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Zusammenbruch: Ein total spannender Psychothriller
Meine Familie verspricht mir, dass ich in Sicherheit bin. Warum glaube ich ihnen nicht?
Ich stehe an den Klippen und schaue auf das tosende Meer unter mir. Mein Mann unterhält sich nur ein paar Meter entfernt mit seiner Schwester – und lässt mich keine Sekunde aus den Augen. Sie glauben, dass ich den Verstand verliere, und ich spüre, wie nervös es sie macht, mich so nah am Abgrund stehen zu sehen.
Direkt hinter ihnen liegt unser Sommerhaus. Angeblich mein Lieblingsort, nicht dass ich mich erinnern könnte. Seit dem Autounfall habe ich vieles vergessen, sogar die Geburt meiner Tochter. Und meine scheinbar perfekte Ehe …
Während ich auf das blaue Wasser starre, kommen die Flashbacks vom Tag des Unfalls – ein Streit, das Gesicht meines Mannes rot vor Zorn. Warum erscheint mir mein Leben in dieser Erinnerung so anders als das, was sie mir erzählen?
Ich balle meine zitternden Hände zu Fäusten, Schweiß läuft mir den Nacken hinunter.
Wenn diese Erinnerung real ist, sind meine Kinder und ich in Gefahr. Was ist an jenem Tag wirklich passiert? Und kann ich meiner Familie überhaupt trauen?
Ein süchtig machender Psychothriller für Fans von Gillian Flynn, Shalini Boland und Freida McFadden.
über Zusammenbruch:
»Waaaas?!?! Mir dreht sich der Kopf! … Ernsthaft, man muss gar nicht anfangen zu raten, denn man. Wird. Es. Nicht. Kommen. Sehen!! Ich bin komplett von der Rolle … und sprachlos!« caffeinereadrepeat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Ich konnte es nicht weglegen. Habe bis spät in die Nacht gelesen … wirklich ein Pageturner.« NetGalley-Rezension ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Faszinierend, tiefgründig, stark, spannend und erschütternd!« NetGalley-Rezension ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Ich war so in den Bann gezogen, dass ich es nicht aus der Hand legen wollte. Dieses Ende … Wow! Das habe ich nicht kommen sehen!« Devilishly Dirty Book Blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Eine schnelllebige, wendungsreiche Geschichte, die euch einfängt und bis lange nach eurer Schlafenszeit durch die Seiten rasen lässt.« rubie_reads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ich stehe an den Klippen und schaue auf das tosende Meer unter mir. Mein Mann unterhält sich nur ein paar Meter entfernt mit seiner Schwester – und lässt mich keine Sekunde aus den Augen. Sie glauben, dass ich den Verstand verliere, und ich spüre, wie nervös es sie macht, mich so nah am Abgrund stehen zu sehen.
Direkt hinter ihnen liegt unser Sommerhaus. Angeblich mein Lieblingsort, nicht dass ich mich erinnern könnte. Seit dem Autounfall habe ich vieles vergessen, sogar die Geburt meiner Tochter. Und meine scheinbar perfekte Ehe …
Während ich auf das blaue Wasser starre, kommen die Flashbacks vom Tag des Unfalls – ein Streit, das Gesicht meines Mannes rot vor Zorn. Warum erscheint mir mein Leben in dieser Erinnerung so anders als das, was sie mir erzählen?
Ich balle meine zitternden Hände zu Fäusten, Schweiß läuft mir den Nacken hinunter.
Wenn diese Erinnerung real ist, sind meine Kinder und ich in Gefahr. Was ist an jenem Tag wirklich passiert? Und kann ich meiner Familie überhaupt trauen?
Ein süchtig machender Psychothriller für Fans von Gillian Flynn, Shalini Boland und Freida McFadden.
über Zusammenbruch:
»Waaaas?!?! Mir dreht sich der Kopf! … Ernsthaft, man muss gar nicht anfangen zu raten, denn man. Wird. Es. Nicht. Kommen. Sehen!! Ich bin komplett von der Rolle … und sprachlos!« caffeinereadrepeat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Ich konnte es nicht weglegen. Habe bis spät in die Nacht gelesen … wirklich ein Pageturner.« NetGalley-Rezension ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Faszinierend, tiefgründig, stark, spannend und erschütternd!« NetGalley-Rezension ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Ich war so in den Bann gezogen, dass ich es nicht aus der Hand legen wollte. Dieses Ende … Wow! Das habe ich nicht kommen sehen!« Devilishly Dirty Book Blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
»Eine schnelllebige, wendungsreiche Geschichte, die euch einfängt und bis lange nach eurer Schlafenszeit durch die Seiten rasen lässt.« rubie_reads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2022
1077 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Arianne Richmonde
29 books938 followersARIANNE RICHMONDE is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the psychological thrillers, THE WIFE'S HOUSE and THE NEWLYWEDS (published by Bookouture, Hachette UK), and suspense and romance.
Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Apart from writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne's a chocaholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.
For updates on new releases, sales and giveaways please sign up for her Newsletter by going to: https://bit.ly/2ZoRQVx (copy and paste to your browser). Or join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAriann... or send her an email ariannerichmonde@gmail.com - she loves hearing from readers and will always reply.
Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Apart from writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne's a chocaholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.
For updates on new releases, sales and giveaways please sign up for her Newsletter by going to: https://bit.ly/2ZoRQVx (copy and paste to your browser). Or join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAriann... or send her an email ariannerichmonde@gmail.com - she loves hearing from readers and will always reply.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
April 11, 2022
Celeste was pregnant when she was in a horrible car accident with her daughter, Lizzie in the back. They are lucky to be alive. But sadly, Celeste is left with a loss of her memory. She doesn't remember giving birth to her daughter, Violet and is now at what her husband, Max describes as her favorite place - their summer house.
Who can complain about being on an island off Maine? Well, if you are having memory issues, and your husband is always whispering to his sister and your daughters.... I guess, Celeste has a lot to complain about!
This was a gripping and fast paced read for me. I was captivated right away and naturally; I did a fair share of super sleuthing while reading this book. There are quite a few things going on and there is more than one POV being told. This was a compelling book which kept me on my toes while my eyes were glued to the pages. There are a lot of secrets, lies and twist and turns in this book. This kept me guessing and I loved every second of it.
This was my first book by Arianne Richmonde and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Who can complain about being on an island off Maine? Well, if you are having memory issues, and your husband is always whispering to his sister and your daughters.... I guess, Celeste has a lot to complain about!
This was a gripping and fast paced read for me. I was captivated right away and naturally; I did a fair share of super sleuthing while reading this book. There are quite a few things going on and there is more than one POV being told. This was a compelling book which kept me on my toes while my eyes were glued to the pages. There are a lot of secrets, lies and twist and turns in this book. This kept me guessing and I loved every second of it.
This was my first book by Arianne Richmonde and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 25, 2022
Thanks to netgally and bookoutore for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Celeste has been in a car crash and lost her memory. The detail of what happened is unclear, and the waters get muddied even more when her youngest baby dies, and her second daughter disappears. What is really going on?
The story is told from several POVs. The breakdown begins with Lizzie, the second daughter of Celeste and max, being taken away. This is a great way of starting a book, getting right into the action. Unfortunately I wasn’t too impressed with the development of the story until I’ve read half the story. There were some obvious writing errors, and the writing style wasn’t to my liking at first. The second half of the book was better, though. The words flowed more easily, and the suspense increased. I was wondering who was telling the truth and waited impatiently for the big reveal. Richmonde certainly did give me several options for who’s done it. I didn’t like Jayne, the au-pair very much. How likely is it that she fell ‘in love’ with Lizzie so fast? And her curiosity just got a bit too much. Stephen also didn’t appeal to me. The novel got more interesting the last chapters when everything you thought was suddenly turned upside-down, but my overall impression was that this was a good novel, but it didn’t quite satisfy my thirst for a nail-biting thriller that kept me captivated for hours.
Synopsis: Celeste has been in a car crash and lost her memory. The detail of what happened is unclear, and the waters get muddied even more when her youngest baby dies, and her second daughter disappears. What is really going on?
The story is told from several POVs. The breakdown begins with Lizzie, the second daughter of Celeste and max, being taken away. This is a great way of starting a book, getting right into the action. Unfortunately I wasn’t too impressed with the development of the story until I’ve read half the story. There were some obvious writing errors, and the writing style wasn’t to my liking at first. The second half of the book was better, though. The words flowed more easily, and the suspense increased. I was wondering who was telling the truth and waited impatiently for the big reveal. Richmonde certainly did give me several options for who’s done it. I didn’t like Jayne, the au-pair very much. How likely is it that she fell ‘in love’ with Lizzie so fast? And her curiosity just got a bit too much. Stephen also didn’t appeal to me. The novel got more interesting the last chapters when everything you thought was suddenly turned upside-down, but my overall impression was that this was a good novel, but it didn’t quite satisfy my thirst for a nail-biting thriller that kept me captivated for hours.
