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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5⭐️ HANDS DOWN!!
This was my first book from Katherine and I need to read more!!! The twists are phenomenal and the end just left you saying WHAT!!! You’d never know!🫣
I’m so grateful to receive an ARC from Netgalley! I can’t wait to dive into another thriller by Katherine🔪
This was my first book from Katherine and I need to read more!!! The twists are phenomenal and the end just left you saying WHAT!!! You’d never know!🫣
I’m so grateful to receive an ARC from Netgalley! I can’t wait to dive into another thriller by Katherine🔪
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At first, this felt like a basic domestic thriller. Something bad happened (a break-in), our protagonist reacted, and she’s picking up the pieces afterward, trying to understand what happened. And then it all starts to get crazy as it becomes clear that this break-in is part of something much larger. Watching Alice’s life unravel was difficult and crazy and full of twists and surprises, and the ending is awfully satisfying.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
The Break-In manages to combine convincing characters, great writing and an intricate, well-planned plot - all of which made me reluctant to put this book down!
We’re following Alice, whose house is broken into one stormy evening whilst she has some friends and their children over to play with her daughter Martha. A seemingly drunk young man, who the paper reports is called Ezra, breaks in, picks up a knife and heads towards the room where all the children are playing… so Alice doesn’t hesitate. She picks up a stool, whacks him around the head with it... and kills him.
Although Alice is hopeful that she won’t be charged with murder, she can’t help thinking about the case and that there’s more to the break-in than chance. This is further reinforced by some anonymous calls she’s been receiving, suggesting as much. She becomes more wrapped up in the family of the boy whom she killed and starts to realise there WAS more to the case than she thought.
I loved the way this book was told - firstly, we see the period after the break in, and jump between different perspectives: Alice’s, Linda’s (Ezra’s mother), Jade’s (Ezra’s sister), Becca’s (the nanny who helps look after Martha) and some other people in Alice’s life too - as well as the occasional newspaper article.
Then in the next section, we go travel to the day of the accident (again seeing lots of different perspectives), and finally we observe the period in the Autumn after the break in. This way we start to find our little nuggets of information we wouldn’t otherwise have known, and it really helps to build the intrigue.
There’s some convenient moments in the story that are there to help the story move along but nothing felt too much - I really enjoyed how the plot sped along and at the same time I felt like I really got to know Alice’s thoughts. She - along with most of the characters, to be honest - isn’t perhaps the most likeable character, but I enjoy a story with flawed characters and the author did a great job of making you really see how mentally stressful this situation is, as well as how little you can know someone you spend so much time with.
This was a well-crafted, intriguing thriller that certainly kept me guessing, much like many of Katherine Faulkner’s books.
We’re following Alice, whose house is broken into one stormy evening whilst she has some friends and their children over to play with her daughter Martha. A seemingly drunk young man, who the paper reports is called Ezra, breaks in, picks up a knife and heads towards the room where all the children are playing… so Alice doesn’t hesitate. She picks up a stool, whacks him around the head with it... and kills him.
Although Alice is hopeful that she won’t be charged with murder, she can’t help thinking about the case and that there’s more to the break-in than chance. This is further reinforced by some anonymous calls she’s been receiving, suggesting as much. She becomes more wrapped up in the family of the boy whom she killed and starts to realise there WAS more to the case than she thought.
I loved the way this book was told - firstly, we see the period after the break in, and jump between different perspectives: Alice’s, Linda’s (Ezra’s mother), Jade’s (Ezra’s sister), Becca’s (the nanny who helps look after Martha) and some other people in Alice’s life too - as well as the occasional newspaper article.
Then in the next section, we go travel to the day of the accident (again seeing lots of different perspectives), and finally we observe the period in the Autumn after the break in. This way we start to find our little nuggets of information we wouldn’t otherwise have known, and it really helps to build the intrigue.
There’s some convenient moments in the story that are there to help the story move along but nothing felt too much - I really enjoyed how the plot sped along and at the same time I felt like I really got to know Alice’s thoughts. She - along with most of the characters, to be honest - isn’t perhaps the most likeable character, but I enjoy a story with flawed characters and the author did a great job of making you really see how mentally stressful this situation is, as well as how little you can know someone you spend so much time with.
This was a well-crafted, intriguing thriller that certainly kept me guessing, much like many of Katherine Faulkner’s books.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘The Break-In’ by Katherine Faulkner begins with a terror-inducing situation - art restoration expert and mother Alice is faced with an armed home intruder who is shouting and gesturing towards the door her daughter is playing with friends behind! When self defence turns fatal, she becomes divisive on the internet (heroic mum or murderess?) and begins to think there may have been more to the break-in than initially met the eye…
The book is told in non-linear sections by multiple characters and manages to build suspense by revealing explosive information that turned my theories upside down multiple times. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I will say that elements of the plot are dark and cynical, and that I ended up empathising with characters I never thought I would support.
If you loved ‘Our House’ by Louise Candlish, you will definitely become addicted to this incredible domestic thriller (and to Katherine Faulkner’s other novels!) This gets five well-earned stars from me, so is very highly recommended.
I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bloomsbury via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The book is told in non-linear sections by multiple characters and manages to build suspense by revealing explosive information that turned my theories upside down multiple times. I don’t want to give spoilers, but I will say that elements of the plot are dark and cynical, and that I ended up empathising with characters I never thought I would support.
If you loved ‘Our House’ by Louise Candlish, you will definitely become addicted to this incredible domestic thriller (and to Katherine Faulkner’s other novels!) This gets five well-earned stars from me, so is very highly recommended.
