Alice seems to have the perfect life. She has a husband and daughter she loves and a job as apainting conservator that she also loves.
Then one day a man breaks into her home and her world is turned upside down.
No longer sure of all those she loves and trusts she is left floundering in trying to determine how things became such a mess.
A good crime rad with several twists and turns.

Alice is having a play date for her kid with some friends when an break in changes her whole life. Her family doesn't feel the same, her friends look different and she is facing police trouble because of what happened that night, the scary thing is that sometimes she can't be sure about anything.

She feels that the break in was nothing but random, but she isn't allowed close to the family of the person that could give her the answers she seeks.

The back and forth gives a lot to of information that is slowly build in order to unravel the mystery.

I enjoyed the mystery but I thought it was a but too long, especially in the middle, the final reveal was well thought out and a nice way to end the story.

* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

The Break-in by Katherine Faulkner is set in London where Alice lives with her husband and daughter in an expensive neighbourhood. One day, during a play date, a man breaks in and, fearing he is a danger to her daughter, she ends up killing him and what follows is a story full of twists and turns.

This is a fast paced novel which deals with the guilt felt after a split second decision goes wrong. I did feel some of the story was a little farfetched but nevertheless I enjoyed it. There is enough to keep you guessing without being dragged out.

Brilliant - this author is becoming a firm favourite. The book just keeps on giving and giving and giving.

What started as an intrusion that went horribly wrong becomes a far bigger web of deceit and lies

This is a book you won’t want to miss. A fantastic captivating read

Alice is hosting a ‘play date’ for her daughter with a couple of other mums when a teenager breaks into her home just as they open a bottle of champagne. When the teenager dies after Alice hits him over the head with a chair she is terrified she is going to be convicted of his murder. And so begins a dark twisted thriller where the reader doesn’t know just who is telling the truth.

I really enjoyed this book and was kept guessing right until the end.

This book was such a puzzle. Every time I thought I had it figured out, a new twist emerged. The time hops were interesting, although at times, a bit confusing. Will definitely be reading other books by this author.

Excellent thriller that will keep you hooked form the start.

How well do people know their partners and to what extend can blackmail be used to silence someone who knows what you did?

Kept me up late into the night to finish this book.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Definitely this book will give you a gripping read, let me share my thoughts on "The Break-In" by Katherine Faulkner! This twisted psychological thriller is hands down one of the best books I’ve ever read. The clever, twisting plot kept me hooked from the very first page to the last—truly compulsively readable! Every twist and turn left me on the edge of my seat, questioning everything I thought I knew. Faulkner masterfully weaves suspense with intricate character development that makes it impossible to put down. If you're searching for a story that challenges your mind and keeps you guessing, look no further! I am sure you will have unforgettable journey if you dive into this book.

I found this book quite difficult to get into and not quite gripping from the beginning. I did not find the characters engaging.

A brilliant read which makes you question right vs wrong and what you might have done. Then there is the whole journey to the what happened. I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished it in a day as I couldn't stop reading!

Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Karen Faulkner, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this novel, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.

Admittedly, I was a little worried about the repeated comments in the advanced praise that referred to the novel as a slow burn. However, I remember being extremely taken with Faulkner’s debut, Greenwich Park, and whizzing through it because each chapter gave me just information to make me read just one more chapter. Before I knew it, I was at the finish line and wanting more. This next edition (for me) of Faulkner’s way with words and mystery has been much anticipated.

As soon as I opened the book and saw the titles for the three parts, I knew I was going to like the perspective on offer. The book starts after the ‘break-in,’ continues by wandering back in time to the day of the break-in, before reaching the third and final part of the book that focuses on life after the break-in.

Alice is at home entertaining a friend whilst her nanny minds their children in the next room. A strange man appears at the window, and before they know it, the agitated intruder is in the house, making a beeline for the children. Mothering instincts kick in and Alice defends her home against a knife-wielding attacker. Fortunately, or not, the intruder dies at the scene and what unfolds is a complex, tangled web of lies, deceit, selfish motives, manipulation, and a whole heap of secrets that take a while to surface.

