The Break-In - by Katherine Faulkner

About the Book

"After killing an intruder in self-defense, a wealthy London mother must unravel a terrifying mystery filled with twists and turns ... 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"--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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


"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 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

"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

"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

About the Author

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.