I so enjoyed this book, it was a quick read, there was some twist, but nothing you couldn’t figure out
It was my first book by the author, but it will definitely not be my last

I haven't read a book that had me so hooked in a really long time. I couldn't stop reading, and when I had to do other things, I was still thinking about it. I don't know exactly what it was, because it wasn't super suspenseful and it didn't have insane crazy twists or anything like that. It was just so captivating; I was completely lost in it.

It was a little bit predictable, but I was so hooked that I can't fault it. I think the story itself would be a 4 star read, but because of the way I couldn't stop thinking about it, I'm going up to 5.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Breakneck Bay By Faith Gardner
Publication Date: July 24, 2025
Publisher: Mirror House Press

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

Thank you to Mirror House Press, Faith Gardner, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

As soon as I heard Faith Gardner's upcoming release, Breakneck Bay, was available on NetGalley, I immediately logged in and requested it. Gardner is one of those authors who is masterful with crafting unexpected twists and who can write foreboding suspense so brilliantly! I couldn't wait to devour this one, and devour it I did!

There was an underlying sense of unsettled tension in the pages, and I just knew there were dark secrets waiting to spill out at any moment. As the book shifted into dual POVs in dual timelines, including the POV of a serial killer, I was hooked and could NOT put it down.

This book takes place in the early 1980s at a California water park called Breakneck Bay, or Break-Your-Neck Bay as it's known by the locals. The park has questionable standards and it's had its fair share of troubles over the years. Kit & Mitch are newlyweds, and since Mitch is the park's general manager, Kit is happy to be running the park's infirmary this summer so she can spend more time with Mitch. But when a teenage employee vanishes, leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene, it’s clear this summer will not be all that Kit anticipated. And when suspicion begins to swirl around Mitch, Kit is forced to confront some nagging questions she's had about her new husband. Add in the skeezy park owner Creighton, Kit's troubled older brother Freddie, and Kit's childhood trauma....and you've got a twisty thrill ride.

The dual POVs in this one were nothing short of chilling and sent shivers of creepiness down my back. As the pieces of Kit's world unraveled, I wondered who was going to be revealed as the villain. And per usual with Gardner's books, I didn't see this ending coming...but loved every minute of it.

With its water park setting, nostalgic 80s vibes, and hot suspense, this unputdownable thriller is the perfect read for this summer! You're going to want to get Breakneck Bay in your hands as soon as you can. Available to request now on NetGalley and publishing in late July!

#BreakneckBay #FaithGardner #MirrorHousePress #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

i liked this enough because of how fast-paced it was and the vibes it gave off, but overall the plot was quite a letdown. this made the book just ‘okay’.

in general, i thought it was really unique to utilize a waterpark as a setting for a thriller/murder mystery, and the author did a good job of making it really feel like it took place in the 80s. i really liked Kit and sympathized with her a lot, and all the minor characters that work at the waterpark were pretty entertaining too. however, we actually don’t really get to see much of the actual waterpark in operations, which felt like wasted potential.

i felt that the twists were way too predictable. it was easy to pinpoint who did what, most likely because there wasn’t really that many suspects to begin with. you can start to piece the puzzle by yourself halfway through the book, and that makes the last 30% just waiting for Kit to realize what you already know. something that happened near the end also left a sour taste in my mouth. iykyk.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Faith Gardner, and Mirror House Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Check out my GoodReads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7603026854

This is a fun summer read, nothing too deep. Everything was very predictable, and I kept hoping for a twist at the end, but it didn't happen. It plays out pretty much how you expect, with no surprises.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! Faith Gardner is always a homerun for me. While the ending of this was super easy to figure out, I enjoyed the ride! I LOVE the character development and all the little quirks within these characters. I don't think I will be visiting Breakneck Bay anytime soon.

Breakneck Bay is known for wild rides, frequent injuries, and endless lawsuits. But when a teenage employee vanishes after hours, leaving behind a bloody scene, things turn deadly. Park manager Mitch Blue is the prime suspect, and his wife Kit is forced to question everything, his past, their marriage, and whether she really knows the man she married. As secrets surface and danger closes in, Kit must face a terrifying possibility, the real threat might be right beside her.

