Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Have you heard? B.A. Paris has a new novel coming out this summer! Just like her previous novels Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown, this is an addictive psychological thriller you don’t want to miss!

Twelve years ago, Finn took a trip with his girlfriend Layla. On their way home, they make a stop somewhere and Finn leaves Layla sitting in the car. When he comes back, she’s vanished without a trace.

It was a struggle, but Finn moved on with his life, finding love with Layla’s sister Ellen. Everything is going well until the day Finn gets a phone call informing him his former neighbor thought they’d seen Layla. That was unsettling enough, but then an item is left at the house he shares with Ellen—something that held significance to Layla that few people knew about. The emails started coming soon afterwards, hinting that Layla is still alive… emails that sometimes seem to be coming from Layla herself.

Finn is desperate to know the truth and determined to keep Ellen in the dark until he gets the answers he needs. If Layla really is alive, what will that mean for his relationship with Ellen? And if she isn’t… who is messing with his head?

Bring Me Back is cleverly written, telling the story of Finn’s present day life with Ellen, as well as his past life with Layla. I love it when a story is rounded out this way, giving the reader little pieces of the past to attempt to put together before the Big Reveal comes.  Each new discovery makes the things you already know take on new meaning.

I was immediately struck by the differences between the two sisters—Layla is carefree and vivacious, whereas Ellen is serious and restrained. The more aware I became of how little the sisters had in common personality-wise, the more I wondered about Finn’s relationship with Ellen. Their pairing certainly seemed an unlikely one, and I liked the way Finn thinks about that more and more as he tries to sort out the truth about the emails and items left for him to find.

Finn makes important discoveries are made early in the book, and the story takes a decidedly sinister turn as it gets into part two. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of the book, but I have to say it gets MUCH better in the second part! There’s a definite cat-and-mouse vibe going on here, and I couldn’t put it down.

Even though I managed to figure out something crucial before it was revealed in the book, the ending was still significant and played out in a shocking way I didn’t see coming, and made me bump my rating up a bit from four stars to four and half well-deserved stars.

Put this one on your TBR, y’all… and get ready for a great read this June!

I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley.

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Author: B.A. Paris
Title: Bring Me Back
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publication Date: June 19th, 2018 by St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 4.5 Stars

About the Book

THE NEW TWISTY, GRIPPING READ FROM B. A. PARIS, THE AUTHOR OF THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING NOVELS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND THE BREAKDOWN

“We’re in a new Golden Age of suspense writing now, because of amazing books like Bring Me Back, and I for one am loving it.” —Lee Child

She went missing. He moved on. A whole world of secrets remained—until now.

Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone—never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.

Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him…even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.

Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla—hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive—and on Finn’s trail—what does she want? And how much does she know?

A tour de force of psychological suspense, Bring Me Back will have you questioning everything and everyone until its stunning climax.

About the Author

B.A. PARIS is the internationally bestselling author of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. She grew up in England but has spent most of her adult life in France. She has worked both in finance and as a teacher and has five daughters.