Let me first state that I absolutely loved Behind Closed Doors (BCD). What a twisty and maniacal ending. I immediately put B. A. Paris on my must-read list. Now to The Prisoner.... I definitely had some BCD feels in the first half. The sense of darkness and loss of time was overpowering and stifling. Amelie is definitely a heroine I could root for. Yes, she made bad choices, but she was only 20 and forgivable (well, perhaps not the second monetary decision... girl have some self-respect and get some revenge when you have the opportunity). The choices of her 30-something friends came of as just plain stupid and set up quite a bit of the story's premise. As the story unraveled in the second half, I found myself rushing to get to the end. I think the author did too, trying to tidy everything up with extensive and frankly boring explanatory dialogue. What started off great just fell flat to me in the end.

Thank you to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I was on the edge of my seat and caught myself holding my breath more than once. Wow, just wow. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Eh, I have no idea what happened.  I think it was good, ending was weird.  So confused. The first half was pretty good altho I. guessed what was up. The second half felt like a different book and I really don't understand the ending.

After her father dies of cancer when she is 17, Amelie finds herself alone with no home, no money, and no family. She escapes to London, hoping to find a way to save up for college. She is down to her last few pounds when she meets Carolyn, who offers her a job as a live-in housekeeper...setting Amelie down a path to being kidnapped after she agrees to be fake married to her boss in a plot to get her boss' father off his back about marrying a childhood friend. Things aren't as they seem on the outside, however, and Amelie finds herself trapped by the marriag and trapped by her kidnappers.

I absolutely adored BA Paris' books up until The Therapist. I have no idea what has happened since, then, but the writing style has completely changed. Her first few books, up through The Breakdown were so well written, extremely well paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat just wanting MORE. These last two books (The Prisoner and The Therapist) feel completely different. The writing is extremely juvenile, the pacing erratic, and just...not nearly as good as her earlier books.
The Prisoner was definitely better in terms of plot, and could have been on par with Bring Me Back, but it was just lacking that polish the other books had.

That being said, I do think this book is worth the read--it is an excellent story and that alone will keep you turning pages! If you're on the fence, place a hold on it through the library.

Amelie is down on her luck after the loss of both her parents, first her mother as a young girl, and now her father at 17. At the lowest point in her life, she finds a group of friends who become her family. Through these friends, she meets and ends up marrying billionaire Ned Hawthorne. One night, she wakes just in time to realize that she and Ned are being kidnapped. Amelie finds herself locked in a pitch black room, and we see the events that took place that led her to this point. But things are not always what they seem. The Prisoner is full of twists and turns, and I found myself internally yelling, "What are you doing??" more than once!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy to review. The Prisoner is out November 1, 2022.

After losing everything, a woman is kidnapped and held captive with her new husband. But her captors show her a surprising amount of kindness, which begs the question page after page, how exactly did Amelie end up in this position? Told through past and present timelines, we get to see just how far Amelie has come. From the death of her last living family member and ending up on the streets to the unbelievable luck she has being given a place to stay and a job by a stranger. Just when Amelie's life seems to have fallen into place, she's snatched from it and shoved into a nightmare.

My first BA Paris novel but it certainly won't be my last! Plunging the reader right into this makeshift prison with Amelie, Paris doesn't waste anytime getting into the action. I started this one late at night with the intention of reading just a few chapters at most and ended up nearly finishing the whole thing in one sitting! The story remains engaging all the way to the end as the story shifts between the past and present with short chapters that make it impossible to put it down.

While perhaps too oddly specific, this one reminds me vaguely of the film Man On Fire starring Denzel Washington (and I say vaguely because wow how long has it been since I watched that one?) I would recommend this one to fans of Lisa Jewell, Alice Feeney, and Riley Sager.

B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors. The Prisoner is a wonderfully entangled story with incredibly complex characters and a surprising ending. This book is so disturbing and thrilling. It’s sure to be a bestseller.

I had such high expectations for The Prisoner, my first novel from B.A. Paris, but I was left feeling a little overwhelmed and confused.

The start of this book was incredible, and it was the making of a five-star read for me; kidnapping and confinement, ransom and a hint of trust in the captor (yes, Stockholm syndrome) are all the things that spark my attention and keep it. But in the latter half of this book, everything that was set in motion unraveled and suddenly I was left with too much confusing information and a rather abrupt ending.

The first half is told in alternating timelines, which provides background information and leaves one trying to piece together what is happening in the current timeline. The short chapters added to the momentum, and I can't believe how quickly I tore through this novel.

This is one of those books in which I wonder just how the author thought of the nuances to being kidnapped and held in a dark place. Did they lock themselves up in a window-less space and feel their way around? Are these the types of things one learns from reading true-crime novels? I now will be a smarter victim if ever I am put in similar circumstances, that's for sure.

