It was good until it wasn't. Like Behind Closed Doors, the conclusion of the story fell completely flat for me. Most of the story was incredibly intriguing, suspenseful writing. I really was kept guessing until the end, but the end just didn't carry the story through, in my opinion.

It's been a while since I've read a psychological thriller. The book's synopsis caught my eye and once I started reading I could not put this book down. I mean, I'm a teacher and I almost skipped a class because I needed to find out what happened.

The characters all seem to have redeeming qualities, you really want to like them but you never really know if you can trust any of them. Some of the plot was a bit predictable but there were oodles of unexpected plot twists and a few pretty scary scenarios that had my heart racing.

If you're looking for a heart-beating roller coaster ride of a story, you won't put this book down until you're finished.

How well do you know the love of your life??

That's the biggest question with the newest novel from B.A. Paris. You may say that you know everything about them, but this one will leave you with more questions than answers.

The common factor with B.A. Paris books is... nothing is EVER as it seems. This is dual POV and each narrator has their own secrets and neither is to be trusted. You'll probably work out some of the details on your own, but there's always a twist that you won't see coming. The twist in 'Bring Me Back' is pretty much crazy town. Once it's revealed and you think back to what you just read, you'll be shocked and slightly disturbed. The Layla chapters seemed to be almost too much, but after the ending is revealed... you'll realize just how much those were needed. They add to just how bananas this story really is.

If you like a story that is out of the ordinary and don't mind theatrics, then this one is for you.

....just, wow.

I really loved the cover and the description pulled me in. From the start this story takes off fast. You are thrown into the life of Finn and Layla and then continue on this wild roller coaster ride. I loved the character's throughout the book they were relatable and easy to follow. And Finn's relationships throughout the story were understandable. There were so many times where I was hurt for him but also for Layla and Ellen.

I had way too many different theories. Every time I thought that I knew what was happening I was thrown for another loop. I would liken this story to Gone Girl. You really have no idea what is going on and in the end I was so shocked. I did not want to put it down.

"Bring Me Back" was an interesting ride. I picked it up because I absolutely loved "Behind Closed Doors." I would place this one below "Behind Closed Doors" but above "The Breakdown" in terms of predictability and addictiveness/page-turning. Here, we follow primarily Finn, a man who had lost his girlfriend, Layla, about 12 years ago at a rest stop while on vacation in France. He began to date Layla's sister Ellen and has recently become engaged to her.

The book is told in three parts. The first part follows Finn before and now, recapping the events leading up to Layla's disappearance and describing his current life, as things begin to change. The second part continues to follow Finn in the present but also takes another character's point-of-view (which I won't say to avoid any potential spoilers). The final part moves quickly as we wrap up and figure out what has really been going on.

Overall, I found it really engaging and I had trouble putting it down. Paris is a great writer, and the book flows beautifully. In terms of the twists and turns, I was absolutely captivated by the first part of the book, wanting to learn more about the events leading to Layla's disappearance and what Finn's current life is like. He was an interesting character who I was driven not to like in the first part, but then started to feel for (although still not particularly like) in the second part. Despite not liking him as a person, I absolutely wanted to know what would happen between him and the sister in the present and what had happened between him and the missing woman in the past.

In the second part, I almost wish we didn't get the perspective of the "new" character- it read like a comic supervillain and almost gave away too much information. I ended up figuring out what was going on about 2/3rds of the way through (but at least it wasn't as fast as with "The Breakdown"), and I love to be surprised, so I wish it hadn't been quite so clear. If I focused on Finn's sections, it was more of a slow build and not so obvious, so I wish the other perspective hadn't been included. Despite that, it was still a pretty solid book overall and would be good for Paris's fans!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Another absolutely brilliant read by B.A. Paris. I loved her previous two books and this one lived up to the previous ones. The suspense was subtle and it grew as the book went on. The characters were very likable and you want to know what will happen to them because you care about them. There were several moments where I felt that I had everything figured out and then I rounded a corner and everything changed. This is the way great suspense should be written by everyone. I highly, highly recommend all of Ms. Paris' books, they don't disappoint.

