Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

I started reading this book about 8:15 PM last night. If you’re going to read this book DO NOT DO THAT! This book is addictive and you’ll end up reading it into the wee hours of the night and relying on coffee to eat you through your book hangover the next day.
What I liked about the book is that it isn’t over the top in terms of the suspense. If you pay close enough attention you can have the plot figured out mid-book because it’s quite clear what’s happened but the way B. A. Paris writes makes you second guess yourself. Also, a lot of thriller authors have the tendency to throw in too many “red herrings” but in this book there aren’t that many and she explains them away rather quickly which means you don’t waste time trying to figure out if an event means something or not. This was my first B. A. Paris novel but it won’t be the last!

Finn and Layla were returning home from vacation when suddenly Layla disappeared. The police ruled it as a kidnapping, and Layla's body was never found. Years later and Finn is engaged to marry Layla's sister, Ellen. However, their relationship is put to the test when Finn and Ellen starts finding Russian dolls - something only Layla and Ellen knows about from their childhood. Is Layla alive?

The story is told from past and present tense with two POVs. Overall, I was disappointed with this book. I really enjoy B.A. Paris's books, especially [book:Behind Closed Doors|29437949]. This dulled in comparison, because it felt like the story dragged on. It was a bit of a cliche and nothing really caught me out of surprise. However, I do recommend reading this if you just want something to entertain and enjoy.

Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris is a compelling, well-crafted novel of suspense. It begins with the transcript of a police interview of Finn McQuaid. He and his girlfriend, Layla, were returning from a vacation in France, and when they pulled off the highway into a rest area, Layla disappeared off the face of the earth. The story quickly fast-forwards 12 years. Layla has never shown up despite an exhaustive search, and Finn is now living his fiancée, Ellen. Ellen, who just happens to be Layla’s sister!! Ms. Paris quickly kicks off the novel’s central mystery. Ellen has found a single Russian nesting doll outside their house, and it appears to be an exact replica of one that she lost as a child and that she always believed Layla had taken from her. Over the course of the next few days, additional, identical dolls keep showing up in and around the house, leaving Finn and Ellen wondering if somehow Layla could be involved. Is she alive? Is she back? But why all the dolls?

I thought the “who” of the mystery was pretty obvious very early on, but that in no way detracted from the story because I really wanted to know “how” and “why.” As a result, I couldn’t put this book down. Like her prior novel, Behind Closed Doors, Bring Me Back is a quick read, and Ms. Paris is a master of ratcheting up the tension to a powerful conclusion. I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Started out really well but kind of slogged towards the ending, which was a bit convoluted. Nevertheless still an interesting read.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time! I couldn't put it down and read it straight through in one day!
I wasn't sure who was the good guy and who was the bad guy right up until the very end.
If you are a fan of suspense this is a must read. This is my first time reading this author but I'm looking forward to reading all her other books!
I received an ARC of this book thanks to netgalley. #BringMeBack #NetGalley

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young British couple are in France on a vacation. When they stop for gas, Finn goes in to pay and Layla stays in the car. When he returns, her car door is ajar and she is not inside. Layla vanishes without a trace.

Ten years later, Finn has put the past behind him and is engaged to Ellen. When he comes home from work to find his fiancée sitting on the sofa with an object in her hand, he quickly realizes something is amiss. This object would mean nothing to most people, but Finn and Ellen know what it is—it is a Russian doll that belonged to Ellen when she was a child. Only three people know about the Russian dolls: Ellen, Layla, and Finn.

As more questions surface, fractures form in their relationship. Has Layla returned? And why after all this time?

Paris' debut Behind Closed Doors was great and I loved The Breakdown. Unfortunately, after reading this, I was left both wanting and expecting more. Make no mistake, it was definitely a page-turner, and did ultimately hold my interest but there was nothing new and just simply felt old hat.

The alternating perspectives between past and present worked well. I was hooked from the beginning which I found was the best part of the book. The middle slowed and I was left struggling to connect with Finn and wasn't vested in his relationships. At first the Russian dolls were interesting, and then I just found the whole thing incredibly repetitive. And then the ending... Well, if you can suspend your disbelief, than you will love this book.

I'm hopeful that this is a one-off since her other books were so good. This one was simply not as clever or developed.

One heck of an emotionally riveting read! An engrossing storyline that grabs hold of you keeping you hostage burning through the pages never letting you go till the last page! The storyline will keep you on the Edge of your seat as the twisted rollercoaster of jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching drama unfolds shocking you getting in to your heart mind and soul keeping you spellbound , shaking with adrenaline fueled emotions your not sure why your reacting with so much intensity of shock as the twists get even more twisted leaving you speechless, head shaking finding the will to go on! An ending you never see coming, leaving you crushed yet loving every grueling word you just read and trying to wrap your head around the best possible ending that this very well executed story just left you with! I LOVED IT! An absolute must read!

