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The Break-In: 'An absolute triumph' Andrea Mara
After killing an intruder in self-defense, a wealthy London mother must unravel a terrifying mystery filled with twists and turns, from the author of the “deliciously twisted thriller” (People) The Other Mothers.
Alice, a professional mother of one, is hosting a playdate with friends at her upscale London home when a disturbed man breaks in. With her child in the next room, Alice panics and kills him—an act later ruled to have been in self-defense.
Everyone tries to encourage Alice to move on with her life—but with strange comments appearing online, a mysterious phone call telling her all is not as it seems, and her husband, nanny, and friends behaving strangely, Alice finds herself drawn to the mystery of who her intruder really was. As she digs deeper, she discovers a trail of dark secrets that spiral closer to home than she ever could have imagined.
Alice, a professional mother of one, is hosting a playdate with friends at her upscale London home when a disturbed man breaks in. With her child in the next room, Alice panics and kills him—an act later ruled to have been in self-defense.
Everyone tries to encourage Alice to move on with her life—but with strange comments appearing online, a mysterious phone call telling her all is not as it seems, and her husband, nanny, and friends behaving strangely, Alice finds herself drawn to the mystery of who her intruder really was. As she digs deeper, she discovers a trail of dark secrets that spiral closer to home than she ever could have imagined.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2025
608 people are currently reading
22169 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Faulkner
4 books1,962 followersKatherine is a London-based author and journalist. She studied History at Cambridge University, graduating with a First, then completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Newspaper Journalism. Since then she has been working as an investigative reporter and latterly an editor. Her work has been published in many national papers, and she most recently worked at The Times, where she was the joint Head of News.
While working as an undercover reporter, Katherine won the Cudlipp Award for public interest journalism and was nominated for a string of others. She was also commended by a committee of MPs for 'the highest standards of ethical investigative reporting.'
Katherine was inspired to write her debut novel about the complexity of female friendships after attending NCT classes when pregnant, and her experience of sudden intimacy with complete strangers.
She lives in Hackney, East London, where she grew up, with her husband and two daughters.
While working as an undercover reporter, Katherine won the Cudlipp Award for public interest journalism and was nominated for a string of others. She was also commended by a committee of MPs for 'the highest standards of ethical investigative reporting.'
Katherine was inspired to write her debut novel about the complexity of female friendships after attending NCT classes when pregnant, and her experience of sudden intimacy with complete strangers.
She lives in Hackney, East London, where she grew up, with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 935 reviews
September 2, 2025
Katherine Faulkner's Greenwich Park (2021) and The Other Mothers (2023) were four-star reads for me.
Her latest thriller The Break-In is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the final page.
But if there's one thing that gets my goat, it's when authors — particularly female authors — write stooooopid female protagonists. Grrrrrrr.
You lost a star, Ms. Faulkner.
August 17, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
How does a play date turn into a murder scene?
Well, let me explain…
Alice is hosting a somewhat impromptu play date for her daughter when a young man breaks into the home. Her Mama Bear instinct kicks in, and fearing he’s going after the children, she smacks him in the head with the closest available weapon…a barstool, killing him.
Murder? Or justified self-defense?
As the police make their decision to charge her or not, Alice begins an investigation of her own. Who was this boy? And why did he choose to break into HER house?
Careful…when you start digging for answers, you may not like what you find.
My first read by Katherine Faulkner and I really enjoyed her style of writing. I was engaged from the start. What I also found highly entertaining was the originality of the premise. As soon as I read it I knew I had to read this book!
And it did not disappoint! I will definitely be reading more of her works in the future.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Gallery Books
How does a play date turn into a murder scene?
Well, let me explain…
Alice is hosting a somewhat impromptu play date for her daughter when a young man breaks into the home. Her Mama Bear instinct kicks in, and fearing he’s going after the children, she smacks him in the head with the closest available weapon…a barstool, killing him.
Murder? Or justified self-defense?
As the police make their decision to charge her or not, Alice begins an investigation of her own. Who was this boy? And why did he choose to break into HER house?
Careful…when you start digging for answers, you may not like what you find.
My first read by Katherine Faulkner and I really enjoyed her style of writing. I was engaged from the start. What I also found highly entertaining was the originality of the premise. As soon as I read it I knew I had to read this book!
And it did not disappoint! I will definitely be reading more of her works in the future.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Gallery Books
September 10, 2025
Intricate, taut, spellbinding, and twisty, The Break-In had me gripping my couch cushions even harder with each additional page. From the Hitchcockian premise to the increasingly dark secrets and lies, this was quite possibly Katherine Faulkner’s best novel to date. After all, the carefully staged timelines and multiple distinct POVs kept me in the dark until each and every well-plotted revelation landed at my feet. Filled with unbridled suspense, juicy drama, and gossip-worthy intrigue, it was a domestic thriller that also presented plenty of psychological thrills. In short, I couldn’t take my eyes off this twist-filled storyline until the last bombshell of a chapter concluded with an ending that I utterly craved.
As for the characters, I found almost all of them downright suspicious. Everyone in Alice’s world—her friends, coworkers, and even her nanny—made my eyebrows raise as I side-eyed them with mistrust. And that was even before she started looking into the break-in. You see, there were oodles of sneaky, underhanded lies that both she and I didn’t know about yet. As each whopper was revealed, the pieces began to fall into place with precision. It was Alice, though, who kept me glued to the pages. Naïve, innocent, and just slightly obsessive, she was a positively dynamite protagonist. After all, she was both sympathetic and root-for-able even if I wanted to shake some common sense into her more than once.
All said and done, there was no way in h*** that I could’ve seen where this story was headed. Tense, compelling, and packed full of subtle clues, it was perfectly paced to keep me coming back for more. I mean, not only did the momentum ratchet higher and higher right along with the page count, but the spine-chilling climax had me holding my breath. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister or Lisa Jewell, it was easily this author’s twistiest book yet. That’s not to say her previous novels weren’t filled to the brim with them as well, but this one took me out at the knees in the best possible way. So if you haven’t read this one yet, why on earth not? It’s a definite page-turner that you need in your life. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Alice, a professional mother of one, is hosting a playdate with friends at her upscale London home when a disturbed man breaks in. With her child in the next room, Alice panics and kills him—an act later ruled to have been in self-defense. Everyone tries to encourage Alice to move on with her life—but with strange comments appearing online, a mysterious phone call telling her all is not as it seems, and her husband, nanny, and friends behaving strangely, Alice finds herself drawn to the mystery of who her intruder really was. As she digs deeper, she discovers a trail of dark secrets that spiral closer to home than she ever could have imagined.
