***Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for a free advanced copy for an honest review.***



This is my first B.A. Paris book so maybe that is why I do not get all the 2 star reviews. I really liked the story and the twists it made me doubt just like Finn, the way he does not know who to trust. The ending was good and the way how things unfolded was pretty good.

Twelve years ago, a stop on a highway changes the life of Finn and Layla. While he is going to the toilet, she disappears. They had been in love, he had asked her to marry him during their holidays in France, now he is desperate to find her. That’s what he tells the police, but it is only part of the story. After some time of mourning, Finn gets closer to Layla’s sister Ellen, strange at first, but it feels right, even though he could never love her in the same way he loved Layla. Shortly after Finn asks Ellen to marry him, strange things start to happen. Ellen believes to have seen Layla, Finn is receiving e-mails seemingly coming from her and they find Russian dolls – something only Ellen and Layla know the significance of. It is impossible that somebody else is playing tricks on them. It must be Layla. But what does she want and is Ellen or Finn actually in danger?

Since I enjoyed “Behind Closed Doors” from B.A. Paris a lot, I was eager to read her latest thriller and again, she did not disappoint me. “Bring me back” is a classic thriller, right from the start you know that you cannot fully trust the characters, they have lied to others before and so they might not tell you the truth either. It keeps you alert, and since you don’t know where the discernible danger is actually coming from, the suspense is slowly rising.

What I liked especially was the construction of the novel. On the one hand, you have the story in the present told by Finn. On the other hand, you have something like secret diary entries which shed a slightly different light on the story told. After some time, Finn is replaced by Layla which gives you another perspective and adds to the suspense. The author deliberately leads to clues which turn out wrong, provides different explanations which cannot stand the tests they are put at, so you wonder throughout the novel what all this is about. It is not easy to find a good solution out of the plot, but for me, it absolutely worked and all was explained in a convincing way.

Wow, the twist in this story is so improbable, I could not buy it and I even felt a bit hoodwinked. Some readers might find it satisfying so I might recommend it to avid suspense fans.

After reading “Behind Closed Doors”, I had much anticipation for this novel. “Bring Me Back” kept me on the edge of my seat, and I wanted to keep reading more, but I was not as invested in the story/characters. I did enjoy the two different points of view as it was told from both Layla’s and Finn’s perspectives. I will continue to read Paris’ novels in the future.

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review. This is the first book by B.A. Paris that I have read. I was excited to get to read this book, because I heard wonderful things about her other works.

Finn and Layla are soulmates. While on vacation, they make a pitstop at a deserted service station. When Finn comes back from the toilet, Layla is gone. At least that is what Finn tells the police. Twelve years pass, and Layla is still missing. During that time, Finn has gotten to know Layla’s sister, Ellen, really well. They are now engaged. Little do they know that with that announcement is an even bigger one waiting to happen. Suddenly, little Russian dolls begin to appear. Only a few know the importance of their appearance. The ultimate problem Finn now faces is who does he truly love, Ellen or Layla? At what lengths is he willing to make for the woman he loves? Just like those little Russian dolls, you have to keep digging deeper to get to the heart of the story.

It was a little slow for about the first quarter before it picked up for me. As soon as I got into the story, I ate through the book in a rush. I was desperate to untangle Layla, Finn, and Ellen’s story. Usually, most psychological thrillers have a big twist that I do not see coming. I hate to say this, but I saw where the story was leading. Nonetheless, I did enjoy reading it.

I loved B.A. Paris’ first book “Behind Closed Doors”. I thought “The Breakdown” was really good. So I was really eager to jump into this book. Twelve years ago Finn and Layla were in love. But returning from their vacation one night, Finn stops at what Americans know as a rest stop -- the story is set in England -- to use the restroom. When he returns Layla is gone. For twelve years there has been no sign of Layla so he moves on and is now engaged to Layla’s sister Ellen. What happened to Layla? Is she dead? If she is alive where has she been for twelve years? Did Finn have anything to do with her disappearance? Remember that the past always seems to come back to haunt you at the absolute worst time. Low and behold, once Finn and Ellen’s engagement is announced there is suddenly a sign that Layla may still be alive.

Once I started reading I quickly became lukewarm to it. Where was this going? After the initial “grab you” moment, it seemed to lag. But then probably two-thirds of the way through it grabbed me. I could not put it down. It was suspenseful. The short chapters kept me reading “just one more chapter”, just one more, just one more… I didn’t know who to love and who to hate. So many lies, so many secrets kept from those supposedly loved. Their emotions reached out from the printed page, one moment tugging at my heart, the next like hands wrapped around my throat choking me. I was along for the ride.

But then the ending – it just did not work for me. I love thrillers - especially those with a good twist. But that twist has to be plausible. It has to pull me along with it. Instead I dug in my heels, shook it off, and detached. I felt like throwing the book across the room.

Even with that emotional reaction I give it 4 stars. Why? Because it did elicit a strong emotional reaction. I cared about some of the characters. I wanted things to work out for them. I feel I have to rate the book on its entirety, not just on its ending. The writing was really good – character development strong. The author is unquestionably talented. I just hope for more believability with her next book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review.

