Jacob Finch Bonner was a promising young novelist who failed to deliver with his follow up novels, becoming what he fears most: forgotten and unimportant in the literary world. While teaching at an obscure MFA program, struggling to maintain a modicum of self-respect, he crosses paths with Evan Parker, an arrogant student who declares he doesn't need Bonner or anyone else's help with his novel. Because, as he declares, he possesses the next great American novel that will garner him all the praise and acclaim every writer desires.
As the years pass, and no such novel appears, Jake learns his former student died, leaving behind no completed book, and Jake feels a compulsion to do what any self-respecting author would do with a surefire plot - tell it. And he does, earning fame, wealth, praise, and his book known throughout the world. Shortly, Jake receives an anonymous message, declaring him a thief. As Jake struggles to learn the identity of this mysterious messenger and keep the truth from his publishers and fans, he falls down a rabbit hole, learning the truth about his former student and what it means to be original.
I love a good thriller/mystery novel. This novel has all the promising components of a great read, and I knew there was going to be some sort of twist to it because of the premise. It is definitely a slow burn of a book but is a quick read if you love to devour and can't wait to reach the end. With about 60 pages left, I'd figured out who the anonymous messenger was by then (if not way before) but wanted to see how the author tied it all together. Jacob became a little hard to root for because he kept trying to justify his stealing the plot from Evan, that it was a story that must be told, that he had a moral obligation as a writer to bring the story to life because the previous creator had died. As though a story that isn't told by one writer quickly enough can be taken over and published by another writer, becoming his story. But what is ownership, and haven't the same stories been told and retold over and over again? So it was okay for Jacob yet haunts him every day of his life.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of thrillers but not ones with high expectations for a twist-ridden novel.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
As the years pass, and no such novel appears, Jake learns his former student died, leaving behind no completed book, and Jake feels a compulsion to do what any self-respecting author would do with a surefire plot - tell it. And he does, earning fame, wealth, praise, and his book known throughout the world. Shortly, Jake receives an anonymous message, declaring him a thief. As Jake struggles to learn the identity of this mysterious messenger and keep the truth from his publishers and fans, he falls down a rabbit hole, learning the truth about his former student and what it means to be original.
I love a good thriller/mystery novel. This novel has all the promising components of a great read, and I knew there was going to be some sort of twist to it because of the premise. It is definitely a slow burn of a book but is a quick read if you love to devour and can't wait to reach the end. With about 60 pages left, I'd figured out who the anonymous messenger was by then (if not way before) but wanted to see how the author tied it all together. Jacob became a little hard to root for because he kept trying to justify his stealing the plot from Evan, that it was a story that must be told, that he had a moral obligation as a writer to bring the story to life because the previous creator had died. As though a story that isn't told by one writer quickly enough can be taken over and published by another writer, becoming his story. But what is ownership, and haven't the same stories been told and retold over and over again? So it was okay for Jacob yet haunts him every day of his life.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of thrillers but not ones with high expectations for a twist-ridden novel.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.