4.5 stars. B.A. Paris’ The Prisoner is a quipping psychological thriller. The unique plot glided smoothly back and forth between the past and the present centering on the kidnapping of Amelia. So many questions went through my mind as I read this story as to what was really going on. This kept me reading to the end in anticipation of the answers.
This is definitely the best B.A. Paris book I read. I had trouble finishing two of her previous novels.
Thank you NetGalley and St.Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was a quick read for me. The short chapters made it easy to read “just one more” over and over. Like Paris’ other books this one kept me guessing; however, the ending is very abrupt and I would have liked to see it fleshed out a little more. There are quite a few characters involved so it was difficult to develop a strong connection to any of them. Overall the book was very entertaining. I would recommend it to others.

I don't care what anyone else says, I loved this one. It's right on par with Behind Closed Doors in my opinion. It was such an emotional, nail biting read that I read it in one day which is rare for me. Told in alternating timelines, this story comes together in a brilliantly, tragic way. I highly recommend this one to all my fellow readers.

Another great novel by Paris! The story builds in pieces and perspectives, but you experience it all through Amelie. She is a fighter that is determined to come out on top, despite being put in an awful position first by her marriage, then by her kidnapping. As her life seems to spiral out of her control, she digs in and finds little victories that keep her going. When she finds that not everyone is against her, her efforts to survive are renewed. She is an exceptionally strong woman that commits to not only survive, but also to find out what truly happened. And there is even a very thin cord of romance that can help her rise from the ashes. Amelie's determination will hook you and keep you on the edge of your seat! This story has hope, deceit, murder, envy, suspense, money and revenge - what more could you ask? Leave yourself time when you start this one because you won't want to put it down until you turn the last page!

I was so excited for this one until I started it. This one was a huge miss for me.

Words to describe this book:

S-L-O-W
Boring
Predictable twists

⭐️⭐️

I've been in love with B.A Paris since her first book Behind Closed Doors hit shelves and was extremely excited when I got an early read of her newest work!!

Amelie had a rough time growing up due to her mother passing during childbirth and recently losing her father to cancer, since she has no family left she decides to flee to London for a new life and to pursue college to be a lawyer. After reaching London she battled homelessness and unable to keep her job, Amelie she stumbled into a friendship with a wealthy woman named Carolyne who offered her a job as a live in housekeeper and thats when she saw a glimmer of hope to get her life started. Carolyne worked for a man named Jed Hawthorne who also offered Amelie a job for his magazine, Amelie not knowing Jed's background decided to take the job and winds up in a really tricky marriage and immediately realizes it was a mistake. Fast forward Amelie wakes up in a pitch black room and realizes she has been kidnapped, what do her kidnappers want and why did they take her?

This book was definitely an easy read and very exciting, however I wish there was some back and fourth chapters with what was going on in Jed's mind.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a fan of B.A. Paris since the author's first book blew me away, so I was very excited to read another one of her twisty, psychological thrillers! The story starts out full-throttle, just as I like. Mystery, some confusion...the story moves along, switching from Present Day to the Past to tell the story of Amelie and how she came to be held prisoner with her husband Ned. Of course, all is NOT really as it seems, which we learn quickly enough, and then again and again, as facts surface, new information is revealed, and several "wait...what?" moments occur. These are the aspects of the book I loved and held on to throughout, waiting for answers just like Amelie.

However, there were also aspects of the book that made me struggle to stick with the story (never good). The Prisoner had such a strong beginning--until it didn't At a certain point, nothing new seemed to be happening for another 1/4 of the book, at least not enough. I found myself thinking: I can't read an entire book where she is in this room doing the same thing all the time! The "Past" section of the story was also not entertaining at this point, and felt just to be providing mostly background information. So I did struggle to stay with the book. However, I read on, and the story did pick up again, with many twists and turns. But then came my second issue with the book: some characters that were two-dimensional and pretty unbelievable, even with the far-out plot. When this happens in a book, I am transported outside of the story and cannot immerse myself in the same way as before. Nevertheless, the story finally moved forward in an interesting, often twisty way until the end, when the third thing happened I was disappointed with: right before the conclusion, a character dumped a load of information in a speech to sum up what had REALLY occured throughout the story. This is a big turn-off for me.

So, all in all, I have mixed feelings about The Prisoner. Off to a great start, the storyline and some of the characters could have been tightened up, and the ending less rushed. I loved the twists and turns, especially one of the later ones, though, so I will still be recommending it to anyone who loves this style of book!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Normally I like B.A. Paris' books, but this one fell flat. I didn't feel it was suspenseful. It seemed very long and drug out. hard to get through. I ended up skimming it. Just feel very short this time.

I always enjoy B.A Paris’ writing. I really felt like I was in the dark with Amelie. She is always so good at making you feel like a fly on the wall in her stories, feeling and experiencing ALL THE THINGS.

Amelie was an emotional character that DRAINED me. But she was very young and completely get why she was that way. I really wanted a different resolution when it came to her 3 friends but this isn’t a fairytale is it? The writing nonetheless is captivating and I finished this book in 2 days.

Thank you #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for this Advanced Reader Copy of #ThePrisoner by @baparisauthor she never disappoints!

Pub Date November 1st 2022
Add it to your calendar!

I’m a big fan of BA Paris and have read all of her books (most of which I’ve given 5 stars and regularly recommend to family and friends).

The Prisoner had a promising premise - I was so excited to get started! Unfortunately this one was just a big miss for me. The characters were unlikeable. The plot was unbelievable. There’s very few books that I don’t but I almost put this one in the DNF pile.

