The Expats

Do you ever read "Book Page"? It's a free publication at your local library and is also available on-line at www.bookpage.com. 

Recently they had an interview with Chris Pavone, a former non-fiction book editor and ghostwriter in New York, who jumped at the chance to move to Luxembourg when his wife was offered a job there.  As he explains, he was suddenly Mr.  Mom and decided to try his hand at writing a novel. He was having a hard time until one day he met an expat mom in the park who was being very secretive about her past.  

He said "I got to thinking, what if this woman did something horrible?" There could be "lots of reasons to move abroad, to change your life entirely. And it amused me to think that maybe this woman used to be a spy. Which led me to, what if my main character actually was this person with this secret..., not only from all of her new friends but also her husband? I think most people have no idea what their spouses do all day long.  ...and it's possible that it's just completely not what the other person thought it would be.".

This intrigued me enough to pick up his book, The Expats.  It is immensely readable and well-crafted.  It explores the secrets that one keeps from friends, spouse and even oneself.  It isn't overly political and not violent.  As a reviewer at Good Reads commented:"the most profound deceptions lurk beneath the most normal-looking of relationships".  How true.  For a fast-paced read be sure to check it out!