The Paris Files by Eva Jurczyk

 

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

On Sale Date: October 6 2026

Pages: 336

I reviewed a digital review copy from the publisher

Canadian Genevieve 'Genie St. Onge meets her American lover Jacob Ford when they both are in the Philippines. They agree to meet in Paris again. They have a nice time eating pastries from the boulangerie across the street in the apartment they rent from landlord Fatma Mbaye in the 11th arrondissement, and they plan their future together. But then one morning, Jacob doesn't return from his trip to the boulangerie. Genie waits for him the whole day, but he doesn't return anymore, while his backpack is still in the apartment. And then she realizes it; Jacob is missing. And he needs her help.

The book is set up as police witness report files. The police talks with everyone who could be involved in the missing of Jacob; Genie, Genie's best friend Partridge Middlecoffe, landlord Fatma Mbaye, the neighbors Henri and Noor, the caretaker of the apartment building Rolande LeGoff, fruit and vegetable shopkeeper Yousef Al-Shami and Jacobs former classmate and friend Aris Tsoulias and Jacob's wife Camilla Ford.  Soon we know that never was sure that Jacob even existed, as no one except Genie saw him and you get the suggestion that Genie has gone a little mad and she made up Jacob, especially when she gets quite aggressive against Yousef in his fruit and vegetable shop after she is not allowed to watch his CCTV camera recordings to proof she was there with Jacob. You get to read everything that happens in the apartment building, and soon find out that there is something quite sinister going on, and the author does a true great job to keep you on the wrong foot over and over again, and it keeps you guessing untill the last page. You read the story from different angles, and every person picks it up where the other in the previous chapter left. The slow unwrapping of who or what is behind the dissappearance of Jacob, it totally keeps you guessing, and when it is revealed, it is very different then expected, in a good way (except for Jacob sadly..) I found the storyline very original and thrilling, and the characters where all very realistic, and sometimes a little weird and eccentric and scary. It was just like a good stage play. I truly enjoyed reading this very original new novel and I recommend reading it!