Thank you to Katherine Faulkner and Scout Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 26, 2025
Content warning: breaking and entering, violence, gaslighting, grooming, Huntington’s disease, terminal cancer, child abduction, knife violence, mention of: infidelity
As for the characters, I found almost all of them downright suspicious. Everyone in Alice’s world—her friends, coworkers, and even her nanny—made my eyebrows raise as I side-eyed them with mistrust. And that was even before she started looking into the break-in. You see, there were oodles of sneaky, underhanded lies that both she and I didn’t know about yet. As each whopper was revealed, the pieces began to fall into place with precision. It was Alice, though, who kept me glued to the pages. Naïve, innocent, and just slightly obsessive, she was a positively dynamite protagonist. After all, she was both sympathetic and root-for-able even if I wanted to shake some common sense into her more than once.
All said and done, there was no way in h*** that I could’ve seen where this story was headed. Tense, compelling, and packed full of subtle clues, it was perfectly paced to keep me coming back for more. I mean, not only did the momentum ratchet higher and higher right along with the page count, but the spine-chilling climax had me holding my breath. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister or Lisa Jewell, it was easily this author’s twistiest book yet. That’s not to say her previous novels weren’t filled to the brim with them as well, but this one took me out at the knees in the best possible way. So if you haven’t read this one yet, why on earth not? It’s a definite page-turner that you need in your life. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Alice, a professional mother of one, is hosting a playdate with friends at her upscale London home when a disturbed man breaks in. With her child in the next room, Alice panics and kills him—an act later ruled to have been in self-defense. Everyone tries to encourage Alice to move on with her life—but with strange comments appearing online, a mysterious phone call telling her all is not as it seems, and her husband, nanny, and friends behaving strangely, Alice finds herself drawn to the mystery of who her intruder really was. As she digs deeper, she discovers a trail of dark secrets that spiral closer to home than she ever could have imagined.
Thank you to Katherine Faulkner and Scout Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 26, 2025
Content warning: breaking and entering, violence, gaslighting, grooming, Huntington’s disease, terminal cancer, child abduction, knife violence, mention of: infidelity
September 27, 2025
THIS BOOK WAS AN ATTENTION STEALER
The break in is following wealthy London mum Alice, who with two of her friends are having a playdate in her home and a disturbed man breaks in. In self-defense Alice hits him over the head with a steel chair, and he ends up dying. Alice can not move on from the tragedy because she is being bombarding with mysterious calls and strange comments online and it seems the break in was not a strange coincidence. She starts to investigate the mystery and find out that the intruder and the people around her have a lot to hide.
Ooooh weee I love a book that starts off so strong and juicy and this book definitely delivered. I was engrossed and engaged, and I knew I was going to enjoy this read. This author did a great job at creating tension and building suspense along the way.
We have a lot of characters to deal with but after a while you put two and two together and become accustomed to them all.
I wont lie the main character Alice got on my nerves and some of her decisions were winding me up the wall.
Personally, for me I knew where the story was heading and some reveals were not a shock to me, but I didn’t care, the author did such a good job at keeping my attention I couldn’t get enough.
If I have to criticize the book, I will say that it could have been shorter. There were some fillers that could have been edited it and condensed down better. But it wasn’t a major irritation to me.
I was going to flip out about the ending and some people may not enjoy it, but I really liked it. I closed the book feeling satisfied.
4.5 ⭐
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
One thing Ms. Faulkner is gonna do...
is write about a Mother going through upheaval!
Sign me up! I'm ready!
💙❤️💙❤️
The break in is following wealthy London mum Alice, who with two of her friends are having a playdate in her home and a disturbed man breaks in. In self-defense Alice hits him over the head with a steel chair, and he ends up dying. Alice can not move on from the tragedy because she is being bombarding with mysterious calls and strange comments online and it seems the break in was not a strange coincidence. She starts to investigate the mystery and find out that the intruder and the people around her have a lot to hide.
Ooooh weee I love a book that starts off so strong and juicy and this book definitely delivered. I was engrossed and engaged, and I knew I was going to enjoy this read. This author did a great job at creating tension and building suspense along the way.
We have a lot of characters to deal with but after a while you put two and two together and become accustomed to them all.
I wont lie the main character Alice got on my nerves and some of her decisions were winding me up the wall.
Personally, for me I knew where the story was heading and some reveals were not a shock to me, but I didn’t care, the author did such a good job at keeping my attention I couldn’t get enough.
If I have to criticize the book, I will say that it could have been shorter. There were some fillers that could have been edited it and condensed down better. But it wasn’t a major irritation to me.
I was going to flip out about the ending and some people may not enjoy it, but I really liked it. I closed the book feeling satisfied.
4.5 ⭐
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
One thing Ms. Faulkner is gonna do...
is write about a Mother going through upheaval!
Sign me up! I'm ready!
💙❤️💙❤️
October 8, 2025
Intriguing start, clever premise, & life got in the way!
Right from the first pages, I was completely baffled by what was going on, even though I knew the basics. Something just didn’t jive, and it kept me slightly on edge as the story unfolded.
What gripped me most about The Break-In was not just the shocking opening, but how the story slowly unravels questions of trust, perception, and the unsettling idea that we may not truly know the people around us. A single violent act upends Alice’s world, and from that moment on, nothing feels certain. Friends act strangely, loyalties blur, and a steady unease settles over every interaction.
I appreciated how the book explores the psychological fallout that lingers after such an intense event. Fear seeps into the corners of everyday life, making familiar spaces feel dangerous and ordinary relationships suddenly suspect. The twists are clever, and the mystery builds in ways that mirror Alice’s growing disorientation.
While the middle section lost a bit of steam for me, life (hello, new fifth wheel!) also pulled me away at times. Even so, the themes kept me thinking, and I enjoyed how the story probes the fragile line between safety and threat within our most trusted spaces.
✨ Key thoughts
🎨 The cover immediately caught my eye
🕵️ Clever premise that explores fear and trust in domestic spaces
🤔 The opening left me baffled in the best way, with a constant sense that something was off
📖 Strong psychological tension, though the middle slowed down for me
💭 Life distractions (new fifth wheel!) made it challenging to stay fully immersed
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A thoughtful and twisty domestic thriller that examines how quickly certainty can fracture when danger strikes close to home. I’m rounding my 3.5-star rating down to 3.
📚 Purchased by me, physical copy
Right from the first pages, I was completely baffled by what was going on, even though I knew the basics. Something just didn’t jive, and it kept me slightly on edge as the story unfolded.
What gripped me most about The Break-In was not just the shocking opening, but how the story slowly unravels questions of trust, perception, and the unsettling idea that we may not truly know the people around us. A single violent act upends Alice’s world, and from that moment on, nothing feels certain. Friends act strangely, loyalties blur, and a steady unease settles over every interaction.
I appreciated how the book explores the psychological fallout that lingers after such an intense event. Fear seeps into the corners of everyday life, making familiar spaces feel dangerous and ordinary relationships suddenly suspect. The twists are clever, and the mystery builds in ways that mirror Alice’s growing disorientation.
While the middle section lost a bit of steam for me, life (hello, new fifth wheel!) also pulled me away at times. Even so, the themes kept me thinking, and I enjoyed how the story probes the fragile line between safety and threat within our most trusted spaces.
