It takes me a lot to really be shocked my thrillers since I read so many, but this one has me on the edge of my seat. While I could somewhat see who was dangerous as I was reading, B. A. Paris had me second guessing myself constantly. By the end I was essentially convinced everyone except Alice was guilty. The writing was fast paced and I felt so connected to the story and the characters. I clearly felt Alice’s fear, anger, and confusion throughout the book. The Therapist was phenomenal.

The book starts off pretty slow and it picks up its pace a little bit but not by much. I felt like Alice, the main character, was relatable and you can really understand why she is so obsessed with piecing together what happened in her newly purchased home two years before.

The book is narrated primarily by Olivia Dowd and I was at first thrown off by her English accent. I was thrown off because I didn't realize the book was set in the United Kingdom. I quite enjoyed her narration and found it easy to listen to. Thomas Judd does a narration of one chapter and I found it quite jarring because there was really no warning that the narrator was changing. I'm not quite sure that the change in narrator or perspective for the chapter that he read was truly necessary. I think it still could have been done in the perspective of Alice and her neighbors.

Rating: 3 out of 5. I'm giving it 3 out of 5 because I thought it was a good book but it wasn't a "don't put it down" book for me.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.

OMG is about all I can say. Lots of twists and turns, don't overthink it just enjoy the ride! I had many thoughts on who done it and why and while I had parts of things right I was also totally wrong. A very interesting thriller where all the characters are relatable or at least ones you love to hate!

When I read the Behind Closed Doors, it was another feeling. You knew the bad guy and you are trying to figure out how she can make it out. With this one, things were much more obvious and it wasn’t like oh now you know you the bad guy is you can go ahead figure out the rest of the story. You were expected to hold onto that feeling of “hmmm… who could have done it?” while you are thinking “ I know the person; can she figure it out too?!”

Who would you trust? Your new neighbors or some random guy who says he is the private investigator? Your neighbors might know something and hide it from you, but do you think it’s always the worst. Maybe they are hiding something for your own good. And do you think every private investigator is a good guy?

The decisions made during the story were bit of a giveaway but connections are bit harder to make. It think that was what saved the whole book for me. I knew who each person was right father their introduction but I couldn’t figure out how they were connected. Also I was surprised how main lady was able pull all these bits of information and put together the whole story. I enjoyed Behind Closed Doors but this one didn’t do it for me.

I have read all of B.A. Paris books and purchased them for my local library. This book is your standard Paris book. The writing is enough to keep you hanging on and feeling like you are invested in the story. The storyline is basically the same as the previous books. I do enjoy the books and they do have a good following at the library.

This is my second novel from B.A. Paris and I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to listen to it on Audio. This was a fun read. Alice was a great character and easy to picture. I felt that her tendencies where a bit like my own at times.

I didn’t guess the conclusion and for me that makes the read a great one. It was easy to read and kept my interested.

The narrators were perfect for this book!

I have read many of B.A. Paris’ other books so was excited to see she had written another. Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me.

I was listening to the audiobook version and the narration was too slow and felt too drawn out. While I like the idea of the book, the audio version was not it for me.

Giving 2 stars because while I didn’t enjoy the audio version, I do hope to eventually circle back and read the print version of The Therapist.

B.A. Paris delivers yet another fantastic thriller. THE THERAPIST surpassed all my expectations. Her plot is intricate and well delivered. The cast is amazing and well-appointed for this thriller. The narration was perfect. Ms. Paris left clues here and there throughout the book and brought this book to a phenomenal ending. I could not stop listening to it. If you love thrillers, this is a must-read or must-listen-to this summer. Well done, Ms. Paris!! What a treat!

I couldn't get into this one. My favorites by this author are The Break Down and Bring Me Back and I was hoping for something that would hook me like those did. Anyone who hasn't read B.A. Paris should start with those.

When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they’ve dreamed of. But appearances can be deceptive. As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before. Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbors are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…

It starts rather slow, and honestly aside from a lingering background mystery about who killed Nina, the book feels more like a domestic drama than a thriller for the first half of the book. In the second half, it picks up more, leading up to a twist that fits well but isn't fully unexpected if you're a thriller fan, leading up to an over-the-top conclusion. While most of the book is told from Alice's POV, there are also short chapters labeled "The Past" told from the therapist's POV, also in 1st person (which was a bit confusing for me). These chapters felt slow and dull, with no tension at all until you go back and reread them after finishing the book, and then you realize they were a device meant to trick the reader. I'm not sure it works, because they felt so disconnected from the rest of the book I nearly stopped reading, but something about the story made me keep going. Without spoilers, the book has a bit of a The Silent Patient feel to it, though you won't realize it until you read the final chapters.

Alice is far from the best protagonist. While I don't mind the fact that she asks a lot of questions and stays at the house longer than she should (Paris gives reasonable explanations for her obsession), she misses some obvious clues and it takes her far too long to figure out some questions, making her a less sympathetic character. Still, if you like domestic mysteries, this is a decent read.

Audiobook Review: The Therapist by B.A. Paris
Olivia Dowd (Narrator), Thomas Judd (Narrator)
A Macmillan Audio Production from St. Martin's Press, July 13, 2021

★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)

Audiobook narration:

In Author B. A. Paris' latest psychological thriller, voices are key to elucidate the finer points of the author's plot, that final twist which will make a reader ask, "...wait a minute, what...!?". It is conveyed with a subtlety which won't be apparent in print.

This novel is better as an audiobook, and probably the only way to fully appreciate the finale.

// Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? (asked the therapist).

"Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will elude, but if you
turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."

