I purchased The Paris Apartment at a local bookstore in Dublin. It seems fitting considering that most of Lucy Foley’s thrillers have European settings. The Guest List took place off the coast of Ireland whereas The Paris Apartment unsurprisingly takes place in Paris. During the Christmas holiday, I was sick, so I wasn’t able to see family. One thing that got me through being sick was reading this book. Lucy Foley is one of my favorite authors as her thrillers are so enthralling. The Paris Apartment was no different. It was spicy, gritty, and full of unexpected twists.

Jess is invited by Ben, her brother, to stay in his luxurious Paris apartment. When Jess arrives, Ben is nowhere to be seen. She sticks around to investigate including getting to know the various individuals who live in the complex. Jess starts to question the guests staying in the apartment complex to help find clues that will lead her to Ben. The more questions Jess asks, the more sinister things start to appear. Jess realizes that she may not be safe staying at The Paris Apartment.

The Paris Apartment did not disappoint. Lucy Foley is so good at setting the stage for her books. This apartment complex has this aura of darkness to it. There’s the gate that surrounds the building that has barbed wire and glass to prevent people from climbing on top of it. There are various secret passages that Jess starts to explore. There is a general uneasiness throughout the book and I think that comes from Lucy Foley providing the imagery of this complex.

Jess was the main protagonist and I liked reading from her point of view. It’s clear that Jess has been through some shit and she isn’t naive to the world around her. There’s an example where Jess is flirting with one of the residents. It could have been easy for her to sleep with him, but it doesn’t end up working out as Jess knows that her primary reason for being here is to find her brother. Jess is a survivor and I think throughout the book, I wanted her to fight her way out of the situation she found herself in. There are times when Jess can be a bit reckless and she does put her personal safety at risk. I think it adds to Jess’s backstory because of her unstable upbringing and how Ben is the only family that she has left.

The way that this book came together was fascinating. I can’t say much without spoiling the book. There was a movie that this book reminded me of, but I can’t say it because it would give everything away. I think the final moments where Jess starts to put the pieces together were so good. My heart started to beat out of my chest and my jaw dropped at the final conclusion. It isn’t often when a book prompts that type of response from me.

Lucy Foley can do no wrong. I think that’s the trick for having a good reading year; starting the year by reading a Lucy Foley book. I rated The Paris Apartment five stars on Goodreads.