The Accident

Reading this book was no accident. Random House sent it my way, and I was immediately intrigued—the story revolves around the publication of a book, after all. That premise alone had my attention. I’ve long been fascinated by the publishing world, especially now, with all the tension swirling between Amazon and Hachette. I’ll just say this: if you’re a company built to sell books, then sell books. Don’t play games. And I’ll leave it at that.

I’m always a bit wary when a debut author releases their second novel—especially when I loved the first one. There’s that little fear of disappointment. So when I saw that Chris Pavone had written a follow-up to The Expats—a novel I thoroughly enjoyed—I braced myself. Would it live up to expectations?

Yes. It most certainly did.

This new book centers around a manuscript penned by an anonymous author—a book so explosive, it must remain hidden. From the first page, the tension crackles and only builds from there, carrying the reader into a world of danger that spans both sides of the Atlantic. You meet Hayden, a CIA agent; Isabel, a literary agent; the elusive Anonymous; and familiar faces from The Expats. Everyone has a stake in whether this risky novel sees the light of day.

Pavone weaves the story well, connecting characters and motives until everything culminates in a satisfying conclusion. His prose is sharp, and his storytelling is rich with intrigue. I can only hope he writes another. And next time, I won’t hesitate for a second.

If you haven’t read The Expats, consider circling back to it—especially if this one draws you in. (See my post from June 23, 2012.)

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."