This is told is two storylines – past and present.
Present: Amelie has been kidnapped, along with her husband Ned. She is in a basement-type room in the dark. There is a small bathroom which has a light that comes on only when the bathroom door is shut. She does not know where Ned is nor where they are being held prisoner. She has started marking days off on the wall in the bathroom. Sometimes, she can hear Ned somewhere in the house.
Past: Amelie has no family and goes to London to get a job. She meets Carolyn who hires her as a housekeeper of sorts and they quickly become friends. Amelie finds herself hanging out with Carolyn and her friends, Lina and Justine. They all work at a magazine owned by Ned. Amelie gets an entry-level job at the magazine and is both surprised and baffled when Ned asks her to come to Las Vegas with him. While there, he presents Amelie with a plan that he hopes will get his parents off his back about marrying someone they want him to marry. That plan involves he and Amelie getting married in Vegas but divorcing a month later. It is during this time that they are married when they are both kidnapped.
The last few chapters were just a back-and-forth between two characters, with one asking questions and the other providing the answers to why everything happened the way it happened. ( )

When this book was initially released, I received an eARC, but life's demands overwhelmed me, leaving no time to indulge in it. To make amends, I decided to purchase the audiobook as a gesture of support. I can honestly say, I thoroughly relished the experience, managing to immerse myself in most of it while at work today.

With her latest work, BA Paris takes storytelling to new heights, enthralling readers with a double-layered, claustrophobic thriller experience that will have them engrossed from start to finish. Despite my initial reservations upon reading the summary, I decided to give this book a chance. Little did I anticipate the rollercoaster of emotions awaiting me as I joined Amalie in her chilling predicament, trapped in the darkness, haunted by unanswered questions about her unknown assailant. Venturing into the Past: Unraveling the Path to the Present. The narrative swiftly captured my attention within a few chapters. Amalie's journey begins with the loss of her mother and a hasty escape to London following her father's demise. Amidst hostel stays and homelessness, fate leads her to Carolyn, a remarkable woman who offers her a live-in assistant role. As their bond deepens, Carolyn, along with her friends Justine and Lina, becomes Amalie's cherished chosen family. In the present, we are aware of her marriage to Ned Walthorpe, the affluent owner of a magazine connected to her friends. However, the reasons behind their union remain shrouded in mystery, and it's evident that their relationship is far from amicable. As we delve deeper into the story, the burning questions arise: What led them to marry, and where could they be? Is she a mere victim caught in the crossfire, or is there a sinister plot to harm the influential Walthorpe family? Among countless overused phrases, "unputdownable" truly applies to this gem. The journey it takes you on is a delightful experience, making you yearn for more while being equally desperate for answers. Fear not, as the author adeptly wraps it all up in a beautiful package, leaving no room for doubt about their talent. ( )

The beginning of the book took me completely in and I was excited to see what thrill ride I had in store. However, the remaining of the book fell flat for me and is often disjointed. BA Paris is known for her locked room thriller style writing and this one isn’t any different. However, the story wasn’t exciting or original for me.
BA Paris has always been one of those authors that I really want to love, but every new book released, I can’t seem to connect with her writing. It is time I write this author off for good.
2.5 stars ( )

Who are these people and is any single one of them telling the truth?
“The Prisoner” unfolds in the first-person present tense narrative of Amelie Lamont. It is immediate, chilling, and uncertain. Amelie is a victim, but much, much more than that. Her life is filled with guilt as dark as the hood that covers her head and as paralyzing as the tape that covers her mouth. They brought her food, so they don’t want to kill her – or do they? And it is not about her alone, there is also Ned.
The story continues in Amelie’s first person narrative, alternating between her past and present with chapters conveniently labeled. Readers learn a lot about Amelie, and a lot about Ned; slowly their relationship evolves. There is, of course, that terrifying present and her desperate attempts to escape -- her planning, observing, and evaluating. What she does not perceive, however, are the truly grim events that brought to that dark room.
Readers are along for the wild ride as Amelia’s story unfolds. The laughs are so ordinary; the marks on the wall are so optimistic; the sound of the gun being cocked is so dreadful. However, things are not what they seem to be; danger is everywhere, but not from where it first seemed to be.
“The Prisoner” is filled with guilt and uncertainty; it is fast and frightening. There are a lot of complicated story threads to tie up, and the end is unexpected. I received a review copy of “The Prisoner” from B.A. Paris and St. Martin's Press.
“The Prisoner” is available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent Who are these people and is any single one of them telling the truth?
“The Prisoner” unfolds in the first-person present tense narrative of Amelie Lamont. It is immediate, chilling, and uncertain. Amelie is a victim, but much, much more than that. Her life is filled with guilt as dark as the hood that covers her head and as paralyzing as the tape that covers her mouth. They brought her food, so they don’t want to kill her – or do they? And it is not about her alone, there is also Ned.
The story continues in Amelie’s first person narrative, alternating between her past and present with chapters conveniently labeled. Readers learn a lot about Amelie, and a lot about Ned; slowly their relationship evolves. There is, of course, that terrifying present and her desperate attempts to escape -- her planning, observing, and evaluating. What she does not perceive, however, are the truly grim events that brought to that dark room.
Readers are along for the wild ride as Amelia’s story unfolds. The laughs are so ordinary; the marks on the wall are so optimistic; the sound of the gun being cocked is so dreadful. However, things are not what they seem to be; danger is everywhere, but not from where it first seemed to be.
“The Prisoner” is filled with guilt and uncertainty; it is fast and frightening. There are a lot of complicated story threads to tie up, and the end is unexpected. I received a review copy of “The Prisoner” from B.A. Paris and St. Martin's Press.
“The Prisoner” is available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books. ( )

I usually try to read everything by B.A. Paris. I was a little skeptical the way things started off but that quickly turned around and this became the typical first-rate thriller we're used to by the author. Good plot, character development, and enough twists to keep you guessing until the end. 4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. ( )