The Breakdown - Arianne Richmonde

Genre: Thriller | Psychological

Release Date: Expected 11th April 2022

Publisher: Bookouture

Jayne arrives on the quiet island through the fog and mist to meet the family she's Au Pairing for this summer. She doesn't know much about the Wainwrights and their three children, but she could do with the work and the kids seem lovely. But after a while, she realises something isn't quite right with the few residents of the sleepy island.

Celeste Wainwright doesn't remember before the accident. They said she had a breakdown, crashed the car. And right now, she feels mad so maybe she did. But everything is a blur - her marriage, her summer house, her sister-in-law and her new Doctor who are always around, even giving birth to Violet just weeks ago - it's all murky.

She knows she should feel safe here with the family - but something isn't adding up. Somebody is keeping secrets. And if she's right, those secrets could be fatal not just for her but everyone she loves.

"There are secrets buried here. Rumours whisper amongst themselves about ghosts and centuries-old ships sailing in the fog and mist. The dead still live on, some say."

Arianne Richmonde is a Queen when it comes to a twisty tale. The Breakdown is a darkly convoluted tale that leads the reader down paths of despair and confusion only to turn a corner somewhere even more terrifying. Full of complex layers of lies and deceit that slowly peel away page by page until everybody is a suspect and we're not even sure what we're suspecting them of.

Told from multiple perspectives, we hear from Celeste, Jayne and Dr Stephen, we get to know the main players in the game personally and they're all perfect examples of the fact that a well-written character doesn't have to be likeable. They were complex, curious individuals who lived perpetually in a murky grey area of ambiguity.

This burned so slowly I felt like one of the characters waiting impatiently and anxiously for something to happen, setting each scene with painstaking detail. But when everything finally exploded, it was mind-blowing, although there was a bit too much telling rather than revealing towards the end of the conclusion for me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

CW: infant death, injury, car accidents, references to suicide and drugs, mental illness, alcohol, references to kidnapping.

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