The Paris Apartment

Product Information

Lia's grandmother has passed away and she has left her an apartment in Paris. An apartment no one knew she had! The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar in Camilla Sten’s disturbing 2019 thriller book The Lost Village. I'm always attracted to books set during WW2. I think it's because it was such a terrible period for humanity but despite it all, there were always people fighting for freedom and justice. So much courage! Having read a few of Lucy Foley's books, I feel like she's really good at building up anticipation. Every moment in this book is so dramatic, with dark shadows and scary sounds at every turn. That's all good, but after a while, it gets to be a bit much, you know? There's no natural ebb and flow in the tone. It's just all high anticipation, all the time.

The Paris Apartment is a spellbinding and enthralling work of historical fiction. I’ve read a couple other novels inspired by an actual secret, untouched apartment from WWII, and this was a unique twist completely different from the other novels. The historical detail is phenomenal, and the characters are richly drawn. I’m talking around this one because I don’t want to give away the heart of the story. I actually would have liked more of Ben’s perspective from the past as he was working on the article. He’s so secretive and some his choices were bizarre. But maybe there wasn’t much to it—he was using everyone and anyone he could to finally have his big break in journalism. The Ending 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. First of all, how great to be in Paris as it adds an atmosphere all of its own especially as the city is a boiling pot of political unrest which perfectly matches the events in Rue des Amants. Secondly, the house is a star of its own show as the author cleverly uses all its nooks, crannies and corners to create a very strange and tense atmosphere which you feel right from the very start. There are spooky shadows, you wonder what evil lurks in the dark corners and it ramps up the tension with a growing sense of claustrophobia as if the walls are closing in. You have a really good whodunnit here as several characters behave oddly or suspiciously, some are downright sinister or there’s palpable hostility between characters and there’s an increased feeling of foreboding which hangs over the house. The warnings, threats and dangers magnify in intensity and it becomes apparent that there big secrets that people are intent on keeping buried. The plot builds well as revelation piles on revelation. There’s a good twist at the end although maybe it’s all ultimately resolved a bit too easily? Personally, I hope Foley just keeps doing what she's doing. This is her lane. It works so well. She is absolutely freaking fantastic at whipping up a high velocity, tense, atmospheric, drama-infused mystery and I am so here for it!He remembers he's still recording the voicenote, drags his gaze from the window. 'Just ring the buzzer. I'll be up waiting for you-'

I love books set in Paris but feel burnt out on WW2 books, so I went into The Paris Apartment with low expectations. I am happy to say I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I enjoy books about missing/stolen art and that's what elevated this book for me, not to mention Kelly Bowen's beautiful and moving writing. The book has two different timelines and three main heroines. In WW2 occupied France the lives of two brave women, Estelle Allard and Sophie Seymour, collide when they are thrown together on a dangerous mission against the Nazis. 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 One tiny lift, that barely fits an occupant with one piece of luggage, brings the residents to their own landing- a secret, narrow stairway, is another way to climb from floor to floor, with a door with an old fashioned key hole, accessing each individual unit. Problem is – when Jess arrives, Ben is nowhere to be found. WHERE COULD HE BE??? HE TEXTED HER DIRECTIONS JUST THE DAY BEFORE!!MY THOUGHTS: I think it would be very difficult to find another author who does tension as well as Lucy Foley. I am not going to say anything whatsoever about the plot - it's one of those books where it's best that the reader goes in blind. I love it that the publicity blurb gives nothing away. That's as it should be.