Bring Me Back: New Excerpt
By B. A. Paris
Read an exclusive excerpt from Bring Me Back, then make sure you're signed in and comment below for a chance to win a copy of B. A. Paris's latest psychological suspense thriller!
Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris is a tour de force of psychological suspense that will have you questioning everything and everyone until its stunning climax.
Take a visual tour of Bring Me Back with GIFnotes!
Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone―never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.
Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him…even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.
Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla―hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive―and on Finn’s trail―what does she want? And how much does she know?
SEVEN
NOW
I look at Ellen across the table, her head bent over her bowl of muesli, Greek yogurt and blueberries, and find myself comparing it to Layla’s breakfasts of toast and chocolate spread. I frown, annoyed with myself. I’ve been doing that a lot lately, not just thinking about Layla, but comparing Ellen to her.
Sensing my eyes on her, Ellen looks up. Although I’m staring at her, I don’t see her, I see Layla, which is strange because physically, she’s nothing like Layla. Maybe it’s her hazel eyes. Are they what attracted me to her in the first place, because they reminded me of Layla’s?
“So,” she says, “any plans for today?”
I force myself away from the past and back to the present. But it leaves behind a trace of anxiety, spawned from the two Russian dolls we found, and I look over at Ellen’s set suspiciously, because she still hasn’t put them away.
“I’ll probably go for a run. Maybe water the garden first. It’s as dry as a bone.” She smiles approvingly and I can’t help remembering how Layla had laughed when I told her that one day, I wanted a beautiful garden in the country so that I could grow my own vegetables.
“Gardening is for old men!” she’d mocked. I’d never mentioned it again.
“Have you remembered that I’m going into Cheltenham this morning, to the beauty salon?” Ellen asks.
I hadn’t, but I should have, because every three weeks Ellen subjects herself to an intense beauty regime: waxing, tweezing, a manicure and God knows what else, followed by a session with her hairdresser, who operates from the same salon. Ellen takes care of herself in a way that Layla never did. Layla never cared much how she looked.
“Maybe I’ll come and meet you for lunch,” I say.
“That’ll be lovely,” she smiles.
I stand up, take my plate and reach for hers.
“Leave it,” she says, putting a hand on my arm. “I’ll clear away, I’ve got time before I go.”
Suddenly, the thought of being on my own while she’s in town, with memories of Layla within easy reach, makes me claustrophobic. I run a hand over my chin, wondering if I could get my beard trimmed, or thinned, while Ellen is at the salon. But I keep it so short it doesn’t really need it.
“I may as well come with you now,” I say. “No point taking two cars. I’ll take my laptop and have a coffee while you’re at the salon.”
It’s not in her nature to ask why I’ve changed my mind, nor to question why the garden that needs water so urgently can wait.
“I’ll be quite a while,” she warns.
“I’ll have two coffees then,” I grin.
* * *
I park in the High Street and walk her to the salon, telling her to call me when she’s finished. The Bookshop Café, my favorite place in Cheltenham, is further along the same street, so I head there and set up a makeshift office. I order coffee and become engrossed in my work until Ellen calls.
I go to meet her and watch as she comes out of the salon. She looks good, her angular face striking.
“Beautiful,” I tell her. Unbidden, an image of Layla’s long red hair, which reached almost to the small of her back, comes into my mind. “Where would you like to go for lunch?” I ask, chasing it away.
“Marco’s?” she suggests, so we cross over the road to the Italian Bistro.
An hour or so later, full of truffle-stuffed pasta, we make our way back to the car, Ellen’s hand on my arm. As we approach I see something lodged under the wiper. It’s not flat enough to be a parking ticket, and, anyway, we haven’t overstayed the four hours I paid for, so I guess someone has scrunched an advert they found on their car into a ball and stuck it on mine. But as we get nearer I find my steps slowing, until I’m not walking anymore, I’m just standing there staring. My first thought is to protect Ellen but the strangled cry that comes from her throat tells me I’m too late.
“It’s all right, Ellen,” I say, reaching for her hand. But she snatches it back and starts running down the street, pushing her way through a family with children. And as I run after her, I take a little Russian doll from under the wiper, shoving it deep into my pocket.
I catch up with her twenty yards or so further along. She’s stopped running and is leaning pale-faced against a shop window. People pass by, looking at her with concern.
