Book Review: The Expats – Chris Pavone

Title: The Expats
Author: Chris Pavone
ISBN: 9780307956354
Pages: 336
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Crown
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

When Kate Moore’s husband, Dexter, tells her that he’s received a lucrative job in Luxembourg, she can’t help but be a little relieved. It’s her chance to start fresh, to leave the mysterious government job that’s held her captive all these years. As Kate gets settled and begins adapting to life in Luxembourg, she meets Julia, a fellow American. But right from the start, Kate can tell that Julia is not what she seems and wonders if her past has caught up with her…or if something else entirely is going on.

Snapshot Review:

A fun romp from beginning to end, The Expats is a tense novel with memorable characters and enough twists and turns to satisfy any reader; whether you’re a fan of espionage thrillers or new to the genre, this is a book you should absolutely consider.

Full Review:

From the very beginning of The Expats, the reader knows that Kate is hiding something. What that is becomes clear soon enough, and with that, the reader is off on a thrill ride that is as fun as it is suspenseful. Kate’s a great main character to tell this story; she’s smart and deadly, and her instincts are spot on. It’s interesting to watch her try to fit in the role of a stay-at-home mother in a foreign country; she chafes at the restrictions around her, but that doesn’t stop her from investigating everyone around her, trying to get to the heart of what is really happening.

The real fun of The Expats lies in how smart it is. We’ve all read suspense thrillers, and they all too often sacrifice plot and character development for action. While this novel might qualify as being in that genre, it’s the opposite: there is very little action in this book. Instead it’s brainy, using innuendo and subtlety to tell its story. Pavone does an excellent job writing a smart novel that is still an incredible amount of fun.

Pavone also excels in his descriptions. He jets from one exotic locale to another, bringing them to life for the reader. His writing is easy to read; though he does sometimes get bogged down in the details, the zip of the story never suffers. If you’re looking for a sharp, fast read with great characters that provides plenty of entertainment, The Expats should absolutely be on your list.

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