Wow another fab book by B A Paris, just wish I could give it 20 stars!! Loved the twists at the end I did not see them coming. This is a great book, well written and very addictive I didn't want to put it down.
A killer is on the loose, Jane knew the female who was murdered and is then convinced the killer is out to get her too. Strange things keep happening. Husband Matthew is very supportive when she also starts to show signs of early onset dementia.
Read this book you won't be disappointed.

Compelling story with a real twist.

I enjoyed this book and read it in a couple of sitting. It built up the suspense very well although I felt that the core twist to the story was telegraphed a bit too early and I felt sure I knew what was going on.

My expectations were high after behind closed doors and I was so excited to read the breakdown....I don't think it started with as much promise or drama but it was an amazing read and a book I devoured in 24 hours!!! A very well written book with the twists and turns and emotional drama which kept me hooked! Would def recommend!!!!

I read this over a couple of nights, it kept my interest and i was compelled to find out what would happen. As psychological thrillers go it has a good story line picking up on the effect of guilt, the fears faced around illness and a dose of threat. The story is told from Cass's perspective. Cass fails to stop and help a fellow motorist who gets murdered shortly afterwards. At the mercy of a failing memory Cass then begins to receive menacing phone calls, she is guilt ridden from her failure to assist the victim and it appears that she may indeed be the next victim. During the middle of the book, whilst I had sympathy with the daily issues that Cass was facing, I did begin to lose some patience waiting for the story to move on. It did then move on, but at such a speed that the ending felt a little abrupt and rushed. Notwithstanding that, it was an enjoyable read that kept me turning pages. I didn't guess the whole of the end which is a real plus.

Wow, another brilliant book by BA Paris! Another one of those ones where you haven't got a clue who to trust and not to trust. In fact it had me feeling a bit paranoid by the end, and very empathetic with the main character Cass. Thank you for giving me the chance to pre read this one, I loved it and will recommend it highly!

A truly excellent book. The emotional turmoil of the main character as she battles fear & self-doubt is wonderfully portrayed. Well thought out, well written & a definite must read.

This is a compelling read. It is an unusual story with every element exploited to the full. It may centre on a murder but it is far superior to traditional murder stories. The lead character appears to have psychological problems and these are described in a very convincing way. Few readers are likely to guess the outcome of the story. It is also well written with very credible characters.

A slow burner for me. Cass is a sympathetic by slightly irritating character in the beginning of this story, very fragile and susceptible to intimidation and manipulation, but from about a third of the way in I was hooked! My feelings did a complete 180 and I was right there with her, willing her to overcome her fears and beat these people who are harassing her!
Not a thriller as such but a great mystery something that hit very, very close to home.
Would recommend to everyone.
Will post review on my blog, on amazon and on twitter nearer to the release date.

Having loved Behind Closed Doors (in fact, it made it into my Top Ten Reads in 2015), I was a little nervous that the author’s second novel might not be quite as impressive. However, fear not book lovers as The Breakdown is yet another cracker!

I love books that don’t have many characters, as I find it easier to keep track of a few characters, and it also gives the author the ability to focus on developing each of those characters. I really liked the mix of characters in this book. I felt myself connect with Cass very early on, due to our shared memory issues. At times I wondered who was more confused, Cass or me. Due to my own short term memory problems, I sometimes struggled to remember the things Cass kept forgetting, and at one point I was tempted to write a list for us both to keep track of things.

There I was happily enjoying the story at a comfortable pace, feeling somewhat unnerved, paranoid, not knowing who to trust and sick with worry and guilt, when all of a sudden, BOOM! The story takes an unexpected turn and the pace accelerates so fast, I think I may have forgotten to breathe again. I was completely glued to my Kindle screen for the later part of the book. Karma at its best. Absolutely loved it!

If you enjoy psychological thrillers this is a must read book!

I loved the first book and this second title by this author did not disappoint. Please keep writing BA Paris, these books are great!

WOW !! The Breakdown had me totally involved from the beginning .This is a wonderful psychological thriller ,full of twists and turns and a touch of paranoia !! I loved the characters they felt very real ,how can people be so cruel to each other ? I particularly loved the ending which I didn't guess !! Brilliant 10 stars !!!

Cass leaves a party in the middle of a violent storm one summers evening. Desperate to get home, she drives her little mini down a shortcut through a winding country road that cuts through woods and immediately regrets her choice. Spotting a car in a layby with a woman inside, she stops to see if everything is OK but due to the torrential rain and the fact that the woman doesn't get out or flash her lights, Cass takes the decision to drive on assuming that she doesn't need help. It is a decision that will haunt her from that night on, as the next morning it is all over the news that a woman has been found murdered in her car down that very road.

Plagued by guilt at her decision, Cass descends into a state of stress and anxiety which seems to result in short-term memory loss, scaring her to death as her mother recently died of early onset dementia. Strange things start happening: conversations are forgotten, online purchases she can't remember making turn up, guests she can't remember inviting arrive. And then begin the silent calls...

Watching Cass spiral further out of control this leaves the reader to guess whether she is having a breakdown or whether someone is trying to break her. Is she being paranoid or are her fears founded?

This is the first book I've read by this author so I came to it with no expectations (actually, if I'm totally honest, I half expected it to be fairly mediocre and similar to the masses out there at the moment, but I was wrong). The Breakdown was actually a pretty gripping read, and one that kept me guessing and on my toes throughout. The reveal was very cleverly done and had me hooked firmly in it clutches as I raced towards the end. A real page-turner.

