Thank you Libro.fm / Harper Audio for the ALC and HTP / Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced e-copy of The Paris Widow in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Park Row Books / Harper Audio
Published: June 11, 2024
Summary:
A dream vacation turns deadly when secrets from the past catch up to a married couple in Paris in this new edge-of-your-seat thriller from USA Today bestselling author, Kimberly Belle.
When Stella met Adam, she thought she had finally found a nice, normal guy—a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. Unable to reach him, she panics.
As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?
An irresistible, fast-paced read set in some of Europe’s most inviting locales, The Paris Widow explores how sinister secrets of the past stay with us—no matter how far we travel.
My thoughts:
Kimberly Belle has become a favorite for addicting, thrilling reads. She always manages to deliver pulse-pounding, edge-of-your seat reads that are completely binge-worthy and full of suspense and this latest one is no different!
Right from the start, I was pulled into this story and just knew this was going to be the type of book I wouldn’t put down until I finished it. It’s incredibly fast-paced and between the Paris setting, the cat-and-mouse game that ensues and all the twists, I was desperate to see how it would resolve.
I think having the story told in the present from Stella’s point of view and in the past from Adam’s point of view was such a smart move. It really allowed us to get to know Adam and his secrets in his own words and not have any be swayed by Stella’s view of him, especially once he goes missing and as she starts digging into things. Plus, it helps to keep the story moving!
I was also fascinated with the blood antiquities angle and really appreciated the author’s note at the end. I’m shocked how much of this story is rooted in reality!
Audio thoughts:
This book was amazing on audio. The two narrators, Marni Penning and Patrick Zeller, really brought their A-game to the narration.
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