Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books/
Scout Press for this ARC of
The Break-In
by Katherine Faulkner.

I adored Katherine Faulkner’s past two books (both five star reads) so I accepted this ARC without even reading the synopsis.

A wealthy, middle-aged, married mother, Alice Rathbone, is hosting a get-together with friends and all of their children when a strange male teenager, Ezra Jones, breaks in. Alice kills him in self-defense.

The social media response to the murder is not kind to Alice, yet despite her husband Jamie’s flippant brush-off of her feelings about being outcast, she cannot stop reading about herself in media coverage comments. Alice cares.

One day Alice receives a strange phone call, about Ezra’s purpose.

With that: *Bam,* the mystery begins!

The story has four parts and is written in third-person POV of Alice; Linda, mother of Jade and Ezra; Becca, Alice’s nanny; and Alice’s friend Stella. The plot begins after the climax of the titular break-in, then flips to the day-of, then reverts in time to fill in the story.

I could not put this book down, wanting to learn the why of the incident - and who everyone in Alice’s blind life *really* is!

I enjoy Katherine Faulkner’s sharp, suspenseful writing style; and her experience as an investigative journalist is evident in this story of a mysterious crime attempt.
I also enjoyed being in her setting of wealthy London in which Alice lives in a have-vs. have-not awareness.

Four stars. The wrap-up at the end left me a bit confused at points with all of the connecting of dots.

I loved the first 70% of the book, then it started feeling chaotic and messy. The ending felt abruptly and the MC was naive and unreliable m, which doesn't really bother me.

3.5 stars

Somewhat predictable but still a thrilling g read. I try my hardest not to guess and just let things unravel, but some thing were just pretty blatant. Other than that the writing was sharp, and the story flowed at a fast pace and had me fully engaged.

Honest review 🫣🫠

I was so excited for this one, I loved the other mothers from this author - so this was definitely a most anticipated read for me. The first half was great, I was hooked on trying to solve everything. But by the end of the first half, I had it all figured out and things started to get VERY repetitive.

At almost 400 pages, I think this one could be about 150 pages shorter and still be able to get everything across. There’s things we as a reader would know already, but the MC is figuring it out, so you have to read the same story multiple times. Towards the last 100 pages I was just skimming because I already knew what was happening.

Now, this book does have a 4⭐️ on Goodreads and I have been seeing good reviews about it, so if this has been on your radar definitely still give it a go! Everyone has different opinions on books, so you may love it! I think this author is a great writer so I will be picking up more from her in the future, unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me.

It’s a regular evening for Alice, her husband Jamie and their daughter, Martha. Alice’s friends Yas and Stella are over with their kids, and the women were in the kitchen talking and having a bit of champagne, celebrating Alice’s new job. Jamie had run out to get some milk, and the kids were in another room with Becca, the nanny, when the women suddenly see a man through the window. As soon as they notice him, he starts slamming himself into the door and manages to get into the house. He’s ranting, slurring, cursing, yelling … and then he grabs a knife and starts heading to the door that is keeping the children safe. Alice immediately picks up a stool and smashes it over his head, killing him.

The police investigate, and come to the conclusion that this was self-defense, but Alice still feels guilty. She took someone’s life. A young man named Ezra is now dead, his mother and twin sister are bereaved, and Alice can’t get out of the rut she is in. Jamie and her friends try to convince to her to put it in the past, but she can’t - especially when strange things are happening. She got an odd phone call that threw her off, people online are commenting about her and little things keep going missing from around the house. She decides to find out more about Ezra. Why was he at her door? What was he slurring about? Was there a way it could have ended without murder?

This is when the book takes a turn, as Alice starts searching for answers. It happens to be a loooooong search, which made this a slooooooow book. This is the author’s third release, and I thought the other two were the same: very interesting, but very drawn out. The story itself is really good, so I didn’t mind the slow read, but this isn’t a page-turner or a quick beach book. This is a dark mystery with a lot of facets, leading to an ending that wasn’t very surprising, but still enjoyable to read. This author is consistent with her writing, which is quite impressive. 3.5 stars, rounded up!

