Title: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 363 pages
Book Rating: 363 pages
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide…
Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.
The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge
Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.
Review:
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is a diabolically clever mystery.
Ben Daniels and his half-sister Jess Hadley are not close. But when Jess calls asking to stay with him, he reluctantly says yes. Ben is charming and more successful than rough around the edges Jess. He has been staying in a lovely apartment in Paris but Jess wonders how he can afford his posh accommodations. But the more pressing question turns out to be, where is Ben?
Jess is running from trouble but she does not allow her problems to stop her from finding Ben. She does not know much about what is currently going on in his life. However, Jess knows something is very wrong since her brother is not waiting for her as promised. Her propensity for acting without thinking might aid her in her search for Ben. Or will it land her in the middle of danger?
Jess begins trying to find answers from the other people in the building. Her first encounter with Antoine when he is drunk and fighting with a woman leaves her with less than favorable impression. Jess is in luck when she meets Nick, a fellow Brit who personally knows Ben. The men are university friends but is he telling her everything he knows about Ben? She does not learn much when she runs into another tenant, Mimi. Jess is put off by the cold and intimidating occupant of the penthouse, Sophie Meunier. And then there is the ever lurking, always silent concierge.
Jess’s investigation into Ben’s disappearance turns up few details about him. Her one possible lead is newspaper editor Theo Mendelson. Jess is growingly increasingly frustrated and frightened for Ben as she fails to turn up any new information. She is also uncertain about whom she can trust but in order to find Ben, Jess knows she will have to put her faith in someone in Ben’s orbit. But is she choosing the right person?
The Paris Apartment is an incredibly intriguing mystery that is full of suspense. Jess is surprisingly easy to like but she does not always make the best decisions. The chapters alternate between the various characters’ perspectives which provides interesting details about their lives. The apartment building is atmospheric which adds another layer of tension to the storyline. The plot is exceptionally well-developed and moves at a very brisk pace. With sly twists and stunning turns, Lucy Foley brings this deviously compelling mystery to an extremely unexpected but highly satisfying conclusion.
