The Prisoner definitely had that classic B.A. Paris setup—fast start, mystery vibes, and a woman caught in a deeply unsettling situation. The premise was intriguing, especially the whole “why does being kidnapped actually feel safer?” angle. It kept me turning pages just to see what the heck was really going on.

That said, the second half didn’t totally live up to the suspense of the setup. Some of the twists felt a little far-fetched, and the character development wasn’t super deep. Amelie was interesting, but I never fully connected with her or understood all her choices. It wasn’t bad—quick, engaging, and tense in parts—but it didn’t hit as hard as I hoped. Solid for a weekend read if you’re into domestic thrillers, but not one that’ll stick with me long-term.

Amelie is used to taking care of herself and working hard to get by. She enters into a bargain with a wealthy man, he needs a wife, she needs a safe place, so they wed as part of a bargain where she is sure she's taken care of her future. But here comes the spooky music.....I know, it's all in my head but I can hear it.....and suddenly she and her husband are kidnapped and held for ransom. A ransom she is not sure is coming to save them.

B A Paris is an expert at the psychological thrillers that pull a reader into the story and will not turn you loose until the end. Her books are almost always binge readings. The characters are real, you either love them or hate them, and sometimes feel sorry for them, but they always evoke emotions. THE PRISONER is another 5 star read in Paris' long list of great books.

An addictive thriller that keeps you hooked from page one with its eerie tension and unpredictable twists. The dual timelines add depth, slowly unraveling Amelie’s dark past while keeping you guessing about her terrifying present. While some plot points stretch believability, the fast pace and suspense make it a gripping read you won’t want to put down!

I was not invested in the characters of this book and the entire plot was so unbelievable. I kept reading thinking it had to get better, but it didn't.

This book was a gripping psychological thriller and pulled me in from the first page blending suspense mystery and unexpected twists. The dual timeline added depth making you question who to trust. Really enjoyed this one.

This had an interesting premise, but the characters were so unlikeable and the main character was really quite dumb.

In a rags to married-to-riches story, Amelie our main character has found herself the good life with her billionaire husband. But when she finds herself trapped, a prisoner in a dark room at the mercy of her captors. But then why does she feel safer and more empowered over her husband in this captivity than when she was living the normal life of a wife?

The story switches back and forth between past and present, gradually building Amelie's backstory until we understand how she got to where she is today. Unfortunately the rest of the characters were not well-developed at all. The plot was promising, but unfortunately the mystery did not deliver and it was not what I would consider thrilling. That being said, I did find this to be a fairly propelling book and did not get bogged down despite the things I disliked.

Thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

I’ve been a fan of B.A. Paris ever since reading Behind Closed Doors years ago so I was so excited to get approved on my request to read this one!

I really liked the pace of the beginning of this book and how fast everything happened. I had to suspend belief in a few plot points but overall I liked this locked-room thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Prisoner! This book had me hooked from start to finish. B.A. Paris never fails to deliver unpredictable thrillers, and The Prisoner is no exception. Just when you think you have it figured out, a twist hits that completely changes the game. Her ability to craft a story that keeps you guessing is unmatched.
I can't stop reading her books. Paris is an incredible writer, expertly bringing her stories to life with complex characters and gripping suspense. If you’re looking for a novel full of unexpected turns and relentless tension, The Prisoner is a must-read.

While I appreciate NetGalley and the publishers giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review I had to DNF it. I just couldn’t get into this and didn’t really feel the energy to continue it.

In The Prisoner, B.A. Paris delivers a gripping, fast-paced thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story unfolds with Amelie, who finds herself trapped in a web of secrets and deception after a seemingly perfect life takes a dark turn. The plot navigates themes of trust and betrayal as Amelie grapples with unreliable characters whose motives remain shrouded in mystery. The relentless pace of the narrative mirrors the turmoil of Amelie's world, ensuring a thrilling ride. Recommended for those who love suspenseful tales, this book is a masterclass in psychological tension.