Note: Will post review on Amazon when it releases. Also posted on Edelweiss, Books-a-Million, Twitter, Instagram, Litsy, and LinkedIn.

Wow! I totally didn’t figure this one out. This was one of those books you read straight through not wanting to put it down. I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review."

Twelve years ago Layla disappeared into the dark while on holiday in France with her boyfriend, Finn. He was investigated but ultimately released to face life without her. Flash forward to today, when he has found himself engaged to her sister, Ellen. Amid the comments and whispers of their small British town, the couple tries daily to leave Layla’s disappearance behind them. That is until small trinkets begin showing up that make them doubt everything.

As a big fan of Paris’ previous psychological examinations, it’s exciting to have another entry in her list. The premise is interesting and I liked the claustrophobic feeling brought on by the small setting. While there is an underlying desire to know who is tormenting the happy couple, the pacing wasn’t as even as her previous offerings. Finn and Ellen also weren’t as richly drawn as I would have wanted given this genre,

Overall, fans of her previous works should pick it up, but know that it doesn’t top the tension of her debut. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG, this was so good. What a delight has been to read B.A. Paris books and Bring Me Back was not the exception. Love how with every book she has gotten better as a writer without compromising her writing style. It is very addictive and incredible. I will definitely read whatever she writes because no matter if it is about the characters or the plot, I know it will be good.

Fast-paced, plot twists, engaging, disturbing and suspenseful, this book has everything you hope for in a great thriller. All the possible outcomes to the story I thought of did not happen. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and how the story developed. A must read thriller.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bring Me Back is the story of Layla and Finn...and also of Ellen and Finn. A short time into their intense relationship, Finn and Layla go on vacation together and on their way back Layla disappears without a trace. Finn has trouble getting the police not to suspect him or murdering Layla, but once he convinces them, he spends years wondering about what happened to Layla, often envisioning the worst and blaming himself.

But then, almost a decade later, he meets Ellen, Layla's older sister, at a memorial service to mark the anniversary of Layla's disappearance. Ellen is extremely different from Layla, and their relationship progresses at a slower pace, but they are soon engaged. As they overcome the gossip of people who think their engagement is improper, Finn and Ellen began finding items that remind them of Layla. It seems Layla may be back, and neither of them knows how to feel about it. Neither of them can figure out why Layla won't come out in the open so they can all deal with this, and the story takes a sinister turn when Layla's symbols and messages start to turn against Ellen. It's possible the town gossips aren't the only ones who don't approve of this wedding. But what does Layla really want from Finn and Ellen? Where has she been all this time? And what will answering those questions cost them all?

This was a fast-paced story, rich in details that had me hooked from the first few chapters. At 304 pages, this is a quick read that I got through in less than two days. While I thought I had the major plot twist figured out about halfway through the story (and I did), I was still dying to get through the rest of the story to find out how all of the threads came together. This is some of the best psychological suspense that I have read in a while. I had never heard of B.A. Paris before this, but I will definitely be going back to read her earlier novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown. There's just enough violence, with a little gaslighting mixed in to make you question Finn's sanity and Layla's, with multiple perspectives extremely well-represented.

B. A. Paris has once more validated why she's become an auto-buy author for me. Once I pick up one of her books, I can't put it aside until the last page is turned. Bring Me Back was no exception.

Finn and Layla are driving back from Paris and stop at a rest stop. When Finn gets back to the car, Layla has vanished without a trace. 12 years later, Finn is happily engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen, when he receives cryptic emails from someone claiming Layla is still alive. Yikes!

Although there were several times the story dragged a bit, I. Had. To. Know!! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find the answers! Several theories went through my head and the one I kept going back to was not quite right. Great twist at the end!!

I wasn't really enamored with any of the characters, especially Finn. He was a paranoid, controlling, stalkerish liar and I felt that he deserved all that happened to him.

All in all though, I really did enjoy this book and will pick up every future book Paris wants to write.

*Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy!*

Of all the suspense books I have read of late, Bring Me Back has made it into the top 3. This is the first book I have read by B.A Paris and I am utterly smitten with her work. Brilliantly thought out and well written, my mind bounced from one theory to the next on what was truly happening. I was right on a couple occasions and then something would happen that made me (and Finn) question what we knew.

Absolutely mind blowing and will keep you on the edge of your seat, relentlessly flipping the page to see what happens next. You don’t want to miss out on this book.

If you’ve read either of B. A. Paris’ previous books you know one thing – that you really won’t know anything for sure until the final page. You also learn the characters are flawed. You want to like them. Sometimes you do like them. But you never are fully on board with them, and you don’t really trust any of them. Even the sweetest, most innocent character can scare you and you flip-flop: good, bad; what you see is never what you get. And you’re in for almost more plot twists and turns and surprises than you can keep up with. Bring Me Back is no exception.