March 16, 2022
Sweet Baby Fluffy Foxes!!! 😯😯😳😳🤯🤯🤯
⊰ The Breakdown by Arianne Richmond ⊱
HOLY FLUFF! HOLY FLUFF! WHHHAATTT?!?! What did I just read?! 😳🤯 Great grief my mind is absolutely spinning! I can't... what ... but I ... but she?! ... WHHHAAATTT?!?! 😱
Celeste was in a car accident a year and a half before. She's now dealing with memory issues & has a full time nurse. Her husband Max has taken them to an island in Maine to a summer home they own to help Celeste recover. They're two children, Lizzie & Liam need an au pair so they hire Jayne. A week after her arrival, Lizzie goes missing on the island. What could have happened to her? Did Celeste do something without realizing it? Or maybe Jayne had a hand in this? Will Lizzie be found? Oh the secrets that will come out.
Seriously, this is one INSANE psychological thriller to the greatest extent! Seriously don't even bother TRYING to guess because you. Will. Not. See. It!! Freakin flabbergasted! 😯 This was absolutely genius! My freakin' gosh!! The constant loops, twisted suspects, endless guessing and doubts. I'm. Speechless.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this DARC.
Release Date: April 11, 2022
I give this a high 5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐
⊰ The Breakdown by Arianne Richmond ⊱
HOLY FLUFF! HOLY FLUFF! WHHHAATTT?!?! What did I just read?! 😳🤯 Great grief my mind is absolutely spinning! I can't... what ... but I ... but she?! ... WHHHAAATTT?!?! 😱
Celeste was in a car accident a year and a half before. She's now dealing with memory issues & has a full time nurse. Her husband Max has taken them to an island in Maine to a summer home they own to help Celeste recover. They're two children, Lizzie & Liam need an au pair so they hire Jayne. A week after her arrival, Lizzie goes missing on the island. What could have happened to her? Did Celeste do something without realizing it? Or maybe Jayne had a hand in this? Will Lizzie be found? Oh the secrets that will come out.
Seriously, this is one INSANE psychological thriller to the greatest extent! Seriously don't even bother TRYING to guess because you. Will. Not. See. It!! Freakin flabbergasted! 😯 This was absolutely genius! My freakin' gosh!! The constant loops, twisted suspects, endless guessing and doubts. I'm. Speechless.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this DARC.
Release Date: April 11, 2022
I give this a high 5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐
April 13, 2022
A car accident leads to a cesarean delivery that Celeste cannot even remember. She doesn't remember the accident. She doesn't remember giving birth to baby Violet. She doesn't even understand what happened to Violet soon after her birth. Suffering from major memory loss, Celeste is in a vacuum of darkness.
With two children, Lizzie and Liam, as well as the new baby, Celeste's family needs her to get well. They hire an au pair from the UK, Jayne, who has limited responsibilities.
As this story is delivered, it is with multiple POVs. There is intense drama page after page. In fact, there proves to be something going on behind the scenes that both Celeste and Jayne try to understand - despite the fact that the two barely communicate.
While Celeste struggles to regain her memory, things begin happening to her children. Is she guilty of anything with what is going on now? Is it a coincidence that these things started after the au pair arrived? What about the fact that her husband's sister is now staying with them at their summer home? And the full-time nurse that had been hired while Celeste recuperates?
Nefarious activities mark the pages of this thrilling novel by Arianne Richmonde. Trust is difficult to come by for anyone in this book because they all seem to have different agendas. This compelling read started off with a bang and with all of the twists and turns my attention was riveted throughout. Then, the ending! Wow! No matter how adept I think I am at solving mysteries while reading, this book definitely proved to be delightfully surprising.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also see my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/OFMe8UMyWhw
With two children, Lizzie and Liam, as well as the new baby, Celeste's family needs her to get well. They hire an au pair from the UK, Jayne, who has limited responsibilities.
As this story is delivered, it is with multiple POVs. There is intense drama page after page. In fact, there proves to be something going on behind the scenes that both Celeste and Jayne try to understand - despite the fact that the two barely communicate.
While Celeste struggles to regain her memory, things begin happening to her children. Is she guilty of anything with what is going on now? Is it a coincidence that these things started after the au pair arrived? What about the fact that her husband's sister is now staying with them at their summer home? And the full-time nurse that had been hired while Celeste recuperates?
Nefarious activities mark the pages of this thrilling novel by Arianne Richmonde. Trust is difficult to come by for anyone in this book because they all seem to have different agendas. This compelling read started off with a bang and with all of the twists and turns my attention was riveted throughout. Then, the ending! Wow! No matter how adept I think I am at solving mysteries while reading, this book definitely proved to be delightfully surprising.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also see my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/OFMe8UMyWhw
March 8, 2022
After being in a tragic car accident, Celeste cannot remember much of her past. She is told that she was pregnant, with her other daughter in the backseat. The baby was saved by cesarean and her daughter is unharmed. This is what she is told by her husband. Now on the mend with the help of her husband, sister in law and live-in nurse, she starts questioning if she is being told the entire truth of her past and her accident.
I was not expecting that. This book was brilliant in so many ways. I struggled with the beginning as it was confusing and written in the mindset of someone with memory issues but after finishing this, it was genius. I believed I had it figured out so many times and I could not have been further from the truth. I applaud this author for writing the perfect mystery, bravo Arianne Richmond.
Merged review:
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutore for this advanced copy.
After being in a tragic car accident, Celeste cannot remember much of her past. She is told that she was pregnant, with her other daughter in the backseat. The baby was saved by cesarean and her daughter is unharmed. This is what she is told by her husband. Now on the mend with the help of her husband, sister in law and live-in nurse, she starts questioning if she is being told the entire truth of her past and her accident.
I was not expecting that. This book was brilliant in so many ways. I struggled with the beginning as it was confusing and written in the mindset of someone with memory issues but after finishing this, it was genius. I believed I had it figured out so many times and I could not have been further from the truth. I applaud this author for writing the perfect mystery, bravo Arianne Richmond.
I was not expecting that. This book was brilliant in so many ways. I struggled with the beginning as it was confusing and written in the mindset of someone with memory issues but after finishing this, it was genius. I believed I had it figured out so many times and I could not have been further from the truth. I applaud this author for writing the perfect mystery, bravo Arianne Richmond.
Merged review:
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutore for this advanced copy.
After being in a tragic car accident, Celeste cannot remember much of her past. She is told that she was pregnant, with her other daughter in the backseat. The baby was saved by cesarean and her daughter is unharmed. This is what she is told by her husband. Now on the mend with the help of her husband, sister in law and live-in nurse, she starts questioning if she is being told the entire truth of her past and her accident.
I was not expecting that. This book was brilliant in so many ways. I struggled with the beginning as it was confusing and written in the mindset of someone with memory issues but after finishing this, it was genius. I believed I had it figured out so many times and I could not have been further from the truth. I applaud this author for writing the perfect mystery, bravo Arianne Richmond.
April 21, 2022
Loved this breath takingly suspenseful novel. I just couldn't put this one down. Kept me guessing until the very last page. A thrilling roller coaster of a book. Loved it.
March 12, 2022
Wow this takes the word “Breakdown” to a whole new level. Poor Celeste has had a horrible car accident while she was pregnant with her 3rd child, Violet and her other daughter. She’s brain damaged and her husband hires an au pair to help with the kids. I do admit I was a little confused in the beginning as there are flashbacks, before and after etc but i kept reading! The chapters are in different points of views from all the characters so it really keeps you guessing till the end. Secrets, lies … this book has it all! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
April 7, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Last year I read Arianne Richmonde's, The Guilty Sister, and loved it! I was so excited to get approved for this e-ARC and be able to be a part of Bookouture's book tour!
The Breakdown was a little bit slow at first, I'd say 20% in, but then after that, it was absolute craziness. I enjoyed how the chapters alternated between different characters POVs. My mind was reeling trying to figure out what was happening between all of the characters. Every character was hiding a secret. I was even questioning my own sanity while reading the chapters from Celeste's POV. I couldn't decipher if she really had a traumatic head injury or if she was just faking it. I thought I had everything figured out, but I was totally wrong. This book contained some crazy secrets, a ridiculous amount of lies, and so much suspense! I loved it all! The ending was mind-blowing...I was beyond surprised! One of the best twisted books I've read by Arianne Richmonde. Can't wait to read more from her!
My rating: 4.5 stars/5 stars
Highly recommend!
I will post my review for my book tour date on 4/13 on instagram @thrillersandcoffee
Last year I read Arianne Richmonde's, The Guilty Sister, and loved it! I was so excited to get approved for this e-ARC and be able to be a part of Bookouture's book tour!
The Breakdown was a little bit slow at first, I'd say 20% in, but then after that, it was absolute craziness. I enjoyed how the chapters alternated between different characters POVs. My mind was reeling trying to figure out what was happening between all of the characters. Every character was hiding a secret. I was even questioning my own sanity while reading the chapters from Celeste's POV. I couldn't decipher if she really had a traumatic head injury or if she was just faking it. I thought I had everything figured out, but I was totally wrong. This book contained some crazy secrets, a ridiculous amount of lies, and so much suspense! I loved it all! The ending was mind-blowing...I was beyond surprised! One of the best twisted books I've read by Arianne Richmonde. Can't wait to read more from her!
