The front end of this book is terribly slow but kept me reading to find out more. Then somewhere midway, this story (not a suspense, not a thriller as it's marketed) runs off course (was there one?) and it becomes a train wreck. Oy. Everytime the author gives a French word or phrase, she then gives you the English translation!!!!!! What? Why? Just add simple French words that the reader can surmise the obvious meaning but don't translate phrases, etc in the same sentence structure! That was silly and overdone.
THE PARIS APARTMENT was very atmospheric and well written; it had Hitchock vibes as the other book of hers I read, THE GUEST LIST, was more Agatha Christie in tone. The main character, Jess, was likeable. She left Brighton to visit her half brother in Paris and while he knew she was coming, he was nowhere to be found when she arrived. The 'mystery' is to find him and the entire book is a treasure hunt through this old apartment building which gets drawn out. The cast of neighbors is shared with each neighbor having a connection; the story is dark and gets even darker. The final reveal was underwhelming.
Reading THE PARIS APARTMENT is like looking into a dark (not pitch dark) room, trying to see what's exactly going on by straining your eyes and using other senses to gain understanding. In the end it's still dark and you have no clue - until someone cuts on the light and you roll your eyes and say MERDE.
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