The Plot: A Novel

Written by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

"I think Jean Hanff Korelitz’s THE PLOT is one of the best novels I’ve ever read about writers and writing. It’s also insanely readable and terrifying. The suspense quotient is through the roof...It’s remarkable." -- Stephen King

Hailed as "breathtakingly suspenseful," Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a propulsive audiobook 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 e-mail 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?

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books

"Narrator Kirby Heyborne maintains the brisk pace and firm tension of what promises to be one of the summer's most talked about suspense novels." -- AudioFile Magazine

"Kirby Heyborne’s vocal dynamics convey emotion, and his no-nonsense delivery has the versatility and ease of a comfortable pair of jeans in this tale that examines moral obligations." -- Library Journal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250804877

Jean Hanff Korelitz

Jean Hanff Korelitz is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Plot, The Latecomer, You Should Have Known (which aired on HBO in October 2020 as The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, and Donald Sutherland), Admission (adapted as a film in 2013 starring Tina Fey), The Devil and Webster, The White Rose, The Sabbathday River and A Jury of Her Peers, as well as Interference Powder, a novel for children. Her company BOOKTHEWRITER hosts Pop-Up Book Groups in which small groups of readers discuss new books with their authors. She lives in New York City with her husband, Irish poet Paul Muldoon.

Reviews for The Plot

[michaeldjacobs · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Saw through it 3/4 way through...listened to the rest at 1.5 speed to confirm my suspicions... Well written but frustrating and unfulfilling...

[Anna Pierdiluca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lives up to all the hype. Not to be missed and will definitely make a good movie.

[Julia Pfefferkorn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I guessed the twist pretty early in. Not that great of a surprise and she never really got into how he wrote 300 pages without “Evans” first three/ it seemed like a stretch.

[Alecia Taylor · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I was really excited for this book, and I was SO disappointed. I thought this book was seriously awful. You could see the ending from the beginning of the book. I dreaded picking the book up everyday, but I hate DNFing. So I rolled my eyes and finished it. And I was exactly right what was going to happen. It is so obvious it's painful. And how dumb the main character was is unbelievable. I'm just so frikken disappointed.

[Richard Thomas Cranford · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While the concept is interesting, the book within the book often didn’t work here. The majority of the story was slow-paced and not particularly compelling or interesting. While the plot twist at the end was unusual, it was relies on a level of suspension of disbelief that detracts from any really good thriller or mystery. Great idea - cut this by 50 pages or 2 hours and it would have been much better executed.

[Rickey Beauchamp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really good story. The story within a story was a good way to write out this plot.

[Pamela Clugston · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent writing! The author takes you on a twisty journey.

[Valerie Rousset LeBeau · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stick with it. Started out slow. Almost stopped listening but I'm glad I didn't. Ended up being a good story.

[CamilaRavagnani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a fun, interesting book. A good option instead of TV or other streaming choices. I listened to the whole book in 2 days trying to figure out the end… I’d recommend!

[schlista · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Solid 4 star book. The audiobook was good. The narrator is the same male narrator from Gone Girl, so if you liked him in that book, you'll like him here (if not well you'll have issues). It did take me a while to get used to him in Gone Girl, but now I like his style of narration.

About the book...the twist I saw coming a mile away, so don't expect any big surprises. However, it is delivered well and the journey is fun. The one aspect of the book I never did fully "get" was why the heck anyone cares about "stealing a plot". I won't say more than that. Of course there are some reasons given and yes after certain things are done you're stuck with the course of action you have chosen, but I never fully bought into that aspect of the book. Other than that though It's a very entertaining listen/read.

[Yousra Books · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing amazing amazing! What a plot ???? Very enjoyable thriller with an unexpected plot twist!

[Joellyn Wittenstein Schwerdlin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm puzzled. How did Jacob Finch Bonner (the protagonist) write the book "Crib" (which closely resembled the true story he was accused of stealing) after reading only a few pages of his student's story which didn’t foreshadow any murders? Made absolutely no sense to me at all.

[Lisa Glendinning · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I highly recommend this narrator and author pairing. Compelling characters and story. One of my favourites this year.

[Nia Spencer · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was lame. 1) Very obvious (I figured out the ending before the halfway point); 2) chock full of stereotypes and hamhandedly made socio-political points (most of which were offensive and unnecessary to the story); 3) fatally flawed in its premise, since there was a verrrry easy way for the protagonist to resolve his central conflict. Some parts were entertaining enough to distract me from household chores as I listened. But mostly, meh.

