BOOKISH FRIDAY: “THE PARIS APARTMENT”

Welcome to another Bookish Friday, in which we  share excerpts from books…and connect with other bloggers who do the same.

Let’s begin the celebration by sharing Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and let’s showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.

To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.

Today’s feature is one of my new books:  The Paris Apartment, by Lucy Foley.

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Book Beginning:

(Prologue – Ben)

Friday

His fingers hover over the keyboard.  Got to get it all down.  This:  this is the story that’s going to make his name.  Ben lights another cigarette, a Gitane.  Bit of a cliche to smoke them here but he does actually like the taste.  And fine, yeah, likes the way he looks smoking them, too.

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Friday 56:

The laughter, that’s what I heard first.  Vaguely threatening, in the way male laughter can be.  The almost competitive nature of it.

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Synopsis:

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.

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What do you think?  Would you keep reading?

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