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The Therapist
When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they’ve dreamed of. But appearances can be deceptive…
As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating, grisly secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before.
Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbours are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…
The million-copy Sunday Times bestselling author B.A. Paris returns to her heartland of gripping psychological suspense in this powerful tale of a house that holds a shocking secret.
As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating, grisly secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before.
Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbours are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…
The million-copy Sunday Times bestselling author B.A. Paris returns to her heartland of gripping psychological suspense in this powerful tale of a house that holds a shocking secret.
362 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2021
5228 people are currently reading
97088 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Paris
24 books23.6k 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 12,257 reviews
February 19, 2022
Alice and Leo move into a beautiful home in The Circle, an exclusive neighborhood. Alice soon finds out why it was such a steal: a violent crime occurred there, a fact her partner kept from her. Alice finds out the previous owner’s name was Nina, the same name as her dead sister, and becomes obsessed with her.
The more she learns, the more convinced she is that things don’t add up. Strange things begin happening in her home and she becomes increasingly suspicious of her neighbors. Alice misses obvious clues, and there is a lot of repetitiveness. The pace does pick up near the end with a few surprises I didn’t see coming, but it was too little, too late.
This isn’t a terrible read, but it’s not terrific either. Fans of domestic thrillers might want to toss it in the beach bag this summer. The pages flip quickly and it's ok if you don’t mind a protagonist who is dumb as a box of rocks (a pattern with the author), some implausibility, and a few eye-rolling moments. For me, I think it’s time I part ways with this author. 2.5 stars - fair
*I received a digital copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
* Publication date July 13, 2021 by St Martin’s Press
The more she learns, the more convinced she is that things don’t add up. Strange things begin happening in her home and she becomes increasingly suspicious of her neighbors. Alice misses obvious clues, and there is a lot of repetitiveness. The pace does pick up near the end with a few surprises I didn’t see coming, but it was too little, too late.
This isn’t a terrible read, but it’s not terrific either. Fans of domestic thrillers might want to toss it in the beach bag this summer. The pages flip quickly and it's ok if you don’t mind a protagonist who is dumb as a box of rocks (a pattern with the author), some implausibility, and a few eye-rolling moments. For me, I think it’s time I part ways with this author. 2.5 stars - fair
*I received a digital copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
* Publication date July 13, 2021 by St Martin’s Press
May 2, 2021
You want to know who could really benefit from seeing a therapist? Alice. The main character of this book.*
Let me tell you.
Alice and her boyfriend Leo move into a gorgeous house in a gated community called The Circle. After making friends with the neighbors, Alice unwittingly finds out that something bad happened to the last resident of the house. She was a therapist.
Alice becomes obsessed with finding out more about the therapist and what happened to her. The neighbors don’t like talking about it, but that doesn’t stop from her asking them question after question after question after question every time she runs into them, which is all of the time. Just when she promises to ask only one more question, she has four or five more. 🙄
Dear Alice also makes terrible decisions that may put her life in danger, with little regard to said danger. She pays little attention to strange occurrences that seem to happen around her, although most people would immediately be on high alert. Her consuming need to find answers about the therapist makes her suspect everyone around her of wrongdoing at one time or another, which in turn made me suspect everyone.
It may sound like I didn’t like this book. I really enjoyed the first two-thirds, and read with rapt attention. After that, I started to lose interest as Alice and her behavior became harder and harder to stomach. The gal just annoyed me. Things also got a bit too convoluted for me to take seriously, but my interest did come back by the time it got to the OTT ending, which I slightly suspected.
Overall, it’s a quick and mostly entertaining thriller, and I know many will really love it. B.A. Paris is always a go-to author for me, and I’m already waiting for her next one, which I’m hopeful I’ll love.
*Not making light of therapy. It’s a beneficial and healthy treatment for most people and their well-being.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be available: 7/13/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Let me tell you.
Alice and her boyfriend Leo move into a gorgeous house in a gated community called The Circle. After making friends with the neighbors, Alice unwittingly finds out that something bad happened to the last resident of the house. She was a therapist.
Alice becomes obsessed with finding out more about the therapist and what happened to her. The neighbors don’t like talking about it, but that doesn’t stop from her asking them question after question after question after question every time she runs into them, which is all of the time. Just when she promises to ask only one more question, she has four or five more. 🙄
Dear Alice also makes terrible decisions that may put her life in danger, with little regard to said danger. She pays little attention to strange occurrences that seem to happen around her, although most people would immediately be on high alert. Her consuming need to find answers about the therapist makes her suspect everyone around her of wrongdoing at one time or another, which in turn made me suspect everyone.
It may sound like I didn’t like this book. I really enjoyed the first two-thirds, and read with rapt attention. After that, I started to lose interest as Alice and her behavior became harder and harder to stomach. The gal just annoyed me. Things also got a bit too convoluted for me to take seriously, but my interest did come back by the time it got to the OTT ending, which I slightly suspected.
Overall, it’s a quick and mostly entertaining thriller, and I know many will really love it. B.A. Paris is always a go-to author for me, and I’m already waiting for her next one, which I’m hopeful I’ll love.
*Not making light of therapy. It’s a beneficial and healthy treatment for most people and their well-being.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be available: 7/13/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
January 23, 2025
When they began their relationship, Alice and Leo, were making a go long-distance. However, as time passed, it no longer felt enough to just see each other on the weekends.
They decided to make the jump and move in together after Leo buys a house in an exclusive, gated-community called, The Circle, in London. As lovely as it is, it's a far cry from Alice's little cottage in the country.
Making the transition easier is the fact that Alice actually got to keep her cottage, renting it out to tenants temporarily, because Leo was able to get such a bargain on the house.
When Alice finds out how he was able to get the house at such a steal, however, she's furious!
A woman, Nina, had been murdered in the house, in their bedroom. She cannot believe Leo withheld this information from her. He's a liar and Alice is so angry about the whole thing that she can't even stand to be around him while she processes it all.
Leo, sheepish at being caught out, agrees to give Alice some space to work through all she's learned. Alice, for her part, doesn't just work through it though, she becomes obsessed with it.
Alice doesn't believe the official story that Nina's husband was the killer. She can't explain why, she just knows that isn't right.
As strange occurrences begin happening at the house and suspicious neighbors seem to be lurking around every turn, Alice isn't sure just who she can trust.
Gaining some assistance from a Private Detective also interested in Nina's case, Alice begins a deep dive into the life of the woman who used to live in her house.
With numerous red herrings, a protagonist that I wasn't sure I could trust, more twists and turns than an amusement park roller coaster, I could absolutely tell that I was reading a B.A. Paris novel!
I listened to this entire audiobook today while performing my regular Saturday chores around the house. I ended up cleaning things that didn't even need cleaning. I had to know how this was going to turn out.
I came nowhere near predicting the end, although I don't generally try to do that. I like to just go along for the ride and let the author take me where they choose.
I will admit, toward the beginning, feeling frustrated with Alice. She's a bit bullheaded and I just couldn't understand why she was so fixated on Nina. However, I was satisfied with how that was ultimately explained and as I grew to know Alice, it made a lot more sense.
The intensity definitely continued to build at a nice steady pace as the story went on. There's a lot of suspects!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an early copy to read and review.
B.A. Paris is definitely one of my go-to Domestic Thriller authors and I had a blast with this one!
They decided to make the jump and move in together after Leo buys a house in an exclusive, gated-community called, The Circle, in London. As lovely as it is, it's a far cry from Alice's little cottage in the country.
Making the transition easier is the fact that Alice actually got to keep her cottage, renting it out to tenants temporarily, because Leo was able to get such a bargain on the house.
When Alice finds out how he was able to get the house at such a steal, however, she's furious!
A woman, Nina, had been murdered in the house, in their bedroom. She cannot believe Leo withheld this information from her. He's a liar and Alice is so angry about the whole thing that she can't even stand to be around him while she processes it all.
Leo, sheepish at being caught out, agrees to give Alice some space to work through all she's learned. Alice, for her part, doesn't just work through it though, she becomes obsessed with it.
Alice doesn't believe the official story that Nina's husband was the killer. She can't explain why, she just knows that isn't right.
As strange occurrences begin happening at the house and suspicious neighbors seem to be lurking around every turn, Alice isn't sure just who she can trust.
