Goodreads Blurb
Hailed as breathtakingly suspenseful, Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.
Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written–let alone published–anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.
Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that–a story that absolutely needs to be told.
In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.
As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?
My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A mind blowing suspenseful thriller until the very end. Imagine being a writer and knowing someone has an amazing plot that will make that story the number 1 book of the year. If you had the opportunity to steal the plot, would you do it?
Well Jacob found himself in that exact situation. The original author passed away and he thought it was a brilliant idea to steal a plot that was never his. This plot was an unimaginable story between a mother and daughter, with a plot twist that will blow your mind. Can a fictional story really be real? Someone’s secret is out in the world without the permission of that particular person, who went above and beyond to bury a secret. What made this story even more frightening is that the plot twist for Jacob’s character is even more unnerving.
After Jacob wrote the Crib he starts receiving email messages and then tweets that are accusing him of stealing the plot. The readers truly go through this rollercoaster ride of fear with Jacob and with the unknown threat that will ruin his career forever. You can feel his desperation and fear as the story unravels. This story was so thrilling, since Jacob goes in search of the person that is threatening him. Those moments of him going around like Nancy Drew had my hairs standing up. He lied in order to seek the truth. He gets away with searching for this person without too much trouble. Sometimes what you’re looking for it’s right under your eyes,. Eventually, Jacob realizes that the plot twist of his plot was actually a real life story. Will he locate the perpetrator in time before the world knows what he stole? Who will be one step ahead?
The story started a little slow, but trust me you will not be able to put the book down. This will be one of the top thrillers this year.
Author Biography
Native New Yorker! Graduated from Dartmouth College and Clare College, Cambridge. I’m the author of six novels: THE UNDOING, originally published as YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN (adapted by David E. Kelley for HBO and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland), ADMISSION (adapted as the 2013 film of the same name, starring Tina Fey, Lily Tomlin and Paul Rudd), THE DEVIL AND WEBSTER, THE WHITE ROSE, THE SABBATHDAY RIVER and A JURY OF HER PEERS, as well as a middle-grade reader, INTERFERENCE POWDER, and a collection of poetry, THE PROPERTIES OF BREATH. Two new novels, THE PLOT and THE LATECOMER, will be published by Celadon Books in 2021 and 2022.
I’m the founder of BOOKTHEWRITER, a New York City based service that offers “Pop-Up Book Groups” where readers can discuss books with their authors. (Online through Spring 2021) Please join our mailing list at www.bookthewriter.com to hear about our events.
If you’ve become aware of my work via THE UNDOING, you should know that my novel differs significantly from the adaptation — and that’s fine with me! Just know that the twists you might be expecting will likely not be there on the page. Other twists, yes, but you’ll have to read the book to find them.
If you’re trying to reach me, please know that I don’t do any communicating through Goodreads, and that includes friend requests and following. I’m particularly inept on Facebook, as well, so trying to reach me that way will be spectacularly ineffective. If you want to get in touch, please use the contact form on my website, jeanhanffkorelitz.com
Thanks so much for your interest in my work!
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