The Paris Apartment

Product Information

Mimi is also in love with Ben (everyone loves Ben!) and when she’s snooping his apartment, find out the the truth about her family—including the fact that her real mother was a sex worker there as well and died in child birth.

Bienvenue au 12, Rue des Amants, Paris. C’est une maison de secrets. Alors, asseyez-vous, avec un verre de vin rouge et installez-vous pour une bonne histoire! Ok I’m done!! Ben Daniels is in his Paris apartment awaiting the arrival of his half sister Jess Hadley but he has an unexpected visitor first. Jess, as one of the principal narrators is a really good character, she’s flawed but she feels real and likeable and I especially like the way it’s written in real time as if she’s talking out loud to her audience. Are our other narrators likeable? Not so much! There’s a chic trophy wife, an angry alcoholic, a naive obsessive and a spurned lover. All of the characters have a different view point of Ben which is interesting as you try to grasp the essence of his personality. So, settle in and let the games begin. I loved the riveting mystery about missing step brother Ben who vanished into thin air and the last place he’s seen his apartment. THE ATMOSPHERE – A creepy, old, but once elegant apartment building in Paris – what’s not to like? Once elegant but now showing it’s age with peeling wallpaper, no air conditioning, nothing really updated about these apartments. I’ve enjoyed past works by this author including The Hunting Party and The Guest List. Ultimately however, The Paris Apartment did not connect with me as a reader and failed to thrill."

Christmas Gifts

I was missing the feeling of being in Paris. The building is atmospheric and plays a central role in the plot. But outside of some French and references to famous Parisian landmarks, this book could have taken place in any city. As I mentioned in my above content, I thought The Paris Apartment as ok overall. I enjoyed her previous novels ( The Hunting Party and The Guest List) so I was a bit let down by this one, to be honest. I felt it was missing the strong character development of her past novels. Lucy Foley’s The Paris Apartment was one of the most popular books from 2022, with the British author once again proving why she is amongst the best in the business when it comes to thrillers. So much of this book seemed silly to me. Like the random peep holes looking into each of the units? What is that? Also, Ben leaving scraps of information hidden in various places around the apartment? Like, why wouldn’t he keep his notes in one place? Why would you write reminders of stuff and then hide them in places you’re likely to forget? Wow I have been missing out!!!! I have never read Ms. Foley’s novels so this was a wonderful surprise for me.

Arriving in the dark days of February, Lucy Foley’s The Paris Apartment nevertheless feels like the most entertaining sort of summer thriller, a fast-paced, twisty bit of escapism that mixes compelling, messy characters, deft narrative red herrings, shifting perspectives, and a few genuine surprises to create a story that’ll keep you up reading well into the night.

Synopsis

Estelle is Lia's grandmother. Her story will be told in the 1940s. During those chapters, we learned what Estelle was really doing during the Nazi occupation of France, her visits to the Ritz, and her relationship with Sophie, a woman who looks like an ice princess and whose sole purpose left in life is to help bring the nazis down. Passionate, intriguing, haunting, and remarkable, The Paris Apartment needs to be on the TBRs of all hist fic fans, especially those drawn to WWII stories. This one is a powerful standout that brings out every emotion. Well-done, Kelly Bowen!

The Paris Apartment starts off very strong with Jess finding her brother missing. The tone is immediately spooky and frenzied. However, it became really old, really fast with the frenzied tone. It doesn't feel as if Jess is making much progress finding answers, and the tension never really builds throughout the book. Additionally, I didn't connect with any of the characters because there wasn't a single character that was likeable. By the end of the novel, I didn't even care "who did it." Jess should have been the most likeable character, but she was always stealing, palming items from other people, even her own brother, and going through people's personal spaces without any qualms. Allie Reynolds’ Shiver follows a group of professional snowboarders who travel to the French Alps for a summer of high-pressured events and competitions. The nature of the athletes leads to a hyper-competitive environment where each of them attempts to outdo the other, with potentially deadly consequences.A BIT ABOUT THE STORY: Jess and Ben were orphaned at a rather young age. They lost their mother after she overdosed, Jess being the one to find her. A mystery-thriller set in a luxurious apartment complex housing sinister secrets and characters, it’s clear to see why so many consider one of the best books like The Paris Apartment. The Lost Village – Camilla Sten Overall, The Paris Apartment missed the mark (unless you enjoy books with little substance and a spooky, frenzied tone is utilized throughout). As Jess digs deeper into the residents at Bienvenue au 12, Rue des Amants she finds that the neighbors are none too happy to see her. Jess is determined and tough and won’t give up until she finds out the TRUTH, AS DARK AS IT MAY BE!!! Though I have read many World War II stories, this was very interesting and readable that highlighted a different perspective. Adding the mystery of the art pieces was very enjoyable for me especially with Lia and Gabriel working together to discover what happened in the the past.