This started out a bit slow for me, but that didn't last long once it picked up speed I felt like I was on a ride at the amusement park. It had a retro feel to it and the characters were well developed. Just when you thought that you knew what was going to happen you found out that you were probably wrong, very wrong. Boy did I not see it coming and the back story was almost as head whipping as the main story. Overall, if you like a book that keeps you guessing and are willing to go on a wild ride like at the amusement park... then this book is for you.

"Breakneck Bay" by Faith Gardner is a dark and gripping thriller set in a creepy 80s waterpark. The story is told from two different perspectives: Kit, the new wife of the park manager who starts questioning what’s really going on - and someone with a much darker connection to the events unfolding. That dual POV really added to the tension and made it hard to put down. I loved the eerie setting and the slow build of suspense. A solid 4-star read for me!

A unique thriller set in a wild water park. You follow a wife and also get chapter pov from an unknown character with a synonym. There are news articles mixed in with some other mixed media in the book which added to the reading experience. I loved the inclusion of a map which is very unusual for a thriller. I enjoyed the short chapters that were fast paced, leaving me wanting more. Unfortunately I did anticipate the plot twist and guess what was going to happen, however I have read a lot of thrillers. I also found the fmc slightly frustrating at points but sympathised with her in others. Overall I found it a solid quick thriller.

I really thought this would be better based on all the great reviews. I figured out the plot, the bad guy and the end but i only finished just to see if i was right. (I was).

Took me a while to get into, but was a fun read overall. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, but the characters were well fleshed out.

My Rating: 3.5

At Breakneck Bay, the rides are fast, the injuries frequent, and the lawsuits endless. But when a teenage employee vanishes after closing, leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene, it’s clear this summer will be the deadliest yet. Suspicion falls on park manager Mitch, forcing his newlywed wife Kit to confront the cracks in their marriage—and the unsettling secrets he’s been keeping. As Kit uncovers chilling ties between Mitch and the waterpark’s dark past, she’s left questioning everything she thought she knew—including whether she’s sleeping beside a killer.

"Breakneck Bay" presents a suspenseful mystery featuring the disappearance of a park employee and a wife grappling with the possibility of her husband's involvement. The story begins with the discovery of a gruesome scene in Mitch's locked office. There is no body, but a park employee is missing, which leads the reader to believe they are somehow intertwined.

Kit, Mitch's wife, was quite relatable, and I found myself empathizing with her internal emotional struggles, even if she occasionally seemed somewhat naive. Though I did not find the other characters particularly engaging, Kit's brother was perhaps the most likable of the group.

Faith Gardner has truly done a remarkable job of evoking 80s nostalgia. The suspense was skillfully maintained, creating a smooth narrative flow, and the unexpected twists were a delightful surprise. While I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller overall, I did find the pace to be somewhat slow, which occasionally made the story feel a bit sluggish. Although I greatly appreciated the water park setting, I wished it had played a more prominent role. In conclusion, it is a fun, popcorn thriller that is perfect for the summer season!

Did I devour this book or did it devour me? I could not put it down. I loved the twists and details of this amazing book. I felt like I was in this sketchy water park and was fully immersed in this book along with the characters. I would strongly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a forever member of the @faith.gardner book fan club because her books are JUST THAT GOOD👏🏾😍

This book had the feeling of quintessential summer break, WITH A FEW TWISTS AND TURNS! Impossible to put down and endlessly entertaining!!! And thankfully, it’s out now, so if you end up reading it LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!!!

Thank you to @faith.gardner and the publisher for the ability to read and review this book prior to publication day!!!

The perfect summer read! I was on the edge of my seat through the whole book. Dark, twisty and satisfying! I was guessing until the end. If you want a fast summer read this book is for you.

Great read. I enjoyed it and will be recommending Breakneck Bay on all my platforms. I give it a solid 4 star review. It has everything you want in a mystery suspense novel.

This book sucked me in, in the beginning but lost momentum after a while...I read another of Faiths books recently and this one just didnt live up to it.

