The Guest by BA Paris
Published by Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date: 20th February 2024
Book Description:
Iris and Gabriel have just got home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their dearest friends, Laure, is in their house - sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture. She has walked out on her husband - and their good friend - Pierre over his confession of an affair.
Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive. But as Laure's mood becomes more unpredictable, her presence begins to unravel secrets in all their pasts - until things reach breaking point...
My Thoughts:
I have mixed experience with BA Paris' writing, having absolutely loved Behind Closed Doors back in 2016, but not clicked quite so well with Bring Me Back two years later. The Dilemma hooked me back in over the new year period in 2020, but I've not read anything else by the author since, despite having books sitting on my kindle waiting to be read. So I felt I was taking a risk in borrowing her latest book, The Guest, from my library - would it be a hit or a miss?
The prologue introduces us to two couples, Esme and Hugh with their baby son Hamish, and their friends Iris and Gabriel. They're celebrating Hamish's christening earlier in the day, when a terrible explosion resounds from the other side of the village where Esme and Hugh live, and from initial investigation into the situation there's bad news to report.
The main body of the story then moves back a few months to when Iris and Gabriel return from a short, seemingly unsuccessful trip to Scotland. The couple don't seem particularly close, and when they arrive home they find their friend Laure has moved in unannounced, citing a rift with husband Pierre as the reason. Their uninvited guest seems unaware of the tension between the couple and it doesn't take long for Laure's presence to become an even bigger cuckoo in the nest.
This book has returned the author into my fold of authors whose work I will explore every time they bring out something new. My resentment of Laure, and the total disrespect she showed Iris and Gabriel despite knowing they were going through tough times, was all-consuming. Joseph, the gardener, also irritated the heck out of me as I felt he was quite arrogant. The way the author constructed each of the characters and wove their individual personalities into the overall story works so well. This is definitely one of those books that the less you know before you start the better, so that the reveals catch you completely off guard. I had suspicions regarding certain elements of the story as I worked my way through, but was still caught unaware on other aspects.
I whizzed through this book in 2 days (which is particularly quick for me) and would definitely recommend it, especially if you have the opportunity to completely immerse yourself into working out what's going on beneath the surface of the group's friendship.
About the Author:
B.A. Paris' first novel, Behind Closed Doors, was a publishing phenomenon, selling over 3.5 million copies and published in 40 territories. The film rights have been optioned by Stone Village Productions. B.A. Paris lived in France for many years, she and her husband now live in the UK. She worked in finance, and as a teacher, before beginning her writing career.
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