My rating: 4.5 stars/5 stars
Highly recommend!
I will post my review for my book tour date on 4/13 on instagram @thrillersandcoffee
April 17, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Breakdown' by Arianne Richmonde
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Arianne Richmonde, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 11th April 2022.
This is the second book that I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Wife's House' which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful colourful cover and intriguing blurb. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An absolutely gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay. The Breakdown will have you hooked!'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' and Mark Edwards so am looking forward to seeing if this book lives up to this (written before read and reviewed). I am also a fan of Arianne and if this book is half as good as 'The Wife's House' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 64 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! In this case the whole book before bed!!!
'The Breakdown' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Arianne discusses/includes mental health and the death of a child.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Celeste, Jayne, Adele Alba and Dr. Stephen. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This book is based in Casco Bay, Maine, USA 🇺🇸.
Wow!!! Where to even begin on this one!! An absolutely cracking page turner! I started reading it this morning... Well yesterday morning and could not put it down until I finished just before midnight!! What an absolute page turner. I DID NOT expect THAT!!
Extremely well written, a very smooth and easy read. Fantastic descriptions which really sucked me into the storyline. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
I loved the storyline which kept me completely enthralled and in suspense the whole time. Ram packed with mysteries, deceit, shock surprises, twists, turns and everything you could ask for in a good psychological thriller. It was filled with love, lies, secrets, mystery, shocks, tension and some expo live twists!! Not much surprises me after reading so many books but OMG Arianne you blew this right out of the water!!! Congratulations!!! There was so much going on but just the right amount so I didn't get confused. I would never have guessed the bombshells thay were dropped towards the end!! There's nothing worse than knowing what's going to happen before your even half way through. I absolutely loved the setting and it really did feel like I went on a mini break. I was devastated to come to the end and "unpack my suitcase". The time line at the end was a fantastic addition and a very handy tool.
Congratulations Arianne on yet another fantastic success and here's to many more 🥂
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I can't say too much about the characters as I really do not want to risk giving anything away. They were all realistic and strong and I became completely invested in each of them. Your given the storyline from the perspectives of Celeste, Jayne, Dr Stephens and Adele which worked out perfectly as you could see what was going on from each of their perspectives and it made you also question each of them. I won't say anymore at the risk of dropping any spoilers. Needless to say the characters worked perfectly with this absolutely gripping unputdownable psychological thriller.
This is definitely one of the best books that I have read in a while, I couldn't believe how absorbed I was until I came to the shocking ending. Clear your schedules before starting this as you will not be able to put it down!!
Overall an absolutely fantastic psychological thriller that is filled with explosive action, suspense and mystery.
Genres covered include Psychological thriller, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Thriller and Suspense.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above, 'Gone Girl' , 'The Wife Between Us' and Mark Edwards’s 'Here to Stay' and just absolutely everybody to be honest!!!
327 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
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Merged review:
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Breakdown' by Arianne Richmonde
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Arianne Richmonde, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 11th April 2022.
This is the second book that I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Wife's House' which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful colourful cover and intriguing blurb. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An absolutely gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay. The Breakdown will have you hooked!'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' and Mark Edwards so am looking forward to seeing if this book lives up to this (written before read and reviewed). I am also a fan of Arianne and if this book is half as good as 'The Wife's House' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 64 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! In this case the whole book before bed!!!
'The Breakdown' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Arianne discusses/includes mental health and the death of a child.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Celeste, Jayne, Adele Alba and Dr. Stephen. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This book is based in Casco Bay, Maine, USA 🇺🇸.
Wow!!! Where to even begin on this one!! An absolutely cracking page turner! I started reading it this morning... Well yesterday morning and could not put it down until I finished just before midnight!! What an absolute page turner. I DID NOT expect THAT!!
Extremely well written, a very smooth and easy read. Fantastic descriptions which really sucked me into the storyline. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
I loved the storyline which kept me completely enthralled and in suspense the whole time. Ram packed with mysteries, deceit, shock surprises, twists, turns and everything you could ask for in a good psychological thriller. It was filled with love, lies, secrets, mystery, shocks, tension and some expo live twists!! Not much surprises me after reading so many books but OMG Arianne you blew this right out of the water!!! Congratulations!!! There was so much going on but just the right amount so I didn't get confused. I would never have guessed the bombshells thay were dropped towards the end!! There's nothing worse than knowing what's going to happen before your even half way through. I absolutely loved the setting and it really did feel like I went on a mini break. I was devastated to come to the end and "unpack my suitcase". The time line at the end was a fantastic addition and a very handy tool.
Congratulations Arianne on yet another fantastic success and here's to many more 🥂
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I can't say too much about the characters as I really do not want to risk giving anything away. They were all realistic and strong and I became completely invested in each of them. Your given the storyline from the perspectives of Celeste, Jayne, Dr Stephens and Adele which worked out perfectly as you could see what was going on from each of their perspectives and it made you also question each of them. I won't say anymore at the risk of dropping any spoilers. Needless to say the characters worked perfectly with this absolutely gripping unputdownable psychological thriller.
This is definitely one of the best books that I have read in a while, I couldn't believe how absorbed I was until I came to the shocking ending. Clear your schedules before starting this as you will not be able to put it down!!
Overall an absolutely fantastic psychological thriller that is filled with explosive action, suspense and mystery.
Genres covered include Psychological thriller, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Thriller and Suspense.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above, 'Gone Girl' , 'The Wife Between Us' and Mark Edwards’s 'Here to Stay' and just absolutely everybody to be honest!!!
327 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBreakdown #ArianneRichmonde #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@ArianneRichmonde @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
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Review for 'The Breakdown' by Arianne Richmonde
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Arianne Richmonde, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 11th April 2022.
This is the second book that I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Wife's House' which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful colourful cover and intriguing blurb. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An absolutely gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay. The Breakdown will have you hooked!'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' and Mark Edwards so am looking forward to seeing if this book lives up to this (written before read and reviewed). I am also a fan of Arianne and if this book is half as good as 'The Wife's House' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 64 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! In this case the whole book before bed!!!
'The Breakdown' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Arianne discusses/includes mental health and the death of a child.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Celeste, Jayne, Adele Alba and Dr. Stephen. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This book is based in Casco Bay, Maine, USA 🇺🇸.
Wow!!! Where to even begin on this one!! An absolutely cracking page turner! I started reading it this morning... Well yesterday morning and could not put it down until I finished just before midnight!! What an absolute page turner. I DID NOT expect THAT!!
Extremely well written, a very smooth and easy read. Fantastic descriptions which really sucked me into the storyline. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
I loved the storyline which kept me completely enthralled and in suspense the whole time. Ram packed with mysteries, deceit, shock surprises, twists, turns and everything you could ask for in a good psychological thriller. It was filled with love, lies, secrets, mystery, shocks, tension and some expo live twists!! Not much surprises me after reading so many books but OMG Arianne you blew this right out of the water!!! Congratulations!!! There was so much going on but just the right amount so I didn't get confused. I would never have guessed the bombshells thay were dropped towards the end!! There's nothing worse than knowing what's going to happen before your even half way through. I absolutely loved the setting and it really did feel like I went on a mini break. I was devastated to come to the end and "unpack my suitcase". The time line at the end was a fantastic addition and a very handy tool.
Congratulations Arianne on yet another fantastic success and here's to many more 🥂
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I can't say too much about the characters as I really do not want to risk giving anything away. They were all realistic and strong and I became completely invested in each of them. Your given the storyline from the perspectives of Celeste, Jayne, Dr Stephens and Adele which worked out perfectly as you could see what was going on from each of their perspectives and it made you also question each of them. I won't say anymore at the risk of dropping any spoilers. Needless to say the characters worked perfectly with this absolutely gripping unputdownable psychological thriller.
This is definitely one of the best books that I have read in a while, I couldn't believe how absorbed I was until I came to the shocking ending. Clear your schedules before starting this as you will not be able to put it down!!
Overall an absolutely fantastic psychological thriller that is filled with explosive action, suspense and mystery.
Genres covered include Psychological thriller, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Thriller and Suspense.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above, 'Gone Girl' , 'The Wife Between Us' and Mark Edwards’s 'Here to Stay' and just absolutely everybody to be honest!!!
327 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBreakdown #ArianneRichmonde #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@ArianneRichmonde @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Merged review:
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Breakdown' by Arianne Richmonde
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Arianne Richmonde, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 11th April 2022.
This is the second book that I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Wife's House' which I would highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful colourful cover and intriguing blurb. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An absolutely gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay. The Breakdown will have you hooked!'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' and Mark Edwards so am looking forward to seeing if this book lives up to this (written before read and reviewed). I am also a fan of Arianne and if this book is half as good as 'The Wife's House' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 64 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! In this case the whole book before bed!!!
'The Breakdown' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Arianne discusses/includes mental health and the death of a child.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Celeste, Jayne, Adele Alba and Dr. Stephen. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
This book is based in Casco Bay, Maine, USA 🇺🇸.
