Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Breakdown: A Novel
    The Breakdown: A Novel
    The Breakdown: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Breakdown: A Novel

    Written by B.A. Paris

    Narrated by Georgia Maguire

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    "[Georgia Maguire's] overall narration is calm and elegant but emotional and alarming during the horrific moments Grace experiences." - AudioFile Magazine on Behind Closed Doors.

    Named One of the Most Anticipated Thriller Novels Of 2017 by Bustle!

    THE NEWEST PROPULSIVE AUDIOBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR OF NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY INSTANT BESTSELLER, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

    If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

    Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside—the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she’d stopped.

    But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.

    The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

    Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…


    You won't be able to hit pause on B. A. Paris's The Breakdown, the next chilling audiobook from the bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateJul 18, 2017
    ISBN9781427286703
    The Breakdown: A Novel
    Author

    B.A. Paris

    B. A. Paris is from a Franco/Irish background. She was brought up in England and moved to France where she spent some years working as a trader in an international bank before re-training as a teacher and setting up a language school with her husband. They still live in France and have five daughters. She is the author of the bestselling psychological thriller Behind Closed Doors.

    More audiobooks from B.A. Paris

    Related to The Breakdown

    Related audiobooks

    Thrillers For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Summer Reads

      Dec 30, 2019

      Summer Reads
      7 min read

    • Article

      Three Blocks

      Aug 10, 2023

      I lock my car and shove my keys into the pocket of my big coat. The parking garage is nearly full this morning, so I have to use the elevator to get down to the exit. The moment the doors slide open, there is a woman waiting for me. She is wearing my

      8 min read

    • Article

      How I Met Your Mother

      Dec 17, 2019

      How I Met Your Mother
      5 min read

    • Article

      Longer on Moon

      Sep 22, 2022

      Longer on Moon
      19 min read

    • Article

      Devotional

      Sep 1, 2021

      Devotional
      11 min read

    • Article

      Three Poems

      Mar 1, 2019

      War is coming but my neighbors can’t believe it. I ring their doorbells and tell them: maybe not this May, but next June at the latest. They stare straight past me, at the maze of lawns, the sprinklers, a kid on a bike hurling the Globe onto porches.

      3 min read

    • Article

      Flour

      Mar 15, 2018

      The driver and I got a late start. I usually decide on these excursions the night before, but it was late in the morning when I informed the friend who was coming to visit me for the weekend that I had to cancel, it was absolutely necessary for me to

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Walk Book

      Dec 5, 2023

      On a cold but sunny Thursday in March 2014, I set out from my girlfriend Rosie’s apartment in West Philly to walk across the country. I’d been going to school nearby at Swarthmore, but for reasons that aren’t worth belaboring, left in December 2013,

      30 min read

    • Article

      Dr Hutch

      Dec 15, 2022

      Dr Hutch
      2 min read

    • Article

      Finding Peace—and Briefly, Freedom—at My Grandfather’s Funeral

      Oct 11, 2019

      “Saying goodbye with the people who loved him—and me—I remember that I am not the tomb that imprisons me.”

      6 min read

    • Article

      Touched By An Angel

      Feb 26, 2019

      Touched By An Angel
      2 min read

    • Article

      Frangipani

      Oct 30, 2017

      Frangipani
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Nightmare

      Jun 9, 2022

      The Nightmare
      7 min read

    • Article

      Shush, Shush

      Jan 1, 2023

      Shush, Shush
      12 min read

    • Article

      The Night the Moon Cries

      Aug 16, 2021

      The Night the Moon Cries
      5 min read

    • Article

      Free Ride

      Jul 1, 2023

      Free Ride
      3 min read

    • Article

      Headlights In The Night

      Jan 25, 2023

      Headlights In The Night
      3 min read

    • Article

      Burning love

      Jul 22, 2021

      Burning love
      5 min read

    • Article

      Keep Calm…and Road – Rage On

      Aug 4, 2023

      MY HUSBAND CALLS ME his little firecracker. It's something he says he loves about me. I don't entirely believe that, considering that when I'm behind the wheel of a car, he constantly tells me to keep my cool. (He wouldn't dare use the terms “Calm do

