The Breakdown: A Novel

I would never skip a book written by this lady, it’s a slow burn but worth it, finished the whole thing in 3 days lol

Relatively predictable, mildly entertaining. I probably wouldn't recommend it to a friend.

Amazing listen!!!!! Loved every bit of it! Does NOT disappoint!

I knew how the story-line would go almost immediately. It kept me mildly interested and was good to have on when I was doing other things. No big deal to miss 10-15” here and there. Was easy to figure out and catch up with. I like that it was not full of sex and bad language.

This has such a satisfying ending! The last 10 chapters or so I found myself grinning ear to ear and audibly saying "yes!". It was so frustrating throughout so much of the story, but I couldn't put it down, I HAD to know if the main character survived! The ending was unexpected and I am sitting here thinking about how I want to read it again now knowing the ending. I love BA Paris' works!

I was hooked from the beginning and if a book doesn't catch my interest right away then forget it. This book was full of twists although I did figure out pretty early in what I thought was going to be the big reveal; however, enough red herrings along the way to make me second guess myself. I actually hated to see the book end and I would love to hear more of Cass' story. Maybe the author could write a sequel. I will be looking for more of this authors books too, she is a wonderful writer. The narration was also well done, I am hooked on audiobooks because they allow me to multi-task.

Not as good as Behind Closed Doors, but still a solid read. I felt it was pretty slow and mundane in the beginning, but the ending was strong. Looking forward to reading more from B. A. Paris.

Book Description:If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting insideâthe woman who was killed. She's been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It's a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she'd broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she'd stopped.But since then, she's been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn't have a baby.The only thing she can't forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.Or the silent calls she's receiving, or the feeling that someone's watching herâ¦My Review:This book drew me in from the very beginning. It was a fast-paced and intriguing story which held my attention throughout the whole book. The narrator did an excellent job and made the story interesting to listen to. There were some really good twists in the story but I found the ending was a bit predictable. All in all, I enjoyed the book very much and look forward to the next book from this author. I would highly recommend this novel to those who love psychological thrillers.

Fantastic. So many twists and turns. Cant wait to read more from this author

I loved Behind Closed Doors so much but loved this even more! I was totally hooked from the beginning!!

I guessed most of the ending , but it had a few plot twists.

I read "Behind Closed Doors" and loved it. The protagonist, Cass, in this novel, I really couldn't relate to. It's a book about "gaslighting" and I could tell right away who was doing it. Some good parts towards the end when there is revenge against the antagonists.

Cass Anderson is on her way home after a night out. She sees a woman in a car, parked in a layby. Cass didn't see if the woman needed help and the next day she finds out she's dead. Ever since Cass is convinced the murderer is after her too. Silent phone calls start to terrorise Cass. I really enjoyed this book, which wasn't quite what I expected. From the beginning I was instantly drawn into the story. I did want to see what was going to happen to Cass as her life starts to fall apart.The story was a roller coaster of a read. So many things go wrong for Cass I'm thinking can it get any worse. When things fall into place I have to say I didn't see it coming, and I didnt find the story too predictable. I didn't quite like the ending with the reason why. I can't say too much because it will spoil. I did think however that at times the story became a bit repetitive at times especially when Cass first starts to get the phone calls. The story then picks up speed leaving me wanting to turn the pages.A satisfactory thriller with plenty to keep interest. I recommend to anybody who especially likes the domestic settings for thrillers. Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

Great story, easy read! If you like feminine thrillers, this will satisfy. BA Paris, keep writing more!

Unpredictable! The whole time I was like “It was him, no it was her, no wait a minute it was HER!”, lol. I love a good psycho thriller/mystery read. This one drags out a bit slow in the middle, got a bit boring, but then it picks back up and finishes off. Keeps you guessing

Really enjoyed this book and it kept me interested. The ending was a little underwhelming but overall it was good. I’d recommend it.

Another thrilling Psychological drama. I love when they still manage to surprise me..

Thirty-four year old Cass Anderson, the narrator of B. A. Paris's "The Breakdown," is a deeply troubled heroine. Her late mother suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and Cass has reason to believe that she too may be losing her memory. She has a devoted husband, Matthew, who tries to comfort her. However, when she forgets appointments, punches in the wrong code for the burglar alarm, and misplaces things, she becomes increasingly worried and fearful. Adding to her distress, a woman whom she knew is murdered, and Cass believes that she may be the killer's next target.

