For me this was very similar to this authors previous books. The trope was a who did it storyline which Is one of my favourites. The story flowed well and maintained my interest but I was left a little disappointed with the un likability of the main characters. The story did keep me guessing throughout however the more the story unravelled the more I was left a little bit underwhelmed. The ending was surprising but I’m not sure it’s the ending I would have chosen.


The book tells a story of Jess who travels to Paris to stay with her brother Ben in his apartment. On arrival Jess discovers that not everything is as it seems and her brother seems to have disappeared into thin air. over the next few days Jess discovers that the other inhabitants of the apartment all share a secret and some of them if not all of them are responsible for her brothers disappearance.

Overall this was a good read, it kept me guessing and turning the pages, my attention did wonder off in certain places and I didn’t like any of the characters but the trope is one of my favourites and one where you can’t really go far wrong.

So I totally loved The Guest List, so this book had big shoes to fill.
It was definitely worth a read but I must admit didn't have the same wow factor.
It's all based around a Parisian family and their secrets.
Ben disappears just as his sister is arriving to stay with him and leaves her to unravel what's going on and what has happened to him.
Much of the story revolves around the family's apartment complex and although it felt a little creepy there was a bit of a lack of tension for me.
I enjoyed the book but 4 stars rather than 5 this time.

When Jess Hadley travels to Paris to visit her half-brother, Ben Daniels, she is fleeing a life which has been almost constant hardship. Both Jess and Ben were put in foster care but, while Ben was adopted by a wealthy couple and got a career as a journalist, Jess remained, bouncing around the foster care system and in and out of dead-end jobs. Although Ben had not sounded overly keen for her to suddenly come to stay, she is still surprised that, when she arrives, Ben does not answer either his phone or his doorbell.

Used to be unwanted, Jess adroitly enters the swish, Paris building and swiftly breaks into Ben’s apartment. However, Ben is absent, and Jess is concerned. Not concerned enough to call the police though, who frankly make her nervous. However, certainly worried enough to start digging around and, before long, she is discovering the other inhabitants of the expensive, Paris apartment building – and uncovering their secrets…

Although this has a good cast of characters, it is really the setting which makes this mystery work. I loved the building, with the courtyard housing the creepy concierge, the hidden stairways, and crumbling cellars. Paris, like London, has a lot of history and Lucy Foley uses the building well to create an atmospheric novel. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

‘I step forward and press the one for the third floor, for Ben’s place. I wait for his voice to crackle through the intercom. No answer.’
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My first ever Lucy Foley and I am a convert and now can’t wait to read her previous work, I absolutely LOVED this!
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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
The unwanted guest
Something terrible happened here last night.
A mystery lies behind the door of apartment three.
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I loved the jumping perspectives throughout this book, learning the story slowly but surely through all the different voices of the occupants of each apartment in the building. I loved exploring this darker side of Paris through the eyes of Jess, and the twists this book took at first I thought was predictable and then BAM I was sidelined with even more twists, highly recommend this one, such an easy read of a page turner!!
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Thank you so much to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK for the ARC!

This book was basically the 'Emily in Paris' version of a murder mystery. The hodgepodge of Parisian cliches is mixed with an overly dramatic storyline...and completely incongruous mentions of civil unrest and rioting? There were several points in the book where I wondered whether Lucy Foley had ever actually met a French person or been to Paris -- her persistent repetition of cliches honestly made me laugh out loud and it reminded me of the way a Young Adult or children's author would depict France. There were even several times where a character (in their inner monologue) acknowledged how stereotypical they were being???

The plot was more than a little ridiculous and the 'big reveal' was not very believable, but I will admit that a few of the twists and smaller revelations caught me off guard at least. Despite the writing being almost juvenile and riddled with cliches, I did enjoy myself as I was reading the book and I thought it was slightly better than 'The Guest List' or 'The Hunting Party'.

Brilliant mystery full of unreliable narrators and gripped me from the start.

I love the way the building is used like another character with all its secrets, reflecting the way the tenants were acting.

Stand out read.

I had read The Guest List by Lucy Foley and thought this book was even better.
Thoroughly enjoyed this thriller which had some clever twists throughout, the Parisian theme really set the scene,
The characters all had their own troubles, although they were not all likeable were very intriguing..
I would highly recommend reading this.
Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and Lucy Foley for an ARC in return for an honest review

I very much enjoyed this tense, dark domestic noir of a thriller by Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party and The Guest List among other books. Having read both and loved both of those books I was excited to read this one and it didn't disappoint. The plot was taut and very clever, albeit extremely unpleasant and gory at some points, and the characters, whilst not at all likeable, were well drawn. Very good plot twists. Recommended for psychological thriller fans.
With grateful thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Lucy Foley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to read this new thriller from Lucy Foley, as I liked her previous novels. Her stories promise an interesting mystery with lots of complex characters and this new novel did not disappoint.

