Happy Pub Day to The Prisoner by B.A. Paris! Let me start by saying I always enjoy this authors work. I also think it started out strong but then the pacing fell off a little bit and the end was a little too rushed for my liking. I did enjoy the main character and the friend group so I think that was for sure one of the big redeeming qualities. I think if you're a fan of Paris's other work you may enjoy this it just unfortunately was not my favorite. I will read any future books from her though!

Not everything necessarily connected here, but it kept me reading.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Prisoner:

Sadly, this just wasn’t it for me. I did do the audio thanks to Macmillan Audio, and I truly believe I didn’t DNF this because of Georgia Macguire’s reading.

I’m very confused on the motivations/back story of some of the characters. Plus they just seemed a bit.. bland? Maybe I need to step back from thrillers as someone who just picks up a few a year may be interested in the characters.

Overall, a miss, but I still adore BA Paris.

So a hit and a miss for pub day!

I feel as if I read a different book than everyone else who gave it five stars and thought it was twisty and suspenseful because I just didn't at all. I've read all of B.A. Paris' books and LOVED Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown, but it seems to me that the three books she's written since then have just gone downhill (totally my opinion). There was really nothing in this one that I enjoyed--there were pacing issues, the characters were just awful, huge plot holes, and there was no suspense. I pretty much-skimmed parts and wish I'd DNFd because the ending was terrible.

Of course, this is just one review and my opinion alone and there are many, many 5 star reviews of this book, so please read them and take mine with a grain of salt. I think that I may no longer be a fit for Paris' books and will give her next one a try and see how that one goes.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. . All opinions are my own.

-review posted to Goodreads, Twitter, and Amazon on 11/2/22

B.A. Paris has done it again! Her words grabbed me from the very first line, and held me captive until the very last page. I am continually amazed at the suspense and drama she can create.

Amelie wakes up and finds herself in a completely dark room with only a mattress. She can't see a thing and doesn't understand why she is in that situation. I would be totally freaked out. She stays calm, cool, and collected and plans her escape. But hold up, it's not going to be that easy!

I felt the intensity and fear right along with her and couldn't wait for her to escape her prison. But she quickly realizes that she might be safer in her dark, little room than out in the big, cold world. So intense!!

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, I highly recommend The Prisoner. It will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end. And if you are a fan of the author, this story will not disappoint. It is amazing!

The Prisoner starts with an abduction. A rich couple being taken in the night. Even early on, it seems pretty clear that these may not be the prisoners of the title. We jump back in time. After a very short review of her history, you have to wonder how Amelie ends up married to Ned. It is immediately clear that he is truly an awful human being. How does this woman listen to her friends talk about him and still trust him? It can't be just because she is 19, can it? (19 and freely drinking in Las Vegas) It is so hard to feel sorry for characters who make every single bad decision possible.

Then it goes ridiculous. Ridiculouser? I will coin that word. And, weirdly, I actually enjoyed how ridiculous the end was. Amelie is not so formidable as she thinks so it is pretty entertaining to observe. Either the first or second half on their own would have been a disaster. Putting them together redeemed the bad characters just a tiny bit.

This was my first from B.A Paris and won't be my last. The Prisoner was extremely fast- paced to where I was able to read it in just two short sittings. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing and at the edge of my seat, which is always what I look for in a mystery/thriller. Paris' writing style was very captivating and easy to read. I will be recommending to my reading buddies!

B.A. Paris has long been a favorite of mine! This one starts off with a bang and wends its way through a labyrinth of terror with a before/after POV. There is lots going on here and a good read overall.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

This was my first B.A. Paris, so my only expectation was "expect the unexpected," based on what other readers and librarians have said about their work. The book started off at a breakneck pace, with a very engaging voice and action. I enjoyed the dual timelines, as that added to the suspense and the drama. However, I am sorry to say, I figured out a great deal of the "twist" long before the end of the book, and the ending seemed very abrupt and felt pretty flat to me. Overall, it started out promising and just kind of fizzled to a conclusion. I really was expecting something more dynamic, so while I would recommend this as a decent read, particularly for existing fans, I doubt this book is likely to inspire new devotees.

