Classic B.A. Paris had my jaw drop at 90% through the book. I LOVED "The Guest."

Charlie's last words haunt Gabriel, who found him at the bottom of the quarry, long after he dies. Just when Gabriel thinks his life can't get much worse after being forced to take time off from work to deal with his trauma, he comes home from holiday to find his best friend's wife living in his house. Gabriel and Iris can't believe how comfortable Laure has made herself in their absence, sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes. But they can't say anything- she's just found out her husband has a child, with another woman! Laure's martial drama becomes the center of attention as her husband Pierre refuses to speak with anyone. The drama ensues when Iris suspects the gardener is the father of her neighbor's child and not her much older husband. The drama level of this book, the suspense, the amount of secrets swirling around them all led to me reading this book in one sitting.

The writing was impeccable, the story enthralling. Thank you for this early read, I'm already telling all of my friends about it. Can't wait to get one for my bookshelves in February.

The Guest by B.A. Paris is another captivating read from this highly addictive author who never fails to hit the mark. Chock full of secrets and intrigue, you will not be able to put this down.

Iris and Gabriel arrive home after a holiday to find that their friend Laure has installed herself in their residence following the discovery of her husband Pierre's shocking secret. Having experienced a traumatic event himself quite recently, Gabriel is not in a good place to play the genial host, and Laure soon pushes the boundaries with her well-meaning friends. The arrival of new neighbours will offer some respite, but tensions are high, and it is only a matter of time before secrets begin to bubble to the surface, making for some truly explosive revelations.

While this latest does probably not rank as my favourite from this author, it is virtually guaranteed to leave your jaw on the floor. 4.5 stars

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

I always enjoy books by this author and this was better than most.
A couple returns from being away to find a friend has moved into their home while she decides what to do about her marriage, facing a situation where they are smack in the middle. They are friendly with both of the other couple and want to help, though it is straining their already awkward relationship.

Gabriel has a secret that is burdening him enough that he cannot work. It is straining his relationship with Iris, his wife, as he has not confided in her in spite of her attempts to help him. When Laure chooses to extend her stay, it prolongs the tension between them.

New neighbors provide a distraction and yet there are secrets there, too. Joseph, friend of the neighbors, is helping them with their garden, but what are his secrets and why is he so close to so many with issues?

So many overlapping story lines, yet all contribute more facts and more questions. How reliable is the narrator?

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I'd give this one 4.5 stars for keeping me wanting more, right up to the end.

I don't even read summaries anymore before diving into the latest B.A. Paris thriller - that's how must-read an author she is for me. This one, however, fell just a little flat. Without any spoilers, I loved the twists, but would have preferred a less hurried reveal at the end. Still a solid 4-star, fast-paced read.

Holy whizz this was a jaw dropper a slooooow burn and may be her most clever and diabolical book yet ! I loved this book and was shocked more then once ! Twisted and full of scandal , heat and surprises ! This book left me wanting more ! Easily a 5 star read !!!!!

What an amazing thriller! B.A. Paris knocks it out of the park once again with her newest book, showing just how dangerous a house guest can be, when they are most definitely uninvited!

B.A Paris never let's you down
Powerful punch to this book.which definitely got way better at the end when all clarity is revealed. Friendships but are they really...you never know who to trust in this book. I thought what I read was true then the ending happened.. boom what a brilliant surprise!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

B.A. Paris is an auto read author for me. I read The Prisoner last year as an ARC and loved it. The Guest was not my favorite read from this author. The story was interesting and kept me wanting more. There were a lot of characters who all felt similar so I kept getting confused on who was who to the story. This is definitely a domestic thriller. The epilogue is long and where the reader finds out what has been going on for the whole book. I didn't see it coming. Not even a hint of possibility. So I guess that was the best part of it? It's a satisfying read, just not as great as I expect from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I was definitely not expecting the ending of the book. Looking back, some parts of the ending are not that surprising, but given everything else that happened in the story, those possibilities were not something that I had considered.

Yet, as explosive and surprising as the ending of the book was, it is a book that takes a while to get into, and there are parts where the characters are whiny and obnoxious, and you just want the author to move along with the story. Overall, not as good as other books I have read by B.A. Paris, although the ending certainly makes up for some of the earlier deficiencies.

I have read all of Paris’ books and the first thing I can say about all of them is that they you can not put them down. I devoured it in one day which is not my norm. Secondly, every book is a brilliant, suspenseful, page turning thriller.

Paris’ writing style pulls you in from the first line and keeps you engaged throughout the entire book.

The Guest is about a couple, Iris and Gabriel who have been friends with another couple, Laure and Pierre, they met on vacation 20 years ago while they were celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary.

Laure shows up at Iris’ house while they are out of town because Pierre and her had an epic falling out and Laure needed some space. Iris and Gabriel come home to find Laure had been staying there for several days without warning.