Breakneck Bay is a neon-drenched psychological thriller set in a nostalgic 80s waterpark, full of secrets, lies, and deception. What starts as a vibrant, retro backdrop soon reveals a chilling mystery, how does a serial killer from the 1970s connect to a missing teenage girl in the 1980s? The story unfolds through two gripping points of view, Kit, a woman whose already fragile marriage is pushed to the brink when her husband Mitch becomes a suspect in the disappearance of a teenage park employee, and a serial killer battling his urge to kill again. Their narratives intertwine in a suspenseful, unsettling way that keeps the tension high and the pages turning. With its blend of nostalgia and psychological depth, Breakneck Bay is a perfect summer read for thriller fans, moody, fast-paced, and full of twists. However, be aware that the story explores dark and potentially triggering themes. Be sure to check content warnings before diving in.

Thanks @netgalley @faith.gardner and xpressobooktours for this ARC. Breakneck bay will be published on 24th July.

*Publication Date July 24th 2025*

I found this incredibly hard to put down once I started! Fast paced, super binge-able, perfect summer thriller read! This was twisted, with plenty of 80s nostalgia, lies, deception, murder, and questioning who to trust....

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Breakneck Bay plunges readers into a chilling mystery at a dangerous water park where a teen employee vanishes. As suspicion circles her husband, Kit must untangle secrets threatening everything she believes about love and trust. Faith Gardner blends domestic suspense with psychological tension in this addictive thriller—a must-read for fans who love mystery, drama and sketchy characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5 stars)

𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬. 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤--𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬!

Set in a water park in the 1980s, reading this book was like watching an episode of Cold Case. It was nostalgic without the warm, fuzzy feelings that usually accompany a simpler time. Because in the 1980s, men were hunting women, just like today, and they were getting away with it for much longer due to lack of advancement in technology and science.

At Breakneck Bay theme park, Kit Blue works in the first aid office while her husband Mitch is the park manager. The couple is newly married and eager to start a family, but when a teenage employee vanishes one night after her closing shift and the team arrives to a blood-soaked crime scene the following morning, Kit finds herself rethinking those plans. Why? Because suspicion has fallen on Mitch, and when Kit starts getting strange phone calls, she begins to examine the flaws in her brand new marriage.

I loved the diverse cast of characters, the tension, and the creeping dread toward the inevitable climax. My only complaint is that I wish the park had been more of a character. Other than that, this was a fantastic thriller that will keep you up past your bedtime, and the author's notes are not to be missed! Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the early copy. This title is expected to publish July 24, 2025.

Thank you net galley for this arc. this book is full of deception,hot suspense,and pov's. it's also fast pace ,perfect summer read.

Breakneck Bay is known for its dangerous rides and endless legal troubles, but when a teenage worker goes missing and a bloody scene is left behind, the summer takes a deadly turn. All eyes turn to Mitch, the park manager—putting his wife Kit in the middle of a terrifying mystery. As Kit digs into the secrets Mitch has been hiding, she starts to question their entire marriage. But she's not the only one searching for answers. Someone else is lurking in the shadows, connected to the park’s dark history and ready to strike again. In a place built on danger, Kit has to face the most chilling truth of all—she may be married to a killer.
This book completely pulled me in from the start. Set in a chaotic, run-down water park in the early '80s, Breakneck Bay blends nostalgia, suspense, and emotional grit in the best possible way. The setting isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character, oozing with danger, flickering neon, and a sense that something is always just a little off.
Kit, the main character, is thrown into a nightmare of a summer: creepy coworkers, a missing teenager, a suspicious husband, and way too many red flags to ignore. As she starts digging into the truth, the story builds into a tense, high-speed mystery that doesn’t let up. Add in flashbacks from a serial killer’s perspective, and you’ve got layers of dread simmering under the surface.
The suspense is strong, the characters are deeply flawed but grow on you, and while I figured out part of the twist early, the journey there was still full of surprises. It’s not overly graphic, but it definitely hits some dark emotional notes—so trigger warnings are a must.
If you’re into gritty, neon-lit thrillers with a retro vibe, broken people, and a ton of tension, Breakneck Bay is a wild ride worth taking.

