Patricia N

This is my first Elizabeth Strout book, and I loved it. I don't know if I could have read it sooner than now - I needed some time and space from the events in the book in order to really enjoy this one. I loved this story about two people who are thrown together for an extended time. It's a story about nothing and everything. It's about long-term relationships, mothers and daughters, politics (only lightly alluded to), disagreeing without being disagreeable, forgiveness, maturity, how we deal with stress. I loved Lucy's voice. She's a flawed person, to be sure, just as we all are. William's personality reminded me of people I know and love, so while he didn't always come across very well on the page, I could see others in his character. (I'm not referring to his past actions, just his general personality.) This would be a great book club book because there is so much to discuss.

If you enjoy mysteries with a touch or suspense and intrigue, you will like The Paris Diversion! The characters from The Expats are at it again! This book has more depth to it if you've read the previous novel, but you don't have to have read it to enjoy this one.
The premise of this story is something new and intriguing, and will bring you on a ride trying to figure out who is doing what to whom.