✨ Key thoughts
🎨 The cover immediately caught my eye
🕵️ Clever premise that explores fear and trust in domestic spaces
🤔 The opening left me baffled in the best way, with a constant sense that something was off
📖 Strong psychological tension, though the middle slowed down for me
💭 Life distractions (new fifth wheel!) made it challenging to stay fully immersed
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A thoughtful and twisty domestic thriller that examines how quickly certainty can fracture when danger strikes close to home. I’m rounding my 3.5-star rating down to 3.
📚 Purchased by me, physical copy
September 26, 2025
Going off the premise, you'd think this is a pretty standard mystery thriller, but I was wrong. This book has so many layers, it was actually a bit hard to keep track. I also wasn’t really taken with Alice and found it difficult to connect with her. I didn’t love the book, but it wasn’t a bad one either.
October 12, 2025
I wanted to love this book!!! The cover screamed page-turner to me, but the story whispered slow burn… real slow. 🐢 Alice, the main character, makes so many bad choices I lost count. 🤷♀️ I kept wanting to shake her and say, “Girl, come on!” 🤦♀️
It had potential, but the pacing dragged, the timeline was messy, and the twists felt more confusing than shocking. There’s a good story buried in here, just needed a tighter edit and a little spark. ✏️
Not terrible, just okay for a lazy weekend read, but not one that’ll keep you up at night. 😴
It had potential, but the pacing dragged, the timeline was messy, and the twists felt more confusing than shocking. There’s a good story buried in here, just needed a tighter edit and a little spark. ✏️
Not terrible, just okay for a lazy weekend read, but not one that’ll keep you up at night. 😴
August 27, 2025
Alice hosts a playdate with her friends and their children at her upscale London home when a distrusted intruder breaks in. Feeling threatened and worried for the children, Alice panics and kills him, later ruled an act of self-defense. But things do not sit right with her as more and more of the people closest to her begin to act suspiciously. As she works to uncover the true motivations of her intruder, buried secrets will threaten the life Alice has known.
What I love most about a Katherine Faulkner thriller is a) it will be solid b) the writing is intricate; the plots twisty c) the characters are dynamic. So it’s not surprising that this book continues that pattern. There are subtle cozy mystery vibes, as the woman at the center of our story works harder than the police to figure out what exactly happened. The who can you trust dynamic was my favorite part— I am pretty sure I suspected every single person in the story of being a lying liar. And, while I did see one twist coming, there were many that caught me completely off guard.
I am not sure if it was the slower burn nature of the investigation, or if I just burned myself out from thriller overload lately, but the middle section of the story slowed me down a bit. That said, it did not interfere with my ultimate enjoyment of this book, and I find that once again, I come away really appreciating Faulkner’s superb attention to detail and character building.
🎧 Although the audiobook is very well produced, with good narration from Shiromi Arserio, I think it may be the cause of my feeling “stuck” in the middle of the story. Looking back, I wish I read this one solely with my eyes instead of going back and forth between the two formats, mainly due to the larger cast of characters and past and present timeline shifts.
Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️psychological thriller
▪️dual timelines
▪️family dramas
▪️who can you trust?
Thank you Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
What I love most about a Katherine Faulkner thriller is a) it will be solid b) the writing is intricate; the plots twisty c) the characters are dynamic. So it’s not surprising that this book continues that pattern. There are subtle cozy mystery vibes, as the woman at the center of our story works harder than the police to figure out what exactly happened. The who can you trust dynamic was my favorite part— I am pretty sure I suspected every single person in the story of being a lying liar. And, while I did see one twist coming, there were many that caught me completely off guard.
I am not sure if it was the slower burn nature of the investigation, or if I just burned myself out from thriller overload lately, but the middle section of the story slowed me down a bit. That said, it did not interfere with my ultimate enjoyment of this book, and I find that once again, I come away really appreciating Faulkner’s superb attention to detail and character building.
🎧 Although the audiobook is very well produced, with good narration from Shiromi Arserio, I think it may be the cause of my feeling “stuck” in the middle of the story. Looking back, I wish I read this one solely with my eyes instead of going back and forth between the two formats, mainly due to the larger cast of characters and past and present timeline shifts.
Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️psychological thriller
▪️dual timelines
▪️family dramas
▪️who can you trust?
Thank you Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
September 8, 2025
Easy to listen to, but a little meh…
I have read all of Katherine Faulkner’s domestic suspense novels and The Break-In is probably my least favorite. Why?
I had to really suspend my belief several times AND it was obvious what was going on, even though the MC didn’t have a clue!
Alice kills an intruder in self-defense when he enters her house while she is hosting a playdate. When she receives a mysterious phone call and receives disturbing online messages, she is compelled to dig deeper into the mystery of who the intruder really was. She may not like what she finds, as the secrets prove close to home!
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Bea Holland. I enjoyed this format and highly recommend it!
Overall, it really bothered me that Alice is so gullible and naïve and therefore couldn’t give this book more than 3 stars.
3.25/5 stars rounded down
I have read all of Katherine Faulkner’s domestic suspense novels and The Break-In is probably my least favorite. Why?
I had to really suspend my belief several times AND it was obvious what was going on, even though the MC didn’t have a clue!
Alice kills an intruder in self-defense when he enters her house while she is hosting a playdate. When she receives a mysterious phone call and receives disturbing online messages, she is compelled to dig deeper into the mystery of who the intruder really was. She may not like what she finds, as the secrets prove close to home!
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Bea Holland. I enjoyed this format and highly recommend it!
Overall, it really bothered me that Alice is so gullible and naïve and therefore couldn’t give this book more than 3 stars.
3.25/5 stars rounded down
October 5, 2025
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery, and Katherine Faulkner for an ARC of this book!**
Perfectly paced, thrilling and twisty, this is a CERTIFIED book slump CRUSHER like NO other!
Alice has hosted many a play date in her time as a mom...but she never expected one of them to end in murder. Though she lives a somewhat posh life as an art restorer with husband Jamie, and a young nanny, Becca, everything she thought she knew turns upside down in the blink of an eye. When an intruder breaks into her home and grabs a knife, Mama Bear Alice emerges like no other...and in a desperate act to protect the children in her home, she ends up hitting him over the head with a bar stool. But was this justified self defense... or an intricately plotted murder?
Over the days and weeks that follow, Alice tries to put the pieces of her life back together...and plots to solve the mystery of WHO this intruder was, WHY he targeted their family, and clear her name in the process. After all, there's only so much online vitriol and hatred she can withstand...and she KNOWS there is more to this story. But when her digging starts to turn sinister, a series of secrets threaten to swallow her whole...and she might just wish that some secrets had stayed buried. Could her husband have an entire life she knew NOTHING about? Or is it the nanny Becca who mysteriously quit who brought this dangerous stranger RIGHT to Alice's doorstep? And when the dust finally settles, will Alice's quest for the truth end with another knife...and HER as that weapon's next victim?