Gaining some assistance from a Private Detective also interested in Nina's case, Alice begins a deep dive into the life of the woman who used to live in her house.
With numerous red herrings, a protagonist that I wasn't sure I could trust, more twists and turns than an amusement park roller coaster, I could absolutely tell that I was reading a B.A. Paris novel!
I listened to this entire audiobook today while performing my regular Saturday chores around the house. I ended up cleaning things that didn't even need cleaning. I had to know how this was going to turn out.
I came nowhere near predicting the end, although I don't generally try to do that. I like to just go along for the ride and let the author take me where they choose.
I will admit, toward the beginning, feeling frustrated with Alice. She's a bit bullheaded and I just couldn't understand why she was so fixated on Nina. However, I was satisfied with how that was ultimately explained and as I grew to know Alice, it made a lot more sense.
The intensity definitely continued to build at a nice steady pace as the story went on. There's a lot of suspects!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an early copy to read and review.
B.A. Paris is definitely one of my go-to Domestic Thriller authors and I had a blast with this one!
April 12, 2021
Wow. That was something. Alice is definitely a stupid person.
April 12, 2021
Quote from “The Therapist”, used to gain trust and help clients relax...
“Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder. “ 🦋
Too bad our therapist is sooo judgmental! 🙄
SOMETHING happened at #6 The Circle.
And, the house set empty for a year prior to it finally being SOLD.
Alice and Leo, can both feel a presence in their new house.
Is it real? Or is it imagined?
Alice becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Nina, the therapist who occupied the home before them. But, her new neighbors don’t want to talk about it…
Yes, B.A. Paris is back with a story of psychological suspense! And, I was thrilled to be invited to read an early copy, by the Publisher.
I, along with our protagonist Alice, suspected just about everyone at one time or another! This one will keep you guessing!
BUT-Alice exasperated me! She could talk herself into ANYTHING to justify some “not so smart” choices that she made.
Like staying in that house!
Even after more than one neighbor whispered a warning to her!!
But, if she had left we wouldn’t have a story!
This wasn’t my favorite by the author because I am not a fan of OTT endings…but if you like em crazy-this might be your new favorite! 🦋
3.5 ⭐️ rounding down
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
Available July 13, 2021
“Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder. “ 🦋
Too bad our therapist is sooo judgmental! 🙄
SOMETHING happened at #6 The Circle.
And, the house set empty for a year prior to it finally being SOLD.
Alice and Leo, can both feel a presence in their new house.
Is it real? Or is it imagined?
Alice becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Nina, the therapist who occupied the home before them. But, her new neighbors don’t want to talk about it…
Yes, B.A. Paris is back with a story of psychological suspense! And, I was thrilled to be invited to read an early copy, by the Publisher.
I, along with our protagonist Alice, suspected just about everyone at one time or another! This one will keep you guessing!
BUT-Alice exasperated me! She could talk herself into ANYTHING to justify some “not so smart” choices that she made.
Like staying in that house!
Even after more than one neighbor whispered a warning to her!!
But, if she had left we wouldn’t have a story!
This wasn’t my favorite by the author because I am not a fan of OTT endings…but if you like em crazy-this might be your new favorite! 🦋
3.5 ⭐️ rounding down
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
Available July 13, 2021
June 2, 2021
3.5 STARS
This was a fun book for me that didn't require a lot of over thinking! It was pure escapism!
I had a similar reaction when I read the author's The Breakdown in 2017 (which I loved and gave 5 stars too because it just had that addictive quality to it). So much better than last year's The Dilemma. The main character Alice even reminded me of Cass from The Breakdown! They are both naive and paranoid but still likeable.
This one has a quick pace that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the neighborhood concept of a "gated circle" where they looked out for each other and they believed they were all really secure. Or perhaps it is more like a prison? There are 12 houses that were originally identical until some did a few renovations.
Leo and Alice are the new couple on the circle looking for a new life. It will be a bumpy ride!!
It is a lighter mystery with that quick pace that had me just enough on edge to keep turning the pages. There is some repetition, some moments I had to gasp like someone threw all the wrong ingredients in my salad, but even with much of the logic thrown out, I gobbled it up! If you prefer dark and disturbing, this may be too light for you.
Recommend to those who like a little escape, along for the ride without minding the over the top disbelief factor!
Thanks to NG for granting my wish!! OUT on JULY 13, 2021
This was a fun book for me that didn't require a lot of over thinking! It was pure escapism!
I had a similar reaction when I read the author's The Breakdown in 2017 (which I loved and gave 5 stars too because it just had that addictive quality to it). So much better than last year's The Dilemma. The main character Alice even reminded me of Cass from The Breakdown! They are both naive and paranoid but still likeable.
This one has a quick pace that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the neighborhood concept of a "gated circle" where they looked out for each other and they believed they were all really secure. Or perhaps it is more like a prison? There are 12 houses that were originally identical until some did a few renovations.
Leo and Alice are the new couple on the circle looking for a new life. It will be a bumpy ride!!
It is a lighter mystery with that quick pace that had me just enough on edge to keep turning the pages. There is some repetition, some moments I had to gasp like someone threw all the wrong ingredients in my salad, but even with much of the logic thrown out, I gobbled it up! If you prefer dark and disturbing, this may be too light for you.
Recommend to those who like a little escape, along for the ride without minding the over the top disbelief factor!
Thanks to NG for granting my wish!! OUT on JULY 13, 2021
April 12, 2022
Okay! This one is not my favorite work of the author! It’s good! Above the average! But not freaking marvelous like her other books!
3.25 a little upper from Switzerland zone (which means: A little better than neither I like it or I hate it zone) I was so close to give 3.5 stars and round up to 4 if I didn’t dislike the main character’s completely unreasonable, obsessive ( nope, I have to stop being kind when I mentioned her: she acted like unleashed, uncontrollable, stupid person! ) decisions!
When I read the first half: I asked myself why all my great readers and brilliant friends poorly graded this book. The beginning was so strong, impactful: the Circle gives you blood freezing, spine tingling cult vibes and entire neighbors act so suspicious. You don’t know which one tells the truth? Are all of them villains? A little Rosemary’s Baby ( without baby satan with more weird neighbors) and Wayward Pines ( less sci-fi elements) vibes: the book hooks you up being trapped in a house where murder took place! I also enjoy the mystery behind Nina’s murder and her convicted husband’s suicide.
But at the second half: the story’s direction and Alice’s ( our illogical heroine) way too much insistence to dig into the mystery escalated to an irritating level.
I didn’t see the final twists coming and I won’t expect anything less from B. A. Paris.
The conclusion was also well wrapped up.
It was still above the average reading. I still don’t think it deserves two stars. I could give four or five if Alice’s character could be portrayed more realistic. At the final chapter, we got some answers about her obsessive behavior and reasoning behind her actions but most of her actions were still over exaggerated. Alice and Leo’s relationship dynamics were also meaningless; they don’t communicate. The only common thing about them is their obsession about the house!
I hope my next reading will be better! I love B. A. Paris’ shocking, twisty, well written psychological thrillers. This one started so promising but second half my hopes about it a little deflated like my cheap balloons hanging from my home ceilings as poor decoration choice for my husband’s birthday party!
3.25 a little upper from Switzerland zone (which means: A little better than neither I like it or I hate it zone) I was so close to give 3.5 stars and round up to 4 if I didn’t dislike the main character’s completely unreasonable, obsessive ( nope, I have to stop being kind when I mentioned her: she acted like unleashed, uncontrollable, stupid person! ) decisions!
When I read the first half: I asked myself why all my great readers and brilliant friends poorly graded this book. The beginning was so strong, impactful: the Circle gives you blood freezing, spine tingling cult vibes and entire neighbors act so suspicious. You don’t know which one tells the truth? Are all of them villains? A little Rosemary’s Baby ( without baby satan with more weird neighbors) and Wayward Pines ( less sci-fi elements) vibes: the book hooks you up being trapped in a house where murder took place! I also enjoy the mystery behind Nina’s murder and her convicted husband’s suicide.
But at the second half: the story’s direction and Alice’s ( our illogical heroine) way too much insistence to dig into the mystery escalated to an irritating level.