“It’s all right, Ellen,” I say again, my mind all over the place at finding another Russian doll. She shakes her head, unable to speak, not because running has made her breathless but because she’s near to tears. So I put my arms around her and wait for her to ask me about the doll on our car.
“I know it’s stupid but I’m sure it was her,” she says, her voice muffled by my shirt. “Maybe it was my imagination, or someone else with red hair, but Finn—I’m certain I just saw Layla!”
Shock jolts through me. “Is that why you ran?” I ask, needing to know whether or not she saw the Russian doll, wondering if she can feel my heart hammering under my shirt.
“Yes. You saw her too, didn’t you?” I shake my head, my eyes searching around us for someone who could look like Layla. “You stopped so suddenly, it’s how I noticed her,” she goes on.
“I only stopped because I remembered that I wanted to buy some wine for tonight and we’d just gone past the wine shop,” I invent, my eyes still searching the crowd.
“Oh.” She gives a self-conscious laugh. “You must have thought I’d gone mad, running off down the street like that. I was so sure it was Layla. But it couldn’t have been, of course.” She looks up at me, seeking reassurance.
“It was probably someone with the same color hair,” I say.
“It’s just that since I found that little Russian doll outside the house, I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“It’s normal,” I soothe, guiding her back down the road to where the car is parked.
“What about the wine you wanted to get?”
“It can wait. Come on, let’s go home.”
“Could we walk around a bit first?” she asks. “I know it probably wasn’t Layla but…” Her voice trails off.
“Of course.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No,” I say.
Because I know we’re not going to find her.
Copyright © 2018 B. A. Paris.
Comment below for a chance to win a copy of Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris!
To enter, make sure you’re a registered member of the site and simply leave a comment below.
Bring Me Back Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at http://www.criminalelement.com/bring-me-back-new-excerpt-comment-sweepstakes beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) May 29, 2018. Sweepstakes ends at 9:59 a.m. ET June 12, 2018. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
Comments are closed.
This sounds amazingly creepy!
can’t wait to read this!
looking forward to this book, loved her previous books.
I loved B. A. Paris’ other books and recommend them to lots of people. It looks like this one will be another winner.
Excited to read this new B.A. Paris title!
This sounds great – can’t wait to read!
Thanks for the chance to win!
tammycorkhill@ymail.com
How does one create so much suspense?!
wow! I love suspense and thrillers. This sounds like hours of fun reading for me. Thanks for the chance.
I love this British author so easy to follow and keeps u guessing
Creepy, but a page-turner for sure!
This sounds great. I would love to read it. I loved “Behind Closed Doors.”
Looking forward to this one!
I would LOVE to read this!!
This excerpt sounds fantastic!!
Sounds like a book you can’t put down
So much suspense! Cannot wait for this one!
Sounds intriguing & vaguely Hitchcockian!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!
I’ve heard so many good things about this book! What I read caught my interest.
Can’t wait to read this!!
I would love to read one of her books!
This sounds like a perfect summer read!
Holy smokes, I just blazed through that excerpt!! Can’t wait to read the whole book, and I’ll bet that I blaze through that as well. I LOVE twisty-turny mysteries like this…kind of puts me in mind of ‘Gone Girl’ or ‘Girl on the Train.’
I would love to read the book.
I have read first 2 books and couldn’t put them down—best suspense author I’ve ever read!! Can’t wait to read this one
Sounds great! Would love to read this book!
Intriguing and thrilling.
Sounds like the kind of novel I won’t be able to put down until I know what’s really going on.
Can’t wait to read it!
This sounds so good!!
Wowza–I HAVE to know how this ends!
Its really very interesting
Would love to read your new book. I read a couple of your books and really enjoyed them. Thanks for a chance to win
I can’t wait to read. Sounds fantastic!
That excerpt certainly piqued my interest!
Daniellawold@hotmail.com
Sunds good.
My kind of summer evening reading….thank you for the chance to win! 🙂
This excerpt was not long enough – I officially need to read the rest! 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity to enter the giveaway! My fingers are crossed!
The GIFnotes, what a hoot! Well done!!
Awesome creepiness! Looks like a winner. Thanks for the opportunity to win
Sounds really good!
