This is another excellent book by BA Paris and also a fabulous audio version.
I was quickly drawn into the plot and characters. I finished it last week, but it has definitely stayed with me.
Overall 4.5 stars and it’s very recommended.

A really gripping read with a total jaw-dropping ending! A really well-written, clever thriller! One that I'll recommend to fellow thriller fans and I'll be pushing up BA Paris' other books that I haven't got through yet.

I have previously read one or two book by this author and while I enjoyed them they didn't really stand out. My opinion has changed after finishing The Guest. This was a great read. A domestic drama , a middle aged, middle class couple return from a holiday to find one of their old friends has arrived unexpectedly and is staying in their home. The house guest adds pressure to their already strained relationship and things begin to get a lot more difficult.

This was a really assured read, a slow burn where the characters had time to grow and develop and the tension is built beautifully. I now understand the popularity of this author, this was an excellent, polished, suspense that entertained and surprised me. Recommend.

I listened to this on audio and the narration was excellent.

I’ve always enjoyed BA Paris’ books and was excited to be able to review this new one.

The book follows Iris and her husband Gabriel who go on a trip after Gabriel witnesses an unfortunate death of a young man called Charlie. Charlie has given Gabriel a message to pass on to his mum which Gabriel has to toy with, whether to do this or not.

They return back from their trip early to find an unexpected house guest, their friend Laure from Paris. Laure has left her husband Pierre after finding out that he fathered a baby. They don’t fully know what’s happened and how long Laure plans to stay.

Then there is a suspected suicide and followed by a murder… How does this all fit in and can Gabriel finally pass on the message from Charlie to his mum?

When I first started reading this book, I was a little disappointed as it didn’t for BA Paris style of books but as the story unearthed it all made sense.

There is a lot going on, there was some areas which I personally didn’t think was relevant but overall it was a good read.

Book Review 📚
Audiobook 🎧
The Guest by B.A Paris - 4.5/5 ⭐

Let me start by giving a complete neutral comment by saying B.A Paris is my favourite thriller writer. See, Neutral, not biased at all 😂

I enjoy reading Paris so much that I'll read the book and then I'll listen to the Audiobook, or visa versa. It's not a only read once kind of author. Behind Closed Doors is still one of my favourites.

Anyway, less author sucking up and back to the review 😂 brilliant. Is that enough? No, right hang on. FANTASTIC. As always, I'm kept on the edge of my seat, trying to piece together all the pieces, failing as always.

I honestly can't hype this book, or author, enough. Paris was the one who started my deep dive into thrillers. I can't fault Paris' writing. You're always kept intrigued and you will never figure out how it's going to end. It's amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

Another excellent offering from BA Paris and this one had me completely fooled. It wouldn’t be right to describe it as suspense filled but it absolutely is a thriller.
A great range of characters and a super plot to match.

A story enveloped in domestic drama. This multi layered story holds quite a few surprises. Iris and Gabriel have a grown-up daughter and an enviable lifestyle, but Gabriel finds a dying boy and hears his disturbing final words, which he wrestles with, not knowing what he should do with the message. He spirals into a slight depression. Then they arrive from a mini break away to discover their French friend Laure has moved in following a separation from their friend Pierre. She fills the void, but soon is helping herself to their clothes, food, and every space of their lives with little intention of leaving, and Pierre is not returning his messages. Reprieve comes in the form of new neighbours, buy their resident gardener has a shady past and soon has disturbing links to them all. A slow burning thriller with lots of final reveals. The audiobook was really well narrated and captured the frustration of a guest overstaying their welcome, alongside the darker drama. #theguest #baparis #netgalley

I'm not sure I'd call this suspense. It was a very slow burn. Not much happened during the first half. The second half was better and the twists at the end were very good!

I just reviewed The Guest by B.A. Paris. #TheGuest #NetGalley #Audiobook

Woha!! This audiobook was brilliant and excellently narrated too so I’ve given it an easy five stars!

So many twists in this story that it really keeps you engaged! Audiobooks are great for listening to whilst doing chores, having your nails done or even having a shower and this one definitely had me hooked!

I don’t know whether it would have been as enjoyable if it had t been so brilliantly acted out on an Audiobook so I would definitely recommend give this one a listen!

Oh, man, and it was all going so well 🙈

Psychological thrillers are one of my favorite genres, and I’m especially partial to a plot that develops slowly, titillating with intrigue, and gradually growing in intensity before exploding in a heart stopping finale.

This was ticking all the boxes. Then, it went and fell flat at the final hurdle.

I was fully invested in the story of Iris and Gabriel and their French friend Laure, who turns into the guest from hell after leaving her husband, following his admission of having fathered a daughter with another woman.

There was lots of intrigue to keep me engaged and a growing sense of impending crisis. Still, I didn’t see the first twist coming, and when the bodies started piling up, I was desperate for answers.

Listening on audio, I was shocked, when at the height of the tension, the narrator suddenly announced ‘Epilogue.’

Whaaat? Was there something wrong with my audio file? Had I somehow skipped a bunch of chapters and missed the big reveal?

No, siree!

The who, why and how then proceeded to be revealed in a massive plot dump.

In the epilogue!

Frustratingly, this isn’t the first time I’ve come across this technique. But I hate it. It’s a copout. A complete and utter anticlimax. And it ruined what was shaping up to be an excellent read.

What more can I say?

Iris and Gabriel have just got home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their dearest friends, Laure, is in their house - sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture. She has walked out on her husband - and their good friend - Pierre over his confession of an affair.

Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive. But as Laure's mood becomes more unpredictable, her presence begins to unravel secrets in all their pasts - until things reach breaking point ...

This is a great story, read beautifully by Emily Joyce. Her range of character representation is brilliant. This is a tale of relationships pushed to the limits, murder and mayhem. Well written and paced. A good all-around tale.

If there has ever been a book where you can get away with skipping the epilogue THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK!!!! While the body of the book is good, the epilogue is phenomenal!!

Middle aged couple Iris and Gabriel, return from a holiday to find their distraught French friend, Laure has sought solace in their home, her husband Pierre having dropped a bombshell that has shattered the foundations of their marriage,

The couple find Laure's extended stay a little hard to handle and this story focuses around a number of shocking events that occur in the aftermath of Laure's arrival. While I don't want to give spoilers I will just say it is really REALLY good!! The audiobook was created with skills and is so easy to listen to. I throughly enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to either highly recommend it, or give it 5*s!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

The author's masterful use of narration in this story is truly remarkable, as it brings the plot to life in a vivid and engaging way. The tense and dramatic storyline, with its numerous twists and turns, kept me on the edge of my seat from the first few chapters. As the story unfolded, I became increasingly invested in the lives of the book's intriguing cast of characters, eagerly anticipating the development of their friendships and relationships. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read/listen that left me eagerly awaiting more by this author.

If you want an absorbing and captivating psychological thriller, this book is for you!

In The Guest by B A Paris we meet couple Iris and Gabriel as they return home following a trip that was supposed to bring them closer together following difficulties in their relationship. They arrive home to find long term friend, Laure, staying in their house because she has left her husband after discovering his infidelity. We discover that Gabriel is experience difficulties following a trauma event and has become withdrawn. Things work well for a short time but relationships start to fray. We have a few supporting characters including Laure's husband who refuses to engage with his wife and a gardener who is very much adored by the female characters.

I found this book slow going with any significant events happen 'off screen' and then are revealed through an exceptionally long epilogue. Everything is neatly tied up by the end of the book and I have to say that the last 15% was pretty good. I found it difficult to get behind the main characters as they seemed to be only presented at a surface level.

The narrator did a good job and was pleasant to listen to, but again appeared flat - but I think that was probably because the story was pretty flat and she did well with the story she had to work with.

This felt like a bit of a nothing story, right up until the epilogue, which in fairness was pretty good. It was one of those stories where the reader isn't really present while the action happens live, but instead has it reported to them later through conversation and inner monologues. This is a great way to hide secrets and plot twists but unfortunately it doesn't make for a pacy and exciting story along the way. I enjoyed the book but it didn't really wow me.

The audiobook narrator did a good job, I enjoyed listening to her voice and thought she read it at just the right speed for my personal taste.

This book was enjoyable enough but it did not wow me unfortunately. I found it was just steady paced with not much exciting happening. Then the last 10% was just a huge confession and clear up and I found it all just a bit…..meh. Id rather have twists and turns throughout than just a big reveal ending. I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator did a good job.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc, I could not put it down!
Great thriller! It managed to create an unsettledness from the start and as you dig deeper into the story you begin uncovering reasons to all those feelings.
It keeps a lot of plates spinning at all times and it does so really well!
The characters are well developed and they all have a raison d’être, they all come to fruition in the end when you connect all the dots and I have to say, it surprised me!
No spoilers but once you know how they all connect it makes perfect sense but until then I wasn’t sure and I liked that, it kept me guessing!

The narrator was great, she had a lovely voice and did the characters justice

When I receive a B.A. Paris book it immediately jumps the pile as the writing draws me. I listened to this as an audio version, and for me it worked, I realised that it would be a slow burn to start with and then the twists and turns started to draw me in and it really worked, so much so I looked up and didn't realise where the time had gone as I had just kept listening.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is my own.

Ever since Behind Closed Doors, a classic of the genre, B.A. Paris has been a must-read author.

Iris and Gabriel are happily married and settled, until one of their dearest friends Laure turns up, needing space from the sudden turmoil of her marriage. Laure needs space, time and sympathy, with little regards for the lives she's disrupting. Gabriel is already facing his own personal struggles after recently comforting a dying injured young man at a local beauty spot.

Starting off as a classic domestic drama, tensions build as Laure's husband refuses to make contact. The tension gradually ramps up. The scene is well set, the characters are well written and nicely balanced. There are some very unexpected twists and turns, and big reveals. Undeniably tightly plotted, I was really quite into it.

There's a point in the second half where I felt it flattened out, before 'Whoosh!' - a very strong finish.

The audiobook narration is clear and precise, and suits the middle-class anxiety of the story well.

Not a must, but it's my favourite B.A. Paris book in a while.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio

I love author B.A. Paris and could not wait to start listening to The Guest. This really did not disappoint and I devoured it completely.

We meet Iris and Gabriel, married for years and have a lovely daughter, Beth. Beth is away working with animals and Iris and Gabriel are coming home from a break they have just been on. Gabriel has had a shock after discovering the body of a local boy Charlie and is taking a break from his work as a doctor. They return home to find the houseguest, in the shape of Laure.

Laure has left her husband Pierre after discovering he has a secret child but unsure of the birth mother. Beth really tries to help Laure through this difficult time but Laure starts to becoming annoying to Iris. Iris meets new neighbour Esme and we learn about her life also. Esme has a gardener Joseph who also starts to work with Gabriel doing up their garden. All their lives are entwined and told mainly from Iris' point of view.

This is really interesting and the characters are well-rounded and quite likeable. The twist at the end was, for me, unexpected and I thought it was great.

Thanks to BA Paris, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.