I didn’t see the final twists coming and I won’t expect anything less from B. A. Paris.
The conclusion was also well wrapped up.
It was still above the average reading. I still don’t think it deserves two stars. I could give four or five if Alice’s character could be portrayed more realistic. At the final chapter, we got some answers about her obsessive behavior and reasoning behind her actions but most of her actions were still over exaggerated. Alice and Leo’s relationship dynamics were also meaningless; they don’t communicate. The only common thing about them is their obsession about the house!
I hope my next reading will be better! I love B. A. Paris’ shocking, twisty, well written psychological thrillers. This one started so promising but second half my hopes about it a little deflated like my cheap balloons hanging from my home ceilings as poor decoration choice for my husband’s birthday party!
February 1, 2024
Super quick and easy domestic thriller that actually was a lot of fun to read! The MC could probably use a therapist though 😂
September 7, 2021
3.0 stars —“The Therapist” is the fifth book that I have read by B.A. Paris. I divide Paris’s books into two groups: (1) the exciting page turners— “The Breakdown” and (2) the main character is an idiot —“Bring Me Back”. Unfortunately, “The Therapist” is in the latter category. Although Paris does her normal great job writing dialogue and making her protagonist interesting, the protagonist’s inability to understand on numerous occasions that she is in danger is comical. The plot centers around Alice and her boyfriend Leo who move into an exclusive neighborhood in London. When Alice discovers that Leo has held back information that a violent murder had taken place in their new home, she gets angry and sends Leo away so she can reflect on their relationship. This is after Leo is convinced he saw and heard someone in their bedroom a few nights earlier. That means Alice is living in the murder house by herself. When she begins investigating the murder with the help of a private investigator (who arrives uninvited at her housewarming party), she begins noticing things being brought in and taken out of the house as well as seeing people in her home. The fact she dismisses all of this as Leo is so ridiculous it ruins the book. The fact the rest of the story is interesting with numerous suspects in the murder case still allowed me to give this book a 3 star rating. However, I don’t understand how such a great writer makes her main character so clueless that it defies common sense. Hopefully, Paris will smarten up her characters for her next book.
May 14, 2021
i really enjoyed BAPs debut novel so im sad its taken me until her 5th book to pick up one of her stories again. and luckily this did not disappoint!
this is exactly the kind of entertaining domestic psychological mysteriousness that i have come to associate with BAPs storytelling. this particular book is on the slower side - it really isnt until the end that information starts coming together - but the vague nature of the content kept me hooked and guessing along the way. the ‘past’ chapters did a great job at keeping me on my toes.
overall, this is exactly what i wanted from this story. next time i wont wait so long to pick up another book by this author!
thank you st. martins press for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
this is exactly the kind of entertaining domestic psychological mysteriousness that i have come to associate with BAPs storytelling. this particular book is on the slower side - it really isnt until the end that information starts coming together - but the vague nature of the content kept me hooked and guessing along the way. the ‘past’ chapters did a great job at keeping me on my toes.
overall, this is exactly what i wanted from this story. next time i wont wait so long to pick up another book by this author!
thank you st. martins press for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
December 6, 2020
*Yawn*
Rounded up to 2.5.
The Circle – A gated estate of twelve houses, built around a garden square. Alice and Leo are new to number 6, and Alice is eager to fit in and make friends. But her happiness is soon overshadowed when she discovers that the previous owner – Therapist Nina Maxwell – was murdered by her husband in her new home. And the more Alice learns about Nina's death the less convinced she is that the Therapist was indeed killed by her husband. And in The Circle, there are eyes everywhere.
In all honesty, I struggled to keep my eyes open for most of it. Follow Alice's routine as she spends the first 70% going to the park, meeting and socialising with neighbours, chatting with old friends, discussing living arrangements, and even more mundane – working, eating, and sleeping. The Therapist is 90% domestic drama, 10% mystery/suspense. There's little development to the thriller plot in the first three quarters of the novel and what there is, was rehashed endlessly, with multiple conversations repeating the same information.
The pace accelerated towards the end – finally! – and included a couple of satisfying twists, one red herring, and some cleverly planted clues, but it was too little too late I'm afraid.
If you enjoy reading about Alice's trust issues, obsessive thoughts and behaviour, and her mourning her country cottage and struggling to adjust to London life, then you might relate to this more. There just wasn't enough to hold my interest or move the plot forward.
I'm afraid this is where B.A. Paris and I part ways. She started strong with Behind Closed Doors, and The Break Down, but has gone steadily downhill since.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, HQ Australia, and BA Paris for the e-ARC.
UK/AUS/NZ Publication Date: 7th January, 2021.
US Publication Date: 13th July, 2021.
Rounded up to 2.5.
The Circle – A gated estate of twelve houses, built around a garden square. Alice and Leo are new to number 6, and Alice is eager to fit in and make friends. But her happiness is soon overshadowed when she discovers that the previous owner – Therapist Nina Maxwell – was murdered by her husband in her new home. And the more Alice learns about Nina's death the less convinced she is that the Therapist was indeed killed by her husband. And in The Circle, there are eyes everywhere.
In all honesty, I struggled to keep my eyes open for most of it. Follow Alice's routine as she spends the first 70% going to the park, meeting and socialising with neighbours, chatting with old friends, discussing living arrangements, and even more mundane – working, eating, and sleeping. The Therapist is 90% domestic drama, 10% mystery/suspense. There's little development to the thriller plot in the first three quarters of the novel and what there is, was rehashed endlessly, with multiple conversations repeating the same information.
The pace accelerated towards the end – finally! – and included a couple of satisfying twists, one red herring, and some cleverly planted clues, but it was too little too late I'm afraid.
If you enjoy reading about Alice's trust issues, obsessive thoughts and behaviour, and her mourning her country cottage and struggling to adjust to London life, then you might relate to this more. There just wasn't enough to hold my interest or move the plot forward.
I'm afraid this is where B.A. Paris and I part ways. She started strong with Behind Closed Doors, and The Break Down, but has gone steadily downhill since.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, HQ Australia, and BA Paris for the e-ARC.
UK/AUS/NZ Publication Date: 7th January, 2021.
US Publication Date: 13th July, 2021.
October 31, 2021
3.5 *
I've missed the last couple of B.A. Paris novels but I highly enjoyed, "Behind closed doors," and "The Breakdown." This one I found mostly entertaining as I listened to the audio.
It's a good suspenseful mystery that I couldn't quite figure out with a dash of suspension of disbelief.
Alice moves into, "The Circle" (a gated community) with her boyfriend Leo. It's a close-knit bunch and Alice begins to make friends with the other women. She soon discovers something about the last resident in her house and becomes obsessed with figuring out all the circumstances surrounding this person.
Alice was a little annoying to me after she finds out what happened to the last resident. Some of the ways she goes about solving the mystery grated on my nerves but the story is written with B.A. Paris' signature creative flare. This was a mostly entertaining and light mystery/suspense story. Nothing that knocked my socks off but still kept me engaged throughout.
I've missed the last couple of B.A. Paris novels but I highly enjoyed, "Behind closed doors," and "The Breakdown." This one I found mostly entertaining as I listened to the audio.
It's a good suspenseful mystery that I couldn't quite figure out with a dash of suspension of disbelief.
Alice moves into, "The Circle" (a gated community) with her boyfriend Leo. It's a close-knit bunch and Alice begins to make friends with the other women. She soon discovers something about the last resident in her house and becomes obsessed with figuring out all the circumstances surrounding this person.
Alice was a little annoying to me after she finds out what happened to the last resident. Some of the ways she goes about solving the mystery grated on my nerves but the story is written with B.A. Paris' signature creative flare. This was a mostly entertaining and light mystery/suspense story. Nothing that knocked my socks off but still kept me engaged throughout.
June 21, 2021
Deceit
The Therapist is the latest psychological suspense thriller from B.A. Paris, with a murder mystery that occurs in a small private housing community. Alice and her boyfriend Leo buy their first-ever house together in an exclusive gated housing estate called The Circle, in Finsbury London. It astonishes Alice that they have been able to buy this house because it appears way beyond their financial means. With only 12 houses, the neighbours provide an intriguing array of colourful characters and relationships that range from friendly to hostile, from genuine to deceitful, and from interesting to boring.
