The Therapist by B.A. Paris

Hello everyone.  I hope your day is going well.

Suppose you went through the whole process of selling your house, getting a mortgage, packing, moving, getting the utilities turned on, sending out your cute little "we've mooved cards with the cow standing in front of a house" because you found your dream house.  But what would you do if you moved in and something didn't feel right?  You just have that, hair standing up on your arms, feeling that something is off.  It's just in your imagination right, because this is a great house.  Isn't it?

I've discussed several times that years ago (three houses) we had a haunted house.  It started when we purchased the large Victorian which was still divided into apartments.  We were living on the first floor that had been vacant for years.  When we woke up sometimes we would smell vanilla or lemon.  Later we found out we were sleeping in the original kitchen.  A few weeks later our dog would start barking at the ceiling, just in one particular area.  She would walk in circles, staring at the ceiling, growling and barking.  Very odd for a dog that never met anyone she didn't absolutely adore. 

Our neighbors had weird experiences too.  While not so spiritual, still odd.  One time the lady across the street had sent her kids to school and was making coffee, she turned around and there, silently, out of the blue, was standing a man she'd never seen before.  Seems she'd left her kitchen door open with the screen door letting in a pleasant breeze.  Some passerby apparently decided he was a pleasant breeze and wanted to come in for some coffee and a chat.  Not to worry, he left immediately after her request but she must have been terrified. 

I didn't hear your declare yet, what you would do if it was your house.  Would you stick it out?  Are you that brave?  Maybe you would investigate the house's history or just change the locks.  Perhaps you'd invite a medium or burn sage.  Or is it possible that you are just overly tired?

I recently read The Therapist by B.A. Paris.  Alice and Leo find a house in an exclusive, gated neighborhood.  The house is a bargain, something they couldn't usually afford.  They jump at the chance to live in The Circle, the snazzy community their new house is in.  But as Alice gets to know the neighbors she discovers some are nicer than others and when she tries to ask simple questions she finds herself quickly shut down.  Something is going on, and it most definitely concerns her new home.  Then as Leo starts traveling for business, it feels like someone is in the house. Maybe it is her imagination, then again, maybe not. When Alice finds out that something bad happened to Nina, the previous resident and therapist, she becomes obsessed with discovering what The Circle seems to be hiding.

This is a classic psychological thriller.  The tense story leaves the reader wondering who the evil person is and how many people know exactly what is going on.  The book is not too long, just over three hundred pages and uses it's space efficiently, no meandering off the plot.  This shoots straight through so quickly you'll wonder where your day went and how you've flipped so many pages.  This suspenseful read will have you confident you know the ending only to surprise the most seasoned reader.  Fun the whole way.  One of my favorites by Paris.

I dare you to read this and not check your locks before going to bed!