B.A. Paris does it again! I was so thrilled to receive this arc! I read Behind Closed Doors years ago and still think about it! I always recommend Paris and she’s on the top of my list for authors-to-read.

The Therapist is another thrilling, mysterious Paris masterpiece. Alice and her boyfriend Leo move into a tight knit “circle” of homes. The neighbors all seem to be friends and know each other’s business. Alice invites everyone for drinks in an attempt to join the circle clique. Afterward she is approached by a man (PI) asking what it’s like to live in a house where a murder occurred. Alice is upset and absolutely shocked as she had no idea. She becomes obsessed with what happened to Nina (the previous owner). This man becomes a large part of her life as he’s the only one she can tell her findings to.

Alice begins to suspect everyone in the circle, as did I. It even drives a wedge between her and Leo. This story kept me on my toes the entire time. I was constantly trying to figure out whodunit before Alice. Paris scatters clues throughout the story but it’s never obvious.

I couldn’t stop listening to this! I had to know how it would end for Alice and what really happened. I even would rewind and replay to see if I missed a clue. I loved the British accent of the narrator & that there was a separate male narrator. I think she really brought Alice to life. I’d love for this to be a movie! Great thriller read!

Excellent narrator! Started on audio, finished on Kindle. This really pulled me in and immersed me as Alice tried to fit in with a closed neighborhood where everyone already had bonds--and secrets. An enthralling page turner, with lots of clues, and creepy atmosphere in what should be an idyllic space. Wavered on giving it 4 or 5 stars, because it was a fast and fun read, but I was picking up on the clues much earlier than Alice did. Thrilling ending, though it could have been fine to leave the epilogue off IMHO.

Alice and Leo decide to move their relationship to the next level. Instead of Leo coming to Alice's little cottage in the country, he jumps at the opportunity to buy a house in a tiny gated subdivision called The Circle, in London. The house was selling far below what one would expect in that neighborhood and Leo couldn't miss the opportunity,

While Leo is away for business, Alice finds out that the house has a history that Leo did not share with her. She finds that her trust in Leo is faltering. If he could hide this from her, what else isn't he telling her? Does she really know him after only spending weekends together?

Alice finds herself working to help figure out what really happened to the former owner but the answers are hitting to close to home for the neighbors who don't welcome her prying into the past.

Alice, Alice, Alice. So many missteps and so many secrets had me wanting to shake her. If anyone was in need of a therapist, it was probably her.

This was a good, fast-paced mystery, loaded with suspicion and misdirection. Great audio narration made you really feel like a fly on the wall.

Holy Holy what a book!
Well written, dark and clever. A compulsive read that had my guessing right until the very end.
This unique writing is what captures me. Amazing job well done.
A normal suburban life may not be all it seems to be.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and author for this great audio book!

Shocked!!! I thought I knew what was going to happen early on but dang I was wrong! This was a slow build but definitely worth it!

So...
I've enjoyed this author's books, but this one was a slight miss for me. If not for the fact that I got an advanced audio copy, I would have given up early as the story was far too slow to be a thriller. It read more like dry chick-lit. Alice just wasn't a compelling character to keep up the story.
Though at some point, it did pick up. I can't say when. However, most of the twists that came late in the story, I guessed. The only one, a certain secret, was lost to me. Probably because I was never invested in that character.
I will admit, early on, I suspected everyone until it was obvious who it was--before the reveal that is.
One small complaint--I thought for sure UKers were more into tea than coffee. Maybe that's changed or I'm just not well informed as I'm not a UKer. But it struck me as odd that everyone was going on about coffee and not tea. Hmmm
Overall, I can't say it was a bad read (or listen). I've certainly endured worse. This just isn't my favorite from this author and it happens.
If you enjoy mild suspense and this author--I say give it a go. You might really enjoy this one.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Copy.

I liked this book but it really took a few different twists I didn't see coming. It wasn't my favorite book by this author. But I was able to listen to the audiobook fast enough that it held my attention

When your name is B.A. Paris, you have to answer to a higher authority.

Reader expectations are sky-high and you're expected to deliver.

This being said, I was a fan of B.A. Paris's earlier books and, therefore, I had high expectations for "The Therapist". Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the book's slow pace and overall mediocrity.

I listened to the audiobook and although the book's narration was superb, many times I had to pinch myself to stay awake while listening to repetitive dialogue (especially in the early chapters) that lacked spark. In fairness to the author, this book did pick up in the last couple of chapters but waiting for this moment seemed like an eternity.

In addition to the book's slow pace, I had a major problem getting into the protagonist's head. Much time in the book was allocated to the fact that unbeknownst to the protagonist, a murder/suicide had occured in the home that her partner had just purchased. I would be very upset if my significant other did not tell me that a horrific crime had been commited in our home but I would not spend all my waking hours talking about it. Instead, I would either move out or decide to make the best out of a bad situation.

Also, since the murdered therapist had the same name as the protagonist's dead sister, the protagonist felt an obligation to find out everything about the crime and stay in her home. Huh????

Although this book was not in the same league as "Behind Closed Doors", it could be a fun beach read. The major problem that I had was that I was not relaxing at the beach while I was listening to the book.

