This was a fascinating and riveting book from start to finish. The characters were very well portrayed, including the elusive Ben, brother to Jess. For someone who arrives in a foreign country with hardly any possessions or funds, Jess managed to find her way around the city amazingly well, and her streetwise experience was a bonus in her quest to find Ben through those who knew him best, in his apartment block and his freelance work.
The complex lives of the main characters, including the concierge who lived in a hut in the grounds,, were both intriguing and full of emotional angst. This was an original and extremely well paced novel with unexpected twists that kept on coming to the last chapter. I could imagine the author starting with the conclusion and then working backwards to Jess’ arrival. One of the best books I’ve read this year and deserving of five stars.

Ooh I liked this.
Very different to the author's last two books, and it feels like a much mature read with Foley really perfecting her craft.
Suitably creepy and gave me Goosebumps.
Wonderfully intricate plot that'll keep you guessing, and suspecting everyone!
A triumph.

I really enjoyed this book. The setup was almost like a locked room mystery but this time in a large house. I found that I both liked and disliked every character in the book. However the overriding story was one that kept my attention and I finished the book in 2 days. When the reveal came I was surprised and happy that the ending was worthy of the book. All in all this is another great book by what is becoming a go to author. **

I really enjoyed this novel and preferred it to the authors celebrated novel ‘The Guest List’

Jess is at a crossroads in her life and needs a fresh start. Alone, out of luck and out of money leaving her desperate to get her life moving again after all the knocks so decides to get in touch with her half-brother Ben and asks if she can stay with him for awhile. Ben who lives in an apartment in Paris doesn’t appear too enamoured with Jess’s suggestion but doesn’t say no, so she decides to visit him anyway. When Lucy arrives in Paris, Ben is nowhere to be seen and the longer his disappearance the more concerned Jess becomes. Jess may be eager to escape her past but Ben’s future appears to be more of an issue. Jess is getting increasingly worried for her brother and starts to search for clues to his whereabouts, but all the time her digging is creating more questions. Who can she trust amongst Ben’s friends and neighbours as she tries to uncover the truth to her brothers disappearance.

A twisty plot, full of interesting and suspicious characters and a lot of twists and turns make this a fascinating read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What a blast I had reading this book!
I was nearly late for work even though I had got up early to finish it. How I went to sleep I dont know. The book was open on my forehead when I woke up so I guess that explains it.

If you have ever wondered what might go on behind the curtains of a posh Paris apartment then this is the book for you. There are several people living in the block. One newcomer. None of the original inhabitants like him. He disappears but why and how. His sister turns up and starts asking questions. Some lead her down very dark paths indeed and the truth is going to be a lot darker than she thought. If she finds it. If she finds him. If she survives.

Brutally brilliant and it is going to be a very popular 2022 thriller!

Jess is escaping Brighton and planning to hide for a while at her step brother Ben's apartment, a flat on the third floor of a very elegant old apartment block. At first glance, inhabited by rich people and guarded by a concierge, but not is all as it seems.,,,

Ben is not in the apartment, waiting for Jess as he said he would, and she doesn't exactly receive the most warm welcome from the concierge and one of the residents. She does question the hostility and she also asks herself how Ben can afford the rent is such a luxurious place.

In the days following her arrivals, she meet the other residents: Sophie, Mimi and Camille, but still no sign of Ben. But Jess is determined to find him, however she just doesn't know she is in danger.

I haven't read any of Lucy Foley's books prior to this and I now need to get them, as she writes so beautifully really bringing the reader into the story. I just couldn't put this book down, as I found the characters and story captivating, and did not see the ending coming at all. Plus I love Paris, so a book set in this city would always have my attention.

Lucy Foley is one of my favourite authors, I absolutely loved The Guest List and The Hunting Party so I was over the moon to receive an ARC of her newest book - The Paris Apartment and it did not disappoint.

Set in an apartment block in Paris, this story follows the arrival of Jess who has come to visit her brother Ben, only to find out that he’s disappeared. What follows is a search for the truth about what has happened to Ben and what the deal is with the other occupants of the luxurious apartment she finds herself in.

Full of fascinating characters with plenty of secrets coming out as the mystery unfolds, we learn that nothing is as it seems.
I really didn’t want to put this book down!

3.5 stars

Very much a read in one sitting book for me.
Raced through all the twists and turns.

Some of them very unexpected.
Fast paced,and well plotted.

Nothing but positive thoughts on this one!

The Paris Apartment has immediately leapt up there to become one of my favourite reads of the year. It has absolutely everything that I love in great mystery story: an evocative location, a cast of exceptionally drawn characters who you can never quite trust fully, expertly layered suspense, heart-racing action and a satisfyingly clever, brilliantly constructed plot. It puts a refreshingly 21st century take on the old manor mystery in places and channels both Patricia Highsmith and the indomitable Agatha Christie, but it is also satisfyingly original. Foley has firmly established herself as one of our quintessential contemporary crime writers and The Paris Apartment cements her ingenuity and expertise in the genre.

