The Break In
- Judith D Collins
- Aug 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Narrator: Shiromi Arserio
Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 9781668024812
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: 08/26/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
TOP THRILLERS OF 2025
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.
My Review
Katherine Faulkner, the bestselling London author (favorite) and investigative journalist, is back with her latest masterpiece, THE BREAK-IN, following the success of Greenwich Park and The Other Mothers.
Trust me, this one is her best yet! Get ready for one of the Top Thrillers of 2025!
This deliciously twisty psychological thriller is a beautifully crafted, multi-layered tale that plunges you into the chaos of a wealthy London family's life when a break-in spirals out of control. It's intense, fast-paced, and will keep you on the edge of your seat in a relentless game of cat and mouse where trust is a luxury you can't afford!
So, what’s the story about?
Meet Alice, a forty-something mom and art restorer, juggling life with her five-year-old daughter, Martha, and her loving husband Jamie, who works in the non-profit sector. When Alice hosts a playdate with two other moms and their kids, her nanny Becca is keeping an eye on the little ones in another room. Just as her husband pops in/and then out for a quick milk run, Alice finds herself wishing the other moms would leave so she can get her daughter ready for bed. But the pouring rain makes it impossible to usher them out.
In a shocking turn of events, an intruder bursts in with no warning and picks up a knife on the counter, spouting nonsense. (Where is she or he?- hard to tell) Is he drunk or on drugs? What does he want?
With her motherly instincts kicking in, Alice grabs a metal bar stool that the intruder had knocked over and strikes him, resulting in a fatal blow, and he is dead. Suddenly, her life is turned upside down as public opinion, social commentary, and threats rain down on her family. Although the investigation clears her of charges, the haunting memory of that night lingers.
Alice becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about the young intruder—his background, his family, and the motives behind the break-in—while her friends and husband seem to move on without her. And when her nanny leaves, the stakes get even higher.
As she digs deeper, the mystery takes a sinister turn, revealing more danger than she ever anticipated. With her husband and friends acting strangely and online threats escalating, Alice finds herself entangled in the family’s web under pretenses, desperately seeking answers.
Then, another murder occurs, and strange events leave her wondering —what’s really going on? Who’s behind it all, and why?
What did I think?
Wow! I’ve never encountered a domestic suspense thriller this intense, twisty, complex, and utterly unputdownable. This is my 323rd book read this year, and it's not even the end of August, primarily focusing on thrillers. THE BREAK-IN is a standout!
I love how Faulkner places ordinary women in extraordinary situations in her books, making every page a captivating read. Highly emotional from guilt, fear, grief, mistrust, obsession, betrayal, revenge, and paranoia. What goes on behind closed doors? Full of menace, evil, and revenge behind the facade of outward appearances.
I was so immersed that I stayed up all night, only to dive back in the next morning. That’s the true mark of a great book! It's intense, electrifying, and completely captivating. I can only imagine the writing challenge of keeping all the moving parts organized while weaving together the lives connected to this break-in.
This isn’t just any thriller; it’s innovative, well-written, and so vivid that you’ll feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, pondering the question: what would you do?
Alice is an incredibly compelling character, and Faulkner’s skills as an investigative journalist shine through every twist and turn. And let me tell you, I absolutely adored the ending—it left me with a wicked smile!
This thriller deserves all the accolades and recognition it can get. It’s highly impressive, binge-worthy, and perfect for adaptation on either big or small screens (fingers crossed!). Without a doubt, it’s one of the top thrillers of 2025.
While I enjoyed Faulkner's previous works, THE BREAK IN elevates her storytelling to another level. It’s taut, clever, razor-sharp, and there’s never a dull moment. The novel races forward with unexpected twists and jaw-dropping surprises in this highly charged narrative.
The author expertly unravels the past events leading up to the break-in and, after keeping you in suspense, quickly page-turning. With an impressive cast of characters and a trail of dark secrets, you’ll find yourself pondering long after the last page about break-ins and the complexities behind a single impulsive act.
The past and present collide as dark secrets abound with a cat and mouse game that will have you bouncing back and forth with multiple narrators and timelines to the twisty conclusion. Once you think you are at the end, the author issues a final signature knife twist.
I can’t wait to see what Katherine Faulkner comes up with next!
Recommendations...
If you loved THE BREAK IN, you’ll definitely enjoy more from Faulkner and those who appreciate well-crafted thrillers that delve into the lives of women and mothers. If you’re a fan of authors like Kimberly Belle (My Darling Husband), B.A. Paris, Ruth Ware, Fiona Barton, Alice Feeney, Lisa Jewell, Linwood Barclay, Taylor Adams, and Michael Robotham, this book is right up your alley!
Special thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. This is also a hardcover classic for any bookshelf.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 26, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
Top Thrillers of 2025
Praise
"Skillfully spinning a taut, surprise-filled tale enlivened by multiple compelling characters, Faulkner keeps this highly charged guessing game going until the final page." —Kirkus, starred review
"A binge-worthy page turner. I devoured it in a sitting, and I have zero regrets."
—NITA PROSE, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Maid’s Secret
“Katherine Faulkner is the master of throwing ordinary women into extraordinary, what-would-you-do situations. With her razor sharp takes on middle class motherhood, this is an up-all-night thriller packed with style, acuity, and intrigue.”
—ABIGAIL DEAN, New York Times bestselling author of Girl A
“A fast-paced, single-sitting read with a how-did-I-miss-that final twist. Faulkner writes motherhood noir that’s a cut above—we’ll be recommending this to every parent in the playground. Loved it!”
—ELLERY LLOYD, New York Times bestselling author of The Club
“With an exquisite, perfectly timed drip-feed of reveals, hiding-in-plain-sight clues, delicious unraveling of secrets, and nail-biting tension, The Break-In is an absolute triumph. One of the best books I’ve read this year.”
—ANDREA MARA, #1 Sunday Times and Irish Times bestselling author of Someone in the Attic
“I was kept up until the wee hours engrossed in The Break-In. A delicious slow-burn thriller with a clever, twisting plot that will keep readers hooked.”
—OLIVIA KIERNAN, author of The End of Us
"Katherine Faulkner goes from strength to strength with her third novel, THE BREAK IN - a truly unnerving tale of violence and deceit. I totally believed in these characters and felt every second of their nightmare. Propulsive and immersive - a definite one-sitting read!"
—CAZ FREAR, internationally bestselling author of Sweet Little Lies
“The Break-In is a masterfully twisted psychological thriller. When a self-defense killing sets Alice’s life spiraling, long-buried secrets resurface and collide with present-day dangers. Faulkner weaves a gripping, character-driven tale brimming with taut tension and shocking twists—her best yet!” —EMILY FREUD, author of Her Last Summer
“The Break-In opens with a reader’s worst-case nightmare scenario and continues to twist the knife as the truth is gradually revealed. A tense and clever thriller—highly recommended.”
—NIKKI SMITH, author of The Guests and The Beach Party
“The Break-In has Katherine’s trademark aspirational London living hallmarks, plus a clever twisty plot and evocative writing on motherhood and female friendship. Loved it!”
—AMANDA REYNOLDS, author of Her Husband’s Lie and The Assistant
About the Author
Photo credit: Katherine Faulkner
Katherine Faulkner, an award-winning journalist, studied history at Cambridge. She has worked as an investigative reporter and an editor and was formerly the joint Head of News at The Times (London). She lives in London, where she grew up, with her husband and two daughters. She is the author of The Break-In, The Other Mothers, Greenwich Park. READ MORE
