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When I Kill You
Not yet published
Expected 17 Feb 26The multimillion-copy and New York Times bestseller B. A. Paris returns with a triumphant, unsettling new suspense novel.
Who is watching Nell Masters?
Nell Masters is certain someone is following her. The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she travels to and from work, there are silent calls to her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers arrives without a card. And Nell has a reason to be looking over her shoulder, because she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone in her life, including her new partner, Alex. But Alex also has secrets of his own.
Fourteen years earlier, when Nell went by the name Elle Nugent, she witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with finding the person responsible. She was convinced she knew who it was and her fixation with Brett Parker, the man she accused, led her down a dangerous path . . .
Now, Nell tries to convince herself that this unnerving feeling of being watched is all in her mind. Has someone from her past discovered her new identity? Has the stalker become the stalked? Or is there something even more deadly at play?
Who is watching Nell Masters?
Nell Masters is certain someone is following her. The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she travels to and from work, there are silent calls to her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers arrives without a card. And Nell has a reason to be looking over her shoulder, because she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone in her life, including her new partner, Alex. But Alex also has secrets of his own.
Fourteen years earlier, when Nell went by the name Elle Nugent, she witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with finding the person responsible. She was convinced she knew who it was and her fixation with Brett Parker, the man she accused, led her down a dangerous path . . .
Now, Nell tries to convince herself that this unnerving feeling of being watched is all in her mind. Has someone from her past discovered her new identity? Has the stalker become the stalked? Or is there something even more deadly at play?
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026
122 people are currently reading
23717 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Paris
30 books23.4k followersB.A. Paris is the New York Times and Sunday Times Number 1 bestselling author of seven novels including the word-of-mouth hit, Behind Closed Doors.
Over 7 million editions of her work have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 41 languages. Her novels have been optioned for major screen adaptations with a film of The Breakdown, titled Blackwater Lane, in post production.
Before becoming an author, B.A. Paris worked as a bank trader and teacher in France. Today, she writes from her cottage in Hampshire, England, where she lives with her husband with visits from her five grown-up daughters. She has a newsletter baparis.com and is on social media @baparisauthor
Over 7 million editions of her work have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 41 languages. Her novels have been optioned for major screen adaptations with a film of The Breakdown, titled Blackwater Lane, in post production.
Before becoming an author, B.A. Paris worked as a bank trader and teacher in France. Today, she writes from her cottage in Hampshire, England, where she lives with her husband with visits from her five grown-up daughters. She has a newsletter baparis.com and is on social media @baparisauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
November 25, 2025
You know how some books are so deliciously addictive that you save them for your most sacred late-night reading sessions — the ones that deserve your best snacks and your comfiest couch? My snack lineup has evolved, by the way: farewell, caramel popcorn (too many cavities), and hello to garden Sun Chips — the red ones, obviously. As for the drink of choice, your favorite red, — for women, it’s a bold Cabernet Sauvignon; for men, well, it should probably be Emma Stone or Kylie with red wings. (All right, bad joke alert.)
You curl up, snacks in hand, heart open, and start your private reading tournament. This was one of those books — the kind that makes your pulse race, your stomach twist, and your nerves spark like you’ve just downed five matcha lattes (extra matcha, minimal milk). It’s unsettling in the best way, like a psychological slap that you weirdly enjoy. Okay, maybe that sounds a little masochistic, but let’s call it “thriller appreciation.”
The first part of the book completely blew my mind. I was so ready to give it five stars after nearly teetering on the edge of a panic attack (in the best reading sense possible). The past timeline — Elle’s story — was gripping, layered, and absolutely brilliant. Meanwhile, the creepy stalker notes in the present timeline added a perfect mix of irritation and dark humor. Each note ending with “when I kill you” hit just the right eerie, sarcastic tone.
But — and here comes my reader heartbreak — once the story left Elle’s past and stayed solely in the present with Nell’s increasingly confused, agitated mind, the pacing slowed. The tension loosened. The repetitive cycle dragged a bit. The suspect list felt a little too thin, and I actually guessed the big twist early on. When the revelation finally came, it felt slightly rushed — more “hmm, okay” than “oh my god!” I wished there had been more build-up and misdirection to deepen the shock value. (I can’t say more without spoiling it, but trust me, when you finish, you’ll get what I mean.)
Still, I rounded my 3.5 stars up to 5, because I remain a loyal admirer of B. A. Paris’s wonderfully twisted imagination. I just wish the sheer perfection of the first half had carried through the second. That said, the concept of a stalker becoming the prey of another stalker? Chef’s kiss. It made me imagine Joe Goldberg himself squirming under someone else’s watchful, vicious gaze. Brilliant idea — and Paris executed it beautifully for the most part.
Quick recap of the plot:
Nell Masters works at Drop In, a charity center. In her mid-thirties, she lives quietly in the cozy apartment she inherited from her great-aunt. Her circle is small, her world steady — until it isn’t. She’s dating Alex, a transatlantic man whose time is split between the U.S. and England, and she’s desperately trying to keep her dark past buried. Because Nell wasn’t always Nell — she used to be Elle, and one tragic attempt to play armchair detective left her drowning in guilt and convinced she doesn’t deserve happiness.
Now, she senses she’s being watched. There’s a stalker — one she can’t prove exists — and as her boyfriend’s secrets start to surface, she realizes her danger might not stem from her past at all. Maybe the real threat lies in the present, among the people she’s recently let into her life. The question is: can she escape this time, or has she finally been cornered for good?
An absolutely heart-throbbing, popcorn-worthy read (go for the white cheddar — trust me, your dentist will thank you). Highly recommended for thriller lovers and devoted B. A. Paris fans alike!
A huge thank-you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this deliciously twisted thriller in exchange for my honest review.
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You curl up, snacks in hand, heart open, and start your private reading tournament. This was one of those books — the kind that makes your pulse race, your stomach twist, and your nerves spark like you’ve just downed five matcha lattes (extra matcha, minimal milk). It’s unsettling in the best way, like a psychological slap that you weirdly enjoy. Okay, maybe that sounds a little masochistic, but let’s call it “thriller appreciation.”
The first part of the book completely blew my mind. I was so ready to give it five stars after nearly teetering on the edge of a panic attack (in the best reading sense possible). The past timeline — Elle’s story — was gripping, layered, and absolutely brilliant. Meanwhile, the creepy stalker notes in the present timeline added a perfect mix of irritation and dark humor. Each note ending with “when I kill you” hit just the right eerie, sarcastic tone.
But — and here comes my reader heartbreak — once the story left Elle’s past and stayed solely in the present with Nell’s increasingly confused, agitated mind, the pacing slowed. The tension loosened. The repetitive cycle dragged a bit. The suspect list felt a little too thin, and I actually guessed the big twist early on. When the revelation finally came, it felt slightly rushed — more “hmm, okay” than “oh my god!” I wished there had been more build-up and misdirection to deepen the shock value. (I can’t say more without spoiling it, but trust me, when you finish, you’ll get what I mean.)