I always love it when audiobooks have multiple narrators and both of this book's narrators did a superb job.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars, rounded up.

Wow...I decided to write this review straight away and wow...all I can say is wow. Which is a normal response after reading a book by Paris. They are a phenomenal writer and have such a great way of building up and incredible plot. The set up of this one was a bit different, but the twists hit twice as hard and I wasn't ready. I read this book in under 24 hours! Definitely a one sitter if you're looking for a way to spend your day!

The Therapist was a quick read. Alice and Leo move into their new beautiful home called The Circle. It’s a gated community with a selective number of houses. It’s almost to good to be true. Life’s perfect until Alice discovers secrets that Leo has kept from her #netgalley #goodreads

Another zinger from BA Paris! Talk about a twisty mystery!! Kept me glued to the audiobook, completely mesmerized and eagerly anticipating the end. This is a slow burn psychological mystery thriller that builds until it reaches an explosive ending.

Alice and Leo move into The Circle, a gated high end community near London. Leo is only able to afford the house because a young psychotherapist named Nina was brutally murdered there by her husband several months earlier. Alice, who is unaware of this fact when she first moves in, discovers it shortly after hosting a housewarming with neighbours. After learning about the murder, she becomes emotionally drawn into Nina’s life and tries to determine if Nina’s husband was really the murderer?

The plot was well crafted. Many plausible suspects were presented. The narrator was terrific, offering a highly engaging performance. As always, the first person perspective added a layer of tension and foreboding. I listened to the audiobook in one day. Worth the read!

A gracious thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for ALC of The Therapist. This domestic thriller centers around Alice and Leo moving into the Circle, a perfect neighborhood. Alice learns that the previous owner died in the house and becomes obsessed with figuring out what happened. There were a lot of twists and keeping you guessing and not trusting anyone. The narrator did a great job with the story between what is happening with Alice and the therapist in the past. Overall an enjoyable read.

I haven’t enjoyed a BA Paris novel this much since Behind Closed Doors. I love mysteries set in small, gated communities; The Therapist takes place in a London community called The Circle, a cul-de-sac with 5 or so families in residence. Alice moves in with her boyfriend after a few months of a long distance relationship, previously only seeing each other a couple times per week. He got a great deal on their home in The Circle...almost too good a deal. Early on, Alice discovers a secret about the house and the mystery begins from there. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything but the author does an extremely good job of making everyone seem suspicious, even Alice herself. Everyone is keeping secrets, the plot oozes with paranoia, making for a creepy reading experience. I listened to an advanced copy of the audiobook and it was extremely well done. I’m so happy to be able to recommend this one! Available 7/13

Thank you to BA Paris, Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Therapist is a page turner for sure!
Definitely a “who done it” story that will keep you guessing until the end.
Another masterpiece from Paris.

The Therapist:

“I think time has no meaning when it comes to grief.”

Another amazing and wild ride from B.A. Paris! I was paranoid and second guessing myself the entire time on what was happening. I loved the small Easter eggs Paris intertwined in the story to really shock you for the big reveal, even though it was right in front of your face. I really felt like Paris hit me with a one-two punch combo on The Therapist. I had one bomb dropped, then another! I was in the drive-thru listening and I know for a fact I had to pause it and rewind because i really didn’t think I heard correctly.

The reader for the audio book did such a wonderful job. I think a lot of my paranoia and excitement from the story came from how well the reader played Alice’s narration of fear and second guessing. Highly recommend this for the audiobook lovers in my life!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Therapist. I had no idea where we were going, but I knew I was definitely down for the ride. If you’re a fan of Big Little Lies and Final Girls, I think The Therapist is for you! Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy. The Therapist is out July 13th!

Rating: 6.0/10

Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance copy of The Therapist for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.

This was my first novel by B.A. Paris, so with that came some hesitancies. Having seen high praise for her novel Behind Closed Doors, I wanted to take a shot at her upcoming release. It ended up being a solid read but with a twist I saw coming from miles away.

I did enjoy the careful dissection that our main protagonist, Alice, performed in attempting to figure out what happened at her new home two years previously. What ends up happening is that she begins exploring all of these rabbit holes, which creates trust issues between Alice and anyone she has come in contact with within The Circle.

While I mostly became endeared to Alice, she was also a bit… much. A majority of people don’t enjoy when someone constantly sticks their nose in business that isn’t theirs, and Alice does this on way more occasions than is necessary. It is also difficult to stomach her perspective at times as she makes just about every. single. character a suspect. Maybe they all did the thing and share a glass of wine on the anniversary. What are you going to do now, Alice?

The eventual reveal was… foreseen, and while the backstory behind it was an interesting one, I feel like it could have been left to breathe a little longer. I would say you have to suspend belief a little more than normal with the “how can you not know who your neighbors are when you live so close by and are in each others’ business”, but in reality, the truth is we really don’t know. How well do you know your own neighbors?

All in all, The Therapist is an entertaining thriller that would suffice as a nice beach read. Don’t expect to be blown away by the reveal, but it is good enough that the book warrants attention. If you enjoy audio, Olivia Dowd did a great job with the narration. I feel she truly captured Alice the way Paris wanted.