Well, I’ve got to say that after finishing When I Kill You in one single evening, I’m happy to announce that the unstoppable B.A. Paris has once again demonstrated why she’s the queen of suspense. Easily rivaling Behind Closed Doors in terms of the perfectly masterminded nightmarish terrors and psychological thrills, Paris’s newest book was a taut rollercoaster ride of spine-tingling fears that I couldn’t put down. You see, between the slowly ratcheting unease and the crazy stalker vibes, it made me feel like I still needed to look over my shoulder even after checking that I’d locked all of my windows and doors. Thanks to a deliciously unhinged female main character and oodles of believable suspects, I never knew what was coming around the next blind turn. After all, the two parts of the book set me up for the nail-biting climax and last-minute revelation in the best possible way.
So what exactly kept me guessing throughout this one-sitting read? Well, between the dual POVs—one of whom was the creepy unnamed villain—and the dual timelines of the past and the present, the truth was hidden in a way that only a master can pull off. Yup. You got it. I didn’t see the big, giant twist coming at all. Turning everything on its head, this finale had everything I love: well-disguised surprises, hair-raising scenes, and even a touch of a few thought-provoking themes. You see, through the exploration of obsession, guilt, and love, it managed to chill me to the bone. I mean, when a former stalker starts fearing that they’re now being followed themselves, I knew that I couldn’t trust a single character—including the narrator. So if you are a fan of twisty plotting, long-buried secrets, or hinted-at dark histories, grab this book now. It was a blast. Rating of 4.75 stars (upgraded).
BRIEF BLURB:
Please oh please go onto this one at least mostly blind! With even the publisher-provided synopsis giving just a bit too much away, all you need to know is the following… After changing her name and disappearing overnight fourteen years ago, Nell Masters is starting to fear that her past has come back to haunt her. After all, she’s becoming more and more convinced that someone is following her every move. With strange phone calls, anonymous flower deliveries, and the sense that there are eyes on her as she goes about her day, Nell dreads that someone has discovered who she really is. Is she being stalked? Or is something far more sinister going on beneath the surface that could ultimately lead to her death? Not knowing what to believe, Nell starts to question everything and everyone in her life. After all, she’s lived under the radar for long enough to know that her world blowing up could be just the start of the end…
Thank you B.A. Paris, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 17, 2026
Content warning: stalking, pedestrian vs car accident, home invasion, knife violence, mention of: death, murder