Still, I rounded my 3.5 stars up to 5, because I remain a loyal admirer of B. A. Paris’s wonderfully twisted imagination. I just wish the sheer perfection of the first half had carried through the second. That said, the concept of a stalker becoming the prey of another stalker? Chef’s kiss. It made me imagine Joe Goldberg himself squirming under someone else’s watchful, vicious gaze. Brilliant idea — and Paris executed it beautifully for the most part.
Quick recap of the plot:
Nell Masters works at Drop In, a charity center. In her mid-thirties, she lives quietly in the cozy apartment she inherited from her great-aunt. Her circle is small, her world steady — until it isn’t. She’s dating Alex, a transatlantic man whose time is split between the U.S. and England, and she’s desperately trying to keep her dark past buried. Because Nell wasn’t always Nell — she used to be Elle, and one tragic attempt to play armchair detective left her drowning in guilt and convinced she doesn’t deserve happiness.
Now, she senses she’s being watched. There’s a stalker — one she can’t prove exists — and as her boyfriend’s secrets start to surface, she realizes her danger might not stem from her past at all. Maybe the real threat lies in the present, among the people she’s recently let into her life. The question is: can she escape this time, or has she finally been cornered for good?
An absolutely heart-throbbing, popcorn-worthy read (go for the white cheddar — trust me, your dentist will thank you). Highly recommended for thriller lovers and devoted B. A. Paris fans alike!
A huge thank-you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this deliciously twisted thriller in exchange for my honest review.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
November 19, 2025
Fourteen years ago, Elle witnessed an abduction and murder.
As the years went by, she became obsessed with the man she suspected. So much so it destroyed her life and others!
She has since reinvented herself as Nell, and unfortunately, her past is now catching up with her.
Can she truly escape her past or is it time to pay the price? Nell made for a perfect main character.🙌 Just unbalanced enough that you weren’t sure to root for her or against.
In true B.A. Paris fashion, I was kept guessing right up to the very end! Was it a bit OTT? Yes! But most psychological thrillers are…that’s what we love about them.😂
A fast read I devoured in just a couple sittings. This will make a perfect weekend read!
✍️ B.A. Paris
📑 304 pages
🗓️ February 17 2026
📈 4/5🌟
👉 Thriller
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press
As the years went by, she became obsessed with the man she suspected. So much so it destroyed her life and others!
She has since reinvented herself as Nell, and unfortunately, her past is now catching up with her.
Can she truly escape her past or is it time to pay the price? Nell made for a perfect main character.🙌 Just unbalanced enough that you weren’t sure to root for her or against.
In true B.A. Paris fashion, I was kept guessing right up to the very end! Was it a bit OTT? Yes! But most psychological thrillers are…that’s what we love about them.😂
A fast read I devoured in just a couple sittings. This will make a perfect weekend read!
✍️ B.A. Paris
📑 304 pages
🗓️ February 17 2026
📈 4/5🌟
👉 Thriller
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press
November 1, 2025
Here I am waving from outlier alley! I was highly anticipating reading When I Kill You but unfortunately it failed to wow me. I was; however, intrigued by the fact that Nell Masters felt as if she was being watched. She didn't just feel as if she was being watched, she knows it. As strange deliveries begin to arrive with no notes, her anxiety kicks into high gear. Nell has a secret, one that no one, including her boyfriend, Alex knows about. But Alex has his own secrets.
Fourteen years earlier, Nell went by another name and was a key witness who saw a young woman get into a stranger's car. Later the young woman was found murdered. She became obsessed with the case and tracking down the killer. I don't know about you, but if I think someone killed someone, I am not going to be breathing down their back anytime soon!
This book is told in dual timelines and moved at quite a slow pace. If you follow my reviews, you know that I am not a fan of slow burns. I wanted this to hurry up and get on with it multiple times while reading. I went from being intrigued to bored, then intrigued again. This book does touch on obsession, trauma, and secrets. I thought that the author portrayed those very well in this book. I also thought the author did a great job of showing Nell's unease and increasing anxiety as she dealt with being watched.
Others have enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.
*This was a witches words buddy read with Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on When I Kill You.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Fourteen years earlier, Nell went by another name and was a key witness who saw a young woman get into a stranger's car. Later the young woman was found murdered. She became obsessed with the case and tracking down the killer. I don't know about you, but if I think someone killed someone, I am not going to be breathing down their back anytime soon!
This book is told in dual timelines and moved at quite a slow pace. If you follow my reviews, you know that I am not a fan of slow burns. I wanted this to hurry up and get on with it multiple times while reading. I went from being intrigued to bored, then intrigued again. This book does touch on obsession, trauma, and secrets. I thought that the author portrayed those very well in this book. I also thought the author did a great job of showing Nell's unease and increasing anxiety as she dealt with being watched.
Others have enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.
*This was a witches words buddy read with Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on When I Kill You.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
November 5, 2025
Confession:
I think I might be leaving my thriller era. The spark isn’t gone, but the excitement just doesn’t hit like it used to. Maybe I’ve read too many twists or maybe this one just didn’t thrill the way it promised to.
What Lit My Mood
Fourteen years ago, Nell went by another name and saw something that changed everything for her. She witnessed Bryony Sanders, stepping into a stranger’s car. When Bryony turns up dead, Nell becomes obsessed with finding justice, transforming herself into a stalker watching the killer’s every move.
Now, years later, someone’s watching her.
I loved the unique twist on the stalker trope, turning the hunter into the hunted.
I loved the way the stalker chapters ended. Clever and did have me wanting to read another chapter.
Where My Mood Flickered
The story moves between two timelines: Nell stalking in the past and Nell being stalked in the present. The concept is great, but the threads didn't weave together tightly enough.
The big reveal of the current stalker was shocking, but also a bit of a letdown once it landed. And the pacing… painfully slow. A stalker story should have had me peeking through the blinds, not checking the clock.
Witchy Mood Meter
Mood Mismatch — The idea was sharp, but the suspense lost its edge before the spell could really take hold.
Verdict
Banish it to the caldron: Loved the concept, but the delivery didn’t haunt me the way it should have.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra who might of shared in my pain. Check out her review to find out.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
I think I might be leaving my thriller era. The spark isn’t gone, but the excitement just doesn’t hit like it used to. Maybe I’ve read too many twists or maybe this one just didn’t thrill the way it promised to.
What Lit My Mood
Fourteen years ago, Nell went by another name and saw something that changed everything for her. She witnessed Bryony Sanders, stepping into a stranger’s car. When Bryony turns up dead, Nell becomes obsessed with finding justice, transforming herself into a stalker watching the killer’s every move.
Now, years later, someone’s watching her.
I loved the unique twist on the stalker trope, turning the hunter into the hunted.
I loved the way the stalker chapters ended. Clever and did have me wanting to read another chapter.
Where My Mood Flickered
The story moves between two timelines: Nell stalking in the past and Nell being stalked in the present. The concept is great, but the threads didn't weave together tightly enough.
