Another brilliant book by BA Paris, I Ioved it and was captivated immediately by the characters and storyline. 70% through and I thought I knew the twist but I was wrong and I kept wanting to skip a few paragraphs as I was desperate to know the ending.

I love this authors style n story line, can't wait to read the next book, I would definitely recommend this book!

This book had me hooked at the first few lines. The suspense builds as the story and the characters unfold. The premiss of a girlfriend going missing and returning 12 years later, with the heartache and angst that brings, is brilliant and really original. The slight let dowm for me, and the reason is only 4 stars, is the middle part of the story feels like it went on for slightly too long and the end felt rushed. I felt a little irritated by the main characters passive stance which didn't fit with his character in my opinion. Having said that I liked the characters and they felt like friends, and I wanted to know what was really going on and this made it a page turner for me... This book kept me up until 3am ..... be warned it is anot excelkent suspense thriller!!

I really enjoyed this book, at first I have to be honest I wasn’t sure it was my ‘cup of tea’ , but only a little way in it grabbed me. My first love genre wise is police procedural novels and I seem to have developed through my reading of that section of books quite an analytical mind, I’m also a professional genealogist which requires an ability for lateral thinking , so about three quarters of the way in I sort of saw what was going on, but nevertheless a really good read which I would highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and B A Paris.

Having read the two previous books by this author, I was looking forward to this book and I was not disappointed. I was kept guessing, right until the end of the book, and found myself covering up the pages and uncovering the text, line by line, to stop myself from rushing to get to the truth! Another excellent book – can’t wait for the next one!

I absolutely loved this book it is my kind of story ,I was hooked from the first chapter .The story was a roller-coaster of a ride which was told from Layla and Finns side of the story .I love it when a story races along and you just can't put it down .I couldn't wait to find out what had happened to Layla.Whenever I see a Russian Doll I shall think of this book ! I was holding my breath by the time I got to the final chapter and I was not disappointed with the ending .Fabulous !

I was really looking forward to reading this book but was lacking for me in suspense and believability..
The start was really good creating a suspenseful atmosphere which pulled you in to the story but then it changed and sadly became monotonous and I am afraid the ending was just preposterous.

Bring Me Back comes with the tagline 'Forget Sleep' and what can I say, it did make me want to forget sleep. I was sucked in completely with this book and just wanted to put my detective hat on and solve this mystery.

Initially we are taken back 12 years ago to the night our main protagonist, Finn's, girlfriend Layla disappears in a layby in France. The account we are given paints Finn as the concerned and lonely boyfriend but as we read on we find out that Finn is far from this.

Fast forward 12 years and Layla is still missing but Finn has moved on with his life. Now engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen, his life starts to unravel when he starts receiving mysterious Russian dolls that have a link to Layla. But things change dramatically when he starts to hear of sightings of Layla and out of nowhere he starts to receive emails from her.

Is Layla alive? Will she uncover his part in her disappearance? Why is she back and how will this impact his relationship with Layla's sister?

Bring me Back is extremely fast paced and I loved that as each chapter went on I became more and more drawn in. Told from Finn and Layla's point of view it meant that each chapter gave a little bit more away of what had happened in the past. Whilst Finn is not the most likeable of characters I did want to find out why he was being 'tortured' by the past. If anything my sympathies lay mostly with Layla's sister Ellen through the majority of the book.

As these type of books go there is always a good twist. I did partly guess this one but still it completely shocked me at the end.

This is an amazing read. I would highly recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.

Also sending big thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my ARC.

Well it's safe to say that this author has produced another outstanding brilliant and gripping read. I don't know how she does it but wow. She really does just have a clever way with words that leaves you gasping and wanting more.

The story and the characters engaged with you straight away, it was great getting to know them all and trying to figure how it will all end. You really do feel like you know Layla, Ellen and Finn for real as you become entwined in their story, although there are plenty of moments where you still don't know who is trust. It was all so very well written.

I did kind of guess the twist come the end but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story at all.

I read this book in two sittings would have been one if it wasn't for the fact I had to sleep and then go to work. Kind of hate it when real life gets in the way lol.

So bottom line, highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the next book from this author.

B A Paris has raised the bar again with Bring Me Back, a twisted and original psychological thriller that grips from the opening pages.

Finn and Layla are on holiday in France when she goes missing from the car in the dead of night. She's never found. The reader learns early on that Finn has a dark past and although cleared of involvement in her disappearance, his narrative hints at violence and lies. Years pass and Finn has settled down with Ellen, Layla's sister. In a clever twin narrative which moves between Finn and Layla, events which have shaped their lives are revealed layer by layer. The story moves back and forth between past and present as Ellen and Finn's happiness is affected by a series of strange events.

The storytelling is superb; there's tension, menace, mystery and intrigue and with each plot twist, the story becomes more complex. There are so many unreliable narrators, my head was spinning with possibilities, but the final exposé took me completely by surprise. B A Paris explores themes of obsessive love, loss, jealousy, revenge and retribution in a tale which genuinely gripped me from start to finish.

