daniellepalmer1988's review against another edition
4.0
Short and sweet! Easy page-turner!! I enjoyed the suspense of Behind Closed Doors more... but this was still an entertaining read!!
funofme's review against another edition
3.0
This story irritated me. It kept me hanging on until the 83% mark. Once I learned the twist or what was really happening I looked up the ending - and I am glad I did. So technically this is a DNF but I got through most of it.
I am torn, on the one hand, this story was really compelling in trying to see if the main character was being manipulated or if she was unreliable in her narration but on the other hand in between the suspense and tension building was just bleak moments to read. I like B.A Paris's ability to craft a thriller especially between partners but I think this one might be a dud to me.
I am torn, on the one hand, this story was really compelling in trying to see if the main character was being manipulated or if she was unreliable in her narration but on the other hand in between the suspense and tension building was just bleak moments to read. I like B.A Paris's ability to craft a thriller especially between partners but I think this one might be a dud to me.
carolannchambers's review
4.0
After I read Bring Me Back, I decided to read the last book by BA Paris that I hadn’t read. I loved The Breakdown even more than Bring Me Back because it was so different from anything else I’ve ever read. Cass is driving home one night when she sees a car stopped in the woods. Instead of stopping to help, she drives away, believing she could be in danger. After that night, she begins forgetting things like how to use the washing machine and turn off the alarm. She begins to forget things she did, like ordering things and making plans. She believes she may be getting early onset dementia, like her mother, but she also feels that it could have something to do with what she saw on the side of the road.
jen_e_fer's review
2.0
The last couple of chapters of this book were the only interesting parts. The main character made me want to scream at her. She was so gullible and had almost no common sense. I had pretty much figured out that either the husband or the best friend were messing with her so when it turned out to be both..I wasn't very surprised. I liked this authors 1st book but this one didn't live up to the hype at all.
cathreadsalot's review
3.0
As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours, and for Cass Anderson, that statement could not be more fitting.
One night, on her way home from a friend’s house, Cass takes a turn onto a desolate road in the middle of the woods during a rainstorm. She spots the car of an unidentifiable woman on the side of the road, and after turning it over in her mind, decides against stopping to make sure she is okay, for fear that something might happen to her if she does. The next morning, she learns that the woman, Jane, whom Cass later realizes she knew, had been murdered, and the decision to drive off sparks a sequence of events that that lunges Cass into a downward spiral.
This book truly frightened me at times. Cass was losing her mind for the entirety of the book, and at first, when it was little things, I chalked it up to bad memory, but later, when it was bigger, more important details, I was starting to think I was going insane – perhaps not having paid attention enough myself. One of the strangest things I found about the narrative was how often Matthew, Cass’ husband, and Rachel, Cass’ childhood best friend, brought up the murder in the woods. Yes, that’s what the book was primarily about, but it was almost a little bit too much and far fetched that these people would be bringing up the subject for that long, especially not having known Cass had been at the scene that night.
Despite that, I did enjoy this read – it was eerie, and I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened to Jane and why. With that said though, the ending was kind of predictable and it was a little bit silly how Cass ‘guessed’ who had done it and why (uh, same!).
B.A. Paris is a safe bet if you are looking for a quick and easy thriller though, and despite having a hunch about the ending, I still think it's one worth reading.
One night, on her way home from a friend’s house, Cass takes a turn onto a desolate road in the middle of the woods during a rainstorm. She spots the car of an unidentifiable woman on the side of the road, and after turning it over in her mind, decides against stopping to make sure she is okay, for fear that something might happen to her if she does. The next morning, she learns that the woman, Jane, whom Cass later realizes she knew, had been murdered, and the decision to drive off sparks a sequence of events that that lunges Cass into a downward spiral.
This book truly frightened me at times. Cass was losing her mind for the entirety of the book, and at first, when it was little things, I chalked it up to bad memory, but later, when it was bigger, more important details, I was starting to think I was going insane – perhaps not having paid attention enough myself. One of the strangest things I found about the narrative was how often Matthew, Cass’ husband, and Rachel, Cass’ childhood best friend, brought up the murder in the woods. Yes, that’s what the book was primarily about, but it was almost a little bit too much and far fetched that these people would be bringing up the subject for that long, especially not having known Cass had been at the scene that night.
Spoiler
.Even if they had selfish reason to keep bringing it up, it was honestly too much!Despite that, I did enjoy this read – it was eerie, and I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened to Jane and why. With that said though, the ending was kind of predictable and it was a little bit silly how Cass ‘guessed’ who had done it and why (uh, same!).
B.A. Paris is a safe bet if you are looking for a quick and easy thriller though, and despite having a hunch about the ending, I still think it's one worth reading.
emilyhames's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up The Breakdown by B A Paris and was pleasantly surprised! This novel follows our main character who sees a woman pulled over on the side of the road during a bad storm and doesn’t stop to help. The next day she finds out that woman was murdered. Feeling guilty, our protagonist starts to receive silent calls and becomes constantly forgetful, fearing early onset dementia.
I thought this was an interesting take on the unreliable narrator trope, and was quickly engrossed in the story. The writing was super easy to get into and I flew through this very quickly. My only qualm was perhaps that it got a little repetitive as the main character worries over forgetting things. I was able to guess half of the solution from the beginning, but couldn’t for the life of me figure out how the murder came into play, in which I was pleasantly surprised.
Whilst this wasn’t the most amazing thriller I’ve ever read it was definitely enjoyable. Many people say this is one of the authors weaker works, so I can’t wait to pick up some of her more recent novels!
I thought this was an interesting take on the unreliable narrator trope, and was quickly engrossed in the story. The writing was super easy to get into and I flew through this very quickly. My only qualm was perhaps that it got a little repetitive as the main character worries over forgetting things. I was able to guess half of the solution from the beginning, but couldn’t for the life of me figure out how the murder came into play, in which I was pleasantly surprised.
Whilst this wasn’t the most amazing thriller I’ve ever read it was definitely enjoyable. Many people say this is one of the authors weaker works, so I can’t wait to pick up some of her more recent novels!
viktoriya's review against another edition
3.0
Around 80 pages in I made a prediction of what might be happening. Kept reading as I was curious if it was correct. Turns out, yeap, nailed it. Down to the motive.
amandaxhafaj's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75