finished reading

This is a missing person mystery that is quite unexpected.  I didn't figure it out.  Paris is not quite the romantic city of love that is usually depicted.  I especially liked that the missing person is a male and that the Parisian culture, missing people are frequently assumed to be missing on purpose and not from nefarious activity.  

The chapters are short and the pace seems fast because the narrative thread shifts from perspective and time.  I liked how the characters are listed by their name and the floor they live on.

The sense of isolation builds because the main character, Jess, has used up all of her international phone access.  As reliant as she is on her phone, it is of no assistance.  Plus, she is not fluent in French and the language barrier is real.  Not knowing who is trustworthy adds to the growing isolation, too.  

From the publisher:

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide....

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.

The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge

Everyone's a neighbor. Everyone's a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.