✨Book Review - The Prisoner by B.A. Paris✨

Amelie is all by herself in London. Having lost her parents, she has had to navigate life and build a new one for herself. She soon meets handsome billionaire, Ned Hawthorne, and their relationship moves fast. Marrying Ned might be her biggest mistake, and getting kidnapped just proves it. Who are the kidnappers and why does she feel safer with them than with Ned?

I was so intrigued with this story. What was even happening? Why did her and her husband get kidnapped? The beginning was strong but the ending left me hanging. It didn’t wrap up nicely for me. I don’t always need a clean ending, but I just needed more from this one. The story itself bounces between timelines, showing us Amelie’s life before Ned and the present, being locked in a room by kidnappers. I enjoyed seeing how everything lead up to the kidnapping. Overall, a good read, just needed a better ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love B.A. Paris, so I couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for me this time in The Prisoner, and boy talk about a wild ride!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I always appreciate how addictive and full of suspense Paris’s books are, and I know from the moment I start one I won’t want to put it down. I liked how the suspense was blended with the psychological game and then how it grew with each and every chapter. There were times that I was definitely on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded.

I also enjoyed the twists and turns as the story unfolded and with the outcome of the story in general. I also liked the fact that each one of the characters that are introduced plays a role in the story.

How was the pace?

This story held a steady and at times fast pace. A few things felt repetitive but not enough to detract from the story.

Do you recommend this book?

If you’ve read any books by Paris, you know she has both hands tightly on the wheel while taking you down some slippery slopes that will have you holding your breath. So, if you are looking for a fast-paced, captivating and twisted thriller look no further and try this awesome read. Fans of Paris will really enjoy her latest!

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another book by a long time favourite author.
Told in dual timeline, from the moment Amelie becomes orphaned and making her way up in life until she marries a handsome rich husband, to now when she and her husband are held captive by unknown people.
It’s an interesting story, it captivated my attention from the beginning and I wanted to know why they were kidnapped although I have guessed it right from the beginning who and why. It’s pretty easy too given the characters history and status.
The tension builds up throughout the book and the ending was fair in my opinion.
Not my favourite one so far but still an interesting and enjoyable book that many readers will engage with.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

I did enjoy this book, but I think there could have been more character development. This book did move fairly quickly which I do like!

I’ll be completely honest, I feel like this book could have been a smidge shorter? And I am not the hugest fan of the way the main character is portrayed at certain points.

That being said, the idea of this story is good, and I can’t think of anything I’ve read exactly like it, at least not in a while. I am a long time lover of B.A. Paris and I will continue to stan her always, this one just wasn’t my absolute favorite.

I still suggest giving it a try, because it was good despite my personal qualms!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I’ve read several of Paris’ books and this was one of my favorites. I was reeled in from the first page and had a hard time putting it down, finishing it in under three days. This was one I’ll recommend to my friends!

Not my favorite book by this author. The plot was interesting but the overall execution just wasn't there. This felt like every other thriller book with no real depth. I will say this was a quick read but unforgettable in the sea of others just like it. An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris was a nail biting thriller that kept you guessing the whole book.
Amelie is stuck in a room and she doesn’t know why. As she tries to work on why she is here she remembers the past and what has shaped her. Amelie has to remember how strong she is in order to survive. Along the way she learns things that could have changed the outcome of her life.
This book was a fast paced book that kept you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend to anyone that loves thriller books.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

B.A. Paris is one of my auto read authors. I'm obsessed with her fast paced, twisty plots. The majority of The Prisoner was on the slower side of her usual writing style but it was well worth the twists. Written in past and present tense, we follow Amelie who's strong and willing to survive life after losing her father at a young age. She gets swept up in a fancy life with fancy friends and eventually gets a fancy husband. Then one night Amelie and her husband are taken from their home and she ends up in a pitch black room for what seems like forever. Again, the plot takes it's time setting up for the big twist(s) but I never lost interest in what was going to happen to Amelie. There wasn't any character development since Amelie started off pretty strong. Not my favorite B.A. Paris book but I definitely enjoyed it.