      2 min read

    • Article

      An ever-fixed MARK

      Nov 1, 2023

      An ever-fixed MARK
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Night That Changed Me

      May 12, 2021

      The Night That Changed Me
      8 min read

    • Article

      Sinister Intentions

      Nov 3, 2022

      Sinister Intentions
      5 min read

    • Article

      Running Away

      Feb 22, 2021

      Leaving London behind her, Millie drove faster, picturing thousands of crazed fans in pursuit, desperate for what – a lock of her hair? Or Julian; except after the last gig, somehow she knew he wouldn’t follow. She knew from bitter experience that di

      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Breakdown

    4/5

    603 ratings75 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Amazing listen!!!!! Loved every bit of it! Does NOT disappoint!
    • 3/5
      I knew how the story-line would go almost immediately. It kept me mildly interested and was good to have on when I was doing other things. No big deal to miss 10-15” here and there. Was easy to figure out and catch up with. I like that it was not full of sex and bad language.
    • 5/5
      This has such a satisfying ending! The last 10 chapters or so I found myself grinning ear to ear and audibly saying "yes!". It was so frustrating throughout so much of the story, but I couldn't put it down, I HAD to know if the main character survived! The ending was unexpected and I am sitting here thinking about how I want to read it again now knowing the ending. I love BA Paris' works!
    • 5/5
      I was hooked from the beginning and if a book doesn't catch my interest right away then forget it. This book was full of twists although I did figure out pretty early in what I thought was going to be the big reveal; however, enough red herrings along the way to make me second guess myself. I actually hated to see the book end and I would love to hear more of Cass' story. Maybe the author could write a sequel. I will be looking for more of this authors books too, she is a wonderful writer. The narration was also well done, I am hooked on audiobooks because they allow me to multi-task.
    • 4/5
      Not as good as Behind Closed Doors, but still a solid read. I felt it was pretty slow and mundane in the beginning, but the ending was strong. Looking forward to reading more from B. A. Paris.
    • 4/5
      Book Description:If you can't trust yourself, who can you trust?Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting insideâthe woman who was killed. She's been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It's a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she'd broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she'd stopped.But since then, she's been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn't have a baby.The only thing she can't forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.Or the silent calls she's receiving, or the feeling that someone's watching herâ¦My Review:This book drew me in from the very beginning. It was a fast-paced and intriguing story which held my attention throughout the whole book. The narrator did an excellent job and made the story interesting to listen to. There were some really good twists in the story but I found the ending was a bit predictable. All in all, I enjoyed the book very much and look forward to the next book from this author. I would highly recommend this novel to those who love psychological thrillers.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic. So many twists and turns. Cant wait to read more from this author
    • 5/5
      I loved Behind Closed Doors so much but loved this even more! I was totally hooked from the beginning!!
    • 4/5
      I guessed most of the ending , but it had a few plot twists.
    • 3/5