The Prisoner is the latest novel from thriller author extraordinaire B.A. Paris. The plot revolves Amelie, a young woman who is being held hostage. The author cleverly tells Amelie's story backwards until the reader understands how Amelie was kidnapped with her husband. Amelia is orphaned at sixteen and heads to London to live on her own. She is struggling until she makes a wonderful friend who throws her a lifeline. Unfortunately Amelie sells her soul to the devil and her world unravels. Paris's precise writing and unique plot make this novel difficult to put down. Although sometimes the story is confusing, this thriller should not be missed.

Amelie has been on her own since her parents died and she is trying to save money to put herself through college. She finds herself married to billionaire Ned Hawthorne by way of a business agreement when they are kidnapped.

This one started off fast with a kidnapping scene where Amelie is thrown in a pitch black room and you can feel that panic. It alternates between the current locked room and the past so we follow how she finds herself as a prisoner. But then the book kind of drags a bit and then gets very unbelievable. The ending was just a big info dump that was far fetched unfortunately.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for an eARC for review.

“The Prisoner” was a solid thriller where the protagonist, as the title suggests, is held prisoner under unknown circumstances. I enjoyed the dual timelines and was intrigued by how it related to her present precarious situations. However, the story got rather convoluted and seemingly most of the drama dissipated by the last fifth of the book. I liked this fine enough, but it’s not one of my faves like Paris’ first book, “Behind Closed Doors”. 3 stars ⭐️ for this one. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

This almost Dickensian thriller starts with a young woman who’s just been kidnapped by persons unknown and is being kept in the dark, both figuratively and literally.

After losing her parents at a young age, Amelie Lamont lived on the streets until she was more or less rescued by Carolyn Blakely, the woman who would become her benefactress and good friend. Now twenty-one years old, she nurses ambitions of becoming a lawyer and finding justice for people like herself and her father, who died waiting in vain for legal vindication. With Carolyn helping her get back on her feet, she believes that all she needs to realize her goal is to get a job and save up enough money for university.

So it’s almost a dream come true when she’s hired by billionaire Ned Hawthorpe for an entry-level position at his glossy magazine. Her other closest friends work for him too, ensuring that she feels even more comfortable in the position than she ordinarily might. When Ned asks her to travel with him as his assistant on a glamorous trip to Las Vegas, Amelie is both dazzled and flattered. She’s never even been on a plane before, and is eager to prove her professional worth to her boss of several months.

It comes as a surprise to her, then, when Ned confides in her that he needs an extra little favor. He wants to get his parents off his back about marrying a woman of their choice, and thinks that a Vegas wedding to Amelie would be perfect for getting them to ease off for at least a little while. In exchange, he promises her a quick divorce and a hundred thousand pounds, enough to cover her higher education. Though initially hesitant, she agrees both to this and to his cover story involving a secret relationship and spur-of-the-moment decisions. Of course, the truth must stay between her and Ned, causing her no little anxiety:

QUOTE
If it hadn’t been for Carolyn, I wouldn’t have had any misgivings at all. She would be hurt that I’d kept a supposed relationship with Ned from her. It bothered me that I couldn’t tell her the truth. But if I did, she’d be angry that I’d married him for money. Except that I hadn’t, not really, because I’d given him something in return, a way out of what to him was an impossible situation.
END QUOTE

Things start to go wrong almost from the moment they head back to England from Vegas. Ned takes her straight to his gated estate, warning her against contacting anyone. Her phone and computer are either missing or broken, and the only other person on the grounds is the bodyguard who can no longer meet her eye. The press are clamoring outside, leaving Amelie feeling both trapped and isolated.

But that’s not the worst of it. As Amelie slowly begins to discover the real reason for Ned’s offer, she finds herself caught in a waking nightmare. Her friends attempt to rescue her but are rebuffed. Soon, she becomes convinced that Ned is out to kill her. Her terror increases. The kidnapping, brutal as it is, almost feels like a respite from her new husband’s malicious intent, as the couple are held separately but closely enough to be able to hear each other’s shouted protests at their treatment:

QUOTE
I imagine him holding a copy of today’s newspaper as he stares at a camera, his eyes wide with fear. Ned isn’t the bravest of men.

A door slams below.

“Hey, wait!” I hear Ned shout. But there is only silence.

A wave of sadness flows through me. If we were another couple, I might have put my mouth against the hole [in the floor] and called quietly to him, let him know I was nearby, tell him we could find a way to escape together. But we are not that couple, and when I escape, it will be to get away from him, not just our abductors.
END QUOTE

For Amelie is determined to get out of this alive and alone. Her strength of will has seen her through years of taking care of her dying dad before living rough on the streets. How far will she go to protect herself this time, and what truths will she uncover in the process?

