The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

Cass Anderson passes at car in a lay-by on a stormy night. Has the driver broken down or is this the start of a sinister psychological tale?

The Breakdown is a first person narrative, psychological thriller set in Britain. This story works well being told in the first person and I found it very easy to identify with Cass. I liked how creepy this story was and how well it played on our own fears as we get older and our brains are not as sharp as they used to be. Those niggling doubts are fully explored as Cass tries to keep her life on track. I thought the tension was good and realistic. This novel made me think of other people who are forgetful and what was nice is that Cass is such an ordinary woman. I liked how nothing was flash about this story, it was just an everyday tale of coping with busy lives. Then the horror starts to creep in, this could so easily happen to you, the reader!

Okay, the plot was NOT the most original. From the very start you have your doubts. As the story unfolds there are no big surprises but it was still an enjoyable read. This is not just a story for women because men can drive past cars in lay-bys and wonder. Married men also wonder if their wife has told them something earlier or if they are playing mind games? There are so many things to remember in our busy lives, are we becoming forgetful or is something darker coming into play?

The Breakdown is a good novel, there is nothing offensive or shocking about it but it does play on the mind. That is it's biggest strength, how it plays on the reader's mind and for that I give it 4 stars. For such an intense psychological thriller, there was one part that made me chuckle, the multi-storey car park. I can imagine a lot of women in the same situation and it being no surprise to the attendant.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Harlequin UK/St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.