A grimy, slow burn mystery. Be ready to feel both icky and captivated!  The premise is fascinating.  To become a writer on level with the greats- Stephen King, John Grisham- one must be greatly talented, right?  Or can anyone be a best-selling author if they just have the perfect plot?  But then that begs an even more important question… exactly who owns the idea to a story?  

 

Jake graduated on a high and was considered an author to watch as his first novel released to critical acclaim.  But the acclaim didn’t last, and before long he was teaching others to do what he longed for.  The taste of success is addictive.  Addictive enough to do anything to have it again.  Even if that means benefiting off of the death of a former, now dead, student.  Just as Jake seems to have charmed the world, Steven Spielberg included, with his stolen plot, threats to destroy his life start emerging from the one person he will never win over.  And those threats just might ruin Jake.

 

I loved the “book within a book” idea.  Snippets of Jake’s masterpiece novel, Crib, interspersed throughout Jake’s story gave the plot a depth and complexity that was highly engaging.  I actually wanted more of Crib.   

 

I’m a sucker for a good twisty mystery that needs to be slowly unraveled, and the idea behind this book seemed to be exactly that.  It started out strong, building the foundation and introducing the characters.  But about 40% in, the author spilled the beans.  There was only one way the plot could unfurl.  At that point, I considered putting the book aside.  But I’m glad I didn’t.  While it did take away some of the magic and suspense, I still enjoyed watching it all unravel. 

 

And THAT ENDING.  Wowza!  Even knowing who was threatening Jake, I still didn’t see it ending in THAT shocking, cringeworthy way.  

 

Thank you Jean Korelitz, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.