The Guest by B.A. Paris, 5 Stars

Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and again: sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris’ clothes, even rearranging the furniture.

Laure has walked out on her husband—and their good friend—Pierre, over his confession of an affair and a secret child. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive of their friends, but as Laure’s mood becomes increasingly unpredictable, her presence takes its toll.

Iris and Gabriel’s only respite comes in the form of a couple new to town. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past. 

Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known.

My Review:

B.A. Paris has done it again! Iris and Gabriel are empty nesters while their daughter Beth is off doing humanitarian work in Greece. Gabriel is suffering from PTSD from a recent incident at the quarry by their house and Iris is missing her daughter and isn’t able to talk to her as much as she’d like. She’s a little lost and having an unexpected house guest isn’t really helping.

While out for a walk, Iris meets a new woman in town, Esme. While they are about the same age, Esme is pregant with her first child just as Iris has been abandoned by her adult child. Esme and her husband, Hamish, prove to be a breath of fresh air that Iris desperately needs. And when it turns out their gardener can help with some projects around Iris and Gabriel’s house, it seems like kismet.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (lol), Iris and Gabriel’s old friend, Laure, isn’t going anywhere. She left her husband after finding out something shocking from his past and has no plans to return.

It seems like a lot is going on, and it is! But, Paris keeps each storyline in it’s own lane until it’s time for them all to converge in a twisty, surprising way.

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one releases February 20!