To be honest, I was actually dreading writing this review...but NOT for the reasons I normally dread writing a particularly tricky review. I can attribute this nervousness to two factors:
1) I did not want to spoil a SINGLE thing about this book.
AND more importantly...
2) It was a CERTIFIED BANGER...and I figured there was NO WAY I could do this INCREDIBLE book justice!! 🤩
I'm not sure exactly why I was so surprised by this...but some of it probably comes back to expectations vs. reality. I had pigeonholed Faulkner mentally to be more in the slow-burn domestic suspense space...and after reading reviews of Greenwich Parkthat made it seem like a bit of a slog, I had briefly considered removing Faulkner off of my TBR entirely. But when I had the good fortune to be able to snag a copy of her latest for my first Faulkner read, it seemed like fate. After the briefest of glances at the synopsis, I was all in...after all, if I could be let down by some of my favorite thriller authors this year (not all, but there have been a few heartbreaks!) why not give a new one a try?
Well...they say variety is the spice of life for good reason...and this was one HOT, SIZZLING thriller jambalaya if I've ever seen one! (Or well, eaten one. You know what I mean!) 😉
Faulkner checked SO MANY of my boxes right from the jump: short chapters, a plot that KEPT MOVING, and characters I felt invested in after only a chapter or two. Though many will argue Alice is at times blithely naive (and they aren't wrong - she is) I didn't find her empty headed to the point of frustration....more like overly trusting and unobservant. But while a less-than-intelligent female is normally enough to have me eye-rolling, Faulkner was clever and balanced out Alice's perspective with that of other narrators, who kept sprinkling in tidbits of intrigue, tiny bits of backstory, and enough suspicious behavior to keep YOU, the reader, with your head on a swivel! You'll never know who you can trust...OR how much you can trust them, and writing this many perspectives that keep you guessing takes TRUE writing chops and careful planning...and Faulkner NAILED it.
This is what I'd consider a slick sort of popcorn thriller...and FORGET about taking a week to read this one: you can easily devour it in a DAY if you're so inclined! As I mentioned earlier, this book SNAPPED me out of the months-long book slump that has been 2025 (Yes, it's honestly been the better part of 8 months aside from a few reprieves here and there!) and there is no better feeling than when a book reminds you JUST how much you love reading. I ignored page count, the clock, and basically every facet of human life happening around me...and just got LOST in the best way. I also had some suspicions but didn't obsessively try to figure out the plot either...and it's a good thing I didn't because I felt properly hoodwinked in a way I can rarely say after having read SO many thrillers over the years. Even if there were aspects I COULD have (or should have) guessed going along, reading this felt like going for a ride in a fancy sports car...and going just a LITTLE bit faster than you probably should because that's what that vehicle was actually made for: it just makes the wind blowing through your hair feel THAT much better.
And although the first chills of autumn winds are slowly starting to permeate the summer air...this book is DEFINITE proof that there is STILL time left for one last pulse-pounding joyride! 🏁🏎️
4.5 stars
Perfectly paced, thrilling and twisty, this is a CERTIFIED book slump CRUSHER like NO other!
Alice has hosted many a play date in her time as a mom...but she never expected one of them to end in murder. Though she lives a somewhat posh life as an art restorer with husband Jamie, and a young nanny, Becca, everything she thought she knew turns upside down in the blink of an eye. When an intruder breaks into her home and grabs a knife, Mama Bear Alice emerges like no other...and in a desperate act to protect the children in her home, she ends up hitting him over the head with a bar stool. But was this justified self defense... or an intricately plotted murder?
Over the days and weeks that follow, Alice tries to put the pieces of her life back together...and plots to solve the mystery of WHO this intruder was, WHY he targeted their family, and clear her name in the process. After all, there's only so much online vitriol and hatred she can withstand...and she KNOWS there is more to this story. But when her digging starts to turn sinister, a series of secrets threaten to swallow her whole...and she might just wish that some secrets had stayed buried. Could her husband have an entire life she knew NOTHING about? Or is it the nanny Becca who mysteriously quit who brought this dangerous stranger RIGHT to Alice's doorstep? And when the dust finally settles, will Alice's quest for the truth end with another knife...and HER as that weapon's next victim?
To be honest, I was actually dreading writing this review...but NOT for the reasons I normally dread writing a particularly tricky review. I can attribute this nervousness to two factors:
1) I did not want to spoil a SINGLE thing about this book.
AND more importantly...
2) It was a CERTIFIED BANGER...and I figured there was NO WAY I could do this INCREDIBLE book justice!! 🤩
I'm not sure exactly why I was so surprised by this...but some of it probably comes back to expectations vs. reality. I had pigeonholed Faulkner mentally to be more in the slow-burn domestic suspense space...and after reading reviews of Greenwich Parkthat made it seem like a bit of a slog, I had briefly considered removing Faulkner off of my TBR entirely. But when I had the good fortune to be able to snag a copy of her latest for my first Faulkner read, it seemed like fate. After the briefest of glances at the synopsis, I was all in...after all, if I could be let down by some of my favorite thriller authors this year (not all, but there have been a few heartbreaks!) why not give a new one a try?
Well...they say variety is the spice of life for good reason...and this was one HOT, SIZZLING thriller jambalaya if I've ever seen one! (Or well, eaten one. You know what I mean!) 😉
Faulkner checked SO MANY of my boxes right from the jump: short chapters, a plot that KEPT MOVING, and characters I felt invested in after only a chapter or two. Though many will argue Alice is at times blithely naive (and they aren't wrong - she is) I didn't find her empty headed to the point of frustration....more like overly trusting and unobservant. But while a less-than-intelligent female is normally enough to have me eye-rolling, Faulkner was clever and balanced out Alice's perspective with that of other narrators, who kept sprinkling in tidbits of intrigue, tiny bits of backstory, and enough suspicious behavior to keep YOU, the reader, with your head on a swivel! You'll never know who you can trust...OR how much you can trust them, and writing this many perspectives that keep you guessing takes TRUE writing chops and careful planning...and Faulkner NAILED it.
This is what I'd consider a slick sort of popcorn thriller...and FORGET about taking a week to read this one: you can easily devour it in a DAY if you're so inclined! As I mentioned earlier, this book SNAPPED me out of the months-long book slump that has been 2025 (Yes, it's honestly been the better part of 8 months aside from a few reprieves here and there!) and there is no better feeling than when a book reminds you JUST how much you love reading. I ignored page count, the clock, and basically every facet of human life happening around me...and just got LOST in the best way. I also had some suspicions but didn't obsessively try to figure out the plot either...and it's a good thing I didn't because I felt properly hoodwinked in a way I can rarely say after having read SO many thrillers over the years. Even if there were aspects I COULD have (or should have) guessed going along, reading this felt like going for a ride in a fancy sports car...and going just a LITTLE bit faster than you probably should because that's what that vehicle was actually made for: it just makes the wind blowing through your hair feel THAT much better.
