BA Paris is one of those auto-buy authors for me and never fails to impress! Thrillers are one of my favorite categories and this one really hit the mark!

This book was such a wild ride! The beginning starts off with a bang, literally! As the craziness unfolds among a group of friends, I felt like it was nonstop drama (the good kind)! As the drama starts to unfold and wind down, it ramps right back up again. I definitely did not feel a lull at all! I will say, I wasn't sure how certain aspects (no spoilers) were going to come together, but it all came together at the end. Apologies that this is vague, but I feel I will spoil the drama if I start to discuss any of the plot. This was my first B.A. Paris book and I will absolutely be reading more!

The Guest by B.A. Paris is set in the British countryside. Iris and Gabriel return home from vacation and find they have a guest, their best friend Laure. Laure has been staying there while Iris and Gabriel were away because she and her husband, Pierre, were arguing. She left Pierre at the their house in Paris and traveled to Britain with just the clothes on her back. While the couple is surprised by Laure being there, they welcome her with open arms and assure her she can stay as long as she needs.Their daughter, Beth, is working in Greece, so there is plenty of room in the house. However, Gabriel is trying to deal with his own trauma, there was a terrible accident in a nearby quarry, and he was the one to find the victim. It has left him shaken, and is currently taking a leave from his practice as a doctor to recover.

As Gabriel finds his way through gardening, new neighbors move in down the road that help Iris take her mind off her guest, who is starting to overstay her welcome, and Pierre has seemed to ghost not only his wife but his best friend Gabriel, secrets begin to come to light Tensions start to mount, traumas occur and Beth comes back home to be with her parents, but from there the story becomes more complicated and twisty.

This psychological thriller was a little slow to start. The character’s are not very like-able, parts were a little predictable, but when you get to the end…BAM, you will not see this twist coming! This is my favorite part about B.A. Paris, just when you think you know everything, she adds in a zinger that you never see coming, but fit so well within the story it is completely plausible.

I would like to thank Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you so much NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital ARC of The Guest by B.A Paris! All opinions are my own!**

As a big fan of B.A. Paris’s other works, I was very excited to receive this ARC. This book, however, fell flat for me compared to her other works. I still enjoyed reading it nonetheless, just not as gasp-worthy as say, The Therapist.

The pacing of the book follows a very B.A. Paris like pattern, where the meat of the book (the murder) does not begin until about the halfway point. I expected this going into it, but I had a harder time pushing through compared to her other novels. I feel like the characters were so mundane with very few characteristics that differentiated one other, and I found myself confusing the main set of characters for one another.

After the halfway point, my excitement really began to settle in and I finished the remainder of the novel super quick. The plotting of the murders and events that followed were ultimately well done, but unfortunately a bit too predictable for me.

It's amazing to me how this author comes up with stories that keep me glued to the pages of a book time and time again. B A Paris does that with intriguing plots and fascinating characters, and then after sending me on a roller coaster ride, the story is neatly wrapped up in a way I never expect. Every tune.

Thank you! This is definitely another 5 star book.

I love when an author is able to make just about every character a suspect. I didn't know which character was reliable and had a little distrust of everyone. The author kept me guessing and in the end, I was a little surprised, but in hindsight I was able to see all of the clues I had missed. I really enjoyed this book and as always I'm a big fan of B A Paris.

For most people, this book is a twisty mystery, full of secrets and schemes. However, I'm an only child that loves my personal space, so the concept of an uninvited house guest on her absolute worst behavior that just. won't. leave. elevated this book up to a horror novel for me! I'm a longtime B.A. Paris fan and this skillfully crafted thriller did not disappoint. The three couples in this story led the action down many different paths (many of which were dark and sinister!) and I enjoyed the ride. The characters are dramatic, deceitful, unreliable, and wholly unlikable, but also fully formed and richly entertaining.

