S&S Book Club: Chris Pavone’s The Expats
Tina, Lida & Jen chat about Carol’s pick: Chris Pavone’s The Expats
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Why Carol Picked It
The Expats is what I want a thriller to be—a rollercoaster ride of never-ending twists that have me eagerly turning the pages. Then, just when I think I’ve got it, Pavone throws out another revelation and my head is spinning. But wait, I remind myself to slow down because Pavone’s writing is filled with rich description that makes every scene come alive. Instead of slowing the pace, the intimate details propel me forward while triggering memories of all the time I’ve spent teaching and traveling in Europe. These small points could only be provided by someone who has been there, someone who knows.
In The Expats, Kate Moore quits her job, packs up her two young sons, and moves the family to Luxembourg for her husband's job in banking security. It's no surprise that her new expat life isn't what she thought it would be—Kate is keeping a big secret from her husband. Soon, she suspects their new friends aren't who they seem to be, her husband is acting suspiciously, and she begins to wonder if past sins connected with her old job are catching up with her. Kate sets out to discover the truth about this new life, her so-called friends, and what her husband is really doing in Luxembourg. This book is terrific!!
The Paris Diversion is the sequel to The Expats.
What Lida Thought
Once again, this was a book that I wouldn’t have picked up, but for the recommendation of one of my Sleuths & Sidekicks. Thank you, Carol! What an intricate plot! And, like Carol pointed out, the rich details made me pause and enjoy the scenes.
I loved that the main character Kate is (SPOILER ALERT!) a former lettered agent trying to live a regular Mom life overseas, but is constantly on the alert, and rightly so. And her plain Jane husband… let’s just say, no one is who they seem to be. The jump between flashbacks and different timelines enhances the intensity of this intellectual page-turner.
I would not call this spy thriller a beach read - it demands and deserves one’s full attention.
What Tina Thought
Carol never leads me astray, so I was eager to try The Expats. With my recent travels, I wasn’t able to finish before we posted this, but I am one third through this book and very anxious to continue.
Pavone deftly incorporates many timelines. He manages to juggle these without confusing me at all. In fact, I find all of them interesting. I am also impressed to discover Chris Pavone is a man. Kate, his main character, is so well-drawn. I was able to empathize with many of her internal struggles as wife, mother, and her all around female concerns.
Like Carol, I enjoyed reading about the world from someone who has obviously been there - and this book is all over the globe. I have seen some of these places, and he is spot on with descriptions without overdoing it.
I have never read any Chris Pavone before this, but I certainly will continue searching out his books.
What Jen Thought
An expatriate family living in Europe? I knew I wanted to read The Expats as soon as Carol suggested it. I write a series about expats in Italy, I’ve always loved spy stories, and the promise of a questionable husband at the heart of the mystery was intriguing.
Carol is absolutely right that Pavone’s descriptions make this book sing. His writing is rich, and he brings Europe to life in a way that makes me want to ski in the mountain resorts he describes and eat at the cafes he uses as backdrops.
And I agree with Tina that the timelines work seamlessly.
As much as I enjoyed much of the book, I struggled to connect with the main character. Carol and Tina loved Kate, but I found Pavone’s writing so masculine, the character didn't feel real to me. I think it was some of the descriptions of the other women in the book that read as more sexualized than I’d expect from a straight mom juggling the stresses of stay-at-home motherhood that began to turn me off, and once my radar was on high alert, I noticed more notes that felt off as I read. Would I have noticed them if the author was female? I don’t know.
I’m glad I read The Expats and would look forward to another Pavone book with a different point of view character.
