Tom and Rachel Sullivan are mourning the loss of their teenage son, Michael, who died in a joyriding accident. When their daughter Holly is subsequently mugged in broad daylight, the family are desperate to get away and focus on healing as a family. When Tom's boss, Lionel, offers them the use of his luxury lodge in a remote part of Scotland, the family jump at the chance. But on their first night away, Tom is woken by Rachel who is convinced she has heard the shatter of broken glass downstairs. And suddenly the Sullivan family are embroiled in a fight for survival. Is it a random robbery gone wrong...or is there something more sinister at play...?

First off, let me just say that I loved this book. I'm a huge fan of a well written thriller, and this one is exceptionally well done. Once the introductory bit is out of the way, and we hear that window break, it just does not let up - the pace is relentless, and the tension is brilliantly maintained. I loved all the twists, and there were a fair few red herrings too. I liked that the characters were fully fleshed out, so that we rooted for them despite their flaws, and I enjoyed shouting at my kindle screen (which I did A LOT) as though I was in a panto: HE'S BEHIND YOU, etc etc. 

I read a ton of thrillers, and while this one certainly had elements of psychological thriller in it, it was more of an action-based thriller with the main story being an out and out race for survival. I think in less capable hands, this could have felt like all-action-no-plot and fallen completely flat, but the author deftly manages a high octane pace throughout while using a split narrative for a) backstory and b) much needed relief!  
This is one of the most rollicking thrillers I've ever read. A word of advice: don't read it if you're alone in the house at night!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is fast paced from start to finish and highly recommended I was engrossed from start to finish .

A Window Breaks was an up-and-down read. It fluctuates between really good bits and really… meh bits.

It takes a small while for the Sullivan family to arrive at the Scottish lodge. Consequently, I wasn’t interested in the events leading up to this because, due to the blurb, I knew the thrills would only begin once the family were at the lodge.

However, once the break-in happens at the lodge, the book is fantastic – for a while. The Sullivan family become involved in a tense game of “cat and mouse” as they attempt to run or hide from the intruders, who wield a deadly array of weapons. They’ve come to kill. Every scene was full of tension, fear, and drama – I felt scared and excited at the same time, and I was glued to my Kindle app.

Then, the pacing slows. Sometimes, this slow pacing is used to give characters a respite, which I completely understand. At other times, in my opinion, it simply adds “filler” – time for the characters to chat or have something explained to them, in order for the vague, secondary mystery plot (which is running through the book in addition to the horror / thriller narrative) to be developed. For me, these sections dragged and spoiled the immersion of the tense, chase sequences.

A Window Breaks continues in this way, fluctuating between fast-paced thriller action and slow-paced exposition until the climax, when all secrets are revealed and mysteries are explained. It was at this point that I realised the plot wasn’t going in the direction I thought it was going. On the one hand, this meant the novel is successfully unpredictable but, on the other hand, it meant I lost interest once I realised the book wasn’t what I expected.

I’ll try not to give too much away for future readers but, in a nutshell, the ending of A Window Breaks was rather disappointing. I had been expecting a thrilling and terrifying home invasion novel – especially given the blurb, tagline, cover, and marketing. A Window Breaks was like a home invasion novel at the beginning and during the middle but, by the ending, it wasn’t much like one at all – it was a convoluted and confusing mystery thriller. I didn’t understand much of the explanations or “plot twists” and ultimately, it wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

Tense, fast paced and gripping from the start. This book is too good to miss. It will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended.

I have to say I couldn't put this book down - the pacing and the plot kept me turning the pages. However from about half way through, I started to get pretty confused by all the plot twists and double crossing. I also felt the reason why a certain thing happens was dragged out rather excessively. A good easy beach read though :)

Wow! That was some read. A real page turner from beginning to end and very difficult to put down. Very exciting and had me holding my breath at times. Really well written and captivating.

If your family was targeted in the middle of the night, what would you do?

You are asleep. A noise wakes you.
You stir, unsure why, and turn to your wife.
Then you hear it.
Glass. Crunching underfoot.
Your worst fears are about to be realized.
Someone is inside your home.
Your choices are limited.
You can run. Or stay and fight.
What would you do?

When Rachel and Tom go to a remote lodge, with their daughter Holly, to try to sort their marriage out they get more than they bargained for when they discover intruders in the house in the middle of the night. They are unaware what lies ahead and what secrets and lies are going to be uncovered, all Tom knows is that he has to fight to save his family, whatever it takes.

At times the plot was unbelievable but that, somehow, made it more intriguing. This is a fast paced, grab you by the seat of your pants, action packed thriller from beginning to end, and would make a great movie.

I would like thank Pan Macmillan for inviting me to read this book, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

As this started off, I was wondering where it was headed and I never guessed in the end!! It was a fast paced book and had two parallel storylines being narrated which interlinked and evolved to the ending which I never saw coming!

I'm grateful for being given the opportunity to read this in advance - but was ultimately a bit disappointed by this novel. .

After a violent mugging, and still recovering from the death of their son, mother, father, sister and dog go to stay in a remote lodge at the invitation of a friend of the family. But on their first night, they wake to the sound of breaking glass – despite the state of the art security system, someone is in the house…

It soon becomes clear that this is no chance attempt at burglary and the story of the family’s attempts to escape from the armed intruders unfolds at a frantic pace as not only are they trying to escape but they also seek to understand what lies behind this attack.

