The Prisoner is my first B.A. Paris book and I’ll definitely check out more!

When Amelie is kidnapped, we discover that her story is more than meets the eye.

The story was excellent and it kept me interested throughout. I liked the main character and felt the background added color to how the story played out. The pacing stayed quick despite there being few characters and scene changes, and I liked the transfers between past and present and steady stream of clues.

I didn’t love the dialogue. It read a little clunky to me, and I also felt the big reveal could have come more naturally than in a monologue as most of it had been explained already. That said, I did find the ending fitting, though sad, despite the bumps in getting there.

Pub date 11/1

Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the perfect beach read! I devoured it in under 24 hours. It was engaging from the start, and was a page-turner the whole way through. I liked that unlike at the end of most thrillers, everything came together with this one - the reader got questions answered and there was closure, but still ended with a bit of hope/unknown. My only complaint is how the fates of Amelie's friends were handled - Carolyn's felt very rushed and brushed over, which didn't fit with the character building the author had done for her. Otherwise, great, easy read - will definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the this arc in exchange for my honest review. This review is wholly my own.

I have to admit, this is my first time reading B.A. Paris so I was super excited to get an arc of The Prisoner. This is both good and bad. I can't compare it to any of their other books to know how it compares so, in that aspect, it gets an unbiased review, but at the same time, I don't like it, it will likely turn me off from their other works.

So - what is the verdict? Meh - I give it 3 stars, which means, I would consider giving another of their books a go, but probably not moving any of them up to the top of my TBR.

This book was highly anticipated and I had hoped for so much more, but it was just ok.

The characters were annoying and just hard to like. The plotline "sounded" good, but it was just slow-paced and never really got going for what I expect from a Suspense/Thriller. It was pretty lackluster. I didn't really care if the MC came out ok in the end or not. Too many glaring plot holes and odd pacing.

It wasn't the worse thing I've ever read, but wasn't that great either. I will give the author another chance, but I wouldn't recommend this book.

Another winner from B. A. Paris! The story begins with Amelie being kidnapped and left in a totally dark room, and the panic quickly sets in. As the story is told through the present and the past, we learn how this final act finally came about and why she was taken. It was engrossing, especially in the beginning where I could well imagine my reactions in her place! The ending came about through two people talking, which I was not crazy about. I would have preferred to keep going as we had been, but it was still a good read.

Having read a couple of other novels by B.A Paris, I had an idea of what I was getting into. Still, this suspense/thriller kept me guessing, and partially because of it's use of flashbacks. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was going on in the present, a flashback chapter would have me questioning myself. I am growing a bit tired of the dual timeline style in general, but believe it was done well. There was also a bit of a Stockholm syndrome vibe that I did not like and felt like the story didn't need at all. Overall, I think this is one of the weaker novels I've read by the author but by no means does it mean I won't continue seeking them out for solid mystery choices!

If you’ve read any of B.A.Paris’ books, you know you can expect fast-paced, tension-filled action, from the very first to the very last page. Paris’ most recent novel, The Prisoner, certainly delivers that.

Without giving away too much, know that the story is told from the point of view of Amelie, a young woman who has overcome the deaths of her parents and living on the streets. Things improve for her when she meets Carolyn. But things take a turn and the new life she has built changes dramatically.

The title refers to multiple times in her life that she has been held prisoner, both literally and figuratively. As a reader, while I didn’t agree with a major decision that she made, I could understand why, given her background and her hopes for her future.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys exciting thrillers with a main character that you care about. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the digital advanced copy.

It pains me to say this but B.A. Paris’ newest book, The Prisoner was not my favorite of hers.

The Prisoner is a plot-driven suspense, unlike her classically famous psychological thrillers The Therapist and Behind Closed Doors.

The premise of this one is definitely interesting. The book opens with a kidnapping of the main character, Amelie. She is taken to and left in a dark, empty room and her kidnappers refuse to speak a word. The book then alternates between past and present, unfolding the events leading to Amelie’s kidnapping and her current situation.

