This was a unique story that I haven’t read before! A couple, Stellah and Adam, is vacationing in Paris when a bomb goes off near a restaurant. Adam is missing. Stella tries everything in her power to find him. The investigator tells her Adam may have been the intended target. She starts to uncover that Adam isn’t who he seems and is involved with some very shady people that want him dead. On the flip, no one knows about Stella’s past either….she hasn’t always been completely innocent.

This story gripped me! It was action packed and suspenseful! It was fast paced and kept me turning pages! The ending was *chef’s kiss*! You will find yourself rooting for Stella by the end!

I’ve been a fan of Kimberly Belle’s for years, ever since I first read The Marriage Lie. That is the book that hooked me—I can’t resist a book about a missing husband and the lies uncovered after his disappearance. In many ways, The Paris Widow revolves around a similar concept, though it is a unique story. A perfect husband, a deadly accident, and a whole lot of secrets she never knew about the person she was married to… Sounds great, right?

The book opens with a bang—an unknown woman is in line at customs in Nice, France. She’s heading home after a long trip, but the agent clearing her finds something stitched inside her bag. It’s a book, and it’s one she has never seen before. But that doesn’t stop them from arresting her for what they found.

In present day, a married couple Stella and Adam at the tail end of a three-week vacation in Europe. Stella is well-traveled and she knows the best gallettes in the city are at a little café that Adam must try before they head to the airport. After their lunch, Adam realizes he left his glasses behind and sends Stella ahead to their hotel to get their bags. But before they can reunite to head to the airport, there’s an explosion.

In the wake of the explosion, Stella frantically searches for Adam. But it soon becomes clear that he was likely a victim. Over the next few days, Stella prays for news of Adam’s safety. But as the police continue to pepper her with questions, she soon learns that Adam wasn’t the man she thought he was. He’s alleged to be a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities heavily involved with the criminal underworld. Was Adam a victim of the explosion, or the target of it?

The opening prologue is a jaw-dropper, and from that point on I was invested in the story. It seemed likely that the woman in the story is Stella, but we don’t know for sure, nor do we know when that happens. Belle provides enough of a glimpse into Stella and Adam’s blissful marriage to feel the devastation of Adam going missing during the explosion. However, when Stella learns he has been under investigation, everything is thrown into a new light.

Belle is at her best with a mystery involving a central couple. I liked that Adam was missing in the present storyline, and Stella was forced to confront the fact that her husband had a secret life. But how much should she believe? It’s hard to reconcile the version of Adam the police are painting with the man she knows. She can’t help but think about the man who planted tulips because they are her favorite. Was it all a lie?

The book is largely narrated by Stella, though interspersed are brief chapters from Adam’s perspective the three weeks leading up to the bombing. I think the book would have actually been stronger without Adam’s chapters. I found the Adam narrating to us to be kind of boring, where the Adam seen through Stella’s eyes was mysterious and vibrant.

The mystery kept me engaged the whole way through. There were plenty of twists and turns as Stella learned more about her husband. If you’ve read Kimberly Belle before, then you probably know that her big twists tend to come slightly before the end of the book, and that was certainly the case here. She likes to give her characters some sort of closure, and we got that here.

Thank you to Park Row Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

This title kept me intrigued from the first chapter! It’s one of those books that make you want to know what is going to happen next! I love thrillers and I also love historical fiction and I felt like this book had the best of both worlds! When describing the “antiques” that Adam acquired for his clients, I could actually feel the importance of those artifacts. This book made me feel Stella’s pain as she thought the love of her life had perished. The characters added to the intrigue of the book since you never knew who the character actually was! The ending was perfect and I think believable, too. I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC and I will certainly be recommending this title to all my book club friends!!!

The characters were flat and unlikeable. Stella’s defining trait is that she loves Adam. Adam’s defining trait is that he loves Stella. The descriptions of their relationship were generic and boring; I had to skim some chunks describing how beautiful/handsome she/he is and how much they can’t live without each other. Dullsville. A major red flag should have been when the author described Adam as someone who was drop dead handsome but didn’t even know it. What a vomit-inducing cliche.

Stella’s blind loyalty to her husband was the most frustrating part of this book. She was defined by her Adam or by his absence. Her decisions were always based on Adam. She sometimes spilled her guts to people without thinking and then other times hid things when she probably shouldn’t have.