      I read "Behind Closed Doors" and loved it. The protagonist, Cass, in this novel, I really couldn't relate to. It's a book about "gaslighting" and I could tell right away who was doing it. Some good parts towards the end when there is revenge against the antagonists.
    • 4/5
      Cass Anderson is on her way home after a night out. She sees a woman in a car, parked in a layby. Cass didn't see if the woman needed help and the next day she finds out she's dead. Ever since Cass is convinced the murderer is after her too. Silent phone calls start to terrorise Cass. I really enjoyed this book, which wasn't quite what I expected. From the beginning I was instantly drawn into the story. I did want to see what was going to happen to Cass as her life starts to fall apart.The story was a roller coaster of a read. So many things go wrong for Cass I'm thinking can it get any worse. When things fall into place I have to say I didn't see it coming, and I didnt find the story too predictable. I didn't quite like the ending with the reason why. I can't say too much because it will spoil. I did think however that at times the story became a bit repetitive at times especially when Cass first starts to get the phone calls. The story then picks up speed leaving me wanting to turn the pages.A satisfactory thriller with plenty to keep interest. I recommend to anybody who especially likes the domestic settings for thrillers. Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.
    • 5/5
      Great story, easy read! If you like feminine thrillers, this will satisfy. BA Paris, keep writing more!
    • 5/5
      Unpredictable! The whole time I was like “It was him, no it was her, no wait a minute it was HER!”, lol. I love a good psycho thriller/mystery read. This one drags out a bit slow in the middle, got a bit boring, but then it picks back up and finishes off. Keeps you guessing
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this book and it kept me interested. The ending was a little underwhelming but overall it was good. I’d recommend it.
    • 4/5
      Another thrilling Psychological drama. I love when they still manage to surprise me..
    • 3/5
      Contemporary fiction mystery/thriller about a woman, Cass, who encounters another woman in a car on a stormy night while taking a short cut home. The next day she discovers the woman in the car had been murdered and is filled with guilt that she might have somehow have prevented her death. She is also dealing with forgetfulness and worries that she, like her late mother, is afflicted with early onset dementia. I found it extremely engrossing and flew through it. I thought the author did a great job of depicting what it might be like to feel the paranoia of being stalked by a murderer. The language was direct and there were a few coincidences and unnecessary repetition, but overall, I liked it. Recommended to those that enjoy psychological thrillers.
    • 5/5
      I was totally swept away by the suspense and mystery of The Break Down. Cass and Matthew have a great life together although she has secretly feared she will end up with dementia like her mother. Things begin to fall apart when Cass realizes that a murdered woman is someone she knew, and that she passed her car on the road in a terrible thunderstorm on her way home the night before. She becomes fearful that the murderer may be after her next. She starts to forget things, minor absent-mindedness at first but then it escalates to the point that she can't remember ordering packages that have been delivered, or how to work her own coffee machine. Is it just the stress? Is it the start of dementia? Or is it something more sinister? Could someone be gas lighting her? Or will she be the next murder victim? Alfred Hitchcock could not have crafted a more electrifying thriller with such a satisfying conclusion.