And although the first chills of autumn winds are slowly starting to permeate the summer air...this book is DEFINITE proof that there is STILL time left for one last pulse-pounding joyride! 🏁🏎️
4.5 stars
August 24, 2025
4 / 5 Stars
Ohhhh, what a tangled web we weave. This was a fun ride. In “The Break-In,” Alice kills a young man who breaks into her house during a playdate. Everyone tries to convince her to move on, because it was self defense, but when she gets an anonymous phone call that the intruder was in her house for a reason, Alice decides to unravel the mystery herself.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🔪 British thrillers
🔪 Multiple POVS (most in third person and one in first person)
🔪 Jumps in time between chapters
🔪 Everyone’s guilty of something
🔪 Subtle discussions of privilege (gender and socioeconomic)
I don’t read a ton of thrillers, so keep in mind that I am generally pretty easy to please. The book did get a little slow in the middle but it picked back up and I personally really enjoyed the jumps in time and the multiple POVs. They were used sporadically and were easy to follow.
And look, did Alice make questionable choices throughout? Yes. Did she break her parole agreement by going to see the intruder’s family? Double yes. Should she have probably gone to the police with her suspicions? Of course, but we were moving the plot along so I just went with it. I found some of the twists a bit predictable, but some of them really made me yell “holy shit!” And at the end of the day, I am just glad that Martha, Alice’s daughter, is getting behavioral health support.
Thank you Galley Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 26, 2026
_________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: A play date that turns into a murder? A normal Tuesday, amirite? 😂
I laugh because thrillers always give me nightmares but alas I am a glutton for punishment.
Ohhhh, what a tangled web we weave. This was a fun ride. In “The Break-In,” Alice kills a young man who breaks into her house during a playdate. Everyone tries to convince her to move on, because it was self defense, but when she gets an anonymous phone call that the intruder was in her house for a reason, Alice decides to unravel the mystery herself.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🔪 British thrillers
🔪 Multiple POVS (most in third person and one in first person)
🔪 Jumps in time between chapters
🔪 Everyone’s guilty of something
🔪 Subtle discussions of privilege (gender and socioeconomic)
I don’t read a ton of thrillers, so keep in mind that I am generally pretty easy to please. The book did get a little slow in the middle but it picked back up and I personally really enjoyed the jumps in time and the multiple POVs. They were used sporadically and were easy to follow.
And look, did Alice make questionable choices throughout? Yes. Did she break her parole agreement by going to see the intruder’s family? Double yes. Should she have probably gone to the police with her suspicions? Of course, but we were moving the plot along so I just went with it. I found some of the twists a bit predictable, but some of them really made me yell “holy shit!” And at the end of the day, I am just glad that Martha, Alice’s daughter, is getting behavioral health support.
Thank you Galley Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 26, 2026
_________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: A play date that turns into a murder? A normal Tuesday, amirite? 😂
I laugh because thrillers always give me nightmares but alas I am a glutton for punishment.
August 26, 2025
Happy Publication Day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Well, I, for one, feel emotionally manipulated after finishing Katherine Faulkner's latest novel. I couldn't sleep after closing my book last night. I tossed and turned and couldn't believe how wound up I was about a bunch of fictional characters.
This novel does have perspectives from various characters, but Alice is our main narrator. As the story opens, Alice is being viciously attacked on social media because of a recent break-in to her home, which resulted in the death of a teenage boy. While her husband, friends, and lawyer feel strongly that the investigation will find that Alice did the right. The mother of one feels so much guilt and wonders why their house was selected. Alice just cannot let it go, and she makes decisions that raise eyebrows, yet keep a reader flipping the pages.
The story is distracted by different threads that eventually will all come together, but they did manage to keep me wondering where the author was going with it all. Some characters raise red flags- the nanny, the new mom friend, the mother and sister of the deceased, but Alice herself doesn't always pick up on it. Even little daughter Martha is giving side eye and wincing at how clueless her mama is. Still, I stuck around with Alice and saw this thing to the end.
AWWWWWWW( me screaming into my pillow). How dare you, Katherine Faulkner? Leave me all twisted and in turmoil. Who is the BAD person? Who is the GOOD person? Why, oh, why do you torment me and all the other people who will read this book? I don't want to spoil it for anyone else, but why have you left me with all these ethical internal debates?
So, after all this, I have to ask you.... When's your next book coming out? 😜
Expected Publication 26/08/25
Goodreads Review 12/08/25
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Well, I, for one, feel emotionally manipulated after finishing Katherine Faulkner's latest novel. I couldn't sleep after closing my book last night. I tossed and turned and couldn't believe how wound up I was about a bunch of fictional characters.
This novel does have perspectives from various characters, but Alice is our main narrator. As the story opens, Alice is being viciously attacked on social media because of a recent break-in to her home, which resulted in the death of a teenage boy. While her husband, friends, and lawyer feel strongly that the investigation will find that Alice did the right. The mother of one feels so much guilt and wonders why their house was selected. Alice just cannot let it go, and she makes decisions that raise eyebrows, yet keep a reader flipping the pages.
The story is distracted by different threads that eventually will all come together, but they did manage to keep me wondering where the author was going with it all. Some characters raise red flags- the nanny, the new mom friend, the mother and sister of the deceased, but Alice herself doesn't always pick up on it. Even little daughter Martha is giving side eye and wincing at how clueless her mama is. Still, I stuck around with Alice and saw this thing to the end.
AWWWWWWW( me screaming into my pillow). How dare you, Katherine Faulkner? Leave me all twisted and in turmoil. Who is the BAD person? Who is the GOOD person? Why, oh, why do you torment me and all the other people who will read this book? I don't want to spoil it for anyone else, but why have you left me with all these ethical internal debates?
So, after all this, I have to ask you.... When's your next book coming out? 😜
Expected Publication 26/08/25
Goodreads Review 12/08/25
September 20, 2025
A quick breakdown of "The Break-In":
1) The book's premise was compelling:
A wealthy London mom kills an intruder in self-defense.
Was this a random break-in, or was she targeted?
2) The first half of the book was replete with repetitive text.
Was author Katherine Faulkner trying to meet a mandatory word count?
3) The book's main character was overly naive and clueless. Not a fan of books with dimwit female protagonists.
4) Perhaps I read/listen to too many thrillers, but the multiple twists were predictable.
5) Excessive multiple POVs and timelines were used.
These factors frequently made the narrative convoluted and "padded" the book unnecessarily.
6) I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Shiromi Arserio.
Since the book unfolded from multiple POVs, the book would have benefited from a full cast narration.
7) This 13-hour audiobook should have been an 8-hour audiobook.
Where was Katherine Faulkner's editor?
(Taking a break from "The Break-In"?)
August 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Break-In.
I've read the author's previous book and though I wasn't a fan I was interested in her follow up.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this, which is full of stereotypical tropes and cliches.