Alice is an exhausting character, fretting about the neighbours and how she should fit in, wondering why Tamsin seems hostile, and why she has thoughts that someone is always watching her. However, Alice soon discovers that the house's previous owner, Nina Maxwell, was murdered by her husband, Oliver. While this is news to Alice, Leo has known this for quite a while - which becomes a major issue of trust and openness; why didn’t he explain all this before buying the house.
Alice doesn’t believe Oliver killed his wife and tries to unravel the mystery of the murder, which she is coincidentally able to involve a private investigator Thomas to help. Alice suspects almost everyone in the community, and every chance she gets to interrogate her neighbours, she does. The ability to generate as many suspects is a great feature of the mystery, and Alice’s behaviour is an important way to uncover the secrets. Still, it does become frustrating, watching her stumbling about missing some very obvious clues, grabbing at stupid thoughts, and making bad decisions. I felt there were quite a few plot holes that eventually descended into unbelievability.
I listened to the audiobook version, which was very well performed, with a narrator very easy to listen to at length, and it probably kept me invested in the story much more than if I’d been reading it. The Therapist is a great easy read murder mystery that will entertain many and keep some readers captivated throughout. Unfortunately, I struggled to stay invested in the story with the annoying main character and the convoluted plot restricting my rating of the book – 3.5 stars but rounding down. I would also like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a free audio ARC copy in return for an honest review.
The Therapist is the latest psychological suspense thriller from B.A. Paris, with a murder mystery that occurs in a small private housing community. Alice and her boyfriend Leo buy their first-ever house together in an exclusive gated housing estate called The Circle, in Finsbury London. It astonishes Alice that they have been able to buy this house because it appears way beyond their financial means. With only 12 houses, the neighbours provide an intriguing array of colourful characters and relationships that range from friendly to hostile, from genuine to deceitful, and from interesting to boring.
Alice is an exhausting character, fretting about the neighbours and how she should fit in, wondering why Tamsin seems hostile, and why she has thoughts that someone is always watching her. However, Alice soon discovers that the house's previous owner, Nina Maxwell, was murdered by her husband, Oliver. While this is news to Alice, Leo has known this for quite a while - which becomes a major issue of trust and openness; why didn’t he explain all this before buying the house.
Alice doesn’t believe Oliver killed his wife and tries to unravel the mystery of the murder, which she is coincidentally able to involve a private investigator Thomas to help. Alice suspects almost everyone in the community, and every chance she gets to interrogate her neighbours, she does. The ability to generate as many suspects is a great feature of the mystery, and Alice’s behaviour is an important way to uncover the secrets. Still, it does become frustrating, watching her stumbling about missing some very obvious clues, grabbing at stupid thoughts, and making bad decisions. I felt there were quite a few plot holes that eventually descended into unbelievability.
I listened to the audiobook version, which was very well performed, with a narrator very easy to listen to at length, and it probably kept me invested in the story much more than if I’d been reading it. The Therapist is a great easy read murder mystery that will entertain many and keep some readers captivated throughout. Unfortunately, I struggled to stay invested in the story with the annoying main character and the convoluted plot restricting my rating of the book – 3.5 stars but rounding down. I would also like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a free audio ARC copy in return for an honest review.
March 28, 2024
Sometimes books aren’t always aptly named. 🤷♀️
For a book called The Therapist, we really only see about 4 flashbacks (about a page and a half each) of actual therapy sessions. Most of the book was based around spousal and friendship drama which is fine but not what I was expecting…
I did really enjoy the twist at the end since I didn’t see it coming and there are plenty of characters to make you ponder ‘whodunnit?’
Alice, our MC, is lovable yet I questioned many of her decisions and constant obsession over every last detail. It could be slightly redundant. Even I don’t overanalyze that much! 🤣
Although I enjoyed it, it wasn’t a favorite but I’m more than happy to pick up more from the author at some point!
Another book club read! We’ve been having pretty good success with our choices lately!
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up
For a book called The Therapist, we really only see about 4 flashbacks (about a page and a half each) of actual therapy sessions. Most of the book was based around spousal and friendship drama which is fine but not what I was expecting…
I did really enjoy the twist at the end since I didn’t see it coming and there are plenty of characters to make you ponder ‘whodunnit?’
Alice, our MC, is lovable yet I questioned many of her decisions and constant obsession over every last detail. It could be slightly redundant. Even I don’t overanalyze that much! 🤣
Although I enjoyed it, it wasn’t a favorite but I’m more than happy to pick up more from the author at some point!
Another book club read! We’ve been having pretty good success with our choices lately!
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up
March 30, 2022
“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”
The Therapist is an everyday no-frills beach read that it easy to devour and follow. It is about a housewife and new homeowner come private investigator – or so she thinks. A woman who is determined to find out what happened to ‘The Therapist’, because Alice does not accept the stories that Nina Maxwell was killed by her husband.
The Plot
The Circle becomes home to Alice and Leo and after a short honeymoon period and domestic bliss, Alice senses there is something very wrong with the neighbourhood and within her home. The residents are tight lipped about the previous homeowner as it becomes apparent appearances are manicured and staged and there remains a dark secret just waiting to be uncovered.
Couple of things that I disliked about this one
The Circle is the setting, and we seem to go round and round in circles with the unrelenting Alice seizing every opportunity to slip into her detective guise and interrogate the neighbours. It got a little tiresome and repetitive at times as Alice never let up on her search for what happened to the previous owner.
I also disliked that she seemed oblivious to the things going on around her and at times unwittingly stumbled into situations that exposed her to danger. Not my favourite type of character and most women I know are very observant and have more tact if they need to ‘investigate’ something.😊
I thought this book was ok but did not love it. There were a few tense moments as the thrill and danger surfaced. The plot was good with some interesting twists, if not a little predictable, and the pace is perfect for that easy beach read.
2.5 stars rounding up.
The Therapist is an everyday no-frills beach read that it easy to devour and follow. It is about a housewife and new homeowner come private investigator – or so she thinks. A woman who is determined to find out what happened to ‘The Therapist’, because Alice does not accept the stories that Nina Maxwell was killed by her husband.
The Plot
The Circle becomes home to Alice and Leo and after a short honeymoon period and domestic bliss, Alice senses there is something very wrong with the neighbourhood and within her home. The residents are tight lipped about the previous homeowner as it becomes apparent appearances are manicured and staged and there remains a dark secret just waiting to be uncovered.
Couple of things that I disliked about this one
The Circle is the setting, and we seem to go round and round in circles with the unrelenting Alice seizing every opportunity to slip into her detective guise and interrogate the neighbours. It got a little tiresome and repetitive at times as Alice never let up on her search for what happened to the previous owner.
I also disliked that she seemed oblivious to the things going on around her and at times unwittingly stumbled into situations that exposed her to danger. Not my favourite type of character and most women I know are very observant and have more tact if they need to ‘investigate’ something.😊
I thought this book was ok but did not love it. There were a few tense moments as the thrill and danger surfaced. The plot was good with some interesting twists, if not a little predictable, and the pace is perfect for that easy beach read.
2.5 stars rounding up.
July 27, 2021
4 stars!
A suspenseful, easy and entertaining read!
Alice and Leo purchase a home in a tight knit gated community known as The Circle. Alice is excited to make new friends and feel a sense of belonging in this new neighbourhood while Leo holds back from socializing too much. Soon after they move in, Alice senses something isn’t right. She begins to question her neighbours intentions and doesn’t know who she can genuinely trust, including Leo.
This was the perfect read for me during a really busy time. The shorter chapters were easy to fly through. The pace and flow were consistent and kept me highly intrigued and invested. Each chapter had my curiosity building and my suspicions changing. There isn’t a lot to overthink with this book which I loved - it was exactly what I needed at the time I read it. There were some questionable elements to the plot but the writing was so smooth and addictive that they didn’t bother me.
I truly love this author! I’ve read all of her books and highly recommend them if you want an addictively suspenseful and entertaining story without having to think too much. They are books that you can just sit back and enjoy as the plot unfolds, keeping you intrigued to the last page. Nothing too intense or gripping, but extremely enjoyable nonetheless. They all follow that same formula of slowly building up tension and suspense and throwing some great unexpected twists and turns in the mix.