So looking forward to this release!
I’ve read all her other books, and loved them. Can’t wait to start this one!
The suspense is perfect. Can’t wait to read more. Thank you for the opportunity.
Love your books. Another that moves to the top of my TBR.
This sounds great! would love a copy, Thanks
Sounds like another suspenseful book. Can’t wait to read it! Love her other books!
Would LOVE to win this!
I love the twists and turns of B A Paris’s books, they keep me entertained! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds good.
You just never really know someone, do you? BA.A Paris looks to prove this true……
This looks really good. Can’t wait to read it.
Layla took off in the car and took up with Eric Clapton who wrote a song about her. (Surprise ending.)
I can’t wait to read, it sounds so exciting
Wow! That was not long enough! These are my favorite types of books to read. I honestly don’t know if I can wait to see if I’m a winner. I’ve never read any of her books, but this has me wanting more NOW! THANK YOU For this wonderful opportunity. Debbie
Sounds like a great book!
Wow, just enough tease to make me HAVE to read this!
What a talented writer B.A. Paris is! Can’t wait to read this!
Number 3!!! Been not so patiently waiting for this book 📚. I’m having B A Paris withdrawal!!
I must read the rest of this page turner!
If it’s anything like the previous ones, it will be a can’t put down read
Well, this excerpt certainly leaves us with a lot of questions. What really happened all those years ago? Did he have anything to do with her disappearance? Is Layla back? What is the significance of the Russian dolls? What is this person after? Great hook for the book. I hope to read it soon.
I love tour-de-forces! I can’t get enough of them!
Sounds like a great read!
Sitting on the edge of my chair waiting to find out how it ends….
Love this author! Read her other 2 books, can’t wait to read this one!
Sounds great!!! Looking forward to reading it.
This is just the type of book I love to read… so many questions you have to “read” to find answers to!
I have a book reading nook, in my loft… I adore this author; and I look forward to reading this on the edge of your seat book, in my hideaway nook!
Thanks, Cindi
I cannot wait to read another B. A. Paris book. Love her work!
Can’t wait to read this book!
Looks like a great book!
Looking forward to this one!!
Sounds great
interesting
Sounds like a great read.
Would love to win this one! Thank you for the opportunity!!
Another novel that is sure to leave you wanting the author to hurry up and write another.
Absolutely loved the first two books! Cannot wait to read this one too!
B.A. loves to scare
Am stoked to find out what will happen next!
Would love to win!
Sounds so good!
B. A. Paris has gotten better with each book, and this one looks like it will continue the trend. Just this small excerpt grabbed me, and I can’t wait to see how twisty-turny it gets!
This sounds like a great mystery – I love this kind of book. Hopefully I will win!
I would love to win this book!
Can’t wait to read this book! I need more books in my life right now 😜
This will make a great movie. Please pick me!
I would love the opportunity to read this book!
gloriaseevers@att.net
I really *need* to find out what is happening to them!! I haven’t read anything by this author, but now I plan to change that. Great excerpt.
I loved her last two novels and am dying to get my hands on this one!
This book sounds intriguing. I think that once I started reading it, I wouldn’t be able to stop. Looking forward to getting my hands on this story to discover what Happened to Layla and why.
Intriguing…sure has my interest. Probably wouldn’t be able to put it down till I finished it, wow!
I read the excerpt and want to read the whole book!
I am so looking forward to reading this. I love her work. I have her previous books and they are great!
I LOVE SCARY BOOKS ON TO SEE PARIS IS ON MY BUCKET LIST!
Loved the excerpt! Can’t wait to read this one!
This has definitely peaked my interest. Can’t wait to find out what happens next!!
Sounds so good!!! I’m sure it’s another nailbiter!
Whoa! I want to find out where Layla is!
So excited to read!
This book looks so good! I cannot wait for it to come out.
Love a great mystery!
If this chapter is any indication, this book sure sounds creepy and like a page-turner to me!
can’t wait to read the whole book.
I haven’t had the chance to read this author yet. Looks like it will be a great thriller!
Really looking forward to reading this one!!
Oh, I would love to get a hold of this!
Can’t wait for this.
sounds like a good read. thanks for the heads-up.
I am so excited to read this one!
Sounds awesome. Would love to win.
