I loved the 80s setting and waterpark craziness. Faith had my ‘whodunnit’ thoughts looking like a tennis game I went back and forth so much.

Digital ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I was really intrigued by the premise, talking about dangerous waterpark, missing girl, secrets in a marriag, but unfortunately, this one just didn’t land for me. The pacing felt off and some parts dragged. I didn’t connect with the setting or the story as much as I hoped, which made it hard to stay engaged.

Still, I appreciate getting the chance to read it. This might work better for readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with complex relationships.

Absolutely loved this book! I could not put it down. I drawn in by the characters but stayed for the secrets, twists and deceit.

This thriller takes place in an amusement park, set in 1982 which gave me a sense of nostalgia.
The author’s writing style is straightforward and the story is engaging.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Okay, so I didn’t expect to get sucked into a murder-y nostalgia trip set in a lawsuit-magnet of a 1980s waterpark, but here we are. Faith Gardner clearly knows how to reel in a reader with some good ol’ fashioned “someone’s missing and everyone’s acting shady” drama. You’ve got dual timelines, a missing teenage employee, a newlywed who’s suddenly side-eyeing her husband like he might be a murderer, and a waterpark so sketchy it should come with a tetanus booster.

I tore through this thing like a kid on a sugar high. The pacing is relentless, the tension is thick, and the dual POVs actually work—especially the chapters from “Hawk,” who gave me the emotional chills and made me yell “nope” more than once. The retro setting? Deliciously eerie, even if I lowkey wanted more from the park itself. Like, if you're going to give me a haunted waterpark, let the wave pool haunt me, you know?

My one gripe: the ending was a little too polite for the chaos that came before. I wanted a punch to the face and instead got a firm handshake. Still, it didn’t ruin the ride.

This is your next read if you like your thrillers fast, your settings weirdly specific, and your trust in fictional husbands rapidly deteriorating. Four stars and a side-eye at anyone named Hawk. If you are interested in crazy water parks with lots on injuries, check out documentaries about Action Park in New Jersey. It had to be an influence.

The only thing deadlier than the rides at Breakneck Bay is the truth. When a teenage worker vanishes, Kit, is forced to look at her new husband and manager at the park. Someone knows the truth and they will stop at nothing to finish what they started.

This setting was everything! I loved the water park and everything that came with it. It was a twisty read with lots of dark secrets just waiting to be revealed. A great summer read to cool off with!

Faith Gardner’s Breakneck Bay is a fast-paced, twist-filled thriller set against the unlikely backdrop of a dangerously mismanaged waterpark. When a teenage employee goes missing and a possible murder scene is discovered, suspicion falls on park manager Mitch—plunging his wife, Kit, into a spiralling search for the truth.
The novel expertly weaves elements of mystery, suspense, and '80s nostalgia, delivering a plot filled with ominous messages, hidden secrets, and escalating tension. While the book’s relentless pacing keeps the reader hooked, the link between the two viewpoints seemed obvious.
Still, Gardner delivers a compelling, entertaining ride with memorable characters. Breakneck Bay is perfect for readers seeking a high-stakes, summer-ready thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"𝑰'𝒎 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒔, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒊 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎. 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒓 𝒂 𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚. 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅."

Special thanks to @mirrorhousebooks @faithgardner & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kit and Mitch work at Breakneck bay in Hill Valley within the Sierra Nevadas. It starts out with one of the park employees missing and turning into one crime scene after another. Secrets, serial killers, and lies pepper the pages during this fast paced thriller. Definitely bingeworthy with roller coaster thrills and jaw dropping revelations.

This is my first by @faith.gardner but certainly not my last. The build up, the reveals - they're so perfectly laid out, I was clinging to every word. The characters all have such deep personalities, it weaves such a great story. I'm a sucker for a serial k!ller novel, and add in the Waterpark theme - heaven!!

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:



ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Do you like waterparks? When's the last time you went? What's your favorite ride?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #upcomingthriller #faithgardner #breakneckbay #netgalley
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5⭐️ If you’re looking for something that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you guessing until the very last page, pick this thriller up immediately. It’s perfect for any season, but reading it in the summer would be the perfect time.

We follow Kit while she works at Breakneck Bay, a water park known notoriously for its accidents, injuries, and even a deathly tragedy. Throughout the book, Kit is forced to face the fact that Breakneck Bay isn’t the only dangerous thing she’s going to come close to this summer. Her husband, Mitch, might not be who he says. Or is there someone else pulling the strings?

This book is creepy and suspenseful. Definitely worth the read. It’s the perfect length. No complaints. Pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Mirror House Press for early access to this book in exchange for a free review.

