Disclosure: This post is brought to you by SheSpeaks; all opinions shared here are mine.
Shortly after I was given the chance to review The Breakdown by B. A. Paris same author as Behind Closed Doors), I considered all the meanings of the word “breakdown.” Would it mean a car breakdown? An information or process breakdown? Or something darker? I finished the book today, and am still trembling from the aftermath!
I’ve always been a rather anxious person, so I could really relate to the way Cass fixated on the terrible accident that occurred near her home. The news is generally avoided in my house because it breaks my heart to hear the sad stories of pain and suffering that people endure around the world. If I’d been in her situation, I’d definitely be thinking about the accident around the clock!
There are so many things to enjoy about this book. The setting is a quaint, rather isolated, rural home in England. Some of the terms are decidedly British, and it was fun to see phrases used by our friends across the pond. Examples such as “notes” for cash, “multi-story” for parking garage, and “mobile” for cell phone were so charming that I started to imagine the lovely, lilting British accents as I heard the characters’ voices in my mind. She caught me off guard with that little trick, I’ll tell you! Throughout the novel, it’s difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. The suspense comes from not knowing what is the truth. My heart started beating so fast!
The Breakdown was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I loved that there was no strong profanity — only a few mild words are used — and the intimate scenes are glossed over. So many times, adult books have an R-rating in my mind because of language and mature content. B. A. Paris sets the tone for a powerful thriller without any of those crass loopholes. Instead, she uses emotions to drive the psychological suspense of this book. Mark your calendar for the July 18 release date — you won’t want to miss this one!
I enjoyed this book, but for some reason I liked Behind Closed Doors better. They were both really good though.