Lucy Foley's latest murder mystery thriller takes a far darker turn than her previous novels.

Still approaching a modern day Agatha Christie novel, but not quite as sophisticated, The Paris Apartment begins with intrigue in the city we all recognise, but then takes a path into the murkier, sordid avenues of an unattractive underworld.

The novel started in a similar fashion to The Guest List, setting the scene, developing the characters, gently luring the reader into the intricate cobwebs lurking in every crevice of this looming apartment block which I imagined to be art deco in style, and half way through, the pace elevates to frantic, the urgency enticing the reader to not put it down until the heady climax is revealed, to a point where I lost half a day devouring this contemporary thriller, left with a satisfying sense of enlightenment by the end.

Ms Foley does not disappoint, but it is not for the faint hearted, as there are disturbing strands of brutality, deftly crocheted into a mesh of afflicted characters, bringing you to a sinister, unexpected finality.

From the get go with this book, you are led on a twisty dark journey, as to the goings on behind the doors of this Paris apartment! And the author does a wonderful job of constantly switching things up, taking your mind all over the place as you try and work out just what has been going on, and what the link is between Ben who has gone missing, and all the other apartment inhabitants.

Jess is on her way to stay with her half brother, Ben, in Paris but when she shows up there's no sign of him. No contact other than an earlier phone message and she immediately feels all is not well. The other apartment dwellers are less than helpful too and you begin to understand there are shady characters at play and some sinister goings on at work!!

I loved how the story flowed from one character to another - different snapshots from all the other people and how Ben impacted on them personally when he showed up in Paris. The story switches from personal to work relationships and each character added something a little extra, and darker(!), to the plot which really kept you guessing. Your main overriding impression is why are they all so reluctant to help Jess figure out what happened to her brother! What is she letting herself in for ?

What she does find herself involved in becomes a thing of nightmares and the tension builds perfectly and it was one of those stories that I just couldn't read slowly! I needed to know what was happening as quickly as possible!! A fabulously tense and mysterious read!

Trying to escape from a difficult situation in Brighton, Jess decides to head to Paris and stay with her half-brother Ben while things calm down. She is relieved to get away but when Ben doesn't come to meet her, or answer her texts and calls, she begins to worry. The apartment complex is kept securely locked, the few people she sees entering are rude and Jess is sure she is being watched. All of this, along with the strange voicemail Ben left for her before she arrived have left her with a bad feeling about what might have happened to him.

Determined to find answers, Jess manages to gain access to Ben's flat and starts asking questions to the other residents. What Jess doesn't realise is that she is putting herself in danger - who can she trust to help her find the answers she is looking for and what secrets are hiding in No.12 rue des Amants?

I am a big fan of Lucy Foley's previous books but I felt that The Paris Apartment had a much darker feel to it, it was more sinister and had a few genuinely creepy moments. The story left me with an uneasiness as I was reading which was perfect for the subject matter of the book and I really enjoyed the ominous atmosphere this created.

There were all of the elements of a classic whodunnit, and also the 'locked room' style mystery which was also present in The Hunting Party and The Guest List, but in this case there was the slight twist in that the characters were not stranded together or stuck in an isolated setting. The characters and the story all revolved around the apartment complex where Ben was staying. Every person and every strand of the story was connected in some way, and these connections and the history of the residents were gradually revealed throughout the book, leading to the big conclusion.

Plenty of suspense and some surprising turns, this is another must read for thriller fans!

The Paris Apartment is a book that enveloped me from the first chapter and didn’t let up until the end.
I’m not going to go into the book at all as I think in this mystery/crime thriller your best off like I did coming in knowing nothing. I remember reading the blurb but had forgotten what it was about when I started reading it and I think it was the best way. One house, five apartments holding five very different characters and that’s all I’m going to say. The book flowed well and was well written with short chapters which enabled me to read much more than I thought I would in one sitting as it was very easy to say “just one more chapter” so I easily got to the end. There are a mixture of characters, some I liked and some I didn’t which probably worked for the best if I’m honest. I have read previous books by Lucy Foley and enjoyed them and this was no exception. I can’t wait to see where the author will take us on her next book.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Apartment is very different to Lucy Foley's previous novels, but I certainly enjoyed it just as much. I loved the darker edge to the story and from the beginning, I had so many questions and I was compelled to keep reading to discover what was happening.

