I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

A Window Breaks by C. M. Ewan is a thriller that, unfortunately, does not deliver the suspense and excitement one might expect from the genre. The plot is so unbelievable that it quickly becomes ridiculous. The story lurches from one catastrophe to another, with characters who feel utterly hopeless and lack any sense of agency. Throughout the book, they fail to take any meaningful action to escape their increasingly unlikely predicament. This lack of character development and purpose makes the narrative frustrating and tedious to follow.

I found it difficult to invest in the characters, as they didn’t seem to learn from their mistakes or take any constructive steps toward resolution. The result is a book that feels like a waste of time, with little to offer in terms of emotional engagement or plot satisfaction. I can understand why some readers did not finish the book. For me, it was a hard read that ultimately fell short of its potential.

Superb book and great characters. Im just sorry it took me so long to read it! I loved the story line and the pace of the book. Fabulous read!

Wow. What a novel. Kept me hooked throughout and finished in one sitting. Really sense of urgency and tension throughout

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A beautifully flowing story with great characters. A book that will suck you in then spit you out at the very end.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me the book

Wow!! A real page turner of a book. My heart was racing throughout most of this book and I couldn’t wait to keep picking it up to read. If you want a thriller then this is the book!

A good read, which kept my attention throughout. I would recommend this as a good holiday reading book. Very enjoyable.

I read a lot, and this is definitely one of the best. The twists and turns surprises you, and the reader doesn't know what to expect next! It is full of action, and worth your time and effort!

The book starts off with a promising storyline but once the action kicked in I lost interest. I tried to follow what was happening with the chase but it was far too complicated.

A Window Breaks is a really gripping mystery thriller!

It starts off as a novel about grief and loss. A family have lost their teenage son in a terrible accident and we see the harsh consequences of that. These are recurring themes throughout the novel, as we see relationships strained, silence and distance growing between people who love each other but feel that their relationship has changed and don't know how to address it, and how it affects their daughter. Throw in an additional mugging and you have feelings of guilt and inadequacy to deal with, as our POV character is a father hurting from being unable to protect his wife and daughter. Believing that some time away from everything might help them rebuild their family, they head to a remote Scottish lodge, that turns out to be very luxurious with a particularly high level of security around it.

Then comes something straight out of every father's worst nightmare. Things are just starting to go better with his wife, Rachel, it's the middle of the night, and there's the sound of a window breaking downstairs, footsteps, maybe voices. From this moment on the book moves at a breakneck pace and this family try to stay one move ahead of these home invaders while trying to figure out what is actually going on.

The pacing worked really well for me. Just as I was starting to get tired of all of the running around in the woods, wondering if there'd be another half a book of that, everything shifted and we started to learn more. Deeper plots and mysteries slowly unfold, drawing me in totally to the drama and leaving me wondering about justice and revenge and what any of us would be prepared to do to keep our loved ones safe.

This book is basically based on just one scary night but flicks back in time occasionally to create the premise of the story. After losing their son Micheal in a horrific car accident , Tom, Rachel and their daughter Holly go to stay at a friend's lodge deep in the forest away from civilization to try and get themselves back on track as a family but the story soon takes a horrifying turn when they realise that they are not actually alone like they thought and they desperately find themselves fighting for their life's. A great book that gets the heart racing with a really good storyline.

My first book by Chris and I’m now absolutely hooked. This thriller has multiple twists and you would struggle to not read it in one sitting. Finishing the book feels like you’ve spent a couple of hours on a 100mph rollercoaster!

Really struggled with this book and after a few attempts I have had to admit defeat and give up. I just didn't connect with the writing style or the characters.

I could not connect with this book at all. The characters were bland, the thriller aspect wasn't anything exciting or shocking, and the development of the plot itself was a bit slow. I guess slow-burn thrillers aren't really for me, but if they are for you then this book might appeal to you. The ending wasn't satisfying either, which was a bit disappointing. I was really looking forward to this book.

1 star

Thank you NetGalley, Pan Macmillan for this ARC of A Window Breaks by C. M. Ewan in exchange for an honest review.

This provides all kinds of cheap thrills of a good thriller. But it was a cat and mouse type read which I have become a bit tired of so this lost a bit of the excitement after such a chase throughout the entire read. However it had a high level of writing quality and was enjoyable to read nonetheless.

I wasn't really happy with this book.

I felt that it could of been written better.

I only read to the end as i had leave a review plus wanted know what happened.

A story set over one night, with flashbacks to why things were happening to this family. What the family go through in one night, it’s amazing. I was rooting for the family throughout and how they deal with different situations. The reason shocked me but a bit unbelievable.

Thoroughly enjoyed 'A Window Breaks', i would definitely recommend to friends and family. It kept me intrigued and wanting to turn the page, the storyline and the backstory of the book draws you in and gives you the sitting on the edge of your seat feeling. Many twists and turns, an intense story that is written amazingly keeping the readers wanting more.

Would thoroughly recommend 5*

Loved the fast pace of the plot. It never lets up for the vast majority of the book and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Totally gripping! Looking forward to reading more from the author.

Death either breaks a family apart or creates a bond strong enough for eternity. The Sullivans are somewhere in the middle.
They lost their son Michael in a car accident when he was taking his girlfriend Fiona on a joyride in Tom’s car. The grief has devastated Tom and broken Rachel. Holly, their daughter who is also mourning the loss of her brother, is caught between her parents.
Lionel, who is Tom’s boss and also his mentor cum good friend, offers his lodge for them to get away. After a horrible mugging goes wrong, the family takes the trip to the lakeside lodge.
Even through the fractured relationship, they begin to show signs of togetherness and love once aloe in the lodge. They talk, swim, and explore the place, and then at the dark of the night, a window breaks.
With a story that takes place in 8-10 hours and one single location; the settings must be perfect. And that justifies the slow start. It sets a tone for the horror that is going to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting family.
With most thrillers that I read, I find high octane thrillers lacking in the emotion factor. But ‘A Window Breaks’ actually differs from others in this regard. Despite being a cat and mouse chase kind of thriller, it is still a story that will rattle your emotions.
I loved the treatment given to the characters and how they grew along with the storyline. Slowly as the masked men begin to hunt the trio down, secrets come spilling out and they are dirty.
However, I couldn’t but get angry at the stupidity of all three of the Sullivans at times.
It’s actually sad, what a human can do to another human, and that is the essence of the whole story. In true words, stories of humans are the best horror stories.
I will definitely recommend this one.