Dangerous Waterpark sets up a really unique and intriguing premise for a thriller. The setting itself is unusual and had the potential to create a lot of tension and suspense, which I appreciated.

It’s just this one didn’t fully click for me. The pacing felt uneven it started off a bit slow, and although things picked up later, I still found myself struggling to stay engaged. While there were definitely some cool thriller elements and interesting ideas, I felt like something was missing to truly pull me in and keep me hooked.

I think readers who enjoy unconventional thriller settings and don’t mind a slower build may connect with this more than I did. For me personally, it wasn’t the right fit, but I can still see its appeal for the right audience.

💦🎢𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗔𝗬
𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝟸𝟺, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻
🤩𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟜 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ★★★★

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝...a dangerous watermark. A missing girl. A wife trapped in a nightmare….

👙𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...The Mirror House Girls is one of my ultimate tops 🏆in the thriller genre this year so getting a copy of Faith Gardners newest one had me giddy! 🤸Even better that I was reading it while in a water park with my nieces & kiddos on Labor Day..hence the pic!💧🙌 The 80s nostalgia was friggin amazing…I was instantly transported back to this era & loved it! 😍Such a fun summer thriller 😎that you should def pick up!

🤩Thanks @faith.gardner for writing this banger 👏& to Mirror House Press for my copy. 💜

Breakneck Bay by Faith Gardner

// First I want to thank NetGalley and Mirror House Press for this ARC of Breakneck Bay //

The only thing deeper than the pool, is the body count..

Breakneck Bay or rather known as “Break Your Neck Bay” isn’t your average water park. The rides are dangerous, endless lawsuits, and now a teenage girl, who’s an employee, has gone missing leaving nothing but a messy crime scene behind. Suspicion immediately falls to park manager, Mitch Blue, when his office is destroyed and is ultimately the scene of a crime and in turn forces his wife, Kit Blue, to ask the question “who did I really marry?”
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5

Honestly I’m stuck between giving this book a 2 star rating and a 3 star rating because the writing wasn’t bad and it was a good story I just feel like there was something missing. Also to add that I’m very disappointed there wasn’t more of a twist and while when it was revealed it still left me thinking “Is it really that obvious? It can’t be”. Unfortunately, it was but of course not everyone will feel that way. I would say it was fast paced, and perfect for a summer read since it does take place during the summer at a water park.

Again thank you NetGalley and Mirror House press for this advanced copy and it is now available to read on all platforms!

A creepy, fast-paced thriller with a unique waterpark setting that kept me curious. While the premise was fun and eerie, I never fully connected with the characters, which lessened the suspense. Entertaining enough for a quick read, but not especially memorable.

I was so excited to dive in to this story, because I absolutely loved the Action Park documentary. However, I ended up just being a bit bored. The concept was great, but I wish we had more time in the actual water park. I just didn't have as much fun reading it as I expected.

This was a solid summer thriller. I loved the setting and vibes the author created. This is a perfect read for summer. I would have liked a bit more suspense in the first half and the book is pretty straightforward with minimal twists but overall still a great read. Highly recommend!

Breakneck Bay is a dark mystery with an unusual cast of characters as well as an extremely unique setting. It isn’t especially twisty or unexpected, but it still kept me hooked. I wish we spent more time at the actual waterpark, I feel there was some wasted opportunity there. Overall, it was a solid story. I liked the concept and the ending. My biggest gripe was with the characters. Rhonda as a whole was just…..off. Not in a fun way but in a way that made her feel like a caricature of some sort. The boss was constantly nasty and had no other personality traits. Kit from the past and Kit from the present seemed like two WILDLY different people. And her brother felt more like a prop than anything else. Idk, maybe I’m just being picky.

I loved this book! It was a perfect summer thriller, and I loved the 80s vibes and serial killer storyline. Kit was a relatable and fun FMC, and I really enjoyed reading from her perspective. I am definitely going to read Faith's backlist now!

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this early copy of Breakneck Bay. I really did enjoy this one. It was enjoyable, a unique setting and a quick read. I would highly recommend reading this! It just got better and better as the storyline progressed. 4.25⭐️.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel!

