Goodreads says, "From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide… 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."
Jess is in Paris visiting her journalist brother, Ben. When arriving at his very nice Parisian apartment, he isn't there. She has left England behind, along with a few other secrets, and this was a planned visit with her brother, so where is he? It's not like him to ghost her. Jess figures out a way inside his apartment and then she starts to really worry when he doesn't show up the next day. So, Jess, like any worried sister, starts asking the other tenants if they have seen Ben. Well, there's a lot of very different people living in this swanky apartment. There's Sophie Meunier, the woman who lives in the penthouse, and there's strange Mimi, who is a young woman that seems over cautious, and other tenants who don't really answer Jess's questions. Meanwhile, Jess is wondering how on Earth Ben could have afforded this fancy apartment? The more Jess digs, the more secrets she uncovers, and once she finds Ben's editor, he finally takes her worries seriously and helps her dig deeper to get some answers. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is a whirlwind of a ride with plot twists that will most definitely entertain even the most reluctant of readers.
Jess is an interesting character in The Paris Apartment. Slowly readers realize what actually brought her to Paris and why she left England. Readers also learn more about her backstory as she hasn't exactly had it easy, which is why I felt for her when he brother pretty much disappeared. I can't imagine being in a strange city, not knowing the language or have anyone to confide in. As the days go on, she gets to know the tenants that live in the apartment building and each one is holding more secrets than the other. She is determined to find out what happened to Ben and that really takes off when Ben's editor joins her efforts.
The narration kept me on my toes in The Paris Apartment. Foley jumped from each character's point of view, so it guessing. Each tenant is a complex character with so many secrets and readers will slowly piece the puzzle together to create a clearer (and more disturbing!) picture. Readers can't help but question what are the tenants hiding and what is going on in this apartment building? Also, the setting of Paris was also very well done and added to the atmosphere of the story.
Foley's plot twists did not disappoint in The Paris Apartment. It was a locked room mystery that kept me flipping the pages. I listened to the audio version and it was one of my favorite audio books of the year. The cast of narrators were spot on, their accents perfection, and it was like listening to one of my favorite TV shows. It came to life beautifully.
So, are you a fan of Lucy Foley? Have you read The Paris Apartment? I had been meaning read it and I am glad I did before the year ended. Foley is definitely an author on my radar. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
I've been wanting to read this one for awhile and just haven't had the time for it. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only person who hasn't read it yet!?! Haha. I hope you get to read it soon, Angela. I think you'd like it! Thanks for visiting.
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