this one is hard to put down. I appreciated that there were several good red herrings thrown in too, as it kept me guessing all the way to the end. I will be looking forward to the author's next thriller to see if she can top this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a page turner. Unbelievable what will be done for money or is it? And by who, or is it? I feel so bad for Cass. How would you handle things if you were in her situation? Have you ever forgotten something? I mean, who hasn’t? What would you think was happening to you? This book kept me thinking who could be doing these things? Wonder who you’ll think it was…….
I received this book as an ARC, and was asked to give my honest opinion, which I have.

I absolutely loved Behind Closed Doors and was a little leery of the author's follow-up novel. I had absolutely NO reason to be. This book was SO good!

Cass thinks she's having a breakdown and things just keep escalating until the very end. This book kept me on the tinder hooks the entire time and didn't disappoint.

I can't wait to see what Ms. Paris comes up with next.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

After reading Behind Closed DoorsI was excited for this, however it was soooo disappointing. The main character Cass was a frustrating, whiney,weak, woman who was annoyingly gullible and got tired and was in capable of doing a simple task or even making a decision....literally getting flustered over choosing what to have for breakfast...so getting a perspective from her or an intelligent inquiry into what was happening around her as the 'mystery' (and I use the term mystery VERY lightly) started to unfold was impossible....it was so frustrating to have to read through this woman's weak, needy perception. It was such a simple & obvious plot from start to finish and if it was not for the main character being such a baby it could have been over and done with in 50 pages. UGH.

Was quite disappointed and almost stopped reading. Decided to scan to see if I was correct. Yes I was. Almost out of the gate I knew. The lead character is boring and it is too repetitive. I felt like I could slap her and say wake up. I would say wake up 300 more times to give you the flavor of reading this book..same scenario over and over..the last two chapters are the best..but the lead character is still too clueless...

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I had high hopes going into this book but unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me. I liked the premise of the story and I liked the beginning but I just found the whole in between to be long and tedious and I just wanted it to end because you know it's not going to be the dementia thing in the end . So, not the worst thing I've read but certainly not the best either.

This was the first book I've read by B. A. Paris. I will definitely watch for more of her novels. I was drawn in to Cass and her deteriorating memory and how it affected every part of her existence and relationships with her husband and friends. This was a thriller without the gore, which made it much more enjoyable for me. If you, like me, don't like the language and horrifying details found in some thrillers, I would definitely recommend this book!

B. A. Paris is my new favorite author after reading this book as well as "Behind Closed Doors". I am usually a slow reader and take a couple weeks to finish a book, yet I absolutely cannot put B. A. Paris' books down once I start them and am done within four days which is not my usual style. The suspense inherent is always compelling along with the twists of plot. She writes with such a smooth writing style making the read fast-going along with the suspense, but she doesn't stint on the attention to detail and you don't get lost with characters and scenes because everything just flows.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Breakdown, though I have to say I thought I had the entire plot figured out almost from the beginning. I kept reading because Paris is a good writer, and I wanted to see if I was right. I was except for one twist! I also thought a lot of the writing was repetitive before we get to the reveal in the last 100 pages. But I read it in one day, so in spite of all I said here, I liked it very much.

I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors. It included a sneak peek of the first few chapters of The Breakdown at the end. By the end of the sneak peek, I already had a pretty good theory about what happened. I got the book anyway because I thought I might be surprised. Sadly, it turned out to be almost exactly what I had predicted. Disappointing for a book in this genre.

Also, it seems strange that the husband in both of her books convinced other people that the wife is losing it. It was interesting for one novel, but felt a bit tired in the second.

I'd give this book 10 stars if it were an option. I absolutely did not want to put this book down, even though I had to work, be a mom and a wife. I was drawn in from the very beginning. As the book went along, I started feeling as if I were in Cass' shoes, having mental breakdowns. I never saw the ending coming. By far the most thrilling book I've read lately!

I was disappointed with this book,Behind Closed Doors was so amazing. The main character was very annoying for over half of the book. I mean, get a grip woman and stop being a victim. I will continue to buy Miss Paris books because when you write a 5 star book the first time, it is hard to write another one. Once you reach the top there is only one way to go now but I know she will write another 5 star book again!