I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bloomsbury via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for this eCopy to review
The Break-In is a tense psychological thriller. The story follows Alice, a wealthy London mother whose life takes a terrifying turn when a disturbed man breaks into her home during a playdate. In a moment of panic, she kills him, an act later ruled as self-defense. But instead of moving on, Alice finds herself haunted by the incident. Strange online comments, cryptic phone calls, and unsettling behaviour from those closest to her make her question everything. As she digs deeper, she uncovers dark secrets that hit far closer to home than she ever imagined.
Faulkner masterfully builds suspense, keeping the reader hooked with twists and turns that unravel at just the right pace. The exploration of guilt, paranoia, and the complexities of motherhood adds depth to the thriller, making it more than just a mystery. The writing is immersive, and Alice’s journey is both gripping and unsettling.
The Break-In is a compelling read with strong character development and a chilling atmosphere that kept me turning the pages late into the night.
The Break-In is a tense psychological thriller. The story follows Alice, a wealthy London mother whose life takes a terrifying turn when a disturbed man breaks into her home during a playdate. In a moment of panic, she kills him, an act later ruled as self-defense. But instead of moving on, Alice finds herself haunted by the incident. Strange online comments, cryptic phone calls, and unsettling behaviour from those closest to her make her question everything. As she digs deeper, she uncovers dark secrets that hit far closer to home than she ever imagined.
Faulkner masterfully builds suspense, keeping the reader hooked with twists and turns that unravel at just the right pace. The exploration of guilt, paranoia, and the complexities of motherhood adds depth to the thriller, making it more than just a mystery. The writing is immersive, and Alice’s journey is both gripping and unsettling.
The Break-In is a compelling read with strong character development and a chilling atmosphere that kept me turning the pages late into the night.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For me this one took a while to get going, then picked up pace midway through.
There's a lot of characters and the story unravels from a few different points of view so some parts felt a little repetitive. It's quite a far fetched story of multiple lies and bad decisions - and I think they tried to throw a few too many twists in.
I didn't hate it, but equally didn't love it.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.
There's a lot of characters and the story unravels from a few different points of view so some parts felt a little repetitive. It's quite a far fetched story of multiple lies and bad decisions - and I think they tried to throw a few too many twists in.
I didn't hate it, but equally didn't love it.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The play date started well., with the children happy in one room while their mothers relaxed and drank wine in another. But then the stranger appeared at the window, & then he was inside the house & he grabbed a knife... Alice only means to stop him, she doesn't mean to hit him so hard, she didn't mean to kill him. The police conclude that she acted in self-defence, but wracked with guilt, Alice sets out to apologise to Linda, the mother of the young man she killed. As Alice learns more about Ezra & why he was at her house, she starts to wonder whether she really has the full picture about what happened that day...
Having read #TheOtherMothers by this author, I was already a big fan of her writing style, the way suspense is built up throughout, inserting those twists and turns at the perfect moments.
Keeping a consistent pace, the tension builds as Alice’s story is told, from the very beginning, interjecting with other character POV chapters, all linking together as the story progresses. The detail into Alice’s thought processes & emotions following the break in events is described insightfully, giving the reader a connection with the main character, the other chapters with alternating POV’s perfectly balancing this.
I must admit I did figure out the twist about halfway through but I was still kept captivated to read on, of course to find out if I was correct, but also to discover just how everything would come together to reach that conclusion. Another enjoyable psychological thriller by this author and I look forward to what comes next from her.
Having read #TheOtherMothers by this author, I was already a big fan of her writing style, the way suspense is built up throughout, inserting those twists and turns at the perfect moments.
Keeping a consistent pace, the tension builds as Alice’s story is told, from the very beginning, interjecting with other character POV chapters, all linking together as the story progresses. The detail into Alice’s thought processes & emotions following the break in events is described insightfully, giving the reader a connection with the main character, the other chapters with alternating POV’s perfectly balancing this.
I must admit I did figure out the twist about halfway through but I was still kept captivated to read on, of course to find out if I was correct, but also to discover just how everything would come together to reach that conclusion. Another enjoyable psychological thriller by this author and I look forward to what comes next from her.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for sending me an ARC of The Break In.
I have read everything by Katherine Faulkner and love her story telling and writing style. This one did not disappoint!
I was concerned that it would be too long for the story to be based around a simple burglary. Boy was I wrong! This is anything BUT a simple burglary!
We are plunged straight into the action from page one, with the break in already over, and we have to wait until the mid section of the book to get a clear overview of what happened. This for me built the tension up.
Overall, a great thriller, cannot wait for the next one Katherine!
I have read everything by Katherine Faulkner and love her story telling and writing style. This one did not disappoint!
I was concerned that it would be too long for the story to be based around a simple burglary. Boy was I wrong! This is anything BUT a simple burglary!
We are plunged straight into the action from page one, with the break in already over, and we have to wait until the mid section of the book to get a clear overview of what happened. This for me built the tension up.
Overall, a great thriller, cannot wait for the next one Katherine!
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
A seemingly idyllic playdate turns into a waking nightmare for Alice when an intruder invades her home and ends up dead. As she struggles to piece her life back together, a heavy guilt draws her to the deceased man's family.
There, she unearths unsettling clues pointing to a conspiracy far grander than a botched burglary, forcing her to confront a terrifying question: who can she truly trust?
This was a fast paced read. The twists are sharp and, although far fetched in parts, make for a fun and entertaining thriller.