The Accident: A Novel by Chris Pavone

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In New York, in the early dawn hours, literary agent Isabel Reed is reading frantically, turning the pages breathlessly.  The manuscript—printed out, hand-delivered and totally anonymous—is full of shocking revelations that could bring down one of the most powerful men in the world, and initiate a tremendous scandal implicating multiple American presidents and CIA directors.  This is what Isabel has been waiting for: a book that will help her move on from a painful past, a book that could reinvigorate her career . . . a book that will change the world.

In Copenhagen, CIA agent Hayden Gray has been steadfastly monitoring the dangers that abound in Europe.  His latest task is to track a manuscript—the same manuscript that Isabel is reading.  As he ensures that The Accident remains unpublished, he’s drawn into an elite circle where politics, media, and business collide.  On the one hand, the powerful mogul who has unlimited resources to get what he wants.  On the other, a group of book professionals—an eager assistant, a flailing editor, an ambitious rights director, and a desperate publisher—who all see their separate salvations in this project.  And in between, the author himself, hiding behind shadowy anonymity in what he hopes is safe, quiet Zurich.

In this tangled web, no one knows who holds all the cards, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: an empire could crumble, careers could be launched or ruined, secrets could be unearthed, and innocent people could—and do—die.

my thoughts:

Chris Pavone's debut novel, The Expats, was terrific.  It was the epitome of what a spy thriller book should be - I absolutely loved it!  And, I raved about it on my blog.  So, when I got the opportunity to read his latest book, The Accident, I jumped at the chance.  How could I not?  Especially, once I found out that the book was set in the publishing world - anything to do with writing, publishing, editing and I am hooked.  Plus, I was in the mood for a bit of mystery and intrigue - I just knew that Pavone's latest would be chock full of unbelievable twists and turns.  And, I was right!

The Accident is an electric read that will have you guessing left and right, gasping in shock, and heaving huge sighs of relief.  This is a book that will captivate you to the point that you won't stop reading for anything.  I didn't get to bed until 4am!  I was tired the next day, but I was smiling and couldn't stop thinking about what I'd just finished reading.  Pavone's fast-paced thriller was filled with fascinating characters, betrayals, conspiracies, intrigue, and spies.  I easily lost myself in this book that took me all over the world and kept me guessing until the BIG REVEAL (which I kind of had already figured out, but whatever, it was still shocking).  Plus, we got a chance to meet up with Kate again (she was the spy from his first book), which I loved.  I know, I'm not writing much about the actual story, but that's due to the fact that I don't want to give anything away.  Just know that the manuscript Isabel is reading could very well change the world and wreak A LOT of havoc. 

I would most definitely recommend Chris Pavone's terrific new spy thriller, The Accident to fans of suspense novels.   You will absolutely love this book!  Talk about a sophomore triumph.
 
To check out what other people think of this amazing book, here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Accident

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Winner of THE EXPATS Giveaway is...

 

 

Kathy from BermudaOnion's Weblog!! Congrats!!

The Expats: A Novel by Chris Pavone

About book:

Can We Ever Escape Our Secrets?
 
Set against a richly atmospheric background of suspense and intrigue, THE EXPATS introduces an indelible and deeply engaging female heroine. At first glance, Kate Moore is an ordinary, American expat mom whose days are filled with coffee outings with friends and the mundane demands of child care. But Kate is also guarding a secret: until recently she’d been leading a double life as a CIA agent, traveling the globe on increasingly dangerous covert missions. After her job drives her to commit an unforgiveable act, Kate is ready for a less eventful life and her husband Dexter’s new job as a financial systems security consultant in Luxembourg provides the perfect exit strategy. But still she remains unable to bring herself to reveal her secret to him.