The Prisoner is a page-turning tale of a young woman used as a pawn in a greater game, who isn’t willing to just stand back and let things be, but is determined to stick to her principles and find the truth, no matter the cost. Amelie displays both the grit and the foolhardiness of youth as she seeks to regain control of a life damaged by the callousness of others. There are twists aplenty, with villains and benefactors who wouldn’t be out of place in a classic Charles Dickens novel. The ending, though abrupt, feels fitting for a young woman on the verge of embracing adulthood with all its uncertainties, and beginning the rest of her hard-won life.

I’ve heard great things about this author, but the first book I read by them, The Therapist, disappointed me a lot. I decided the hype I was hearing had to be for a good reason and I decided I would give them another try. I’m glad I did because I did enjoy this one quite a bit. I thought the book started very fast paced with the kidnapping. I normally really enjoy dual timelines, but there was something about how the past timeline was written that I didn’t ever get into the past as much as I got into the present. I didn’t really care much about any of the characters, but I thought the story was quite interesting and the mystery of the thriller was well done. After this one I will definitely read more books by B.A. Paris.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press. The book was good but not exceptional to me. Kind of typical. I read way too many thrillers...Haha. B.A Paris should not be blamed for that. This was good and would be a good read to people that do not read way too many thrillers.

Happy Pub Day to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 by B.A. Paris!

𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘺, 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦!

Secrets, lies, twists and turns, a story that will keep you at the edge of your seat, you’ll suspect of everyone and when you think you have it figured it out, you find out you are wrong. Only this author can write this kind of psychological thrillers. Fantastic.

Thank you St. Martin's Press l and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

If you enjoyed 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴, I think you’ll also love this one! With short chapters and only 304 pages, you can easily read it in 1 or 2 sittings. And honestly, you’re going to want to.

Amelie has always been a fighter. She’s had to be. Orphaned at a young age, she fought to build a life of her own in London. At the absolute brink of homelessness, she meets Carolyn who desperately needs Amelie as much as Amelie needs her. After meeting Carolyn’s small group of friends, Amelie is offered a job at 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, the magazine privately owned by billionaire Ned Hawthorpe. She’s whisked into a lavish life she never dreamed possible.
And then she’s kidnapped. Locked in a dark room with nothing but a mattress. Who did this to her and why? As time passes, she begins to feel more safe in this pitch-black seclusion than in the mansion she lived in with Ned.
Is this the way her life ends? Will she ever get out? Does she even want to?

Smartly written, the twists kept me intrigued and the prose kept me invested. I was totally surprised by the shocking conclusion and left in awe yet again by B.A. Paris and her ability to keep churning out cunning thrillers!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, B.A. Paris, and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.

An orphan in London, Amelie finds herself swept into a group of wonderful friends after taking a live in job with a woman who bought her a muffin at a coffee shop. When that group eventually leads to her meeting, working for, and marrying billionaire Jed Hawthorne, Amelie quickly learns that things weren’t as they seemed. Her nightmare of a marriage turns into a kidnapping scheme. Will they make it out alive?

This book kept me on the edge of seat, eager to know what was going to happen next. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a thriller this fall!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Reading Between the Wines book review #91/135 for 2022:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱: The Prisoner
Author: B.A. Paris
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASES TODAY, November 1, 2022!!!

Sipping thoughts: The premise of this book was one that I really loved. Amelie is kidnapped and locked in a blacked-out room. She is not sure why she is there, but she also feels that even been locked up as a prisoner may be safer than what is waiting for her. The way in which this story is told kept me on the edge of my seat. It goes back in forth between the past and present day. I figured out one of the earlier twists but was so suspicious of everything else that I kept trying to guess other twists and was so wrong! As I was reading, I felt like this was going to be a 5 star read for me. Unfortunately, the ending fell flat and I just wanted more but it let me down a little bit. The book is full of all this intense build and suspense only to end in a little womp womp. All in all though this is a must read book for this year.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @ThePrisoner.

#ThePrisoner #BAParis #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers

Who doesn’t love a good B. A. Paris book. Told in past and present format. The story’s starts strong with Amelia being held hostage. You can taste her fear. Recently wed , now kidnapped. Who is her capture and why. This was an enjoyable read but fell short at the end. 3.5 stars rounded up. Happy Pub day! Thank you #netgalley for the ARC.