** Minor trope-y spoilers ahead **
When Alice kills a home invader her life is turned upside down as she pursues her own investigation as to why a troubled man broke into her home.
First, Alice is a typical character in these books; uninteresting, dull, and makes one bad decision after another.
She doesn't realize her husband belittles and gaslights her; she doesn't have any real friends or allies to support her.
Second, it's clear her husband is hiding something.
He has a shady past she knows nothing about, naturally, because she doesn't ask questions because it hurts his 'feelings.'
I despise this trope; how come women in these narratives never know anything about their husbands?
I know, I know, if these women did know their husbands, then the book wouldn't exist.
But it's not realistic.
If you want me to suspend disbelief, some parts of the narrative need to be grounded in reality.
The main characters almost always have a quick courtship, the wives don't question their spouses's past, and ignore all the red flags.
For example, when Alice realizes her husband lied about attending a work conference, she doesn't know the name of the hotel he's staying at because 'she's not that kind of person.'
What kind of person is that?
The kind of person who needs to know where their spouse is?
What kind of partner doesn't ask basic information about where their partner will be traveling too?
Or is that too nosy? Too intrusive?
What if there was a family emergency? A medical emergency?
Or do you not want to be a nag so you don't ask question any spouse (or a friend) would ask because they are interested in knowing where you are and that you're safe.
Third, let's take a look at the standard cliches; Jaime is a bad guy, hiding in plain sight as Alice walks around with blinders on.
Fourth, there are too many POVs, filler to pad the word count, the pacing is slow paced and lacks urgency and suspense.
One of the author's trademarks is to pad the narrative with minor and supporting characters and their unnecessary perspectives which does not add to the story.
Fifth, we have the massive info dump at the end and the author does what so many in the genre does now; throw twist after twist at the reader hoping one will stick.
If you can suspend disbelief and don't mind slogging through tedious, repetitive writing, then you might enjoy this.
But if you read many thrillers like I do, you'll be able to figure out the twists from the beginning like I did.
There was nothing new or original here that I haven't read in other books.
I've read the author's previous book and though I wasn't a fan I was interested in her follow up.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this, which is full of stereotypical tropes and cliches.
** Minor trope-y spoilers ahead **
When Alice kills a home invader her life is turned upside down as she pursues her own investigation as to why a troubled man broke into her home.
First, Alice is a typical character in these books; uninteresting, dull, and makes one bad decision after another.
She doesn't realize her husband belittles and gaslights her; she doesn't have any real friends or allies to support her.
Second, it's clear her husband is hiding something.
He has a shady past she knows nothing about, naturally, because she doesn't ask questions because it hurts his 'feelings.'
I despise this trope; how come women in these narratives never know anything about their husbands?
I know, I know, if these women did know their husbands, then the book wouldn't exist.
But it's not realistic.
If you want me to suspend disbelief, some parts of the narrative need to be grounded in reality.
The main characters almost always have a quick courtship, the wives don't question their spouses's past, and ignore all the red flags.
For example, when Alice realizes her husband lied about attending a work conference, she doesn't know the name of the hotel he's staying at because 'she's not that kind of person.'
What kind of person is that?
The kind of person who needs to know where their spouse is?
What kind of partner doesn't ask basic information about where their partner will be traveling too?
Or is that too nosy? Too intrusive?
What if there was a family emergency? A medical emergency?
Or do you not want to be a nag so you don't ask question any spouse (or a friend) would ask because they are interested in knowing where you are and that you're safe.
Third, let's take a look at the standard cliches; Jaime is a bad guy, hiding in plain sight as Alice walks around with blinders on.
Fourth, there are too many POVs, filler to pad the word count, the pacing is slow paced and lacks urgency and suspense.
One of the author's trademarks is to pad the narrative with minor and supporting characters and their unnecessary perspectives which does not add to the story.
Fifth, we have the massive info dump at the end and the author does what so many in the genre does now; throw twist after twist at the reader hoping one will stick.
If you can suspend disbelief and don't mind slogging through tedious, repetitive writing, then you might enjoy this.
But if you read many thrillers like I do, you'll be able to figure out the twists from the beginning like I did.
There was nothing new or original here that I haven't read in other books.
September 8, 2025
"Some men are just toxic. And the world would be a far better place for our daughters if they did not exist."
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
This was a slow burn mystery with a full background that really gives you a good feel for each character’s personality. From there, everything starts changing directions, which kept me engaged.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Multiple POV
Dual Timelines
Psychological Thriller
Amateur Sleuth
Red Herrings
Family Drama
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Those who are willing to go along for the ride will find themselves glued to their earphones! Shiromi
Arserio works to bring distinctive voices to the key players and is particularly effective at voicing Alice. She also shifts effortlessly to the different personas of the supporting characters.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Slow burn
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Overall, this was quite the domestic suspense novel and full of atmospheric suspense.
Thank you, Atria books for this gifted copy and exchange for my honest opinions.
3.5 stars
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
This was a slow burn mystery with a full background that really gives you a good feel for each character’s personality. From there, everything starts changing directions, which kept me engaged.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Multiple POV
Dual Timelines
Psychological Thriller
Amateur Sleuth
Red Herrings
Family Drama
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Those who are willing to go along for the ride will find themselves glued to their earphones! Shiromi
Arserio works to bring distinctive voices to the key players and is particularly effective at voicing Alice. She also shifts effortlessly to the different personas of the supporting characters.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Slow burn
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Overall, this was quite the domestic suspense novel and full of atmospheric suspense.
Thank you, Atria books for this gifted copy and exchange for my honest opinions.
3.5 stars
December 2, 2025
3.5 stars
A typical domestic thriller with the usual twists and turns. I liked it but didn’t love it.
A typical domestic thriller with the usual twists and turns. I liked it but didn’t love it.
September 18, 2025
3.5 stars!
This story hooked me right away with its intriguing beginning, though at times it felt like it tried to juggle a few too many plotlines and stretched on a bit longer than it needed to. Alice, the main character, came across as rather naive—most of the big reveals were handed to her by others instead of her figuring things out herself.
That said, there were a few enjoyable twists (even if some were easy to spot coming), and the book overall kept me curious enough to keep reading. It may not have been perfectly paced, but it was still an engaging ride!
This story hooked me right away with its intriguing beginning, though at times it felt like it tried to juggle a few too many plotlines and stretched on a bit longer than it needed to. Alice, the main character, came across as rather naive—most of the big reveals were handed to her by others instead of her figuring things out herself.
That said, there were a few enjoyable twists (even if some were easy to spot coming), and the book overall kept me curious enough to keep reading. It may not have been perfectly paced, but it was still an engaging ride!
did-not-finish
August 22, 2025DNF @ p43
I'm surprised I didn't like this better, but all I can say is I did not get along with the style. The short, choppy sentences felt unnatural to me. Clunky. I just didn't want to read them for a *whole book*. Is this common for Faulkner? I don't know, this is my first book from her. I'm going to read another one of hers; it might just be this book!
