Scan barcode
A review by winecellarlibrary
The Breakdown by Robert W. Kirby
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This review is also available on my blog: Wine Cellar Library
First, I would like to thank the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“I’m only going to kill one of them.” (p.127)
Lost in the wilderness–an entirely hopeless setting for this suspenseful thriller
What was supposed to be a refreshing backpacking trip in the wilderness of Montana turns into a nightmare. Under the threat of wild animals and rumors of a serial killer who preys on campers, little does Beth know that the real threat is in her own hiking group. When the GPS fails, the group realizes they are lost, and then her son and two other teenagers go missing. The brewing tensions boil over, and Beth’s secrets will take center stage in this suspenseful psychological thriller.
The sprawling Montana wilderness is the perfect backdrop for Robert W. Kirby’s The Breakdown. The absolute hopelessness of being lost and having no means of contacting outside help, compounded with teenagers who vanish and the fracturing peace among the hikers, makes for a desperately page-turning thriller. Beth’s anxiety attacks and the insertion of clips from a haunting interview with a depraved criminal add an additional layer of unsettling suspense, verging on horror. I read this novel in a single sitting. It is fast-paced, cleverly plotted, and nail-bitingly tense.
First, I would like to thank the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“I’m only going to kill one of them.” (p.127)
Lost in the wilderness–an entirely hopeless setting for this suspenseful thriller
What was supposed to be a refreshing backpacking trip in the wilderness of Montana turns into a nightmare. Under the threat of wild animals and rumors of a serial killer who preys on campers, little does Beth know that the real threat is in her own hiking group. When the GPS fails, the group realizes they are lost, and then her son and two other teenagers go missing. The brewing tensions boil over, and Beth’s secrets will take center stage in this suspenseful psychological thriller.
The sprawling Montana wilderness is the perfect backdrop for Robert W. Kirby’s The Breakdown. The absolute hopelessness of being lost and having no means of contacting outside help, compounded with teenagers who vanish and the fracturing peace among the hikers, makes for a desperately page-turning thriller. Beth’s anxiety attacks and the insertion of clips from a haunting interview with a depraved criminal add an additional layer of unsettling suspense, verging on horror. I read this novel in a single sitting. It is fast-paced, cleverly plotted, and nail-bitingly tense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault and Grief