I'm giving this novel 4 stars because I enjoyed the story and it was easy to read, the characters were visible to the reader and I think it would make a good movie, however, the main character became a little annoying with her increased fears and inability to talk about them to her husband or anyone else. I actually found myself tiring of her after awhile. I was able to figure out the whodunit part quickly on and I thought the ending, although what the reader wanted, left me a thinking there should have been another twist to the plot. I kept thinking about Alex and did he have a part since his phone came up as unlisted as well. It seemed to end too quickly when it took the entire book to get to the end and then it just stopped abruptly. I wanted one more chapter just to make things more clear.

At the end of the first chapter, I knew who the bad guy was. The characters are not dimensional at all, they're really just names. When we learn the details of what is actually going on, it's all highly implausible. I really don't understand why this is a 4 star book. Have readers standards dropped by this much?

The plot was so, so, predictable -- about 1/3 of the way through the book, it became very clear who were the "bad guys." Any suspense disappeared.
It was also extremely repetitive, and therefore, very boring. I listened to the Audible version, and the narration was great.
I listened to an earlier book by this author and found it really enjoyable. Unfortunately, "The Breakdown" was nothing but a disappointment.

So I started the book last Sunday and could be barely get through a chapter the few nights I tried but then I decided last night I did want to know what happened so I persisted and it was worth it. Even once you know what's happening you have to finish because the twist at the end is good. I only gave 4 stars because the beginning was brutally boring.

After devouring Behind Closed Doors, I was thrilled to receive an ARC for this book. I was not disappointed. After the author lures you into the start of the novel, the rest is a roller coaster ride of frustration, fear and sheer terror at what doubting your own mind can do to you and what evil lurks in even the most trusted corners of your life. Wow. I loved it. This was a book to feast on and I can't wait for this author's next work.

** spoiler alert **

This story is crafted so well, and kept me so engaged, that it was hard to put the book down. The entire time, I felt so bad for Cass - what must it be like to forget things like how to use the washing machine or the microwave? Terrifying, I imagine. To feel like you're losing your mind, and then to find out you were being gas-lighted all along by the two people you love most in the world?

I felt vindicated right along with her when the truth came out and she got some measure of revenge on her husband and best friend - both of whom are just terrible, terrible people and deserve every ounce of it. In truth, the actual "murder mystery" part of the story was entirely secondary for me, as I was completely wrapped up in what was happening to Cass.

I really enjoyed this book! I think at some parts, I felt like I was the crazy one and that was perfect as the narrator was Cass. At some point, you can figure out what is happening to her but there is still that twist at the end. I was a little shocked when the murderer was revealed. Cass, Matthew and Rachel's characters were written wonderfully. Good book!

The Breakdown is the latest story from B. A. Paris. I'm sorry to say that to me it was a huge disappointment. I loved Behind Closed Doors, the previous story by this author. Too easy for the reader to figure out what is happening in this story and it makes you want to shake some sense into our "heroine". Some twists at the end leave the reader satisfied. I was given an early copy to review.

4.5 stars. Wow! I loved this book!! Even though I sort of figured out the who part of it... the last 100-125 pages were incredible! I could not put it down until I finished! Whew! It was a ride. I read Behind Closed Doors and loved it as well. I already can't wait for B. A. Paris to put out a new book and this is an ARC so unfortunately I guess I have a while to wait. It will be on pins and needles that I await a new book.

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.

This was an amazing book. It was quick paced and filed with pages of anxiety and anticipation. I could not put this book down. B.A. Paris did a tremendous job bringing this story to life. A bit predictable but somehow still enjoyable. Loved the ending. So glad i picked this one up.

The premise of this book sucked me in. And for the first 100 pages or so, I was pretty intrigued. But then, the same things kept happening for another 100 pages. I guessed the entire plot midway through. I'm not upset I read the book. It was good. But it won't be such a mystery to those familiar with the genre.