The big reveal of the current stalker was shocking, but also a bit of a letdown once it landed. And the pacing… painfully slow. A stalker story should have had me peeking through the blinds, not checking the clock.
Witchy Mood Meter
Mood Mismatch — The idea was sharp, but the suspense lost its edge before the spell could really take hold.
Verdict
Banish it to the caldron: Loved the concept, but the delivery didn’t haunt me the way it should have.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra who might of shared in my pain. Check out her review to find out.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Want to read
October 24, 2025Behind Closed Doors was one of the books that cemented my love for psychological thrillers.
Such a talented author
I cant wait for her new book to be released!
🖤🤍❤️🖤
Such a talented author
I cant wait for her new book to be released!
🖤🤍❤️🖤
November 28, 2025
Finally- a book that kept me on my toes! I was so excited to read an early copy of this book, and it definitely delivered! I was entertained from the first page to the last, and I never once figured out who was stalking our main character, Nell. This story had me guessing and questioning every single character until the very end. 🕵🏻
This story goes back and forth between Present and Past Chapters. In the Present chapters, we have Nell Masters (who was once Elle Nugent). In the Past chapters, they focus on Elle Nugent (before she became Nell Masters). Trust me, it’s not that confusing. We also get little extracts from the stalkers notebook throughout this story, which I really enjoyed reading.
Fourteen years ago, when Nell was Elle, she witnessed a young girl get into a black car with a stranger- a man who Elle thought she recognized. The young girl, Bryony Sanders, was later found murdered. Elle then became fixated on the case, and began following the stranger she thought was responsible for Bryony’s death.
Fast forward fourteen years later, and Elle is living a new life as Nell Masters. Nell lives a fairly quiet life, has a good job, has just made some new friends, and has a boyfriend who is becoming pretty serious. However, Nell feels that she has been followed and watched for weeks, evens months. Why can’t she shake this feeling? Is someone out to get her? Is her past catching up with her? Or is someone in her present life playing tricks on her?
You will have to read this page-turner to find out! For me, this was another hit from B.A. Paris, and I’m so glad that I had the chance to read it. I definitely recommend adding this to your list.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book, in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest review.
Publication date: February 17, 2026
This story goes back and forth between Present and Past Chapters. In the Present chapters, we have Nell Masters (who was once Elle Nugent). In the Past chapters, they focus on Elle Nugent (before she became Nell Masters). Trust me, it’s not that confusing. We also get little extracts from the stalkers notebook throughout this story, which I really enjoyed reading.
Fourteen years ago, when Nell was Elle, she witnessed a young girl get into a black car with a stranger- a man who Elle thought she recognized. The young girl, Bryony Sanders, was later found murdered. Elle then became fixated on the case, and began following the stranger she thought was responsible for Bryony’s death.
Fast forward fourteen years later, and Elle is living a new life as Nell Masters. Nell lives a fairly quiet life, has a good job, has just made some new friends, and has a boyfriend who is becoming pretty serious. However, Nell feels that she has been followed and watched for weeks, evens months. Why can’t she shake this feeling? Is someone out to get her? Is her past catching up with her? Or is someone in her present life playing tricks on her?
You will have to read this page-turner to find out! For me, this was another hit from B.A. Paris, and I’m so glad that I had the chance to read it. I definitely recommend adding this to your list.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book, in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest review.
Publication date: February 17, 2026
November 5, 2025
Elle believes she witnesses who abducted and killed a young woman. She feels the police are not taking it seriously and decides to investigate it on her own. Things obviously don’t go well.
Fast-forward to the present and Elle now goes by the name Nell hoping to start fresh from the events of her past. (I wish Elle would have chosen a different name because trying to differentiate between the two as the book flip-flops timelines was a bit difficult. At least for me). She has a job she loves and is it the beginning stages of a new relationship. Her partner, Alex, spends alternating weeks between the US and London for his job. During the time that Nell is alone, she begins to suspect someone is following her.
This is one of those that not much happened, but being that the chapters are so short, you keep flipping the pages. It held my interest, but there wasn’t much beyond the stalker plot. The author does a good job of showing the fear and paranoia building up within Nell. If I had a choice, I’d say the past timeline I enjoyed more due to some of the poor decisions Elle made. It definitely had me shaking my head. The ending was fine. If this book were a movie, it would be something very similar to what you would find on LMN.
This is not one of my favorites by this author, but they all can’t be my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fast-forward to the present and Elle now goes by the name Nell hoping to start fresh from the events of her past. (I wish Elle would have chosen a different name because trying to differentiate between the two as the book flip-flops timelines was a bit difficult. At least for me). She has a job she loves and is it the beginning stages of a new relationship. Her partner, Alex, spends alternating weeks between the US and London for his job. During the time that Nell is alone, she begins to suspect someone is following her.
This is one of those that not much happened, but being that the chapters are so short, you keep flipping the pages. It held my interest, but there wasn’t much beyond the stalker plot. The author does a good job of showing the fear and paranoia building up within Nell. If I had a choice, I’d say the past timeline I enjoyed more due to some of the poor decisions Elle made. It definitely had me shaking my head. The ending was fine. If this book were a movie, it would be something very similar to what you would find on LMN.
This is not one of my favorites by this author, but they all can’t be my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2025
I’ve read several B.A. Paris books over the years, and this one absolutely delivered the suspense I’ve come to expect! It maybe could’ve been a touch shorter, but honestly, I was too busy side-eyeing everyone trying to figure out who was watching Nell. The tension built so well that I was glued to the pages, convinced each new character was the culprit—I don’t think anyone escaped my suspicion.
The reveal was satisfying—one of my top guesses (always a small reader victory!)—and the stalker’s reasoning made perfect sense. I also really appreciated that Nell wasn’t your typical oblivious thriller heroine; she’s smart, self-aware, and actually pays attention to what’s happening around her.
Even with a few slower moments, this was a tense, twisty read that kept me hooked from start to finish!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
The reveal was satisfying—one of my top guesses (always a small reader victory!)—and the stalker’s reasoning made perfect sense. I also really appreciated that Nell wasn’t your typical oblivious thriller heroine; she’s smart, self-aware, and actually pays attention to what’s happening around her.
Even with a few slower moments, this was a tense, twisty read that kept me hooked from start to finish!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
December 2, 2025
I will always read a B.A Paris book! The author has that classic thriller vibe mixed with domestic suspense that she always brings to the plot.
I think this was officially my favourite of the authors books! I enjoyed the stalker vibes with the written journal entries at the same time we were learning the history of the FMC and her involvement with an unsolved murder case. I also enjoyed the relationship dramas and the FMCs realization about what she wanted for her future.
I saw some people were disappointed by the ending but I personally liked it, I liked the way her bf trained her how to react in the situation (which we got a glimpse of in the opening chapter) and the way all our questions were answered. Overall a fun enjoyable read, I recommend trying the audiobook as the narrator did a great job!