[Susan Hendler · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Maybe an audio version affects connecting to characters; I can only say I didn't connect with them. The middle portion of this novel dragged along boringly and the surprise twist was no surprise to me. Some other readers may have a totally different view of this novel, so I don't want to dissuade anyone from reading it.

[MC D · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am caught between feeling that the actual book plot of Crib in «The Plot» was brilliant, while Jake's story and outcome was very... predictable. I wonder of the author's intentions: did they want us to feel something towards Jake (if so that was a fail) or towards his wife (she was interesting but no more).

I am confused after the completion of this book and unsure of where I stand.

[Miriam Gomez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy the book I didn’t see the twist coming which I love in book mystery thriller recommend this book should be read

[Jessica Adolfo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The audio narrator was excellent on this book.
I would give this a 3 1/2 star rating so I just rounded up to four for purposes of this app. At times in the book I was distracted and not interested in what was happening however as the book progressed I became more invested in the story and I enjoyed the ending

[Sandra Gurvis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story and narrator but that ending... GAH! This author perfectly captured the literary world and Jake was a terrific, relatable character. The plot was excellent if a bit predictable except for the ending which not only didn't make sense but seemed illogical. Don't want to give away any spoilers because this is a book worth reading but to say about the last chapter or so... REWRITE!!

[Sharron Graves · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really well written and read. The voice actor made the book come alive!

[Robert Mann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book is very interesting to listen to, with twist and turns. Half way through it I had my suspicions of who one of the characters was. In the end it turned out I was right. It would be an excellent listen or read and highly recommend it. I had an idea in my mind of how the ending should go. It totally took me by surprise, the ending was exceptional and like I said different than what I imagined. I'll look for more books to listen to by this author and again recommend it and thought it was a great book 5 stars. I'm able to listen while working being self employed and use my hands in a service oriented business. Don't pass it by, it's worth putting it on the top of your list to read or listen to. You won't be disappointed. The way I thought it would end but didn't caught me by total surprise.

[Justin Hart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed not knowing exactly where this will head. Audio book was very well read.

[Gabrielle Henery · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was ok, formula and predictable. I guessed every plot twist with in the first few chapters, but an easy read. However if Stephen King really "Loved" this book like the review says... Im glad I read his books before his reviews or I wouldnt have the King collection I currently own.

[melissa · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Really interesting plot but entirely too confusing to follow characters between the “book” and the real life when they have ~3 names each. Suggest writing it down somewhere to track.

The beginning half was realllllly slow and painful and I almost gave up on it. I’m not saying it was worth it to continue but I think this would have been a better movie/show than book. I would not have been mad if I DNF’ed and then took to spark notes to finish.

[Henry Allen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slow start, it got better about half way through.
A fun book and well written the scenes were very descriptive.

[Carmen Schank · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every chapter left me wanting to hear more and that twist was great! I plan on reading more from this author in the future

[Tasbih Amin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very predictable which is a shame because the premise is interesting

[Keenan Davidson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I guessed at the ending pretty early when things didn't totally seem to be adding up, but it kept me guessing. Great thriller. Just be aware that the author is a little on the woke side of things.

[Joan Robinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

That was some story within a story. I loved it.

[Rebecca Byrne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! 4.5 stars (rounded to 5) for creativity!
Had you asked me 15-25% in, I would have at best, given it a 2-3 star. I was somewhat bored and the inner thoughts of our protagonist we’re kind of driving me nuts. But then… Things started to get interesting.

Jake is an author who was asked to teach a writing class. This was the last thing he wanted to do, since he had been in a rut and hadn’t put a book out in a while, at least one that sold well. In walks a cocky student named Evan. He reluctantly shared his idea for a book with Jake and Jake knew he had a great thing here… only it wasn’t his. When an unfortunate event occurs, Jake acts selfishly. In turn, his life is never the same… rising in the book charts, all across the country everyone knew who he was. He had a best seller! But in time, after his whirlwind tours, he comes home to a, “I know what you did last summer” letter. Enter—paranoia, the quest for answers, and stopping at nothing, hurting those he loves to find out who this person is! The build up to the end is gripping, the epilogue —surprising. Well done.