Wow!!! Where to even begin on this one!! An absolutely cracking page turner! I started reading it this morning... Well yesterday morning and could not put it down until I finished just before midnight!! What an absolute page turner. I DID NOT expect THAT!!
Extremely well written, a very smooth and easy read. Fantastic descriptions which really sucked me into the storyline. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.
I loved the storyline which kept me completely enthralled and in suspense the whole time. Ram packed with mysteries, deceit, shock surprises, twists, turns and everything you could ask for in a good psychological thriller. It was filled with love, lies, secrets, mystery, shocks, tension and some expo live twists!! Not much surprises me after reading so many books but OMG Arianne you blew this right out of the water!!! Congratulations!!! There was so much going on but just the right amount so I didn't get confused. I would never have guessed the bombshells thay were dropped towards the end!! There's nothing worse than knowing what's going to happen before your even half way through. I absolutely loved the setting and it really did feel like I went on a mini break. I was devastated to come to the end and "unpack my suitcase". The time line at the end was a fantastic addition and a very handy tool.
Congratulations Arianne on yet another fantastic success and here's to many more 🥂
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I can't say too much about the characters as I really do not want to risk giving anything away. They were all realistic and strong and I became completely invested in each of them. Your given the storyline from the perspectives of Celeste, Jayne, Dr Stephens and Adele which worked out perfectly as you could see what was going on from each of their perspectives and it made you also question each of them. I won't say anymore at the risk of dropping any spoilers. Needless to say the characters worked perfectly with this absolutely gripping unputdownable psychological thriller.
This is definitely one of the best books that I have read in a while, I couldn't believe how absorbed I was until I came to the shocking ending. Clear your schedules before starting this as you will not be able to put it down!!
Overall an absolutely fantastic psychological thriller that is filled with explosive action, suspense and mystery.
Genres covered include Psychological thriller, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Thriller and Suspense.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above, 'Gone Girl' , 'The Wife Between Us' and Mark Edwards’s 'Here to Stay' and just absolutely everybody to be honest!!!
327 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBreakdown #ArianneRichmonde #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@ArianneRichmonde @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
April 11, 2022
This is my second story written by Arianne Richmonde. Twenty-three-year-old Jayne Smith, from England is travelling to an island just off the coast of Maine. She will be the new au pair for the summer for the Wainwright family. Celeste Wainwright was involved in a car accident when she was pregnant. Her husband wants someone to take over looking after their children, Liam, Lizzie and baby Violet who was born by C-section. Celeste is under the care of her psychotherapist, Dr Stephen for her head injury. She also has a nurse to help with her other needs. But is Celeste being kept in the dark about her past and what happened? Is there anyone she can trust?
Told from different points of view I was kept guessing till the end. Layered with lies, secrets and deceit I didn't want to put this one down for a second. A captivating, wonderfully oppressive and very highly recommended, intense psychological thriller, complete with a cracking finale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley, and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Told from different points of view I was kept guessing till the end. Layered with lies, secrets and deceit I didn't want to put this one down for a second. A captivating, wonderfully oppressive and very highly recommended, intense psychological thriller, complete with a cracking finale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley, and this review is my unbiased opinion.
July 25, 2023
Brilliant!
This story was certainly full of dark, unexpected, twists and surprises!
The first page reveals a loved ones’ worst possible nightmare. Immediately I needed to know WHY and Whodunnit!
From there on, the story developed slowly, at times almost too slowly, but I realized it fit the frustration, anguish and even paranoia the characters were feeling in uncovering and solving this big horrific mystery.
AND…it’s not the only one!
This is a story about the evil that hides in plain site behind the beautiful homes of the beautiful people in the beautiful parts of this country. In this case Cliff Island in Maine.
Nothing is what it appears and EVERYONE is a suspect. EVERYONE has dark secrets and EVERYONE is a liar!
YET, on the outside we see the perfect family, the perfect life, the perfect reputation! They seem so lovely and so easy going!
Sca-ry!
The characters are not very likable but they were riveting!
I needed to get to know them!
Smart, cunning and super conniving, every one of these characters is harboring secrets and anything anyone says or does has a double meaning. Each of them knew that everyone, including themselves were hiding secrets and lying to protect those secrets. But these secrets were festering and they needed to dig them up and come clean.
Huh?
Yep the plot thickens!
Why?
The build up, the character development was intricate and almost methodical!
Oh what a twisted web the Wainwrights wove and I loved being caught in it.
The lies we tell to get what we want, what we need is closely examined. I enjoyed how current world events were incorporated into the plot line adding to the frustration and how things don’t move at the pace you want them to.
This is the kind of read that once I started reading, despite getting frustrated cause I wanted to get to the point, I got so caught up in the story, I couldn’t put it down.
The ending… holy wow!
Never saw that ending coming!
There were elements of this story that could have been tightened up and condensed but otherwise this was such an enjoyable unputdownable read!
4.5 stars.
This story was certainly full of dark, unexpected, twists and surprises!
The first page reveals a loved ones’ worst possible nightmare. Immediately I needed to know WHY and Whodunnit!
From there on, the story developed slowly, at times almost too slowly, but I realized it fit the frustration, anguish and even paranoia the characters were feeling in uncovering and solving this big horrific mystery.
AND…it’s not the only one!
This is a story about the evil that hides in plain site behind the beautiful homes of the beautiful people in the beautiful parts of this country. In this case Cliff Island in Maine.
Nothing is what it appears and EVERYONE is a suspect. EVERYONE has dark secrets and EVERYONE is a liar!
YET, on the outside we see the perfect family, the perfect life, the perfect reputation! They seem so lovely and so easy going!
Sca-ry!
The characters are not very likable but they were riveting!
I needed to get to know them!
Smart, cunning and super conniving, every one of these characters is harboring secrets and anything anyone says or does has a double meaning. Each of them knew that everyone, including themselves were hiding secrets and lying to protect those secrets. But these secrets were festering and they needed to dig them up and come clean.
Huh?
Yep the plot thickens!
Why?
The build up, the character development was intricate and almost methodical!
Oh what a twisted web the Wainwrights wove and I loved being caught in it.
The lies we tell to get what we want, what we need is closely examined. I enjoyed how current world events were incorporated into the plot line adding to the frustration and how things don’t move at the pace you want them to.
This is the kind of read that once I started reading, despite getting frustrated cause I wanted to get to the point, I got so caught up in the story, I couldn’t put it down.
The ending… holy wow!
Never saw that ending coming!
There were elements of this story that could have been tightened up and condensed but otherwise this was such an enjoyable unputdownable read!
4.5 stars.
June 19, 2022
Wowsers!! This book was quite the twisty read.
Everytime I thought I had it figured out, something else would happen.
This book grabs you and keeps right through the very last page.
Loved it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everytime I thought I had it figured out, something else would happen.
This book grabs you and keeps right through the very last page.
Loved it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 11, 2022
TW: mention of child death, kidnap, suicide attempt, alcoholism, brief mention of adult/minor relationship
Jayne Smith is travelling to an island just off the coast of Maine to be an au pair for the summer for the Wainwright family. Celeste Wainwright is currently unwell following an accident, & her husband wants someone to take over looking after the children, Liam, Lizzie, & baby Violet for most of the time. Jayne will be staying in a cottage on the grounds of their house & she is happy she is not in the main house as there is a strange atmosphere. Max Wainwright is pleasant but distant, Celeste doesn't remember anything from one day to the next, & the nurse there to give Celeste 24/7 care is overbearing & unfriendly. Shortly after Jayne arrives, baby Violet dies suddenly & then a few days later, four-year-old Lizzie goes missing in the middle of the night.
The narrative is from several points of view, including Celeste, Jayne, & the detective who is investigating Lizzie's disappearance. Everyone, including Jayne & Dr Stephen (who is a bit of a creeper), has their own secrets which may or may not be relevant. I flew through this book in a few hours & really enjoyed reading it with its twists & turns - some of which I guessed correctly but not all - & that's the mark of a good book for me. I thought the ending may have been a little too neat but it's a minor quibble.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Jayne Smith is travelling to an island just off the coast of Maine to be an au pair for the summer for the Wainwright family. Celeste Wainwright is currently unwell following an accident, & her husband wants someone to take over looking after the children, Liam, Lizzie, & baby Violet for most of the time. Jayne will be staying in a cottage on the grounds of their house & she is happy she is not in the main house as there is a strange atmosphere. Max Wainwright is pleasant but distant, Celeste doesn't remember anything from one day to the next, & the nurse there to give Celeste 24/7 care is overbearing & unfriendly. Shortly after Jayne arrives, baby Violet dies suddenly & then a few days later, four-year-old Lizzie goes missing in the middle of the night.
The narrative is from several points of view, including Celeste, Jayne, & the detective who is investigating Lizzie's disappearance. Everyone, including Jayne & Dr Stephen (who is a bit of a creeper), has their own secrets which may or may not be relevant. I flew through this book in a few hours & really enjoyed reading it with its twists & turns - some of which I guessed correctly but not all - & that's the mark of a good book for me. I thought the ending may have been a little too neat but it's a minor quibble.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
March 5, 2022
Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture, and Arianne Richmonde for my gifted copy!