- Quote from Henry David Thoreau cited in "The Therapist", by B. A. Paris //

In a case of Obsessive Love Disorder (OLD), a middleclass couple, Alice and Leo, who've just recently met, move into their newly renovated dream home in an exclusive central London gated-enclave with less than a dozen single-family residences.

They've secured the property for far below market and are quite pleased with the purchase.

But then they find out that two years prior, a murder had occurred in their new home - the reason why it went unsold for so long and came cheap...

Review based on an audiobook galley from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley.

The Therapist by B. A. Paris
4.5 Stars

Alice and her partner, Leo, move into the lovely gated community known as The Circle. Shortly after moving in, Alice learns that the former resident, a therapist named Nina, was murdered in the home. Domestic upset, challenging relationships with neighbors, and amateur sleuthing ensues.
I really enjoyed this book. It very much kept me guessing until the end; I was convinced everyone in The Circle was guilty of killing Nina at one time or another throughout the novel. The characters, both central and ancillary, were very well developed compared to many other books I’ve read recently in this genre. I received an audio galley from #netgalley and #macmillian.audio, and the narration was excellent. The narrator, Olivia Dowd, expressed the confusion and fear that Alice experienced wonderfully. If you are looking for a gripping, keep-you-guessing-til the-last-page summer thriller, make The Therapist your next read!
Thank you #netgalley, #stmartinspress, and #macmillian.audio for a copy of the digital and audio ARCs in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Before we begin, I will have to let you know that Behind Closed Doors is still one of my favorites thrillers ever but unfortunately, I have been very disappointed in several other books by this author. I went into this book now really knowing what to expect so I set my expectation lower. I will say I was quite impressed with the story. I felt like it was very entertaining and it kept my attention the entire time. I wouldn't say this is completely original because I have read other stories very similar but regardless this was much better than I thought.
Unfortunately, it was only a three-star book for me. I felt, again not original and it wasn't all that surprising who "it" was. I'm very happy to have read this and will continue to pick up more from this author.

A fantastic slow burning edge of your seat thriller you will not want to put down. This author reels you in and won’t let go. The plot and character development is perfect. The narration superb. A psychological mystery thriller worth reading for sure!

The Therapist is an addictive story about obsession and paranoia and the narrator of this audiobook did a wonderful job telling this story, she kept me captivated throughout.

B. A. Paris is one of my favorite authors. I really tend to enjoy the British psychological thrillers more than the American ones. (This is true for the most part for me, but there are some very good American ones.)

This book did not disappoint and I was guessing right up to the very end. This is a suspenseful and satisfying page turning read. If you were somehow unhappy with her last book, The Dilemma, this one will redeem your favor to read Paris.

This has the recipe for everything I like in a domestic thriller.
A main character with a past, a partner you may not be able to trust, a creepy home atmosphere, and cliquey neighbors.

However, while I didn't dislike our protagonist, her choices were exasperating. Overly trusting, and needy to be liked and loved. A difficult combo to read and root for.

Didn't hate it, didn't love it. If you like the genre, it's an easy, quick read.
The narrator Olivia Dowd was lovely!

I love a great English mystery and this one fit the bill. The story follows Alice and her boyfriend Leo, as they move into a new house together in a gated community. While getting to know her neighbors, Alice finds out that her house has many secrets so she starts to investigate. Who to trust? I definitely recommend this book! Thanks to #netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

This is a good beach read, especially for those of us who can’t get to the beach. A fast read, if the reader isn’t bothered by a protagonist who is not terribly bright. There are many ‘pale’ red herrings within these pages. It’s a bit like watching a horror film and wanting to shout :“Don’t go in the basement!” Fun escapism which is sure to please B.A. Paris fans.

A Claustrophobic Tale of Suspense & Secrets

Alice and Leo move into a new home in London that feels perfect as part of a gated community of twelve homes situated in a circle that encloses a small park.

But we all know what happens when something seems perfect.

In this case, Alice discovers a woman was murdered in the house and the woman’s husband, suspected of the murder, committed suicide. Did Leo know about this before he bought the house? And why are the women of the circle acting so squirrely? Alice also discovers the murdered woman’s name is Nina, something that adds to her distress as it is the name of her sister who died in an accident. The suspense builds when one of her neighbors becomes so nasty that Alice is almost shunned and wants to leave. Everyone has secrets and won’t talk about the murder. She’s also warned by an elderly couple to “trust no one.” When a PI shows up on her doorstep, saying he’s investigating the murder, she’s relieved to find someone who will talk about the murder with her. But didn’t the husband kill his wife? The PI says no. The community however is divided. That means the killer is still free. Alice soon suspects everyone of the murder including Leo.

I loved the narrator Olivia Dowd. This was a great example of how a narrator can make a slow-starting story fascinating. This novel is a slow burn that keeps you in the head of Alice and shows how terrifying it is for her as Leo is often away for business. I loved the secrecy of the neighbors and how they have so much trouble dealing with the murder being talked about again. The circle was a perfect setting that causes a claustrophobic feel and gives Alice a caged feeling.

Sometimes Alice seems dimwitted and repeatedly says “something was off,” but that’s because she's not assertive and is surrounding by people who aren't forthcoming. The suspense is slow to build but I think that's because the setup takes a while and the story is told by Alice who is confused and terrified as she tries to identify the killer.

And the ending! I thought I knew who the killer was, but how he got away with it was terrific and terrifying. B.A. Paris writes so well that my few issues with the story should not keep people from reading or listening to THE THERAPIST. I highly recommend the audio book.

Thank you to #NetGalley #BAParis and #McMillanAudio for offering this free audiobook for an honest review.