FICTION

The October List

by Jeffery Deaver
Grand Central. Oct. 2013. 320p. ISBN 9781455576647. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781455576661. F
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In his second thriller of 2013 (after The Kill Room), set amid the high-octane world of Manhattan's investment brokers, Deaver delivers a devilishly deceitful plot in reverse. Occurring over a three-day weekend, the story begins with its supposed clincher, which takes place on a Sunday afternoon, then moves back to Friday morning's startling climax. Confused yet? Beginning in the present, Gabriela, an office manager at Prescott Investments, waits in her apartment for an update from Daniel Reardon of the Norwalk Fund, who's striking a deal with her daughter's kidnapper for a $500,000 ransom and the notorious missing "October List." This was a document kept by Gabriela's former boss.
VERDICT Although Deaver doles out plenty of surprising twists and cliffhangers, fans accustomed to his staccato pace, fluid style, and exceptionally clever plotlines may feel a bit hoodwinked after finishing this overly convoluted tale and its disappointing big climax reveal. In the novel's foreword, Deaver wonders if he could pull off telling a tale in reverse. Nope, not in this case—this superb thriller writer missed the mark here.
Reviewed by Jerry P. Miller, Cambridge, MA , Sep 27, 2013
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