Behind Closed Doors was a brilliant debut and this fine novel isn't far behind; the only thing that stops me awarding the full five stars is that certain devices used in the plot are becoming a little too commom in psychological thrillers, such as characters dependent on pills, forgetting details of their lives, unsure whether things happening to them are self-inflicted. Having said that the story grips from the start and the book is a real page-turner with many plot twists.

I posted a review to my YouTube channel - linked below

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris is a contemporary psychological thriller and what a fabulous read it is. I was gripped from the start to end. With heart racing, I read on, trying to guess the outcome.. but failed.
The Breakdown is a clever read as it can be seen on two levels, literal and imagined. Written in the first person, the reader can easily see themselves as the main protagonist. Questioning ones sanity as the action unfolds, the reader wonders what is real and what is imagined? And whose sanity is intact?
B.A. Paris has an intricately constructed plotline. As the book progresses, the reader becomes more embroiled in the action. Home, that should be a safe haven becomes more and more terrifying. Who can be trusted? Where does the truth lie?
There are the themes of guilt and trust. In a world that is becoming more shaky, who can one confide in? Guilt can eat away at ones peace of mind. The past cannot be changed. The guilt needs to be dealt with. Confession is good for the soul but who can be told the truth?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Breakdown. It was my first forage into the genre of psychological thriller. It is not a book to be read alone. B.A. Paris is a marvellous new author and I shall definitely be seeking out more by this author.
A cracking tale. More please.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This is a fantastic book with many unexpected twists and turns. Couldn't put it down, read in two sittings. I would definitely recommend reading this book

THE BREAKDOWN is a thoroughly engrossing read. Having loved the intensity of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, I was anxious to see what BA Paris had in store for us this time. It definitely didn't disappoint with its intensity. This time, the illness causing the protagonist's lack of memory and a fateful night when she doesn't stop to help someone on the side of the road who is later murdered: and turns out to be someone she knows, creates all the right ingredients for paranoia. The guilt eats away at Cass, and she fears she was seen by the murderer and will be their next victim. With only her husband, best friend and colleague to help her, Cass feels helpless as her memory deteriorates further. We really feel Cass's claustrophobia as she spirals out of control, and it's so satisfying to see her regain it when the final twist hits.

I loved BCD and waited eagerly for this and wasn't disappointed. I loved Cass and felt right there with her through the twists and turns of this book.

HAUNTING. ATMOSPHERIC. UNPUTDOWNABLE.

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

I loved Behind Closed Doors, the novel by B A Paris. It was everything I enjoy in a good psychological thriller, so was eager and excited to read her latest offering and was not disappointed!

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of the downpour, with the woman 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. Her husband would be furious if he knew she had broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she'd stopped.

As Cass comes to terms with the events that occurred that night, the guilt and blame she feels start to take a hold of her. Everyday activities, even the simplest of tasks are becoming daunting as she's forgetting the easiest of things, she believes she is being stalked and things are spiralling out of control. But is it all in her head?

B A Paris once again has astutely constructed another beautifully written psychological thriller. It was compelling, atmospheric, discombobulating and unputdownable! The story will have you guessing throughout with twists and turns you won't see coming. Told through Cass as she falls further into a weakened state of mind. Wrote with such depth to her character, you won't be able to not be empathetic towards her - I was genuinely rooting for her. But is she having a breakdown or is someone trying to break her?

The Breakdown is an all consuming read in one sitting, emotionally captivating story.

Highly recommended!

**Arc received with thanks from the publish in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**

An enthralling read. Having enjoyed Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris , I was very much looking forward to reading this second book, The Breakdown. Completely different to Behind Closed Doors, It was every bit as thrilling. . The story has some great twists and turns. which made me suspicious of every character. Which is exactly what I love about a book.! Such a brilliant conclusion that I didn't see coming. Looking forward to reading more from BA Paris.

Ok story but guessed the ending far too soon so got a little bit boring at times.

Cass' mother died a year ago and, although not the cause of death, Cass is scared that she has inherited early onset dementia. Apart from that light is great, she has inherited a lot of money, has been wed for a year to a handsome and successful man and lives in an idyllic country cottage in Sussex. Then things start to fall apart. Cass takes a shortcut home in a storm and sees a woman parked at the roadside, she stops but getting no response drives on. The next day the woman's murder is reported and Cast feels guilty for not investigating further, worse still is the fact that Cass knew the woman. She feels stressed but then starts forgetting things and starts getting silent calls, visiting the doctor she is put on pills but things don't get better. Is Cass suffering from dementia? Only her husband and her best friend seem to be supporting her and not thinking that she is merely paranoid.