First there is Finn, then Layla, then not Layla, and then Ellen – and then maybe Layla is back in the picture. It all made me nervous. I even feared for Peggy the dog. The Russian nesting dolls seem to be clues. They are creepy and make you doubt Finn, or doubt Ellen, or doubt Ellen’s sanity, and wonder just what Layla was like and what happened to her. Is she alive? Is there someone out there who knows? Finn reveals more and more that he kept secret as the story moves along, but you still really have no idea what’s true and what isn’t, and who should be afraid and who you should be afraid of.

Bring Me Back is a very fast paced, complicated, compelling story. With that and all the twists and turns the ending was a little confusing and I had to suspend disbelief a bit. But that was okay and didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story; maybe I was just reading as fast as I could because I couldn’t put it down, couldn’t slow down.

Bring Me Back was an enjoyable read and I recommend it. However, I feel I must point out that it is not as good as The Breakdown, which was not as good as Behind Closed Doors, and perhaps it’s time for B. A. Paris to turn her talent with words and action to something new and different. The market is so flooded now with books with dramatic, unbelievable surprise ending reveals that we are starting to expect them and rather than being completely surprised as we were in Behind Closed Doors we find ourselves trying to figure out what the surprise reveal will be rather than being blissfully unaware that there will be one at all. That takes a little of the edge off and some of the enjoyment in the plot away.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Oh. My. God. This book had me hooked. I absolutely love thrillers but their endings usually let me down and that’s what I expected from this one too but I was so wrong.

The writing was impeccable, the characters well described and the story was gripping - basically it was unputdownable! The ending although a tad shaky was pretty interesting and I definitely would love to read more from the author.

This book hit the ground running. Having recently read this author’s previous novels, I enjoy the writing style. This book totally held my interest, as it was a compelling storyline, as well as a page-turner. The characters were likable. I recommend this book for a fast, enjoyable (beach read too) read, and I will look forward to reading more from Paris.

I love a really good psychological thriller. I love when I get to the end and I have to go back and re-read because I cannot believe I didn't see the answer the whole time. This book did that for me. I had no idea where it was going or how it was going to end up. The story begins when Finn and Layla are on vacation. Finn goes to the bathroom and when he comes back, Layla has disappeared and is never seen again. This is part of the story- not the whole truth. Fast forward 10 years. Finn is engaged to Ellen, Layla's sister. This is when the Russian dolls start showing up. Who is sending them and why?
The story moves along a twisted path that will lead you to a very unexpected ending. I'm not sure that all my questions were answered to my satisfaction. I feel that there were some parts that could have been written differently so that it made a little more sense at the big reveal. All in all, it is a great book that is fast moving and such a fun read.

This was another clever, fast-paced psychological suspense novel from B.A. Paris. Kept me interested from the first page with some great twists and turns along the way that I was NOT expecting! Read it in one night!
I don’t think I will look at Russian nesting dolls the same ever again…
Can’t wait for her next book!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advance copy of the book!

While this isn't one of my favorite psychological thrillers, I admit it kept me up reading late into the night and kept me entertained.

It might have been that I went in with lower expectations, it might have been because of different reasons, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. The first thing that stands out for me is the writing style, which shows a certain quality you only see in the better psychological thrillers and was just as good as my previous experience with her work in The Breakdown. B.A. Paris knows how to create suspense and how to start a story with a bang. There is no doubt that the first couple of chapters will have you completely hooked! And while the pace was a little slower than I would have liked, I found Bring Me Back a very entertaining read. BUT. And here come a few elements I wasn't too sure about and I know others struggled with as well. First of all, I was able to guess quite a few plot twists long before they happened and the plot was quite predictable in general. Or at least the mayority of the story... The final part was actually the complete opposite, but sadly not in a completely positive way. Let's just say, without giving away spoilers, that the ending is so absurd and over the top that there was no way I could think of it as a believable plot twist. It was surprising for sure and I don't think anyone would have guessed it... But I personally would have preferred a more predictable but at least credible ending instead. The change of past and present and different POVs did add a little something extra to the story, and I liked learning more about how the main characters first met and finding out what happened (even though it was easy to guess quite a lot of that information early on). As for the characters: I can't say I particularly liked them, and this made it a bit more difficult to connect to the story. But the main issue for me was both the predictability of the majority of the plot and the highly implausible and over the top ending. Going in with lower expectations probably saved Bring Me Back for me though, and I was able to enjoy it better than I thought I would.

I absolutely loved "Behind Closed Doors" and requested B.A. Paris's newest book as soon as I saw it was available. This thriller follows a man named Finn. At the beginning of the book, Finn is recounting how is girlfriend, Layla, disappeared after a fight that they had. No one can find her, and that is still the case when the book resumes about a decade later. In present day, Finn is dating a woman named Ellen, and she is actually Layla's sister. They are both pretty spooked when signs of Layla start appearing in their lives. Finn especially because he's getting some pretty creepy emails, as well. All of this leaves them both wondering if Layla is still alive or perhaps maybe someone is holding her hostage. This book was a pretty big reading bummer for me considering my initial excitement. I'd give it somewhere between two and three stars, depending on my mood. Because here is the thing with this author - even when this book was unbelievable, and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes, Paris STILL managed to give me goosebumps. And I am certain that I will still read her next book even if this one was a disappointment.