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The Plot cover art

The Plot

By: Jean Hanff Korelitz
Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
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Summary

Hailed as breathtakingly suspenseful, Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a propulsive listen about a story too good not to steal and the writer who steals it. 

Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written - let alone published - anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then...he hears the plot. 

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that - a story that absolutely needs to be told. 

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an email arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?

©2021 Jean Hanff Korelitz (P)2021 W F Howes

What listeners say about The Plot

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Disappointing on many levels

I had read the twist was easy to spot but thought I might enjoy going along for the ride anyway. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and I couldn't even bring myself to finish it once it was so obvious.

Also, for the first half of the book we keep hearing about this incredible, totally original plot that makes the character's book a smash hit. I kept wishing I was reading that book instead of this one; but later on the plot of that book is revealed and it's not at all original or incredible.

Such a let down.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly meta thriller, with an awesome twist.

Loved, loved, loved this! Intriguing, tightly written with a great twist. Gets a little silly towards the end, with a totally shark jumping finale. But it’s not silly enough to wreck the story.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nice complex plot, well written.

This is one of those books that you immediately want to recommend to others. Sort of like the story itself. It is well written page turner that although dealing with different, but connected, stories does it well and you don't lose the thread. An easy read which, considering the complexity of the "plot", is admirable. The narrator was OK though not my best. I couldn't resist trying to find out if the author had any connection with Helene Hanff (such an unusual name) of "84 Charing Cross Road" fame and discovered that she is indeed her cousin. In case you are also wondering.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Intolerable narrator

I’m afraid I’ve no idea how good this book is because I couldn’t stand the narrator. He seems to think he has to enunciate every single consonant and vowel and it’s soooo slow. Maybe read this instead.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slow start but it gets better

It was difficult to get into this story as it starts slow and the narrator was monotonous and expressiinless. The story picked up and I listened to the second half non stop. The narrator also picks up when he voices the female characters and brings them to life. The plot twist was not a surprise but it was still an engaging and interesting read.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A gripping tale

Absolutely loved this book. I normally don’t like books about writers but this totally changed my mind. It was so well told. I was hooked within the first 10 mins and finished it in a couple of days (I normally listen to a book over the course of a month.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Not quite like any other novel

Really enjoyed this. Excellently written and read. The story is layered but not trying too hard. Would recommend to random strangers on the street.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Always so enthralling

I love Korelitz. Both The Plot and Latecomer are realistic but unexpected, paced but gripping. Really great read

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyable, quirky plot

This is not my usual go-to read but it was recommended to me so I thought I’d give it a go. I liked it for its originality and a really quirky, well-plotted story. I worked out ‘who it was’ fairly early on however, and would have preferred to be pondering for longer, but I didn’t work out all the twists and turns meaning I still enjoyed the ending. On normal speed the narration was soooo slow, I couldn’t bear it, but on 1.25, it was great - so definitely try that if you’re struggling! Recommend this as a good romp!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Gripping!

Loved it as it flowed well and even though it was a little of a surprise at the end, still
Enjoyed guessing the plot!

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