My thanks to the publisher for an early copy via Netgalley.

The story starts with Finn giving a statement about his girlfriend Layla who has disappeared after a trip away together. What happened and is he telling the truth?
Finn is now in a relationship with Layla’s sister Ellen but then something happens to make them both think that Layla is still alive. What does she want and why has she left it twelve years before she makes contact?

I quickly kept turning the pages in this book waiting to see what would happen in the story. The twist at the end was very good although it didn’t shock me, it made sense and ended the book nicely.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit Bring Me Back comes with the perfect tag #ForgetSleep, in fact #ForgetEverything as this is one of those books that once you start reading it’s almost impossible not to read it in one fell swoop. Unfortunately life got in the way of this one and I had to read it over a couple of sittings much to my annoyance. There is lots of hype surrounding the latest book by B.A. Paris and I can see why, with unreliable narrators and a well crafted plot that oozes tension and mystery Bring Me Back has all the hallmarks of a best seller.

Bring Me Back is told from alternating POV's of the two main protagonists Finn and Layla, and alternates between the past and present, which worked really well. as the the book develops the reader learns more about what really happened on that mysterious night. Part psychological thriller and part domestic, I found the way the author unravelled the relationship between Finn and Layla intriguing to say the least. The author has created characters that are not particularly endearing, I find myself judging Finn and some of his actions, which in turn meant I didn't trust him one iota, but love him or loathe him you can't help but get caught up in the drama surrounding him.

I actually guessed part of the plot, go me! so although I wasn't surprised by the ending I still really enjoyed this book. I think because I was taken up with the characters and trying to work out the truth buried in the narrative, it did not spoil the read for me as I couldn't help wondering how the author would tie up all the loose ends, but she did and brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. I would say I think some readers will be disappointed as the plot could be considered “far fetched” but personally I think that's the beauty of reading a book, your imagination can flow along with the authors. Exceptionally well written Bring Me Back made for a quick and engrossing read, I would definitely recommend to those of you who love a psychological thriller with plenty of mystery and unreliable narrators.
Review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

I requested an arc of this book as I have loved this author’s previous two books. In this book, we meet a young couple, Finn and Layla who are returning from their holiday when Layla vanishes. Fast forward 12 years and Finn is happy and living with Layla’s Sister, Ellen.
As the plot emerges we discover that perhaps Layla’s disappearance isn’t what it first seemed and what unfolds is a gripping tale. The plot twists and compels you to keep on reading. It’s a very fast paced book with a very clever ending.
In hindsight, I feel that the plot is a little unrealistic, but that could be what makes it so enthralling. This didn’t stop me enjoying the book at all and nor would it stop me looking for more books by this author in the future.

I'm a huge fan of B.A Paris, I'd recommend Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown to anyone and everyone. I started this book with huge expectations, the cover is stunning, the blurb sounds gripping and thrilling. But when I actually got into the book, I found myself massively underwhelmed and struggling to keep interested. I finished the book, mainly out of respect for B.A Paris as I would still consider her one of my favourite authors, but if it was someone else I wouldn't have. The ending was shocking and did almost make it worth plodding through, but overall I wasn't keen on the story or characters.

I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors, didn't like The Breakdown and struggled to finish Bring Me Back. I found it tedious and repetitive, with ridiculous plot lines and wooden dialogues. It's not a bad book, but soooo boring...
I don't think I'll be reading more by BA Paris.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Another great book by B A Paris. It’s a dark creepish sort of thriller with misleading elements in it, just when you think you know what’s going on something happens and puts you back to square one!!! I was really gripped from the first page and didn’t want to put it down hence I read it in a day. I would definitely recommend to peo0e who love psychological thrillers.

This novel begins well enough. There is a flashback to twelve years earlier when narrator Finn loses his girlfriend Layla at one of those middle-of-nowhere, surrounded by woods, picnic stops at the side of a French motorway. And it’s night time, and he’s had an argument with her, hinted at in the last sentence of this chapter through the tantalising, ‘But not quite the whole truth.’ when he reflects on his statement to the French police. Move to present day and, rather weirdly, Finn is now living with Ellen, Layla’s sister, the sibling never having been found. Happy enough, they are looking forward to their wedding and living a smug life in the country. It appears that Layla and Ellen could not be more unalike: whilst the former was a feisty redhead, the latter is a compliant sweetheart!
But, of course, this being a psychological thriller, a mundane existence isn’t going to be depicted for very long. Tiny Russian dolls begin to surface, left on the garden wall, in the pub, on Finn’s car and through the post. Ellen finds one and is certain that it is the very doll that Layla stole from her in their youth. They appear to signify that Layla is back! Unbeknownst to Ellen, Finn also begins to receive mysterious emails, increasingly threatening and unhinged, which lead him to the conclusion that Layla is alive and kicking – hard!
I was curious to see where the plot was leading for the first half of ‘Bring Me Back’ and how the characters would cope with their strange situation but the second half of the novel was a huge disappointment. It isn’t difficult to decipher what is actually going on by this point – although it does stretch credibility mightily! – and because Finn is such a self-pitying narcissist, I really wouldn’t have cared if he’d come to a grisly end. In fact, putting a stop to his dreary stream of rhetorical questions would have been a relief!
A novel of two halves: B A Paris had me hooked, but not for long!

