TITLE/AUTHOR: The Plot; Jean Hanff Korelitz
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Audio
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021
GENRE: Fiction / Mystery/Thriller
FORMAT: audio download LENGTH: 10 hrs. 43 min.
SOURCE: NetGalley
SETTING(s): NY and VT (mostly)
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A washed-up author finds an easy way to get a book published - steal the "plot."
BRIEF REVIEW: Jacob Finch Bonner once a somewhat respectable author, hasn't written anything in years. His life is moving in the wrong direction and he is now teaching in a MFA program at the not to popular Ripley College in VT. It is a college with a student population that is rapidly dwindling. When Jacob learns that one of his former students has died he sees an opportunity for quick success. The former, now decreased student, Evan Parker was an arrogant obnoxious sort who couldn't resist bragging about what he called a never-fail "plot." Evan had shared the storyline with Jacob and it appears that it has never been published. Jacob can't resist the opportunity to pass the Evan's work off as his own and is sure to bring him success.
Three years laters later The Crib has sold 2 million copies in less than a year. Things looking up for Jacob, he even meets a young woman on the book tour circuit that he ends up marrying. Life is good, he has money, success and an international bestseller. But, suddenly it appears, the deceit is about to catch up with him. Emails and tweets from someone calling themself "Talented Tom" letting Jacob know that they know he stole the storyline start to arrive. The frequency speeds up and even reaches the publisher who calls him in to explain. Jake, desperate to put and end to this and avoid controversy decides to begin his own investigation into Evan Parker and where he got the idea for the storyline.
The Plot, had an intriguing premise which I loved listening to. The audio was read by Kirby Heyborne who did a great job. I did have mixed feelings about this one as it seemed to take forever for this one to get going. The first third of the book was slow but, then things really took off in the right direction and the story gets intriguing. At this point it was hard to put this one down. I thought it was pretty easy to guess who was behind the emails and tweet taunts but, that was okay as the way the story ended was quite satisfying. Overall. not perfect but, I'm quite happy I had an opportunity to listen to this one. The author had written another thriller that I read called, You Should Have Known, which inspired a recent miniseries called The Undoing starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant - both book and series were quite good.
RATING: 4/5
Sounds like a goodie with a real plot twist!
ReplyDeleteIt took a while to get going but, yes, I liked it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about this one. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you can get past the slow start it's a good story.
DeleteIt's getting so much buzz right now. I have it on my soft list. The one where I put buzzy books. I tend to not read the hot titles when they come out.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't even on my radar but then I saw the author's name and I liked her earlier book and that miniseries The Undoing was very good as well so wanted to try it.
DeleteI'm just now starting to hear good things about this one. Slow starts don't normally bother me too much, but to have one pushing one-third of the book's total pages would test my patience for sure.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 1/3 was a bit much but once it got going it was a fun ride.
DeleteSam - I just posted my review of Cold Caller, Jason Starr and I think its one you will want to try. Haven't been as buzzed by a story since Sayaka Murata's (2) books:)
I'm not familiar with this author, but The Plot sounds good! Well, if I could make it through the first third...
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing quite a bit about this one and definitely on my list! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it needed editing at the beginning but I'm a bit intrigued with the subject matter on this one. It's a go for me!
ReplyDeleteI've seen this book on a few blogs and the premise sounds intriguing. Knowing the first bit is slow will help when I get around to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI liked her first book well enough to give this a try. I just need to lower my expectations :)
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