Favorite Quote:
"I was born in hill valley and have lived here my entire life. It used to be a peaceful town where summer meant children playing by the creek and neighbors gathering on their porches. Now, all I hear is screaming - not of joy, but of thrill-seekers hurling themselves down the water slides at breakneck bay Waterpark."

You don't have to have been a teenager in the 80s (like I was) to appreciate this suspenseful novel. How is a serial killer from the 70s associated with Breakneck Bay waterpark in the 80s? And where is the young employee that has gone missing? Is someone trying to frame Kit's husband? You'll have to read to find out!

Sometimes reviewers say they could not put a book down but, in this case, it is the truth. I received an advanced reading copy this morning and finished the book by dinnertime. Time after time, Faith Gardner continues to impress me!

This book felt so predictable. I felt like I knew who it was the entire time, and I was right. I also knew immediately when she was pregnant way before we found out she was based off the context. Overall it was a fun read but not the best of hers.

This is the fourth book I’ve read by Faith Gardner, I don’t read the blurbs, I know she writes original, varied and exciting thrillers every time.

Kit and her husband Mitch work at Breakneck Bay, a water park with a reckless attitude to health and safety and a history of incidents. When a teenage employee vanishes leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene suspicion falls on Mitch and Kit must look closely at their relationship…

That’s just the start, there’s plenty going on, interesting original characters, past mysteries and truly dark secrets to be revealed. Thoroughly entertaining and unpredictable, with lots of different angles and Faith Gardner has such lovely flourishes in her writing.

Recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mirror House Books

Thank you to Faith Gardner, Mirror House Press, and Netgalley for the e-arc of BreakNeck Bay! Fast-paced twisty thriller that gave me whiplash!! Perfect summer thriller! Loved the 80s water park setting! Included a bonus epilogue called Take Me Home! I love Faith Gardners writing and she knocked it out of the park again! This book publishes on 7/24/25!

Let the 80s summer nostalgia begin! Breakneck Bay is the perfect summer thriller.

It is full of deception, lies and a really shady water park. The book was fast-paced and I loved the incorporation of mixed media. I also enjoyed that we got present POV and the killers POV. The characters are all suspicious, you really don’t know who to trust throughout the book. While the ending was totally shocking, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

It was a super fun thriller that should definitely be added to your summer TBR!

When I saw that this mystery/thriller/whatever you wanna call it takes place at a waterpark, I got so excited! I feel like a waterpark is the perfect place setting for a spooky story, but is never used as a spooky setting.

Unfortunately, I wish that the waterpark was used more. The waterpark felt so background, almost forgotten about. This perfect setting was just not used anywhere near its full potential.

I also found that this story kind of piddle out, losing a lot of momentum and intrigue.

There were some really cool and interesting elements to this book, the calls were a more unique plot-moving device, but I just wanted more.

I think that sums up how I feel about this story: I wanted more. This was so close, but not close enough. Ya know?

Overall, I still enjoyed this book and loved the more unique setting. I can see a lot of people really enjoying this. Give me more thrillers with unique settings! I love to see it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

As someone who consumes a lot of true crime, the idea of a novel featuring a 1980s serial killer is basically music to my ears (yes, I know how that sounds, It’s a healthy obsession, I promise).

★★★★★

Breakneck Bay has it all! The moment I saw the synopsis and the cover reveal, I was ready to dive in. The way this novel is being told, with the snippets from the killer’s perspective, add a chilling layer that makes the story even more compelling and adds to the mystery of wanting to solve this puzzle.

As the story unraveled I felt the emotional tension building with each chapter. Faith Gardner you’ve done it again, captivated me with your words and amazing story telling. This is the perfect summer thriller, no matter what you are doing and where you are going, pick up a copy of this book as soon as it’s released and take the plunge.

Breakneck Bay is the 80s water park we all wanted to go to back in the day! But this one is full of missing girls, lies and intrigue. This story started out a bit slow for me until all the pieces started falling into place..

Once things started moving, I couldn’t put it down. A quick read and most of the time you won’t know where it’s headed. Don’t miss out on this one!