I assume Ms. Paris decided to ride on the coat-tails of her first smash novel, thinking that lightning will certainly strike again in the same place! Frankly, I was very disappointed in this storyline. Cass and Matt, newlyweds, apparently have the perfect life until Cass starts exhibiting symptoms of dementia and fixating on a murder that happened not too far from their house. She suddenly forgets how to operate the clothes washer, microwave and coffeemaker, among other things, Is it so hard for the average reader to assume that her beloved Matt is behind all these shenanigans! How could a washing machine be replaced with another model without Cass realizing this! Not in my house!! Too many negatives, while all the time Cass is scaring herself silly imagining the murderer hunting her down. I found it hard to believe that a French student could pick-pocket Rachel's cellphone, which eventually ends up in Cass's hands, tipping her off to all the "bad things" that have been happening to her. I am so tired of authors writing about the main character's "memory loss". This is being repeated in so many books of late,. Time to get original, authors--do away with the overkill of amnesia, memory loss, unfaithful husbands, and "nice cups of tea." Brrr!!

I'll be honest. Initially I thought Meh while reading most of this book. But then the last part of the book came into play and BAM that is where the magic happened. I seem to be reading a lot of books like this lately. I found myself awake in the middle of the night and thinking about this book. While I initially thought Meh and wondered why all the high star ratings...it was the last part of the book that really changed things for me. Then I began to see the brilliance of the storytelling and plot twists. B.A. Paris wove her story brilliantly until the very end.

Also can I just say that the title "The Breakdown" is perfect for this book. Is she referring to a diminishing mental status of the main character Cass? The breakdown of her marriage? Or the breakdown of the murdered woman's car?

Cass decided to drive through the woods one dark rainy night. Even after her husband asked her not to drive that way home. The rain was coming down hard and she decided the best way home was to take the short cut even if it did go through the woods. She sees a car parked on the side of the road and pulls over in front of the car to see if the other driver needs assistance. Due to the heavy rain, she decides not to get out of her car. She sees a woman inside the car who does not appear to be in any distress. Ultimately she decides to leave and goes home. The next day she learns that a woman has been murdered on that very road in her car. She begins to have "trouble" coping after she realizes that she may have been one of the last people to see the woman alive. What makes things worse is that she eventually learns that she knows the woman and once had lunch with her. Guilt wears away at her and impacts her day to day life.

Then strange things begin to happen to her. She appears to be losing her memory. She is forgetting things and worries that she has early onset dementia just like her Mother. Plus, she is getting strange calls which she believes is coming from the Murderer. Packages are showing up at her home, her belongings are moved. Is she being stalked? Is she exhibiting symptoms of dementia? Her husband takes her to a doctor and she is prescribed medicine which seems to make things worse. She can't remember if she took her medication. She can't recall if she ordered the items being delivered to her home. Just what exactly is going on and is the Murderer toying with her or is she slowly losing her grip on reality.

From the beginning, I had my suspicions. I was right on the person but not on the reason why. Plus there was more going on behind closed doors (get it? Behind Closed Doors was the Author's other book.)? What really worked was the ending. I will admit, I thought that Cass seemed to pull of out her drug induced haze very fast but I guess revelations will do that to a person. Nothing perks one up like a shot of reality and truth.

This book went from Meh psychological thriller to a nicely done psychological thriller for me. If you enjoyed Behind Closed Doors, I believe you will enjoy this book as well. Don't give up on it in the beginning. Keep reading and decide for yourself.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

B. A. Paris is a master at this! At scaring me, I mean. At making me second – and third – and fourth – guess. The Breakdown is the second book I’ve read by B. A. Paris, and it’s just as exciting as Behind Closed Doors.

The story starts on a rainy night, when Cass takes the shortcut home through the woods, even though her husband has warned that it could be dangerous. With just minutes left until she’s at their house, she sees a car stopped on the side of the road with a woman sitting alone inside. Has the car broken down? Does she need help? Cass waits for a moment, but as the rain crashes down, she soon continues on. When the news reports the next morning that a woman was killed in the woods, Cass can’t stop thinking about it. Pained by guilt, she has been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code to the house. What she can’t forget is the woman she might have saved. . .and that maybe the killer saw her. Then the silent phone calls start, and the feeling that someone is watching her.

The Breakdown just grabs you and won’t let go. It starts out with Cass agonizing over what she could have or should have done differently. Then she starts losing control, forgetting things and seeming more and more agitated confused. And then the phone calls start, and she obsesses over them. She’s sure someone is watching her and that she is in danger, but no one will believe her. They are concerned and worried about her, but they don’t believe her, and she can’t bring herself to tell them about leaving the woman in the woods. And the more confused Cass gets the harder it is for her to even believe herself.