I couldn't stop reading I had to know what happened. Loved the short chapters that kept me wondering what was next. Ned a famous Hawthorpe and owner of exclusives and Amelie a hard worker who lost all her family end up coming together to help each other..

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

This was a no for me. There are too many books out there with similar premise that I felt like I had already read this book several times. I liked the writing and the pace but the plot was a huge disappointment.

Amelie has always been a survivor, from the time she lost both her parents as a child to making it on her own in London. When she meets handsome billionaire Ned Hawthorne, he sweeps her off his feet. with the promise of all her dreams coming true. But when she wakes up in a pitch black room, held by mysterious captors, she can hear Ned's voice too. He's being held for ransom and each day the ransom goes unpaid, it doubles. B.A. Paris could make a grocery list seem mysterious and thrilling. This book was fantastic. So many twists, murders, and shocking surprises. Like many of her books, a definite five star read.

Great twisty read, perfect for a rainy weekend read!

Kept me guessing all the way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of B.A. Parrish's "The Prisoner."  The novel begins with Amelia and her husband being held prisoner in separate dark rooms, and she is trying to figure out who and why they were kidnapped. Amelie is married to Ned, a wealthy man with a penchant for cruelty. Why did Amelia marry this man? Who kidnapped them, and what do they want? Do they make it out alive? All of these questions are explored throughout the novel.

The chapters are short, making "The Prisoner" a quick read, but some events are far-fetched and unbelievable. Amelie is naive and slow to react during tense hostage scenarios. I read the book mainly to see how Ms. Parrish tied up loose ends in the story; however, the narrative felt repetitive, and the conclusion unsatisfying. I still have one more book by this author to read, titled "Bring Me Back," which I hope will be more enjoyable.

I thought this one started off with a bang and it definitely piqued my interest. The synopsis of the story was super intriguing and it sounded so freaky, which I loved. But as I read it just fell a bit flat for me. Amelie marries Ted, a billionaire, and they end up being kidnapped. Poor Amelie is separated from her husband where they're imprisoned and she's in a pitch black room with no hint of light at all. It reminded me of a time I visited Alcatraz prison and they let us go into the room that used to be where prisoners were put in isolation...PITCH BLACK! I can only imagine how Amelie would've felt.

I liked that there were twists and there was suspense. I kept wondering why they'd been kidnapped and who was really behind it. I struggled with how it fell flat at a certain point in the story, which I'm sure will be easily recognized when others read it. I still really liked the major twist of the story which I didn't predict at all. But I just couldn't handle all of the lose ends and things that to me just didn't make sense. I also didn't care for the ending.

I did like it enough, however, to read this author again.

One of my favorite authors, who keeps consistent with excellent quality tales that are truest gripping and full of twists and turns that keep you guessing.

The reviews for this book are mixed but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm way way late reading and reviewing the book for Netgalley so I borrowed the audiobook from Libby and alternated the two versions which helped me to finish the book pretty quickly. I really liked the audio edition narrated by Georgia Maguire. The story is far-fetched and mostly unbelievable but I was still entertained and didn't once think of giving up. I liked Amelie as a character (and also love the name). I think she was supposed to be 19 or 20 but she seemed very mature in her thinking. I've read a few of B.A. Paris's books and have a couple of others on my to read list. I have no excuse for waiting so long to read this. 3.5 stars rounded up.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing access to this novel. My apologies for being so tardy in getting to it. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published: November 1, 2022

I absolutely loved Behind Closed Doors and enjoyed The Therapist, so I was eager to read The Prisoner. The plot had me intrigued and I really enjoyed part one, but then it became a bit too unbelievable. The last 25% of the book read exactly like you were speaking to someone trying to solve all of the loose ends; it did not flow like a book should. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea and I definitely wouldn't say it's a strong book by B.A. Paris, I will continue to read her books. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me a copy.

Unfortunately after low ratings, I decided not to continue this title. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.