By: B. A. Paris
ISBN: 1250274125
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 07/13/2021
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
Top Books of 2021 The multimillion-copy New York Times bestselling author B.A. Paris returns to her heartland of gripping psychological suspense in The Therapist--a powerful tale of a house that holds a shocking secret. 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 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 neighbors are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…
My Review
One heck of a spine-tingling thriller! Feels like a Blockbuster movie.
Enter 'The Circle' where you feel more like a prisoner, than an exclusive gated enclave.
B. A Paris entertains and chills—and makes the reader question whether they really know not only their neighbors but their own family.
THE THERAPIST, an intricately plotted, fast-paced, gripping psychological thriller of secrets, lies, obsession, evil, and murder with a double twist that will keep readers guessing until the explosive conclusion. A hit!
If you loved Paris' sensational debut, Behind Closed Doors, you better get ready for THE THERAPIST. There are a lot of secrets, web of lies, and deception behind the gates of The Circle. The monster may be hiding right in front of you.
At the opening of this brilliantly crafted thriller, Alice and her partner, Leo, are moving to London to an exclusive gated enclave called The Circle. All the houses are very similar, and there are only twelve select upscale homes.
They have only been dating a little over a year. Alice is keeping her cottage and renting it out. Leo is the one buying the ouse, and he is so excited. He says it is a steal, but as they say, if something is that great, there is usually something wrong.
All the homes are in a circle from 1-12, and they are #6. However, Leo was not forthcoming about the history of the house. All the idyllic families are image perfect, or so it appears on the outside.
Alice wants to meet her neighbors, puts together a little party, and invites everyone over for cocktails. Leo was not happy about this because he does not want her to find out about the former owners and what occurred at this house.
Alice finally discovers the former owners, Nina the wife was a therapist who was brutally murdered in their upstairs bedroom, and there was also a suicide. (husband, Oliver).
At the party, there is a gate-crasher. However, Alice does not know who the person is and assumed he is a neighbor. All the neighbors seem very standoffish, and she desperately wants to be a part of this elite circle of women.
She is furious with Leo for not telling her about the prior owners and determined to discover what happened to the woman who lived in this house since Nina was her sister's name. Alice's past is something tragic that further fuels the fire to find out what happened to Nina.
The gate-crasher turns out to be an investigator for Nina's sister and befriends Alice to try and help gather more info secretly.
The women in the circle are closed-mouth. They are delighted someone moved in to keep their real estate values up and does not understand why Alice wants to bring up old news when the case had been closed.
However, the more Alice digs, the more danger she is in. Did Nina's husband really kill his wife and commit suicide, or was it one of the other neighbors that may still be out there who killed both of them?
"What if the real killer is still living among us hiding in plain sight?"
Soon Alice begins hearing someone in her house, strange things start happening, and everyone is a suspect. She wants to leave The Circle, but feels she has to find out about Nina first.
There is something sinister and evil, and she has a feeling it was not Oliver who murdered his wife but someone else that possibly killed them both. Most of the couples are younger in The Circle; however, an older couple seems nice but appears strange. She suspects others of possibly having affairs and all sorts of theories. Alice will not give up until she learns the truth.
The author goes behind the curtains and doors from heart-racing, nail-biting suspense to reveal the horror behind this upscale community. Do you really know your neighbors and their families?
There is a sinister tie-in about long hair and cutting it, and you will be on the edge-of-your-seat of this addictive read. OBSESSIVE LOVE DISORDER. No way you can put it down to sleep. So make time to read with one with no interruptions.
From past to present, the insanely gripping plot revolves around this chilling murder. The author is in complete control of the narrative, pacing, and her characters. They are vivid and come alive on the page, and you can envision this train wreck with a strong sense of foreboding and darkness but not sure where it is headed. The ending is explosive!
You may think of a few movies when reading: The Stepford Wives, The Gates, Dream House, and the recent Amazon Prime new series, Them comes to mind (the new neighborhood and house), minus the supernatural with a different twist, as well as Big Little Lies, and the novel, Those People.
I am a massive fan of B.A. Paris and have read all her books. Trust me, this is her best yet. Compulsively readable, THE THERAPIST is primed for the big screen or TV series. Plot and character-driven, for fans Mary Kubica and those of complex, tense, and well-written thrillers who enjoy the dark side of suburbia. The author is at the top of her game. Top books of 2021. Do not miss this one.
Look for my Elevator Ride with the author, coming July 13th, where we will go behind the scenes of the book and author.
A special thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.
Praise
One of "The Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021" ―Goodreads
One of the "Best Beach Reads of Summer 2021"―SheReads
One of the "Spring and Summer Thriller and Mystery Must-Reads"―Ms. Career Girl
"The Circle evokes the chills of 'The Stepford Wives.' A well-crafted psychological thriller." ―Booklist
“A whodunnit domestic thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page. In the Circle everyone is a suspect and everyone has a motive. A pacy page-turner that fans of Those People will love!”
―Catherine Steadman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something In The Water and The Disappearing Act
“B.A. Paris knows how to build suspense in an unforgettable way.”
―Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrong Family
"A delicious web of lies."
―Jane Corry, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife
"Tense and compulsive."
―Louise Candlish, bestselling author of The Other Passenger
"Suspicion, betrayal and dark secrets abound in this tense story―all hidden just beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect suburban life."
―T.M. Logan, author of The Vacation
THE SUNDAY POST
Meet the author: The Therapist writer, BA Paris
By Sally McDonald April 15, 2021 READ MORE
with the Author—The Therapist
About the Author
B. A. PARIS is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, Bring Me Back, The Dilemma, and The Therapist.
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.
B.A. Paris Books
Check out my
Elevator Ride
with B.A. Paris
The Dilemma
My Review