Thank you to St Martins Press for the physical review copy! I am already looking forward to what this author comes out with next!
This book is OUT NOW!
A suspenseful, easy and entertaining read!
Alice and Leo purchase a home in a tight knit gated community known as The Circle. Alice is excited to make new friends and feel a sense of belonging in this new neighbourhood while Leo holds back from socializing too much. Soon after they move in, Alice senses something isn’t right. She begins to question her neighbours intentions and doesn’t know who she can genuinely trust, including Leo.
This was the perfect read for me during a really busy time. The shorter chapters were easy to fly through. The pace and flow were consistent and kept me highly intrigued and invested. Each chapter had my curiosity building and my suspicions changing. There isn’t a lot to overthink with this book which I loved - it was exactly what I needed at the time I read it. There were some questionable elements to the plot but the writing was so smooth and addictive that they didn’t bother me.
I truly love this author! I’ve read all of her books and highly recommend them if you want an addictively suspenseful and entertaining story without having to think too much. They are books that you can just sit back and enjoy as the plot unfolds, keeping you intrigued to the last page. Nothing too intense or gripping, but extremely enjoyable nonetheless. They all follow that same formula of slowly building up tension and suspense and throwing some great unexpected twists and turns in the mix.
Thank you to St Martins Press for the physical review copy! I am already looking forward to what this author comes out with next!
This book is OUT NOW!
August 6, 2021
2.5*
Oh! I was so looking forward to this one!😩
Alice and Leo are ready to take their relationship to the next level. No…not marriage. Leo doesn’t believe in that. 🤨. Leo asks Alice to move in together. He even picks out the house, and with Alice only seeing pictures of it…he goes ahead with the purchase.
Alice has an odd feeling about the house right from the beginning. It’s a tight-knit gated community and Alice is determined to win over all the neighbors.
But when Alice finds out about the history of the house she becomes all consumed to solve the mystery.
Alice’s actions were so frustrating. I just couldn’t understand her need to stay in that house. Personally, I would have packed my bags and hightailed it out of there.
Leo was no prize either. A very unlikable character. But, he was a saint to put up with Alice’s behavior.
What a pair!🤣
This book started off so well.
I was all in and completely captivated.
But by the halfway mark it started going downhill and never recovered.
Truthfully, it became a struggle to finish. But I persisted because I wanted to know about the therapist. But the ending was just too outlandish.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press.
Oh! I was so looking forward to this one!😩
Alice and Leo are ready to take their relationship to the next level. No…not marriage. Leo doesn’t believe in that. 🤨. Leo asks Alice to move in together. He even picks out the house, and with Alice only seeing pictures of it…he goes ahead with the purchase.
Alice has an odd feeling about the house right from the beginning. It’s a tight-knit gated community and Alice is determined to win over all the neighbors.
But when Alice finds out about the history of the house she becomes all consumed to solve the mystery.
Alice’s actions were so frustrating. I just couldn’t understand her need to stay in that house. Personally, I would have packed my bags and hightailed it out of there.
Leo was no prize either. A very unlikable character. But, he was a saint to put up with Alice’s behavior.
What a pair!🤣
This book started off so well.
I was all in and completely captivated.
But by the halfway mark it started going downhill and never recovered.
Truthfully, it became a struggle to finish. But I persisted because I wanted to know about the therapist. But the ending was just too outlandish.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press.
January 16, 2021
3.5 Stars
Okay. The heroine is too stupid to live. Definitely one of the stupidest characters I've come across in the mystery/thriller genre.
The story is far-fetched, the villain is obvious, everyone is unlikable.
All in all, a recipe for DNF.
And yet, I was hooked.
I absolutely have no clue why.
Must be the setting. Gated community, secrets, lies, stalking, nosy neighbors...
I'll never get tired of reading such stories.
I enjoyed it, even I'm surprised how much.
Okay. The heroine is too stupid to live. Definitely one of the stupidest characters I've come across in the mystery/thriller genre.
The story is far-fetched, the villain is obvious, everyone is unlikable.
All in all, a recipe for DNF.
And yet, I was hooked.
I absolutely have no clue why.
Must be the setting. Gated community, secrets, lies, stalking, nosy neighbors...
I'll never get tired of reading such stories.
I enjoyed it, even I'm surprised how much.
December 26, 2020
I always look forward to reading a new B.A. Paris novel and was excited when I received an early copy of The Therapist to read. Once I got started it was hard to put down and I read it in a day. I love good story with secrets, trying to work out who was telling the truth. There were plenty of liars in this one and it kept me guessing.
Alice and Leo have been in a long distance relationship for sometime now. When Leo buys a new home in the gated community of The Circle, in London, Alice is excited to start a new chapter of her life and make friends with her neighbours. But not everything is as it seems and she soon learns a dark secret about her new home and its previous owner. She soon finds herself obsessed with finding out what happened and who knows the truth.
A real page turner of a psychological/domestic thriller.
Thanks to Harper Collins/Harlequin for my advance copy of this book to read.
Alice and Leo have been in a long distance relationship for sometime now. When Leo buys a new home in the gated community of The Circle, in London, Alice is excited to start a new chapter of her life and make friends with her neighbours. But not everything is as it seems and she soon learns a dark secret about her new home and its previous owner. She soon finds herself obsessed with finding out what happened and who knows the truth.
A real page turner of a psychological/domestic thriller.
Thanks to Harper Collins/Harlequin for my advance copy of this book to read.
May 25, 2021
Alice was looking forward to moving into a house in London with her boyfriend Leo. Although reluctant to leave her lovely cosy cottage in a small country village, Leo had been commuting to see her on the weekends for well over a year and it was time for them to be together. The house was in a gated estate of twelve houses built around a circle with a Central Park and playground and Alice was looking forward to getting to know her neighbours. Leo had bought the house at a very good price while Alice was on holiday and sent her photos of it, but he neglected to tell her about something terrible that happened in the house to the previous owners.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It starts well and I liked the setting of a closed community where people are keeping secrets. However, after the promising start it seemed to go around in circles with Alice trying to grill the neighbours and not really gaining any new ground until close to the end. The characters were all somewhat shadowy and we didn't get to know any of them well, with the exception of Alice. The perpetrator seemed to be the one person Alice naively didn't suspect and I found the reason that this person was unknown to the rest of the community or the police somewhat implausible. The novel did have it's creepy moments but unfortunately they weren't enough to rescue it for me.
With thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It starts well and I liked the setting of a closed community where people are keeping secrets. However, after the promising start it seemed to go around in circles with Alice trying to grill the neighbours and not really gaining any new ground until close to the end. The characters were all somewhat shadowy and we didn't get to know any of them well, with the exception of Alice. The perpetrator seemed to be the one person Alice naively didn't suspect and I found the reason that this person was unknown to the rest of the community or the police somewhat implausible. The novel did have it's creepy moments but unfortunately they weren't enough to rescue it for me.
With thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read
August 11, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and B.A. Paris for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 7.13! Now available in paperback!!**
"Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? 'Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.'"
She smiles, relaxes. It always works.
Sounds like calm and sage advice from the perfect therapist...right?
Alice and her husband Leo have moved to the Circle, a fancy, closely-knit community where the homes are all prim and proper, and the neighbors are kind...but just a little bit mysterious. Alice has reservations about leaving her beloved cottage to be near the hubbub of London, but Leo is insistent they move into this particular locale. While hosting a get-to-know you round of drinks at their new home, Alice finds out from a mysterious party-crashing stranger that the previous occupant of their new home was a therapist named Nina...and she was brutally murdered.
Alice understandably balks at the news, and takes a particular interest in Nina's story, as she lost her sister Nina years ago and has been obsessed with all things Nina ever since. When she is told this was not only a murder, but a murder-suicide involving Nina's husband Oliver, something starts in Alice: a nagging suspicion she just can't let go. And then the noises and odd gifts start showing up around the house at night. Who can Alice trust? Do her posh new neighbors have much to hide, and did Alice arrive at just the right time to bring the killer to justice? Or have her paranoid detective tendencies put her directly in the line of fire...with no hope of escape?