As Kate struggles to adapt to her new expat existence, always wondering when her past will catch up with her, her spook instincts take over and she grows suspicious of those around her. There’s an overly friendly American couple, Bill and Julia, who clearly are not who they say they are, and whom Kate suspects may be assassins; and Dexter has become withdrawn, evasive, and unhealthily absorbed in his work, which mysteriously leads him to come home with mud-stained shoes. When Kate breaks her vow to never investigate her own husband and begins to dig for the truth, her world quickly unravels as she discovers that Dexter has been harboring an explosive secret of his own—and that he may be involved in a dangerous scheme involving shell corporations, unforgiven war crimes, and the brazen theft of 50 million euros.

Transporting readers from the cobblestoned streets of Luxembourg to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps to an unforgettably climactic scene in Paris, THE EXPATS is an international thriller in the tradition of established masters such as John Le Carré, Christopher Reich, Ken Follett, and Frederick Forsyth. At the same time, it is a skillfully drawn, character-driven exploration of marital deception that breaks the bounds of the espionage genre and will appeal broadly to fans of psychological suspense.

My thoughts:

Story:  Intriguing.

Writing:  Spot on for a spy thriller - fun, suspenseful and well written!

Overall:  Loved it!

I picked up The Expats  and couldn't put it down - finished it in one sitting! It was just such an enjoyable read that kept me turning page after page, that I had to find out what would happen next. You see, Kate Moore and her family have relocated to Luxembourg.  Why?  Well, Dexter, Kate's husband, has a new job working security at a bank (and when I say working security, I mean he'll be dealing with all the tech aspects of making sure no one can steal money via the net) and it will be providing them with a lifestyle that will allow Kate to quit work, and afford them weekend jaunts to Paris or Rome with their two kids.  Talk about a dream come true, right?  So, Kate quits her job at the CIA (yes, she was  spy) and packs their bags and heads off to Luxembourg to start a new life.  By the way, did I mention that Dexter has no clue that Kate was a spook for the CIA - yeah, he thought she wrote position papers about politics (little did he know).  Anyhow, life in Luxembourg is going along as smoothly as it can - the kids are in school, Dexter's working all the time, and Kate is doing laundry and making dinner - a far cry from her past career.  However, just as Kate is adjusting to her new mundane routine, she befriends a woman who may or may not be who she claims to be.  Soon enough, Kate is contacting an old CIA friend for information and breaking into her husband's work office to find out just who her husband is really working for (he's been keeping it a secret, yes, even from Kate, his wife!).  Talk about surprise after surprise - I loved it!!

Chris Pavone's debut novel is a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat with all of its slow revelations.  And believe me they are slow - it isn't until the end that you get all the information at once and that you are finally able to fully understand what has been happening in Luxembourg.  Also, Pavone employs the flash forward device to keep you further in suspense as you try to figure out how in the hell the Moore family wound up in Paris (don't worry I didn't spoil anything by mentioning Paris). As for the writing, its fun and entertaining - a perfect escape into a world filled with deception, domesticity and some pretty dubious characters.  Its a story that focuses on the concept of trust and the ways in which it can be tested in a marriage filled with too many secrets.  And believe you me, these are characters you want to trust, because they are so fascinating and multi-layered that you can't help but love getting to know them, especially Kate.  She was my favorite character.  Her sense of self is put to the test as she struggles to fit into this new role of housewife.  Folding clothes, cleaning the bathroom and going grocery shopping are not exactly thrilling tasks and soon enough Kate is wishing for more.  She misses the excitement and danger of her old job - which we can see when she throws herself into investigating her new friends and her husband.  Truthfully, I actually enjoyed getting to know Kate as a CIA agent - trained to kill and get the job done.  It was the perfect juxtaposition for this mother of two, who waits for her kids after school and takes them to the park - it showed us how complex and varied a person can be.  Plus, it provided a realistic point of view for a women who is still trying to figure out who she is and what she really wants from life. 

All in all, The Expats was a fun and engaging read that I couldn't put down.  I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in spy thrillers or suspense reads - you will not be disappointed!!  And, thanks to Crown Publishing, I have an extra copy to give away!  Just leave me a comment before May 1st and your name will be thrown in for the giveaway!  The winner will be announced on May 3rd! (Open to US residents only).  Good Luck!!

*Thank you to Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this terrific book!