Takes One to Know One: A Novel

By Susan Isaacs

Susan Isaacs is a New York Times-bestselling author of more than a dozen books. She was dubbed “Jane Austen with a shmear” on NPR’s Fresh Air and has been called "a witty, wry observer of contemporary life" (The Washington Post) for her lively, somewhat sardonic, and socially acute suburban mysteries. Takes One to Know One is her latest--and perhaps her best--in this genre.

With Takes One to Know One Isaacs is joining the Grove list for the first time. Her previous books were published by S&S and HarperCollins, and she is very excited for a more intimate publishing experience with Grove. We are thrilled to have the chance to publish such beloved and established author and have committed to this series with a two-book deal.

The protagonist of Takes One to Know One, like many of Isaacs' leading ladies, is a smart, snarky, strong woman named Corie Geller, with whom you can't help but fall in love. This is the first book in a series to feature Geller, and Grove will publish the second Corie Geller novel in 2020 or 2021.

Given its skillful blend of wit and suspense, Takes One To Know One will appeal to those who enjoy mystery and suspense with a dose of sardonic humor. For readers of Janet Ivanovich, Liane Moriarty, Thomas Perry, and Lisa Lutz.

We expect major media coverage for the novel. Isaacs' previous works have been covered by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, People, and NPR's Fresh Air and Weekend Edition, among others.

Susan Isaacs is an ideal author for tours and events--she's a charismatic speaker and a seasoned writer with a wide network in the industry. We plan to send Isaacs to a number of cities across the US and already have her confirmed to appear at Book Expo and ALA.

Isaacs is the author of thirteen previous novels, two screenplays, and a work of nonfiction about female representation in film and books. Her novel Compromising Positions was turned into a film starring Susan Sarandon, and her novel Shining Through became a film featuring Michael Douglas, Melanie Griffith and Liam Neeson.

Isaacs currently serves as chairman of Poets & Writers. She is a past president of Mystery Writers of America and belongs to the Creative Coalition, PEN, and the International Association of Crime Writers.

She has also been active as a book critic, and has reviewed books for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and Newsday.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780802147561

Susan Isaacs

Susan Isaacs is the bestselling author of eleven novels, two screenplays, and one work of nonfiction. She lives on Long Island.

Reviews for Takes One to Know One

[shelleyraec · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was excited by the premise of Susan Isaacs Takes One To Know One and I’d really been looking forward to it reaching the top of my pile.“Just a few years ago, Corie Geller was busting terrorists as an agent for the FBI. But at thirty-five, she traded in her badge for the stability of marriage and motherhood. Now Corie is married to the brilliant and remarkably handsome Judge Josh Geller and is the adoptive mother of his lovely 14-year-old daughter. Between cooking meals and playing chauffeur, Corie scouts Arabic fiction for a few literary agencies and, on Wednesdays, has lunch with her fellow Shorehaven freelancers at a so-so French restaurant. Life is, as they say, fine.But at her weekly lunches, Corie senses that something's off. Pete Delaney, a milquetoast package designer, always shows up early, sits in the same spot (often with a different phone in hand), and keeps one eye on the Jeep he parks in the lot across the street. Corie intuitively feels that Pete is hiding something--and as someone who is accustomed to keeping her FBI past from her new neighbors, she should know. But does Pete really have a shady alternate life, or is Corie just imagining things, desperate to add some spark to her humdrum suburban existence? She decides that the only way to find out is to dust off her FBI toolkit and take a deep dive into Pete Delaney's affairs.”So when I was considering giving up on it, just a little more than a quarter of the way through, I opted instead to put it aside for twenty four hours, and then try again. Honestly I picked it back up reluctantly and I have to admit the next quarter or so was still a slog, then at about the halfway point, the pace picked up and I suddenly couldn’t put it down.I’m not exactly sure why I found the first half of Takes One To Know One so laborious. Told through Corie Geller’s first person perspective, the narrative felt, at times, closer to a stream of consciousness, bogged down in the details of Corie’s life. To be fair I think the poor formatting of the e-arc may have contributed to that impression, as there is no spacing between paragraphs, or even chapters, resulting in an uncomfortable run-on effect. That I didn’t really warm to Corie’s angst regarding the changes her marriage had wrought, probably didn’t help either.For me the story finally got interesting when Corie began seriously investigating Pete Delaney and the narrative became more interactive (if that makes sense). As Corie considers and discards potential criminal scenarios that Pete Delaney could be involved in, she calls on ex colleagues for information, uses her best friend, Wynne, as a sounding board, and involves her dad, a retired police detective, in her investigation. It all eventually leads to a tense confrontation that I found unexpectedly thrilling.I’m not sure that I can say the last half of the book was enough to redeem Takes One To Know One for me, but it’s entirely possible that you may not find the first half as problematic as I did, it may be worth a try if the premise appeals.

