3.75 - 4 STARS

B.A. Paris’ “The Guest” is a slow building story that is more mystery than thriller, boasting an unexpected conclusion that really packs a punch. An abundance of lies, secrets, and betrayal flourishes at every turn, keeping the reader guessing right up until the very last page. And despite the measured pacing and understated suspense elements that permeate this book throughout, I found “The Guest” to be a very quick, engaging read.

One of the most jaw dropping endings so far!
This one was so full of twists and turns you never knew what was coming next. The characters were well done and the plot moved along nicely. You knew through this whole book that something was not as it seemed but you can not be prepared for what is coming. This books keeps you really wondering who is lying and who is what they seem. A great fast paced read that will grab you from the start and keep you reading till the astonishing finale

I always get excited when a new book comes out because I love this author. The last few didn’t just wow me but this one was almost back up to Behind Closed Doors standard. The ending I didn’t see it coming. Such a good book highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley and the published for an arc in exchange for a review.

B.A. Paris never disappoints! Another roller coaster ride with gasping twist and turns all the way to the climactic ending! Put this book on your to be read list now!

This book was so so for me. It kept my attention enough for me to finish it, but I found myself skimming through some parts. Iris and Gabriel return from vacation to find Laure living in their house. First of all-the entitlement in this book was annoying. Second of all, just tell her to leave!!! It all seems suspicious. The situation with Pierre was utterly predictable. Joseph's character was utterly predictable. The only really big shock was revealed in the epilogue. Not bad, but def not the my favorite.

Absolutely fantastic! Suspense, missing persons, new neighbors and a guest.
What could go wrong or what could be wrong or what more can change?
It's almost impossible to put this book down! It almost seems to be 2 books one.
Another delicious story by Ms. Paris, I loved it and will pass it along!
Thanks to @NetGalley@TheGuest@StMartinsPress

I've read all B.A. Paris' books and am generally a big fan.

Her latest offering, The Guest, tells the story of Iris and Gabriel a married couple who return from holidays (they went away to try help Gabriel deal with some trauma) to find their friend Laure has made herself at home in their absence. Laure has left her husband because he has a child with someone else and Iris and Gabriel let her stay while she works through it. This is where things went downhill for me.

I struggled through this book. I did not care for any of the characters and nothing really happened for the first 2/3 of the story and then people just kept dying. I found the twist quite predictable and kept hoping I was wrong about "who dunnit".

Unfortunately I won't be recommending The Guest but continue to look forward to B.A. Paris' future offerings. 2 stars.

Fun, fast read. There’s a lot of moving pieces in this book and the changing POV is generally something I like, but I felt it was a little confusing at times (maybe something as simple as naming the chapter with the character name would help). I definitely felt myself getting irritated with Laure and her extended stay, so that part of the plot was well-written.

The ending was spot on. The epilogue was easily the best part of the book.

The Guest by B.A. Paris was a whirlwind. I have loved all of the B.A. Paris books I have read and this one was no different. I was hooked instantly and read this book in one sitting. The ending was absolutely wild. I feel like anyone who likes thrillers should just go into this one blind. I did and am so happy I did. Cheers to B.A Paris for having some of the most unbelievable twists that are explained so well you can’t believe you ever missed it!

This one was interesting - I am always hit or miss with B.A. Paris novels and this was no exception - this one felt like a 3 on a 1 to 5 scale - interesting, but not necessarily engaging or as engulfing as prior books from Paris have been.

Iris and Gabriel come home from vacation and find their friend Laure staying at their house. They are shocked to learn she has left her husband Pierre because of something unforgivable he has done.
This isn’t the best time to have a long-term guest as Gabriel is struggling with a decision he made. Also, Laure is driving Iris mad with her attitude and how she seems to be trying to take over their house. When a new couple moves to town, it provides Iris with a much needed break from Laure’s neediness. But their gardener Joseph is a different story, and when everyone’s secrets are revealed, he will play an integral role in this twisty plot.
When the unthinkable happens, it seems that once the shock and grief pass, Iris and Gabriel and their daughter will have their old almost perfect life back. But this is a BA Paris book, so I wasn’t surprised when she pulled the rug out from under me. I did not see the ending coming! A definite page turner.

Gabriel and Iris have just returned back from a holiday and they discover their good friend Laure has been staying at their house while away. Laure has recently left her husband Pierre and she needs a place to stay. Gabriel is going through his own crisis with the recent passing of a childhood friend, Charlie, who he found injured and died in his arms. Laure is quickly getting on Gabriel and Laure’s nerve however she has been unable to reach her husband in order to try and reconcile things. When Iris meets some new neighbours and quickly befriend them it seems this sets off a series of events that will change them all forever.