After a shockingly bad experience with Paris' The Dilemma, I was a bit wary going into the Therapist, but was enticed by the premise and the first 40% of the book or so FLEW by for me! Not sure if I was coming off of a slower read or if this one is simply that page-turning, but I was enthralled and excited to see what Alice would find out about her neighbors and their supposed dirty deeds. The characters felt fully developed (even if our protagonist was a bit on the flighty and helpless female side of things) and I still found myself rooting for her to get answers and justice for Nina.
However, this became a bit heavy-handed after a while, as nearly EVERY character questioned Alice's dedication to discovering the truth, asking why the police wouldn't have started an inquiry if there was more to be found. This happened so many times I'm surprised Alice didn't get fed up with it herself! Perhaps Paris was trying to remind the reader that this tale requires a suspension of disbelief on many levels...and it DOES, but in this case? Absolutely worth it!
While I did predict some of the twists, others did catch me off guard and I found myself questioning many of the characters just as much as Alice! Proof positive that speculation can abound here and this has all of the earmarks of a classic whodunit, as well as the eerie atmosphere of a domestic suspense in line with authors like Shari Lapena. This isn't the world's most twisted plot, and it did take a while to reach the end after a frenetic start, but I felt satisfied by the time I finished reading (although perhaps I was just happy to not have to listen to Alice speculate anymore!)
In terms of Paris, this one is less enthralling than Behind Closed Doors, but still makes for an absolutely perfect summer read for a lazy afternoon and certainly stands out for me as a decent summer thriller in a very crowded arena. I am already looking forward to Paris' next book...and the subsequent summer beverage to follow! 🍷
3.5 ⭐, rounded up
"Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? 'Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.'"
She smiles, relaxes. It always works.
Sounds like calm and sage advice from the perfect therapist...right?
Alice and her husband Leo have moved to the Circle, a fancy, closely-knit community where the homes are all prim and proper, and the neighbors are kind...but just a little bit mysterious. Alice has reservations about leaving her beloved cottage to be near the hubbub of London, but Leo is insistent they move into this particular locale. While hosting a get-to-know you round of drinks at their new home, Alice finds out from a mysterious party-crashing stranger that the previous occupant of their new home was a therapist named Nina...and she was brutally murdered.
Alice understandably balks at the news, and takes a particular interest in Nina's story, as she lost her sister Nina years ago and has been obsessed with all things Nina ever since. When she is told this was not only a murder, but a murder-suicide involving Nina's husband Oliver, something starts in Alice: a nagging suspicion she just can't let go. And then the noises and odd gifts start showing up around the house at night. Who can Alice trust? Do her posh new neighbors have much to hide, and did Alice arrive at just the right time to bring the killer to justice? Or have her paranoid detective tendencies put her directly in the line of fire...with no hope of escape?
After a shockingly bad experience with Paris' The Dilemma, I was a bit wary going into the Therapist, but was enticed by the premise and the first 40% of the book or so FLEW by for me! Not sure if I was coming off of a slower read or if this one is simply that page-turning, but I was enthralled and excited to see what Alice would find out about her neighbors and their supposed dirty deeds. The characters felt fully developed (even if our protagonist was a bit on the flighty and helpless female side of things) and I still found myself rooting for her to get answers and justice for Nina.
However, this became a bit heavy-handed after a while, as nearly EVERY character questioned Alice's dedication to discovering the truth, asking why the police wouldn't have started an inquiry if there was more to be found. This happened so many times I'm surprised Alice didn't get fed up with it herself! Perhaps Paris was trying to remind the reader that this tale requires a suspension of disbelief on many levels...and it DOES, but in this case? Absolutely worth it!
While I did predict some of the twists, others did catch me off guard and I found myself questioning many of the characters just as much as Alice! Proof positive that speculation can abound here and this has all of the earmarks of a classic whodunit, as well as the eerie atmosphere of a domestic suspense in line with authors like Shari Lapena. This isn't the world's most twisted plot, and it did take a while to reach the end after a frenetic start, but I felt satisfied by the time I finished reading (although perhaps I was just happy to not have to listen to Alice speculate anymore!)
In terms of Paris, this one is less enthralling than Behind Closed Doors, but still makes for an absolutely perfect summer read for a lazy afternoon and certainly stands out for me as a decent summer thriller in a very crowded arena. I am already looking forward to Paris' next book...and the subsequent summer beverage to follow! 🍷
3.5 ⭐, rounded up
July 20, 2021
4.5 stars
When Alys and Leo move into their dream home in the exclusive community called The Circle..well things don’t go as planned. In fact... there is a reason you got such a deal on your house...😳
Okay so there is nooo way I would have stayed at this house after finding out what happened there.. no fluffing way!! Bags 💼would be packed... car 🚘 idling in the driveway... hotel 🏨 reservation made... peace ✌️ out new house! Yet Alice stayed and stayed 🤷♀️… girl get out of there!!!🏃♀️
I found the vibe in the house and the neighborhood super creepy. I mean how nice that everyone is watching… every single move you make.. Like that song by The Police👮♀️ .. every breath you take.. every move you make.. I’ll be watching you...
This was a quick read for me and I really enjoyed it! I never even considered it ending the way it did! I did have a moment of thinking... hmm 🤔 How did that manage to go on?? However that would be a super spoiler so...🤐🤐🤐
Huge shoutout to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy❤️
When Alys and Leo move into their dream home in the exclusive community called The Circle..well things don’t go as planned. In fact... there is a reason you got such a deal on your house...😳
Okay so there is nooo way I would have stayed at this house after finding out what happened there.. no fluffing way!! Bags 💼would be packed... car 🚘 idling in the driveway... hotel 🏨 reservation made... peace ✌️ out new house! Yet Alice stayed and stayed 🤷♀️… girl get out of there!!!🏃♀️
I found the vibe in the house and the neighborhood super creepy. I mean how nice that everyone is watching… every single move you make.. Like that song by The Police👮♀️ .. every breath you take.. every move you make.. I’ll be watching you...
This was a quick read for me and I really enjoyed it! I never even considered it ending the way it did! I did have a moment of thinking... hmm 🤔 How did that manage to go on?? However that would be a super spoiler so...🤐🤐🤐
Huge shoutout to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy❤️
May 19, 2024
Thirtysomething Alice and her boyfriend Leo have recently moved in together, taking up residence in a gated London circle that contains 12 homes.
Before moving to London Alice lived in the country and Leo - who works in Birmingham - could only visit her on weekends. With a house in London, the couple can see each other more frequently.
Alice works from home, and feeling lonely, longs to make friends with the local women.
So - without informing Leo - Alice uses a group text to invite the circle residents to a drinks party. Leo is a bit put out, but helps with the preparations for the gathering.
Alice doesn't know all the people in the circle, and accidentally welcomes an outsider to the party, thinking he's a neighbor. The man, named Thomas, turns out to be a private detective looking into a recent murder in Alice and Leo's house.
Alice, who can't even watch scary scenes in suspense movies, is COMPLETELY freaked out to learn of a grisly murder in her own home.
Worse yet, Leo knew about the murder and bought the house anyway, without informing Alice of the tragedy.
It turns out a woman named Nina was killed in Alice and Leo's BEDROOM, and the prime suspect was Nina's husband Oliver - who later committed suicide. Oliver's sister is sure her brother didn't kill Nina, and hired Thomas to find the real killer.
Alice feels compelled to help Thomas, and becomes convinced the actual murderer lives in the circle. So Alice tries to surreptitiously question the 'suspects' during coffee klatches and lunch dates.
However, Alice's maneuvers are blindingly obvious, and the neighbors don't appreciate the scrutiny.
As in most communities, there are undercurrents and secrets, among them the fact that the murder victim, Nina, was seeing a therapist....and no one seems to know who it was or why she was going.
Meanwhile, Alice starts to feel a presence in her house at night, and dithers between thinking it's a ghost and thinking it's the real killer sneaking into her home. Much of this happens when Leo is away for work, so Alice has to deal with it alone.
The story really starts to stretch credulity at this point, since a scaredy-cat like Alice would surely skedaddle from the house instead of staying there night after night. Moreover Alice seems obtuse about obvious clues, and one longs to point her in the right direction. (I've found that some of Paris's other books have a similar problem, with protagonists that don't behave in a believable fashion.)
The tale moves along to a dramatic climax that has some big surprises.
This isn't a flawless book, but it's an engaging story that would probably appeal to many mystery lovers.