[jnhk-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I throughly enjoyed Susan Isaacs’ latest novel Takes One to Know One. This was my first time reading anything by this author and I’ll most likely pick up a few more of her books. The writing was fast-paced and witty. The plot was interesting and really kept me turning the pages. The characters—especially the very sarcastic main character Corie—were well developed and very unique. My only criticism of the book was how Corie continually doubted and was bewildered by her marriage to her very successful and handsome husband. She constantly wondered how she “landed such a catch,” what he saw in her, and she was always comparing herself to his previous wife who passed away suddenly. The author clearly described Corie as more than attractive, very intelligent and successful... I guess I just felt that she should have had a bit more confidence in herself and the decisions she made regarding her relationship and career. But I get that her doubts and insecurities were part of the plot —I just think it was a bit overdone. Regardless, I still consider Corie a strong female lead character. Overall, Takes One to Know One was a very witty, sarcastic and entertaining read! If you’re looking for a light mystery-type novel then definitely consider this book!

[loried_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read all of Susan Isaacs's novels since Compromising Positions, and I'm a big fan. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest. As always, Isaacs created wonderful characters and an interesting premise. I loved the main character's sarcasm and her observations of suburban life. Her background as a former FBI agent might be making her unnecessarily suspicious of an acquaintance, but I found myself thinking she was in a perfect position to be an undercover agent no one would suspect if he turned out to be a criminal. The author opted to give professional credentials to the character this time, rather than her more usual "housewife turned detective". In some ways, the housewife-detective is more entertaining, but I found the way the investigation evolved in this book very interesting.I would be happy to read a sequel to this book to learn more about what Corie chooses to do with her life both professionally and personally after the events of the book. I highly recommend this book.

[dianaleez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Susan Issacs' books are a breath of fresh air - they’re light and clever and witty. Her newest, ‘Takes One to Know One’ is no exception. It’s an enjoyable read populated by likable characters and a simple, but, enjoyable, plot.Corie Geller has struck it lucky - at thirty-seven she’s semi-retired from the FBI for an enviable life in the burbs. Then she begins to feel that there’s ‘something just not quite right’ about one of the people in her luncheon group. Is Corie bored, restive in her new perfect yet slightly boring life? Or does it take one to know one?Issacs’ books are an easy read. Her prose is straightforward and often witty. There’s enough plot complexity to satisfy and elements that do provide surprise, yet it’s a comfortable read.Unfortunately, her characters are a bit entitled - affluent, attractive, a bit self-involved. And the book reads suspiciously like it may be the first in a series. I like Corie and I’d buy the next book but I’m hoping for a bit more oomph.[A reviewer's copy was provided by the publisher.]

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I haven't read a Susan Isaacs book in years and after reading her new book, I realized what I had missed and ordered some of her earlier books. This is suspense book with a twist -- it is presented with a lot of sarcasm and humor, which I just love from a main character. I thought it was a fun book to read as well as having a very suspenseful plot.I liked the main character of Corie -- she was humorous and sarcastic along with being very detailed in her investigation. I thought it was very interesting the way that she worked to get information - from neighbors, group members and others and then traced her information to the next level. I must admit that the book bogged down for me during some of her investigation - there was simply too much detail and too many conversations that went on for too long. I think that the investigation part of the novel (the middle third) could have been greatly condensed and it would have made this a better book. The last third of the book makes up for it and it's full of action with a lot of twists and turns. I enjoyed Corie and the adventure that she went on. I'd like to read another book about her and her FBI investigations.Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was the loooonnnggggest 288 pages (or so I've been led to believe)I have ever read. I see so many reviewers loved this book, and I wonder if we had read the same one or if my tastes are just so radically different/bland/boring. I thought I would never finish this book. It slogged along until I wanted to scream. I am led to believe that this is book one of a new series (I am not positive though) so I can see why we needed so much back story, angst, repetitiveness, and the building of Corie's life (boring), letting us know she is a bored housewife now and did I say repetitive? I MAY try the next book if there is such a thing because hopefully, the next book will not concentrate on chapters that go absolutely nowhere. The next edition will, probably, not have the minutiae that this one did. And we get the fact that Corie is now rich, Corie's husband is handsome, her best friend has good taste and that Ms. Issacs knows how to over-use the word 'narrative'.It takes 3/4 of this book before anything actually happens -yes, some things happened during the story, but nothing that will keep you on the edge of your seat; if you know what I mean.*ARC supplied by the publisher.