Release date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Blurb:
A young British couple are driving through France on holiday when they stop for gas. He runs in to pay, she stays in the car. When he returns her car door has been left open, but she’s not inside. No one ever sees her again.
Ten years later he’s engaged to be married; he’s happy, and his past is only a tiny part his life now. Until he comes home from work and finds his new wife-to-be is sitting on their sofa. She’s turning something over in her fingers, holding it up to the light. Something that would have no worth to anyone else, something only he and she would know about because his wife is the sister of his missing first love.
As more and more questions are raised, their marriage becomes strained. Has his first love somehow come back to him after all this time? Or is the person who took her playing games with his mind?
Review:
Why can’t we rate books in sections yet you guys?! I am struggling so hardcore with my rating/feelings about this book, I loved the first half and the last half was annoying and totally unbelievable. Sigh. I guess I will do my best to explain what did or did not work for me and hope I give you guys enough information to decide for yourselves whether this is a book for you.
One thing that I want to make very clear is that Paris is one heck of an author with a style that I absolutely adore. I’ve been drawn into all three of her books, she crafts compelling premises that have that awesome sense of doubt, mistrust and dread emanating from the pages. She never really creates the most likable characters but I don’t care about that, I love their unreliability and paranoia and overall lack of scruples. The pacing is relentlessly fast and furious, you really can’t say anything but that it’s unputdownable, so why am I so torn???
My main problem was the big twist was so unbelievable. Listen, I have no problem suspending disbelief whatsoever, I do it all of the time with no issues but I just could not get past the improbability of this reveal. You guys know that I won’t spoil anything for you, but I just kept thinking, no way in hell could this really happen. Never.
Here’s the bottom line, if you’re a fan of Paris you should probably read this book for yourself and draw your own conclusions. If you’ve never read her work her two previous novels are insanely awesome and come highly recommended by me. If you don’t mind out there twists and unbelievable resolutions then you might love this one, but for me I just can’t say that I did. I liked it though, and no matter what I’ll definitely be reading whatever Paris comes up with next because no one does compelling page turners as well as she does.
Overall rating: 3/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 
I was so disappointed in this book, I found loads of inconsistencies, I didn’t like the characters and I HATED that ending!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t mind the unlikable characters but the twist was disappointing for sure. 😭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely 😢
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great honest review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh man, I’m sorry the ending of this didn’t work for you! I loved Behind Closed Doors. I suppose I still have The Breakdown to look forward to though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
BCD was her best, but the Breakdown was also pretty good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm yes, going to read and see how it goes, and yes to the sections thing, the amount of books that have just knocked me off the 5 star mark because of the ending!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally!! Let me know what you end up thinking of this one.
LikeLike
I had issues with her previous one so I think I won’t read this book, at least for now
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you would be annoyed so good call! 😜
LikeLike
I kinda find these unbelievable plot twists / reveals “cheap thrills”. There are so many ways to make something thrilling or suspenseful (like Mark Edwards manage to do it without making it unbelievable), but in some cases the author just decides to go for something fantastical, and when i read those i kinda feel like they think i’m stupid and will just go with whatever…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly!! It seems like the easy way out
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m soooo torn on reading this! I think eventually I’m going to because I’ve read all her books so far and I just feel like I need to but it seems like a lot of people were disappointed!
Great review Amy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely think you should read it, you may love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I defiantly will at some point! I know, you never know with books. Everyone’s opinions are so different
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree, Amy. I thought that the first half was so good, well written, and fast paced. And then the second half fell flat, especially the truth about Ellen. It left me shaking my head and disappointed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sorry you had a similar experience, such a bummer!
LikeLike
Your thoughts seem to be in alignment with many of the reviews I’ve read. I’ve had this one on the shelf for a couple of weeks. I’m such a huge fan of her work that I do think I’ll read it but I’m going to work hard to manage my expectations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that’s exactly the right way to approach it honestly!
LikeLike
I’m with you on the ending. Too implausible. But I really didn’t care much for the rest of the book either.
Enjoyed reading your review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh such a bummer!!
LikeLiked by 1 person