Synopsis:
After a tragic accident, Celeste is dependent on help 24/7. Only partly does she remember her life before. She's glad to have her husband, his sister, and their new au-pair, isn't she? So why does everything feel so wrong? When her baby dies and her other daughter disapperas - who is to blame? Or did she even do it herself?
My thoughts:
This was such a slow burn. Like, slooooow. I found myself skimming some parts, and still didn't miss anything important. I really wanted to get to know the characters better, but only during the second half of the book did they show any depth - well, at least some of them did, and by then, I couldn't really find a connection to them anymore. I really liked the plot twists, though, they did keep me on my feet and I really enjoyed the ending of this book!
Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Verity by Colleen Hoover
This was my first book by this author.
Synopsis:
After a tragic accident, Celeste is dependent on help 24/7. Only partly does she remember her life before. She's glad to have her husband, his sister, and their new au-pair, isn't she? So why does everything feel so wrong? When her baby dies and her other daughter disapperas - who is to blame? Or did she even do it herself?
My thoughts:
This was such a slow burn. Like, slooooow. I found myself skimming some parts, and still didn't miss anything important. I really wanted to get to know the characters better, but only during the second half of the book did they show any depth - well, at least some of them did, and by then, I couldn't really find a connection to them anymore. I really liked the plot twists, though, they did keep me on my feet and I really enjoyed the ending of this book!
Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Verity by Colleen Hoover
This was my first book by this author.
April 10, 2022
Fabulous cover for
The Breakdown,
and goodness me, what a stab in the dark—no pun intended! I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s a thriller; it’s more like a whacking good whodunnit. Trying to predict the plot got me quite worked up as I consider myself to be quite a dab hand at doing just this. And if Richmonde gave me the runaround, imagine the detective in charge of the case.
I have to say that Detective Adele Alba was one of my faves. She’s methodical and keeps an open mind as one would expect her to do, yet well aware that all involved are hiding something. Yeap, lies are the name of the game. So, who is telling the truth or trying to throw her off the scent?
What floored me was the opening chapter; however, the author doesn’t give the reader time to pause as Celeste’s story unravels. Mother of young children, I found her emotional state a tad strange. I wanted her to react more to the circumstances; however, when memory fails as hers does, one has no option but to go with the flow.
Told from multiple points of view in first-person, some of the characters' stories move back and forth in a shortish timespan, keeping the reader in the loop regarding their thoughts. No issue here. But why the author hadn’t given Celeste’s husband or his sister a voice got me thinking because something felt off.
We meet the au-pair whose nativity frustrated me no end, poor girl. Perhaps another pawn in a bargaining tool? Wait and see! And despite another player leaving an impression on me, his actions fell a little short. I doubt the author wanted me to like the nurse, either. Well done here, Richmonde. It’s been a while since I’ve had so many convoluted feelings.
In the second half of the book and much to my liking, Richmonde fastened up the page-turning pace. Her throwing in more clues didn’t mean I was able to guess who was behind such dastard doings in surroundings so breathtakingly beautiful.
The ending. What. A. Shocker! I loved the way the author led me down the garden path. Bravo, Richmonde!
I have to say that Detective Adele Alba was one of my faves. She’s methodical and keeps an open mind as one would expect her to do, yet well aware that all involved are hiding something. Yeap, lies are the name of the game. So, who is telling the truth or trying to throw her off the scent?
What floored me was the opening chapter; however, the author doesn’t give the reader time to pause as Celeste’s story unravels. Mother of young children, I found her emotional state a tad strange. I wanted her to react more to the circumstances; however, when memory fails as hers does, one has no option but to go with the flow.
Told from multiple points of view in first-person, some of the characters' stories move back and forth in a shortish timespan, keeping the reader in the loop regarding their thoughts. No issue here. But why the author hadn’t given Celeste’s husband or his sister a voice got me thinking because something felt off.
We meet the au-pair whose nativity frustrated me no end, poor girl. Perhaps another pawn in a bargaining tool? Wait and see! And despite another player leaving an impression on me, his actions fell a little short. I doubt the author wanted me to like the nurse, either. Well done here, Richmonde. It’s been a while since I’ve had so many convoluted feelings.
In the second half of the book and much to my liking, Richmonde fastened up the page-turning pace. Her throwing in more clues didn’t mean I was able to guess who was behind such dastard doings in surroundings so breathtakingly beautiful.
The ending. What. A. Shocker! I loved the way the author led me down the garden path. Bravo, Richmonde!
April 13, 2022
First, I want to thank Arianne Richmonde, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
O.M.G!! WOW!! My head is spinning from Arianne Richmonde’s latest 5 star psychological thriller The Breakdown!! If you have not read any of Arianne’s books you don’t know what you are missing!! This was my ultimate favorite she has ever written! I was just blown away by her fast paced, mind boggling, twisted and intense writing style! This is a book that is so captivating and addictive you won’t want to put it down!! The Breakdown you must add to the top of your must read pile!! It is SOOO good!!
This was one of the coolest covers I have seen from Bookouture’s graphic designers! It was so eerie and the colors just stood out! It is definitely eye-catching!
Arianne made me smile ear to ear with her dedication to her readers. It is an honor and a privilege to read and review for her and Bookouture.
The research of Arianne various aspects of this book needs to be commended. She even taught me a few things here and there.
Arianne addresses some pretty important issues in her beautifully written book!
Each of the characters in this book had you on your toes with their personalities and back stories. I often wonder how she came up with these characters and their storylines.
There were so many in-depth layers that were built up only to destruct in the breakdown! She had me at the edge of my seat as the climatic breakdown unfolded. I had a feeling I knew how it was going to end but then she threw in the wicked curves! Amazing storyline!! Just incredible!!
What made this book a little different than the rest is Arianne gave the timeline to all the events that took place.
O.M.G!! WOW!! My head is spinning from Arianne Richmonde’s latest 5 star psychological thriller The Breakdown!! If you have not read any of Arianne’s books you don’t know what you are missing!! This was my ultimate favorite she has ever written! I was just blown away by her fast paced, mind boggling, twisted and intense writing style! This is a book that is so captivating and addictive you won’t want to put it down!! The Breakdown you must add to the top of your must read pile!! It is SOOO good!!
This was one of the coolest covers I have seen from Bookouture’s graphic designers! It was so eerie and the colors just stood out! It is definitely eye-catching!
Arianne made me smile ear to ear with her dedication to her readers. It is an honor and a privilege to read and review for her and Bookouture.
The research of Arianne various aspects of this book needs to be commended. She even taught me a few things here and there.
Arianne addresses some pretty important issues in her beautifully written book!
Each of the characters in this book had you on your toes with their personalities and back stories. I often wonder how she came up with these characters and their storylines.
There were so many in-depth layers that were built up only to destruct in the breakdown! She had me at the edge of my seat as the climatic breakdown unfolded. I had a feeling I knew how it was going to end but then she threw in the wicked curves! Amazing storyline!! Just incredible!!
What made this book a little different than the rest is Arianne gave the timeline to all the events that took place.
April 20, 2022
WoW.......The Breakdown by Arianne Richmonde was an excellent psychological thriller and I was hooked from the very beginning till the end. If you want a book thats full of twists and turns especially as some were unexpected, that feels like a roller coaster ride; this is a book for you. It was fast paced from the beginning and I loved it.
"One day she had the perfect life. The next it was gone..............
Celeste Wainwright stands at the very edge of the cliff face, looking at the roaring ocean below my feet.
I’m in no danger, in fact my husband Liam and his sister talk just feet away from me, watching my every move."
But, Why are they watching my every move?
I know since the car accident, I’ve struggled to remember a lot of important things in my life, like giving birth to my daughter, Violet, who was born by C-section. just a few days after the crash.
Is my marriage perfect?
Too Many secrets and what are they hiding from me?
Is Celeste in any danger?
I loved all the characters within this book, they all seem to be really nice and willing to help everyone...........but they are all have something in common!! They all have some dark secrets and everyone is trying to keep their secrets close to their heart!!!
However, these secrets will come out some how!!! It's just time and they will surface!!!
WoW!!!
I highly recommend this book I loved it! An excellent book from start to the end!
Big Thank you to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
"One day she had the perfect life. The next it was gone..............
Celeste Wainwright stands at the very edge of the cliff face, looking at the roaring ocean below my feet.
I’m in no danger, in fact my husband Liam and his sister talk just feet away from me, watching my every move."
But, Why are they watching my every move?
I know since the car accident, I’ve struggled to remember a lot of important things in my life, like giving birth to my daughter, Violet, who was born by C-section. just a few days after the crash.
Is my marriage perfect?
Too Many secrets and what are they hiding from me?
Is Celeste in any danger?
I loved all the characters within this book, they all seem to be really nice and willing to help everyone...........but they are all have something in common!! They all have some dark secrets and everyone is trying to keep their secrets close to their heart!!!
However, these secrets will come out some how!!! It's just time and they will surface!!!
WoW!!!
I highly recommend this book I loved it! An excellent book from start to the end!