I won’t give anything away in case you want to give this a shot, but I just didn’t feel connected to these characters. In B.A. Paris’ other books I feel deeply connected to the characters and feel their rollercoaster of emotions (fear, anger, despair, etc.) throughout. My heart is actively racing and my mind is questioning everyone. But with The Prisoner, I didn’t really feel connected to Amelie, her situation, or the people around her. It just felt like a not-so suspenseful, suspense movie that I found on Netflix. I was watching and interested but not connected to or overly impacted by the story. It’s probably one I would recommend to others but wouldn’t remember much of the plot if I was asked.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advanced readers digital copy in exchange for my honest review!! The Prisoner by B.A. Paris out November 1!!

The Prisoner is not B.A. Paris's best effort. She is a prolific writer who can skillfully juggle multiple plotlines and twists, but not that does not happen in The Prisoner. At first there is not enough going on (how many times are we gonna read about Amelie's captor serving her porridge?)- in the last third there's too much happening, and much of it does not make sense. It is one thing to "suspend reality," it's quite another to throw any semblance of logic out the window. The Prisoner has a great premise-Amelie takes drastic measures to secure her future- but the plan backfires spectacularly. It's the execution of the story that drags, and the ending feels forced. To read what Miss Paris is truly capable of, try The Breakdown (or any of her previous novels) instead.

Amelie wakes up in a dark room and doesn’t know where she is. Why was she kidnapped? Who kidnapped her? Why does she feel safer here in this dark room than with her husband Jed?

The dual timeline B.A. Paris uses to tell this story is everything. I was hooked from the start. The dual timeline allows for the details of Amelie’s life to be revealed slowly. Some may say it was too slow for them, but I enjoyed it. I think it contributed to my excitement and encouraged me to keep reading to find out more. The short chapters also made me feel like the book was a quick read. The ending wasn’t exactly what I was picturing, but sometimes that happens. I really enjoyed this story and the character of Amelie. 4/5 stars! I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Prisoner.” I feel like I would have been more emotionally invested in the story if Amelie’s backstory had been presented with more detail in the beginning instead of using the past/present plot line. There were so many characters and so much going on that by the time everything was revealed in the end, I was still trying to sort out who was who and debated if I really cared at that point. Ned was truly a piece of work and he deserved everything that happened, but even for a work of fiction, it seemed like too much. I do I enjoy B.A. Paris’s books and will continue to read her work in the future. This one was just not a favorite.

The story alternates between present day, where Amelie has been kidnapped, and the past. Amelie is on her own and has been for a long time. From a chance meeting, she finds a housekeeping job and makes a small group of friends from it. This is how she meets billionaire Jed Hawthrone and ends up marrying. But then one day she and Jed are kidnapped and Amelie must figure out why and how to survive. Overall, I liked this book. The alternating, short chapters kept the story moving and I was intrigued. My biggest con was the ending. I was so surprised to flip the page on my kindle to find out the story ended.

The Prisoner - B.A.Paris
Pub date: 11/01/2022
⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5 stars
Synopsis:
Then: When Amelia’s father dies, she is forced to try to make it on her own and heads to London. As she navigates her new life and makes new friends, she also starts a new career where she meets and eventually weds Ned Hawthorne.
Now: Amelia wakes up in a pitch black room not knowing where she is, why she has been taken, and who has kidnapped her. She also starts to realize that she feels safer trapped in this dark room than she felt with Ned.

My thoughts:
This book quickly picks up momentum as we follow the events from Amelia’s point of view that led up to the point of her capture and what happens to her during the time she is held.
I thought that the character development of Ned and Amelia was good but found it lacking on a few of the other main characters.
The book is broken into two parts and I didn’t think the last few chapters were as good as the rest of the book, though some questions were answered. I would have liked a little more closure at the end.
Overall, The Prisoner is fast-paced and kept me engaged. While not my favorite B.A. Paris book, definitely worth the read since it is quick and entertaining!! 😊

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

B.A. Paris has done it again. This was a wonderful read that touched on the suspense of what happened and why, it went back to the past which touched on some secrets and over all made me strongly dislike Ned. I can’t even put into words how great this was!