Thanks to Netgalley, B.A. Paris, and Harper Collins Publishers for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
March 9, 2022
A steady build to a good and surprising climax!
Alice is naïve and trusting, floundering a bit in her new environment, paying no heed to the warnings directly in front of her. But as she gets herself deeper into the mystery of who killed Nina Maxwell, she starts to wonder just who is trustworthy.
Her character seems a bit at odds with itself --she trusts when perhaps she should suspect, and she suspects when perhaps she should trust. Because of her nature, it is hard for the reader to know who to really suspect. I liked this aspect as it forced me to pay better attention and think things through a little more carefully.
As other reviews have noted, the narrator was pleasant to listen to. The story was quick yet the pacing sometimes felt a bit meandering until the final revealing chapters. The climax supplied neat answers for lingering questions and confounding doubts thereby wrapping up the foregoing intentional loose ends. A good read with a well-executed finish.
Alice is naïve and trusting, floundering a bit in her new environment, paying no heed to the warnings directly in front of her. But as she gets herself deeper into the mystery of who killed Nina Maxwell, she starts to wonder just who is trustworthy.
Her character seems a bit at odds with itself --she trusts when perhaps she should suspect, and she suspects when perhaps she should trust. Because of her nature, it is hard for the reader to know who to really suspect. I liked this aspect as it forced me to pay better attention and think things through a little more carefully.
As other reviews have noted, the narrator was pleasant to listen to. The story was quick yet the pacing sometimes felt a bit meandering until the final revealing chapters. The climax supplied neat answers for lingering questions and confounding doubts thereby wrapping up the foregoing intentional loose ends. A good read with a well-executed finish.
March 21, 2021
Alice Dawson and her partner Leo Curtis move into an exclusive, quiet enclave in London - The Circle. There are only 12 homes in this gated estate. Leo travels a lot for work and Alice is hoping to make friends. Which she does. Emma and Will, Maria and Tim are very friendly. Tamsin seems hostile to Alice although her husband Conor is friendly enough. And Edward and Lorna, an older couple seem quite reclusive.
Straight away Alice is fretting over everything which is tiresome. But when she learns that one of the previous occupants of her house, Nina Maxwell, was murdered there - she loses it. Angry at Leo for not telling her and too scared to stay in the “murder house” even though the killer, Nina’s husband Oliver, killed himself and is no danger to anyone.
But soon, and spurred on by private investigator, Thomas Grainger, who sneaks around the estate without anyone else seeing him, Alice starts to wonder if Oliver did actually kill Nina or if it was someone else. At one time or another she suspects almost everyone else in the estate. She also starts to feel as if someone has been in the house during the night, watching her sleep, or during the day when she is out, moving things around. She only got invested in the whole Nina thing because her sister, also called Nina, died about 20 years ago.
This story was slow and yet too busy if you can imagine that. There was too much coffee mornings and evening drinkies with irrelevant dialogue. It seemed to me like ideas were just thrown around to fill up pages while nothing much happened apart from Alice’s hand wringing and her alienating the few people who still cared about her! It picked up before the end with a decent twist and a bit of drama but unfortunately I could not really enjoy this one. Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin Australia and B.A. Paris for the review copy. My opinions are my own.
2.5 stars rounded up for old times sake.
Straight away Alice is fretting over everything which is tiresome. But when she learns that one of the previous occupants of her house, Nina Maxwell, was murdered there - she loses it. Angry at Leo for not telling her and too scared to stay in the “murder house” even though the killer, Nina’s husband Oliver, killed himself and is no danger to anyone.
But soon, and spurred on by private investigator, Thomas Grainger, who sneaks around the estate without anyone else seeing him, Alice starts to wonder if Oliver did actually kill Nina or if it was someone else. At one time or another she suspects almost everyone else in the estate. She also starts to feel as if someone has been in the house during the night, watching her sleep, or during the day when she is out, moving things around. She only got invested in the whole Nina thing because her sister, also called Nina, died about 20 years ago.
This story was slow and yet too busy if you can imagine that. There was too much coffee mornings and evening drinkies with irrelevant dialogue. It seemed to me like ideas were just thrown around to fill up pages while nothing much happened apart from Alice’s hand wringing and her alienating the few people who still cared about her! It picked up before the end with a decent twist and a bit of drama but unfortunately I could not really enjoy this one. Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin Australia and B.A. Paris for the review copy. My opinions are my own.
2.5 stars rounded up for old times sake.
August 31, 2021
My favorite book by B.A. Paris is Behind Closed Doors. I can remember opening the mailer for the ARC, one of the very first physical ARCs I received. I remember where I was when I read it, and how chilled I felt. I don’t know if there’s ever been a more loathsome villain as the husband in that book!
I’ve been super excited to pick up The Therapist, and am happy to report I loved it.
Alice and Leo move into a new house that’s just been redone. The home is located in an exclusive gated community. Fancy schmancy. Alice begins to settle in until she learns her home has a secret involving a therapist who previously lived there named Nina. Alice becomes obsessed with what happened and trying to unearth the whole story, but her neighbors are not talking.
Alice was definitely a frustrating main character at times, and I was along for the ride with the trainwreck she was on. She would not let go until she solved what happened to Nina, and I kind of get it, although I would have to move asap! I turned the pages as fast as I could and had trouble putting this down. That’s where B.A. Paris excels is in the compulsive readability of her books. The ending was quite the twist. Leaving my disbelief at the door, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience that is reading a gripping B.A. Paris thriller.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I’ve been super excited to pick up The Therapist, and am happy to report I loved it.
Alice and Leo move into a new house that’s just been redone. The home is located in an exclusive gated community. Fancy schmancy. Alice begins to settle in until she learns her home has a secret involving a therapist who previously lived there named Nina. Alice becomes obsessed with what happened and trying to unearth the whole story, but her neighbors are not talking.
Alice was definitely a frustrating main character at times, and I was along for the ride with the trainwreck she was on. She would not let go until she solved what happened to Nina, and I kind of get it, although I would have to move asap! I turned the pages as fast as I could and had trouble putting this down. That’s where B.A. Paris excels is in the compulsive readability of her books. The ending was quite the twist. Leaving my disbelief at the door, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience that is reading a gripping B.A. Paris thriller.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
December 22, 2020
I have to start with confessing I’m a huge fan of B.A Paris. I was so excited to start this book you would have thought I’d won the lottery!!!
Alice and her boyfriend Leo are moving into the Circle , a luxury home in a gated community in Finsbury London. Alice is a little apprehensive as she is leaving her cosy cottage in the country.
All is well .. until she finds out that someone was killed in their home and worse than that, Leo knew and did not tell her.
Alice starts to look into what happened, she becomes paranoid as strange things start to occur in the house.
When you start a B.A Paris book, time just flies away as you enter a magical world where all the characters are so lifelike, they could be your real neighbours!! I felt the betrayal, the emotions and was shocked at the end.
Another gripping thriller from this amazing author. A must read book that will keep you turning the pages wondering what will happen next!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review,
Alice and her boyfriend Leo are moving into the Circle , a luxury home in a gated community in Finsbury London. Alice is a little apprehensive as she is leaving her cosy cottage in the country.
All is well .. until she finds out that someone was killed in their home and worse than that, Leo knew and did not tell her.
Alice starts to look into what happened, she becomes paranoid as strange things start to occur in the house.
When you start a B.A Paris book, time just flies away as you enter a magical world where all the characters are so lifelike, they could be your real neighbours!! I felt the betrayal, the emotions and was shocked at the end.
Another gripping thriller from this amazing author. A must read book that will keep you turning the pages wondering what will happen next!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review,
March 27, 2021
What do you do when you have a massive TBR pile and someone sends you the new BA Paris novel? You give a little screech and bump it immediately to the top of your list, of course!
Needless to say, I’m a big BA Paris fan. Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown are two of my favorite recent domestic thrillers. I did not think this this book had quite the pace or intensity of those two, so I can see why some readers are disappointed. However, I still enjoyed this read, which had all the great writing, twists, unreliability, and rug pulls we’ve come to expect from our Thriller Queen.
In this book, Alice and her boyfriend Leo, at Leo’s urging, move into a surprisingly cheap house in an exclusive gated cul de sac called The Circle. But Alice soon finds out there’s a reason it was so cheap — she’s living in a murder house. A RECENT murder house. And the killer may still be roaming around her cul de sac.