I think this was officially my favourite of the authors books! I enjoyed the stalker vibes with the written journal entries at the same time we were learning the history of the FMC and her involvement with an unsolved murder case. I also enjoyed the relationship dramas and the FMCs realization about what she wanted for her future.
I saw some people were disappointed by the ending but I personally liked it, I liked the way her bf trained her how to react in the situation (which we got a glimpse of in the opening chapter) and the way all our questions were answered. Overall a fun enjoyable read, I recommend trying the audiobook as the narrator did a great job!
November 30, 2025
Big thanks to the publisher for granting me an ARC of this book. I wish I could offer a more positive review, but I found the story repetitive, farfetched, and not at all thrilling.
The protagonist, Nell, is an extremely unsympathetic character: self-absorbed, hysterical, naive. In her early 20s, Nell (who at the time goes by Elle) believes she knows who kidnapped and killed a young American woman. Despite warnings from the police, she begins stalking the "suspect," which leads to tragedy: two men dead, two families destroyed.
The past showcases a woman seeped in madness and obsession. Nell loses her job, her boyfriend, her friends, all because she's certain (with no proof whatsoever, indeed with claims to the contrary) that a man got away with murder.
The problem is that Nell hasn't learned a damn thing. Fast forward a few years: Nell is now 36 and lives a quiet life. She works at a charity (something to do with helping the disadvantaged) and keeps to herself. Nell believes she's being followed, so in essence the one-time hunter becomes the prey.
She assumes she knows who's targeting her (once again with no evidence) but doesn't do a damn thing about it besides sleeping on the couch (because that's so much safer) and double-checking that her windows and doors are locked.
Wait, my bad: At one point, Nell stands in her bedroom window holding a knife and mouths, I'm waiting for you like a terrible parody of an 80s slasher film. Was this scene supposed to be creepy? Scary? Not sure, but it made me laugh.
Besides hating on Nell, I have a slew of additional grievances:
We are led to believe there is a connection between the past and the present; that connection never gels.
Nell's romance with a Franco-American named Alex takes over the plot. I didn't sign up to read a bodice ripper, and while the sex was kept off page for the most part, it still felt gratuitous and distracting. Nell lurves Alex so much, but she also believes he might be a killer. Like, girl, why are you with him then?
Alex has this whole backstory with a mysterious job and a 20-year-old son who's arrested for possession of cannabis. Okay, and this is relevant because? Beyond that, he has no personality whatsoever.
A secondary character dies (in a completely OTT fashion), but everyone moves on within five minutes, including the parter of the deceased. Yeah, that's not how grief works.
The chapters, in italics, from the stalker's POV are hella cringe. Each one ends with, "We won't be [insert random, mundane phrase here], when I kill you." E.g., We won't be doing crosswords, when I kill you; we'll hardly be discussing our favorite perfumes, when I kill you; we'll hardly be discussing our favorite pastries, when I kill you.
This was so painfully awkward, I found myself making a grimace face every time.
In an effort to keep the suspense going, the author refers to the stalker with the gender-neutral they, which is odd since Nell is certain her stalker is a man and would have naturally thought of the stalker as he.
The author's clumsy attempt at obfuscation was a dead giveaway, and I guessed the identity of the stalker long before Nell figured it out.
Speaking of the stalker, what was the point of the stalking if the objective was to get rid of Nell as quickly as possible? The stalker wastes so much time and energy sneaking around in a ninja outfit, hiding under Nell's bed, picking locks, writing in a notebook. Why not just get on with it already?
The story is set in England, but there is no sense of place. Indeed, everyone talks like an American. Huh?
The protagonist, Nell, is an extremely unsympathetic character: self-absorbed, hysterical, naive. In her early 20s, Nell (who at the time goes by Elle) believes she knows who kidnapped and killed a young American woman. Despite warnings from the police, she begins stalking the "suspect," which leads to tragedy: two men dead, two families destroyed.
The past showcases a woman seeped in madness and obsession. Nell loses her job, her boyfriend, her friends, all because she's certain (with no proof whatsoever, indeed with claims to the contrary) that a man got away with murder.
The problem is that Nell hasn't learned a damn thing. Fast forward a few years: Nell is now 36 and lives a quiet life. She works at a charity (something to do with helping the disadvantaged) and keeps to herself. Nell believes she's being followed, so in essence the one-time hunter becomes the prey.
She assumes she knows who's targeting her (once again with no evidence) but doesn't do a damn thing about it besides sleeping on the couch (because that's so much safer) and double-checking that her windows and doors are locked.
Wait, my bad: At one point, Nell stands in her bedroom window holding a knife and mouths, I'm waiting for you like a terrible parody of an 80s slasher film. Was this scene supposed to be creepy? Scary? Not sure, but it made me laugh.
Besides hating on Nell, I have a slew of additional grievances:
We are led to believe there is a connection between the past and the present; that connection never gels.
Nell's romance with a Franco-American named Alex takes over the plot. I didn't sign up to read a bodice ripper, and while the sex was kept off page for the most part, it still felt gratuitous and distracting. Nell lurves Alex so much, but she also believes he might be a killer. Like, girl, why are you with him then?
Alex has this whole backstory with a mysterious job and a 20-year-old son who's arrested for possession of cannabis. Okay, and this is relevant because? Beyond that, he has no personality whatsoever.
A secondary character dies (in a completely OTT fashion), but everyone moves on within five minutes, including the parter of the deceased. Yeah, that's not how grief works.
The chapters, in italics, from the stalker's POV are hella cringe. Each one ends with, "We won't be [insert random, mundane phrase here], when I kill you." E.g., We won't be doing crosswords, when I kill you; we'll hardly be discussing our favorite perfumes, when I kill you; we'll hardly be discussing our favorite pastries, when I kill you.
This was so painfully awkward, I found myself making a grimace face every time.
In an effort to keep the suspense going, the author refers to the stalker with the gender-neutral they, which is odd since Nell is certain her stalker is a man and would have naturally thought of the stalker as he.
The author's clumsy attempt at obfuscation was a dead giveaway, and I guessed the identity of the stalker long before Nell figured it out.
Speaking of the stalker, what was the point of the stalking if the objective was to get rid of Nell as quickly as possible? The stalker wastes so much time and energy sneaking around in a ninja outfit, hiding under Nell's bed, picking locks, writing in a notebook. Why not just get on with it already?
The story is set in England, but there is no sense of place. Indeed, everyone talks like an American. Huh?
November 24, 2025
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not impact my rating or review.
I have to say that parts of this story didn't really work such as the unknown narrator ending each excerpt with 'when I kill you', and the lack of chemistry between Nell and Alex. That said, I couldn't put it down. I won't lie though, I started to just skim the excerpts by the unknown narrator because I was tired of them.
