Have you ever had a houseguest overstay their welcome? You know, the kind that makes you want to change the locks and pretend you’ve moved to Timbuktu? Well, buckle up, because B A Paris’s latest psychological thriller, “The Guest,” takes that relatable annoyance and cranks it up to eleven. It’s like “Single White Female” meets “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,” with a dash of British politeness that makes everything so much more excruciating.
The Setup: A Not-So-Welcome Home
Iris and Gabriel return from what was supposed to be a relationship-saving holiday (spoiler alert: it wasn’t) to find their friend Laure camping out in their house. And not just camping—we’re talking full-on “mi casa es su casa” levels of making herself at home. She’s sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris’s clothes, and even rearranging the furniture. It’s enough to make you want to scream into a pillow, which is exactly what poor Iris probably wants to do.
Paris wastes no time in ratcheting up the tension. From the moment Iris and Gabriel step through their front door, there’s a palpable sense of “wrong” that permeates everything. It’s like walking into your own home and finding all the pictures slightly askew—unsettling in a way you can’t quite put your finger on.
The Characters: A Tangled Web of Secrets
Let’s break down our main players, shall we?
- Iris: Our primary protagonist and narrator. She’s trying to keep it together while her house (and life) are invaded. You’ll find yourself alternately cheering her on and wanting to shake some sense into her.
- Gabriel: Iris’s husband, who seems to be carrying around more baggage than an airport carousel. He’s brooding, distant, and possibly hiding some dark secrets of his own.
- Laure: The titular guest and friend-turned-frenemy. She’s unpredictable, intrusive, and has a talent for pushing everyone’s buttons. You’ll love to hate her.
- Pierre: Laure’s estranged husband and the reason for her impromptu extended sleepover. He’s more absent than present, but his shadow looms large over the story.
- Joseph: The new gardener with a mysterious past. Because every good thriller needs a wild card, right?
Paris excels at creating characters that feel real, flawed, and frustratingly human. You’ll find yourself empathizing with them one moment and wanting to throw the book across the room the next (don’t actually do this – ebooks are expensive to replace).
The Plot: Secrets, Lies, and Garden Shears
Without venturing too far into spoiler territory, let’s just say that “The Guest” is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. Paris peels back the layers of her characters’ lives like an onion—each revelation more pungent than the last.
The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, primarily Iris’s, giving us a front-row seat to the unraveling of relationships and the excavation of long-buried secrets. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion—you know it’s going to end badly, but you can’t look away.
Paris keeps us guessing with a series of twists and turns that would make a roller coaster designer jealous. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, she pulls the rug out from under you. It’s the literary equivalent of trying to walk on a moving sidewalk—disorienting, but oddly thrilling.
The Writing: Tension You Could Cut with a… Garden Shear
One of Paris’s greatest strengths is her ability to create atmosphere. The claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a house with an unwanted guest is palpable. You can practically feel the walls closing in as you read.
Her prose is crisp and efficient, driving the story forward with relentless momentum. Short, punchy sentences keep the pages turning, while longer, more introspective passages allow us to dive deep into the characters’ psyches.
Paris also has a knack for dialogue that crackles with subtext. The conversations between characters are loaded with double meanings and unspoken tensions. It’s like watching a high-stakes poker game where everyone’s tell is just slightly off.
The Themes: Trust, Betrayal, and the Dangers of Politeness
At its core, “The Guest” is an exploration of trust and how easily it can be shattered. Paris delves into the complexities of long-term friendships and marriages, showing how even the strongest bonds can be tested by secrets and lies.
There’s also a fascinating undercurrent about the dangers of politeness and the inability to set boundaries. Iris and Gabriel’s reluctance to confront Laure head-on leads to a snowball effect of problems. It’s a stark reminder that sometimes, being “nice” can be downright dangerous.
Comparisons and Context
“The Guest” by B A Paris fits comfortably within Paris’s oeuvre of domestic thrillers. Fans of her previous works like “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Dilemma” will find familiar themes of secrets within relationships and the darkness lurking beneath seemingly perfect facades.
In the broader context of psychological thrillers, “The Guest” holds its own against contemporaries like Lisa Jewell’s “The Family Upstairs” or Shari Lapena’s “The Couple Next Door.” Paris’s unique blend of interpersonal drama and slow-burning suspense carves out its own niche in the genre.
The Verdict: A Tense, Twisty Triumph
“The Guest” is a masterful addition to B A Paris’s already impressive catalog. It’s the kind of book that will have you side-eyeing your houseguests and double-checking your locks before bed.
Is it perfect? No – there are moments where the pacing lags slightly, and some readers might find the multiple perspective shifts occasionally disorienting. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise gripping read.
Paris has crafted a thriller that’s as psychologically astute as it is page-turningly compelling. It’s a deep dive into the murky waters of friendship, marriage, and the secrets we keep from those closest to us.
Final Thoughts: Lock Your Doors and Trust No One
“The Guest” by B A Paris is the perfect read for anyone who loves their thrillers with a hefty dose of psychological complexity. It’s a stark reminder that sometimes the most dangerous threats are the ones we invite into our homes.
So, the next time a friend asks to crash on your couch “just for a few days,” maybe think twice. Or at least hide your good china. You never know when you might be starring in your own domestic thriller.
P.S. If you’re planning to read this on vacation, maybe wait until you get home. You don’t want to be side-eyeing your Airbnb host the whole time, trust me.