Books
Potboiler

by Jesse Kellerman
G.P. Putnam's Sons, July 2012, $25.95

What if a book really wasn’t just a book? What if your favorite spy thriller was part of a larger secret government plot? Jesse Kellerman, in his latest novel, Potboiler, imagines just such a scenario. Arthur Pfefferkorn is a failed writer. Af- ter writing a novel decades earlier, to little or no acclaim, he ended up becoming a creative writing professor at a local college. He is a widower who plods along through life with a secret desire to light the world on fire with a blockbuster novel. His decades-old envy for his old friend, William de Vallée, has weighed him down. Not only has Bill become a successful author, producing a bestselling spy thriller per year, but he also married the woman Arthur loved in college.

When Bill disappears in a boating accident, his widow, Carlotta, implores Arthur to fly across the country to attend the memorial service. Even though he hasn’t been in touch with them for a long time, something compels Arthur to go. While there, Arthur picks up where he left off with Carlotta. And when he sees the unfinished book in William’s writing studio, Arthur steals it as his own...and the adventure begins.

Ultimately, Arthur finds himself in all kinds of precarious situations, taking him to war-torn countries, where he learns that people are not who they seem to be. In fact, the only character who seems to be grounded in reality is Arthur’s daughter. While the plot strains the boundaries of credulity, it is still a fun, farcical romp and a unique and creative premise. Don’t expect a nail-biter, but rather a satirical insight into the nature of the publishing business.

Hilary Daninhirsch

kellerman_potboilerWhat if your favorite spy thriller was part of a larger secret government plot? Read on.

Teri Duerr
2698

by Jesse Kellerman
G.P. Putnam's Sons, July 2012, $25.95

Kellerman
July 2012
potboiler
25.95
G.P. Putnam's Sons