When I Kill You follows a woman named Nell who has a past she does not talk about. It takes a while to get there, but we find out in the Elle chapters labeled "Elle: Past" that Elle was happily in love with her boyfriend Jaz, and then one nights he sees a teenage girl who gets her phone snatched. Elle goes out and sees the man face who drives her away. Days later the girl she saw is found dead and Elle believes she knows the man that did it. She quickly reports this to the police and finds herself obsessing over the man and him getting away with murder. "Nell: Present" shows us Elle years later and who has kept herself apart from forming friendships or a relationship, until she meets a man named Alex that she is in love with and wants to have a future with. One issue is that Nell thinks she's being stalked due to her actions when she was Elle and is scared to let Alex or anyone else know. In between those before and afters we also get extracts from notebooks written by an unknown person who is following Nell and is planning on killing her.
I really found Elle aggravating, but I think Paris wrote her that way on purpose. Her insistence on someone being a murder and doing her amaetur investigating really was a send-up I thought of tons of thrillers out there with the main character being a woman and somehow smarter than the police. Paris also does a great job of showing the para-social relationship people like Elle have with the police and the suspects. Heck, I see it now with so called true-crime people on social media. They will hound someone to death trying to accuse them of being murders not based on any evidence. To this day, I still shake my head on the real life people who keep hounding people connected to the Watts Family murders because they are insistent the police let someone get away with murder. Don't get me started on the terribleness still going on with the Idaho Four cases. We don't get a lot of details about this case but when we jump back to Nell in the present, she still thinks she was correct and woo boy I won't get into spoilers, but I was at one point wishing she would get murdered because she was just kind of awful.
The other characters we get details on, but there's not much there. I also had to call BS on Nell and Alex. She is dating a guy that is only around for about a week a month and they have been dating 5 months, I didn't buy them being loved up at all. And Nell having no sense about Googling the guy but being angry that he has been hiding things from her (yeah, pot kettle) was kind of hilarious.
The flow of the book was quite good. I found myself anxious to get back to the Elle portions to find out what in the world did happen more than 10 years ago and how it tied to Nell's present.
The ending though I thought was kind of a cop-out. I just think it wrapped too neatly and I wish again there had been some revelations for Nell that she had the worst instincts ever about everything.
I have to say that parts of this story didn't really work such as the unknown narrator ending each excerpt with 'when I kill you', and the lack of chemistry between Nell and Alex. That said, I couldn't put it down. I won't lie though, I started to just skim the excerpts by the unknown narrator because I was tired of them.
When I Kill You follows a woman named Nell who has a past she does not talk about. It takes a while to get there, but we find out in the Elle chapters labeled "Elle: Past" that Elle was happily in love with her boyfriend Jaz, and then one nights he sees a teenage girl who gets her phone snatched. Elle goes out and sees the man face who drives her away. Days later the girl she saw is found dead and Elle believes she knows the man that did it. She quickly reports this to the police and finds herself obsessing over the man and him getting away with murder. "Nell: Present" shows us Elle years later and who has kept herself apart from forming friendships or a relationship, until she meets a man named Alex that she is in love with and wants to have a future with. One issue is that Nell thinks she's being stalked due to her actions when she was Elle and is scared to let Alex or anyone else know. In between those before and afters we also get extracts from notebooks written by an unknown person who is following Nell and is planning on killing her.
I really found Elle aggravating, but I think Paris wrote her that way on purpose. Her insistence on someone being a murder and doing her amaetur investigating really was a send-up I thought of tons of thrillers out there with the main character being a woman and somehow smarter than the police. Paris also does a great job of showing the para-social relationship people like Elle have with the police and the suspects. Heck, I see it now with so called true-crime people on social media. They will hound someone to death trying to accuse them of being murders not based on any evidence. To this day, I still shake my head on the real life people who keep hounding people connected to the Watts Family murders because they are insistent the police let someone get away with murder. Don't get me started on the terribleness still going on with the Idaho Four cases. We don't get a lot of details about this case but when we jump back to Nell in the present, she still thinks she was correct and woo boy I won't get into spoilers, but I was at one point wishing she would get murdered because she was just kind of awful.
The other characters we get details on, but there's not much there. I also had to call BS on Nell and Alex. She is dating a guy that is only around for about a week a month and they have been dating 5 months, I didn't buy them being loved up at all. And Nell having no sense about Googling the guy but being angry that he has been hiding things from her (yeah, pot kettle) was kind of hilarious.
The flow of the book was quite good. I found myself anxious to get back to the Elle portions to find out what in the world did happen more than 10 years ago and how it tied to Nell's present.
The ending though I thought was kind of a cop-out. I just think it wrapped too neatly and I wish again there had been some revelations for Nell that she had the worst instincts ever about everything.
November 12, 2025
I received a free copy of, When I Kill You, by B. A Paris, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Nell used to be Elle, which is one of her many secrets. Nell feels like someone is watching her. What a thrilling read, a real who done it.
November 13, 2025
This was my first read from the author, and I can say with confidence, it won't be my last. I had a lot of fun with this weird, twisty story and all its flawed characters. I loved that I wasn't always absolutely sure I could trust our MC. Was she reliable? Unreliable? Sane? Was she crazy? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe she was a little of it all.
This was just a fun read, that while I guessed the ending, it didn't even matter because I enjoyed it so much. I will absolutely be seeking out more from this author in the future.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This was just a fun read, that while I guessed the ending, it didn't even matter because I enjoyed it so much. I will absolutely be seeking out more from this author in the future.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
August 18, 2025
Review to come soon.
November 20, 2025
4.25 stars.. thank you SMP for the free early copy!
Glad I’ve been giving BA Paris another shot because I’ve enjoyed this and the therapist! Past and present timelines, dark past, great read
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
Glad I’ve been giving BA Paris another shot because I’ve enjoyed this and the therapist! Past and present timelines, dark past, great read
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
Want to read
August 21, 2025As the self declared head of the BA Paris fan club, I am super excited to read this one. Hoping to start it next!
A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.
A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.
November 20, 2025
Een jonge vrouw wordt vermoord. De 22-jarige Elle Nugent was een van de laatsten die haar zag en ze weet wie de dader is. Maar de politie gelooft haar niet. Elle is vastbesloten om de moordenaar te pakken te krijgen en ze volgt haar verdachte, Brett, en zijn gezin.
Wanneer Brett verongelukt geven de media Elle de schuld en ze bestempelen haar als stalker. Damon, Bretts zoon, wil dat Elle boet voor wat ze zijn familie heeft aangedaan.
Jaren later begint Nell Masters eindelijk weer mensen te vertrouwen. Ze heeft een nieuwe naam, een nieuwe partner en een nieuwe vriendengroep. Dan vermoedt ze dat ze ook een nieuwe stalker heeft…
'Slaap zacht' begint met een proloog die zich in het heden afspeelt en er is meteen al iets spannends aan de hand.
Vervolgens maak je steeds sprongen van het heden naar het verleden. Je leert hier Elle kennen en ze is ergens getuige van geweest en ze probeert de politie duidelijk te maken wie de dader is. Echter wordt hier niets mee gedaan en Elle probeert zelf achter de dader aan te gaan.