Big Thank you to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 3, 2022
In this thriller, the Wainwright family is speading the summer at Cliff Island. Tragedy has hit the family and they are trying to escape the media and get their lives back together. Mrs. Wainswright has just survived a horrible wreck where she lost a child. A nurse has moved in to help take care of her as she recovers mentally and physically. The father has hired an au pair to help supervise the other children due to traveling for his job. Suddenly, Lizzie, another child in the family, disappears. The drama starts as the police and family members try to find the missing child.
As the plots unfolds, nothing is as it seems. This thriller is truly mind-blowing. All the pieces came together at the end of the book which left me truly speechless. I highly recommend this thriller by Richmonde. You will not be disappointed.
As the plots unfolds, nothing is as it seems. This thriller is truly mind-blowing. All the pieces came together at the end of the book which left me truly speechless. I highly recommend this thriller by Richmonde. You will not be disappointed.
March 9, 2022
My Review:
I do want to start off by saying that this book was very slow up until about the 80% mark. I hung in there and I’m glad I did. I really liked the ending and all the twists that it entailed. I was truly shocked. I knew throughout the whole book there was more to the story than what was being told and I was so right. Every person there had a secret that came to light in the end. I did have a hard time connecting to any of the characters at the beginning of the book but by the end I did finally connect to a few of them once everything was truly revealed. This was my first book by this author and it certainly won’t be my last.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 4 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️
I do want to start off by saying that this book was very slow up until about the 80% mark. I hung in there and I’m glad I did. I really liked the ending and all the twists that it entailed. I was truly shocked. I knew throughout the whole book there was more to the story than what was being told and I was so right. Every person there had a secret that came to light in the end. I did have a hard time connecting to any of the characters at the beginning of the book but by the end I did finally connect to a few of them once everything was truly revealed. This was my first book by this author and it certainly won’t be my last.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 4 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️
April 18, 2022
There was suspense since I didn’t know what exactly was happening as many events felt disjointed. And quite unbelievable.
Confused was my outlook when the newborn child was told to have died of SIDS and the other daughter disappeared in a week’s time and none of the characters appeared extremely perturbed.
Unlikable characters. The right amount of disquiet was given to everyone which made me feel that there were untold secrets hidden.
The Bad
Too many POVs. And it was obvious that they were written in just to make the waters murkier. There was no vibe of doubt or suspense emanating from them.
The format of prose. There was weird way of writing which did not help me in connecting to the characters.
I was extremely bored. Got suckered in by those 5-star reviews. After a certain point, I didn’t want to care about them and wished all of them would die. I read the book as I didn’t want to DNF.
Sighhh
Read only if you have nothing to read.
Confused was my outlook when the newborn child was told to have died of SIDS and the other daughter disappeared in a week’s time and none of the characters appeared extremely perturbed.
Unlikable characters. The right amount of disquiet was given to everyone which made me feel that there were untold secrets hidden.
The Bad
Too many POVs. And it was obvious that they were written in just to make the waters murkier. There was no vibe of doubt or suspense emanating from them.
The format of prose. There was weird way of writing which did not help me in connecting to the characters.
I was extremely bored. Got suckered in by those 5-star reviews. After a certain point, I didn’t want to care about them and wished all of them would die. I read the book as I didn’t want to DNF.
Sighhh
Read only if you have nothing to read.
April 14, 2022
You had me at the very first word and kept me gripped all the way to the end. I cannot believe just how good THE BREAKDOWN is. My head is still spinning with this addictive psychological thriller
Told from multiple POVs, it is so tense. In fact every single page is just fast paced and twisted and it makes you think there is always something more going on
Each character has such strong personalities and back stories that I keep wondering how this woman came up with all of it
Honestly, Arianne Richmonde is such a talented author and I can't wait to read more from her
.
Told from multiple POVs, it is so tense. In fact every single page is just fast paced and twisted and it makes you think there is always something more going on
Each character has such strong personalities and back stories that I keep wondering how this woman came up with all of it
Honestly, Arianne Richmonde is such a talented author and I can't wait to read more from her
.
April 11, 2022
The Breakdown is a complete rollercoaster of a ride from start to finish. It had twists and turns galore and kept me reading well into the night - I could not put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.
April 17, 2022
★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)
I really enjoyed Arianne Richmonde's previous thriller "The Guilty Sister" so was eagerly awaiting the unravelling of THE BREAKDOWN. And what a tangled web it is! Everything is smoke and mirrors and nothing is at all what it seems.
Twenty-three year old Jayne Smith has travelled from England to take up the position as au pair to two young children, Liam and Lizzie, while their mother Celeste recovers from a traumatic car accident in which she and Lizzie very nearly died. Husband Max is there to meet her when she steps off the ferry after a somewhat stormy crossing to the small Cliff Island off the coast of Maine. No sooner has she arrived than she has been thrown into the deep end with entertaining the children before she has even been shown her cottage, let alone settled in. Max has stressed the importance of keeping the children out of their mother's way so as not to tire her. And it isn't long before Jayne begins to wonder just exactly what she has signed up for.
Celeste Wainwright was heavily pregnant when she drove her car into the lake with four year old Lizzie strapped in the back. If it wasn't for a quick thinking passerby both she and her daughter would now be dead, as well as that of her unborn child. Celeste was rushed to hospital, an emergency caesarian performed and baby Violet was born. It soon becomes clear in the aftermath that Celeste's memory of events leading up to and surrounding her accident are hazy. Some days she lucid, others she's not. Traumatic brain injury, the doctors say. And so as soon as she she's discharged. Max decides to take her and the children to their summer home on Cliff Island, her favourite place in the whole world, and where she can safely rest and recuperate.
When Jayne arrives she hardly sees Celeste who appears to be heavily guarded by her private nurse, Nurse Sharpe. Even Max and his sister Marjorie, who has come over to help with the running of Celeste's business in the interim, are on the mainland more than the island. Jayne thought he would want to be at his wife's side. And then there is Dr Stephen he brought in as Celeste's psychotherapist...there's something well dodgy with him, though she isn't sure what. But one thing Jayne is sure of and that's how much she adores the two children...Lizzie especially, who reminds her a little of her own sister at that age. She spends most of her time entertaining the children on the beach or in her cottage, colouring or drawing or playing games.
And then one stormy night a few days after Jayne's arrival, Lizzie disappears. There is little evidence as to what happened to her except for a few carefully laid pieces...but are they to be trusted or overlooked? What could have happened to Lizzie? Did Celeste do something without realising? Or was it Jayne? Or maybe Dr Stephen? Or maybe there is something evil lurking in the hidden depths of the island. And what about baby Violet?
The story unfolds through multiple narratives - predominantly Jayne, Celeste and Dr Stephen. There is a third person narrative titled "The Disappearance" in which Detective Adele Alba follows the clues into what could have happened to Lizzie. The other characters factor in the background to these narratives but still each play an important part. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and nothing is what it seems.
THE BREAKDOWN is slow to begin with despite drawing the reader in at first it then starts to peter out where nothing much seems to be happening when in actual fact it is. To take your eye off the ball would be to miss something important but I admit it is hard to remain engaged when Jayne seems to be a little sketchy, Celeste somewhat flaky and Dr Stephen downright creepy. But don't be fooled...something is amiss and even bigger is at play.
I must say I loved the location. Not only is it secluded with sketchy internet, the setting of Cliff Island off the rugged coast of Maine is subject to stormy and unpredictable weather patterns just adds to the sinister undertones and makes for an atmospheric read...complete with layers and layers of secrets and lies.
Although THE BREAKDOWN is an entertaining read, I was disappointed in the ending a little. Not in the ending as such...but a few of the "loose ends", shall I say, without revealing any spoilers. The story was a tangled web indeed but it also left the ending in a bit of tangle that was a little more ambiguous than I would have liked. But it still was a good ending...I just think it could have been tidier.
Overall, THE BREAKDOWN is an addictive, atmospheric and oppressive psychological thriller that is intense, dark and twisted.
I would like to thank #ArianneRichmonde, #Netgalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBreakdown in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I really enjoyed Arianne Richmonde's previous thriller "The Guilty Sister" so was eagerly awaiting the unravelling of THE BREAKDOWN. And what a tangled web it is! Everything is smoke and mirrors and nothing is at all what it seems.
Twenty-three year old Jayne Smith has travelled from England to take up the position as au pair to two young children, Liam and Lizzie, while their mother Celeste recovers from a traumatic car accident in which she and Lizzie very nearly died. Husband Max is there to meet her when she steps off the ferry after a somewhat stormy crossing to the small Cliff Island off the coast of Maine. No sooner has she arrived than she has been thrown into the deep end with entertaining the children before she has even been shown her cottage, let alone settled in. Max has stressed the importance of keeping the children out of their mother's way so as not to tire her. And it isn't long before Jayne begins to wonder just exactly what she has signed up for.
Celeste Wainwright was heavily pregnant when she drove her car into the lake with four year old Lizzie strapped in the back. If it wasn't for a quick thinking passerby both she and her daughter would now be dead, as well as that of her unborn child. Celeste was rushed to hospital, an emergency caesarian performed and baby Violet was born. It soon becomes clear in the aftermath that Celeste's memory of events leading up to and surrounding her accident are hazy. Some days she lucid, others she's not. Traumatic brain injury, the doctors say. And so as soon as she she's discharged. Max decides to take her and the children to their summer home on Cliff Island, her favourite place in the whole world, and where she can safely rest and recuperate.