Just when you think you've got everything figured out and the whole mess cleared up, you don't. The ending! Oh my goodness, the ending.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me an advanced review copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Most of all, thank you to B.A. Paris for sharing that big, beautiful, twisty brain of yours with the world.

Decent but not great, i found the mystery kinda flat and parts very slow. still, i look forward to reading more engaging books by the author

B.A Paris has become my favorite author.

This one started off a bit slower then most of the previous novels. However, the slow burn went right into a wild ride. It keeps you hanging on until the very last page. It true B.A Paris fashion.

DNF. Talked about the same topic for the first 20% of the entire book and I was so bored that I had no interest in the characters or the storyline … will not be finishing unfortunately. loved work from this author, but not this book unfortunately

Iris & Gabriel had a beautiful life in the British countryside until he happens upon the tragic accident of a young man that alters his life forever. Trying to help ease her husband's trauma, Iris straddles a fine line between giving him space and being supportive. What neither of them need in this moment is an unexpected house guest. Nevertheless, their friend Laure seemingly moved into their home while they were on holiday. Separated from her husband Pierre, Iris & Gabriel open their home to Laure for as long as she needs...even if Laure insists on wearing Iris' clothes and following her every move. The only bright spot in an otherwise challenging time is the new couple that moved into the neighborhood. Their gardener, on the other hand...it seems trouble follows him wherever he goes. How much can these couples take and who will survive?

As usual for B.A. Paris reads, I finished this in one sitting. I really enjoyed this book, even though it didn't feel like a thriller to me. I enjoyed reading about the countryside, the neighborhood, getting to know the residents...but I wasn't on the edge of my seat, by any means. So, the ending felt a little abrupt. But it was still an interesting read & I've already recommended it to some friends.

My first BA Paris book and I have to say I enjoyed it. The writing was good and the characters were interesting and easy to be invested in. The story itself was a tad slow and the ending fairly predictable. There was quite a bit of build up and I was slightly disappointed that a good amount of the story was wrapped up in one not very important character. The end of the story was a bit far fetched but I did enjoy this while reading it. This one doesn't stand out as much as I wish it had- but it's a solid read.

I have read many BA Paris books and to me this one didn't really stack up. I found it painfully drawn out with a lot of effort and attention to details that seemed irrelevant to the story line. I feel like i read 3/4 of the book before it started to get interesting.
The twist was great though, I did not see it coming.

I have read a few books before from B.A Paris but this is my favorite one yet. I flew through this book, staying up late because I couldn’t put it down. It was a wonderful domestic mystery and every time that I thought I knew what was going on another twist would pop out! Fabulous read,
Iris and Gabriel have returned from vacation to one of their friends staying in their home. Why is she there, and how long does she plan on staying? What secrets lay beneath their friendship and under Iris and Gabriel’s marriage? I loved uncovering all the twists and turns this book had to offer.

What an exhilarating journey this book took me on, and I reveled in every moment of it! Right from the outset, I found myself captivated, attempting to piece together the enigmatic elements that perpetually eluded me. Unlike some books where the destination is evident early on but still enjoyable to witness unfolding, this one kept me perennially one step behind until the climactic revelation that left me utterly astounded.

Iris and Gabriel seemingly have it all – a picturesque home, a grown daughter, and wonderful friends. However, their idyllic life takes a tumultuous turn when Gabriel stumbles upon a young man during a run in the quarry. In his final breaths, the young man imparts a weighty secret to Gabriel, who grapples with the dilemma of whether to disclose it and potentially devastate the young man's family or bear the burden in silence.

As Gabriel's silent struggle intensifies, it strains his relationship with Iris, who finds herself grappling to comprehend his downward spiral. Adding further strain to their marriage, their friend Laure unexpectedly seeks refuge after discovering her husband fathered a child with another woman.

