3.5/5
The Plot is about an author who’s potential is waning. Jacob Finch Bonner can’t seem to find an idea for a best seller, but one of his students does. When the student dies without publishing, Jacob writes the book and takes the credit. The book is wildly successful. But someone knows he stole the idea, and they want everyone else to know too.
The Plot is a well written mystery that gave me a lot to think about. I can’t say it was a page turner, but I did feel compelled to finish the story. The first half is very slow burn. I found it a bit repetitive. Jake spends A LOT of time rehashing the success of his first book and the failure of his second. The second half was more of a hit for me. It reads like a journalistic procedural as Jake delves into where his stolen plot came from.
The twists...I saw them coming a mile away, but that didn’t necessarily take away from the book. I found it interesting that Jake, who thinks himself highly observant, saw nothing coming. I love a book within a book, so the excerpts from the book Jacob writes were a fun touch. Double the books, double the twists!
I think The Plot is an excellent book club pick. I find myself wanting to discuss the ideas in this one. Was this plagiarism? I don’t think so. Was it intellectual theft? Yes. Who owns a story? When do you give someone credit for a story? There are so many questions in the book that are though provoking.
If you’re looking for a slow burn mystery and love a book within a book story, check out The Plot. Stephen King called it “insanely readable,” and I would agree! Thank you to Celadon Books for my review copy. The Plot is out now!
The Plot is about an author who’s potential is waning. Jacob Finch Bonner can’t seem to find an idea for a best seller, but one of his students does. When the student dies without publishing, Jacob writes the book and takes the credit. The book is wildly successful. But someone knows he stole the idea, and they want everyone else to know too.
The Plot is a well written mystery that gave me a lot to think about. I can’t say it was a page turner, but I did feel compelled to finish the story. The first half is very slow burn. I found it a bit repetitive. Jake spends A LOT of time rehashing the success of his first book and the failure of his second. The second half was more of a hit for me. It reads like a journalistic procedural as Jake delves into where his stolen plot came from.
The twists...I saw them coming a mile away, but that didn’t necessarily take away from the book. I found it interesting that Jake, who thinks himself highly observant, saw nothing coming. I love a book within a book, so the excerpts from the book Jacob writes were a fun touch. Double the books, double the twists!
I think The Plot is an excellent book club pick. I find myself wanting to discuss the ideas in this one. Was this plagiarism? I don’t think so. Was it intellectual theft? Yes. Who owns a story? When do you give someone credit for a story? There are so many questions in the book that are though provoking.
If you’re looking for a slow burn mystery and love a book within a book story, check out The Plot. Stephen King called it “insanely readable,” and I would agree! Thank you to Celadon Books for my review copy. The Plot is out now!