Review: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Synopsis: 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.

~ ~ ~

Yet another entertaining story from Foley using her trademark multiple narrative that once again, moves between past and present events. This time, the setting is in a Parisienne apartment complex, a literal hive where all residents are hiding some sort of secret, both from those within and those without. It takes not one but two outsiders to bring fast held (and disturbing) secrets to the fore - and with tragic consequences. Did everything change after the outsiders arrived or did events happened because of them?.

As Foley writes: "... what's that old French saying about family .... le voix du sang est la plus forte  .... the voice of blood is the strongest ..." - will blood hold out ....

Knocked this one over in the space of a few hours as the format was familiar and the storyline engaging.