While Laure and Iris share a close friendship, Laure's prolonged stay becomes increasingly taxing. Wearing Iris's clothes and delving into inquiries about the young man's demise, Laure pushes Iris to her breaking point. Secrets, deceit, and lies unravel, testing the foundations of Iris and Gabriel's marriage. The stakes escalate with the mysterious deaths, leaving them questioning whom they can truly trust.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest and insightful review.

Approached this as a sorbet following a rather heavy read, and boy did it fill the bill. There was a sneaky plot and a whambam of an ending, but I knocked off points due to lumbering pacing, repetition, too much attention to food and clothing. I know the food was included to set a certain tone, but it was over used.

I enjoyed this one on both audio and ereader, it was excellent! I was immediately drawn into the story. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s a twist. And then the Epilogue throws everything upside down! Is it possible for something to be both a slow burn and a popcorn thriller? The story starts off a bit slow and builds but I was engaged and entertained the entire time. This was a quick read that I finished in about 2 days with short chapters that kept me going.

⚠️ Tropes may be considered spoilers, you’ve been warned.

🥰Read this if you enjoy: popcorn thrillers, domestic thrillers, shocking twists, epic epilogues, British countryside settings (and accents), lots of red herrings

❤️‍🩹What I didn’t love: I wish the pacing was a little better. This book had a slow start but once you get to the end reveal you understand all the setup.

📳Single Narration - Emily Joyce- may have the most perfect narration voice for this book. Her ability to take on the personalities of each character and give them each their own distinct voice was amazing.

Thanks to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the ARC and ALC in return for my honest review.

British couple Iris and Gabriel are best friends with a couple they met in their one year anniversary, Laure and Pierre from Paris. Now 20 years later, Iris and Gabriel come home from vacation to find Laure sleeping at their home. Her and Pierre have been fighting since Laure learned that Pierre has a child she never knew about. Iris and Gabriel tell Laure to stay as long as she needs, but now she never wants to leave and secrets keep unfolding.
The first half of the book was stressful and full of mystery, but it was a little slow paced. I would hate being in a situation where you want to support a friend, but you can't have them living with you. It was in the second half of the book where the story takes a turn and becomes a real thriller. This is where I really started to enjoy the read. The pace felt a lot faster and the story became more interesting.
I found some of the characters a bit irritating. A few are dealing with issues that they keep bringing up and end up feeling redundant. However, a lot of characters also appear shady. I had no idea who I could trust.
I wasn't sure how the author was going to wrap up all the loose ends, but she did really well with the ending and left me completely surprised.

Having read all of B.A. Paris' other books and enjoying most of them I was really looking forward to her newest "The Guest". I was pretty sure I knew where this was going for the first 2/3 rd's of the book only to be thrown a major twist. Initially I had a really hard time getting into this, it is a slow starter but the last 1/3 of the book really picks up and pays off. If you have liked her other books you will definitely not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to enjoy this book in advance of publication!

𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🖤

📖- The Guest
✍️- B.A. Paris
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲-February 20, 2024
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲-⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤

Iris and Gabriel return home early from their trip, as they arrive home an unexpected guest has made theirselves at home. They’re greeted by their longtime friend, Laure. Laure informs them that she decided to leave Paris due to finding out, Pierre, had an affair years ago and discovered he fathered a child 20 yrs ago. She plans to stay for three weeks but it gradually expands and she makes herself at home (literally) borrowing Iris’s clothes, rearranging the kitchen. Iris desperate to get away from hearing Laure’s problems, starts to run around the neighborhood. She meets new neighbors, Esme and Hugh as well as their gardener, Joseph. It all becomes intense as everyone harbors their own secrets and death starts surrounding them.

𝕄𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 💭
I LOVED Behind Closed Doors. However, this book fell short for me. It was very slow paced and it dragged out far too long. Nothing really happened until the Epilogue which is why I gave it a 3.5. Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely like to hear the audiobook in the future. The twist I did not see coming!!! I loved how it was well weaved into the story and it all made sense at the end.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC in an exchange for an honest review 🫶🏼☺️

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