And what exactly made Stella someone that men swooned over anyways? She seemed to lack any personality or defining characteristic.

And the ending? Major eye roll.

I really enjoyed this one!! It was fast paced, full of secrets and lies!

It kind of gave me Lifetime Movie vibes, but not in a cheesy way.

I really enjoyed watching the secrets of Stella & Adam unfold.

Stella was a great main character - her past was very entertaining as well and I looved the skeletons she had in her closet

there were lots of twists and turns which made for a fun thriller read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "The Paris Widow" by Kimberly Belle. Belle's writing style in this novel is immersive and rich, whisking you away to post-World War II Paris with vivid detail. The story unfolds with a perfect balance of intrigue and emotion as protagonist Ruby navigates a web of deception and danger in her quest for truth. Belle's meticulous research shines through in the historical backdrop, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. While the pacing is steady, the suspense builds steadily, keeping you engaged until the final twist. "The Paris Widow" is a compelling blend of historical fiction and suspense that fans of the genre will enjoy.

This captivating journey takes readers on a thrilling adventure from start to finish! It is undeniably an engrossing read that keeps you hooked until the very end. Stella and Adam embark on a European vacation, but their final day in Paris takes a terrifying turn when a bomb detonates. As chaos ensues, Stella finds herself frantically searching for Adam, unsure of his fate. What follows is a gripping tale of deception, theft, and homicide as Stella navigates her way through a web of lies in her desperate quest to locate Adam. I devoured this compelling story in one sitting, making it a must-add to your "To Be Read" list!

Thank you to Net Galley and Park Row Books for the advance copy.

Another hit by Kimberly Belle. She is an automatic read for me. This book kept me guessing what was going to happen to Stella with a different main plot than other books I have read lately.

This was a perfectly fine mystery, I just couldn’t really connect to the characters. It was a slow burn and followed a scammers. Overall it was just kind of fine

I love a book that instantly captures my attention and doesn’t let go. The Paris Widow is an action-packed page turner that I couldn’t put down brimming with secrets and twists. Plus it transports the reader to Paris, bonus points for that!

If you enjoy adrenaline-fueled, cat and mouse thrillers then I think THE PARIS WIDOW would be a nice choice for you. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this one because of the TYPE of thriller it is (terrorist attack on the city/man who may be a con artist etc.), but I zipped right through it. It’s intense, bingeable, and fast paced. Maybe it’s not my favorite book by the author (Stranger in the Lake is!) but the action-packed nature of the story is good and kept me interested throughout.

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Domestic Thrillers
❥ High Tension Thrillers
❥ Cat and Mouse thrillers

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.5)

Stella and Adam , a couple totally in love with each other begin a fantastic vacation in Paris. Adam finds and sells historical artifacts. After dining at a sidewalk cafe before heading to the airport to return home. Adam is missing his favorite sunglasses and insists on returning to retrieve them at the cafe. Then everything changes.
Non-stop intrigue begins. This novel captures you and doesn’t stop with unexpected events. Very surprising mystery/thriller for sure.

Kimberly Belle's 'The Paris Widow' is a gripping thriller that hooks you from the very start and never loosens its grip. From its compelling opening to the escalating tension as secrets are exposed, Belle expertly spins a web of intrigue and deception, keeping readers enthralled until the final page. A must-read for anyone who enjoys thrilling suspense and intricate storytelling.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this early version. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

You can never outrun your past or your secrets.

This is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that blends romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of Europe's most enchanting locales. When Stella meets Adam, she believes she has finally found stability after a chaotic past. However, her newfound peace shatters when Adam goes missing following a devastating explosion in the city square.

Stella's determination to uncover the truth about Adam, despite the danger stalking her through the streets of Paris, is compelling. Her transformation—from someone seeking normalcy to someone unraveling a dark mystery—is portrayed with depth and nuance, making her journey a page turner.

The setting is vividly depicted, with descriptions of Paris and other European locales bringing the scenes to life. This rich backdrop adds to the story's allure, juxtaposing the beauty of the surroundings with the sinister secrets lurking beneath.

The pacing of *The Paris Widow* is expertly handled. The plot twists are well-timed, maintaining a high level of suspense without overwhelming the reader. The mix of action and introspection creates moments of intense excitement and thoughtful reflection, ensuring a balanced and engaging narrative.