This book starts with a bang, or more like a thwack. It hurtles rapidly towards the middle of the book with items being disposed of by unknown characters, arrests, interviews, and amateur investigations. It all appears to be a cut and shut case. I mean, Alice was only protecting her property, right? All these events pave the way to creating a rich tapestry of events that are populated by richly created characters with well developed histories and motives. I reached the midpoint of the novel where the action slowed down and I had the case all sewn up, until I didn’t. Every time I thought I had worked out why the break-in had occurred, Faulkner would write another piece of history into the story, or reveal a new scene, or conversation that rendered my theories null and void. The ground continued to shift beneath me until the very end. There were so many twists that I was well and truly tied up in knots until the end.

I loved how the book was told through the various female perspectives, often overlapping or providing a different angle of a scene. These characters included Alice, the murderer, Stella, the journalist friend who witnessed Alice kill Ezra in self-defense, Becca, the nanny, Linda, the victim’s mother, and Jade, the victim’s sister. Each has their own secrets for various reasons, not realizing how they have the potential to impact themselves and others if they are discovered. I often wanted to jump inside the pages and shake some sense into the characters. I was constantly torn between who I liked and disliked and my sympathies for each of them ebbed and waned depending on the action. After a short lull, I was literally on the edge of my seat, zipping through pages to have all the mysteries revealed.

The book questions how well you really know anyone, especially those closest to you. It also examines the lengths one would go to for revenge, for justice, and for the truth. I would recommend this book to lovers of thrillers and mysteries. There is so much to unpack in this book that it requires your full attention. If you have the time and the brain power to spare, I say, run, don’t walk to reserve yourself a copy when the book is published on Jun 19th, 2025. Other than the slump, which was probably required in a book of this depth, it was a fantastic read from start to finish.

I was really pleased to be offered an ARC of “The Break In" by Katherine Faulkner and it’s the first book I’ve read by this author.

Alice knew her life would change the moment she killed the intruder in her home, it was self-defence. But as the initial shock subsided, a chilling unease settled in its place.

She began her own investigation, a desperate attempt to understand the life she had taken and, more importantly, why he had come to her door. Alice's quest led her down a rabbit hole of cryptic clues and unsettling discoveries.

It was a thrilling read from the first page to the last, the book maintained a palpable sense of suspense that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The pacing ensured that the story never lagged, drawing me deeper and deeper into the unfolding mystery, with plenty of twists throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an early copy.

Devoured this book in a single sitting—The Break-In is a twisted psychological thriller brimming with tension from the very first page. Katherine Faulkner has crafted a story that grips you with a perfectly-timed drip-feed of reveals, each one deepening the mystery and pulling you further into the web of secrets.

The narrative unfolds with nail-biting tension, a thread that links and continues to entangle, becoming more complex and compelling as you go. Faulkner’s skill at unravelling the layers of truth—while always holding something just out of reach—makes this one compulsively readable.

What struck me most was how vividly I could put myself in the characters’ shoes—their fear, confusion, and growing paranoia felt so real, it was like I was living the story alongside them. If you love thrillers with emotional depth, shocking twists, and that creeping sense of dread that builds with every chapter, The Break-In delivers all of that and more.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! This is a 3.5 rounded up.

Alice, at first, seems like the average middle class London mother with the perfect husband, great job and lovely nanny. We first follow Alice after the break-in which resulted in her killing a man. Seeing Alice’s reaction to this is fascinating and feels incredibly real and raw. From there, the plot absolutely spirals (in the best way) with twists and turns throughout.

I loved the concept of this book, using the stereotypical main character and throwing them into the most unusual situation. Throughout most of the book I felt incredibly frustrated by the actions of both Alice and her friends/family. Some of Alice’s decisions felt so infuriating but remained completely believable.