Following on from the bestselling debut ''Behind Closed Doors'' must have been a bit daunting for B.A. Paris, but I think ''The Breakdown'' is a worthy successor.

The whole introduction of the storm-ridden trip through the woods was eerie and suspense-filled. The storm providing the perfect background for the terror that is about to be unleashed on Cass. Suffering from apparent memory lapses Cass is seemingly unravelling throughout, edging on a breakdown herself and I must admit that even I was doubting what I'd read that she said or did. I kept having to remind myself to pay attention to what was said to her and what she said to others and this in turn meant that I doubted lots of the people surrounding her. Just who could we trust?

These doubts were then coupled by Cass not telling the truth about that night, about what she saw and what she did (or didn't do). I do accept that she was ridden with guilt but I don't know why Cass found it hard to admit she'd seen 'The Breakdown' even to her husband Matthew, and so I was a little frustrated by her. This frustration then seemed to be echoed by others who grew increasingly confused by her behaviour - it all became a vicious circle with Cass in the centre becoming beaten down by worry.

It was easy to see how anxious and confused she was and whilst I did suspect what was happening to her in parts, it didn't dampen my enjoyment of the well-crafted mystery. Neither could the fact that I couldn't quite keep up with the timeframe; I'm putting this down to a deliberate ploy, as I got the sense of time just slipping away. I suppose this was a good metaphor for the sense of disquiet and uncertainty Cass was suffering from.

''The Breakdown'' is a thoroughly good read which has enough twists and turns to keep you always on the backfoot. A captivating mystery that will keep you on-edge throughout.

BA Paris has done it again - another page turning unputdownable book - please see ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib2FEhesxjQ FOR my full thoughts !

I find myself now reading all these great reviews and I wish I let myself enjoy this book more.
All in all, this is a very well written, suspenseful, psychological thriller. I just couldn’t get over a few minor plot intricacies that just didn’t gel for me.

I’ll be honest here, I battled with Cass’s behaviour from the get go. One of the cornerstones of the plot is that she didn’t share that she saw the victim on the night of her murder, with either of the two people that she apparently cared for the most. Initially it was portrayed that this lie of omission was based on the premise that she was afraid her husband would be upset that she didn't listen to him, and then later it was due to overwhelming guilt. I mean come on, anyone would have discussed the situation for the sake of the bigger picture, and anyone would have gone straight to the cops because not doing so would put more people in danger (including herself).

Oh and to contradict this behaviour, we are informed that she admitted immediately to a stranger that she didn't work at a company whose party she had just gate crashed???

I do however feel that by the end of the story these inconsistencies were justified. We only learn much later that her very being had already been compromised, so I suppose any type of behaviour could be justified. And aren’t most psychological thrillers based on lies of omission or averted admissions that we have to live with as they are crucial to the story. Regardless, at the time this did frustrate me.

Anyway, the concept was great, the writing brilliant. I just felt slightly let down when it came to Cass’s decisions at times. Additionally the ending was rolled out superbly.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin UK for a copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a gripping read. The tension was established right at the start with the storm lashing around on Cass's drive home. This tension is maintained throughout to the end as Cass deals with her concerns about her mental health. I would not wish to write too much in the review in case it worked as a spoiler so will comment mainly on the characterisation which I thought was superb. I certainly empathised with the main character who shared a profession and maternal health issues with myself. I also thought the setting was well done, both the house itself and the surrounding woods and villages. A nasty, but all too believable tale and I shall certainly read more by the author.

Having read and enjoyed Behind Closed doors, I was eagerly awaiting this next book.
If like me, you like to read two or three chapters at bedtime over a week or so, this book definitely won't fit the bill!! I started this book in the morning while waiting for a delivery, and was absorbed from page one and became totally engrossed as I read on. When the inevitable knock on the door came, I shot out of my skin! I think I read this book with my eyebrows raised, my jaw dropped and the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Never before have I read a book so quickly - it was riveting. Definitely the best book I've read to date.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for approving my request.

Ahhh so good!
I always find it particularly tricky to review thrillers to absolutely avoid any spoilers which is imperative to allow the book to speak for itself and astound each reader as they journey through.
Needless to say this is a must read; a breathtaking, brilliant piece of twisted narrative that grips you right to the end.

Cass is a happily married school teacher. After a tough time looking after her mother, she is now beginning to enjoy life with her doting husband and the support of her long time friend, Rachel.

Matthew is happily married to Cass and works for the oil rigs. He appears to be the kind and considerate husband.

After a night out with her colleagues at the end of term, Cass is caught in a storm. Visibility is very poor through the heavy downpour. Although, she has been warned to stick to the main roads, she is worried about having an accident and takes the treacherous country road. She notices a car parked in a lay by and stops to see if the driver is in need of assistance. Only, the driver doesn't get out of her car or shows any sign of distress. Cass makes an informed decision to drive on and send for help when she gets home.

The next morning, the breaking news is of the murder of a young woman in the same lay by. Cass is shaken up on learning the news and finds out later on that it's someone that she knows. She becomes even more distressed whilst experiencing the most unusual and worrying chain of events. She is also riddled with guilt, constantly thinking if only.......

These experiences become more and more frequent and she becomes more and more distressed, worrying about her sanity. At least she has Matthew and Rachel for support! As luck would have it, she stumbles upon some totally baffling and upsetting information which might shed light on the murder and her own dilemma.

This novel is very well paced. The characters are very well portrayed. It's full of suspense, mystery and angst. Although a little predictable in places, the revelation at the end is just Wow! I didn't see that one coming. Totally worth reading and would appeal to lovers of Psychological Thrillers.

I was kindly issued with a complimentary eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.