FICTION

The Breakdown

St. Martin's. Jun. 2017. 336p. ISBN 9781250122469. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250122483. F
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OrangeReviewStarWould you stop to help the driver of a stalled vehicle on an isolated wooded road during a major storm? As the morning news reveals that the stranded driver had been brutally murdered, probably minutes after Cass drove by, this is the question she repeatedly asks herself as she replays those moments from the night before. Then she starts receiving silent phone calls. Is the caller the killer? Did he see her? Already worried about early dementia (her deceased mother suffered from this) and racked with guilt, Cass starts to forget things, mix up dates, and become mired in confusion, fear, and paranoia. Thank goodness she has her loving husband and longtime best friend to support her. It's unfortunate that the two don't really get along, but as long as Cass has them to count on, she should be fine.
VERDICT In the same vein as the author's acclaimed debut, Behind Closed Doors, this riveting psychological thriller pulls readers into an engrossing narrative in which every character is suspect. With its well-formed protagonists, snappy, authentic dialog, and clever and twisty plot, this is one not to miss. [See Prepub Alert, 1/8/17; "Editors' Spring Picks," LJ 2/15/17.]
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