Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Iris and Gabriel, return from a holiday in Scotland only to discover someone has been living in their home while they’ve been away. It turns out to be a friend, Laure, but the intrusion annoys Iris. She’d spent the two weeks of their vacation trying to get her husband to open up to her, but he’d been in a difficult place since discovering, during a morning run, Charlie Ingram lying at the bottom of the limestone quarry. Despite his medical training, Gabriel was unable to save Charlie; now he’s haunted both by his death and by the young man’s last words. Add this to the recent passing of his father and an oppressive workload and Gabriel now finds himself on compassionate leave.

Laure has brought her own problems with her: her husband, Pierre, has revealed that he has a child with another woman and he wants to connect with his child. But things become more and more complicated as those around Iris and Gabriel all have complicated secrets of their own. Slowly, hidden truths reveal themselves, relationships are strained, and things begin to unravel.

What will the secrets of their past do to their present?

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Although they are well-defined, the characters populating this suspense-filled tale are complex and, for the most part, particularly unlikable. Guilt and trauma play a large role in this unfolding narrative. Laure’s presence in Gabriel and Iris’s home adds an ever-growing undercurrent of tension to the telling of the tale.

In the riveting plot, filled with twists and turns, readers will find surprises popping up unexpectedly. But it’s in the unraveling of long-held secrets and labyrinthine relationships that the narrative shines. Readers should expect the unexpected from the denouement that neatly ties up all the loose ends.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheGuest #NetGalley

The Guest by B.A. Paris was a great read. It was a fast paced story that kept my attention.

The story begins with Gabriel and Iris returning home from holiday to find their friend of 20 years Laure at their house. She stays a long time coping with difficulty information her husband, Pierre, shared prior to her arrival. Gabriel is dealing with a recent tragedy and Iris is trying to support everyone. They meet Esme, Hugh and Joseph and many twists follow.

I tried to see how all of the story lines would come together but did not come close to the final twist.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced digital copy.

Until recently, Iris and Gabriel had an ideal life and relationship. They live in a lovely town in the British countryside, have wonderful friends, and a beloved daughter. When Gabriel discovers a young man who has had a fatal bike accident, help does not arrive in time and Gabriel is the messenger of his final and unexpected last words. Gabriel becomes sick with guilt which affects all aspects of his life, especially his relationship with Iris. Trying to cheer Gabriel up, Iris plans a couple’s getaway but upon arriving home, Iris is surprised to discover her friend, Laure, has been staying in their house while they were away. Laure has received some shocking news from her husband, Pierre, and asks if she can stay with Iris and Gabriel while she sorts her life out. As Laure makes herself at home, Iris and Gabriel become more uncomfortable with Laure’s intrusion in their home and their lives. When a new couple, Esme and Hugh, come to town, Iris makes fast friends and introduces Gabriel and Laure to the couple as well. They are also introduced to Esme’s gardener and friend, Joseph, who is struggling with addiction and is in need of a helping hand. As everyone begins to mix, tensions grow higher, and secrets begin to come to light. With betrayal around every corner, will anyone be able to make it out unscathed?

I really enjoyed this book! The author’s writing style is very compelling to me, and I found myself interested the entire time. The story is told in alternating perspectives of Iris and Gabriel which allows you to get to know each of them. I felt most for Iris in this book. I would have been driven crazy by some of the things that Laure did as well! That on top of Gabriel’s inner turmoil, I was not sure how she was holding it together most of the time. I definitely did not see the end coming and was pleasantly surprised that I had not guessed what was going to happen. I cannot wait to see what B. A. Paris comes up with next and I will continue to be a lifelong reader :)

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

I was looking forward to reading this book as I’ve read all of B.A. Paris’ other books. While I enjoyed them, some I enjoyed more than others.

I will say, this one ranks high amongst the others. While I wasn’t completely sucked into the story, I was curious to see where is went and I finished it in a day. The storyline kept going places I didn’t expect. And I did not guess the final twist, though some clues were scattered in the story. The explanation of the twist clearly lays it all out, and it all makes sense, I just didn’t guess any of it!

At times I found some of the characters annoying , but it made sense based on circumstances, and it didn’t hinder my appreciation of the book. Though I wasn’t sad when the first person died - haha!