Gave it 5 stars on Goodreads but dropping by here as well to say I’ll read anything Faith Gardener wants to send my way, and I’m on the hunt for more of her published works. Thank you!

Breakneck Bay by Faith Golden

I really enjoyed reading Breakneck Bay by Faith Golden. The water park steeped in injuries, poor management, and shady dealings, still conveyed a nostalgic 80’s vibe.

The plot was well crafted, and the perspective of each character was invaluable to conveying the tone and the mystique of the story. The events though shrouded in mystery, made the story more engaging. The serial killer’s thoughts and emotions gave unique insight to his nature which increased the reader’s yearning to expose his/her identity.

Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable experience and a satisfying mystery thriller.

This was another fun, twisty thriller from Faith Gardner. I’ve really enjoyed her previous books, and this one didn’t disappoint! It’s such a bingeable read!

We follow Kit, whose husband Mitch is the park manager at Breakneck Bay, a waterpark notorious for its injuries and lawsuits. When a teenage employee goes missing, Mitch quickly falls under suspicion, and Kit realises she needs to dig into her husband’s past, and the park’s dark history, to find out if she’s married to a murderer.

Rather than a traditional whodunnit, the tension comes from watching Kit slowly piece things together while we, as readers, are given glimpses of the bigger picture. It’s a wild journey into paranoia, trust, and how far someone will go to protect what they love.

I enjoyed the nostalgic summer thriller vibes, and almost every character had me second-guessing their motives at some point. With a creepy waterpark setting, and twists around every corner, this was such a fun and entertaining read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the eARC. 🫶🏼

4.25 stars

Could not put this book down! The twists the secrets! Wow! I loved how the author took us back to Hawks days. Reading i definitely got some chills. First book I’ve read from Faith Gardner, can’t wait to read more! Can’t wait for pub day to buy myself a copy for my bookshelf!

Yes! Five exciting stars for the perfect summer read! A water park, a serial killer, and eighties nostalgia are an amazing combination. Faith Gardner always delivers an addictive read and Breakneck Bay is no exception. I loved every minute of this twisted, unpredictable, unputdownable story. This book elicited a rollercoaster of emotions from fear and worry to sadness and devastation. The characters are well developed and the plot is fast paced with unexpected twists and turns throughout. I highly recommend this book to all thriller addicts. Thank you, NetGalley and Mirror House Press for my copy.

4.5 stars!

Wow! I am never disappointed with this author's work! The writing is so suspenseful that you'll find yourself second-guessing everything until the very last page. Even though there are plenty of hints sprinkled throughout the story, you'll still be left guessing...

At Breakneck Bay, a dangerous waterpark known for its fast rides and frequent injuries, a teenage employee goes missing after a night of work, leaving a bloody crime scene behind. Suspicion arises around park manager Mitch Blue, leading his wife Kit to face troubling issues in their marriage and uncover unsettling secrets. As Kit investigates further, she discovers connections between Mitch and the waterpark's dark history, raising doubts about his innocence.

Enter the charming Mitch—because we all know that charming people often have the most to hide! So, do yourself a favor: don’t get too attached. His wife, Kit, is likable in her own right—not as charming, perhaps, but she works hard and loves even harder, just like the rest of us. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: much like a magician’s trick, the closer you are to someone you love, the less likely you are to suspect them of wrongdoing. This plot is not only intriguing but also thought-provoking, making you realize that this could very well be someone’s reality!

There’s so much to love about this book! I particularly enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Kit and Hawk, which really helped to flesh out the narrative. The unexpected twists in how everything unravels were so clever that I genuinely didn’t see them coming! By the end, I was left in a state of delightful uncertainty, unsure of what to expect or how I wanted the story to conclude. The ending was both satisfying and tasteful—honestly, I can’t even imagine what I would do if I were in Kit’s shoes! Sometimes, even a mama bear has to put her foot down!

If you enjoy suspenseful, unexpected, and darkly twisted tales, this book is perfect for your next vacation. Trust me, you won’t want to put it down; otherwise, you’ll be on the edge of your seat all day, wondering what happens next!

Thank you, Mirror House Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was a pleasant surprise! Kit finally moves out to Breakneck Bay, a high risk theme park, to end the long distance part of her relationship with her husband Mitch. Kit takes a job at the park, and shortly after, a young teen disappears and a bloody scene is found in Mitch's office. Rumors begin to fly, and Kit begins to realize that her husband is not who she thinks he is. Some of the plot points were a little obvious, but it didn't take away from my reading experience. I enjoyed watching Kit grow as a character as well. The book started off slow, but about 30% in, the book takes off and I finished the rest of the book in one sitting. Can't wait to read more books by Faith Gardner.