When Jayne arrives she hardly sees Celeste who appears to be heavily guarded by her private nurse, Nurse Sharpe. Even Max and his sister Marjorie, who has come over to help with the running of Celeste's business in the interim, are on the mainland more than the island. Jayne thought he would want to be at his wife's side. And then there is Dr Stephen he brought in as Celeste's psychotherapist...there's something well dodgy with him, though she isn't sure what. But one thing Jayne is sure of and that's how much she adores the two children...Lizzie especially, who reminds her a little of her own sister at that age. She spends most of her time entertaining the children on the beach or in her cottage, colouring or drawing or playing games.
And then one stormy night a few days after Jayne's arrival, Lizzie disappears. There is little evidence as to what happened to her except for a few carefully laid pieces...but are they to be trusted or overlooked? What could have happened to Lizzie? Did Celeste do something without realising? Or was it Jayne? Or maybe Dr Stephen? Or maybe there is something evil lurking in the hidden depths of the island. And what about baby Violet?
The story unfolds through multiple narratives - predominantly Jayne, Celeste and Dr Stephen. There is a third person narrative titled "The Disappearance" in which Detective Adele Alba follows the clues into what could have happened to Lizzie. The other characters factor in the background to these narratives but still each play an important part. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and nothing is what it seems.
THE BREAKDOWN is slow to begin with despite drawing the reader in at first it then starts to peter out where nothing much seems to be happening when in actual fact it is. To take your eye off the ball would be to miss something important but I admit it is hard to remain engaged when Jayne seems to be a little sketchy, Celeste somewhat flaky and Dr Stephen downright creepy. But don't be fooled...something is amiss and even bigger is at play.
I must say I loved the location. Not only is it secluded with sketchy internet, the setting of Cliff Island off the rugged coast of Maine is subject to stormy and unpredictable weather patterns just adds to the sinister undertones and makes for an atmospheric read...complete with layers and layers of secrets and lies.
Although THE BREAKDOWN is an entertaining read, I was disappointed in the ending a little. Not in the ending as such...but a few of the "loose ends", shall I say, without revealing any spoilers. The story was a tangled web indeed but it also left the ending in a bit of tangle that was a little more ambiguous than I would have liked. But it still was a good ending...I just think it could have been tidier.
Overall, THE BREAKDOWN is an addictive, atmospheric and oppressive psychological thriller that is intense, dark and twisted.
I would like to thank #ArianneRichmonde, #Netgalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBreakdown in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 14, 2022
The story opens with a chilling chapter that is written from the perspective of four year old Lizzie and recounts her feelings of fear and terror as she essentially finds herself being dragged across the island in the torrential rain. Then the time line slips back nine days and we are introduced to the two main narrator's of the story, Lizzie's mother Celeste and a young British woman called Jayne who had been hired by Celeste and her husband Max to take care of their two young children Lizzie and Liam. Celeste, her unborn baby Violet and little Lizzie had been involved in a almost fatal car accident,a tragic event that Max and the doctors were insisting was a failed attempted suicide and which had affected Celeste's memory and powers of recollection. She now spent her days apparently confined to her bedroom under the ever watchful eye of her nurse Alex Sharpe and partaking in the occasional therapy session with Dr Stephens who also voiced some chapters that were scattered throughout the book. Almost from the moment that she arrived on isolated Cliff Island and was introduced to the various members of the Wainwright household, Jayne couldn't shake the suspicion that something wasn't quite right within the walls of their seemingly happy home. Little did Jayne realise that she is about to find herself caught up in cleverly plotted scheme of secrets,deceptions and lies, all the adults within the household are harbouring secrets but who knows the truth behind Lizzie's disappearance? Is the little girl actually still alive?
The chapters varied in length as the story flipped back and forth between the events before and during Lizzie's disappearance and the author's characterisation of her cast of characters was authentic and realistic. Apart from the children and bumbling Detective Adele Alba who came across as a female version of Columbo but was no where near as adorable, each one of them had a aura of unreliability and difficulty to trust imbued into their character. But, as we all know, appearances can be deceptive, people are very often not who they appear to be and can be known to conceal their true natures behind a variety of different masks.
The plot of the story contained some stunning descriptions of some of the sights and scenery on the island that perfectly portrayed the striking contrasts between the beauty of mother nature and the darkness lurking within some of the islands inhabitants.between
This is a captivating domestic drama/thriller that is cleverly plotted, keeps the reader guessing and covers a number of relatable and realistic issues. As a thriller fanatic, I enjoyed the chapters which covered the investigation into Lizzie's disappearance more than I enjoyed some other aspects of the story. That said, I did think this was a enjoyable, entertaining read and I would gladly read more of this author's books in the future.
The chapters varied in length as the story flipped back and forth between the events before and during Lizzie's disappearance and the author's characterisation of her cast of characters was authentic and realistic. Apart from the children and bumbling Detective Adele Alba who came across as a female version of Columbo but was no where near as adorable, each one of them had a aura of unreliability and difficulty to trust imbued into their character. But, as we all know, appearances can be deceptive, people are very often not who they appear to be and can be known to conceal their true natures behind a variety of different masks.
The plot of the story contained some stunning descriptions of some of the sights and scenery on the island that perfectly portrayed the striking contrasts between the beauty of mother nature and the darkness lurking within some of the islands inhabitants.between
This is a captivating domestic drama/thriller that is cleverly plotted, keeps the reader guessing and covers a number of relatable and realistic issues. As a thriller fanatic, I enjoyed the chapters which covered the investigation into Lizzie's disappearance more than I enjoyed some other aspects of the story. That said, I did think this was a enjoyable, entertaining read and I would gladly read more of this author's books in the future.
May 5, 2022
Well what can you say about this plot … omg … I just loved this book. There are so many twists and turns that you become a part of the insane story. So many times I thought I had worked out who had the girl and so many times I was so wrong … this is a magnificent piece of work from any author who knows how to capture a readers brain turning it inside out before finally bringing to an end the torture by revealing the full explanation and the final twist that I had never even considered. Well done a great read and a real page turner.
April 11, 2022
Jayne arrives on Cliff Island, Maine, to nanny for two young children for the summer while their mom, Celeste, recovers from a car accident that left her with memory loss. But soon after she arrives, 4-year old Lizzie, goes missing.
I loved this author's previous book, The Guilty Sister, so I was super excited to read this one! It had so many twists and turns! Told from multiple perspectives, we find that all of these characters are harboring secrets and that any one of them could be responsible for Lizzie's disappearance. Every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, I found out that I was wrong. The end was mind blowing and I definitely did not see it coming!
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Arianne Richmonde for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this author's previous book, The Guilty Sister, so I was super excited to read this one! It had so many twists and turns! Told from multiple perspectives, we find that all of these characters are harboring secrets and that any one of them could be responsible for Lizzie's disappearance. Every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, I found out that I was wrong. The end was mind blowing and I definitely did not see it coming!
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Arianne Richmonde for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 2, 2022
*Thank you to Bookouture, Arianne Richmonde, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
I am a big fan of Arianne Richmond. The Wife’s House and The Newlyweds are two of my favorite books and this one does not disappoint. As with her other books, the theme of the unreliable narrator continues, though there are multiple narrations in The Breakdown, all of them seemingly unreliable.
Each voice has a different agenda and a different perspective on what is actually happening. This novel will keep you riveted.
The Breakdown opens with the perspective of a four-year-old little girl, Lizzie, who has seemingly been kidnapped from her home during a Nor’easter on the island of Casco, Maine. The reader is then taken back nine days previously when a young English girl, Jayne Smith, is being taken on a boat to the island, having been hired by Celeste and Max Wainwright to be an au pair for their two young children, Lizzie and Liam. Celeste has had a breakdown after an almost fatal car accident while 9 months pregnant with her infant, Violet. Sadly, her husband Max and her doctors believe it was a failed attempt at suicide. The accident has affected her memory, and she is now confined to her bedroom under the watchful eye of Alex Sharpe, a nurse assigned from the hospital. Max’s former college friend, Dr. Stephen, is given a cabin on the Wainwright property in order to administer therapy to Celeste. Everyone is keeping a secret, and it definitely keeps the reader intrigued.
Having been warned by Captain Eric on the boat that the Wainwrights are not the nicest family, Jayne is already wary when she arrives on the island. From the moment Max Wainwright picks her up, and she meets the other members of the family, including his sister Marjorie, she realizes something is not right. Within days, baby Violet has died of SIDS and Lizzie is kidnapped in the middle of the night and disappears without a trace.
The various points of view include Adele Alba, the serious detective looking for Lizzie Wainwright. Jayne, the au pair, Celeste, Lizzie’s mother and Dr. Stephen, the therapist. This book is written in a mix of third and first-person perspectives. The benefit of both first- and third-person perspective ensures the reader doesn’t miss out on anything. The chapters go back and forth from past to present, highlighting the before and after of Lizzie’s disappearance. It is difficult to believe any of them, as they all hint at secrets they are hiding, with the exception of Adele Alba. She soon finds out that she is stalled in her investigation because every member of the family is lying to her. This book brings true meaning to the fact that anyone can conceal their true self behind a mask.