It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted mystery set in beautiful locations. This book not only entertains but also digs into how the secrets of our past can shape our present, no matter how far we travel.

Very good contemporary suspense. Young married couple visiting Paris are separated when a bomb goes off on city street. Stella realizes she doesn’t really know her husband as she’s trying to find Adam. Good read without explicit language

Adam is a rare antique dealer who travels often to source items for his clients. Stella decides to meet him on his latest travel visiting various cities in Europe, happy and in love. On their last morning in Paris, Adam runs back to a café to get something he left behind and promises to meet Stella at the hotel.

There is an explosion, Stella starts to panic, frantically looking for Adam. Things are not what they seem, secrets to unravel and Stella is determined to figure it out!

An action-packed cat and mouse story, the writing was fast paced and easy to follow. Definitely binge worthy! It was told in combination of past and present. Past from Adam’s POV in the days prior to the explosion which I thought was clever, giving us just enough to go on.

Although entertaining throughout, the last third of the book lost a little magic. We learn a little about the MC’s past, but it felt out of place, there was no real build up to it, it didn’t feel believable to me, a little forced/unnatural.

Ultimately, it’s fun quick read. Perfect for those looking for a fast paced binge type read!

Lies, Lies, Deceptions, and Love... WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? The first half of this book had some serious 'The Last Thing He Told Me' vibes, If you loved that book, then you will surely love this book, too! It was a a wild ride of cat and mouse that kept me wanting more every bit of the way! I binged this book in less than a day!

Adam had a trip to Paris planned for work, where he is a dealer of rare antiques, and his wife Stella had was able to join this time. It was a vacation some only dream of, with dining and shopping in Malta, Capri in addition to Paris. But everything goes terribly wrong when Adam forgets his favorite pair of sunglasses and runs back to retrieve them.

Was it just a case of wrong place wrong time when possible terrorist attack takes place that takes out majority of the city square, including the cafe that Adam left his sunglasses in? Stella searches for days, speaking to police and reporters, after learning that Adam's phone goes straight to voicemail and police search for survivors and victims.

As the days pass, Stella starts to learn some very disheartening things about the man she calls her husband. But shes not leaving Paris without knowing what happened to him.

Thank you Netgalley & Park Row Publishing for the ARC of The Paris Widow in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own!

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle is an action packed suspenseful thriller novel. The story in The Paris Widow is one that is told mainly from one point of view but a few chapters alternate to another and is mainly told in the current timeline with also some flashing back to past events with the characters.

Four years ago Stella met and fell in love with her now husband, Adam. Adam is a rare antiquities dealer who travels looking for unique items to bring back to his business in the states. Stella and Adam decided that Stella would accompany him on his latest trip to Paris to also have a bit of a romantic getaway too.

One day while touring around Paris Adam forgets his sunglasses as he and Stella are heading back to their hotel. Stella heads on without him as he rushes back to retrieve the glasses but a huge explosion takes place and Stella can’t find Adam anywhere in the mayhem after the incident with victims surrounding her everywhere she turns. As the time passes without Adam being found Stella learns from a French policeman that Adam may have been involved in illegal activities making him a target of the bombing.

I’ve read quite a few novels from author Kimberly Belle in the past so I was expecting to pick this one up and find a story that I would enjoy. What I really didn’t expect was the high intensity action and expected more of a psychological thriller but I wasn’t disappointed in the least for this change. There was still the psychological side with some adrenaline pumping and it all wrapped up together nicely. I was quite glad I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out was he or was he not the man our main character knew and if she would become a target herself so hats off to the the surprises along the way and I will definitely return to this author again to see what she will have in story for readers next.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kimberly Belle and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This one was so good. It starts off with a bang (literally) and it just never stops. I enjoyed the characters and the lies and wild secrets. I would definitely recommend. I love Belle’s writing.

The Paris wife by Kimberly Belle is a fun, summer, thriller! A wife wakes up one morning to a bombing in Paris in which her husband supposedly dies. Or does he?? She begins to investigate and realizes that her husband was involved in a dangerous operation and one which puts her in peril as she gets closer to the truth.

I don’t want to say any more about the plot, for risking of spoiling the fun. Belle has written a fast-paced, summer thriller and one in which should put her on the map of anticipated beach reads with future publications.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.