I’m still a huge BA Paris supporter and will wait with baited breath for her next release.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Amelie Lamont comes to London after her father’s death. Despite a shaky start, she makes some friends and finds her way into a comfortable existence; in a moment of wishing for a way to make her dream of becoming a lawyer come true, she agrees to a somewhat shady proposition made by her billionaire boss, Ned Hawthorpe.

And then the kidnappers come.

=========

Told from Amelie’s point of view, this absorbing melodrama alternates between Present and Past [to provide the necessary backstory]. Filled with intrigue and uncertainty, the unfolding story quickly pulls readers into an absorbing study of human behavior.

An undercurrent of uneasiness permeates the narrative; several unexpected plot twists are sure to surprise readers. Unfortunately, the events that occur in the telling of this tale are rather unrealistic . . . eventually, readers may find the implausibility of the unfolding story becomes a bit of a stumbling block despite its penchant for unpredictability.

Although it feels a bit like an information dump, answers do come as the narrative draws to a close. But the denouement is sure to leave readers wondering.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
#ThePrisoner #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of The Prisoner. I usually love this author's writing and the beginning of this book was great. It was intriguing and kept me wondering what was going on. The story got implausible and none of the characters were likable or relatable so I really couldn’t care about what happened to them. The biggest disappointment was the ending - it was all one person explaining what had happened and why. This book was not for me, but if you’re looking for a quick read and you’re willing to suspend belief you might really like this one.

This book is exhausting mentally and weirdly physically and I reminded how useless I would be at saving myself if I was ever in a scary situation! Amelie is a prisoner in so many ways all of which require her to use her wits as well as her physicality to save herself but when it is all over will she finally be free? Her marriage to the wealthy Jed Hawthorne should solve many of her problems but with money comes more problems and the ability to hide them better. This book was fast paced and fraught with twists and turns that keeps the reader in the edge of their seat!

I am a huge BA Paris fan and was so excited to see a new book! When the story started with a kidnapped woman, I almost didn't continue reading (not a topic I am a fan of lately). But I decided to keep reading...and WOW! I literally read this book in one sitting. So fast paced, so many twists. I loved it! Cannot wait to recommend this book in November. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris

This book starts with a bang and doesn’t let up on the suspense. Right away we know Amelie has been taken and held inside a home, her husband, Ned, has also been taken and held in a different part of the house. But why have they been kidnapped and by whom? The house is completely dark, windows boarded up and no light allowed in. In another part of the house, Amelie can hear Ned begging for his life, but she doesn’t care if he lives or dies.

The story switches from the present/to the past where we learn about Amelie’s life and how she came to be married to such a terrible man. I was intrigued and enjoyed reading this suspense/thriller. I was not disappointed!

PLOT:

Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a life for herself, she is swept up into a glamorous lifestyle where she married the handsome billionaire Jed Hawthorne.

But then, Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Jed.

I’m pretty sure the husband’s name in the book is actually NED.

Anyway, this comes out on November 1.

B.A. Paris’ latest psychological thriller, “The Prisoner,” is a unique and twisty fast read--albeit, more than a tad unrealistic. Still, I have no issue suspending reality in order for the author to take me on an exciting ride, though this particular ride was a bit all over the place at times. And while I never truly connected with any of the main characters, I still found myself drawn into the story straight out of the gate, hard-pressed to put this one down. So, while I can’t say that this is my favorite B.A. Paris novel to date, I still found it to be an enjoyable and unpredictable summertime read.

B.A. Paris is known for her riveting fast-paced psychological thrillers. She returns with her newest entry, "The Prisoner," a novel set in England with a young woman named Amelie Lamont as the protagonist. After her father dies, Amelie is homeless and penniless and moves to London to try to get a job and start saving for college. After being unsuccessful in her endeavors to hold a steady job, she befriends a woman, Carolyn, who offers her steady employment and friendship. Through Carolyn she meets two other women, Justine and Lina, and the four of them become good friends.

The story is structured from Amelie's perspective alternating between past and present. The storyline is peppered with twists and surprises as we learn that Amelie and her new husband, Ned, have been kidnapped and are being held in a house in two separate rooms. Blindfolded and alone, Amelie tries to figure out why she and Ned are being held captive. As the story alternatives between past and present, we learn that Amelie's past is linked to the present day mystery.

As the past unfurls, there are startling revelations about Amelie, Ned and her circle of friends. B.A. Paris is the master at building suspense and this story is briskly paced.. Be prepared to gulp this novel down in one sitting as B.A. Paris ties up all the loose ends. As usual this author never disappoints with her tales of psychological suspense and "The Prisoner" is no exception. It was very enjoyable and highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amelie and her wealthy handsome husband have been kidnapped and are being kept separate, but why?

Brilliant and powerful
This story smoothly alternates between past and present. To a time before this couple met and the event in their present imprisonment. The plot moves smoothly adding more layer and questions as it goes.
I found in an engaging read and a great ending with a strong female lead unwilling to lose herself any further.
Nothing is completely what it seems.
B. A. Paris has once again created a winner

Thank you NetGalley ant St. Martins press for the early advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

SWOOOON! I could not put this book down and once it was over I didn’t want it to be over!! What a win of a book!!! If you want a fast paced suck you in story this is IT! I think it’s my favorite BA Paris book.

Amelie lost her father young and fled to London to try and make her life work. She met wonderful people who became family. We are presented with the past and present build up timeline which works so brilliantly from where she is locked in a pitch black room being held captive as the present and the past of how she got there. But OF COURSE not everything as it seems and the fluidity of the twist is *muah*!

Highly highly recommend this one for a fast - can’t look away - must finish ASAP read!

Thank you St. Martins Press and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely amazing! Even better than Behind Closed Doors. I wish the book had continued. I wasn’t ready for the ending. This is, by farm the best book I’ve read in a very long time. B.A. Paris has become my favorite author very quickly.