This novel started off suspenseful,, mysterious and 'edge of seat' reading. Unfortunately the second part of the book dragged and was a little disappointing.

With all that said, I do recommend it for it's sometimes outlandish and surprising ending. Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book is a sinister somewhat Cinderella-esque story. Amelie is quite down on her luck until she meets new friends who take her under their wing. Things are going great! Then Amelie gets taken. Things are not so great after that. Told in the present and through flashbacks. You do have to suspend some belief because some parts really are like a fairytale that wouldn’t happen in real life. Overall, I read it in almost one sitting. Really good book.

3.5 stars as some parts were much better than other parts, just as most of the books by this author were much better than this one, but it is well worth reading.

Amelie has had a rougher life than many. Orphaned at 17, but determined not to be raised in a home, she makes a life for herself when a kindly person takes her in, gives her a job and a chance to get ahead.

She marries her handsome boss under an agreed pretense, but then feels trapped. Spoiler alert-When she is kidnapped, she assumes hubby is causing this only to fin this is not so.

The story is told in chapters alternating between her past and the present where she is held captive in a totally dark room. It all comes together in the end to make complete sense. Amelie is one t feel sorry for, but definitely not evil hubby.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The book was just hohum for me. It is a story that I just expected more from the author. The characters were very predictable as was the plot. I expected a bit if mystery. Just didn't do it for me

You be the judge. I give it 3 stars.

✨Book Review✨
The Prisoner by B.A Paris
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

First, thank you again to @netgalley for my ARC copy of this read for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. This book starts off so good. It’s suspenseful, exciting and I’m hooked. Definitely turning pages... but then I’m left conflicted 🥴

My favorite points:

The short chapters makes this read a breeze. The sad back story of who Ameile is, all she goes through so young orphaned with no money. Her breakthrough of finally finding a semblance of family down to the description of where Amelie is being kept, and her weird relationship with her narcissistic husband.

But then you get to part 2, the second half of the book and you get the reason behind as to why Amelie and her husband were kidnapped. And its just a bit repetitive and dragged on. That the end thrill falls flat for me.

I really enjoy B.A. Paris as an author. My favorite from her is Behind Closed Doors. This one just isn’t a favorite.

Doesn’t mean it won’t be for you, so be on the lookout for this read coming out November 2022!

My thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to review this advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this book. Grips you right away with the kidnapping of Amelie Hawthorpe, a French orphan ,and he husband Ned. You don't get the WHY. Book then goes into 2 timelines of the present with the kids, and how Amelie got together with her husband leading up to the kidnapping. The story comes together and another thing that hooked me also was how Amelie states she feels safer at times with the kidnapping than with her own husband, which will reveal another surprise.

Highly recommend this book. The only reason for not giving 5 stars is the ending.

Of the four B.A. Paris books I have read now, I enjoyed this one the most. I felt instantly connected to and drawn to Amelie, and I loved learning more about her background and her friendships.

This book is set up in an alternating format between Amelie being kidnapped and held by her captors. and Amelie's life prior to these events. The way it is written works to build the suspense and keep you engaged the entire time -- and I felt so much stress and emotion for and with Amelie.

I didn't guess the ending or the twists, and always appreciate that in a thriller. Would definitely recommend this one to keep you on your toes!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I was absolutely over the moon to have been approved through netgalley and St. Martin's press for this ARC!! I absolutely love B.A Paris and this did not disappoint!!! The Prisoner was a fast paced going from few weeks prior to current. Trying to figure the details of Amelia's story and how she got in the situation she found herself in. I loved this story!!

Amelie is a survivor, orphaned and living on the streets at 17 she is rescued by a woman named Carolyn who gives her a job and a home. They eventually become friends. Carolyn’s friends and very warm and welcoming toward Amelie as well, and they become her family.

They Amelies life takes another turn as she meets Ned Hawthorne and they become romantically involved. He is a wealthy socialite, and they become kidnapped. The first part of the book takes place during the kidnapping, while the second (shorter) part takes place after.

The first part of the book is excellent, suspenseful and was a real page turner. The second part seems unnecessary to me. I feel if the book ended shortly after the first part it would be much better. The second part throws the brakes on the suspense and excitement of the first part of the book, and frankly just drags on with a weird and totally unbelievable conclusion.

I’m deducting one star for the second part of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for providing me with a eARC of this book to read and review.