      I received an advance copy for review.
    • 5/5
      I could not stop reading this book. I stayed up till I finished it. It is the first one of this author that I have read. Plan to check out more.
      I kept trying to guess who did it. Very scary at the end.
      Case’s girlfriend and husband tried to convince her she had lost her mind and it was working until ....
    • 4/5
      Awesome fast paced thriller.
    • 5/5
      Amazing does not even begin to describe this book, but I’m at a loss for words. This is not only the first review I’ve ever written, but The Breakdown was the first book I’ve read cover to cover in one sitting. It’s absolutely mesmerizing!!
    • 5/5
      Loved it. Even though I figured out the "who" early on, it made perfect sense why Cass took so long. This is one that makes you think about it all day. Any one of us could find ourselves on this situation.
    • 3/5
      So many plot holes and numerous questions.

      Yes, it was a page turner but it was also infuriating for its sieve-like narrative.

      There were many pages where I wished I could have phoned the author and asked things like:

      - Why would you have a house phone with only one handset when mobile phones don't work in your home?

      - How could you have a house which is both isolated and also has close neighbours?

      - What sort of murderer leaves the DNA-encrusted weapon lying around and even uses it as a prop for another crime?

      - Can we just have a chat about property titles and passing these back and forth between owners?

      ... and various other annoyances.
    • 4/5
      Loved this. I, along with Cass , was convinced she WAS losing her mind. After Cass doesn’t stop to help a woman sitting in a car on the side of the road during a downpour, she is of course filled with guilt when she learns that the woman was found in her car, murdered. That was the beginning of Cass’ breakdown. She becomes convinced that the murderer saw her drive past Jane and is now stalking her by watching the house, phoning her and just breathing. Shortly after this, Cass also starts to become increasingly forgetful, and she begins to fear that she is suffering from early onset dementia. She forgets inviting people to dinner, doesn’t remember where she left her car, she orders things online that she has no memory of ordering and she even begins to forget how to operate common appliances like the washing machines. I was fully convinced that she really was just losing her mind. Then something happens that allows Cass to realize that she hasn’t been losing her mind at all, and then she has to decide what she’s going to do about it.
    • 3/5
      I loved B. A. Paris's [Behind Closed Doors] so was rather surprised at her character of Cass. I didn't know rather to pity her or kill her myself. I know that the author was trying to build the suspense but this woman just kept getting dumber and dumber. Some one is dead...or might be dead in the car you stopped and momentarily observed...so TELL someone!! The fact that she was on the road she wan't suppose to be on pales beside the reality. Overall I found the idea of the story-line interesting...hence the 3 stars... but badly carried through. The main character of Cass was gullible...needy..and stupid. I stopped feeling sorry for her about a third of the way through and gave up on her completely by the half way point.
    • 3/5
      In B.A. Paris' latest domestic mystery, The Breakdown, focuses on the effects that a chilling murder on a deserted country road has on the victim's friend.

      During a heavy rainstorm, thirty-four year old schoolteacher Cass Anderson notices a car sitting on a lay by and stops to see if the driver needs assistance. However, when it appears the woman is not in trouble, Cass's concerns about her own personal safety outweigh her concern for the other driver and she leaves without approaching her. The next day, she is absolutely horrified to learn the woman was brutally murdered and after she discovers the victim is her new friend, Jane Walters, she becomes terrified the killer might know where to find her. Over the next couple of months, Cass is plagued by a series of eerie phone calls, the sense she is being watched and overwhelming guilt she could have prevented Jane's death.  Growing increasingly concerned for her safety, Cass cannot convince her husband Matthew or her best friend Rachel Baretto to take her seriously due to her failing memory. Is someone watching Cass? Is she suffering from early onset dementia? And most importantly, who killed Jane and why?

      Cass is an extremely frustrating and irritating lead character and since the novel is written from her perspective, readers have a front seat to her excessive guilt, fear and paranoia. Almost right from the beginning, she is guilt-ridden and convinced it is her fault Jane is dead. Then her irrational fears begin and the novel becomes incredibly repetitive and mired down by her self-doubts and a melodramatic plot. Savvy readers will clue in fairly early to the truth about what is happening to Cass and it is not too much of a leap to guess who is responsible for them. The why is a little more difficult to figure out and it is difficult to remain invested in learning the truth since much of the storyline becomes a
      regurgitation of daily phone calls, Cass's failing memory and her conviction that it is only a matter of time before she is savagely murdered by Jane's killer.  This certainty that her life is in danger makes Cass's decision to take a prescription for "stress" that essentially keeps her knocked out all day and night utterly ridiculous.

      The Breakdown is an extremely slow-paced mystery that requires a fairly healthy suspension of disbelief by readers.  The novel is initially quite interesting but very quickly becomes tedious as it fails to make any progress whatsoever until the last fifty or so pages. Cass's reactions are way over the top and she comes across as very weak and irrational. The title is quite clever as is the novel's conclusion but overall, this latest release from B.A. Paris fails to live up to the hype.
    • 4/5
      I really liked this book. Kinda knew where it was going but I enjoyed the read.
    • 4/5
      This is a suspenseful story about a young woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Cass (Cassandra) is happily married, has lots of friends with one BFF, Rachel. She works as a teacher and is very good at her job. Both her parents are dead, her mother from early onset dementia. Her husband Matthew does not know about her mother's death. Cass is driving home one night and she sees a car on a road that is used as a shortcut through the forested area. Although she stops to check on the driver, she leaves the scene. The next day, she finds out that the driver of this car, "Jane", has been killed. Cass is riddled with guilt about not stopping. Could she have saved this woman from death if she had stopped? She starts to forget things, lose things, and can feel reality sinking away? She begins to fear that she is developing early onset dementia as well.