I was instantly hooked on this book, which has all of the flare and style that Foley has delivered in her two previous thrillers. The novel opens with a prologue that will have you wanting to race to the end as quickly as possible. From that gripping opening right to the final page, The Paris Apartment will suck you in and have constantly guessing what exactly has happened to Ben and how the apartment block and it’s inhabitants are involved. There are a number of exciting twists that flip the narrative in a new direction and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out the mysteries at the heart of this story. Foley sprinkles clues throughout that help readers to figure some elements out, but like with Christie, you can never fully grasp all of the elements to work out the truth. It’s no exaggeration to say that Foley has the Christie gift for creating complex and engaging plots that conclude in a completely logical way and leave you going, “Of course!”

I also really enjoyed the fact that the narrative plays out against the setting of the Paris riots. There’s a constant simmering of unrest lying just in the background, which perfectly reflects the mounting tension at the apartment building. Together, these two elements are a melting pot of fraught anxiety that helps make this a real edge of your seat read. As the plot unfolds and starts to build to its crescendo, so does the unrest in the Paris streets and it perfectly complements the narrative. Further to this, there’s an element of this story that feels like a love letter to the city of light and Foley describes the locations with expressive detail, which really lands the reader right in the heart of the book. What she is so adept at doing is then twisting that passion and clear adoration for the city and flipping it on its head to show the dark, unnerving underbelly of a corrupt and manipulative landscape.

This is very much Jess’s story and I really loved her as a lead character. She is full of gumption and fire, despite her troubled past and spending much of her life down on her luck. I was rooting for her the entire time and enjoyed the journey she undertook over the course of the narrative. She’s such a ‘real’ character too and I found I was able to relate to her and her thinking. Her determination to discover what has happened to Ben really drives the narrative and she is is a real heroine. As with any great mystery story though, this novel has a plethora of exceptionally crafted supporting characters. I loved how Foley was able to constantly shift how I felt about each of them at different points of the novel and it’s no word of a lie to say that my sympathies and suspicions lay with each of them at some point. Disturbing and damaged relationships are the crux of the narrative and Foley has a real talent for developing her characters in a way that keeps them entirely plausible, even when they are deplorable or act in the darkest of ways. It’s hard to write about the relationships and connections between these characters without giving away too much, but this novel is an exhilarating exploration of manipulation, deceit, greed, privilege, toxicity and the shameful lack of value people can place on other human beings. There’s a real Hitchcockian vibe to the narrative and the characters, and Foley perfectly balances the psychological complexities of the plot with the page-turning suspense and action in the way that the director did in his most iconic films. If Hitchcock was still alive today I could definitely see him bringing this fantastic novel to the screen.

If you enjoy a captivating mystery, a compelling writing style, gasp-inducing twists and turns, then you probably know that a Lucy Foley novel is for you. Just let me say that The Paris Apartment may be her best yet and it should skyrocket to the top of your TBR!

I absolutely loved The Hunting Party and The Guest List, so I was so excited to hear that Lucy Foley was releasing a new thriller.

The Paris Apartment is a step up from her previous books which although brilliant were quite similar in structure and pacing, whereas this one kept me guessing until the very last page and was anything but predictable.

I don’t want to give much away regarding the plot - it follows a group of people in a single apartment block and the mysteries which lie behind each door.

The story had echoes of classic Agatha Christie novels but placed into a modern-day setting, exploring dark issues really interestingly.

The main character Jess, was messy and made bad decisions but was written in a way that you couldn't help but route for her - in fact, all of the characters were incredibly interesting and well written.

I stayed up all night reading this, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very last page.

A brilliant read.

I like this author and have enjoyed her other books! This one was equally as good, Based in Paris this book centred around an apartment block and its occupants! There were lots of characters, slightly confusing at first but it soon became clear! I read the last 50% in one go… lots of twists and an unexpected ending! Very good read

A very different feel for Lucy’s third book but it lived up to expectations!
Jess travels to Paris to meet up with her half brother Ben. Whilst he is leaving her a voice note of instructions for meeting, he is mysteriously interrupted. When Jess arrives at his Paris apartment, Ben isn’t there. Where is he and what secrets are shared by the dwellers within the other apartments?
A book that kept me guessing right until the end. If you ah e enjoyed Lucy’s previous books then you are in for a treat.
Thank you NetGalley for my review copy.

In The Paris Apartment we follow Jess who, at the last minute has decided to get away from England and stay with her journalist brother Ben. She arrives in Paris, only to discover he isn't there, even though he left a voice message the night before telling her he would meet her at his apartment. None of the residents at No.12 Rue des Amants are willing to help and the more Jess uncovers, the more she learns about the darker side of the City of Light. The author does such a wonderful job with the atmosphere and captures Paris beautifully. The writing had me from the start and I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Fiction for the chance to read The Paris Apartment.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Lucy Foley does it again!

I had high expectations after loving #TheHuntingParty and #TheGuestList, and this novel did not disappoint! In keeping with Foley’s modern day Agatha Christie reputation, #TheParisApartment includes a dark and dysfunctional set of characters with a vast array of secrets to hide. You follow Ben and Jess’ quest to find answers from this mysterious bunch of characters, which as a result made it incredibly difficult to put this book down! The sense of place, as in all of Lucy’s novels, is beautiful, raw and creepy in equal measure. The perfect escapism for a crime fiction fan.