Though stereotypical and often overused, having Alice’s friends/family display little sympathy kept me hooked, desperate to see them proved wrong. The side characters and their relationships felt well fleshed out in some ways but a tad unbelievable in others. How can you be friends with a woman for a year and not know her surname?

I was hooked whilst reading this and found myself desperate for answers, however I do feel it could have been shorter. I understand how the author dragged out the mid-section in order to build tension and frustrations, but it began to drag. I did enjoy how the plot unfolded and how answers were found, but I feel as though the last few chapters lost momentum and were almost too wrapped up in a bow.

Overall I’d definitely recommend this book as the plot is great and quite unpredictable. I do think it could do with a couple of editing tweaks/refinements.

This is such an awesome read! The plot was so unpredictable and really original - it had me hooked from the get go.

The story is told mainly from the perspective of Alice, a woman living in affluence in London, hosting a play date and sharing a drink with her mum friends when an intruder forced entry into her home. In an attempt to protect the children Alice inadvertently ends up killing the young intruder. Unable to move on from this tragedy Alice pays a visit to the intruders mum and from there Alice becomes embroiled in events that ultimately shows the realities of her life are vastly different from what she believed to be the truth.

So gripping - I can’t recommend this psychological thriller highly enough!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

There is SO much going on in this book! In a way it is almost like 3 stories rolled into one as there are so many threads that lead into the main story - that being the fall out from a young man breaking into a house and a mother acting in self-defense.

Alice's perfect life unravels somewhat from this point and the author has cleverly crafted a plethora of scenarios that appear utterly unlinked and yet as a reader you are aware that they must be, somehow.

With a large cast of key players and multiple POVs it soon becomes clear they may not all be entirely trustworthy.

I tried to like Alice and for the most part I did and I found her relatable to a point - but then in equal measure I found myself deeply frustrated with her and virtually screaming at the book willing her not to (repeatedly) do certain things.

From this point, the book explodes into differing arcs that spin the reader into dizzying circles desperately trying to unravel the truth.

Overall, a complex and engrossing thriller - my thanks to the author, Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.

A brilliant read, I loved how the characters linked and stories combined. I wanted to feel sorry for Alice but so often I found myself asking ‘what are you doing?!’, going to Linda/Jade’s home multiple times! A really good ending and would definitely recommend this to others.

*The Break-In* is twisty, tense, and completely addictive—exactly the kind of psychological thriller that keeps you glued to the page. Katherine Faulkner masterfully sets up a domestic scene that quickly spirals into chaos, and from there, the suspense only builds. Alice is a layered, believable protagonist, and her descent into doubt and obsession feels chillingly real. As the story peels back the layers of what *really* happened that night, every revelation is more unsettling than the last. With tight pacing, sharp writing, and twists you won’t see coming, this is a binge-worthy thriller that will leave you questioning everything.

This book was a ride. It kicks off immediately with the break-in (no slow build-up here), and from that moment I was completely hooked. Like, cancel-your-plans kind of hooked.

Told from multiple points of view, which I love, because it had me constantly second guessing everything. Just when I thought I knew what was going on — nope. Another twist. And then another. And THEN a twist on the twist. It was wild.

Super fast-paced, super addictive, and just really fun if you’re into twisty thrillers. I already have another book by Katherin Faulkner on my TBR, and after this, I will definitely be reading it next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alice has a couple of friends over with their children for a play date with her daughter Martha. What happens next is truly frightening. A man is breaking into the family home. Feeling threatened, Alice picks up a metal stool and smashes it over his head, killing him.
Alice is eventually cleared of any wrongdoing citing self-defense. She receives an anonymous phone call, which leads Alice to find out who Ezra was and why her family was targeted.
Jamie, her husband, and their nanny Becca start to act oddly. Jamie just wants Alice to move on and get on with her life.
This is a gripping psychological thriller that has many secrets, twists, and turns.
I found Alice to be very annoying and naive. I found myself shaking my head on many occasions at her stupidity.
I read this in two sittings as I wanted all the answers. I felt it got a little complicated towards the end with so much explaining.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC in return for an honest review.