I still think back on some of the twists from Paris’ previous books. I find them really interesting, and they stick in my mind. Even though they may be highly improbable, the story is crafted so that it’s possible and there aren’t really any glaring plot holes. This is true for The Guest.

I rate this book 4.5, rounded up to 5, because I loved the twist so much!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of The Guest which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

Enjoyed this book but not a fan of the ending. Not invested enough in the characters.
Found quite a few mistakes which is to be expected jn an advanced copy. Hard to follow story at some points. Loved the characters Esme and Hugh.! Great character development.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Guest. I thought The Dilemma was Paris’ best book but this new novel is definitely as good.
The novel centers on a married couple with a daughter that live a very comfortable life. Gabriel is a doctor, Iris is a designer and Beth is a student working abroad. Gabriel is on leave - he heard the last words of a dying young man. Gabriel has a secret and he is haunted by those dying word. And on top of their life is interrupted when Iris’s friend Laure comes to stay with them. Her husband Pierre tells her he has a. Child with a woman he met and he is struggling with it because Laure and he do not have children and never wanted them. Pierre wants to connect with this child. Laure has left him and is staying with Gabriel and Iris. Laure is staying and doesn’t look like she is leaving any time soon. And all she does is talk about her problems.
But it starts to get complicated as other people become friendly with Iris and Gabriel and the secrets and relationships begin to become open and soon everyone is suspect in this dramatic tale of love, life and of course Murder!
5 stars. Excellent!

The Guest follows Gabriel and Iris who come home from vacation to find their friend Laure living at their home. Laure explains her husband Pierre has confessed to possibly having a child, although him and Laure are child-free. We also meet Hugh and Esme who are Gabriel and Iris's neighbors, as well as their gardener Joseph. Each couple is woven amongst each other as tragedy ensues along the way

The book twists and turns until the very end where everything is laid out. I didn't guess the ending, however, there were a few points in the story I was able to guess. I felt like there were times in the book the story was lagging and I didn't really find much of the characters very likeable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book.

Oooooo this was good… better than “the prisoner”, “the breakdown”, and “the dilemma”. Pretty on par with “behind closed doors”.

The writing was good, there were enough little clues without it being obvious, this one kept me guessing and I was leaning towards another ending.

Great book

I enjoyed this book more than other books written by this author. I really did not see the ending coming at all! I did have some suspicions that ended up being true, but the plot twist that tied the entire book together was insane!
The narrator really sets the story up from their perspective, so I had mixed feelings on a lot of the characters. The book was slow paced, but there was enough information to keep attention throughout. I did finish this book the same day that I started it.
This book comes out in 2024, but definitely pick up other books by B.A. Paris before then!!

I support women’s wrongs 🫡. I was really surprised by this one! I really enjoyed “behind closed doors” by the same author but was a bit worried to read this one, because from what I have heard, BCD is the best book by BA Paris. The pacing was a bit slow, but the story was good and the reveal was definitely not something I would have guessed. Overall, this was a decent book, and definitely something I would recommend.

was pretty excited to receive this book from net galley before release as I have liked other BA Paris books before. It was a quick read, took less then a day and a half but it wasnt one of my favorites. For some reason this book didnt totally do it for me. Felt like it dragged on a bit and the big "wow factor" wasnt even explained till the epilogue, which was far longer than after of the chapters of the book. Too many moving parts that all weren't too crazy to me. Could kind of call some of them and in the end the Mom being the murderer wasnt the biggest surprise. Ive like other BA Paris books before this one but still happy to be able to read it early non the less!

How many tragedies can befall one family? B.A Paris’ new novel challenges her characters emotional well being and pushes them to their limits. As the reader I was kept guessing and and on my toes throughout this story.
I was routing for the main character, Iris, to gain back her life and for her friend Laure to find the peace she is searching for after her husband’s betrayal. Life in a small village is filled with friendships, secrets and YES MURDER!
A fast pace read that will leave your head spinning!

So I loved about 75% of this book. I was intrigued by the characters and trying to figure out the puzzle of the story and then the last 25% of the book just went insane, and not in a good way. I don’t love the unreliable narrator trope especially when I don’t even see it coming. All in all I did enjoy most of the book but was let down in the end.