My Review:

What I Liked:


Writing Style. As always I enjoyed Paris's writing style. She is always able to create interesting characters, intense plots, and keep you turning the page to find out the ending.


Format. The novel switches between two point of views and by doing so helps build up the suspense even more so. It is hard for the reader to know what is happening or who is telling the truth.


Suspense. B.A Paris always does a great job building the suspense up within her novels. I did not like the plot twist but I still found the novel riveting and filled with suspense.


Plot. I was not a huge fan of the plot but I did find it to be unique. It stands out within the mystery genre and tries out something new.


What I Disliked:


The Plot Twist. I liked the suspense and the build up to the big reveal but did not care for the plot twist itself. I semi guessed what it was and felt that the twist was very unrealistic. I was taken out of the novel because it was so unbelievable.


Characters. The book mainly follows one character, Finn, and that was the problem because I could not connect with him. I never felt anything for the character nor did a find any other characters that I liked. It could have had more points of view from the side characters and less from Finn in my opinion.


I still recommend checking out this thriller if you enjoy Paris's writing style/mysteries.


My Rating: 3 Stars

A young loved up couple are on their way back to England from holidaying in France. He stops off for a toilet break and she waits in the car, when he comes back she has disappeared never to be seen again.

Ten years later, he has moved on; engaged to be married and happy UNTIL his fiancee is left a russian doll - no worth to anybody else, but him, her and her sister, who just happens to be his fiancee. As it becomes more and more apparent something about that night ten years ago just isn't as it seems, questions are raised and relationships become strained and start to crack. Is she back or is someone playing mind games

I enjoyed this new novel from B.A.Paris; the characters were believable and the relationships felt real especially through the breakdown of the main one. The storyline was gripping so that i read the book in one sitting. The only thing that i had a problem with was the twist in the storyline at the end - i had sort of guessed it part way through but dismissed it as i thought it was unbelievable, so when i was proved right i thought it was impossible to believe.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves reading the crime genre and who loves a good thriller! A worthy 4 star read! ****

This novel I ate up in a day or two. Just when I thought ok you figured it out barely before an important reveal and big fat nope I was so wrong. And I wanted to kick Finn so hard in the shin (he knows why)!!!
I think this author's voice is very distinct and it reminded me of their previous work. Definitely look forward to future novels!

Another great read from B.A. Paris! Lots of twist and turns all the way to the end. Kept me guessing the whole time.

Bravo!!!!! This is a fantastic read!!!!!! Like the two before it, this new book by B. A. Paris is just perfection! The writing is done in such a way that you read without any effort at all. The story goes and your eyes just follow. And also - as with the two before- you think you know. You think you have it all figured out.....but Bring Me Back is the best yet with throwing you off providing a huge twist in the end! I usually am never satisfied with the ending of a book I really like - simply b/c it’s ending- but I have NO complaints with this one!
Highly recommended. I am a fan! B.A.Paris is on my permanent watch list.

Not my favourite BA Paris book, have enjoyed previous much more. However, still worth the read and would look forward to next new book

I really enjoyed BA Paris's first two books and was excited for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of her third, Bring Me Back. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity.

Finn and Layla are traveling back from Paris to London when she disappears from their car during a stop at a rest station. Twelve years later, Finn is engaged to Ellen, Layla's sister. Shortly after their engagement is announced, Layla is spotted. Then, Finn starts to receive mysterious signs and menacing emails indicating Layla may be back.

Knowing he will face some tough decisions if she's alive, Finn keeps Layla's return a secret from Ellen. Like Finn, Paris keeps her readers guessing as to who may be involved with Layla's disappearance and return, and throughout the book, everyone appears to be a suspect at some point.