The setting of The Breakdown is stunning. The Wainwright summer home is on Casco Island in Maine and the descriptions of the area are eerie but also beautiful. It definitely took this reader out of the story to look at pictures of the actual town of Casco. I loved how Richmonde described the small-town feel of the island and how everyone knew each other, but steered clear of each other as well. I loved this book. In almost every chapter, the reader is shocked to learn another secret that has been cleverly hidden. The Wainwright family captivated me, and the ending is just unbelievable. Arianne Richmonde has done it again!
Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
I am a big fan of Arianne Richmond. The Wife’s House and The Newlyweds are two of my favorite books and this one does not disappoint. As with her other books, the theme of the unreliable narrator continues, though there are multiple narrations in The Breakdown, all of them seemingly unreliable.
Each voice has a different agenda and a different perspective on what is actually happening. This novel will keep you riveted.
The Breakdown opens with the perspective of a four-year-old little girl, Lizzie, who has seemingly been kidnapped from her home during a Nor’easter on the island of Casco, Maine. The reader is then taken back nine days previously when a young English girl, Jayne Smith, is being taken on a boat to the island, having been hired by Celeste and Max Wainwright to be an au pair for their two young children, Lizzie and Liam. Celeste has had a breakdown after an almost fatal car accident while 9 months pregnant with her infant, Violet. Sadly, her husband Max and her doctors believe it was a failed attempt at suicide. The accident has affected her memory, and she is now confined to her bedroom under the watchful eye of Alex Sharpe, a nurse assigned from the hospital. Max’s former college friend, Dr. Stephen, is given a cabin on the Wainwright property in order to administer therapy to Celeste. Everyone is keeping a secret, and it definitely keeps the reader intrigued.
Having been warned by Captain Eric on the boat that the Wainwrights are not the nicest family, Jayne is already wary when she arrives on the island. From the moment Max Wainwright picks her up, and she meets the other members of the family, including his sister Marjorie, she realizes something is not right. Within days, baby Violet has died of SIDS and Lizzie is kidnapped in the middle of the night and disappears without a trace.
The various points of view include Adele Alba, the serious detective looking for Lizzie Wainwright. Jayne, the au pair, Celeste, Lizzie’s mother and Dr. Stephen, the therapist. This book is written in a mix of third and first-person perspectives. The benefit of both first- and third-person perspective ensures the reader doesn’t miss out on anything. The chapters go back and forth from past to present, highlighting the before and after of Lizzie’s disappearance. It is difficult to believe any of them, as they all hint at secrets they are hiding, with the exception of Adele Alba. She soon finds out that she is stalled in her investigation because every member of the family is lying to her. This book brings true meaning to the fact that anyone can conceal their true self behind a mask.
The setting of The Breakdown is stunning. The Wainwright summer home is on Casco Island in Maine and the descriptions of the area are eerie but also beautiful. It definitely took this reader out of the story to look at pictures of the actual town of Casco. I loved how Richmonde described the small-town feel of the island and how everyone knew each other, but steered clear of each other as well. I loved this book. In almost every chapter, the reader is shocked to learn another secret that has been cleverly hidden. The Wainwright family captivated me, and the ending is just unbelievable. Arianne Richmonde has done it again!
April 6, 2022
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The Breakdown by Arianne Richmonde is an unputdownable thriller with an ending that you won't see coming. The story is told from multiple POV's, but revolves around Celeste and Jayne. Celeste has recently lost her baby after getting into a car accident while she was pregnant. Now, her other daughter Lizzie is missing as well. Meanwhile, Jayne has been hired to be the children's caretaker. Is it really an island paradise? What secrets is everyone keeping? And will they be able to find Lizzie before it's too late?
Here is a chilling excerpt from an opening chapter, which is from Celeste's point of view:
"Apparently, this is our summer house.
...
The house is all wood and creaky old windows and floors. It’s so romantic, other worldly, and the sense of peace is extraordinary. The lap of waves, the jingle of boat bells, the birdsong. But when the tide comes in and the waves kick and smash against the jagged, granite rocks, it makes me remember little slices of my life, and my past, and then it comes back to me: we are on an isolated island. Anything could happen, especially with the weather. Things could change in just one blink.
There are buried secrets here. Rumors whisper amongst themselves about ghosts and centuries-old ships sailing in the fog and mist.
The dead still live on, some say."
Overall, The Breakdown is a surprise-filled thriller that you won't be able to put down. One highlight of this book is how interesting it is. I kept turning the pages because I had to see how it would end, and I ended up finishing the book in a day. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that the multiple timelines and multiple POV's had me confused in the begining, but I eventually got the hang of everything. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in April!
The Breakdown by Arianne Richmonde is an unputdownable thriller with an ending that you won't see coming. The story is told from multiple POV's, but revolves around Celeste and Jayne. Celeste has recently lost her baby after getting into a car accident while she was pregnant. Now, her other daughter Lizzie is missing as well. Meanwhile, Jayne has been hired to be the children's caretaker. Is it really an island paradise? What secrets is everyone keeping? And will they be able to find Lizzie before it's too late?
Here is a chilling excerpt from an opening chapter, which is from Celeste's point of view:
"Apparently, this is our summer house.
...
The house is all wood and creaky old windows and floors. It’s so romantic, other worldly, and the sense of peace is extraordinary. The lap of waves, the jingle of boat bells, the birdsong. But when the tide comes in and the waves kick and smash against the jagged, granite rocks, it makes me remember little slices of my life, and my past, and then it comes back to me: we are on an isolated island. Anything could happen, especially with the weather. Things could change in just one blink.
There are buried secrets here. Rumors whisper amongst themselves about ghosts and centuries-old ships sailing in the fog and mist.
The dead still live on, some say."
Overall, The Breakdown is a surprise-filled thriller that you won't be able to put down. One highlight of this book is how interesting it is. I kept turning the pages because I had to see how it would end, and I ended up finishing the book in a day. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that the multiple timelines and multiple POV's had me confused in the begining, but I eventually got the hang of everything. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in April!
April 20, 2022
I am delighted to be featured on the blog tour hosted by Bookouture for this excellent read. I think you will love this captivating new release full of suspense and intrigue, which came out on 11th April 2022.
While heavily pregnant, Celeste was in a horrific car accident with her four-year-old daughter Lizzie. After the safe delivery of baby Violet, she is back home with the rest of her family, loving husband Max and six-year-old son Liam. With the care of her full-time nurse, a psychotherapist and new au pair, Jayne from London, they are all well cared for, but Celeste doesn't remember much. Then, just Four days later, little Lizzie goes missing.
The plot, while intriguing, is a little unbelievable. The likelihood of all these things happening so close together is incredibly low, but it's fiction. Anything can happen!
The story s told from several perspectives, mainly by Celeste, Jayne and Detective Adele Alba, who investigates Lizzie's disappearance. Arianne Richmonde keeps you on your toes as she throws you through so many secrets spread across the wide cast of characters that you need to focus on to keep up. There are many trigger warnings to this, but they all pull together to tell an incredible story that I just couldn't put down.
The breakdown has many well-drawn characters, but I think my favourite was Detective Adele Alba. She is nobody's fool; while astute and fully aware that there are many secrets at play, she works hard to find out who has lied to cover their tracks. Her methodical and open-minded investigation commands your attention.
I don't want to say too much about the characters for fear of spoilers. Still, you will think you have worked it all out only to be thrown into a spin with a new revelation, chewed up and spat back out again, wondering if you missed something.
I loved this book, my first foray into an Arianne Richmonde book but definitely not my last!
While heavily pregnant, Celeste was in a horrific car accident with her four-year-old daughter Lizzie. After the safe delivery of baby Violet, she is back home with the rest of her family, loving husband Max and six-year-old son Liam. With the care of her full-time nurse, a psychotherapist and new au pair, Jayne from London, they are all well cared for, but Celeste doesn't remember much. Then, just Four days later, little Lizzie goes missing.
The plot, while intriguing, is a little unbelievable. The likelihood of all these things happening so close together is incredibly low, but it's fiction. Anything can happen!
The story s told from several perspectives, mainly by Celeste, Jayne and Detective Adele Alba, who investigates Lizzie's disappearance. Arianne Richmonde keeps you on your toes as she throws you through so many secrets spread across the wide cast of characters that you need to focus on to keep up. There are many trigger warnings to this, but they all pull together to tell an incredible story that I just couldn't put down.
The breakdown has many well-drawn characters, but I think my favourite was Detective Adele Alba. She is nobody's fool; while astute and fully aware that there are many secrets at play, she works hard to find out who has lied to cover their tracks. Her methodical and open-minded investigation commands your attention.
I don't want to say too much about the characters for fear of spoilers. Still, you will think you have worked it all out only to be thrown into a spin with a new revelation, chewed up and spat back out again, wondering if you missed something.
I loved this book, my first foray into an Arianne Richmonde book but definitely not my last!
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