From the moment you step into the elegant but slightly sinister Parisian apartment building at 12 Rue des Amants, you know you’re in for a wild ride. Lucy Foley’s latest mystery thriller, The Paris Apartment, plunges readers into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and suspicious characters – all contained within the confines of one very atmospheric Parisian address.
Like the grand Haussmann buildings that line the streets of Paris, this story has many hidden passages and dark corners to explore. Foley expertly peels back the layers, revealing the rot beneath the gilded exterior. By the time you reach the shocking conclusion, you’ll feel like you’ve traversed every creaky floorboard and suspicious shadow of this captivating setting.
Plot Overview: A Desperate Search Leads to Deadly Secrets
The story follows Jess, a down-on-her-luck Brit who arrives in Paris hoping to crash with her half-brother Ben. But when she gets to his swanky apartment, Ben is nowhere to be found. As Jess digs into her brother’s disappearance, she uncovers a nest of secrets among the building’s eccentric residents.
There’s Nick, Ben’s old university friend who got him the apartment. Sophie, the frosty socialite wife of the building’s owner. Mimi, a reclusive art student. Antoine, an unstable alcoholic. And a watchful concierge who seems to know more than she lets on. As Jess gets to know the neighbors, she realizes everyone has something to hide – and her brother may have stumbled onto a dangerous conspiracy.
A Twisty, Addictive Mystery
Foley keeps readers guessing with short chapters from multiple perspectives, slowly doling out revelations and red herrings. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a new twist sends the story careening in an unexpected direction. The pacing is relentless, with cliffhangers galore that will have you turning pages late into the night.
While the plot gets convoluted at times, Foley manages to tie everything together for a satisfying, if rather far-fetched, conclusion. This is the kind of book where you have to just buckle up and enjoy the ride without worrying too much about plausibility. The atmospheric setting and compelling characters make it easy to get swept up in the intrigue.
Characters: A Deliciously Suspicious Cast
One of Foley’s strengths is creating an ensemble of intriguing, morally gray characters who all feel like they could be the villain. Let’s break down some of the key players:
Jess: Our Plucky but Flawed Heroine
Jess makes for an engaging protagonist – she’s scrappy and determined, with a knack for getting herself into (and out of) sticky situations. Her backstory involving a troubled childhood gives depth to her character. At times her recklessness can be frustrating, but it fits with her personality. You can’t help but root for her even as she makes questionable choices.
The Neighbors: Secrets Behind Every Door
- Nick: Charming on the surface, but clearly hiding something. His history with Ben adds an intriguing layer.
- Sophie: Icy and imperious, with hints of a shady past. Her calculated demeanor makes her instantly suspicious.
- Mimi: Troubled and volatile. Her obsession with Ben is both pitiful and creepy.
- Antoine: A loose cannon who could snap at any moment. His volatility adds tension to every scene he’s in.
- The Concierge: Seemingly meek but observant. You get the sense she knows all the building’s secrets.
Foley excels at creating characters who feel like fully-realized people while still maintaining an air of mystery about them. Everyone has layers to unpack.
Setting: Paris Like You’ve Never Seen It
The apartment building itself becomes a character in its own right. Foley brings 12 Rue des Amants vividly to life, from the creaky elevator to the winding back staircase to the ominous basement. You can practically smell the musty air and feel the worn floorboards beneath your feet.
This is not the romanticized City of Lights you see in postcards. Foley’s Paris has a sinister underbelly, with seedy nightclubs and dark alleys lurking just out of sight of the tourist attractions. The contrast between the glittering facade and grimy reality mirrors the theme of appearances vs. truth that runs through the story.
A Claustrophobic Locked Room Mystery
While the story ventures out into Paris at times, much of the action is confined to the apartment building. This creates a deliciously claustrophobic atmosphere as tensions mount. The building becomes a pressure cooker of secrets and suspicion, with danger potentially behind every door.
Writing Style: Addictive and Atmospheric
Foley’s prose strikes a nice balance between page-turning suspense and evocative scene-setting. Her descriptions bring the Parisian setting to life without bogging down the pacing. The short chapters and multiple POVs keep things moving at a brisk clip.
There’s a cinematic quality to the writing that makes it easy to imagine as a movie or limited series. Foley has a knack for ending chapters on tantalizing cliffhangers that compel you to keep reading.
Navigating Unreliable Narrators
One of the joys of this book is trying to parse truth from lies as you navigate the various narrators. Everyone has an agenda, and you’re never quite sure who to trust. Foley drops subtle hints and discrepancies that reward close reading.
Themes: The Dangers of Keeping Secrets
At its core, The Paris Apartment is about the toxic power of secrets. Every character is hiding something, whether it’s a shady past or a dark obsession. These secrets fester and corrode, ultimately leading to violence and tragedy.
There’s also an exploration of the gap between appearance and reality. The grand apartment building and its well-heeled residents initially seem impressive. But as Jess peels back the layers, she discovers the rot underneath the polished exterior.
Class Dynamics and Privilege
Foley touches on issues of class and privilege throughout the story. Jess, with her working class background, is an outsider among the wealthy residents. Her struggle to be taken seriously highlights how money and status can shield people from consequences.
Comparisons: For Fans of Locked Room Mysteries
If you enjoyed the confined setting and suspicious ensemble of Foley’s previous hit The Guest List, you’ll find a lot to like here. The Paris Apartment has a similar structure of slowly unraveling secrets among a group of interconnected characters.
It also brings to mind classic locked room mysteries like Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The claustrophobic setting and dwindling pool of suspects create a pressure cooker of suspense.
Readers who liked the multiple POV structure and Parisian setting of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides may also enjoy this book.
Minor Critiques: Suspension of Disbelief Required
While the story is gripping overall, there are a few elements that require a hefty suspension of disbelief:
- Some of Jess’s actions stretch credibility, even for an impulsive character
- The final reveal relies on some rather implausible coincidences
- A few loose ends are tied up a bit too neatly in the epilogue
But if you’re willing to just go along for the ride, these issues likely won’t detract from your enjoyment too much.
Final Verdict: A Twisty, Atmospheric Page-Turner
The Paris Apartment is a propulsive mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. While it requires some suspension of disbelief, the atmospheric setting, intriguing characters, and breakneck pacing make for an addictive read.
Foley continues to cement her status as a master of the locked room mystery with this twisty thriller. Clear your schedule before starting this one – you won’t want to put it down.
Who Should Read This Book:
- Fans of Lucy Foley’s previous books like The Guest List
- Readers who enjoy locked room mysteries and unreliable narrators
- Anyone looking for an atmospheric, suspenseful page-turner
- Francophiles who like seeing Paris’ darker side
Who May Want to Skip:
- Those who prefer more realistic, grounded mysteries
- Readers bothered by multiple POV structures
- Anyone triggered by themes of domestic violence or sexual exploitation