The majority of the story is narrated by Jess, a troubled young woman who has come to Paris to escape from her old life in England. She plans to stay with her half-brother, Ben, a journalist who lives in a luxurious apartment building. When Jess arrives to find the apartment empty and Ben missing, she begins to investigate what happened. So where is Ben? And do the other residents at Number 12 Rue des Amants hold the answer?

This novel has cast of intriguing characters, each with their own secrets. There’s Sophie, the icy socialite; the mysterious Concierge who watches everything; Mimi, a naïve girl trying to find her place in society; Nick, the friendly, likeable neighbour and Antoine, the angry alcoholic. The story switches between multiple points of view, revealing each character’s past interactions with Ben and placing clues about how they may be involved in the mystery.

I enjoyed the specific details about Paris that made the setting come alive. Jess’s struggle with the awkward handles on the Metro train, the smell of moped fumes and cigarette smoke on the street, the pharmacies with their blinking green signs and the old apartments with lots of hidden nooks and crannies. The author presented an unromanticised view of Paris and its inhabitants and wasn’t afraid to delve into the seedier side of the city.

The Paris Apartment was an enjoyable read, with lots of twists and turns and a slow-burning plot that kept me turning the pages. I particularly liked the atmospheric setting and the character of Jess, whose difficult past in foster care makes her a determined and resilient protagonist. Although it is not as fast-paced as some of her other novels, I would still recommend it and I look forward to reading her future work.

Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read The Paris Apartment.

I love Lucy Foley’s writing so couldn’t wait to read this, and it did not disappoint. Her best book yet.
So easy to read and get completely absorbed in.
So many secrets and twists and WAIT..WHAT!? Moments.

Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a tense and mysterious thriller!

Jess goes to Paris go escape her life in the UK and plans on staying with her brother Ben. However when she arrives, he’s not there and something just doesn’t seem right. The story goes on to work out what’s happened to Ben, told through the eyes of Jess and the others living in the apartment.

The story started off quite slow and took me a while to get into. But as it went on it got more intriguing. I wasn’t sure why it was set in Paris though, as there didn’t seem to be much of the Parisian at atmosphere and the only thing that reminded you was the fact people spoke French, which was then translated. The characters were built up well though and in classic Foley style, there’s always a twist. Yet I did see this one coming. Overall a good thriller that kept me hooked.

In 'The Paris Apartment' by Lucy Foley, Jess down on her luck and keen to escape a 'situation' in England, goes to visit her half brother Ben in the French capital. Once there she finds he is missing. At first this is an inconvenience, but quickly it becomes apparent that something has happened to him and his neighbours know more about it than they are letting on. On the ground floor is the alcoholic who is aggressive towards his wife, on the second floor the nice boy hooked on opiate painkillers, on the fourth floor the obsessive/innocent girl with her promiscuous room mate, in the courtyard is the concierge who scuttles about the building, and finally in the penthouse is the socialite, preoccupied with her looks. Jess tries to unravel the mystery of Ben's disappearance.

For me this novel took a little while to get into, but once I did I was hooked. Foley tells the story using first person narratives from all of the buildings occupants and slowly teases out events to a very satisfying and twisty conclusion. Jess is a likeable character, but flawed like her brother Ben, which makes her a good main protagonist and her character lifelike. The use of Paris as a location, riots taking place in the city, Jess only speaking English and having limited phone data, ratchets up the tension. Whilst in places I felt the book lacked depth, I did really enjoy it and would recommend it to fans of thrillers and noirs .

This was sensational!!

No.12 Rue des Amants is a beautiful old apartment block in Paris, where nothing goes unseen but secrets are hidden.

When Jess calls her half-brother Ben, he offers for her to stay with him here but didn't sound thrilled when she took him up on the offer. Then she arrives and he is nowhere to be found. As she begins to search for Ben she wonders how on earth he could afford to stay in this luxurious apartment in Paris. The residents of the block seem less than willing to help and some even seem to want her to leave.

This one had me hooked from the very beginning and when you get into it, you will see just why! It was a 'sizzling start' as my son would label it. Every single one of the characters seemed to have secrets and Jess also had me intrigued with her past and escape to Paris. The Parisian setting and words sprinkled throughout added to the ambience and this was another fabulous novel by the author.

Wow I wasn’t disappointed with this book, I loved it, devoured this twisted mystery murder of a girl trying to find her brother, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the setting in an old building in Paris with its hidden staircases, secret passages and wine cellar, and all the characters with their own secrets to keep hidden. Definitely recommend this one. 5* from me.