If you are looking for a book that is spooky yet perfect for summer, and has just a bit of nostalgia, look no further! I loved the setting being around a theme park as well. I absolutely did NOT see any of the twists in this novel coming and was shocked at the events at the end. I also thought the FMC was well-developed and I could understand her motivations throughout. Giving this one four stars because it beginning portions of the book felt a bit slower in pacing compared to the second half of the book, which made it a bit different for me to get into this one at first. Once I was invested though, I was all in. I absolutely recommend giving this one a read, especially while it’s still summer!

I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately hooked and I was to very last page. I found it easy to read and I liked the story.

Thanks to Mirror House Press and Netgalley for this eARC.

Faith Gardner’s Breakneck Bay plunges readers into a sinister summer thriller set against the backdrop of a waterpark where the thrills are deadly and the secrets run deep. With its eerie setting, layered suspense, and psychological tension, this novel delivers a gripping ride that’s equal parts mystery and emotional unraveling.

🌊Breakneck Bay is no ordinary water park. Injuries are frequent, lawsuits abound, and when a teenage employee disappears after closing—leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene—the summer spirals into chaos. The prime suspect? Mitch Blue, the park’s manager. But the real emotional core of the story lies with Kit, Mitch’s newlywed wife, who’s forced to confront the cracks in their marriage and the disturbing secrets Mitch may be hiding.

As Kit digs deeper, she uncovers chilling ties between Mitch and the park’s dark past. The narrative tightens as she begins to question whether she’s sleeping beside a killer. Gardner masterfully builds tension, layering Kit’s personal unraveling with the broader mystery of the missing girl and the park’s haunted history.

🎢 Strengths
- Atmospheric Setting: The waterpark is a brilliant choice—both nostalgic and menacing. Gardner uses it to full effect, turning childhood joy into a backdrop for dread.
- Psychological Depth: Kit’s descent into doubt and paranoia is compelling. Her emotional arc adds weight to the thriller elements.
- Twists & Turns: While some twists are predictable, others land with genuine surprise, keeping the reader engaged throughout.

🛠️ Weaknesses
- Pacing: Some readers may find the slow-burn approach frustrating, especially in the first half.
- Character Depth: While Kit is well-developed, secondary characters occasionally feel underexplored, which slightly dulls the impact of key revelations.

A solid 4 out of 5 stars. Breakneck Bay is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that blends domestic suspense with a haunting mystery. Faith Gardner proves once again that she knows how to turn idyllic settings into psychological minefields.

First of all, I truly love reading the inner workings of Faith Gardner’s mind! Though it didn’t top, “Mirror House Girls”, this was a great read!!

Spending the summer working at Breakneck Bay waterpark isn’t what Kit had in mind as a married woman. After years of on and off again with her now-husband, Mitch, Kit is settling into their one bedroom cabin a short distance away from the waterpark they both work at. After a teenage employee goes missing, an act of vandalism points suspicion right at the general manager of Breakneck, Mitch.

This quick-wit, 80’s themed popcorn thriller was just what I needed to get out of my reading funk! The story flowed effortlessly but had me thinking about it all night at work. The haunting peek from the killer’s POV added just enough spice to really draw the reader in! Overall, highly recommended! Thank you NetGalley and Mirror House Press for this ARC!

I liked this book but I couldnt say I loved it. I did predict some of the twists and I did guess the "who". This took my enjoyment away from liking this book. One thing I really did like was the setting. Not often I come across different settings and this one worked.

Thank you NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the ARC. Breakneck Bay was a quick, multiple POV storyline. I really enjoyed the main character, Kat, who's recent marriage, move, and job change have brought her to start to question who she can trust. Enjoyable thriller!

I wanted to love this but I had a really hard time getting into it unfortunately. It was fine but nothing outstanding like her previous novel.

Kit and Mitch are the couple at the center of the story. He manages an 80s water park that has a history of bad things happening. Kit is hoping to worivas a history of bad things happening. Kit is hoping they can work on their marriage but that isn't happening as mysteries and secrets consume their lives. This is a good thriller, with a lot happening and is a perfect vacation read.

This was a decent book! I really enjoyed the story line but wish the writing was a little better as I didn’t relate to any of them over time! Was a quick read though!

This surprised me! It was so fun. I love all things theme parks, water parks, attractions, etc so this was the perfect setting for me. I would recommend reading this by the pool or even better at the waterpark for perfect theming.