I am a big fan of “unputdownable psychological thrillers,” and a huge fan of B.A. Paris’s Behind Closed Doors (2016), Bring Me Back (2018), The Dilemma (2020), and last year’s The Therapist, I was happy to receive a copy of Bring Me Back from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in return for my honest review.
One of the things I love about this author is knowing she is the mother of five girls and she waited til they were grown to start her writing career in earnest. She has made up for lost time, with a string of entertaining books that seem to feature unlikeable millenials in weird, often dangerous situations.
This time, the unlikeable millennial is a woman named Amelie a young woman who lost her parents when she was a child in Paris and went on to make it on her own in London. She was living a glamorous lifestyle and then married a handsome billionaire named Ned Hawthorne. So far, so good, right?
One day, Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, having no clue about where she is. She seems to have been abducted, but she has no idea by whom, where she is, or why she feels safer as a prisoner than with Ned (?). It’s all very creepy and mysterious and there are shifting points of view and plotlines that aren’t immediately clear but all seem to come together in the end. Four stars.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A marriage of convenience that was supposed to be simple. Then a kidnapping changes everything. Yet the end literally had me thrown for a loop. Absolutely love BA and the way that they write and always have you guessing until the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Amelie’s life finally seems to be going right. After losing both of her parents, sleeping on the streets of London, and struggling to find jobs, she meets Carolyn who takes her in as a house keeper. Carolyn introduces Amelie to her group of friends, takes her out, and even gets her a job at the magazine she works for. So when Amelie takes off to Vegas with the multi-millionaire boss on a work trip, and comes back married, everyone is concerned. Told between past and present perspectives, where Amelie is currently kidnapped, her story unfolds as secrets are revealed and lies are constantly told. And just when she thinks she’s figured it out, she’s wrong.

I have always loved B.A.Paris’ books. This is one that I have mixed feeling’s about. Amelie is kidnapped in the very first chapter, held in a totally dark room.Wow, what an exciting beginning. If only the entire book had kept up that excitement. The book goes on the switch between present day and the past, giving background about Amelie.Then the final part was about her revenge. For me the ending was a bit of a let down, still it was a good read. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of BAParis may be a bit disappointed after the great beginning.

3.5 Was a fast read, but somehow felt too long. Started out strong, felt too long in the middle, and hated the way it ended. Was an ARC through netgalley.

When I started this book, I was hooked. I wanted to keep reading and find out what had happened.

Unfortunately, the pacing on this book didn't support my continued interest. The tension broke far too early, leaving the resolution a bit of a let down. By the time the "big reveal" (which I had predicted near the beginning of the book) finally happened, it felt like an afterthought.

That being said, I did still enjoy the book and if you aren't particular about pacing in thrillers then it may be a great option.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

B.A. Paris has done it again! This book starts out STRONG and will have you at the edge of your seat until the last page. I must admit, I read this in its entirety in one sitting.

Definitely griping and well-written!

📖The Prisoner by B.A. Paris ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New book alert! The latest B.A. Paris novel comes out in November 2022 and you won’t want to miss it. Do you have authors that you know you will read anything and everything they write? Paris is in that category for me.

The Prisoner hits the ground running with a middle of the night kidnapping. From there it is a back and forth between the past and present as details unfold. Highly recommend this one for a crisp fall night where you want to consume a good book.

I was really pumped to read this one, because I’ve enjoyed past books from this author. However, this has definitely been my least favorite. I felt like the storyline had a lot of potential, but didn’t necessarily deliver.

Character development was highly lacking, so I didn’t connect with any of the characters (aside from sympathy for the MC). I did find myself intrigued enough to read this one pretty fast, but I wasn’t crazy about the ending either… sadly this just wasn’t it for me.

I don't think this was B.A.'s best book but I found it very readable and I enjoyed the pace a lot. I think it captured my attention immediately and I liked the character development.

I was extremely excited when my request to review “The Prisoner” was approved. Last year I read “Behind Closed Doors” by B.A. Paris and absolutely loved it! The book still gives me chills when I think about it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as blown away by “The Prisoner” but still enjoyed the book. I was quickly drawn in. I did develop plot twist predictions early and my interest declined at about 40%, the burn was a bit too slow for me. Though At this point I was invested and NEEDED to know if my plot predictions were correct so I carried on. A bit far fetched for me at times it was definitely a wrap up I didn’t fully see coming. I did however, guess the MAIN twist so that robbed me of the OMG moment I look for in a mystery/thriller. Taking some of the value down. All in all, I was expecting more and a bit disappointed but I blame “Behind Closed Doors”. She’s a tough act to follow.