The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Publication Date: February 22, 2022
Summary from NetGalley:
Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.
The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge
Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.
ARC provided by William Marrow via NetGalley for an honest review.
Confession:
I really enjoyed this suspense thriller with all of its twists and turns. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I certainly don’t think it will be the last. I was captivated by the characters and the setting from the get go, and even though it lagged a bit in the middle, I never lost interest in wanting to know what happened to poor Ben.
The book is told through multiple narrators, which was a little bit confusing at first, but once you get them all straightened out you begin to realize how most of them are so unreliable and are hiding deep and dark secrets. The only slightly trustworthy person is Jess, and only because she is the only character that has nothing to do with Ben’s disappearance. None of the characters, including Jess are very likeable, which only adds to the tension and the suspense as the secrets begin to unravel and what really happened the night Jess arrives is slowly revealed.
The plot is very well done, although there are times when the jumps back in time were a little bit jarring. Most of these were done as memories, but there were a few chapters that started with a memory and you weren’t sure what was going on. But the secrets are slowly revealed and there are quite a few twists that are thrown in that will throw you off the track of what really went down.
The writing is also well done. The descriptions of the building and other places in Paris are well done and make you feel just as creeped out and scared as Jess is feeling. The attention to detail and to the characters thoughts and feelings is what makes this an exceptionally well done mystery.
If you have enjoyed this author’s work in the past than I think you will enjoy this one too. If you are like me and haven’t read any of her other works, but you like well crafted psychological mysteries then this is a book that you should give a try.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 
Great review. I really enjoyed this too.
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Thanks. Have you read any of her other books?
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Yes, I’ve read a couple of others I really loved The Guest List but didn’t enjoy The Hunting Party so much
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I keep seeing the Guest List as one of her best ones. I think I will read that one next!
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