I have read all of B.A Paris’s books to date and when I saw this on NetGalley, I had to request it. I am so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. This releases tomorrow, 11/01/22

I almost DNF’d this book which was about to be a complete shock considering I’ve loved her others. I did go back and restart it after having put it down for a few weeks. I’m overall glad I went back to read it although it isn’t my favorite of her books. The plot is unique and the twists are surprising and shocking. The real question being, was Amelie better off being imprisoned by her kidnappers than she was being imprisoned in her marriage? I felt so sorry for Amelie, the MC so many times. She really had a rough past and just when it seems she’s overcome it and moved on, she’s duped by Ned. Ned. Ugh. I do not like Ned. At all. And why is he such an absolute loser anyway. I really just wanted to reach into the book and get revenge on him myself. I did feel like there were some definite slower parts in this book where time dragged on with her being imprisoned and the whole thing just seemed to repetitive. The ending was quite abrupt after many chapters of explanations and instructions too, which left me a little frustrated.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of The Prisoner by BA Paris. I have love hate relationship with this author and this novel will make it continue. It wasn't my favorite but it wasn't my least favorite. It was very middle of the road for me.

I have enjoyed reading B.A. Paris' books and was looking forward to delving into another one of her domestic thrillers. There were two timelines in this story: Amelie's being orphaned when she was a teenager and her move to London and marriage to a billionaire. Exciting, right? Next the present day where Amelie and her husband have been kidnapped are are being held prisoner in separate rooms.

The story is fast paced and tension builds as Amelie tries to find a way to survive the kidnapping. The circumstances of the space she is being kept in and the was she is treated by the kidnappers is strange. The book kept my attention throughout and I was anxious to see if Amelie could get away.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on November 1, 2022.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and B.A. Paris for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one and almost read the entire thing in one sitting! I've read all of B.A. Paris's other books and while Behind Closed Doors is still my #1, this one is a close second! I was hooked immediately and I couldn't "turn" the pages fast enough, especially when I was reading the kidnapped chapters. I loved Amelie's character and felt like I could connect with her easily, but I didn't feel as connected to her friends or really understand her connection to Hunter and why she felt so drawn to him when they'd barely spoken...I did love all the twists and turns this book threw out, and even though I suspected a few things, I was still surprised by a few of the twists which I LOVED! 4 star read for me!

B.A. Paris' latest riveting psychological thriller—THE PRISONER, will keep readers in suspense while frantically turning the pages to solve this engaging mystery.

We meet Amelie, who has lost her parents and is now homeless. She wants to be an attorney and go to law school.

She moves to London to get a waitressing job, and through a chance encounter, she meets a woman, Carolyn Blakely, in a coffee shop, and soon she moves in with her.

There she meets her other friends, Justine and Lina, who work at Exclusives Magazine with her—owned by billionaire Jed Hawthorne.

Soon she meets the handsome, charming Ned Hawthorpe, the son. He proposes a deal. They only get married for the short term in name only, and he will supply her with enough money to go to law school.

However, things do not work out as planned.

They married in Vegas, and then she becomes somewhat of a prisoner in Wentworth's mansion, which is impressive, huge, and hidden behind ornate black gates. This man is not what he seems. There is something dark, dangerous, and manipulative about him.

Then there is a murder.

From the past to the present, Amelie has been kidnapped, and her husband but they are in separate rooms. Why? Does the captor want money, or will they be murdered?

Who are her mysterious captors? Jed Hawthorpe would not pay a dime to get her back. What is the purpose, and is there a ransom?

Amelie keeps track of the days, and she knows something is off. She waits each day for the man to come while she is blindfolded. She must find a way to escape.

MIND-BENDING!

I am a big fan of the author and have read all her books. Each one is unique and different. THE PRISONER is atmospheric, and there is a strong sense of foreboding, sinister, and darkness lurking, but you do not know what is happening. Slowly the layered plot is unraveled.

I enjoyed Amelie's character and her tenaciousness and creativity to survive. If you enjoy chilling closed-room mysteries, give THE PRISONER a whirl. You can never go wrong with a BA Paris novel.

Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an e-ARC to read, review, and enjoy. #SMPInfluencers

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Pub Date: Nov 1, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books

3.5 rounded to 4.
This book had an interesting kidnapping storyline that I liked but overall I have mixed feelings about this book. I have loved previous work from this author but this book felt different. The second half dragged on and just wasn't up to par. I wish it lived up to the first half.

There’s nothing I love more than short chapters and alternating time lines in a thriller. It kept me engaged the whole time and I’m constantly reading on because I want to know what happens in both time lines. Paris didn’t hold back on the twists and turns, it had plenty of unexpected surprise. The ending itself was somehow both satisfying and disturbing, but it also holds some realism, which only added to the overall plot. The story is very enjoyable, a quick, mindless read that kept me entertained.

I would recommend to fans of fiction, mystery, and psychological thrillers with a unique hook.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! I will have to admit that this book started out a bit slow for me, but once it started going, I was hooked. You marry your rich boss, but it only has to be for a month, and at the end of the month you get to walk away with enough money to go to law school!! I mean what young woman, all alone in the world, wouldn't consider that for a moment. But if only she knew the danger she put herself in. Great book! Great read!!

I was surprised when I was the Goodreads rating for this book was so low. I actually thought this was a really good thriller! I read it so quickly (It was short and had short chapters which was nice) but I thought the writing was so engaging that I couldn't wait to find out what happened. As I was reading and thinking that there isn't any possible way the story could continue when I was only at 60%, I was wrong. I do think some of the criticism about how the characters weren't fully developed were valid but I was reading the book just for the mystery of it all. There was one part when it came to Amelie and her past that I thought was a little too convenient but that whole story line of the prisoner and what happened was so interesting to me.

This is the story of Amelie, who when her dad dies, is left an orphan at 17. She decides to move to London and try to start a new life when she meets Carolyn, who takes her on as a housekeeper. She meets Carolyn's friends, including two girls who work for the billionaire Jed Hawthrone.

Maybe because I don't read thrillers too often, so it was a nice change of pace from my usual romances but I enjoyed this book. I do see how some of the criticisms make sense but I was just looking at it as a good escape thriller without thinking too seriously about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

A slow-to-build dark mystery thriller.. it’s unique and sooo freaking marbles. It kept me on the edge of my seat much of the time.. I just had to know where B. A. Paris would take this story! You definitely should go into this blind.

The story begins in the present time where our main character Amelie and her new husband have been kidnapped.

Who is holding them hostage and why???

Amelie finds the answer to that question later, but first we need to go back to her past. We learn she’s an orphaned adult, had moved to London, befriending three women who take her under their wing and help her acquire a job at Exclusives. She marries her boss in a business deal of sorts. This is when her life takes a bad turn. She’s taken advantage of and manipulated.. then later, wakes up in a pitch black room feeling safer than she did with her husband. Hmm.

Although her naivety put her in the mess she’s currently in, Amelie has strong survivor instincts (from past trauma), and by using smart thinking she goes all in to fight for her escape. At only 288 pages it’s a quick thriller with a dual timeline on solely Amelie’s perspective—then and now. Her billionaire “husband”.. is a real piece of work, very unlikeable!!!.. with an agenda behind marrying Amelie. I feel the book ended a little abruptly, but am satisfied knowing there’s a high possibility Amelie would get her happily ever after. Wondering though with that ending.. is her story to be continued? 3.5 stars rated up — Pub. 11/1/22

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The beginning of this book really wanted me to read more with the kidnapping happening in the first chapter! You are in Amelie POV throughout the book going from past to present of her life, and how she ended up in this dark room being held captive in the first part. The second part of the book was changed up a bit with it being just the present and the aftermath of everything, which fell flat for me!

The chapters were really short, which makes this a very fast read. The second half of the book wasn’t as exciting as the first, but still kept my interest on finding out what was going on. I do wish the second part was as suspenseful as the first! The twist were not too shocking, but still an enjoyable fast-paced thriller.