{Review} THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR by Joel Dicker

ISBN #: 978-0143126683

Page Count: 656

Copyright: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Penguin Books; First Edition

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

August 30, 1975: the day fifteen-year-old Nola Kellergan is glimpsed fleeing through the woods, never to be heard from again; the day Somerset, New Hampshire, lost its innocence.

Thirty-three years later, Marcus Goldman, a successful young novelist, visits Somerset to see his mentor, Harry Quebert, one of the country’s most respected writers, and to find a cure for his writer’s block as his publisher’s deadline looms. But Marcus’s plans are violently upended when Harry is suddenly and sensationally implicated in the cold-case murder of Nola Kellergan—whom, he admits, he had an affair with. As the national media convicts Harry, Marcus launches his own investigation, following a trail of clues through his mentor’s books, the backwoods and isolated beaches of New Hampshire, and the hidden history of Somerset’s citizens and the man they hold most dear. To save Harry, his own writing career, and eventually even himself, Marcus must answer three questions, all of which are mysteriously connected: Who killed Nola Kellergan? What happened one misty morning in Somerset in the summer of 1975? And how do you write a book to save someone’s life?

Lupe's Review:

Epilogue

October 2009

(One Year After the Book's Publication)

"A good book, Marcus, is judged not by its last words but by the cumulative effect of all the words that have preceded them. About half a second after finishing your book, after reading the very last word, the reader should be overwhelmed by a particular feeling.  For a moment he should only think of what he has just read; he should look at the jacket and smile a little sadly because he is already missing all the characters. A good book, Marcus, is a book you are sorry has ended."
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This. This describes exactly what I am feeling right now, at this very moment.

In one of the most engaging and exciting reads I have had since Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, Marcus is a first time, best selling author with writer's block. Stressed out and with a deadline for a new novel fast approaching, he decides to head to Somerset, New Hampshire to gain advice and inspiration from his former mentor and best selling novelist, Harry Quebert, who is now his good friend. Thirty three years before, a horrible tragedy had befell the town- 15 year old Nola Kellergan is seen fleeing to the woods with a man chasing after her. She is never seen again.

As Marcus arrives in Somerset, that case is reopened in a horrifying way: Harry is being accused of having an affair and murdering Nola, opening up this years old cold case. Now, Marcus has to race against the clock to free Harry, and write his book as his deadline looms. As he goes through his mentor's old books and notes, Marcus decides to open up his own investigation, while his publishers decide that his next novel should be based on the information he uncovers about the case. During his own impromptu investigation, Marcus begins to unearth far more secrets than he bargained for that this small town had been hiding for all those years. But will it be enough to save Harry and will he find it all on time?

I was seriously so enraptured with this book from page one. It did take me a few chapters to figure out that the story was being told in a depending order, but the last chapter cleared up the reason for that and I totally appreciated that small detail. It explained the story so much more. I have nothing but glowing compliments for this novel. If you read and loved the Millennium Trilogy,  then you will love this book. The characters are so well fleshed out, partly because Marcus has to dig deep into Somerset's past and partly because  Marcus is writing his novel as we are reading and solving the mystery of who murdered Nola Kellergan. My favorite part about this whole novel, though, was how it kept me on my toes and edge of my seat through the very end. I even had a status update where all I could say was "The hell is going on?!?!" The twists and turns in this novel were great and the final pages were astounding and jaw dropping. The ending was just, wow. I definitely will recommend this to everyone I know who reads books.


*A physical copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.