As her emotional state continues to decline, Cass worries that Matthew will become fed up with her. At one time, she had been looking forward to starting a family. She is also beginning to doubt that she will be fit to return to her teaching job after summer vacation. One bright spot is that Cass has a close friend, Rachel Baretto, whom she has known since childhood, but even Rachel's love and support cannot keep Cass from descending into a fog. Soon, she can barely get out of bed, much less plan for the future.

B. A. Paris's "The Breakdown" is a psychological thriller set in England that, unfortunately, delivers little suspense and excitement. The plot is predictable and heavy-handed, and the heroine's gullibility makes it difficult to sympathize with her. Other flaws include simplistically portrayed characters; stilted dialogue; overwrought passages (two examples: "dread takes hold and peppers my skin with tiny beads of sweat" and "my tears increase and become huge sobs of wretchedness"); and a conclusion that is far-fetched and anticlimactic. This is a disappointing effort from a writer whose previous work of fiction, "Behind Closed Doors," was edgy, imaginative, and incredibly chilling.

Contemporary fiction mystery/thriller about a woman, Cass, who encounters another woman in a car on a stormy night while taking a short cut home. The next day she discovers the woman in the car had been murdered and is filled with guilt that she might have somehow have prevented her death. She is also dealing with forgetfulness and worries that she, like her late mother, is afflicted with early onset dementia. I found it extremely engrossing and flew through it. I thought the author did a great job of depicting what it might be like to feel the paranoia of being stalked by a murderer. The language was direct and there were a few coincidences and unnecessary repetition, but overall, I liked it. Recommended to those that enjoy psychological thrillers.

I was totally swept away by the suspense and mystery of The Break Down. Cass and Matthew have a great life together although she has secretly feared she will end up with dementia like her mother. Things begin to fall apart when Cass realizes that a murdered woman is someone she knew, and that she passed her car on the road in a terrible thunderstorm on her way home the night before. She becomes fearful that the murderer may be after her next. She starts to forget things, minor absent-mindedness at first but then it escalates to the point that she can't remember ordering packages that have been delivered, or how to work her own coffee machine. Is it just the stress? Is it the start of dementia? Or is it something more sinister? Could someone be gas lighting her? Or will she be the next murder victim? Alfred Hitchcock could not have crafted a more electrifying thriller with such a satisfying conclusion.

I received an advance copy for review.

I could not stop reading this book. I stayed up till I finished it. It is the first one of this author that I have read. Plan to check out more.
I kept trying to guess who did it. Very scary at the end.
Case’s girlfriend and husband tried to convince her she had lost her mind and it was working until ....

Awesome fast paced thriller.

Amazing does not even begin to describe this book, but I’m at a loss for words. This is not only the first review I’ve ever written, but The Breakdown was the first book I’ve read cover to cover in one sitting. It’s absolutely mesmerizing!!

Loved it. Even though I figured out the "who" early on, it made perfect sense why Cass took so long. This is one that makes you think about it all day. Any one of us could find ourselves on this situation.

So many plot holes and numerous questions.

Yes, it was a page turner but it was also infuriating for its sieve-like narrative.

There were many pages where I wished I could have phoned the author and asked things like:

- Why would you have a house phone with only one handset when mobile phones don't work in your home?

- How could you have a house which is both isolated and also has close neighbours?

- What sort of murderer leaves the DNA-encrusted weapon lying around and even uses it as a prop for another crime?

- Can we just have a chat about property titles and passing these back and forth between owners?

... and various other annoyances.

Loved this. I, along with Cass , was convinced she WAS losing her mind. After Cass doesn’t stop to help a woman sitting in a car on the side of the road during a downpour, she is of course filled with guilt when she learns that the woman was found in her car, murdered. That was the beginning of Cass’ breakdown. She becomes convinced that the murderer saw her drive past Jane and is now stalking her by watching the house, phoning her and just breathing. Shortly after this, Cass also starts to become increasingly forgetful, and she begins to fear that she is suffering from early onset dementia. She forgets inviting people to dinner, doesn’t remember where she left her car, she orders things online that she has no memory of ordering and she even begins to forget how to operate common appliances like the washing machines. I was fully convinced that she really was just losing her mind. Then something happens that allows Cass to realize that she hasn’t been losing her mind at all, and then she has to decide what she’s going to do about it.