Thank you to the Katherine Faulkner, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE BREAK-IN. All views are mine.
I'm surprised I didn't like this better, but all I can say is I did not get along with the style. The short, choppy sentences felt unnatural to me. Clunky. I just didn't want to read them for a *whole book*. Is this common for Faulkner? I don't know, this is my first book from her. I'm going to read another one of hers; it might just be this book!
Thank you to the Katherine Faulkner, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE BREAK-IN. All views are mine.
June 25, 2025
4.5 stars
Wow, this book was excellent!
Right from page 1, I was hooked and completely intrigued by what was going to happen. I was totally sucked in by the building tension and suspense.
One thing I really did enjoy about this book was that we got different POVs throughout. If we were just reading this from our MC Alice's point of view, I have a feeling it would have become a bit dull and repetitive.
I was never once bored or skimming ahead and the tension did not let up for one second for the whole book.
The pacing was spot on and I absolutely raced through it, I couldn't put it down. It certainly didn't feel like it was a 400 page book.
One very slight thing that I wasn't a big fan of was as the story was being wrapped up, it felt like the plot and reveals were being unnecessarily over explained to the reader.
Apart from that very slight issue I LOVED this book. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
Wow, this book was excellent!
Right from page 1, I was hooked and completely intrigued by what was going to happen. I was totally sucked in by the building tension and suspense.
One thing I really did enjoy about this book was that we got different POVs throughout. If we were just reading this from our MC Alice's point of view, I have a feeling it would have become a bit dull and repetitive.
I was never once bored or skimming ahead and the tension did not let up for one second for the whole book.
The pacing was spot on and I absolutely raced through it, I couldn't put it down. It certainly didn't feel like it was a 400 page book.
One very slight thing that I wasn't a big fan of was as the story was being wrapped up, it felt like the plot and reveals were being unnecessarily over explained to the reader.
Apart from that very slight issue I LOVED this book. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
August 26, 2025
Thank you to Gallery for providing me an early copy of The Break-In. All opinions are my own.
Description:
In the aftermath of Alice killing an intruder entering her home, she is unable to move on with her life. She has been receiving concerning comments online, answered strange phone calls, and noticed people in her life acting strange. She begins to feel like maybe this wasn't a random incident and that there's more to the story...
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Break-In is lies, upon lies. Who is telling the truth, who is lying? Is Alice going crazy? This book makes you ask questions and doesn’t give the answers until the very end. So, if you’re looking for a slower-burn thriller, I think you’ll enjoy this!
I don’t read very many mysteries, but this was pretty good! It kept me engaged from beginning to end and while I guessed some of the twists early on, some I didn’t see coming at all! I wasn’t necessarily blown away by the book, but this also isn’t my normal genre. Overall, I enjoyed this, it’s a solid 3.5 stars.
It took me a little bit to get invested in the story. It starts pretty cut and dry. There was a break-in, Alice was scared for her young daughter's life, and ended up killing the intruder. There didn't seem to be any mystery. So, it took a while for events to actually get underway and for the mystery to reveal itself.
There are a lot of questionable actions by the main character, Alice. She is her own worst enemy. The eventual hot water that she gets herself into is preceded by her own (ill thought out) actions. She is going off of very little information and no one believes that something else is going on, so she is stumbling around blind. I just wanted to shout, "No, please! Come on Alice, you know better!" But, its definitely a way to keep the story rolling.
This was an easy and digestible mystery. Anyone who likes a good thriller, or is like me and needs a break from disappointing romantasies, will enjoy this. Sometimes I just want a mystery that needs to be solved. And that’s exactly what this is! Overall, I recommend The Break-In! Especially for those in need of a genre change like me 😂
So, keep an eye out! This book releases tomorrow 8/26/25!
August 16, 2025
This took a lot longer than I’d like to get into it. The story didn’t really pick up for me until around the 70% mark. It was still entertaining enough to read, while also being slightly boring, but in the end it was still an average thriller to me. Plus, my poor girl Alice was gas lit the whole damn time lol
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC.
September 12, 2025
3.5 / 5.0
At first glances, you’ll think this book is a banger, a page turner. A thrilling, gripping un-droppable book. And frankly I found it the opposite, you quite literally have to stick to the end for things to literally make sense and to top it up i found the ending to be never ending. At points it just felt like we’re were going in circles could it this person, could it be this person it almost felt like the plot couldn’t make its mind up and we had to go through the whole long route. I found the execution of the book off, and I found that at points I had serious questions on what the whole point of their existence is. Progressively trickles of information is revealed and slowly the fog of confusion is lifting. I definitely found the ending too convoluted and poorly executed- felt too much, Faulkner was doing too much extra that the magic of the writing failed to deliver. You can definitely reduce the amount of pages in the book if Faulkner was strategic enough, I found we were getting too much information followed by too little. Everyone had varying degrees of presence within the book. Overall I found this book a little underwhelming. I just think of the complexity of the plot was reduced a little the book would definitely be a banger but it backfired on this one!
At first glances, you’ll think this book is a banger, a page turner. A thrilling, gripping un-droppable book. And frankly I found it the opposite, you quite literally have to stick to the end for things to literally make sense and to top it up i found the ending to be never ending. At points it just felt like we’re were going in circles could it this person, could it be this person it almost felt like the plot couldn’t make its mind up and we had to go through the whole long route. I found the execution of the book off, and I found that at points I had serious questions on what the whole point of their existence is. Progressively trickles of information is revealed and slowly the fog of confusion is lifting. I definitely found the ending too convoluted and poorly executed- felt too much, Faulkner was doing too much extra that the magic of the writing failed to deliver. You can definitely reduce the amount of pages in the book if Faulkner was strategic enough, I found we were getting too much information followed by too little. Everyone had varying degrees of presence within the book. Overall I found this book a little underwhelming. I just think of the complexity of the plot was reduced a little the book would definitely be a banger but it backfired on this one!
July 21, 2025
Whenever I'm in the mood for a domestic suspense/thriller novel I know I can count on Katherine Faulkner. Her books always suck me right in. Perhaps its the atmosphere she writes? Or her characters in general? I simply can't get enough! The Break-In kept me on my toes. It's not a slow burn thriller but not really fast paced either. It's somewhere in the middle which was PERFECT for me. I loved the twists, the multiple POVs which allowed me to get everyone's perspectives, and how the story generally played out. I felt like I was along for the ride with these characters.
I recommend this one along with the authors previous books as well. You can't go wrong with them!
I recommend this one along with the authors previous books as well. You can't go wrong with them!
September 29, 2025
I loved Greenwich park by this author so I was super excited to get an ARC of this one and it did not disappoint!!!
Alice has killed an intruder, at first you are trying to figure out if she will be charged, then details unravel and this may have not been a random intruder. Is her nanny in on it? What about her new reporter friend? So many things you won’t see coming and the ending! Loved it!!
