A review by ilasoltys
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I’m feeling conflicted. This was my second time reading Lucy Foley's work, and I found myself facing similar issues as with The Midnight Feast. I appreciated that the overall premise is really interesting, her writing is clear and engaging, and she put an interesting spin on the classic “whodunnit," locked-room trope. That said, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I listened to the audiobook, which was enjoyable thanks to the lively performance and French accents, but the pacing dragged, especially leading up to the reveal. Honestly, if I’d been reading a physical copy, I might have DNF’ed or just skimmed through. 

 

Jess, the main character was also just meh. Though she seemed adamant about figuring out what happened to her brother, she didn’t really do much “sleuthing.” It was like the information just fell in her lap. She just seemed a bit clueless, which was disappointing because I was rooting for her, especially once we got her backstory. Overall, she also had no character development. Without spoiling anything, she saw all these horrible things during her stay at the apartment and when it came time to actually help people, she went about it in a bit of a skeevy way. I also predicted the entire story, minus the “big” plot twist at the end, but that just might be my habit of watching too many crime shows. 

 
**SPOILERS AHEAD BUT ALSO IMPORTANT CONTENT WARNINGS**

The book also delves into sensitive themes surrounding women who have been victimized by men, but I felt these issues were mishandled. Every female character has faced some form of abuse, yet the narrative glosses over crucial aspects, particularly concerning Ben’s actions and the grim reality of the underground sex club. The opportunity to highlight the stories of women caught in trafficking was largely ignored, which could have added depth to the story. Additionally, the portrayal of Eastern European and Balkan women falls into harmful stereotypes—sexualization, greed, and sex work abound without nuance or sensitivity. Irina, a Serbian character, uses a Polish curse word, showcasing a lack of attention to cultural detail (and I’m only pointing this out because I’m Polish; though it can be used in Serbian, it’s not very common).

 

Overall, while The Paris Apartment had a solid idea, it didn’t deliver in terms of depth or sensitivity. The contrast between its themes and the execution left me feeling uneasy rather than satisfied. I wish Foley had taken more care with these important issues.