THE EXPATS
Kate Moore is a typical expat mom, newly transplanted from Washington DC to the quiet cobblestoned streets of Luxembourg. Her days are filled with coffee mornings and play-dates, her weekends with trips to Paris and Amsterdam. Kate is also guarding a tremendous, life-defining secret, one that’s becoming unbearable, indefensible. It’s also clear that another expat American couple are not really who they’re claiming to be; plus Kate’s husband is acting suspiciously. While she travels around Europe, looking for answers, she’s increasingly worried that her past is finally catching up with her. As Kate digs, and uncovers the secrets of the people who surround her, she finds herself buried in layers of deceit so thick they threaten her family, her marriage, and her life.
Praise for THE EXPATS
“I often thought I was reading early works of Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, and Robert Ludlum. Smart, clever suspense, skillfully plotted—The Expats is a lot of fun to read.”
—JOHN GRISHAM
“Smartly executed . . . Pavone is full of sharp insights into the parallels between political espionage and marital duplicity . . . Thoroughly captivating.”
—NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
“Bristling with suspense and elegantly crafted, The Expats introduces a compelling and powerful female protagonist you won’t soon forget. Well done!”
—PATRICIA CORNWELL
“Impossible to put down . . . Pavone invokes memories of the great writers of spy fiction of the past, and he has the chops to be mentioned with the best of them.”
—ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Bombshell-a-minute . . . Pavone creates a fascinating, complicated hero.”
—ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
“Expertly and intricately plotted, with a story spiraling into disaster and a satisfyingly huge amount of double-crossing . . . An impressively assured entry to the thriller scene.”
—THE GUARDIAN (London)
“Riveting. One of the most accomplished debuts of recent years: not just a worthy addition to the literature of espionage and betrayal, but a fine portrait of a marriage disintegrating under the pressure of secrets and lies.”
—JOHN CONNOLLY
“Sly . . . Pavone strengthens this book with a string of head-spinning revelations in its last pages . . . The tireless scheming of all four principals truly exceeds all sane expectations.”
—JANET MASLIN, NEW YORK TIMES
“A blast . . . a fantastic tale with action that spans the globe.”
—DALLAS MORNING NEWS
“A meticulously plotted, psychologically complex spy thriller . . . The sheer amount of bombshell plot twists are nothing short of extraordinary, but it’s Pavone’s portrayal of Kate and her quest to find meaning in her charade of an existence that makes this book such a powerful read.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review
“A gripping spy drama and an artful study of the sometimes cat-and-mouse game of marriage.”
—FAMILY CIRCLE
“The Expats has got to be one of the best-written spy thrillers I’ve ever read. It captures in wonderful detail the texture of expatriate living while delivering a riveting story of great-game deceptions wrapped inside the smaller deceptions of marriage. At moments horrifying, hilarious, and very wise, The Expats has given Chris Pavone a permanent place on my short list of must-read authors.”
—OLEN STEINHAUER
“A stunningly assured first novel . . . The juxtaposition of marital deceptions and espionage is brilliantly employed.”
—BOOKLIST starred review
“A truly riveting, corkscrewing plot of espionage and intrigue that raises questions of trust, loyalty, destiny, and justice. I devoured this book in one sitting, and finished it bedazzled in the ancient boulevards of modern Europe, wanting more.”—NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
“Brilliant, insanely clever, and delectably readable.”
—LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review
“The Expats is a gem. Clever, suspenseful with a jet fueled story that rockets from one corner of the globe to another, it is never less than a thrill a minute. But what I liked best about Mr. Pavone’s novel was his wonderful evocations of the far-flung locales. I read the book with a bag packed and plane ticket in my hand! An absolute winner!”
—CHRISTOPHER REICH
“Superb . . . An engineering marvel.”
—RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
“Hard to put down . . . as much a novel about a woman trying to balance a job, a husband and kids as it is a spy thriller.”
—SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN
“A thoroughly enjoyable thriller . . . Pavone masterfully layers all the action and deceit, the head games and plot twists, keeping the reader guessing.”
—SUSPENSE
“Spy stories need to budge over to make space for Kate Moore—mother, wife, expat and ex-CIA operative. I loved her.”
—ROSAMUND LUPTON
“Refreshingly original . . . Part Ludlum in the pacing, part Le Carré in the complexity of story and character, but mostly Chris Pavone . . . You appreciate Pavone for crafting a thriller so good that you wonder what other ideas he has up his cloak, right alongside the obligatory dagger.”
—NEWARK STAR-LEDGER
“In his debut novel, author Chris Pavone is firing on all cylinders. He slowly builds tension and methodically crafts a story with an end game that’s so elaborately executed, readers will shake their heads in awe and disbelief . . . the plot twists come fast and furious with the action building to a spectacular climax.”
—KING FEATURES
“An impressive thriller by first-time novelist Pavone, with almost more double-crosses than a body can stand . . . A thoroughly competent and enjoyable thriller with unanticipated twists that will keep readers guessing till the end.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS starred review
“One of the finest debut novels this readers has come upon in a long time . . . turn off the phone. Lock the door. You won’t want to be interrupted when this novel really heats up.”
—HUDSON VALLEY NEWS