I loved the idea of a mystery set in a water park, especially one in 1982. I grew up with a huge water park in town and we spent most of our summer there every year, so this was very nostalgia for me in a way. I enjoyed the plot of the story a lot. I thought the twists were good, a few sort of predictable. I wish it had ended a little differently, but I know that’s a personal preference thing. I’m not sure if I’ve read any Faith Gardner books before, but I’ll be looking some up for sure.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review: Breakneck Bay by Faith Gardner

Faith Gardner delivers a chilling, fast-paced thriller set in a deceptively sunny 1980s waterpark. Breakneck Bay follows newlywed Kit Blue as she uncovers disturbing truths about her husband after a teenage girl vanishes. With multiple POVs—including the killer’s—and flashbacks to the ’70s, Gardner blends nostalgia with mounting dread.

The setting is a standout: Breakneck Bay feels both vividly real and deeply unsettling. Gardner captures the chaotic energy of a summer attraction while layering in psychological tension. Kit’s unraveling sense of trust adds emotional weight, and the shifting perspectives keep the mystery taut and engaging.

What worked especially well was the killer’s voice—unnerving without being overdone—and the way Gardner avoids melodrama, opting instead for slow-burn suspense. A few plot turns felt familiar, and the ending could’ve hit harder, but the ride was worth it.

If you enjoy thrillers with retro vibes, morally murky characters, and a touch of psychological unease, Breakneck Bay is a gripping summer read that’ll keep you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#BreakneckBay #FaithGardner #NetGalleyReads #ARCReview #ThrillerBooks #SummerThriller #BookReview #WaterparkMystery #RetroThriller #Bookstagram #BookishThoughts #MysteryLovers #PsychologicalThriller

A waterpark, a dark secret, a wife, and a missing girl set the stage for Breakneck Bay! It's 1982 and Breakneck Bay is an exciting waterpark with thrilling rides, young staff, and accidents waiting to happen. Faith Garder set her latest thriller in a thrilling and dangerous location where people go for fun in the sun, take dangerous water rides, experience a bump or two and laughter is all around. It's all fun and games until a teenage employee goes missing and a bloody scene is left behind!

Kit oversees first aid and her husband; Mark manages the water park. When a bloody scene is found, Mitch becomes the main suspect. Could the blood be from the missing teen employee????? Add in the eerie phone calls that Kit begins receiving and the foreboding and chilling vibes begin to settle. The hot hazy days of summer paired with a possible murder mystery made for a thrilling reading experience!

Then there are sections of the book about "Hawk", who gives his killer POV throughout the book. How is everything related? What are the connections??? This movie did play out like an 80's horror movie (without being too horrific) in my mind. The 80's were the time for slasher flicks, serial killers terrorizing communities, and stranger danger! Gardner capitalizes on this brilliantly.

The title of this book is very apt. This book is fast paced and never lets up. I love that there was no downtime in this book. This keeps the action moving and Kit (and readers) on edge! I enjoyed the mounting tension and unease in this book. What a great book to read during the summer! I loved the 80's vibe and the nostalgic feel of this book.

Overall, another great book by Faith Gardner with a great location and mystery. I loved the vibe, the pacing, the foreboding, and the setting.

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨

<b>A murderous fiend, missing teen, and a bloody scene.</b>
🩸🩸
Bring on the summer of '82 at a dangerous waterpark known by locals as Break YOUR NECK Bay. The owner is more concerned with keeping his nose clean and making $ than he is the safety of staff or park goers. How many deaths and injuries can be brushed off by putting up "At Your Own Risk" signs?
As an '80's kid I can say they weren't a safety conscious time anyway, but Breakneck Bay the waterpark is on another level thanks to an owner deficient in morality, questionable management, and a mostly teen staff.
🛝🌊🍻
Mitch and Kit Blue are newlyweds; Mitch is a longtime manager at the park and Kit is a new hire employed as a medic. When a teen employee vanishes unease creeps in. Behind the door of Mitch's locked office is a bloody crime scene, but no body. Police dig into the facts, but things aren't so cut and dry. Kit begins receiving eerie phone calls that soon have her questioning everything around her. Whispered rumors at work fuel her insecurities.
☎️🤐🔐
How well does she know the people around her?

This read as more of a mystery than a thriller for me. I enjoyed the dark summer vibes. Nothing about this was difficult to unravel and solve, but the novel was about more than the finish line. The atmosphere crackled with energy. Seeing how trauma can affect decisions even from an indirect angle brought another layer to multiple characters. The killer's POV over the course of many years is shared under the guise of his alter ego Hawk.
🚙
This was my first time reading this author. I thought the book was solid and avoided the trap of going over the top. However, it needed to end with a bit more punch to land strong. I would read this author again!

*This novel features a violent killer so be aware that it contains dark subject matter.*

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.