The alternating viewpoints and timelines kept me hooked and wanting to read more to find out the story, however, the characters weren't very likeable, so I didn't feel as invested in them as I was the two female main characters in her previous novels. I figured out the twist about 3/4 through, but even so, there were more twists and it wasn't exactly as I thought it would be; Bring Me Back still has the element of surprise. Some plot elements were a bit of a stretch for me, but overall another good mystery from BA Paris.

This is the third B. A. Paris book that I read, the third book she ever wrote, and I loved it!

Finn and Layla are on their way back to England, from a ski trip in France. They stop at a picnic and rest area, so he can use the facilities. When he returns, she is not in the car, she is not in the rest area, she is nowhere to be found. Only a Russian doll is left to remind him that she was with him on this trip. At least, that is what Finn has told the police about Layla.

Twelve years later, Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister Ellen. Their shared grief is what brought them together, even though they don’t ever discuss about Layla. They believe her to be dead. When their eminent marriage comes closer, Finn receives a phone call. Someone from the past has seen Layla. Secret messages and warnings are there to disturb their peaceful life. Is Layla still alive, or someone playing a very nasty game?

The hero is living a nightmare. This time it is not the man in the story that is the bad guy, as we are used to in most books. The guy has loved a woman so much, he can hardly believe what is happening to him. He could do anything for her, but not what she asks him to do. To start with, Finn, the hero, had some troubled past, which is why he cannot exactly recall what happened in the rest area and just how it was that Layla went missing. However, he did loved her with all his heart and soul, so he didn’t stop looking for her for a long time. He believed he was being punished for something.

Once he found peace with himself and a woman or two to calm him, he left the past behind and tried to move on. But the past never really leaves you. So when he first got the secret messages, he was desperate to either believe someone was mocking him or that the love of his life was alive and ready to see him again.

And what is the role of Ellen, his now partner and sister to the missing woman? She is so different than Layla, yet again Finn has found himself attracted to her and loved her in a whole different way.

While reading this psychological thriller, your mind tries to find solutions for the different problems. A number of versions of the story have come across my mind and the author has managed to prove them all wrong, one by one. Three and a half quarters of the book I had the clear picture of what the story was all about, however, I did have to pay attention to the details and it did pay off!

“Bring Me Back” is different to Paris’s previous books in terms of plot. The writing is again captivating and is what had kept the reader going in the previous books, especially the “Behind Closed Doors” which was all about the writing, as the story was out in the open pretty early. In this one, Paris has moved to a whole new level, as there are secrets, and mysteries and twists to keep the story covered, until the very end! It shows how well the author has evolved and I like her for that! I am looking forward to her next book, to see what more she has to offer!

“Bring Me Back” will be released in U.S in June 2018 by St. Martin’s Press.

Read this in one sitting! I was absolutely riveted by the characters and could not wait to see what happened next. Nicely paced and well-plotted.

Layla is the love of Finn’s life. But on a trip to France, Layla vanishes at a truck stop and is never seen again. Twelve years later, Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. One day, Finn arrives home to find Ellen holding a painted Russian doll, which she says she found on the pavement outside their Simonsbridge home. Finn soon begins receiving more dolls – in the mail and sitting on the stone wall outside their house. The only people who could know the significance of these dolls are Finn and Ellen. It appears Layla is back. And she’s not happy about Finn and Ellen’s engagement.

Bring Me Back is the third page-turning thriller from author B.A. Paris, whose debut domestic malice novel Behind Closed Doors was met with rave reviews and has recently been commissioned for a film. Her second novel, The Breakdown (probably my favourite) was a murder mystery filled with mind games of a ‘gaslight’ variety.

This time, the narrator is investment banker Finn, who straight up tells the reader he hasn’t told the police the whole truth about Layla’s disappearance. He also has a tendency towards violent rages, but has so far managed to control himself. Or has he? Finn becomes concerned his ex-girlfriend Ruby, who works down the road at the local pub, is pretending to be Layla because she’s jealous of his engagement to Ellen. But that doesn’t explain why someone saw Layla at the cottage she shared with Finn in Devon or why Ellen is convinced she saw Layla in Cheltenham.