Thanks to netgalley and Gallery books for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
Alice has killed an intruder, at first you are trying to figure out if she will be charged, then details unravel and this may have not been a random intruder. Is her nanny in on it? What about her new reporter friend? So many things you won’t see coming and the ending! Loved it!!
Thanks to netgalley and Gallery books for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
August 24, 2025
Many thanks to Simon Audio for my gifted ALC.
I was never bored while listening to THE BREAK IN. The story was fast paced and very thrilling! It kept me guessing the entire time. I loved the way the ending wrapped everything up nicely. The narrator of this audiobook hit it out of park! I definitely recommend getting this on audiobook.
I was never bored while listening to THE BREAK IN. The story was fast paced and very thrilling! It kept me guessing the entire time. I loved the way the ending wrapped everything up nicely. The narrator of this audiobook hit it out of park! I definitely recommend getting this on audiobook.
August 30, 2025
Alice’s daughter is having a sleepover when a man breaks in, slurring his words and grabbing for a knife. Alice hits him over the head with a metal stool, killing him. Later this is ruled as self-defense. What follows is Alice gradually learning who the man was, how he is connected to her husband, her nanny, and others in her life.
Thank you to Gallery marketing for the free book, this was the perfect end of the year summer year for me. It’s my first book by Katherine Faulkner. I like a slow burn mystery that takes its time to set up the characters and setting before taking you in different directions. I was really engaged and interested.
I found Alice to be a bit dim and kind of supportive of her husband to the point of being a bit annoying. Stand up for yourself, girl! Alice’s faults aside (and she was the primary character) l found the other POV characters to be more compelling- her friend and fellow mom Stella, the decreased mother, Linda, and her nanny Becca.
This is excellent as a domestic suspense novel. It has more suspense than twists and is big on narrative and description. Overall I found it to be a quite compelling read.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Gallery marketing for the free book, this was the perfect end of the year summer year for me. It’s my first book by Katherine Faulkner. I like a slow burn mystery that takes its time to set up the characters and setting before taking you in different directions. I was really engaged and interested.
I found Alice to be a bit dim and kind of supportive of her husband to the point of being a bit annoying. Stand up for yourself, girl! Alice’s faults aside (and she was the primary character) l found the other POV characters to be more compelling- her friend and fellow mom Stella, the decreased mother, Linda, and her nanny Becca.
This is excellent as a domestic suspense novel. It has more suspense than twists and is big on narrative and description. Overall I found it to be a quite compelling read.
3.5 stars
November 13, 2025
Good original plot with some interesting twists but the narrative is convoluted and confusing. Vivid descriptions tend to enhance a narrative but excessive makes it difficult to follow.
There are some major flaws in the rationale that weaken the story. The chapter that details what happened during the break-in doesn’t fit the narrative at all and if explained earlier would derail the plot. There’s no focus on the protagonist’s financials though it is mentioned throughout.
There’s twists written purely to lead the reader off track and later are tried to incorporate into the story. Certain behaviors by the characters do not fit into reality, even though it’s fiction there has to be certain rationality.
Somewhat entertaining but not cohesive.
There are some major flaws in the rationale that weaken the story. The chapter that details what happened during the break-in doesn’t fit the narrative at all and if explained earlier would derail the plot. There’s no focus on the protagonist’s financials though it is mentioned throughout.
There’s twists written purely to lead the reader off track and later are tried to incorporate into the story. Certain behaviors by the characters do not fit into reality, even though it’s fiction there has to be certain rationality.
Somewhat entertaining but not cohesive.
June 7, 2025
It’s a regular evening for Alice, her husband Jamie and their daughter, Martha. Alice’s friends Yas and Stella are over with their kids, and the women were in the kitchen talking and having a bit of champagne, celebrating Alice’s new job. Jamie had run out to get some milk, and the kids were in another room with Becca, the nanny, when the women suddenly see a man through the window. As soon as they notice him, he starts slamming himself into the door and manages to get into the house. He’s ranting, slurring, cursing, yelling … and then he grabs a knife and starts heading to the door that is keeping the children safe. Alice immediately picks up a stool and smashes it over his head, killing him.
The police investigate, and come to the conclusion that this was self-defense, but Alice still feels guilty. She took someone’s life. A young man named Ezra is now dead, his mother and twin sister are bereaved, and Alice can’t get out of the rut she is in. Jamie and her friends try to convince to her to put it in the past, but she can’t - especially when strange things are happening. She got an odd phone call that threw her off, people online are commenting about her and little things keep going missing from around the house. She decides to find out more about Ezra. Why was he at her door? What was he slurring about? Was there a way it could have ended without murder?
This is when the book takes a turn, as Alice starts searching for answers. It happens to be a loooooong search, which made this a slooooooow book. This is the author’s third release, and I thought the other two were the same: very interesting, but very drawn out. The story itself is really good, so I didn’t mind the slow read, but this isn’t a page-turner or a quick beach book. This is a dark mystery with a lot of facets, leading to an ending that wasn’t very surprising, but still enjoyable to read. This author is consistent with her writing, which is quite impressive. 3.5 stars, rounded up!
(Thank you to Gallery Press, Katherine Faulkner and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 26, 2025.)
The police investigate, and come to the conclusion that this was self-defense, but Alice still feels guilty. She took someone’s life. A young man named Ezra is now dead, his mother and twin sister are bereaved, and Alice can’t get out of the rut she is in. Jamie and her friends try to convince to her to put it in the past, but she can’t - especially when strange things are happening. She got an odd phone call that threw her off, people online are commenting about her and little things keep going missing from around the house. She decides to find out more about Ezra. Why was he at her door? What was he slurring about? Was there a way it could have ended without murder?
This is when the book takes a turn, as Alice starts searching for answers. It happens to be a loooooong search, which made this a slooooooow book. This is the author’s third release, and I thought the other two were the same: very interesting, but very drawn out. The story itself is really good, so I didn’t mind the slow read, but this isn’t a page-turner or a quick beach book. This is a dark mystery with a lot of facets, leading to an ending that wasn’t very surprising, but still enjoyable to read. This author is consistent with her writing, which is quite impressive. 3.5 stars, rounded up!
(Thank you to Gallery Press, Katherine Faulkner and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 26, 2025.)
August 24, 2025
This could have been a good book - the story of a woman who kills an intruder in her home but with the suggestion that there was more to the break-in than meets the eye. But sadly it was filled to the brim with inexplicable actions, implausible decisions, and a denouement with so many twists upon twists that it ended up in an unfathomable tangled mess. It really felt as though an editor had pointed out all the plot holes and unanswered questions on the draft, and decided to fix them by bolting on some impenetrable “explanations” right at the end, which only served to frustrate this reader even more. Ultimately disappointing given its early promise.
October 3, 2025
A page turner that gave Lisa Jewell vibes 🙌
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