This thriller strongly reminded me of reading a Harlan Coben – an ordinary family, led by the husband, fight back against strangers in a mysterious situation they’ve found themselves in and the reasons behind it all become clear in the end. My reservation is that, once you’ve read a few novels of this variety, the background to why an apparently blameless family finds themselves in a life-or-death situation is often quite implausible (as is the fight back). The upside is that you do want to find out what happens; the downside is that you don’t care enough to read every word, skim the book madly to get to the denouement and then roll your eyes at how unlikely it all is. If you’ve never read Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay etc, this could be a good start if you’re looking for books of that nature, otherwise this seemed pretty average to me.

Edge of the seat thriller that would make an excellent film. After the window breaks it goes from one heart in mouth situation to another. It never loses pace. We also read the story of son Michael's death backwards which is an interesting format. and a side issue is the effect that Michael's death had on his sister and on his parent's marriage. I would not hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone who loves thrillers.

This book certainly toys with emotions! Incredibly well written, it draws you in and refuses to let go. Great characters, and a fast paced storyline drives the book to its excellent conclusion. Loved it!

Loved this book.
Something different from the norm.
Fast paced, lots of twists and turns until the very end.
A story about a family, lies, death and corruption.
The main protagonist Tom Sullivan is a lawyer. Tom's son has died in a car crash after stealing his dad's car, also killing his girlfriend. The Sullivan family fall apart and what follows is a race to uncover what happened to their son Michael and why are the Sullivan family under attack.
Strong characters and well written storyline.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
I would totally recommend this boom.

There were times in this book where I literally held my breath, it is an excellent psychological thriller of the cat and mouse variety. There are secrets untold, lies and deceit but nothing will prepare the family for what is behind it all and their reactions. The only negative comment that I can make and why I didn't give it 5* is because I did think it was a bit long-winded in places with too much description on things which in my opinion didn't really matter. It is however very well written and definitely worth a read

This is about as 'edge of your seat' that a thriller can get.
A great story with tension throughout and although its nearly all action, we are drip fed enough clues to keep the reader guessing on the plot points as to why this is all happening.
Certainly one that you won't want to put down and a very satisfying conclusion too.
Quick note: I'd read in a couple of reviews that there was an animal cruelty scene and I was dreading it. Didn't happen. At all. So don't be put off.

Tom Sullivan and his wife Rachel are grieving for their teenage son Michael, who died after crashing their car. When their daughter thirteen year old Holly is attacked they decide to go to their friends remote Scottish lodge, to try and be close as a family.

On their first night at the lodge, whilst in bed, they hear the sound of breaking glass, from that moment the night becomes full of terror, as they try to evade the armed masked men who have broken in.

They work together as a family to try and flee from the intruders.

This book had the perfect creepy remote setting, full of tension, with a few red herrings thrown in. It raised my heart rate in terror several times as the family are forced to fight for their lives. A fight or flight situation. What would you do to protect you’re family?

A compelling read that will keep you on the edge of you’re seat!! Best not to read before bedtime.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

A high octane fast moving thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. The pace is quite relentless at times and if it had been a film I’d have been hiding behind a fusion and shouting at the screen !
I found some of the storyline a little unbelievable , which is why I’ve given it 4 rather than 5 stars. Not withstanding it’s a well written book with plenty of twists and turns.

This is a cracking thriller that is hard to put down once the titular window breaks, as it is a high-pace scramble from then onwards. There are numerous plot twists and reveals as you go along, and the two stories of Tom and Michael are skilfully merged in such a way to engender the plot twists. I would heartily recommend for those not of a nervous disposition.

I really enjoyed this book, The thought of someone inside your house like that, it is very tense and a real page turner, right up to the last page. I highly recommend this book.

After the death of their 16 year old son Michael and his girlfriend in a car crash, in which he was driving his fathers car illegally , the mother Rachel tries to find out why . She does not accept the Coroners verdict and accepts help in investigating this matter from a friend Lionel . After giving a speech at a fundraiser for Lionel's charity , Justice for All , the daughter Holly is attacked as they are leaving the venue . They then go for a break in Lionel's country "Lodge" in Scotland . This turns out to be a heavily fortified luxury house . They are shown around the house by Brodie who looks after the house . After Brodie leaves them and they settle in and go to bed they hear a window breaking and go to investigate , after which mayhem ensues as they are pursued around the grounds of the house . What is the link to all these events and why are they happening . I will say no more except it is a riveting read with many unexpected twists as the story plays out .

# A window Breaks # Netgalley
First of I just want to thank everyone for advanced copy.. I was not expecting the book to start after the so called window had already been broken some days before. When offered a retreat in a secluded place in Scotland. Which they went. When a few things started to appear to be wrong. They put it down to imagination shock for what’s already happened. I found the book hard going to be honest.. At one point I really considered putting the book down. It’s a really good storyline spoilt by not being able to grip me in anyway. I can not think of one thing I was waiting to see what happened next. I just felt it was over written, like trying to make to much of a effort, and by doing so it had the opposite affect. Also just felt too crowded with words that didn’t seem necessary. No iI can’t really say I enjoyed it. It’s a shame really. Because if the book had not come over as someone trying to hard to write it. It was a really good storyline.