1 1/2 stars. I swear I gave it my best shot. I really wanted to love this book. Paris' Behind Closed Doors kept me on the edge of my seat, but her sophomore novel The Breakdown bored me, so I figured two out of three ain't bad, right? Sorry, it's a Meat Loaf kinda morning.

But this book is so CHEESY.

I'll give it an extra half star for keeping me reading despite rolling my eyes every few pages, but that's the most enthusiasm I can muster for it. The twist/reveal of the book may be shocking to new mystery readers, but it's actually been used by too many authors for me not to see it coming at this point. And many of those authors have made it more convincing than Paris managed here.

Bring Me Back alternates between the past, in which Finn (the narrator) and his girlfriend Layla take a holiday in France and she disappears; the present, in which we find ourselves ten years later with Finn about to marry Layla's sister Ellen; and first person accounts from Layla, where she mostly talks like a comic book villain, figuratively twirling her mustache. Muahaha.

Most of the book takes place in the present. Despite believing Layla is gone for good, signs start popping up that she may be alive. Her beloved Russian dolls start appearing everywhere, and when Finn receives emails from a mysterious source who seems to know too much, it becomes obvious something nefarious is going on.

Problem is, it's all a bit like a slightly comical (though unintentionally so) B-movie. Every chapter ends with some really cheesy line that is supposed to be ominous. Like:

"I don't ever want you to be scared of me," I say.
Not like Layla was, that night, I silently add.
***
So I log on to my emails and find one from Layla.
YOU HAVE TEN DAYS


It was just so ridiculous I wanted to laugh. The narrative reminds me of the criminologist from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, raising his eyebrow at the camera and saying "Or had they?"

And it was difficult to become invested in any of the characters' stories. Finn seems like a dick from the get-go, Ellen and the secondary characters are bland and one-dimensional, and don't even get me started on Layla. There was no hook; no exciting questions. The middle dragged as I was forced to ponder what exactly I was supposed to be caring about - are we supposed to be afraid of Layla? Are we supposed to care about the romantic relationships and who Finn will choose?

In general, I prefer more carefully-crafted plots with more complex characters than Paris offers up here, but I can definitely enjoy pulpy, nasty thrillers like her Behind Closed Doors. Unfortunately, though, I don't think this book was particularly clever OR fast-paced and enjoyable. I guess her first book might have been a one-off for me.

Oh my god what a book it had me gripped right from the start and it did not let me go.

Finn and Layla are on their way home from a skiing trip when they stop to use the restrooms.

Layla is asleep and Finn leaves her in the car while he uses the toilet, when he comes back he finds Layla is not in the car she has disappeared.

Finn calls the police and we find out that he does not actually tell the police the real truth to what happened that night.

Why is Finn lying? What secrets is he hiding and why?

A few years later Finn is settled and is engaged to Laylas sister and as the book goes on, Finn falls apart and we find out what really happened that night.

I do not want to give the ending away but it's a brilliant book that had me hooked from the beginning.

The cover is great. The synopsis is intriguing. However the content gave me conflicting feelings. I wanted to keep reading as I was curious and if I could jump into a book to throttle someone, Finn would be first on my hit list!

Bring me back isn’t a patch on her previous two books but it’s a worth a read anyway.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Mystery & Thrillers and BA Paris for this ARC of Bring Me Back in return for my honest review.

This is the third novel I have read by BA Paris and ‘The Breakdown’ is one of my all time favourite thrillers. For me, this novel did not live up to ‘The Breakdown’ so I found it somewhat disappointing. Having said that I still found it a good thriller.

Finn and Layla alternate telling the story. Layla disappeared on a journey back from France to Devon after a holiday the couple had been on and this is the central theme of the story. This was twelve years prior to the beginning of the narrative and although Finn was initially arrested for the murder of his girlfriend he was released but she had never been found and no body has turned up. He is currently living with Layla’s sister, Ellen, and has asked her to marry him.

After Ellen makes the announcement of their engagement and forthcoming wedding in the local paper signs start to appear that Layla, or somebody pretending to be her, is alive and well and wants Finn back. The two other main characters, Ruby who is Finn’s ex-girlfriend, and Harry, did not feel real or well enough developed for me but I loved Peggy!

There are numerous twists and turns, which keep this a page-turner and compulsive reading to the end. The final explanations and reasoning did not seem convincing but I loved the very final chapter.

Recommended.