***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of BRING ME BACK by BA Paris in exchange for my honest review.***

Finn’s fiancé Layla disappears from a gas station and he’s a suspect in her presumed murder. Twelve years later he’s married to her sister Ellen. Clues to Layla’s disappearance resurface. Suspense ensues.

BA Paris’s writing engaged me from the beginning to the end of the story, mostly to see if my early suspicions were correct (and they were). I’ve always loved Russian nesting dolls, which served as clues in the story.

Because I couldn’t find any of the characters particularly likable or sympathetic, I didn’t connect or root for anyone, which adds to me enjoyment of the story and my reading experience. My entire connection to the story was discovering if my theory was correct. Paris interested me enough to keep turning pages until the end.

BRING ME BACK is an ideal beach read for those who prefer mysteries to romance under the sun.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.
B.A Paris returns with “Bring Me Back”, another five-star read to follow her other stellar novels, “The Breakdown” and “Behind Closed Doors”.
Finn and Layla are vacationing in France when they stop at a rest stop for gas. He goes into pay and when he returns- Layla has completely disappeared. After twelve years with no word and no trace of Layla, Finn has finally moved on and is engaged to Ellen, Layla’s sister. Soon after the engagement is announced, Finn begins to receive signs that Layla is alive. As he continues to keep this discovery a secret from Ellen, their relationship is strained and the questions continue- is Layla really still out there?
This novel is told in alternating standpoints, of Layla and Finn. This, combined with the page-turning addictive nature of the storyline and gripping suspense, initially drew comparisons to “Gone Girl” (however, in this case, I mean it in the best possibly way.) The characters of Finn and Layla are both flawed and plagued with secrecy, making it impossible for a reader to choose sides, however still being drawn into their life of lies and deceit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this heart-stopping, pulse-pounding novel. Each chapter ended in a cliff-hanger, which made this novel downright impossible to put down.
There were times in the novel when I thought I had it all figured out, and I assumed the ending would be predictable, however Paris surpassed my expectations by making the ending completely unexpected. I was thoroughly satisfied with the outcome of this novel, and was completely taken in by the creativity of the plot and compelling storytelling.
There has not been a novel by B.A Paris that I have not been completely enamored by and by the looks of things- that’s not likely to stop anytime soon. Paris gets better and better with each novel and I eagerly anticipate her next release.

I could not wait to dive head first into the third B. A. Paris psychological suspense involving complicated (read: twisted) relationship dynamics. This novel did not disappoint. While I had my inklings on the big plot twist, it did not compromise the integrity of the story. The character development allowed me to embrace the idiosyncrasies of each individual understand their influence on other characters as well. The pacing of the story line was fast in the beginning, slow in the middle, and lighting quick at the end. Overall, B. A. Paris has proven to be mainstay in this genre and for good reason!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

B. A. Paris writes wonderful psychological thrillers, and this one was just as good. She is able to leave the reader with a sense of doubt, which I love because it keeps me wondering what is going to happen next. 

Paris writes characters that are so detailed and complex. Her writing and the amount of detail she is able to add is what makes her stories so great. Finn was a character I so badly wanted to hate but also wanted to root for him at the same time. I also loved the contrast between Layla and Ellen. Even though these characters are siblings, the contrast helps add depth to the plot.

This novel will make you suspect every character. The way they all seem like possible suspects only ups the desire to read this book in one sitting.

Highly recommended for fans of B.A. Paris's other books. Another book you will want to pick up and devour immediately.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with advance copy of the book.
I wish I loved it, I even wish I liked it just a little bit but I didn't. I was ready for the book to be over after reading the first couple of chapters.
The characters were underdeveloped, dull and boring. Finn's inner thoughts drove me crazy, I got so tired of it I just wanted to throw my reader against the wall. His constant lying was annoying.
The Russian dolls were overly done and the repetitiveness was unnecessary. (cesarean, after cesarean, after cesarean and release the little babies...no, this was just so poorly executed).
The book has no depth to it, very simple and elementary.
The ending was such a let down, I was very disappointed.
I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors but Bring Me Back is nothing like it. Bring me back has no suspense, no thrilling aspect to it.
I hope the next one is better.

It was good until it wasn't. Like Behind Closed Doors, the conclusion of the story fell completely flat for me. Most of the story was incredibly intriguing, suspenseful writing. I really was kept guessing until the end, but the end just didn't carry the story through, in my opinion.

It's been a while since I've read a psychological thriller. The book's synopsis caught my eye and once I started reading I could not put this book down. I mean, I'm a teacher and I almost skipped a class because I needed to find out what happened.