Sounds interesting.
Can’t wait to read this next story!!!!
Grabs hold quickly.
I’m so excited to read this book! Thanks for the chance to win!
sounds like an interesting read.
Sounds great!
Please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks —
Sounds like a great book
This sounds like it will be very interesting Cant wait to read Good Luck everyone
Interested in reading.
I cannot wait to read this! Every V. A. Paris book has kept me at the edge of my seat… THE ENTIRE Book!!
I cannot wait to read this! Every B. A. Paris book has kept me at the edge of my seat… THE ENTIRE Book!!
The excerpt caught my attention.
Sounds like a great thriller, thanks
The last sentence is what got me “Because I know we’re not going to find her.” Why?
I love this author! I can hardly wait for this book to come out. She leaves you in suspense through the whole book. She gets better and better.
I would love to read it
Looks good, would love to read
I would love to read this book. It sounds very much like books I read.
Can’t wait to take this ride!!!
This sounds like such a good read! I need to know what happens….
Really enjoyed previous B. A. Paris novels!
This book sounds great. I cannot wait to read it.
The excerpt is intriguing and I think it would be a terrific mystery and would be a great addition to my library.
This is deliciously creepy . . . I’m looking forward to reading the whole story.
this sounds like an awesome book – enter me in the contest please
Sounds like a good page turner!!
I love a good mystery. I’m looking forward to this.
I’m always looking for a new favorite author and this one sounds great.
Sounds interesting.
I love the idea of little mementos mysteriously showing up. Nice twist. I have enjoyed Ms. Paris’ work in the past and believe this book will rank right up there.
Creepy
This looks sooo good!
Love it.
intriguing
I definitely want to read more!
The one that got away? Yes!
I’d love to read the entire book before the June 19 release date (which has been on my calendar for months!) I really enjoyed her past two books and this excerpt was very intriguing. I’vexalways liked Russian nesting dolls, but they are also sort of creepy! 🙂
sounds fascinating!
Popular-author!
I’m really looking forward to reading this.
This sounds exceptionally creepy! I want it!
I can hardly wait to read this. B.A. Paris is the master of suspense.
Count me in, please!
Love to win this! Thanks!
I am intrigued! Can’t wait to read this book!
Love this genre! Love this author!
Loved the previous books & am looking forward to reading this one too – sounds amazing!!
I love a good twist
Sounds like a great read.
Lots of angst and trepidation already!
Can’t wait to read it!!!
That last line is creepy. I’ll need to read it to know what happens.
I really want to read this now!
Sounds like a read that will keep me up all night 🙂
Looking forward to reading the new book.
Loved Behind Closed Doors and would love a chance to win this novel. Thank you
Have read The Breakdown and Behind closed Doors. Won both of those in a contest. Absolutely love this author. Can’t wait to read this one. Sounds amazing
This Oklahoma gal cannot wait to read this book!! ❤️
This sounds like a crazy ride! I’m ready!!! Let’s go!!
This book sounds awesome!
This one sounds so fantastic! It’s been my most wanted to-read book for months now, would love a copy!
This looks like a suspense filled summer read!
This sounds amazing! Thanks for the chance!
These characters seem very likeable n this story seems to slowly build with suspense…I cannot wait to read the entire book..
I am hooked. Definitely want to read this novel!
Love. To. Have. This. Gonna. Be. A. Wild Ride
I can’t wait to read this!!
Sounds like a real page-turner! I love suspenseful reads, and this one fits the bill!
I am so excited to read this!
after reading the first two books I have been anticipating this one with baited breath! hope there will be many more from this talented author.
I can hardly wait to read the rest of this novel! Sounds intriguing.
This psychological thriller sounds right up my alley!
This one looks to be another fantastic thriller. So looking forward to reading it. Such a great author.
thanks for the chance to win
Thanks for the sweepstakes, looks incredibly popular.
Sounds good. Would like to read.
Looks like a great addition to my beach bag! I enjoyed Behind Closed Doors.
Can’t wait to read this book!
This looks so good, I can’t wait to read the rest!
I love her books, and I would really enjoy reading this one. Thanks for the chance.
Hope it is as good as The Breakdown
Sounds great!
Looks as good as the author’s other books! Can’t wait to read it!!