As Alice investigates the crime, we get the usual fun BA Paris touches. Is it Alice’s sketchy boyfriend who is up to no good? Does the nosy woman down the street know something? Or is our narrator herself actually a little crazy and obsessed?
I really enjoyed the read, which I found suspenseful, well-written and interesting. I was a little disappointed not to have the usual level of intense BA Paris style scares and insanity, but the writing was, as always, great and page-turning, the plot interesting, and the ending very satisfying.
I’d give this 3.5 BA Paris-level stars, only because I KNOW she’s capable of 10 out of 5 stars, but it is still a solid 4-star unputdownable thriller, compulsively readable, and written and plotted at a higher level of skill than everything by most of the thriller writers out there today.
And of course now that I’m finished, it’s time to go back to excitedly waiting for her next one!
Many many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and BA Paris for the advance copy that made me literally fangirl shriek aloud when I saw it in my inbox! I can’t wait to keep reading more BA Paris and have that feeling all over again.
Needless to say, I’m a big BA Paris fan. Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown are two of my favorite recent domestic thrillers. I did not think this this book had quite the pace or intensity of those two, so I can see why some readers are disappointed. However, I still enjoyed this read, which had all the great writing, twists, unreliability, and rug pulls we’ve come to expect from our Thriller Queen.
In this book, Alice and her boyfriend Leo, at Leo’s urging, move into a surprisingly cheap house in an exclusive gated cul de sac called The Circle. But Alice soon finds out there’s a reason it was so cheap — she’s living in a murder house. A RECENT murder house. And the killer may still be roaming around her cul de sac.
As Alice investigates the crime, we get the usual fun BA Paris touches. Is it Alice’s sketchy boyfriend who is up to no good? Does the nosy woman down the street know something? Or is our narrator herself actually a little crazy and obsessed?
I really enjoyed the read, which I found suspenseful, well-written and interesting. I was a little disappointed not to have the usual level of intense BA Paris style scares and insanity, but the writing was, as always, great and page-turning, the plot interesting, and the ending very satisfying.
I’d give this 3.5 BA Paris-level stars, only because I KNOW she’s capable of 10 out of 5 stars, but it is still a solid 4-star unputdownable thriller, compulsively readable, and written and plotted at a higher level of skill than everything by most of the thriller writers out there today.
And of course now that I’m finished, it’s time to go back to excitedly waiting for her next one!
Many many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and BA Paris for the advance copy that made me literally fangirl shriek aloud when I saw it in my inbox! I can’t wait to keep reading more BA Paris and have that feeling all over again.
July 1, 2021
I wasn't a huge fan of Paris's last book (The Dilemma) but I had liked some previous books of hers so decided to give this one a try. The Therapist did have a couple of decent twists, but overall I disliked the character of Alice so much that it clouded everything about this book.
This is the story of Alice and Leo, a couple who decide to move in together after dating long distance for a while. Leo purchases a home in a gated community, and some odd things occur. Alice discovers that the previous owner of the house, Nina, was murdered and her husband Oliver was accused of the crime and later committed suicide. Alice is horrified that Leo kept this information from her and for a while pretty much refuses to step foot back into the house. After a little bit though, she gets over it because she has a new mission--find out who really killed Nina. Why would Alice want to do this you ask? She didn't even know Nina. Well, it turns out that Alice's older sister Nina, along with their parents, was killed in a car accident when Alice was 19. She feels as if it's her duty to avenge her sister's namesake and figure out what really happened to her.
Huh?
Yes, Alice becomes an armchair detective, endlessly quizzing the neighbors about Nina and basically spying on everyone trying to ferret out what really happened to her. Alice is such a wishy washy character. First she's afraid to re-enter the house she has been living in for quite some time because a murder took place there, then she becomes this crusader for justice taking risks and chances. There were so many times that I rolled my eyes that they were getting sore from the rolling.
Bottom Line-- this is a fair read, if you like far-fetched domestic dramas with armchair detectives you just might enjoy this one. I listened to the audiobook and I did like the narrator who kept me invested in the story.
I voluntarily reviewed both the print and audio versions of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of Alice and Leo, a couple who decide to move in together after dating long distance for a while. Leo purchases a home in a gated community, and some odd things occur. Alice discovers that the previous owner of the house, Nina, was murdered and her husband Oliver was accused of the crime and later committed suicide. Alice is horrified that Leo kept this information from her and for a while pretty much refuses to step foot back into the house. After a little bit though, she gets over it because she has a new mission--find out who really killed Nina. Why would Alice want to do this you ask? She didn't even know Nina. Well, it turns out that Alice's older sister Nina, along with their parents, was killed in a car accident when Alice was 19. She feels as if it's her duty to avenge her sister's namesake and figure out what really happened to her.
Huh?
Yes, Alice becomes an armchair detective, endlessly quizzing the neighbors about Nina and basically spying on everyone trying to ferret out what really happened to her. Alice is such a wishy washy character. First she's afraid to re-enter the house she has been living in for quite some time because a murder took place there, then she becomes this crusader for justice taking risks and chances. There were so many times that I rolled my eyes that they were getting sore from the rolling.
Bottom Line-- this is a fair read, if you like far-fetched domestic dramas with armchair detectives you just might enjoy this one. I listened to the audiobook and I did like the narrator who kept me invested in the story.
I voluntarily reviewed both the print and audio versions of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2021
Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
So, there was something about The Therapist by B.A. Paris that got my back up as soon as I started reading it. Something that didn’t sit quite right with me and unfortunately, it wasn’t the suspense of it all.
If I tell you, however, I’ll ruin it for those of you who haven’t read it. Let’s just say that I guessed two things right off the bat and was right on the money.
That aside, I enjoyed the mystery at first and was excited for what was to come.
Alice and Leo are partners, who move into The Circle, an exclusive neighborhood in London. Shortly after moving in, however, Alice finds out that their beautiful new home was the scene of a brutal murder of a woman named Nina and Alice becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her.
Shocking though it may seem, Strange things are afoot at The Circle.
Though given fair warning, Alice can’t seem to mind her own business. Soon, she begins suspecting all of her new friends and neighbors of being responsible for Nina’s death, and her thoughts range from mildly suspicious to wholly outlandish. As a translator, who makes a good living, she could, of course, escape this whole business and leave The Circle and its inhabitants behind, but instead chooses to stay on, which truly boggles the mind. Admittedly, her choices and suspicions had me shaking my head in disbelief.
A novel that started out fairly strong, but lost me along the way. B.A. Paris is an author whose early novels I really enjoyed and whose later novels have been hit and miss for me. This one was definitely a miss. If you don’t mind suspending disbelief, you might enjoy this more than I did.
2.5 Stars
A buddy read with Ms. Kaceey.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram for the arc.
So, there was something about The Therapist by B.A. Paris that got my back up as soon as I started reading it. Something that didn’t sit quite right with me and unfortunately, it wasn’t the suspense of it all.
If I tell you, however, I’ll ruin it for those of you who haven’t read it. Let’s just say that I guessed two things right off the bat and was right on the money.
That aside, I enjoyed the mystery at first and was excited for what was to come.
Alice and Leo are partners, who move into The Circle, an exclusive neighborhood in London. Shortly after moving in, however, Alice finds out that their beautiful new home was the scene of a brutal murder of a woman named Nina and Alice becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her.
Shocking though it may seem, Strange things are afoot at The Circle.
Though given fair warning, Alice can’t seem to mind her own business. Soon, she begins suspecting all of her new friends and neighbors of being responsible for Nina’s death, and her thoughts range from mildly suspicious to wholly outlandish. As a translator, who makes a good living, she could, of course, escape this whole business and leave The Circle and its inhabitants behind, but instead chooses to stay on, which truly boggles the mind. Admittedly, her choices and suspicions had me shaking my head in disbelief.
A novel that started out fairly strong, but lost me along the way. B.A. Paris is an author whose early novels I really enjoyed and whose later novels have been hit and miss for me. This one was definitely a miss. If you don’t mind suspending disbelief, you might enjoy this more than I did.
2.5 Stars
A buddy read with Ms. Kaceey.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram for the arc.
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