      This is written in the first person, and you can feel Cass' fear and terror as she begins to realize that she may be going developing dementia or having a nervous breakdown. There is a lot of twists and turns in this story that keep you wondering what is going to happen next. The story takes a bit to develop but stick with it because everything comes together in an amazing conclusion. I loved this book, but it is scary to realize that you never know who your real friends are. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. The opinions exressed are my own.

    • 3/5
      Not nearly as good as Behind Closed Doors. I thought that it was quite obvious what was going on way before the final chapters when all was revealed. Plus, I got tired of all the hysteria and "I can't remember" parts.
    • 5/5
      This is the first novel, in a long time that drew me in and I "needed" to finish. As a busy mom of 5 its hard to find the time to read. I read this on my kindle app on my phone so anytime I needed to wait online I kept reading. I felt, early on, that I knew what was going to happen, yet the author added more and more layers that I kept changing my predictions on what I felt was going to happen. If you like a psychological thriller, I highly recommend this one, but be prepared to start worrying about your own memory and how you interpret your day to day life!
    • 5/5
      I'm reviewing The Breakdown: The 2017 gripping thriller from the bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, by B A Paris. This is a review of a free book I received through the Amazon Vine Reviewers programme. Here's what I thought:

      ^^ On a rainy night, Cass Anderson discovers a girl sitting in her car in a lay-by. Although she pulls over to see if she wants help the girl doesn't get out to ask for it, so thinking she's wants to be left alone Cass drives away. The next day Cass is horrified to hear the girl's been found murdered and perhaps she could have prevented it from happening, or even saved her.

      ^^ Now, Cass is wracked with guilt and an uneasy feeling that the murderer is watching her. Does that mean both Cass and the murderer were there at the same time that night? Is her own life now in danger? Who is behind the nuisance calls she's getting? Is her forgetfulness getting worse just because of the stress she is going through, or is this a sign of early onset dementia just like her mother had? It's certainly looking like the latter.

      ^^ Oh, where to start? The beginning would be a good place! I love the book beginning – it really sets the dark tone — with an echoing crack of thunder, hot dense air, and the promise of something happening as she rushes to her car with her phone ringing. Immediately, I knew I was going to love this because of the author's great writing style! The suspense is so well written I could not read it fast enough.

      ^^ Just so you know, I've not read Behind Closed Doors, so The Breakdown is basically my first book by BA P aris. I'd heard so much about both books, I really wanted to like this one. Did it live up to my expectations? Oh yes, and if you're a regular reader of my blog you'll already know this, as I picked it out as one of my Instagram Friday56 and Book Beginning features!

      ^^ Here's what I said as I was reading it: "I’m at the last quarter of the book now, and O.M.G. the shock has been revealed and I’m now racing along eager to know what happens, but at the same time I don’t want it to finish!! Now, I have my suspicions how it’s going to end. I hope I am right! *Excited*"

      ^^ By the way, I wasn’t sure — until I received this book and started reading — if this was about a car breaking down, or her breakdown. I tried avoid all clues and reviews that might tell me. I’m pleased to say the title hints at both…

      ^^ I loved the way the texts Cass discovered changed the whole feeling of the book. Yes, this is purposely cryptic, so I don't g ive anything away.

      ^^ I felt the author, BA Paris, wrote so seamlessly. She makes writing look so easy, even though you can tell a lot of effort has gone into such a good read. That, and of course she's a pretty skillful writer.

      Overall: I'm surprised it DIDN'T end as I suspected, but not in a bad way. Although, part of me did feel like the last chapter wasn't needed, so I could be left on an exhilarated high. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and will now be buying her first book Behind Closed Doors. If this is anything to go by, it's going to be another fast-paced read. Besides, I need to catch up ready for her next book. Happy to recommend!