Title: Bring Me Back
Author: B.A. Paris
Published: June 2018, St. Martin’s Press
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Source: Publisher
Summary:
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.
My thoughts: B.A. Paris has become the author where I just about drop everything to read her latest book when it shows up. And the fact that they are usually quick, binge-worthy addictive reads is just an added bonus! She really knows how to do play with your mind and get under your skin and I love every minute I am immersed in one of her books!
I devoured this latest book in two sittings – it’s that quick and addictive a read. Yes, it does have short chapters and that always helps but I also think the story line itself lends to the binge-worthiness of this book. You just can’t help but become completely wrapped up in what is going on and find yourself in a place where not only do you NEED to know what is going to happen next but you also NEED to know how it is all going to play out. That is this book, in my opinion.
Right from the start I had an uneasy feeling about the characters and was unsure of who I could trust. And let me just say – I love books like this…I love trying to figure out if it’s just the main character that is unreliable or if there are others that are just as unreliable. It makes for such a good, fun reading experience – always wondering if what has been said or done is done in good will or not.
This book is full of tension and dark undertones – that is apparent right from the start – and it carries through all the way. You just know all is not really what it appears to be and this makes for such good suspense – when is it all going to come crashing down? Because you know something is going to happen, something big…you just don’t know what or when.
And that ending…while it may not be what you were expecting, I think it definitely deserves major kudos for being one that took my by surprise. I had put some of it together but by no means going to that extent, which is why I liked it so much. Will it work for everyone? Probably not, but I guarantee you, if you like a thrilling, creepy ride along the way, you won’t be disappointed. This has just moved up to be my favorite book from her – and I’ve really them all!
Love that it surprised you!