Maar dan overkomt diegene iets vreselijks en iedereen vindt dat Elle daar schuldig aan is. Ook de zoon van de dader vindt dat en hij besluit wraak op haar te nemen. De hoofdstukken in het verleden gaan over de aanloop naar deze gebeurtenissen en ik vond dat erg interessante stukken.
In het heden lees je dus over Nell en het lijkt erop dat haar verleden haar nog steeds achterna zit. Ze heeft een partner en leuke vrienden, maar iemand houdt haar in de gaten. Het lijkt zo erg te worden, dat Nell voor haar eigen leven vreest, want er gebeuren steeds vreemdere dingen.
Het verhaal vond ik heel erg prettig om te lezen. De afwisseling tussen heden en verleden is fijn, maar... toen het einde naderde (en de plotwending), voelde ik toch een lichte teleurstelling. Het gaat enorm snel en gemakkelijk en ik had het misschien wat spectaculairder verwacht.
Hierdoor schommel ik een beetje in mijn beoordeling (3,5-4*), maar ik heb zeker voor 90% van het verhaal genoten, dus rond ik het naar boven af.
Ik wil @amboanthos heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Wanneer Brett verongelukt geven de media Elle de schuld en ze bestempelen haar als stalker. Damon, Bretts zoon, wil dat Elle boet voor wat ze zijn familie heeft aangedaan.
Jaren later begint Nell Masters eindelijk weer mensen te vertrouwen. Ze heeft een nieuwe naam, een nieuwe partner en een nieuwe vriendengroep. Dan vermoedt ze dat ze ook een nieuwe stalker heeft…
'Slaap zacht' begint met een proloog die zich in het heden afspeelt en er is meteen al iets spannends aan de hand.
Vervolgens maak je steeds sprongen van het heden naar het verleden. Je leert hier Elle kennen en ze is ergens getuige van geweest en ze probeert de politie duidelijk te maken wie de dader is. Echter wordt hier niets mee gedaan en Elle probeert zelf achter de dader aan te gaan.
Maar dan overkomt diegene iets vreselijks en iedereen vindt dat Elle daar schuldig aan is. Ook de zoon van de dader vindt dat en hij besluit wraak op haar te nemen. De hoofdstukken in het verleden gaan over de aanloop naar deze gebeurtenissen en ik vond dat erg interessante stukken.
In het heden lees je dus over Nell en het lijkt erop dat haar verleden haar nog steeds achterna zit. Ze heeft een partner en leuke vrienden, maar iemand houdt haar in de gaten. Het lijkt zo erg te worden, dat Nell voor haar eigen leven vreest, want er gebeuren steeds vreemdere dingen.
Het verhaal vond ik heel erg prettig om te lezen. De afwisseling tussen heden en verleden is fijn, maar... toen het einde naderde (en de plotwending), voelde ik toch een lichte teleurstelling. Het gaat enorm snel en gemakkelijk en ik had het misschien wat spectaculairder verwacht.
Hierdoor schommel ik een beetje in mijn beoordeling (3,5-4*), maar ik heb zeker voor 90% van het verhaal genoten, dus rond ik het naar boven af.
Ik wil @amboanthos heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
October 14, 2025
When I Kill You
This was a fun thriller! This author had me guessing until the end. So many of my predictions were incorrect! My thoughts, in more detail, will be shared on my social platforms! I’ll be picking up other books by this author!
This was a fun thriller! This author had me guessing until the end. So many of my predictions were incorrect! My thoughts, in more detail, will be shared on my social platforms! I’ll be picking up other books by this author!
November 24, 2025
A suspense filled thriller that builds from the first page. I was thoroughly engaged in this story and the pacing. Nell is in a new relationship but she has a past. Once she was known as Elle and witnessed a crime outside her apartment. She became obsessed with the man that she saw and begins stalking him. The narrative jumps between Elle in the past being a stalker, and Nell in the current, realizing that she has a stalker herself.
The audiobook was great, I enjoyed the performance and the British accent. I particularly liked how creepy she was in the interstitial chapters from the killers notebooks.
I liked this but can’t say I loved it, I didn’t at all enjoy the ending. All of the scenarios that I had in my head were so much better, I feel like the reveal was a let down. But other than that, I truly liked the writing style. I would definitely read other titles by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. book to be published February 16, 2026.
The audiobook was great, I enjoyed the performance and the British accent. I particularly liked how creepy she was in the interstitial chapters from the killers notebooks.
I liked this but can’t say I loved it, I didn’t at all enjoy the ending. All of the scenarios that I had in my head were so much better, I feel like the reveal was a let down. But other than that, I truly liked the writing style. I would definitely read other titles by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. book to be published February 16, 2026.
October 5, 2025
When I Kill You by B.A. Paris
Over a decade after witnessing a crime and getting caught up in the investigation, Nell Masters is sure someone is following her,and she is convinced it has to do with the case from her past.
This was a good one! I truly don't think Paris will ever top Behind Closed Doors but this might be the closest she's come in my opinion. I loved the dual timeline of Elle/Nell and her little descent into madness. I had a slightly rough time keeping the characters straight at first, as there are quite a few to keep you guessing, but I like it when there are many potential culprits and it still can't be pinned down. I honestly had no idea how this would wrap up and there were many red herrings that led me astray! I do think the clues were there if I dove back in for a re-read. The tension was certainly a slow (but not too slow) build that kept me hooked but never bored. I highly recommend this one!
4.5/5⭐
Over a decade after witnessing a crime and getting caught up in the investigation, Nell Masters is sure someone is following her,and she is convinced it has to do with the case from her past.
This was a good one! I truly don't think Paris will ever top Behind Closed Doors but this might be the closest she's come in my opinion. I loved the dual timeline of Elle/Nell and her little descent into madness. I had a slightly rough time keeping the characters straight at first, as there are quite a few to keep you guessing, but I like it when there are many potential culprits and it still can't be pinned down. I honestly had no idea how this would wrap up and there were many red herrings that led me astray! I do think the clues were there if I dove back in for a re-read. The tension was certainly a slow (but not too slow) build that kept me hooked but never bored. I highly recommend this one!
4.5/5⭐
September 19, 2025
I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of B.A. Paris' latest thriller, "Before I Kill You," and it did not disappoint! This book quickly moved to the top of my reading list as this is one of my favorite author's and I just honestly couldn't wait to read it.
"Before I Kill You" plunges you into the life of main character Elle/Nell- she is brilliantly crafted as a flawed and unreliable narrator -Due to things that happened in her past she feels like she is being watched and/or followed and at times that someone has been in her house. To be honest at times I really wondered if it was all in Nell's imagination. There are really some unsettling chapters which are notebook entries from the perspective of a stalker/killer. Some of these chapters made me put the book down if it was late at night or if I was home alone at night - particularly the one where the stalker/killer was inside Nell's house - under her bed !! It was also so creepy that the final sentence of each of these entries was ... it won't matter when I kill you.