(Thank you to Gallery Press, Katherine Faulkner and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 26, 2025.)

When Alice invites some of the other mothers and children for a play date she never imagines that her life will be turned upside down. During the playdate a unhinged man breaks into the house and grabs a knife off of the counter. He is not walking straight and his words are slurred, Alice assumes that he is either drunk or on some kind of drugs. In order to protect the children Alice lifts a metal bar stool and hits him on the head. Now after the horrific incident, Alice can't stop thinking about Ezara and why they were targeted. Alice ask Stella, a journalist and one of the mothers that was at her house during the break in to dig into Jade Jones, Ezara's twin sister. The more Alice finds out the more she believes that she was being targeted and stalked by Jade. This is fast paced book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Absolutely loved this book. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for letting me read an advanced copy of this novel.

When I read Katherine Faulkner's debut, I just knew she was going to be an amazing author. Now here we are with her third 5-star book and I can honestly say she is one of my absolute favorite authors. So well written, such lovable characters, so many twists and turns. Faulkner always has me doubting EVERYONE! I loved this book, and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!!

Fast-paced and gripping, the latest from Faulkner sucks the reader in from the first chapter. While I predicted some of the reveals, the reading experience was still overall a positive one.

A complete nightmare of a thriller. Alice is just weeks away from returning to her career as a painting restorer after maternity leave when her life is upended by a violent home invasion and a death. The man who broke into her house is dead. She killed him. And while it may have been self-defense, nothing feels resolved and she waits to hear from the police.

Instead of closure, Alice finds herself spiraling. Her husband is distracted and distant. The nanny gives notice. She begins receiving threatening calls. And the more she tries to understand who the intruder was, the more tangled her reality becomes.

Alice's questions take her further than anyone expects. She tracks down the young man’s mother and uncovers details that don’t line up. And as her husband pulls away, Alice begins to suspect that the break-in wasn’t just a crime — it was a message. Or worse, a setup.

Katherine Faulkner’s The Break-In is a tense, grounded thriller that sidesteps melodrama for something colder, more invasive. It’s incredibly twisty and will make you gasp!
#gallery #thebreak-in #katherinefaulkner

3.5 stars
I was intrigued from the first page, but then things slowed down for me, and I did find it hard, at times, to stay connected. Some of the actions of the main character didn’t ring true or feel believable. With that said, I did rather enjoy the book overall and feel like it will be an entertaining choice for a fall thriller.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Alice kills a man who enters her home while her child is having a playdate. After that there many lies and twists in this story. You want to keep reading as little pieces are revealed slowing. Alice is a multifaceted character and you feel for her while reading this book. This is a well done psychological thriller that will surprise you for sure.!

This book had a slightly unique story with some pretty good twists. Yes, it's a little predictable but the writing keeps you engaged pretty well.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Break=In.

I've read the author's previous book and though I wasn't a fan I was interested in her follow up.

Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of The Break-In, which is full of stereotypical tropes and cliches.

When Alice kills a home invader her life is turned upside down as she pursues her own investigation as to why a troubled man broke into her home.

First, Alice is a typical character in these books; uninteresting, dull, and makes one bad decision after another.

She doesn't realize her husband belittles and gaslights her; she doesn't have any real friends or allies to support her.

Second, it's clear her husband is hiding something. He has a shady past she knows nothing about, naturally, because she doesn't ask questions because it hurts his 'feelings.'

I despise this trope; how come women in these narratives never know anything about their husbands?

I know, I know, if these women did know their husbands, then the book wouldn't exist. But it's not realistic.

If you want me to suspend disbelief, some parts of the narrative need to be grounded in reality.

The main characters almost always have a quick courtship, the wives don't question their spouses's past, and ignore all the red flags.

For example, when Alice realizes her husband lied about attending a work conference, she doesn't know the name of the hotel he's staying at because 'she's not that kind of person.'

You mean, the kind of person who needs to know where their spouse is? What kind of partner doesn't ask basic information about where their partner will be traveling too? Or is that too nosy? Too intrusive?

What if there was a family emergency? A medical emergency?