The second half of the book is only told in one timeline, and the reader is trying to figure out the mystery right along with the main character, Amelie. But this half was so confusing on a couple fronts. First, I was suddenly questioning if I could trust the narrator, which left me pondering a lot of things I had previously read and thought. My heart was also breaking for her, and what she was now experiencing; I didn't know a thriller could cause this kind of reaction in me. At the same time, I felt bombarded by information and keeping all these characters straight - I'm honestly not sure I fully understand who is who, and who did what, even now. I felt like I was floundering in a sea of chaos, and that I just wasn't smart enough to piece it all together; this is an overwhelming feeling as a reader, and not one I enjoy.

I just really wished this book worked for me. This could have been a great thriller/mystery novel, but it lacked so much in the second half. I do however, really love the title for this book, and I think it's incredibly fitting for every aspect of it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy to reading and review.

This book gets right into it. Amelie finds herself abducted in the night and locked in a pitch black room. She doesn’t know who is behind all of this, but she knows she needs to find out who it is and how to escape.

There are two parts; The Kidnap and The Reckoning. The story is told in the present and the past, and the chapters are so short. (Which I absolutely love)

You find out that Amelie lost both of her parents and has no other family to take her in. She struggles to earn money and have somewhere to live. But once she meets Carolyn, all of that changes.

This book had me on my toes. I was glued to it. Right away the suspense begins. Telling the story in two different time frames was perfect. I found the speed of suspense was perfect as well. I had my suspicions about the kidnapper but I was wrong, like usual. The ending was pretty long to wrap it up, but I feel like it was necessary in a way.

Another fantastic read by B.A Paris. I highly suggest to add this to your TBR list!


Thank you to netgalley and stmartinspress for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Prisoner is available November 1.

I reveived this one as an ARC. Really enjoyed it a lot and flew through it. Did not expect the ending at all like that and loved it. Sounds like there could a follow-up coming tho with way it ends.
I loved the characters and you love and hate them what they stand for..
Did not disappoint and totally in line with what I expected and love from this author!!

This dual-timeline thriller reminded me of an action movie! Amelie starts over in London after losing her father, making friends and eventually marrying a rich billionaire. When they're kidnapped, the past and present unravel to reveal there is so much more to this story.

This story is told in two parts: The Kidnap and The Reckoning. Both are equally predictable and unbelievable, in their own ways. I found myself losing a bit of interest towards the end as Amelie looks for answers and everything is explained to her (and the reader).

I did enjoy the pacing. The short chapters and the way B.A. Paris unveils the story made this one fly by--easily a 24hr or less read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced copy and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you were to look up the word “Unputdownable” in the dictionary, there would be a picture of The Prisoner by BA Paris. This book was so incredibly compelling right from the start. The very first chapter caught my attention, and it rarely lagged. The chapters are very short–some might argue too short–but it helped to propel the story onward. That said, because they were so short, I barely had time to situate myself before I was dropped into the other timeline. I kind of liked this approach and the resulting disorientation, because it nicely paralleled the emotions that the protagonist, Amelie, is feeling when she’s abducted in the very beginning of the “present” timeline.


The book is told in two timelines–past and present. I was a smidge confused when the “past” timeline was set in 2019 (given that this book is releasing in 2022), but it seems that the “past” wasn’t set a few years in the past, but much more recent. I’m not sure if that’s a spoiler–or maybe the author was trying to write a book that was COVID-19 free and decided that was the best way to do it. The beginning of the “past” timeline is a little slow paced, but the author makes up for this by providing those little nuggets in short, bite-sized chunks, then bringing us back to the present timeline, where everything is wrought with high tension.

This book might be my second-favourite BA Paris story, after Behind Closed Doors. It had a similar feel–both in plot, characters, and just the general way that I could not stop reading it. The plot kept me guessing, though I did predict one of the twists fairly early on, and it felt like the author was trying so hard to misdirect the reader from that twist, that it did make me giggle a little at the end when all the clues that were written to lead the reader down another path were explained. While the story was a smidge far-fetched, I didn’t particularly care. I couldn’t stop reading it!

I recommend this book if you’re looking for a rocket-fast paced thriller that will keep you on your toes until the very end!

Amelie is a young woman, alone in the world who starts work as a house keeper in a live-in position in order to save for her college education. She decides when her employer gets married, she will start a new job and happens to secure one with a man (Ned). Ned gives Amelie a proposition that she can’t refuse and soon after, her whole life has changed.

Amelie is abducted in the night and brought to a dark room/small very dimly lit bathroom. Her abductor is silent and won’t speak, but doesn’t seem to want to cause her harm. He brings her food, water and blankets. Amelie comes to realize that she wasn’t abducted alone, but with her new husband, Ned.

Told in two timelines, past and present, fast paced psychological thriller did not disappoint. I have read all of this authors previous books and was very excited to have the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Definitely recommend and it is a solid 4.5 stars for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

B.A. Paris is a must read in the thriller genre for me. My book club has read several books by Paris and I am amazed at how every time I was trying to figure out the plot. This book is NOT predictable and I enjoyed every page of it!!