Over the next several weeks with Laure living with Iris and Gabriel many events take place that keep you wondering who is telling the truth and what is really going on.

The story has an excellent flow, great characters and epic plot twists that all combine into a stunning thriller!

I highly recommend this excellent novel.

The Guest begins with a promising premise: Iris and her husband, Gabriel, are awakened in the middle of the night by the unexpected arrival of their distraught friend, Iris, who has fled from her husband, Pierre, after learning he has a child that he’s kept a secret for many years.

And it’s all downhill after that. People die, mysteriously. Fingers are pointed.Clues and multiple red herrings abound. And then, in what must be the cheapest literary technique in the book, a “surprise “ epilogue reveals the true identity of the killer.

The characters are boring, and, except apparently for the killer, idiots.

Not recommended.

The Guest by B.A. Paris A tense, suspenseful and fast paced domestic thriller with cunning twists and turns and unexpected disclosures. Iris, Gabriel, Laure and Joseph, all have numerous secrets. Each of them do all they can to keep the secrets private, even resorting to murder. The epilogue was quite an eye opener. This is my new favorite by B A Paris.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I had very high hopes for this one as I loved all of her other books. This one fell flat for me. I thought it should have been told in first person and from alternating perspectives. Instead I felt that the third person perspective made it seem impersonal. I didn’t quite bind with characters and the storyline eas rather slow and predictable. 3/5⭐️

Intense domestic mystery - layers of secrets, betrayals, deception, manipulations and infidelity all weave together and intertwine, while rifts between friends and spouses keep chipping away. Red herrings will pull you every direction, while teasing tidbits will give you hints as to what is really going on - but you won't get it all until the very end! Clear your calendar, you won't be putting this one down ...

Well this certainly had an ending I was not expecting!! Iris and Gabriel are going through a tough time in their marriage, mainly because they are both keeping BIG secrets from each other and many other people. When they meet new friends Ee and Hugh they think they will be able to turn over a new leaf but the drama and trauma only get worse. Be prepared for lots of plot twists and almost no one being who you think they are. A great read!

I have read a few books by B A Paris, and this is now probably my favorite. I enjoyed the characters, and the self-reflection as well as self-reflection some of them have.

The secrets kept for the most part are kept to protect others (sometimes this is rationalization).

I loved rooting for some characters, and really falling for them.

I am usually pretty good at figuring out twists fairly early, and I want to say maybe I caught it right before the reveal, but I know I didn't.

The Guest is about Gabriel, Iris, and Laure. While Gabriel and Iris were on holiday Laure took it upon herself to stay as a houseguest in their house. Laure and Pierre had an argument. Over the twenty years of Laure and Pierre being friends with Gabriel and Iris they’ve made a habit of staying at each other’s homes while on holiday.
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Although, Lauren’s timing wasn’t the best given Gabriel’s emotional state. He recently lost his dog, his father, and Charlie. For some reason he was really bothered by Charlie’s death. As a surgeon he expected to be able to help Charlie. Instead he watched Charlie take his last breathe before confessing something that troubled Gabriel. His state of mind is frazzled trying to process everything that’s been happening. Having Laure at their home has added to the pressures already on his plate. To distract himself he begins working in the garden as a promise to his daughter Beth. Then Iris hires Joseph to help. Gabriel is disappointed because this project was therapeutic for him.
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Iris meets Esme and Hugh and having them as friends helps alleviate some of the pain of dealing with everything. It’s a nice change of pace having Esme’s pregnancy to focus on while their daughter Beth is away.
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Once again BA Paris crafted an amazing thriller. In the beginning it’s about Laure and her devastated mindset regarding Pierre. As Gabriel continues with his own battles Iris focuses on Laure while Gabriel focuses on Pierre. There are many components integrated in this story with many working parts. All the while readers get a sense of the subtle inclination of something disastrous brewing in the background. The indirect clues that something’s not adding up has readers on the edge of their seat anticipating the inevitable.
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This was a well executed story. The timing is perfect for this type of storyline. BA Paris writes a convincing and thought provoking story. Her writing style lines up with my reading style. It’s been a pleasure reading The Guest.
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Mind blown by that twisted revelation. I never expected that outcome. Wow! What an incredible epilogue. BA Paris you rocked my world from beginning to end. A spectacular read.

I have loved every book I have read by B.A. Paris, and this was no exception. With stellar writing, likeable characters, a riveting plot and a jaw dropping ending, I found this was a read in one sitting book for me. Has become one of my favorite authors and can't wait until the next book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for a copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

While I wanted to love this book, it failed to keep my attention throughout. I love a quick thriller, and while ithad its thrills, it was definitely slow at times. The only part that sucked me in, sadly, was the epilogue. I have read B.A. Paris before, and am definitely still a fan!

B.A.Paris does it again! Another 'you'll never guess' ending with a great group of characters. So much going on in this story and lots of secrets which won't be revealed until the end. Anxiously awaiting the next book!