Paris' first novel was a huge success and there is a lot of hype behind this second outing. It is obvious that there is a massive market for this sort of psychological thriller with a twist and a very domestic setting - sort of chick-lit with added menace! In fact I felt this was a much better book than 'Behind Closed Doors'. OK so it is about as cliched as you can get and I'd sussed the plot after about 10% of the book but that doesn't stop it being an addictive read. Paris is a good storyteller, she understands the level of demand needed to keep her audience on their toes and the narrative never really lets up. There are huge gaps in the plot but so what? I raced through the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It didn't stretch or challenge but it was great entertainment.

4 - 4.5 stars

Whilst I did enjoy the book, I did become increasingly frustrated with the main character and could never quite warm to her. It is intriguing and very well written but it just didn't grab me in the way that B.A Paris's first book did (it may be that my expectations were set too high after 'Behind Closed Doors' was in my top 2016 reads). The writing and pace of the story is excellent and it's suspenseful and the fear of dementia and subsequent paranoia was well handled. I did guess the outcome pretty early in the story but this didn't actually detract from my enjoyment as I was eager to see how the threads wove together and how the reveal would be done.

Many thanks to Harlequin (UK) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Well BA Paris, you’ve done it again- the dogs have crossed legs, the phone is on silent and food is on hold.
I loved/hated Behind Closed Doors- ditto The Breakdown. ( What a clever title)
I read it in two fell swoops, unable to stop in case something happened, whilst I was away.
The dialogue is pacey, the story races along, characters are credible, Cass is heartbreaking in her agonies.
I did guess the ending quite early on, but there are a number of personal reasons why, & they would be total spoilers to mention in a review, but that did not lessen my enjoyment of this story at all.
What more can you ask for than a book that makes you curl up and just want to stay in front of the fire until you reach the end?
When ‘Behind Closed Doors came out, a friend was going on holiday, I recommended it, she loved it & it’s done the rounds of her family since.
Fast forward to next week, same friend is going on holiday, fortunately, yet again I can recommend a book for her...
Ms Paris , can we please discuss your writing programme so that it fits in with my friend's holiday plans for next year?

Sorry this was not for me and I stopped reading after 15%. Will not post review on Amazon/GR for this reason but thanks so much for this opportunity.

Cleverly written, engrossing book.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Behind Closed Doors was one of the most talked about breakthrough debut novels of 2016 so it was always going to be interesting to see how B.A. Paris followed it up. Have no fear though because The Breakdown is even better.

Cass Anderson is returning home from a night out with the other teachers from school. Term has just ended and a long summer break looms ahead. A summer storm breaks as she is driving home from the party. The torrential rain is making the motorway treacherous so she decides to come off early and take the short cut through the woods instead. Visibility here is not much better but at least she is away from the spray and speeding cars. Halfway home she sees a car pulled over in a lay-by. She can just make out a blonde woman in the front seat. The weather is so bad and the area so remote that Cass really doesn’t want to get out of the car so she stops briefly to see if the woman approaches her for help. When no contact is made Cass drives off and goes home.

The next morning she is horrified to hear on the local news that a woman was murdered in her car the previous night. In the woods. In that lay-by. Cass could have saved her but she left her to die. Cass could even have been another victim herself. As the guilt begins to take its toll on her summer plans she finds her world starting to come apart. When the silent calls begin Cass knows that it is the killer on the other end. Will she be next?

Settle down in your comfiest armchair and prepare yourself for a journey into hell. Just don’t forget to breathe!


Supplied by Net Galley and Harlequin Books in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book as much as the last. Could not put it down and read it in a couple of days. I guessed done of the plot early in the book but did not see the final twists coming. Superb read.

This is the second by this author that I have been unable to resist reading. A psychological Thriller that has you on the edge of your seat for a turbulent trip. I didn't expect the twist at the end... I wasn't sure throughout the story where it was going. Excellent read and would recommend for others.

I enjoyed the author's debut novel and hoped that this would live up to what she produced previously. I was not disappointed.

This is like a book of two halves. The first part is where the reader believes they know the way the story is going to go due to what the author tells us about the main female character. The second half totally blows everything you thought you knew out of the window. The way the story is written drew me in and had me trying to work out if what I was reading was actually what was going on, or if it was what the character was being led to believe was happening.

As a psychological thriller this was brilliantly done, I would recommend this author to anyone who loves a story with plenty of twists throughout.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Having anticipated this second book from B A Paris after loving her first one, Behind Closed Doors, I have to admit to being somewhat disappointed. The ending was signalled too clearly from the outset and therefore the careful laying down of plot and a few red herrings were spoiled. However I've awarded 4 stars because despite the aforementioned, the author writes very well with a cracking pace which draws the reader in. I will certain look out for her next book