I had my theories about who the stalker/killer was - and in the end I was totally wrong. Looking back now that I know who it was there were a few clues I could have picked up on. It was definitely a different person that who I thought.
The tension in wondering who is following and watching Nell and wants to kill her keeps you turning the pages. Paris masterfully weaves suspense and emotional complexity, making this book a standout. For fans of psychological thrillers, "Before I Kill You" is a must-read that holds you captive until the last page.
Thank you so much for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review - this one is really a good one!
"Before I Kill You" plunges you into the life of main character Elle/Nell- she is brilliantly crafted as a flawed and unreliable narrator -Due to things that happened in her past she feels like she is being watched and/or followed and at times that someone has been in her house. To be honest at times I really wondered if it was all in Nell's imagination. There are really some unsettling chapters which are notebook entries from the perspective of a stalker/killer. Some of these chapters made me put the book down if it was late at night or if I was home alone at night - particularly the one where the stalker/killer was inside Nell's house - under her bed !! It was also so creepy that the final sentence of each of these entries was ... it won't matter when I kill you.
I had my theories about who the stalker/killer was - and in the end I was totally wrong. Looking back now that I know who it was there were a few clues I could have picked up on. It was definitely a different person that who I thought.
The tension in wondering who is following and watching Nell and wants to kill her keeps you turning the pages. Paris masterfully weaves suspense and emotional complexity, making this book a standout. For fans of psychological thrillers, "Before I Kill You" is a must-read that holds you captive until the last page.
Thank you so much for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review - this one is really a good one!
September 13, 2025
When I Kill You by BA Paris. Thanks to @stmartins for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nell Masters feels like someone is watching her. She’s been waiting for this. Ever since she changed her name to flee her past.
This was very suspenseful and I really liked the dual timelines. I found both interesting. It really picked up for me about halfway through. Pay attention to the different characters; it’ll make the ending that much more shocking.
“How does it feel to know that you’re going to die? In your heart, you must know that your death is imminent. Do you over think about how it will happen, whether I’ll use my hands to snuff out your breath from you or a knife to bleed you dry?”
When I Kill You comes out 2/17.
Nell Masters feels like someone is watching her. She’s been waiting for this. Ever since she changed her name to flee her past.
This was very suspenseful and I really liked the dual timelines. I found both interesting. It really picked up for me about halfway through. Pay attention to the different characters; it’ll make the ending that much more shocking.
“How does it feel to know that you’re going to die? In your heart, you must know that your death is imminent. Do you over think about how it will happen, whether I’ll use my hands to snuff out your breath from you or a knife to bleed you dry?”
When I Kill You comes out 2/17.
November 12, 2025
ARC✶REVIEW
#ad much love for my advance copy @stmartinspress #partner
@macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
🆆🅷🅴🅽 🅸 🅺🅸🅻🅻 🆈🅾🆄
< @
ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ
✰ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴠ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀꜱ✰
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ꜰᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟣𝟩, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
“Have you any idea what it's like when you know something to be true and nobody else believes you, not even the person who says they love you?,” (p. 87).
Before you kill me…I have to know who you are..
BAM! 💥 This book hooks you right from the start. No boring starts here peeps! She’s two separate people: Nell in the present, and Elle in the past. But the past has a way of catching up to us all.
The story is told from Elle’s past, Nell’s now, and extracts from a notebook. This was such a fun read. Paris has done it again yall.
In her past Elle has an interaction with a man, then she saw a woman getting into his car. The next day the woman she saw was killed and her body found in a burning car. Nell in the now is just trying to get through her life. She has a great job and an even better boyfriend, but she’s haunted by all these weird things happening. And every exgirlfriend of her new boyfriend’s seems to have died in some way.
This was a fast-paced thrilling read that I never wanted to end.
🎧: I also listened to the audio while following along and enjoyed the narrator.
Morale of the story: evil doesn’t follow a manual. People can seem nice, send you flowers, be your best friend ever and still do evil and bad things.
Short chapters
Ominous phone calls
Mysterious flowers
Fast-paced
I loved this one.
#whenikillyou #StMartinsPress #SMPEarlyReaders #SMPEarlyReaders #BAParis
#ad much love for my advance copy @stmartinspress #partner
@macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
🆆🅷🅴🅽 🅸 🅺🅸🅻🅻 🆈🅾🆄
< @
ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ
✰ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴠ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀꜱ✰
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ꜰᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟣𝟩, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
“Have you any idea what it's like when you know something to be true and nobody else believes you, not even the person who says they love you?,” (p. 87).
Before you kill me…I have to know who you are..
BAM! 💥 This book hooks you right from the start. No boring starts here peeps! She’s two separate people: Nell in the present, and Elle in the past. But the past has a way of catching up to us all.
The story is told from Elle’s past, Nell’s now, and extracts from a notebook. This was such a fun read. Paris has done it again yall.
In her past Elle has an interaction with a man, then she saw a woman getting into his car. The next day the woman she saw was killed and her body found in a burning car. Nell in the now is just trying to get through her life. She has a great job and an even better boyfriend, but she’s haunted by all these weird things happening. And every exgirlfriend of her new boyfriend’s seems to have died in some way.
This was a fast-paced thrilling read that I never wanted to end.
🎧: I also listened to the audio while following along and enjoyed the narrator.
Morale of the story: evil doesn’t follow a manual. People can seem nice, send you flowers, be your best friend ever and still do evil and bad things.
Short chapters
Ominous phone calls
Mysterious flowers
Fast-paced
I loved this one.
#whenikillyou #StMartinsPress #SMPEarlyReaders #SMPEarlyReaders #BAParis
November 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!
Nell Masters feels she’s being followed, and her old secret identity and the murder she once witnessed still haunt her. Fourteen years ago, as Elle Nugent, she became obsessed with finding the man she believed killed a student. Now, as eerie signs mount, Nell fears someone from her past has found her… or that something even more dangerous is closing in!
This was fun and engaging, a true popcorn mystery that kept me turning the pages. The twists were entertaining, the tension steady, and the feeling of being watched added just the right amount of creepiness. A thoroughly thrilling read that delivers exactly what you want from a fast, suspenseful mystery.
Listening speed: 1.75x
Narrator: Georgia Maguire
Feedback: Georgia Maguire did a fantastic job, her narration was dynamic, her voice changes seamless, and her accent work absolutely spot-on. She brought the story to life in a way that made the experience even more immersive and enjoyable.
Pub date: Feb 17th
Nell Masters feels she’s being followed, and her old secret identity and the murder she once witnessed still haunt her. Fourteen years ago, as Elle Nugent, she became obsessed with finding the man she believed killed a student. Now, as eerie signs mount, Nell fears someone from her past has found her… or that something even more dangerous is closing in!
This was fun and engaging, a true popcorn mystery that kept me turning the pages. The twists were entertaining, the tension steady, and the feeling of being watched added just the right amount of creepiness. A thoroughly thrilling read that delivers exactly what you want from a fast, suspenseful mystery.