'The Paris Apartment' is a classic Lucy Foley with all of the elements that I have come to expect- and love - in her novels:
- an intriguing crime
- set in an unusual location (a beautiful, elegant and decidedly mysteriously apartment)
- a victim who is both loved and loathed
- multiple viewpoints
- and sufficient red herrings to keep both Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes busy!
The story commences with Ben, a journalist sitting in his apartment and thinking of his latest journalistic endeavour when he is attacked. And then his sister Jess arrives.
Set in the beautiful city of Paris, the majority of events take place in an old but decidedly glamorous apartment building. And naturally, the residents are anything but average. We meet each of the residents:
- Madame Sophie Meunier
- Nick Miller
- Camille and Mimi
- Anton
- And the Concierge.
Each resident takes it in turn to narrate their meetings with Ben and their concerns that his sister is now investigating his disappearance.
Foley has a gift for slowly building up a sense of menace and fear so that the reader knows that Jess is headed for danger. We can feel the danger she is in and watch in horror as the situation escalates. We are brought along with each stage of the drama and race through the pages until the final page.
I raced through this book and couldn't put it down. It's an excellent read and full of twists to keep you on your toes.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley 5 ⭐️

Advanced Reader Copy
Number 12 Rue de Amants is like any other Parisian apartment block with a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower. Except all is not as it seems, hidden in these walls is a secret. There’s been a murder, but who committed the crime and why? Each tenant has their own secret to keep and reason to stay quiet. The mysterious disappearance of Ben the new tenant on the 3rd floor means it’s up to his half-sister Jess to work out what’s happened to him. Can she do it alone and will she make it out unharmed?
What can I say about this book? From the moment I started it I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I’ve read Lucy Foley’s two other bestsellers and I presumed incorrectly that the Paris Apartment would be very similar. I must say for me this book was more thrilling and page turning, I was excited to finish it from the moment I started it. At one point I smugly thought I have this figured out and knew how it was going to end. Well I’m happy to admit I was very wrong and the book took a lot of twists and turns a lovely story of whodunnit that kept me guessing until the end.
Book released 3rd March 2022

Lucy Foley has returned! I was up all night guessing to the very end of this book. It was impossible for me to put it down. The characters are so memorable that you will remember them long after the novel is finished. You become completely engrossed in Jess Hadley's story. 4 out of 5 stars

I loved this book! This is my favourite book by Lucy Foley so far. So very cleaver, a little bit sexy and definitely edgy. I love reading a book when all the characters are flawed, and not that likeable in themselves but you can’t help liking them anyway! I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the story set to the backdrop of the Paris riots which helps give the Paris streets that extra dark edge. The story is one of those where you know all is not as it seems but you doubt yourself and then when you get to the end you realise all the clues were cleverly laid out for you all along. Definitely a recommended read.

Jess and Ben are half-siblings who were orphaned relatively young; this is through the death of their mother and the indifference and their respective fathers. There is unresolved trauma from their childhoods.

Ben has a way of landing on his feet, and the narrative explores the impact of charm - for good and bad - in getting us what we want. The question now is whether Ben's confidence and charm have painted targets on their backs.

Jess is tenacious, and while Ben takes an easier path through life by turning on the charm, Jess's 'take me as I am' attitude sees her bounced around the foster care system and as an adult. At the start of the novel, we find her jobless, homeless and reaching out to a brother who isn't exactly welcoming her to his Paris apartment with open arms.

In fact, despite agreeing that she could spend a month or two crashing at his place until she'd figured things out, she arrives at the apartment to find Ben missing.

As Jess digs deeper into the residents in the apartment block, Jess realises that something is very wrong.

I highly recommend this novel to those who like a mystery with unreliable narrators, many secrets to unravel, great characters and a fantastic atmosphere.

I enjoyed the twists in this plot, there were many of them, and they were easy to follow. The story unfolds from multiple perspectives, but we never lose sight of Jess as the main character, and each character adds to the puzzle.

The people are complex and intriguing; each of the tenants is dysfunctional and highly suspect, which means that you're left wondering whodunnit. I was hooked from the start and found this to be a total page-turner.

Setting: The actual apartment is in an old but once elegant building in Paris, now creepy and housing tenants with dangerous secrets. There are some excursions into Paris itself, and we move between elegant restaurants and seedy clubs, between the sparkling Louvre and grimy alleyways.

There was a moment where I had to employ suspension of disbelief because I could see a way of something not working that way in reality, but aside from that nitpick, I have nothing but praise for this book.

I’ve not read any of Lucy Foley’s other books so wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. She has a very easy writing style which carries the reader through a story with some interesting twists. It kept me guessing to the very end. A very enjoyable read.