Havoc
By Christopher Bollen
Harper, December 3, 2024
In the vein of The Bad Seed comes a twisty, atmospheric psychological suspense story about a meddlesome elderly guest at a decadent luxury hotel who believes she has left her problematic past behind, until she decides to interfere in the lives of a young mother and her eight-year-old son—and finally meets her wicked match.
The war between age and youth has never been so vicious.
Eighty-one-year-old widow Maggie Burkhardt came to the Royal Karnak to escape. But not in quite the same way as most other guests who are relaxing at this threadbare luxury hotel on the banks of the Nile. Maggie, a compulsive fixer of other people’s lives, may have found herself in hot water at her last hotel in Switzerland and just might have needed to get out of there fast... But here at the Royal Karnak, under the hot Saharan sun, she has a comfortable suite, a loyal confidante in the hotel manager, Ahmed, and a handful of sympathetic friends, similar “long-termers” who understand her still-vivid grief for her late husband, Peter. Here, she is merely the sweet old lady in Room 309.
One morning, however, Maggie notices a new arrival at check-in: a mournful-looking young mother named Tess and her impish eight year old, Otto. Eager to help, Maggie invites them into her world. But it isn’t long before Maggie realizes that in her longing to be a part of their family, she has let in an enemy much stronger than she bargained for. In scrawny, homely Otto, Maggie Burkhardt has finally met her match.
A propulsive, addictively readable breakout from the critically acclaimed author of A Beautiful Crime and The Lost Americans, Havoc is brilliant, twisty psychological suspense that will get under your skin like the most unforgettable Hitchcock classics.
Praise for The Lost Americans
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year —
“The Lost Americans is a gripping, page-turning tour de force. Christopher Bollen isn’t merely a great storyteller — though he is. He is also a brilliant stylist who, once again, has given us a literary thriller where the action never flags and character and atmosphere never are slighted.” — Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and The Lioness
“A terrific novel, rich in character and wonderfully atmospheric, with a propulsive plot packed with nerve-wracking peril and satisfying twists and reading enjoyment on every single page. I loved it.” — Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats and Two Nights in Lisbon
“The Lost Americans is a perfectly taut thriller. A deeply atmospheric portrait of Cairo in all its beauty and decay, the novel pulses with energy. Bollen orchestrates a vivid and gripping reading experience.” — Emma Cline, internationally bestselling author of The Girls, Daddy, and The Guest
“Bollen is a modern master of the Highsmithian literary thriller. His previous book, A Beautiful Crime, was a Venice-set caper about lovers turned con men, a mystery that tapped into the Floating City’s labyrinthine nature. Here, he flies readers to Cairo to uncover a mystery about an American defense contractor who’d reportedly died by suicide and his increasingly suspicious sister working to understand what really happened.” — Electric Literature, 'Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Books of Spring'
“A gripping thriller with lingering emotional effects. . . . Bollen takes real risks with the story, making it more haunting than the reader may be prepared for. The scarcity of civil rights in contemporary Egypt is captured to shadowy effect, extending to the targeting of gay citizens like Cate's guide and driver, Omar. . . . Cut from the same mold as Robert Stone's great political thrillers with its international intrigue, darkly atmospheric setting, and compromised characters.” — Kirkus, starred review
“A bold plot twist bolsters the story’s gritty realism, revealing that the villainy behind Eric’s death shields a lot of human complexity. Bollen, known for setting thrillers in alluring locales, skillfully captures Cairo’s beauty and palpable tension, and Cate and Omar’s courage in facing hard truths gives this memorable thriller extra frisson.” — Booklist
“Sharp new literary thriller.” — Vanity Fair
“Uncharted territory…gripping and genuinely moving.” — New York Times
“We’re in Graham Greene territory in Christopher Bollen’s The Lost Americans, which takes place in Cairo. . . . The Lost Americans is a sensitively written, keenly observed, hauntingly sad thriller that will make you want to weep with frustration: for the brief, broken promise of the Arab Spring, for the betrayals that take place within families, and for the ugly business of war, which is always booming.” — Air Mail
“The Lost Americans is a delicious jigsaw puzzle of a novel, one that evokes the allure of far-flung travel and the complicated fantasy of trying to disappear into a place that is not your home.” — Departures
“The Lost Americans is a thrilling and engaging novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Bollen’s skillful storytelling and richly drawn characters make for a deeply satisfying reading experience, and the novel's exploration of themes such as power, corruption, and identity make it a thought-provoking addition to the mystery and thriller genres. Highly recommended for fans of smart, atmospheric fiction that will keep you guessing until the very end.” — The Bookish Buzz
“The Lost Americans is a potent thriller with an espionage shot on the side.” — Crime Reads
“Bollen’s novels are always stylish and smart, with twists of international intrigue and a sharp eye for social commentary, and The Lost Americans is certainly no exception.” — Town & Country, A Must-read Book of Spring 2023
“The Lost Americans is a well-conceived, extremely evocative thriller that respects the reader’s intellect.” — Crime Fiction Lover
“Bollen’s depth of characterization keeps the intensity at fever pitch throughout this riveting novel.” — Brooklyn Digest
About the Author
Christopher Bollen is the author of the critically acclaimed novels The Lost Americans, A Beautiful Crime, The Destroyers, Orient, and Lightning People. He is a frequent contributor to a number of publications, including Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and Interview. He lives in New York City.
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