The characters all seem to have redeeming qualities, you really want to like them but you never really know if you can trust any of them. Some of the plot was a bit predictable but there were oodles of unexpected plot twists and a few pretty scary scenarios that had my heart racing.

If you're looking for a heart-beating roller coaster ride of a story, you won't put this book down until you're finished.

How well do you know the love of your life??

That's the biggest question with the newest novel from B.A. Paris. You may say that you know everything about them, but this one will leave you with more questions than answers.

The common factor with B.A. Paris books is... nothing is EVER as it seems. This is dual POV and each narrator has their own secrets and neither is to be trusted. You'll probably work out some of the details on your own, but there's always a twist that you won't see coming. The twist in 'Bring Me Back' is pretty much crazy town. Once it's revealed and you think back to what you just read, you'll be shocked and slightly disturbed. The Layla chapters seemed to be almost too much, but after the ending is revealed... you'll realize just how much those were needed. They add to just how bananas this story really is.

If you like a story that is out of the ordinary and don't mind theatrics, then this one is for you.

....just, wow.

I really loved the cover and the description pulled me in. From the start this story takes off fast. You are thrown into the life of Finn and Layla and then continue on this wild roller coaster ride. I loved the character's throughout the book they were relatable and easy to follow. And Finn's relationships throughout the story were understandable. There were so many times where I was hurt for him but also for Layla and Ellen.

I had way too many different theories. Every time I thought that I knew what was happening I was thrown for another loop. I would liken this story to Gone Girl. You really have no idea what is going on and in the end I was so shocked. I did not want to put it down.

"Bring Me Back" was an interesting ride. I picked it up because I absolutely loved "Behind Closed Doors." I would place this one below "Behind Closed Doors" but above "The Breakdown" in terms of predictability and addictiveness/page-turning. Here, we follow primarily Finn, a man who had lost his girlfriend, Layla, about 12 years ago at a rest stop while on vacation in France. He began to date Layla's sister Ellen and has recently become engaged to her.

The book is told in three parts. The first part follows Finn before and now, recapping the events leading up to Layla's disappearance and describing his current life, as things begin to change. The second part continues to follow Finn in the present but also takes another character's point-of-view (which I won't say to avoid any potential spoilers). The final part moves quickly as we wrap up and figure out what has really been going on.

Overall, I found it really engaging and I had trouble putting it down. Paris is a great writer, and the book flows beautifully. In terms of the twists and turns, I was absolutely captivated by the first part of the book, wanting to learn more about the events leading to Layla's disappearance and what Finn's current life is like. He was an interesting character who I was driven not to like in the first part, but then started to feel for (although still not particularly like) in the second part. Despite not liking him as a person, I absolutely wanted to know what would happen between him and the sister in the present and what had happened between him and the missing woman in the past.

In the second part, I almost wish we didn't get the perspective of the "new" character- it read like a comic supervillain and almost gave away too much information. I ended up figuring out what was going on about 2/3rds of the way through (but at least it wasn't as fast as with "The Breakdown"), and I love to be surprised, so I wish it hadn't been quite so clear. If I focused on Finn's sections, it was more of a slow build and not so obvious, so I wish the other perspective hadn't been included. Despite that, it was still a pretty solid book overall and would be good for Paris's fans!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another absolutely brilliant read by B.A. Paris. I loved her previous two books and this one lived up to the previous ones. The suspense was subtle and it grew as the book went on. The characters were very likable and you want to know what will happen to them because you care about them. There were several moments where I felt that I had everything figured out and then I rounded a corner and everything changed. This is the way great suspense should be written by everyone. I highly, highly recommend all of Ms. Paris' books, they don't disappoint.

My Review:

What I Liked:


Writing Style. As always I enjoyed Paris's writing style. She is always able to create interesting characters, intense plots, and keep you turning the page to find out the ending.


Format. The novel switches between two point of views and by doing so helps build up the suspense even more so. It is hard for the reader to know what is happening or who is telling the truth.


Suspense. B.A Paris always does a great job building the suspense up within her novels. I did not like the plot twist but I still found the novel riveting and filled with suspense.


Plot. I was not a huge fan of the plot but I did find it to be unique. It stands out within the mystery genre and tries out something new.


What I Disliked:


The Plot Twist. I liked the suspense and the build up to the big reveal but did not care for the plot twist itself. I semi guessed what it was and felt that the twist was very unrealistic. I was taken out of the novel because it was so unbelievable.


Characters. The book mainly follows one character, Finn, and that was the problem because I could not connect with him. I never felt anything for the character nor did a find any other characters that I liked. It could have had more points of view from the side characters and less from Finn in my opinion.


I still recommend checking out this thriller if you enjoy Paris's writing style/mysteries.


My Rating: 3 Stars