This was a good read and it reminded me of another book I’d read recently. I’m also not old enough to remember the 80s but I feel like people will like experiencing that era again through the book. Great character development and writing and I would read more by this author! I feel even if you figure it out you will still enjoy the storytelling and unravelling.

Thank you NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I devoured this book. This is probably one of my favorite thrillers that I have read this year. Set in a run-down, mismanaged water park in the '80s, this book oozes nostalgia and suspense from the first page. The setting alone is a character in itself—decaying rides, flickering neon lights, and the lurking sense that something isn't quite right. While it’s not heavy on gore, the psychological tension is off the charts. Gardner weaves a tale that’s equal parts creepy, chaotic, and emotionally raw. The broken, complex characters pulled me in, and I couldn’t look away as things spiraled deeper into the darkness. Breakneck Bay is not for the faint of heart, but if you love gritty, neon-soaked thrillers with a nostalgic bite, you won’t be disappointed.

It’s the 1980s and newlywed Kit has just moved to the boonies to work at a water park. Her husband, Mitch, and the owner go way back. Unfortunately the park isn’t what she was expecting. The teens are strung out on drugs, the water slides are death traps, and she’s not even enjoying the sunshine.
But that’s just the start of her summer. Kit’s life takes an even further nose dive when one odd encounter sets off a chain of chilling events—including a missing teenager, an uninvited brother fresh out of jail, and a boss who’s way too mad that the cops were called. This is one heart pounding, WILD ride. 🎢 🌊

What I liked:
🌊 The setting! A run-down, mismanaged water park in the ‘80s? Yes, please. It’s gritty, nostalgic, and perfectly creepy. I could literally smell the chlorine and stale popcorn.
🌊 The suspense! I was genuinely concerned for the characters well being throughout the story.
🌊 It wasn’t too graphic! Normally I tap out when we’re deep inside a killer’s head, but this author knew the line. Just enough dread without the gory or spine curling overload. It was a tasteful take on dark themes.
🌊 The character growth! I’ll be honest, I didn’t like a single person for the first half. But wow, did that turn around. By the end, I was surprisingly attached to several of them as messed-up as they all were.

What I didn’t like:
🌊 I figured it out pretty easily. Was it disappointing? Not really, there was so much else going on that it barely mattered.
🌊 Trigger warnings!!! This one dances right on my personal line. I’m sensitive to certain topics, and while it stayed tolerable for me, this book is definitely not for everyone. Do your research before diving in.

Overall, this was a dark, neon-drenched psychological thriller with just enough grit, nostalgia, and chaos to keep me hooked. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re into twisted summer thrillers, and broken people you’ll enjoy this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and Mirror House Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Faith Gardner’s “Breakneck Bay” is a deliciously dark, neon-drenched thriller soaked in 80s nostalgia, twisted secrets, and enough emotional whiplash to rival the book’s janky waterslides. If you grew up in the era of feathered bangs, questionable safety standards, and summer jobs that felt more dangerous than they should’ve been, then this book is calling your name.

The story opens with a blood-soaked mystery: a teenage employee at Breakneck Bay water park has gone missing after hours, her disappearance shrouded in silence and suspicion. At the center of the fallout is Kit Blue who is a newlywed whose husband, Mitch, manages the park and may know more than he’s letting on. Kit, already unmoored by Mitch’s increasingly manipulative and gaslighting behavior, finds herself spiraling as police, media, and even her own instincts start to turn toward him.

Interwoven with Kit’s unraveling are chilling chapters from the perspective of Hawk, a serial killer from the 1970s who preyed on underage girls. These sections are eerie, well-paced, and disturbing, if a bit repetitive, but they add a simmering dread that quietly boils toward a collision with the present-day plot. The big question: what connects Hawk to Breakneck Bay?

Gardner excels at blending the grimy realism of true crime with the pulpy, over-the-top flair of 80s horror. The water park setting is a standout character in its own right—equal parts nostalgia trip and death trap, filled with rusting rides, negligent staff, and the constant threat of lawsuits. While I did wish there was more time spent soaking in the unique setting, it’s a memorable backdrop that keeps the tension sky-high.

Kit is a flawed but sympathetic protagonist who is caught in a slow-burn realization that her husband is not the man she thought he was. At times, her denial can be frustrating, but her character arc is satisfying as she evolves from confused wife to determined truth-seeker. Mitch, her husband, is effectively loathsome, and watching Kit untangle his web of deceit is one of the book’s highlights.

A surprise standout is Rhonda, a minor character who practically demands her own spin-off. She’s quirky, sharp, and exactly the kind of unconventional investigator you will root for. Here’s hoping Gardner revisits her.

While seasoned thriller readers might find the “twist” predictable, Breakneck Bay doesn’t rely on shock value alone. The true pleasure comes from the journey—unraveling the web of past and present secrets, watching how the puzzle pieces fit together, and savoring the moments when vengeance finally gets its due.

The serial killer angle, though not quite as impactful as the main mystery, does ultimately tie into the plot in a satisfying (if slightly implausible) way. Some disbelief needs to be suspended, especially with a few conveniently timed discoveries, but the payoff is well worth it.

Overall, “Breakneck Bay” is part nostalgic slasher, part psychological thriller, and entirely entertaining. Gardner writes with sharpness and empathy, balancing pulpy thrills with real emotional stakes. Whether you come for the water park mayhem, the true crime chills, or the satisfying unraveling of a toxic marriage, there’s something here for every thriller fan.

This book didnt grab or hold my attention. I ended up dnf'ing it about 40%

I just couldn't get into the story or the characters

I'm such a sucker for Faith's books now its insane. Every single book has been easy to read, captivating, and a shock by the time the ending comes around.

I will say, this one was one of the easier ones to figure out before the ending BUT the ending still shocked me. There was so many twists and turns I couldn't guess, I was thrillered!

Far as thrillers, please read this. The storyline is fast paced and packed full of info that'll turn into twist and turns later on. Not once was I bored with this book.

The year is 1982 and Breakneck Bay is where the action is. The waterpark boasts multiple attractions and anyone who wants to partake has to sign a release because of their dangerous nature, not to mention their prickly past.
Kit has seen this firsthand as she mans 'The Ouch Shack' medic building. When an employee goes missing and her husband Mitch's office is vandalized with blood and teeth, things truly go off of the rails. Can Kit get to the bottom of the mystery and make it out alive?

The setting and moment in time truly make Breakneck Bay pop. Peppered with early 80s references and hampered by the lack of technological advancements that we have at our fingertips today make this story more intriguing. The setting of the waterpark is also nostalgic and it adds to the fun vibe of this solid thriller. 3.5 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was a full throttle thrill ride that centered around a Waterpark, a missing girl, and a killer. Breakneck Bay is reminiscent of the real life Action waterpark that was shut down in the late "90s.
Action Park had a reputation for poorly designed rides, undertrained,underaged, and intoxicated staff. At least six people died as a result of mishaps on rides at the park.
Breakneck Bay reminded me so much of this which I love. The story will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat.

This was a twisting, high-speed thrill ride that left me shaken and sputtering. I honestly needed a second to catch my breath after reading it. I felt like I was actually inside Action Park (the creepy water park from the 80s with lawsuits galore, watch the documentary!). Faith's writing floors me, as always, and this might be my favorite book she's written yet.