We consider a crack in a thin adhesive interlayer, which connects two identical elastic isotropic halfspaces. It is assumed that a uniformly distributed normal stress acts at infinity. The problem is solved numerically using the finite element method. As a result, we have determined the distribution of normal stresses at the crack continuation, its opening, and the value of the J -integral. Neglecting the interlayer thickness and taking into account the stress distribution in the prefracture zone, obtained numerically, we also solve this problem analytically. We have obtained an equation for determining the length of the prefracture zone and expressions for the crack opening and the J -integral. To take into account the stress distribution at the crack continuation, we have constructed a universal approximating function, which depends on the ratio between the external load and interlayer yield limit, the ratio between Young's moduli of the matrix and interlayer, and the ratio between the interlayer thickness and crack length.