The Paris Apartment

 

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.

The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge

Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

I'm not gonna lie..but it was a tad laborious to get through. It didn't feel it was happening in Paris to me. In spite of so many descriptions from this POV and that POV about the apartment, the building, etc. I didn't really care after a while.

I didn't like the characters, but I understand that happens in a mystery. Sometimes, we just aren't supposed to. Yes, Ben is missing and well, I felt his half-sister was taking her sweet time to look for him. Of course, she's a down-and-out barmaid who's great at picking locks and Ben probably has had it to good in life since they separated when he got adopted by a rich family and she got lost in the foster system, yet they have kind of kept in touch. 

Naturally, the building itself has its own history. Then we get to know in bits about those who live there. But just when it gets interesting, you get cut off to the next red herring. And there are a lot of those in this mystery.

Even the author said this was a very hard book to write. She's been on a roll since The Guest List. And she is British although, I didn't feel that Brit vibe in this. So the first half of the book you might find yourself struggling to get through it. And of course, I'm wildly thinking 'oh this could have happened..or..maybe that happened'. Initially, I guessed right, but there are a few twists and turns which keep turning. Which made me like Ben less and less. And don't get me started on Nick.

Also, there are a few hot topics in the book as well. So if you keep with it, you might find yourself proud that you got through it.