If you loved Lucy Foley’s previous work, you will definitely love #TheParisApartment!

Thank you so much to @harpercollinsuk #netgalley for my early read.

Troubled Jess arrives in Paris to stay with her half-brother Ben. He’s living in an exclusive apartment complex but after giving her the address and saying he would be there he ‘s gone missing. Jess soon realises everyone in the small complex is hiding secrets and they get very cagey when she mentions her brother. Soon she is caught up in a web of intrigue in her desperate search for Ben and not sure who she can trust. The book was hard to put down with some lovely little twists, much like Lucy Foley’s other suspense novels, The Hunting Party and The Guest List. There were a few times when it changed point of view a bit abruptly and it bugged that not all the French was translated, leaving one feeling as if you are being left out but it didn’t ruin the enjoyment of the book. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow!wow! wow!!!!!
What a fantastic book!!!
A must read for Lucy Foley fans...I think it's her best yet.
A real good whodunnit which keeps you guessing to the end.
I literally couldn't put it down......the best book I've read in a while.
Highly, highly recommended.

Lucy Foley does it again! I love that she deviated somewhat from her usual 'locked room' - and the reader is rewarded with stunning Parisian details from those characters that do venture outside the gates of The Paris Apartment. This was such a fun, escapist read, and I had absolutely no idea what was going on for most of the book - and I loved every minute of it!

I think I went into this book with overly high expectations because of how much I loved Lucy Foley's two previous novels. This one was good, but I was expecting to really, really love it and I just didn't. Don't get me wrong, I did like it and enjoy reading it but it never quite hit the spot like I wanted it to.

I liked the setting and I always like having multiple points of view. My favourite viewpoint was that of the concierge, I really looked forward to her chapters. I didn't particularly connect with main character Jess, and I think that's a big part of what stopped me from being completely engrossed in the plot. The plot was actually very good, there were lots of layers to uncover and the pacing was just right.

I don't speak any French at all, so for me the French parts interrupted the flow a bit and sometimes the words weren't translated until further down the page, or worse, not translated at all and I was worried that I might have missed something important.

Overall I would recommend the book as it's a decent story, I just didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Rating: 4.1/5

Lucy Foley has become one of a number of contemporary mystery writers, along with the likes of Ruth Ware and C.L. Taylor, who can be relied upon to consistently produce high quality, well-plotted, entertaining novels. Her latest offering, "The Paris Apartment" is no exception. If you enjoyed her previous mystery thrillers, "The Hunting Party" and "The Guest List" there is every chance that this will also meet with your approval.

I have seen this described as 'a classic whodunnit', but in common with her previous work, I would suggest that it would perhaps be equally fitting to call it "a whydunnit" or possibly even "a whodunnwhat". There are certainly elements of "The Paris Apartment" that are very much in the classic murder mystery tradition: We have a predominantly enclosed setting and a clearly defined cast of characters. Each of the key protagonists has a hidden history, with secrets that they wish to keep, that could easily serve as their motivation for "doing the deed".

The enclosed setting here is the eponymous Paris apartment - an impressive residence in a desirable and sought-after part of the city. It provides a backdrop that is both suitably atmospheric and in keeping with the essence of a "Golden Age" mystery, but one that simultaneously offers a refreshing alternative to the British country house or secluded hotel.

The dramatis personae are made up of the troubled Jess - who has arrived in Paris to stay with her half-brother, Ben - and the residents of the apartment who are Ben's neighbours. The narrative is presented from the viewpoint of each of the key characters and Lucy Foley generally does a fine job of giving each one a distinct and credible voice.

A traditional "Golden Age" mystery would tend to see the crime committed in the first half of the book, with the remainder concerning itself with solving the mystery and working out who the perpetrator may be. However, as was the case with her previous novel, "The Guest List", the actual deed does not come to light until much deeper into the telling of the story. Far more time is devoted to the idea of who may have done "something" and why certain individuals may have had motive to do various "somethings" depending upon events and developments. Lucy Foley is becoming increasingly adept at this, as she gradually allows backstories to emerge and reveal their relevance to later events.

The only aspect of the book that I found slightly disappointing was the closing section. I felt that the impressive foundation that had been established and built upon throughout the novel warranted a stronger finish, but other readers may feel differently. Nonetheless, this is another fine piece of work from the pen of Lucy Foley that I would happily recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have read Lucy Foley's previous two thrillers and although I loved The Hunting Party I was disappointed with the follow up, The Guest List. The Paris Apartment follows a similar theme to Foley's previous thrillers but is set in an apartment block in Paris, where nothing is as it seems. Jess arrives in Paris to stay with her brother Ben but on her arrival she finds he has disappeared. Her search for Ben introduces us to the building's residents and we discover their relationship with Ben and the secrets they are hiding.
I found the setting original and Foley's descriptions of the city and the apartment evocative but I never became completely immersed or invested in the plot or the characters. I lost interest as the novel progressed and felt it lacked pace and flow.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.