Sounds soo good. I can’t wait to read this. I read the first 2 and could not put them down.
love to read the book-thanks for the giveaway
Can’t wait to read this
I love B.A. Paris’ books and this one sounds great! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I’d love to read this!!!
Clever use of the Russian dolls as mysterious hints of a dread future. Builds suspense, and perhaps metaphor? I like this appeal to thoughtfulness in the reader. Well thought out!
I love this author and can’t wait to read this book!!
Love thriller of all kinds and looking for a new one for our book club
This sounds like a great book!!!!
Sounds excellent! Can’t wait to read it! Fingers crossed for a win!
This excerpt has me losing my mind wanting to read this book! I read and reviewed arc’s of both her first two books and absolutely loved them.
I believe all of her books will be as thrilling as her first two, which at times left me breathless, caused me to tiptoe through my house, and shocked me again and again. B.A. Paris is one of my new favorite authors!
This sounds like a book I’d really like.
The GIFnotes are *the best*. Have enjoyed this author’s earlier work and am very much looking forward to diving into BRING ME BACK.
Thanks for the chance.
another outstanding read!
Can’t wait to read this!
sounds intriguing! thanks for the chance!
I’m sorry to say, I’m not familiar with B. A. Paris’ books, but I must say this sounds like a very good introduction to what would be a new addition for my favorite authors! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Sounds amazing! Love books by B. A. Paris! Would love to win this one!
Can’t wait to finish reading! Looks good!
Nice one to win.
Sounds excellent, thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I will love this read. Hope I win.
I love books that start right out being intense!
Would love to read an author I am not familiar with = book sounds exciting and heart pounding
Wow… sounds amazing!
I am so excited for this one!
Looks great!
Sounds good!
Sounds very interesting!
LOVED the first two books, cannot wait to read this one.
Sounds like another winner from one of my new authors
Sounds awesome, a must read.
Earlier B. A. Paris book was quite enjoyable. Look forward to reading this one as well.
Would love to read this!!!!
I would love to check this out 🙂
I love her other books! Can’t wait for this one!
Love to win , sounds like my type of book .
I can’t wait to read more. What is the story with Layla? What happened to her? How is her sister involved? I am very intrigued!
Sounds like a great read! thanks for the giveaway
I’m so excited that B.A. Paris has a new book coming out! I won’t even read the excerpts. I want to have the story open up to me as I read it for the first time.
B. A. Paris is an incredible author. Her books are mind gripping. She creates thrillers that keep you thinking after you finished. She hooks you so well. I hope I win so I can continue my collection!
spooky. can’t wait to read
sounds full of suspense and thrills….right up my alley
Well, this sounds like exactly what I’m looking for this summer! I love Psychological Thrillers and this is right up my alley! Thank you for the chance to win 😊
Sounds great
Sounds like an awesome read!
This left me wanting more!
Thank you!
Intriguing. I’m definitely interested.
Sounds like an interesting read.
I am hooked on wanting to find out what happened to Layla.
I love B.A. Paris and can’t wait to read this book! Would love to win a copy!
Looks like this would be a great read to win!
sounds like a fun one
Wow does this sound amazing. I’ve heard so much about this author and I haven’t read amything yet, Crazy I know. Thank you for chance, crossing my fingers, eyeballs everything
Wow! This looks great.
Sounds like a great
Sounds like a great story.
I love this author. Can’t wait to read this.
This sounds sooo good! Can’t wait to devour this book!
Looks good! I love a good psychological thriller!
Oooooh! Looking forward to telling my book club.
I read BEHIND CLOSED DOORS and it was really good. I have THE BREAKDOWN in my TBR pile. Please BRING ME…..BRING ME BACK. You would sooooo make my day. Thanks.
I love her books I so can’t wait to read this one ty for the chance!!
Ok feel like I am so out of the loop because I have never read anything by this author. I’ve heard so many great things though. Thanks for the chance of winning . Either way I have definitely added this to my list. It sounds so good
Wow! I need to get my hands on this book to read! Even if I don’t win, this book is definitely on my list to read!
I would love to read this especially since my first name is Ellen. This story reminds me of the type of suspense thrillers from the 1940’s.
Drew me right in, now I need to read more.
Fascinating read!!
love psyc thrillers