Incredibly disappointing. I loved paris older books. Her newer stuff just isn’t worth the time. The story drug on and I didn’t feel closure at the end. Super boring.

Although I have been critical of some of Paris's books, there are others that I have loved, and The Prisoner is now at the top of that list. I couldn't put it down and raced through every twist and turn. This book is the definition of a page-turner.
Amelie is the title character, and she finds herself a prisoner and doesn't know why, much less who is behind it. She's been able to bring herself from a state of homelessness to a marriage to an attractive wealthy man that appears to solve all her problems. Unfortunately, her problems are merely beginning.
The plot is fast paced, creative and doesn't rely on any overly unbelievable twists to pull it all together.
Pick up this book on a night when you don't have to get up early in the morning - you'll be up late reading.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the first part of this book. Quick read - moved well. I liked the past/present timeline and how well they tied together.

I did feel the second part was rushed - I didn't get the answers I wanted and was left hanging.

Amelie has no one - then she finds a great group of friends only to have them taken away. She marries a wealthy man for only what she thinks he can give her - but he is not what he seems!

“The Prisoner” by B.A.Paris
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Release Date: 11/01
Genre: Thriller

This thriller is definitely a fast read. This is a dual timeline of past and present. The past starts about a month prior. I found the beginning kind of boring and wasn’t sure if I was going to get into the book. I kept reading and didn’t want to put it down. I had some good guesses along the way, but I wasn’t sure how she was going to tie it all together. While I’ve read some reviews and some people don’t seem to love the ending I kind of do.

Amelie father passed away leaving her 17 year old self homeless. She moved to England in hopes to start over. When she meets Carolyn her life takes a turn for the better. Then she meets Ned and her life gets turned upside down. They are kidnapped and she has no idea why. The events after the kidnapping have Amelie questioning everything.

The Prisoner is built on an intriguing premise. When an impoverished young woman agrees to marry a very wealthy man, both of them see it as the means to an end which has nothing whatsoever to do with love. However, after only being married for a few days, they are both abducted and held prisoner.

After losing her mother as a young child and her father from cancer when she was sixteen, Amelie Lamont moved to London to find work and save enough money to complete her education. However, after a summer job finished, she found herself unemployed and homeless until rescued by Carolyn Blakely who offered her a room in her house and a job as her housekeeper for as long as she wanted to stay. Gradually Amelie made a new life for herself, meeting Carolyn’s friends Justine and Lina who both worked for a magazine, Exclusives, which features interviews of the movers and shakers and celebrities of the day. Eventually Amelie also landed a job working at the magazine for the owner, Ned Hawthorpe, son of a billionaire philanthropist.

When Ned unexpectedly asks Amelie to accompany him to Los Vegas, where he had an interview lined up, she was excited to have been invited along. However, it turned out that Ned had a business proposition for her that should be mutually beneficial, which she found hard to turn down. Unfortunately, she had no idea of the man Ned Hawthorpe really was, but it wasn’t long until she found out. However, before figuring how to get out of their arrangement, they were abducted.

Written in short, sharp chapters, the novel starts strongly at a good pace and the mystery of the abduction is compelling reading. Kept in separate rooms in complete darkness, Amelie never sees the kidnappers, but is treated well by them. However, the pace then slows down as the kidnappers wait for Ned’s father to pay a ransom and despite the situation never became very suspenseful. Although young and naïve, Amelie has lived through tough times and is portrayed as a survivor, intelligent and willing to fight for her freedom. As one of the main characters, it would also have been good to know more about Ned, in particular why he became the man he is and yet managed to maintain his persona as a charming man and fly under everyone’s radar.

In the aftermath of the abduction there is a lot of explanation of the events that led up to it and what motivated the kidnappers, some of it requiring a suspension of belief. This really dragged out the ending and still managed to leave me with a lot of unanswered questions. Perhaps it would have worked better if more had been incorporated into the plot earlier so that so much additional information and explanation was not required. Although not destined to be amongst my favourite B.A. Paris’ novels, I really enjoyed the overall premise and Amelie’s story. 3.5 stars

Amelie lost her mother at birth and her father before she was out of her teens. Strong and shrewd she eked out a life in London determined to find a way to go to law school. Her touchstone is her friends...... Lina , Justine and Carolyn. When suave billionaire Ned Hawthorne offers her a job and offer of marriage in exchange for law school funding , naive and gullable Amelie folds. After two weeks of marriage she wakes up to a gunman in her bedroom and is held captive in a dark room in an unknown location. I have been a huge fan of B. A. Paris since her first book "Behind Closed Doors". She is an absolute master at creating diabolical husbands and extreme twisty narratives. Told with past and present timelines the character of Ned and preceding events that precipitated the kidnaping and consequences peel off like the layers of an onion. The story starts off with a bang and continues at a fast pace makng for a compelling read. The concluding chapters offer an explanation and exploration of the events which were enlightening but still left some dangling threads. Not my favorite of Paris's works but still an immersive read. Ameliie is a strong character determined to find answers to a situation that forever changed and damaged her.