After 17 year old, newly orphaned Amelie moves to London she tries to make it on her own. Luckily, she meets some wonderful women who take her in and Amelie is finally making it on her own. She has a job, her own place and wonderful friends. After a Vegas trip she marries billionaire Ned Hawthorne and is thrust into a glamorous life. That is until she wakes up in a blacked out room with only a mattress on the floor. Who has taken her and what do they want? Is she safer in this room than with her husband?

This was one of my most favorite books by B.A. Paris and although I have enjoyed all their books this ranks right up there with Behind Closed Doors. This book immediately grabbed my attention from the first page and kept me hooked. I loved the original plot and the double meaning behind the title. This was suspenseful and it kept me guessing on motives and suspects until the end. Amelie is such a strong and forceful character for her age and is definitely a survivor she had me rooting for her and caring about her next moves. Read this book for a wild ride!

What a twisted web this book weaves! The beginning was so great for me and as things began to piece together the title felt so fitting! Though the ending began to fall short for me and I was so disappointed by the ending tbh.

This is my second B.A. Paris novel, and I wasn't disappointed. I really like how she tells her stories.
The Prisoner is about Amelie, who moves to London after her father dies and gets caught up in a complicated scheme. I liked Amelie as a character very much. She was smart and tough, but in a believable way. The twists in the story surprised me, and I was happy with the ending. I will definitely continue reading more by B.A. Paris in the future.

Paris is by far one of my favorite authors and this one did not disappoint! The was a tense, claustrophobic read, and with short chapters, I kept the pages turning. While I really liked the main character, I wanted more from the supporting characters, especially the ‘villain’. I did really enjoy the alternating timeline and how they finally met up with each other. I loved that there were multiple climaxes in the story too. I did feel that the ending was a bit lackluster and would have like to find out the entire ‘how/why’ in a different way.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5 Stars
Wow, The beginning of this book gave me such feelings of anxiety, like I was trapped in a pitch black room. It was a visceral feeling reading someone trying to find their bearings when they suddenly can’t use one of their senses.

Switching between past and present timelines we follow Amelie’s story. Amelie is such a strong character. You can tell she’s a survivor from the start. I had so many questions going in about what was happening and how she got here. Why does it seems like her husband doesn’t care about her? B.A. Paris really had me guessing right up until the end. Most of the twists I didn’t see coming. I really enjoyed this book. The start was slow at some points and I just wanted to get to how she ended up in this situation. About 20 or 30 present in is when I really got into it and couldn’t put it down.

Amelie wakes up alone in a dark room. The window is boarded up and the door is locked. She has been kidnapped but who took her and what do they want? The story is told from Amelie's point of view in alternating timelines.. We learn that Amelie has no family, having moved to London after her father died. Her financial situation and the people she meets all have something to do with her present situation. In the present we learn Amelie's new, super rich husband was also kidnapped although he is held somewhere else.

Amelie is very naive. You have to suspend belief to understand how she gets herself in the situation. Maybe it's because she's so young. She's also frustrating because she doesn't try hard enough to escape from any of her situations. She barely tries at all actually which means most of the time in that dark room is repetitive while not much is happening. It's hard to root for someone who doesn't stand up for themselves.
There was no character development for anyone and the only likeable people are Lina, Justine, and Carolyn who are mostly in the background. Everyone's actions are either unbelievable or over the top.

There is a lot of stuff that doesn't make sense when everything is revealed. The motives are murky and overly complicated. Follow up actions are also unbelievable. The complete reveal is dragged out and doesn't come across the way I think it is intended. There isn't enough lead up to make any impact.
The chapters are short which helps move things along but overall The Prisoner feels like a missed opportunity.

The Prisoner took me a very long time to get into and unfortunately is probably my least favorite B.A. Paris books. I had high hopes going into this one because the plot sounded intriguing and I have loved all of the author's other books but I can only give this one 3 stars and recommend Paris' other books much more than this one. That being said if you are a fan of this other please do give this book a chance!