As the title suggests, Foley takes us to Paris in this novel. The city she paints for us is not the beautiful, romantic city we usually think of when we think of Paris and we do see a much darker underbelly, but I was still transported there effortlessly and was drawn into the story really easily.

Each chapter in The Paris Apartment is told from the perspective of a different character. This really helped me to understand their different personalities and also helped to create intrigue as we discover the secrets that they are hiding, not only from us as readers but also from each other. I didn't find the characters particularly likeable and I was never quite sure who to trust but I definitely wanted to know more about them!

The Paris Apartment is very well plotted and I enjoyed the reveals along the way.

Ben has moved to Paris & is living in an apartment sorted out by his old university friend Nick. His half-sister Jess is coming to visit, but when she arrives nothing feels quite right. Ben is not answering his phone and the address he has given seems to be far more expensive that Ben would be able to afford. When Jess manages to sneak into the building and pick his door lock, there are a number of signs that make her uneasy. Ben is not there, but his wallet & keys are. The cat has blood on its paw & there is a smell of bleach in the air. The other occupants of the building are not friendly, and all seem to be blaming Ben for something... but what happened? Was Ben involved? Where is he now?
The chapters are written from different people’s perspectives. There are quite a number of characters & I was not engaged with any of them.
The tone of the book is quite frenzied. I think this is supposed to make the reader feel on edge, and increase the tension, but it just feels chaotic to me. Frustrating rather than engaging. There is a twist part way through, after which things start to fall into place somewhat but not sufficiently to make up for the rest of the book where nothing really happens.

Unfortunately, this book did not live up to its hype for me – I found it dull, slow-paced, unrealistic and it really didn’t engage me.

I really enjoyed this, a fast-paced thriller with a great plot, deftly told. Jess arrives in Paris at her brothers apartment, however, her brother isn't there and isn't answering her calls or picking up messages. Drawn in, right from the start, to No.12 Rue des Amants. A beautiful building but holding terrible secrets, the people are not who they seem to be and Jess needs to find out what is going on in order to find out where her brother is. I've read other books by Lucy Foley but I enjoyed this the most, quite captivating. Just when you start thinking you know what's going on, there is another twist. Quite brutal in parts and dealing with some tricky subjects, but althogether a compelling thriller which I highly recommend.

Jess has arrived in Paris, but her brother Ben is missing. Staying in his apartment to find out the truth she has to work out who she can trust. The building houses Nick, her brother's friend, who is lonely and scared. Sophie is hiding a secret of her own. Antoine is a functioning alcoholic while Mimi is an artist with an obsession and the Concierge is on a mission of her own. All of these individuals have one thing in common, and it may be this that leads to Ben's disappearance.

Jess will be led down dark streets and uncover shocking secrets; she is already running from her own past, but she wasn't expecting to find herself here.

I really enjoyed this book., although yes, it is a slow burn, things are constantly happening. Foley writes each chapter as an individual character giving depth and showing how each dirty secret intertwines into the next. Everything really does come together at the end with several twists you don’t see coming.

I haven't read a novel by this author before, although I have one of her books on my shelf, it’s definitely been bumped up my TBR list.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This is the first book I have read by this author. The first chapter set the scene of something happening in Ben's flat as his sister arrived in Paris from the UK. Thereafter the story flitted between various characters, giving little information about them or insights of their interactions with Ben. None of these had any depth to them and none of the characters seemed particularly interesting although Ben's half-sister Jess is by far the most unpleasant; looking for answers to questions and assistance in her search for Ben poking around Nick's bathroom and helping herself to his expensive cologne as soon as she's met him is hardly the way to gain support. At 10% through the book she's considering contacting the police but by 25% she still hadn't done it and was no further forward finding any clues.
Too slow and disjointed to maintain my interest beyond 25%.

⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5)

⚠️ TW/CW: Death, Overdose, SA, Sex Trafficking, Stalking, Blood, Death of a Parent

Thoughts:
I read The Guest List last year and absolutely adored it so I was very excited for this new release! However, after pushing through the story I have decided that this is sadly a 2.5 stars for me. I didn’t actively dislike the story but for me it felt like it could’ve been a little more fast paced. I also felt like there were a few too many characters and I found it hard to keep up with them and all the flashing back and forwards too. That said I feel like the mystery was very intriguing and well thought out and I didn’t predict it at all! I’ll definitely read more from Lucy Foley I just don’t think this one was for me.

Running away from trouble in the UK, Jess arrives in Paris to hole up for a while with her brother Ben, who has half-heartedly invited her (or rather acceded to her inviting herself). But when she gets to his flat in an upmarket apartment block, Ben is nowhere to be found and a patch of bleached floor testifies to something sinister. Jess has nowhere else to go. She stays and tries to understand what happened.
The neighbours aren't friendly or forthcoming with any information about Ben. It seems like they close ranks or simply don't know; or perhaps it is their famous French discretion. Each of them harbours their own version of Ben and what their relationships with him were like. None of them were straightforward. Their memories are coloured with emotions, frayed, and there are huge gaps as information is withdrawn from the reader until the very end. None of the characters are likeable or trustworthy and that includes Ben as seen through their eyes. You can't tell whether he was a victim or a perpetrator. The suspense is maintained right to the final chapters.
There are hard-hitting themes in this tense psychological thriller: alcoholism, sexual exploitation, modern slavery, drugs, societal inequalities, police corruption and the corruptive effect of wealth on morality and family dynamics etc etc etc.
Although the ending was inevitable and therefore expected, the nuance of it and the few final twists make it worth reading to the last page while remembering to breathe.
My only tiny issue was with the slowness of retrospection when each character speaks for themselves - there is a lot of internal monologue, telling rather than showing, and repeated explanations. That adds up to the over 400 pages of this book, which if some of that was left to the reader to work out for themselves would make this book much tighter and faster-paced.

Another outstanding read! Lucy Foley has never disappointed me. A fast paced who dunnit and enough twists and turns to give you whiplash. Highly recommend!

I had seen so much publicity and hype about this book I half expected to be disappointed (as often happens when a book is promoted so much) . However, I really enjoyed it and it certainly lived up to lots of the positive reviews I’d read.
Jess had spoken to her brother Ben just the day before and they were both looking forward to her staying at his Paris apartment the following day. However, when she arrives he appears to have mysteriously disappeared without trace and no one in the apartment block claims to know anything about it.
Some residents are friendly, others quite the opposite and it’s clear they want her to leave. It soon becomes apparent that everyone in the residence is related and everyone has secrets.
Despite the dangers associated with her quest Jess is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and find her brother.
Some characters were likeable but others the type you take an instant dislike to.

The Paris apartment follows Jess who ask her brother if she can stay with him after quitting her job, she can tell he's not really all that keen on the idea but he gives in in the end and tells her no problem. But after Jess arrives in Paris she can't get a hold of Ben, stranger still he's nowhere to be seen in his apartment building only hours after leaving her a voicemail giving her directions. What really happened to Ben and why do all his neighbours seem to want Jess out of there.

I wasn't sure I'd like the paris apartment going in as I didn't really like the hunting party last year, but for some reason this just really worked for me, maybe it was just I was in the right mood but I really enjoyed it.

I loved the setting it gave me lock every door vibes which is a book I love, I loved the creepy apartment building vibes and the secretive neighbours and while not a lot happens in here other than the whodunnit/mystery l still felt myself totally intrigued and not wanting to put it down.

The characters in here are just fantastic, not all likeable but definitely a great cast, and I was very much rooting for Jess throughout this. Also loved the concierge!
Towards the end this really did pick up pace and I loved it even more, so good, and such a good ending.

Will 100% be picking up Lucy Foley's next book.

Thank you to the publisher who I received a copy of the book from via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Could not put this down! Best yet from Lucy Foley. Jess turns up in Paris to stay with her brother Ben but he is nowhere to be found. His apartment block is occupied by an odd group of Parisians, his friend Nick and the all seeing concierge. Not keen to welcome her, they all have secrets so she investigates herself and this takes her into a dark world of corruption. Full of unexpected twists. Superb.

