I love this author! As soon as I saw she had another book coming out I knew I needed jt and I will be obtaining a hard copy too! Although my favourite will always be the hunting party, this is still a gripping thriller with its unpredictable twists and turns up until the ending!

Foley has a fantastic and entertaining way of building up a mystery. I loved how this one was told. Similarly to The Guest list we get multiple perspectives each one representing a floor and a resident in this ancient and luxurious apartment block in Paris. It really let us get to know each of the characters. None of them are particularly likeable but that makes it so good as you are trying to puzzle out not only what exactly happened but also who could possibly be responsible as we learn more and more about the inhabitants of the building.

I also liked that she set this during the ‘gilet jaunes’ riots in Paris. It gave Paris a feeling of panic, riot, noise and fear that was juxtaposed with the ominous and quiet fear of the apartment block. It made the luxury of the apartments seem out of place and creepy, that they were slightly out of place and time. All of this adds together to create a really captivating plot, filled with twists I couldn’t even predict, just when I thought I had worked it out a curveball would be thrown in and change the whole thing. That made it really enjoyable.

I devoured this book, while the plot is subtle and slow moving the way the mystery builds throughout just makes it such a fantastic page turner. It took me just over a day to read this as I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to see what comes next from Lucy Foley.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Although I did get to the end of this book I did skip quite a lot of it.
I just didn’t gel with any of the characters and it all seemed to contrived for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Paris Apartment has very different vibes to Foley’s other books, but it was still equally gripping, as I read most of the book in a day. The Paris Apartment incorporates a number of different perspectives, and this was a real strength of the storytelling. As the histories of all the occupants were revealed, everything slowly started to come together, all of which pieced into the final reveals. Despite all the different perspectives, I felt that there weren’t any main characters left underdeveloped.

It was a very fast-paced read, especially once all the different threads started to come together, but I felt as though the short chapters made it feel a little jarring or stilted in some places, but this doesn’t detract from the storyline in any way. I enjoyed how all the different perspectives informed each other, and once certain pieces of information were revealed, it gave a deeper insight to the characters, and this not only shed further light on the plot, but also helped me understand the motives of each character.

I really liked Jess as a main character, as we were taken on her quest to find her missing brother, but were still able to discover more about the other characters as her search progressed. There were also times where I felt quite sympathetic towards some of the ‘villains’, which I always think is a nice touch.

There were some plot lines that I wasn’t entirely sure of. For example, there are mentions of riots throughout the book, but I didn’t really see how these fitted in with the story as a whole. However, they did help add a further undertone of tension, as well as highlighting the darker side of the city. (This could be a result of me binge-reading!) I also felt like Jess' fling with Theo (although understandable) didn't really add much to the narrative, as he - to me - was very much a side character in need of a bit more development.

I felt quite smug when I was able to call who would be involved in the final reveal, but the way in which the reveal and the build-up to it was so cleverly done in the way that it was structured and the night of the murder was slowly pieced together that it was still holding my full attention. The conclusion felt satisfying, which is something I always look for in a thriller, and it was nice to see how each person had their part to play.

Overall, this was a gripping, fast-paced read that, although I felt some parts didn't quite fit with the overall narrative, was expertly crafted and didn't let me go until the very end.

The Paris Apartment, the latest book by Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party and The Guest List, is another tightly written mystery. It is set at No. 12 Rue des Amants, a fancy schmancy apartment block in the fanciest part of Paris. It is gated, has a beautiful courtyard, a concierge and can only be accessed by entering a PIN into the keypad positioned next to the front door. Jess Hadley, a young British woman has travelled here to stay with her brother, Ben, a journalist, who is living in apartment three. But he isn’t answering his phone. And she doesn’t know the PIN needed to get into the building. He was expecting her, had even texted her directions and left a recent voicemail for her, so why is she standing outside his building and why isn’t he picking up her calls?

Jess, being a resourceful woman, manages to gain entry to the building and into Ben’s empty apartment. She quickly realises that something is very wrong. Ben’s wallet and keys are still in the apartment, but he is nowhere to be seen. They both had a difficult childhood and Ben was adopted by wealthy parents whilst Jess was bounced around the care system, so they’re not as close as they could be, so there could be something going on she doesn’t know about. But he told her he’d be there, and he isn’t. Where could he be?

This has a very different feel to Foley’s previous books, it feels more expansive somehow, and although there is always some darkness in her mysteries, this one is much darker in tone. There is something very, very bad at the heart of this building and its inhabitants, Sophie a socialite, her husband Jacques a wine merchant, Nick, Ben’s Cambridge University pal, aggressive Antoine and fragile Mimi all seem to have something to hide. Then there is the concierge who lives in a small unit in the courtyard, and whilst everybody ignores her, she sees everything and is the keeper of many secrets.

