Review: Bring Me Back

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very lucky to snag an advanced copy of this book. It was in high demand and not everyone who wanted one got one. So I was super excited to read this. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I really am never that lucky. This might have amped up my expectation for an outstanding read. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the book. But I don’t think it lived up to all of the hype.

Meet Finn. Ten years ago, the love of his life, Layla, disappeared. They were returning from a romantic getaway in France, when Finn stops at a highway rest stop to use the facilities. When he returns from the bathroom, Layla is gone. All her belonging, purse, money and phone are in the car. It’s as if she vanished into thin air. Was she taken? There was another car there that night and Finn saw a man walking back to his car. The police searched but never found any clues. The paper covered the story but no one ever called with information. There were never any ransom demands. It was obvious to Finn that everyone around him suspected that he killed her, even the police, but no one could prove it because he didn’t do it. He would never hurt Layla. Except that maybe he did. Finn knew he was capable of violence. And, I mean, he did lie to the police.

In the present day Finn has finally moved on, is happy and engaged to Ellen. Ellen helped him get over the loss of Layla. Oh, and Ellen happens to be Layla’s sister. But that’s what made it so easy. They shared a love of Layla. Ellen understood how much the loss meant to Finn because she felt it too. But now, someone is playing games with him, pretending to be Layla. After all this time, could it be her? What happened? Is she even alive? Is this the person who hurt her? And if it is her, why did she stay away all this time? Why is she reaching out now?

This book was just okay for me. To be honest, I expected more. I wanted to feel the suspense and I just didn’t. I figured out the ending pretty quickly so it didn’t come as a big shock. It sort of spoiled it. But I have read other novels where I have figured out the ending, but I still really enjoyed the process of getting there. I didn’t enjoy it as much with this novel. I was happy to read on, but I didn’t have the emotional connection to the characters to care what happened to them. I am not fond of the style where the characters have all the information at the beginning of the story and you just have to wait until they (or the author) decide to share it with you. I hope I am explaining this properly. There is no mystery, per se. When I read this genre I want to feel like I am driving down a beautiful coastal highway that is full of twists and turns, ups and downs and gorgeous scenery that distracts you, you don’t know where to look and you don’t know what is coming up ahead. I don’t mind being led down the garden path but there has to be a pay off at the end. I almost resent it when it is just information that is being withheld until it isn’t. That is the big twist. I’m just not a fan unless the story is so compelling it makes up for the lack of being clever. But I digress, not fair to go on a rant on this one particular book.

So not a bad read, just not as amazing as I had hoped. I still give it 3 stars. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts about the ending. Did you see it coming? Was it believable? Let me know in the comment section!

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