The Accident

by Chris Pavone

Hardcover, 2013

Status

Available

Call number

FIC PAVO

Rating

½ (225 ratings; 3.6)

Description

Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: From the author of the New York Times-bestselling and Edgar Award-winning The Expats   As dawn approaches in New York, literary agent Isabel Reed is turning the final pages of a mysterious, anonymous manuscript, racing through the explosive revelations about powerful people, as well as long-hidden secrets about her own past. In Copenhagen, veteran CIA operative Hayden Gray, determined that this sweeping story be buried, is suddenly staring down the barrel of an unexpected gun. And in Zurich, the author himself is hiding in a shadowy expat life, trying to atone for a lifetime�??s worth of lies and betrayals with publication of The Accident, while always looking over his shoulder. Over the course of one long, desperate, increasingly perilous day, these lives collide as the book begins its dangerous march toward publication, toward saving or ruining careers and companies, placing everything at risk�??and everyone in mortal peril.  The rich cast of characters�??in publishing and film, politics and espionage�??are all forced to confront the consequences of their ambitions, the schisms between their ideal selves and the people they actually became. The action rockets around Europe and across America, with an intricate web of duplicities stretching back a quarter-century to a dark winding road in upstate New York, where the shocking truth about the accident itself is buried. Gripping, sophisticated, layered, and impossible to put down, The Accident proves once again that Chris Pavone is a true master of su… (more)

Language

Original publication date

2013

Media reviews

The Accident
The Accident is author Chris Pavones follow up to 2013's the Expats. The Accident is the title of a manuscript, written by Anonymous, detailing the sordid details and scandal involving a powerful media mogul, and his illegal activities in cahoots with the CIA. Early in his life this mogul,
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along with Anonymous were involved in an incident that was covered up by the mogul, Charles Wolfes, father. The story follows the manuscript as its passed along from a literary agent Isabel Reed, our main character, to editor Jeffrey, publisher on the edge of bankruptcy Brad, and ambitious acquisitions person Camilla, who steals the manuscripts with visions of a Hollywood executive producer gig in mind. Veteran CIA operative Hayden is the man tasked by Wolfe to retrieve the manuscript, assuring that Wolfes Senate ambitions aren't derailed. Hayden is running an "off the books " operation towards that goal. Kate Moore, the protagonist in Expats is a member of Haydens team, but inhabits a minor role in this novel. The bodies start piling up when the manuscript is procured by those who shouldn't have access, and Pavone, a long time editor, demonstrates his insider knowledge of the publishing industry. Copenhagen, Zurich, New York, Washington and Los Angeles provide the backdrop for this well written story, which provides several twists that are for the most part predictable, but satisfying. Pavones is an excellent writer, and fleshes out his characters well. I'm not sure if espionage, or political thriller is appropriate for the Accident. It did keep me awake rather late though. Based on his first two novels, I'm curious to see what Pavone produces next.
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Awards

Goldsboro Last Laugh Award (Shortlist — 2015)
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