I loved B. A. Paris's [Behind Closed Doors] so was rather surprised at her character of Cass. I didn't know rather to pity her or kill her myself. I know that the author was trying to build the suspense but this woman just kept getting dumber and dumber. Some one is dead...or might be dead in the car you stopped and momentarily observed...so TELL someone!! The fact that she was on the road she wan't suppose to be on pales beside the reality. Overall I found the idea of the story-line interesting...hence the 3 stars... but badly carried through. The main character of Cass was gullible...needy..and stupid. I stopped feeling sorry for her about a third of the way through and gave up on her completely by the half way point.

In B.A. Paris' latest domestic mystery, The Breakdown, focuses on the effects that a chilling murder on a deserted country road has on the victim's friend.

During a heavy rainstorm, thirty-four year old schoolteacher Cass Anderson notices a car sitting on a lay by and stops to see if the driver needs assistance. However, when it appears the woman is not in trouble, Cass's concerns about her own personal safety outweigh her concern for the other driver and she leaves without approaching her. The next day, she is absolutely horrified to learn the woman was brutally murdered and after she discovers the victim is her new friend, Jane Walters, she becomes terrified the killer might know where to find her. Over the next couple of months, Cass is plagued by a series of eerie phone calls, the sense she is being watched and overwhelming guilt she could have prevented Jane's death.  Growing increasingly concerned for her safety, Cass cannot convince her husband Matthew or her best friend Rachel Baretto to take her seriously due to her failing memory. Is someone watching Cass? Is she suffering from early onset dementia? And most importantly, who killed Jane and why?

Cass is an extremely frustrating and irritating lead character and since the novel is written from her perspective, readers have a front seat to her excessive guilt, fear and paranoia. Almost right from the beginning, she is guilt-ridden and convinced it is her fault Jane is dead. Then her irrational fears begin and the novel becomes incredibly repetitive and mired down by her self-doubts and a melodramatic plot. Savvy readers will clue in fairly early to the truth about what is happening to Cass and it is not too much of a leap to guess who is responsible for them. The why is a little more difficult to figure out and it is difficult to remain invested in learning the truth since much of the storyline becomes a
regurgitation of daily phone calls, Cass's failing memory and her conviction that it is only a matter of time before she is savagely murdered by Jane's killer.  This certainty that her life is in danger makes Cass's decision to take a prescription for "stress" that essentially keeps her knocked out all day and night utterly ridiculous.

The Breakdown is an extremely slow-paced mystery that requires a fairly healthy suspension of disbelief by readers.  The novel is initially quite interesting but very quickly becomes tedious as it fails to make any progress whatsoever until the last fifty or so pages. Cass's reactions are way over the top and she comes across as very weak and irrational. The title is quite clever as is the novel's conclusion but overall, this latest release from B.A. Paris fails to live up to the hype.

I really liked this book. Kinda knew where it was going but I enjoyed the read.

This is a suspenseful story about a young woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Cass (Cassandra) is happily married, has lots of friends with one BFF, Rachel. She works as a teacher and is very good at her job. Both her parents are dead, her mother from early onset dementia. Her husband Matthew does not know about her mother's death. Cass is driving home one night and she sees a car on a road that is used as a shortcut through the forested area. Although she stops to check on the driver, she leaves the scene. The next day, she finds out that the driver of this car, "Jane", has been killed. Cass is riddled with guilt about not stopping. Could she have saved this woman from death if she had stopped? She starts to forget things, lose things, and can feel reality sinking away? She begins to fear that she is developing early onset dementia as well.

This is written in the first person, and you can feel Cass' fear and terror as she begins to realize that she may be going developing dementia or having a nervous breakdown. There is a lot of twists and turns in this story that keep you wondering what is going to happen next. The story takes a bit to develop but stick with it because everything comes together in an amazing conclusion. I loved this book, but it is scary to realize that you never know who your real friends are. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. The opinions exressed are my own.