The Paris Apartment
by Lucy Foley
- First published 2022
- 512 pages
- English
Jess needs a fresh start after leaving her job under difficult circumstances. Her half-brother Ben, a journalist living in Paris, offers her a place to stay. But when she arrives at his surprisingly luxurious apartment building, Ben is nowhere to be found. The mail is unopened, his keys are on the counter, and his cat is waiting to be fed. Though the apartment is beautiful, the building feels cold, and its inhabitants are strangely secretive and unwelcoming.
Alone in a new city, Jess begins to ask questions, digging into her brother's disappearance. She soon discovers that every resident in the building has a story they are unwilling to tell. From the socialite to the watchful concierge, everyone is a neighbor, a suspect, and a keeper of secrets. Jess must piece together the truth of what happened to her brother, realizing that the answer may be hidden within the very walls of the apartment she now occupies.
Alone in a new city, Jess begins to ask questions, digging into her brother's disappearance. She soon discovers that every resident in the building has a story they are unwilling to tell. From the socialite to the watchful concierge, everyone is a neighbor, a suspect, and a keeper of secrets. Jess must piece together the truth of what happened to her brother, realizing that the answer may be hidden within the very walls of the apartment she now occupies.
- Genres
- Fiction › Thriller & suspense › Crime thrillerFiction › Crime & mystery › NoirFiction › Crime & mystery › Cozy mystery
- Themes
- Crime & justice › Detectives
- Mood
- Cozy
- Protagonist
- Female protagonist
- Where and when
- Paris
What readers say
3.64
765K ratings across the web 6 in 10 readers loved it, 1 didn't like it
Reviewers largely praise The Paris Apartment as a compelling and atmospheric mystery that proves difficult to put down. Many found the book to be a fast-paced page-turner, with its short chapters and multiple perspectives contributing to a sense of intrigue and excitement. The Parisian apartment building itself is frequently highlighted as a standout element, creating a deliciously claustrophobic, eerie, and tense atmosphere that immerses readers in the story. The narrative is described as absorbing and twisty, with several reviewers appreciating the unexpected revelations and the author's skill in building suspense and delivering surprising turns.
However, a significant number of critiques point to issues with pacing and character development. Some found the story to be a slow burn, with long stretches where little progress seemed to occur, leading to boredom or a lack of investment. The constant high anticipation without natural ebbs and flows in tone was noted as becoming "a bit much." Many reviewers struggled to connect with the characters, describing them as largely unlikeable, high-strung, paranoid, or even incompetent, which detracted from their engagement with the plot. The setting, while atmospheric within the apartment building, often failed to evoke a strong sense of Paris beyond generic references. Additionally, some felt the twists, while present, were not always surprising or that the ending felt rushed or messy after a drawn-out build-up.
Overall, The Paris Apartment is recommended for readers who enjoy atmospheric, claustrophobic mysteries with multiple unreliable narrators and a focus on suspense over character likability. Those who appreciate a slow-burn narrative that eventually delivers surprising twists, or who enjoy a sense of dread and intrigue, are likely to find this book a riveting read. However, readers looking for strong character connections, a consistent pace, or a vivid exploration of the Parisian setting beyond the apartment's walls might find themselves less engaged.
However, a significant number of critiques point to issues with pacing and character development. Some found the story to be a slow burn, with long stretches where little progress seemed to occur, leading to boredom or a lack of investment. The constant high anticipation without natural ebbs and flows in tone was noted as becoming "a bit much." Many reviewers struggled to connect with the characters, describing them as largely unlikeable, high-strung, paranoid, or even incompetent, which detracted from their engagement with the plot. The setting, while atmospheric within the apartment building, often failed to evoke a strong sense of Paris beyond generic references. Additionally, some felt the twists, while present, were not always surprising or that the ending felt rushed or messy after a drawn-out build-up.
Overall, The Paris Apartment is recommended for readers who enjoy atmospheric, claustrophobic mysteries with multiple unreliable narrators and a focus on suspense over character likability. Those who appreciate a slow-burn narrative that eventually delivers surprising twists, or who enjoy a sense of dread and intrigue, are likely to find this book a riveting read. However, readers looking for strong character connections, a consistent pace, or a vivid exploration of the Parisian setting beyond the apartment's walls might find themselves less engaged.
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Details & editions
- This edition
- William Morrow Large Print, 2022
- ISBN
- 9780063061903
- Language
- English
Original edition The Paris Apartment Originally published in 2022 · English · William Morrow