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is a masterfully woven suspense novel that skillfully explores the unraveling of seemingly idyllic lives. The story grips you from the very beginning and refuses to let go.
 
The author's ability to craft complex characters is on full display as Iris and Gabriel's world takes a tumultuous turn after an unexpected tragedy. Paris brilliantly captures the human psyche in the face of guilt and trauma, making Gabriel's internal struggle palpable to the reader. The ripple effects of the young man's accident serve as the catalyst for a series of events that will keep you guessing until the very end.
 
Laure's introduction into the household adds an intriguing layer of tension. Her peculiar behavior and probing questions inject a sense of unease that permeates the narrative. The contrast between the serenity of the countryside and the mounting psychological suspense is both unsettling and captivating.
 
While the pacing of the novel is generally well-maintained, there are moments when the narrative feels slightly sluggish. However, this minor drawback is easily overshadowed by the overall suspenseful atmosphere and the deeply intricate plot.
 
Confident I'd pieced together the ending in "The Guest," I followed clues, thinking I had it all figured out. Yet, just as I thought I was ahead of the story's twists, a surprising turn left me humbled. The author's skill in defying my expectations reminded me of the true essence of suspenseful storytelling. If you enjoy a tale of secrets, suspense, and the complexities of relationships, this book is an excellent choice.

This is my 7th B.A. Paris book. Once again…she did not disappoint. This book has all the thrills, suspense and drama you expect.

A bit of a slow read…but not boring.

I found the guest to be riveting, twisty and an enjoyable read. It was pretty fast paced and easy to read. If you’re looking for a twisty fast paced thriller this is one for you! B.a. Paris has done it again!

The Guest by B.A. Paris started out as a 3 star read for me; the mystery was intriguing, the characters and the various tensions between them were good if not a bit underwhelming, and I could see pretty much everyone in the book having motivation to kill the victim(s). By the end though, it dropped to 1 star and I actively disliked the last half, especially the ending.

First of all, the prose in B.A. Paris’s previous books and this one is pretty dry. Her characters are also not as well developed as you’d want them to be, but the main appeal to her novels are how Paris constantly surprises with her twists and how, even if you try to connect people and events, there’s always something unexpected. The ending was definitely unexpected, but not in a good way.

We’re introduced to three different couples throughout the book. One of them, Pierre and Laure, have just split up since Pierre apparently confessed that he had an affair and wants to be a father to the child born out of it. Laure stays at Iris and Gabriel’s house, treating it as if it's her own and we see how politeness is pushed to its limits as she seems to take more and more liberty with their property and lives.

There’s also Esme, a beautiful woman married to a much older man, and the landscaper they bring with them, a gorgeous man called Joseph.

As more secrets are revealed, the puzzle pieces appear to fit together and to form a coherent picture. By this point, I didn’t really like the book since all of the characters were so bland but everything did make sense. I did think the reveal of who killed the victim(s) was pretty boring, which surprised me since the previous Paris books I’ve read had much more interesting twists. Okay, 2-3 stars then, I thought.

Then the last 10% of the book happens.

The ending is just a bunch of exposition, telling more than showing, and it infuriated me. I can’t really get into it without spoiling you but it’s definitely one of those endings that blindsides you and makes it feel like the author is saying, “Aha! Bet you never expected that!” just so they can say they got you.

Overall, The Guest was not for me. Behind Closed Doors still takes the top spot and while I do want to read more of Paris’s works, this one definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review has been scheduled to be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and my blog on January 30, 2024.

Again, B.A Paris does not let you down! Like all the other books, you get roped right in. A great read!

If you enjoy a fast paced easy read, this book is definitely for you.
Unfortunately, I tried very much to enjoy this one, but couldn't connect to the characters and just simply couldn't find a way to care for them. It's not a bad book, it just simply wasn't a story for me. A 2.5 stars, but rounded up to a 3 because I really like B.A. Paris.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy! The story follows Iris and her husband Gabriel and their friends Laurie and Pierre. Laurie separates from Pierre due to a secret he kept for 20 years and ends up staying with Iris and Gabriel. What ensues next is an unraveling of secrets and lies. This book was slow to start but kept me guessing as to how it would all end. There were some side stories and characters which I feel did not add much to the plot and the ending wasn’t original, but overall, a good thriller.