Third, we have your standard cliches; Jaime is a bad guy, hiding in plain sight in front of Alice who walks around with blinders on.

Fourth, there are too many POVs, filler to pad the word count, the pacing is slow paced and lacks urgency and suspense.

One of the author's trademarks is to pad the narrative with minor and supporting characters and their unnecessary perspectives which does not add to the story.

Fifth, then we have the massive info dump at the end and the author does what so many in the genre does; throw twist after twist at the reader hoping one will stick.

If you can suspend disbelief and don't mind slogging through tedious, repetitive writing, then you might enjoy this.

But if you read many thrillers like I do, you'll be able to figure out the twists from the beginning like I did.

There was nothing new or original here that I haven't read in other books.

4 stars-This story is like a spider web. Alice is having friends and their kids over when an intruder with a knife breaks in. Alice kills him to protect the kids. Now we move to the next part of the web. Alice goes to the house of the boy she killed to meet his mother pretending to be someone else. But, his mother knows exactly who she is, the woman who killed her son. I could keep going but then it would spoil the story. I loved the layers and the connections. There are so many details that are revealed as we figure out the connections between the characters…thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. This was a winner for me!

I have read several books by this author that I have enjoyed and this was another great one! This book had me hooked from the start! Lots of little pieces revealed slowly throughout the book that makes you want to keep reading to find out what happened. Many different characters involved in the book ,so at times it can be a lot to keep track of but also made the book more interesting because so many things are happening with different characters.

This was a well written solidly built thriller sometimes a slow burn and sometimes more fast paced. It is told in multiple perspectives and two timelines and raises lots of moral questions, what is justice, what is justified killing. Alice deals with her pain, fear and guilt after a break in where she kills the intruder by trying to understand him and involving herself in his family lies secretly. Overtime the story and what is the truth about the people in her life shifts and changes and has her questioning everything.

Set in London, this is a twisted psychological thriller. Alice and Jamie live a privileged life with their young daughter Martha, and nanny. A seemingly disturbed teenage boy breaks in as Alice is hosting a playdate and she kills him. The story goes back and forth in time and is told in four sections, which works to move the plot forward. There are many complex interwoven characters. Alice is consumed with guilt, and while I felt others were not very supportive, I question the decisions she makes throughout the story. Still I recommend this interesting and exciting book. With thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

It was an entertaining read. I like the author but this one had so much going on it could get confusing at times especially unraveling of it all in the end.
I appreciate a fast paced, energetic plot. Something to keep my mind guessing. This did that. It did confuse me though and I feel I didn't end it with the full knowledge of what all happened. Sometimes less is more for me. I will recommend to others and I do enjoy Katherine Faulkner's work!
Thanks to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My head is still spinning.

This was my first book by Katherine Faulkner, and I am so appreciative that I received this ARC as now I will absolutely read her other books. Faulkner has a very distinct style of writing (simple and straight to the point, but also suspenseful and thoughtful) and in this story, we follow Alice in the aftermath of a break-in to her home during which she kills the intruder in self-defense. What first appears to be a bungled robbery starts to unravel in the weeks following this event that Alice can not get past. She works hard to balance her guilt and shame in taking a life, while also understanding that in that moment, she was protecting herself and her young daughter from a man wielding a knife. Her husband, friends, and the police eventually urge her to let it go, and move on, but she simply can not shake the feeling that there is more than meets the eye as to why this particular intruder forced his way into her home. I was hooked immediately, and by 50% in to the book, I was fully invested in it's creepiness and Alice's paranoia! It's cleverly layered, complex, and human....and does a really great job at asking how well we really know what we think we know about the people and events that make up our lives. This will be a great summer thriller with heart for beach reading this year!

This a wonderful thriller about a family: Alice, Jamie, and young daughter, Martha. When Alice discovers a burglar in her home one night, she hits him over the head and kills him., As she's now on probation for that she can't go many places but Becca, her nanny, takes good care of Martha so she's not too worried. When Jamie goes on business trip she discovers things on his computer that cause her concern and she is later put on leave after a painting she's restoring is accidentally ruined. It's one of those crazy, convoluted stories I love that kept me guessing until the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!