🦟 Book Review: The Mosquito by B. A. Paris (Kindle Edition, Obsession Collection)
A slow-burning psychological short story that turns minor irritations into major unravelings—B. A. Paris delivers a compact tale of tension, resentment, and the sting of obsession.
🧠 Overview
Published in July 2023 as part of Amazon Original Stories’ Obsession Collection, The Mosquito is a 32-page short story by B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist. The story follows Michael, a recently separated man reluctantly vacationing in the South of France with his sister and their friends. Among the group is Rupert, a widower whose constant needling and passive-aggressive behavior begin to wear on Michael’s nerves.
As the days pass, Michael becomes increasingly agitated—not just by Rupert’s provocations, but by a relentless mosquito that seems to target him alone. The combination of emotional vulnerability and physical discomfort builds toward a dark and unexpected climax.
✨ Key Themes & Highlights
- 🧠 Psychological pressure: The story explores how small irritations—emotional and physical—can compound into obsession
- 🦟 Symbolism of the mosquito: Represents both literal annoyance and metaphorical intrusion, echoing Rupert’s presence
- 🧍♂️ Character study: Michael’s descent into paranoia and rage is subtle but compelling, making him a relatable yet unsettling protagonist
- 💬 Paris’s style: Crisp prose, tight pacing, and a slow reveal of emotional depth beneath surface-level tension
“Far from bonding as single men, one irritated and goaded the nice man during the day, and during the night a mosquito did the same thing but left huge bite marks just for good measure.” — A.J. Sefton review
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 3.58/5 from over 9,500 ratings
- 📖 Readers appreciate the story’s creeping tension, relatable frustration, and twist ending
- 🧾 Some found the pacing slow at first, but praised the emotional payoff and psychological realism
- 💬 “I don’t always feel impressed by short stories, but here I was drawn in and felt emotional quickly… I was impressed by Paris for making me see it so clearly.” — Goodreads reviewer
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 32 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as a character-driven vignette
- 📚 Subtle suspense: Less about action, more about emotional unraveling and interpersonal dynamics
- 🧾 Part of a collection: One of six stories in the Obsession Collection, each exploring characters pushed to their limits
🏁 Final Verdict
The Mosquito is a quietly unsettling psychological tale that turns a holiday into a pressure cooker of irritation and emotional fragility. B. A. Paris’s ability to magnify small annoyances into full-blown obsession makes this story a compelling read for fans of domestic suspense and character-driven thrillers.
