The Breakdown
By B. A. Paris
Blurb
It all started that night in the woods. Cass Anderson didn't stop to help the woman in the car, and now she's dead. Ever since, silent calls have been plaguing Cass and she's sure someone is watching her. Consumed by guilt, she's also starting to forget things. Whether she took her pills, what her house alarm code is - and if the knife in the kitchen really had blood on it. Bestselling author B A Paris is back with a brand new psychological thriller full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Our Review
For my birthday last year I received a copy of Behind Closed Doors, the debut novel by B. A. Paris, and I really enjoyed it. The Breakdown was even better and in my opinion is already a contender for the best psychological thriller of the year.
It is a dark and stormy night, Cass has been out with friends, and despite promising her husband she wouldn’t, she takes a short cut home.
“Even with my headlights full on I can barely see where I’m going and I instantly regret the brightly lit road I left behind. Although this road is beautiful by day – it cuts through bluebell woods – it’s hidden dips and bends made it treacherous on a night like this.”
When she is almost home she comes upon a woman pulled over in a layby. Cass pulls over and debates getting out to see if she wants help but then she remembers stories about car thieves tricking people into stopping. When the girl gives no indication she needs help Cass decides to drive on.
The next morning Cass discovers the woman was brutally murdered. She later learns she worked with her best friend and she herself had been for dinner with her. Cass is burdened with guilt and feels really bad that she didn’t get out of her car to help.
Cass feels unable to tell her husband, Matthew, as she knows he will be appalled that she put herself in danger. She can’t tell her best friend Rachel because she feels as though she would judge her for not helping.
Then there are the strange phone calls where the phone rings and she answers but nobody speaks and the sense of being watched.
On top of all of this, Cass is experiencing memory problems. She invites friends round or makes plans with them and then has no recollection of making plans, she orders things online but again has no memory of doing so and she even makes plans for an alarm to be fitted to her house but forgets having done so.
Cass is worried that she is showing symptoms of early onset dementia, her own mother was diagnosed with it at the age of 44 and Cass is in her early 30s.
As the book progresses Cass’ behaviour becomes increasingly eratic and her sense of danger only increases.
Brilliant book.
Our Final Rating...
Read & Shared 84 Times.
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