Breaking Point: Crime Stories

by Jason Beech

Hiding from himself only brings his enemies closer.

Marley Anderson hides from his bloody crimes in Pennsylvania’s deepest, darkest woods. Years of solitude, struggling to make peace with the crime he’s committed, crashes to an end when two children appear on his doorstep. The siblings, freezing in their light clothes, are on the run from a man on the hunt. Man or monster, they won’t tell. Marley’s paranoia has shut him off from humanity, but this brother and sister conjure a warmth in his blood he hasn’t enjoyed for a long time. But it’s not just the winter that will bring back the cold.

A collection of crime stories about regular people in desperate situations, discovering their breaking points and capacity to escape. Jason Beech, “... a writer to watch,” writes characters full of color and action. If you like stories such as A Simple Plan, Shady Cross, and Everything to Lose, you’ll love this collection of loose personalities doing it their way to survive.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2022

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

My full review can be found here: https://thereadingwife.com/breaking-p...

[M.E. Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s more than a touch of horror amid the crime in the "Breaking Point" short story collection, but the prevalent feeling is "disconnection". From reality, from other people, from whatever life was before the story begins. My favorite is probably “Someone to talk to”. Henry picks up a young hitchhiker whose head is full of Hollywood dreams. The kid gets on the man’s nerves but as the miles slip by a bond is created and grows. What if the kid could become the son Henry never had? There’s misadventure on the way, crime too, but the hope and illusion of something better ahead never completely vanishes. Jason Beech’s intriguing writing style, slightly rocky yet visual, does wonders here. "Breaking Point" is not a book you can curl up with and slip into like a pair of furry slippers. There are edges in every sentence. They keep the reader attentive and slightly off balance, alarmed maybe by what could jump out from the next page.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through BookSirens to read and review.

BREAKING POINT: CRIME STORIES by author Jason Beech is an assortment of short stories that vary in length, but all have an edge to them, and as the title suggests have an element of crime at the heart of each story.

Most of these involve people who find themselves in situations that forces tough decisions in unpleasant circumstances, some take place on road trips, others rural settings, some from a time gone by, some long and some short, but all are of the hard-boiled noir type of tales that are right up my alley.

Several of these short stories remind me of the “Thuglit” books, “Black Cat Mystery” compilations, and other similar short story collections.

I’d recommend this to fans of hard boiled noir magazines & short story compilations with crime at the forefront.

4 stars.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Verging on horror these stories are written in an unusual staccato style with separated short paragraphs. Each tale ends unexpectedly and they are often graphically punchy. The shorter stories worked better in the broken up format. The characters are sometimes hard to warm to. I found ‘someone to talk to’ effective. Thanks to Book Sirens for allowing me to read this as an advance reader copy with no charge. It was an education.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of crime stories which vary greatly in length. Some are very short. Most deal with people in desperate situations. Some reach a breaking point with tragic consequences. Some endure.

The stories are gritty and well worth reading. If you like cozy mysteries, this is not a book for you. If you can handle tension, noir, and a bit of horror, then you should like this.

I read one earlier work by Beech that I thought was geared toward younger, but not young, readers. This book is not. Just be prepared to look up a few words as there are some British terms, like "gurn", that I had never seen before.

4.5 rounded up because I could not put some stories down until the end and they are still on my mind.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrew Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like crime/noir and I like short stories so this ticked boxes even before starting to read it. ‘Breaking Point’ is the first book by Jason Beech I have read but it certainly will not be the last. He appears to be a cross between Yorkshire and the U.S., with both elements forging strong influences. From the very first story I was sucked in by the crisp writing style, intriguing cast of characters and a need to follow the action. The title indicates what sort of characters fall out from the pages and what sort of denouement to expect from the stories. Don’t expect clear cut goodies and baddies. Do expect twists and turns and, especially, breaking points in tortuous lives. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect of this book from the synopsis but I like short stories and a good short story is a thing of beauty.

Jason Beech does not set out to give us that beauty but the shorter of the collection are really good. All the stories have the breaking point theme and most are pretty bleak in nature - people living at the edge of life, those whose dreams have come and gone, damaged youngsters with grudges to bear.

The longer stories were just too long. Someone To Talk To was circuitous and I sometimes felt it was never going to end. Tracks was very much the same.

However the real short stories had quite some punch to them. I particularly liked Pest Control and Something to Play With. Both pretty creepy bit short, sharp and to the point.

I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a darker short story.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.