This is the perfect summer thriller.. I absolutely love that this took place at a waterpark. I love when books are written in like the 70s or 80s and it’s done well and actually feels like you’re back in that time. And the serial killer mystery part of this was unraveled so perfectly absolutely love this book.

Breakneck Bay is the kind of thriller that makes your stomach drop before you even buckle in.

From the opening pages, I felt the tension creeping under my skin—this isn’t just a missing girl case, it’s a gut-punch of a story that spirals into obsession, betrayal, and the kind of secrets that rot a marriage from the inside out.

Kit, our narrator, is the new wife trying to hold on to what feels like the fast-fading illusion of a honeymoon phase. Her husband, Mitch, manages a waterpark with a disturbing injury track record and an even more disturbing connection to the disappearance of a young employee. Gardner doesn’t waste time, she throws you headfirst into the chaos with a blood stained crime scene, an unraveling relationship, and just enough eerie clues to make you question everyone and everything.

And let me be clear: this isn’t your standard thriller. Gardner writes with razor-sharp precision. The characters are flawed and human in the most uncomfortable ways. Every chapter peels back another layer, and the pacing? Absolutely relentless. Just when you think you know where it’s going, another twist snaps you sideways.

But what really stuck with me is the way this story explores fear in a domestic setting. The paranoia. The quiet horror of wondering if the person you trust most might be hiding something unforgivable. Kit’s descent into doubt is raw and real, and you’ll find yourself spiraling right alongside her.

Breakneck Bay is unnerving, smart, and surprisingly emotional in places. If you think you can handle the ride, buckle up. Because once you enter this park, you won't leave the same.

'Breakneck Bay' is a fast-paced, chilling thriller set in a gritty 1980s waterpark where danger lurks beneath the summer fun. When a teenage employee mysteriously disappears, suspicion falls on the park manager.

This is a thrill-packed pageturner filled with twists, dark secrets, and a sense of dread. The blend of mystery, horror, and 80s vibes makes this one a nostalgic read for the summer.

This book is very aptly named- the story moved along at a breakneck pace! I loved that it was all action with very little breaks in between. Sometimes you just need a really fast paced thriller! I’d classify this as more of a popcorn thriller, that will completely hold your attention throughout. Also a very satisfying ending!

I hope saying this doesn't land me in a courtroom... But I'm becoming obsessed with this author.
This is my 4th Faith Gardner book, and they have all been brilliant. I especially gravitate towards stories set at amusement parks, so I knew this was going to be a banger.
I thought I had this story figured out, but of course I didn't. I have yet to predict the ending of a Faith Gardner book, and that's why shes quickly become one of my favorite authors. This is a must read this summer!

This is such a good summer thriller! It was fast paced, fun and had some really good 80s nostalgia. I’ve never read a thriller that takes place in a water park, so I never realized how creepy it could be!

Breakneck Bay was the first book I’ve read by Faith Gardner! I loved the 80’s setting and I read this book in 24 hours! I couldn’t put this one down! I loved this thriller from beginning to end! There were so many twists and turns! I will be reading more of her books!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Oh the pure nostalgia in this book. But don’t let that fool you. Breakneck bay literally takes you on a rollercoaster full of thrills and mystery with plenty of danger. Not your typical glorified theme park, this one is riddled with dark secrets. The characters were all great and a crucial part to the overall story. This was such a page turner trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Once the worker disappears, Kit tries to piece all the clues together even the mysterious calls. The suspense left you on the edge of your seat, the mystery kept you guessing, the danger draws you in and you won’t believe the shocking revelations revealed. Can’t wait to read more from this author!!

What a ride! I picked this up over summer break and couldn’t have asked for a better escape—fast-paced, eerie, and completely addictive. From the first chapter, I was all in. The suspense never lets up, and the horror-tinged atmosphere gave me chills in the best way. The setting was moody and vivid, pulling me in deeper with every page. And that ending? Perfectly executed—finally, a thriller that nails the finish. If you love dark, twisty reads you can’t put down, this one’s a must.