Never have I read a book where the place felt as much of a character as the individual people. Every time I picked up the book, I was immediately swept into the Parisian way of life and instantly fell under its spell. The author has such a talent for making you part of this world with its glamorous people, famous landmarks, delectable food and drink - but also drags you in to the seedier side streets where life has a decidedly different atmosphere.
Ben Daniels is a journalist who has been staying at his mate Nick's apartment in Paris. Ben's sister Jess has found herself in a bit of a tricky situation in her most recent job and has called her brother to ask if she can crash on his sofa for a while until she can sort something out. While he's not overly keen on the idea, he agrees, gives her the address, and tells her he'll be there to meet her. Only when she arrives there's no sign of Ben, he's not picking up his phone and Jess gets an unsettling feeling that something is very wrong. She's had to sneak her way into the apartment block after one of the other tenants refuses to let her into the building and the concierge who seems to live in an outbuilding in the courtyard is decidedly unfriendly towards her. Nobody wants to assist her in her quest to find her missing brother - the language barrier and the fact that she knows nobody in the area are not helping either.
The story takes sinister twists and turns, you suspect everyone of having some kind of involvement in Ben's disappearance, yet you can't put your finger on why. There are secrets and untruths paving the way throughout the whole book which will be guaranteed to have you reading just one more of the short punchy chapters far longer than you planned to. Your jaw will drop, your eyebrows will switch from a heavy frown to shocking heights as the facts are gradually revealed and everything you've read suddenly falls into place.
Who gets the happy ever after ending and who is left to rebuild their lives is something I'm not going to spoil for you as the author has spent so much effort constructing such a brilliant, intricately woven plot. I will be surprised if there are any readers who don't enjoy this book.

I started wanting to see and live in this apartment but as the story continues my mind changed! A really twisty, gripping drama. A missing man, a cast of neighbours all seemingly with secrets. A great story leading to the connection.

Narrated from the point of view of several main characters, this pacy whodunnit spins an intriguing web of possibilities. Lucy Foley visually plants you in this elegant Parisian apartment block leaving you to unpick the mystery with trepidation as you discover hidden stairways leading to a shocking revelation.

Having really enjoyed The Hunting Party, I was excited to get my hands on this novel by Lucy Foley. I’d decided to give The Guest List a temporary miss, as it seemed a little too similar to THP as far as I was concerned.

Here we have Jess as our main character, who, right from the outset, doesn’t make a great impression. Clearly a bit flakey, somewhat unpredictable, carrying issues from her past, I really struggled to connect with her in any way.

Arriving in Paris, she finds herself faced with a mystery – her half-brother (who we only meet briefly) is missing. With access to his apartment, she sets about trying to find out what’s happened, and is faced with a number of hostile neighbours and an occasionally aggressive cat.

In what appears to be Foley’s chosen style, this story unfolds via various character points of view. This is great from a keeping the story moving perspective, except, it doesn’t really work in this book. The pace is so slow (I was 40% through before I felt anything remotely interesting happened), and none of the characters are interesting enough to make you want to race through to find out more. In fact, there isn’t a likeable character in the book (the cat might win it for me, despite it’s obvious issues, but then, I’m a crazy cat lady).

Generally speaking I was hugely disappointed with this as it just wasn’t interesting. The concept is good, but somehow it didn’t weave together in to something that worked. I can see why some have enjoyed it (I’m clearly a minority voice here), but this is not Foley’s best work.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Jess needs a fresh start, she’s broke and alone and has just left her job in a local dive bar. She decides to go to Paris to stay with her brother Ben. Only when she arrives Bens not there.

Ben appears to have vanished and the more Jess searches the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbour’s are strange, secretive and not very friendly. Everyone's a suspect and everyone knows something.

This is a completely different style of novel compared to Lucy Foleys previous books. It’s a slow burn with multiple POVS that leaves you guessing right until the end. Throughout the book there was the classic sense of whodunit that left me not wanting to put the book down. The plot the characters everything was just perfection.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️