Foley’s characterisation, is, as usual, fantastic. She manages to evoke sympathy for people who you really shouldn’t like, nor trust, creating a wonderful dichotomy. I imagined the building almost as a doll’s house, with each apartment featuring a different person with their own secrets. I could envisage Nick on his Peleton, stopping to make himself a coffee at his restaurant quality coffee machine, Mimi sitting on her balcony, watching Ben at his desk tapping away on his laptop, Antoine drinking too much and lamenting his failed relationship with Dominique and at the very top of the building, in the Penthouse, Sophie and Jacques, lording it over everybody else.

This motley group are at the heart of the mystery, Jess knows this and her resilience and pluck lead her into evermore dangerous situations as she tries to find her brother. Foley gives us just enough breadcrumbs to solve the mystery, revealing clues slowly as Jess delves further into the mystery.

Set in the blistering heat of summer, this is a very different Paris to the one I imagine. The heat works as an oppressor, there are many references to clothes sticking to sweaty backs, apartments being thick with summer air and travelling around a city in the heat is no fun at all. Then there are the references to protests, to swarms of people taking to the streets and to violence simmering in the air. Foley takes us away from the rich, glamorous streets of Paris, to the dark underbelly and shows us that if you scratch the surface there is a world of murkiness underneath.

Foley’s writing and plotting in The Paris Apartment is excellent, and it feels very compact and tight. Although it is around 400 pages feels like it is half that length and I read it very quickly. It is pacey and clever and a pretty great read. Recommended.

Wow, The Paris Apartment is a complex thriller that just keeps getting more and more intriguing.

The action kicks off from the word go, when Jess turns up to see her brother Ben. He's missing.

And it soon becomes apparent that the other residents of the building are hiding something.

Smart, sophisticated and sexy, this is a thriller on steroids.

The new murder mystery thriller from the No.1, million-copy bestseller Lucy Foley

Welcome to No.12 Rue des Amants

A beautiful old apartment block, far from the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower and the bustling banks of the Seine.

Where nothing goes unseen.
And everyone has a story to unlock.

The watchful concierge
The scorned lover
The prying journalist
The naïve student

My review is a short one this time, as it would be so easy to give a spoiler into such an intriguing read.

The blurb sets the scene beautifully for an atmospheric mystery set around Paris. The characters are quirky and flawed, and each has an interesting and mysterious backstory, which the reader slowly uncovers.

I enjoyed the cleverly plotted story, despite the pace dipping a little in the middle. Definitely worth a read!

The Paris apartment was a très chic thriller

A locked-in thriller set in Paris- ou la la! 😉

Stuck in a Parisian townhouse with some dodgy rich characters, Jess is running out of time to find her missing brother. And in this creepy, claustrophobic old building, there’s more than a few secrets stashed away. Being a massive Francophile, I could certainly appreciate soaking in the French atmosphere. It was as heady and intoxicating as a good vintage.

Though very much grounded in reality, our heroine was reminiscent of Bluebeard’s wife, poking her nose where she shouldn’t. Finding dark and sordid details behind the wealthy façade. Shining a light on some serious issues. In many ways, it reminded me of Lisa Jewell, tackling something greater than simply a murder mystery. It showed the seedy underbelly of so-called upper crust society.

While Jess acts as our guide- the other characters are far from trustworthy. I thoroughly enjoyed how delightfully unlikeable they all were. D’accord, some of their secrets were a tad obvious- but others completely caught me by surprise!

I will say this was decidedly a slower burn than I prefer, especially giving the ticking clock element. That said- mon dieu! What a plot twist!!! The ending took me by surprise in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s a very sharp ending.

And that’s all I can say without giving anything away, so I’ll leave it there…

Rating: 4/5 bananas

Absolutely loved this book! I’ve read all of Lucy Foley’s books now and this one didn’t disappoint! Love how I can never guess the ending, and that there is always a big twist! Highly recommend

I've really loved Lucy Foley's previous books and so I was keen to snap this one up. Although I did enjoy it, it didn't grab me as much as her previous books.

The story is about Jess who leaves her troubled past in Brighton and travels to Paris to stay with her half brother, Ben a journalist, at his luxury apartment. However, when she arrives, he is nowhere to be found. The other occupants of the building seem distrustful, secretive and unwilling to help. Thus begins the mystery with a good many twists and turns along the way.

I thought the atmosphere of the old apartment block and Paris itself with its colourful sights and sounds was beautifully captured. I could almost picture myself there. The characters were mainly well drawn, although because there were so many, I found myself becoming confused towards the middle of the book.

I also found the plot somewhat confusing, especially towards the latter part of the book and the ending wasn't as surprising as I hoped.

Although not one of my favourite books by this author, I will read her next book.