At some point I almost stopped caring about what happens next, it just has to happen soon because I can’t stand the suspense. It’s not a contest or brain exercise about whether I’m right or smart enough to figure it out. It’s a thrill ride. And a thrill ride it is, like the carousel in the movies that goes out of control, spinning faster and faster. Stop! Or throw all the people off. Just make it stop spinning because I can’t stand not knowing. I want to see somebody get caught, find out who is doing this. But if someone is doing this to Cass and it’s not just her imagination, then that is almost too awful to imagine. How could someone be so cruel, so evil? What has she done to deserve it? And at what point will they stop?

The story is fast-paced, easy to read, and hard to put down. The characters are likeable, or almost likeable, or maybe they just fit in so well you don’t even pay much attention. They are just there, part of her life, and why would they want to see Cass come to harm. So whom can Cass trust? Or is the she paranoid one? At times I thought of the movies Midnight Lace or Notorious, and then thought no, can’t be like that, wait, is it, yes, no . . . back and forth right up until the end.

The issue of the breakdown itself and her actions, without any sinister happenings (or imaginings) is another fright all unto itself. Who among us hasn’t done or not done something that we instantly regret, but there is no way to absolve ourselves without exposing just how horrible we are. And we can’t make this situation right, ever. We are guilty and there’s no way to rid ourselves of the guilt.

As with Behind Closed Doors, it’s almost impossible to say much about this story without spoilers. So suffice it to say I was engaged from start to finish. A very satisfying read with the perfect ending. When I put the book down I had a smile on my face and said, “Yes!” And once again I eagerly await the next book from B. A. Paris.

What a fun mystery! I had a hard time putting it down. I just finished and am already looking forward to reading another of Paris' books. It was so well written and so cleverly organized that it was a pleasure to read from start to finish. Mysteries often have twists and turns, but this one was like a roller coaster ride. I felt I was hanging on for dear life. The suspense just didn't let up. The clues were so cleverly crafted that I was kept guessing throughout the book. There were lots of plausible red herrings, and I was led astray numerous times and surprised by the truth that came out in the end. This is really a mystery done right.
I don't want to spoil the surprise for you but I will tell you this. The main character, Cass, while driving through the woods at night during a storm, sees a woman in a car by the side of the road and is too frightened to leave her car to see if she needs help. There is no cell phone service in the woods so she can't call for help. Then when she gets home, she forgets to call police about it. She feels very guilty the next day after she hears that this woman has been brutally murdered.
Her mother had early onset dementia and she fears that she may be starting to experience the symptoms of confusion and memory loss too. She begins receiving mysterious calls from a blocked number, and when she answers, there is only silence. This frightens her even more and she wonders if the killer might have seen her that night and is now menacing her with these calls. The scene of the murder is very near her home, so she is afraid he knows where she lives. This fear, combined with her guilt over not helping the murdered woman, sends her into a state of panic and stress, and her life begins to spin out of control. She is a bit dippy, and not a stickler for the truth. She begins lying to cover her guilt. Then she has to continue lying to cover up previous lies, and chaos ensues. You'll have to read the book to find out the rest. I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much.

Highly recommended. A real treat.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Although the plot bears an undeniable resemblance to a certain classic Ingrid Bergman film, the author has done such a good job of modernizing it that it’s possible to put that aside. The heroine’s anxiety is palpable and I found myself drinking too much coffee while I read this book. Great psychological thriller, would be great for a plane ride. I tore through it.

I absolutely could not put this book down! Full of twists and turns, it almost makes you question your own sanity. Cass has been having memory problems lately. Her mother had dementia, so her biggest fear is that she has early onset dementia. Throw in guilt, possible paranoia, and stress, and you've got the possible beginnings of a breakdown. Highly recommend!

I COULD NOT put this book down. It was so good I don't even know how to convey how good it was. I'm not ashamed to say I lost a lot of sleep finishing this book because I literally could not pull myself away from it. This is by far one of my favorite mystery books. It's fast paced, witty, and literally you have no idea what the ending is going to be. SO so damn good.