I’ve read a few books by the author and have enjoyed them very much. I was extremely excited to get an advanced copy of this one. The book is definitely a slow burn and I did find it difficult at times to keep engaged with the story. The book had quite a few characters and keeping up with everyone can be a challenge. The epilogue is what saved the book for me when everything from earlier on is unraveled and I had that ah ha moment. I somewhat wish the author had told us some of the ending first then laid out what happened as I think it would have hooked me in quicker and propelled me to keep reading. Overall, a good thriller read that fans of the author will enjoy

After a brief vacation, Gabriel and Iris return home to be greeted by Laure, a close friend, now wearing Iris’ pajamas. She’s left her husband Pierre and needs to stay with them. He has admitted an affair and told her he has a child and wants to be part of that child’s life. Gabriel and Iris are sympathetic, of course, but that sympathy begins to weaken as the weeks drag on, punctuated by Laure’s casual disregard of the couple’s possessions. Gabriel escapes the tension in the house by restoring an old walled garden. He’s helped by Joseph, a young man employed by new friends Esme and Hugh. As the summer wears on, old deep seated, long hidden problems bubble to the surface.

This deftly plotted, unsettling thriller is a masterpiece of slow suspense. As the long, hot days pass, you can feel the tensions rise. The Guest is impossible to put down and the epilogue will make you want start reading a second time. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and B.B. Paris for this ARC.

It’s only fair to mention I’m a big fan of the author. Her plots with many twists , turn and surprises I always find entertaining. Here we have an almost empty nester coup struggling in their marriage after the husband, Gabriel comes across a young friend dying after going over a local cliff. He heard the young man’s last words, but is torn about what to pass on so he lies. Iris, his wife does not know the truth of why her husband is struggling. They come home from what was suppose to be a relaxing trip to find Lauren camped out in their home. She is one half of their best friends from Paris. Pierre is the other half still in Paris. Though deliberately childless Laure has learned Pierre fathered a child many years ago and now wants involvement. They are Gabriel and Iris’s best friend so of course they want to help. Pierre won’t respond when contacted and appears to disappear.

Here is we’re the plot it’s murky, as everyone has a secret they are unwilling to share. Add new neighbors moving in and the two families are drawn together. The neighbors Huge and Esme have their own issuers. Including a relative recovering from alcoholism who helps with landscaping at both houses. This handsome fella is a potential danger.

Whose child has Pierre fathered? Can Laure deal with his betrayal? Who is this relative and what are his secrets? Will Gabriel tell the mother of the deceased boy the truth? And what is the truth about the young boy’s death? Lastly, what is Iris hiding and what decisions will she make to keep her family together?

Well, I never saw that ending coming! I did pick up on a hint in the last chapters before the epilogue revealed everything but I thought maybe I had missed something.

Iris & Gabriel's marriage has been troubled since the death of teen Charlie Ingram. Their world revolves around their daughter Beth who was a schoolmate of Charlie's. Their best friends Pierre & Laure have just learned that Pierre fathered a child he knew nothing about. Laure is beyond angry and moves in with Iris & Gabriel without any forewarning. New friends Esme & Hugh are celebrating the birth of their son, Hamish. How these characters interact is very well done. Juggling all of the events made this fast paced and filled with suspense.

Another hit from B A Paris

I’ve read B.A. Paris books before and have always enjoyed them, but I was very thrown by this story. The first 60% is just a very boring and average life of a British couple who are annoyed with their friends. Some drama happens after the 60% mark and then there’s an epilogue with so many surprise twists that had zero lead up or tension or much mystery around them. There is a story in there somewhere but it needs to be completely moved around, edited and the characters need to be brought to life. Everyone felt very one dimensional.

Finally, I found another page-turner! I knew I could count on B.A. Paris to write a book that doesn’t drag. I thought I knew who the culprit was who caused the deaths, but I was completely wrong. The timeline presented in the epilogue was a bit confusing, but that is my own fault. I didn’t realize I needed to pay such close attention to what a certain character was doing. I’m sorry if this review is a little disjointed, but I don’t want to give any spoilers! Needless to say, I enjoyed The Guest and look forward to reading the author’s next book!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have always been a huge B.A. Paris fan and I think this book is definitely one of my absolute favorites of hers. For half the book I was wondering WTF was actually going on and even though the first half wasn't fast paced or action packed, her writing is so good I could not put it down. Once the craziness started I flew through the second half of the book and was completely and entirely blindsided by the plot twist. Never in a million years saw it coming. What a great book, loved it!!

I have a love-hate relationship with this book. I hated that it felt like it moved so slow and the chapters in the book didn't contain the big twist I was hoping for. But I love that the characters developed so deeply and the fabulous twist is quickly revealed in the epilogue.

I'm not sure I can say I really enjoyed any of the characters because they all seemed so self absorbed in a way, but I loved that they genuinely cared for their friends. I loved the joint venture of fixing up the walled garden. Overall, I think I wished the author had mixed some of the twists into the core of the book to encourage me to keep reading and to make it feel a bit more fast paced.

Overall, solid thriller.

Fasten your seatbelts for The Guest! It’s a wild ride and you’ll never believe the twist at the end. B.A. Paris had me on this one. while I was reading The Guest, I had several scenarios in mind but none of them were correct. . I completely trusted Iris, the wife and mother but….you’ll have to read the book and see. I highly recommend The Guest to all who love a good thriller. Looking forward to B.A. Paris’s next novel.

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press, B.A. Paris and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of The Guest.