Thanks to publishers HarperCollins UK and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jess Hadley has arrived in Paris unemployed after leaving Brighton on England's south coast behind in a rush, to stay with her half-brother, Ben Daniels, a British journalist. Ben lives in a shadowy and eerie old apartment building in a wealthy area of central Paris - floor three, 12 Rue des Amants. Nick Miller, Ben's friend from Cambridge University, lives in the same apartment block. But where is Ben? And who can Jess trust, if anyone?

Sharp, enthralling and incredibly creepy, I enjoyed reading The Paris Apartment immensely. Lucy Foley has once again demonstrated just how clever a writer she is. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperFiction via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Paris Apartment’ by Lucy Foley in exchange for an honest review.

In recent years Lucy Foley has made a name for herself writing compelling ‘closed circle’ mysteries. I have enjoyed these and felt that with ‘The Paris Apartment’ she has once again produced a compelling mystery with strong characterisations. Indeed, this is my favourite of hers to date.

As the title suggests it is set in Paris at No.12 rue des Amants, an elegant old apartment block. In the Prologue we meet Ben, a British journalist staying in the luxurious apartment by invitation. He is awaiting the arrival of his sister, Jess, for a short visit. Yet then something sinister happens. …

Three hours later Jess arrives and there’s no answer when she rings his doorbell. After finally gaining access to the apartment, she finds it empty, no sign of Ben despite only talking on the phone a few hours before. The various residents aren’t particularly helpful and all start to seem rather dodgy. In her little cabin the elderly concierge overlooks all comings and goings. No further details in order to avoid spoiler territory.

As expected there are plenty of secrets to be unraveled and the narrative point of view moves between the novel’s various characters as we gain insights into Ben’s life and fate as well as Jess’ quest to locate him.

Overall, another engaging novel from Lucy Foley that kept me guessing and proved very satisfying.

Lucy Foley has done it again!
I absolutely LOVE her books they keep me gripped with every page.
The setting was great i really felt like i was in Paris and lived in the apartment.
The characters were really well thought out and a real "Was it you" vibe.

Another great thriller by this author who is steadily becoming reliably consistent in this genre. I enjoyed the Paris setting for this story and how the characters lives were slowly revealed to show how family conflict, love, deceit, trauma and exploitation all weaved together leading to fatal consequences. One of the lead characters ends up having to use her survival skills in order to put the pieces of the jigsaw together to find her half brother who she has come to visit in Paris. I liked the way the story is told from the different perspectives and allows the story to unfold with a few surprises along the way. Great read.

What an amazing read!

Incredibly well written with engaging memorable characters this book was based on an intriguing plot and I couldn't put it down.

Jess and Ben were orphaned as children. They lost their mother to an overdose and were put up for adoption.

Ben was the incredibly lucky one. He was adopted by a London couple who gave him the best life he could have wanted, he had a beautiful home, clothes, very good friends, and an expensive education at a top school in England. Ben is on his way to being ridiculously successful.
Jess on the other hand, ended up bouncing from foster home to foster home and spent many years in the system. Having always struggled, she is now homeless and has to reach out to Ben for support..

Jess reaches out to Ben after not seeing him for many years. He is living in Paris and agrees to let Jess crash at his place until she finds a job and another place to live.

But where is Ben? He texted Jess.. just the day before.

This book was INCREDIBLE!!!!

Many thank to Netgalley/publisher/author for an advanced reader copy

I enjoyed this book. It’s written from the point of view of six of the characters, which in the beginning can be a little confusing, but honestly you soon get into the swing of things and I found it really interesting and I am glad it was written this way. The characters are really well thought out and I enjoyed the plot. It all comes together nicely and even though I had a slight inclination of what would happen, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment, it just made me read it faster to see if I was right. I definitely recommend this, thank you #netgalley

This is the second Lucy Foley book I have read, the first being The Hunting Party. Again all the characters were very flawed so I didn't really care what happened to them. The story unfolds very slowly as there is a lot of repetition and unnecessary detail. I think I read 3 times that Sophie bought quiche for Jacque,s dinner every friday. The book could easily be 25% shorter. The story stretched credulity and the ending was totally unbelievable.
I note that the author's books usually feature in The Times Top Ten book sales so many other readers must enjoy her books though sadly not me.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Hunting Party (and now The Guest List) I already rated Lucy Foley’s interesting twist on the thriller/mystery genre and this continues to build her reputation for creating stories that are a bit different to the whodunnits that are out there.
Jess appears in Paris (fleeing some ‘bother’ in Brighton) at her half brother Ben’s apartment to discover that despite him saying just hours before that he would be there he is nowhere to be seen. The story centres on the people in the apartment block, Jess and Ben’s back story set against a Paris suffering with riots and a turbulent political situation.
The tension is created in a satisfying manner as the different characters emerge from the darkness.
I did find the most of the characters were hard to like but the way the atmosphere was created did provide a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Unfortunately I found this book filled with too many characters and very messy plus, it was very drawn out and I had a hard time keeping up with the plot. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.