Listening speed: 1.75x
Narrator: Georgia Maguire
Feedback: Georgia Maguire did a fantastic job, her narration was dynamic, her voice changes seamless, and her accent work absolutely spot-on. She brought the story to life in a way that made the experience even more immersive and enjoyable.
Pub date: Feb 17th
November 7, 2025
B.A. Paris never disappoints! She is a great storyteller that will keep the reader engaged! This novel opens with Nell Master, once known as Elle Nugent. The chapters move between past and present.
The author weaves together three stands: Elle's past obsession, Nell's present paranoia, with an intermittent stalker notebook of snippets that stirs up tension. I felt very involved in the story and wanted to find out about the past, why Elle changed her name to Nell. I also wanted to learn about Elle now and how her life has changed, who is stalking her.
Flawed Characters, Past Drama and Satisfying Ending! 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 2/17/26.
The author weaves together three stands: Elle's past obsession, Nell's present paranoia, with an intermittent stalker notebook of snippets that stirs up tension. I felt very involved in the story and wanted to find out about the past, why Elle changed her name to Nell. I also wanted to learn about Elle now and how her life has changed, who is stalking her.
Flawed Characters, Past Drama and Satisfying Ending! 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 2/17/26.
November 24, 2025
If you're craving a great read with LOTS of suspense, you're going to need this book next February!!
I love a thriller that gives me an uneasy feeling.
The stalker notes were such a great addition to the story!
I did not predict the ending. I love when that happens!!
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for this gifted copy.
I love a thriller that gives me an uneasy feeling.
The stalker notes were such a great addition to the story!
I did not predict the ending. I love when that happens!!
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for this gifted copy.
November 9, 2025
B.A Paris's Behind Closed Doors will always be one of my all time favourite thrillers.
B.A. Paris' newest book, is a nail biting, twisty, tension filled thriller and will keep you guessing. I enjoy most of her books and i enjoyed this book too. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
B.A. Paris' newest book, is a nail biting, twisty, tension filled thriller and will keep you guessing. I enjoy most of her books and i enjoyed this book too. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
Want to read
October 31, 2025I'm a big fan of this author! And this new one sounds great!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 23, 2025
Fourteen years ago, Nell Masters real name was Elle Nugent. She witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with the person she believes did it, Brett Parker. She becomes his stalker to prove it.
Fast forward 14 years later, Nell feels like she’s being stalked. She believes it’s someone from her past and associated with Brett Parker. She’s hiding her secret past from everyone including her boyfriend Alex.
Spoiler
Fourteen years ago while stalking Brett Parker at a restaurant that he was at with his wife, son and his parents, Brett saw Elle across the street and ran into the street, yelling at her. He ends up fatally hit by a car. His son tried to kill her, even pushing her on train tracks, and ends up in prison. She believes the son is now stalking her 14 years later and contacts the investigator involved with the case, who tells her the son is still in prison. Nell’s next suspect is a guy who her friends are friend’s with and likes her. He even buys the house across the street from her. One of her friends ends up murdered in Nell’s bed because the stalker believed it was Nell.
The stalker and murderer ends up being a French woman who was involved with Alex before Nell. She was infatuated with Alex, even killing two former girlfriends. She was still friends with Alex’s sister and was friendly with Nell.
The story was told in dual timelines of before when she was Elle the stalker to 14 years later when she’s Nell the one being stalked. There were also chapters from the stalker’s journal.
I enjoyed the story and the building up of anticipation for who was the stalker and murderer. There were a few suspects. It was a bit of a slow burn. The reveal of the stalker/murderer was surprising but a little of a letdown and the ending was rushed. The feeling of being watched was creepy. I liked how the author turned the tables of being the stalker to the one being stalked.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press
Pub date: February 17, 2026
Fast forward 14 years later, Nell feels like she’s being stalked. She believes it’s someone from her past and associated with Brett Parker. She’s hiding her secret past from everyone including her boyfriend Alex.
Spoiler
Fourteen years ago while stalking Brett Parker at a restaurant that he was at with his wife, son and his parents, Brett saw Elle across the street and ran into the street, yelling at her. He ends up fatally hit by a car. His son tried to kill her, even pushing her on train tracks, and ends up in prison. She believes the son is now stalking her 14 years later and contacts the investigator involved with the case, who tells her the son is still in prison. Nell’s next suspect is a guy who her friends are friend’s with and likes her. He even buys the house across the street from her. One of her friends ends up murdered in Nell’s bed because the stalker believed it was Nell.
The stalker and murderer ends up being a French woman who was involved with Alex before Nell. She was infatuated with Alex, even killing two former girlfriends. She was still friends with Alex’s sister and was friendly with Nell.
The story was told in dual timelines of before when she was Elle the stalker to 14 years later when she’s Nell the one being stalked. There were also chapters from the stalker’s journal.
I enjoyed the story and the building up of anticipation for who was the stalker and murderer. There were a few suspects. It was a bit of a slow burn. The reveal of the stalker/murderer was surprising but a little of a letdown and the ending was rushed. The feeling of being watched was creepy. I liked how the author turned the tables of being the stalker to the one being stalked.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press
Pub date: February 17, 2026
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
As the title already suggests, this is a thriller with stalkers, wherein sometimes the stalker gets stalked. The main character is Elle Nugent/Nell Masters. She was Elle fourteen years ago, when in her early twenties she witnessed a murder victim getting into a car before disappearing. Elle became convinced that she had identified the driver and that he was the killer, but the police disagreed. So she took it upon herself to stalk the man she identified and lost her boyfriend, job, home, and reputation in the process.
Years later, after terrible consequences from that incident have somewhat faded, Elle is now Nell, finally dating a new man she thinks she can settle down with (Alex). She finds herself the victim of her own stalker — it’s a pervasive feeling haunting her and there are subtle clues. So is her past catching up with her?
This is a decent domestic thriller and your rating will probably depend on your opinion of Elle/Nell. My feelings kept evolving — old Elle was reckless and immature and the consequences of her actions were absolutely tragic; new Nell sometimes seems to be keeping too many secrets. The audiobook narrator, Georgia Maguire was terrific — if not for the nuanced performance, I might have given up on Nell. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Lots of spying eyes, but no green ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Getting a bouquet of dead flowers is always a bad sign.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!
Years later, after terrible consequences from that incident have somewhat faded, Elle is now Nell, finally dating a new man she thinks she can settle down with (Alex). She finds herself the victim of her own stalker — it’s a pervasive feeling haunting her and there are subtle clues. So is her past catching up with her?
This is a decent domestic thriller and your rating will probably depend on your opinion of Elle/Nell. My feelings kept evolving — old Elle was reckless and immature and the consequences of her actions were absolutely tragic; new Nell sometimes seems to be keeping too many secrets. The audiobook narrator, Georgia Maguire was terrific — if not for the nuanced performance, I might have given up on Nell. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Lots of spying eyes, but no green ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Getting a bouquet of dead flowers is always a bad sign.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!
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