Part one is told solely from Finn’s point of view, alternating between the past, where he describes his relationship with Layla, and the present. But part two switches between Finn’s point of view and a new surprise point of view character – Layla. But is this really Layla? And if it is, why won’t she reveal herself to Finn and Ellen? And where has she been for the past twelve years? One thing is for sure, Layla, or whoever she is, is testing Finn.

I thought I had the solution by the midway point of the story but clever writing and a raft of twists and turns had me second and third guessing myself. In the end, it doesn’t matter if my theory was right or not, because it’s this ability to keep the reader guessing that’s the mark of a good suspense writer. The solution to the story is slowly revealed like one of Layla’s Russian dolls – each layer removed until the last doll shows us where she’s been hiding.

Some reviewers have suggested the final reveal is somewhat unbelievable but I tend to disagree. The world we live in can be a pretty crazy place, and bizarre things happen every day – so why can’t readers stretch their imaginations and enjoy the possibility of something crazy happening in an entertaining crime fiction story? The final pages where we find out what really happened to Layla are gripping and devastating with tragic consequences.

Anyone who picks up a B.A. Paris novel is guaranteed a good read and Bring Me Back is definitely one to file under “I have to know what happens!”

I have absolutely loved this author's first two books. Behind Closed Doors is by far my favorite of the three, but I loved The Breakdown also. This one was good and held my interest, but heart wasn't racing as I got to the climax like the first two. In fact, I had figured out the twist...and that NEVER happens! I love mysteries and thrillers, but never guess the endings. Therefore, I think I was somewhat distracted throughout, wondering if I was really on the right track? And I was! I give Paris credit for a new take on the "missing woman" formula, and there were enough questions to make it memorable. I will eagerly await her next novel. Thank you, NetGalley for my advance copy!

B.A. Paris has hit a home-run again! I read her first two novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown, and enjoyed them very much. This one kept me guessing until the very end.

Layla and Finn are driving back to England from a ski trip in France. They pull into a rest stop and when Finn returns to the car after using the restroom, he finds the car door is wide open but Layla is missing.

Ten years later, Layla is presumed dead and Finn is about to marry Layla's sister, Ellen. Suddenly tiny dolls from a set of Russian stack dolls start appearing. Only Layla, Ellen and Finn are aware of the significance of these dolls. Finn starts receiving emails from Layla which leads him to believe that Layla is not dead. Has Layla somehow come back to him after all this time? Or is the person who took her playing games with his mind?

The story keeps switching bank and forth from 2006 when Finn first met Layla to the present 2018 and is told in the first person point of view by the main characters; Finn, Layla and Ellen. I was hooked from the very beginning and found the book hard to put down as I needed to know what was going to happen next. After many twists and turns, I found the ending to be cleverly crafted and a total surprise to me. I am now looking forward to Paris' next book and I would highly recommend this book to those who love psychological thrillers. I also would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the book for my honest review.

Well, I should have seen it coming. The clues were all there and I was convinced that I knew what was going on but then... complete surprise, like a Russian doll jack-in-the-box. B.A. Paris is great at writing women. Her heroines in her previous novels were resourceful and realistic so I was surprised that the main character here was a man. Not a very likable one at that. Finn is moody, secretive and can't make up his mind. After Layla, his great love disappeared in France; he has rebuilt his life and is now living with Layla's sister, Ellen. This is unusual, but they seem perfect for each other. When Finn proposes to Ellen, almost by accident, Layla seems to return from the dead planting mysterious clues. And Finn doesn’t even know that it really is Layla leaving all the clues, it could be someone else toying with him. Now, a normal person would probably realize how perfect Ellen is and move on but, as I said, Finn can't make up his mind, so he ends up obsessing, hiding his obsession and causing a lot of unnecessary drama. This is not good in real life, but makes for a compulsive, five-star read.