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Reader reviews

'The Expats is the impressive debut novel by American author, Chris Pavone. Set mainly in Europe, the action switches between Paris in the present day and Washington DC and Luxembourg two years previously. Kate Moore quit her undercover job with the CIA, a job that was secret even from her husband, Dexter, to move to Luxembourg with him and their young sons, Jake and Ben. There, Dexter's job as a systems security expert for banks could afford them a better income and an enviable lifestyle which included weekends in places like Paris and Amsterdam. As expats, they socialised mainly with other expats, and had soon formed a friendship with Julia and Bill Maclean. But Kate's CIA training leads her to suspect that Julia and Bill are not what they first seem and she begins to wonder: are they are assassins? Are they investigating her for unlawful actions in her CIA career? Or are they after her husband? Which leads her to start wondering if Dexter has been completely truthful with her. As Kate makes certain discoveries in the present day narrative, she flashes back to two years ago, her exit from the CIA and their early months in Luxembourg, and certain events and conversations suddenly become startlingly clear.

'This novel has a superbly clever plot full of twists and turns that has the reader guessing to the last line. Without giving away too much of the story, Pavone uses the present day narrative to sow enough seeds of intrigue to keep the reader engrossed in the action two years previous. Interestingly, Pavone writes from Kate's point of view, something he does very competently. As the suspense built, I found myself more and more on the edge of my seat. Proof of Pavone's excellent descriptive talent is that as I sat reading the window ledge scene, my legs were aching, my body's usual involuntary reaction to being at unsafe heights. Occasional lighter moments are provided by the children and social interactions with other minor characters, but for most of the novel, the tension is high. Pavone's first-hand experience as an expat is apparent from the way he effectively conveys the atmosphere of European cities and expat life: his characters are realistic and his dialogue, credible. The novel poses a few pertinent and topical questions: When is it OK to steal 25 (or 50) million euros? Are we deluded in thinking that our money can ever be safe? Who guards the guards? Is anybody ever what they seem to be? Does anyone ever tell the whole truth? This novel has been described as "Brilliant, insanely clever, and delectably readable." I wholly concur.' - M. Vincent, NSW

'The Expats by Chris Pavone is a true roller-coaster of a thriller. From the outset, the reader is inextricably drawn in to the web of deceit and deception. It is a page-turner of the highest order. The characters are skilfully drawn – as indeed you are drawn further and further into their world.  It is a world that is at first deceptively normal. All however, is not as it seems, as layer upon layer of intrigue builds to a crescendo and the reader experiences an absolute edge-of-the seat sense of suspense.

'It's hard to avoid clichés with a thriller of this calibre. Its crisp dialogue, plausible characters and tight, convincing plot, create a convincing, gripping scenario. The Expats provides an insight into European expat life that reverberates far beyond the usual cocktail and soiree circuit. This thriller cleverly segues between the current plot and glimpses of intriguing events that unfold later. This technique provides a tantalising taste of what is to come in this riveting novel. It provides a strong link to Kate Moore's fascinating past and the secret knowledge and insights that she brings to her new life. This is one of those very rare thrillers that only come along once in a while. Every now and then you simply have to pause to let it all sink in; to reflect on what has happened and to anticipate what may happen next.

'Just like the dramatic expectation of "What's next?" that is sustained throughout, readers will be eagerly awaiting to see, "What's next from Chris Pavone?"' - S. Cutsforth, NSW

'Just by reading the cover notes I knew this was going to be a book I would enjoy.  From the opening page I was intrigued.  As soon as Kate and Dexter met Julia and Bill and Kate's suspicions grew I just wanted to get to the end as quickly as possible.  Although she had supposedly left the CIA for good Kate was still able to use her contacts to investigate the couple.  Having been an expatriate for 10 years myself I know there were a few people I would have liked to have investigated!

'There was enough detail about the couple's day to day life to colour the book, yet with the undertone of intrigue there, I was constantly wondering if anybody else mentioned was caught up in it. Just when I thought I had worked out what was happening, a quick twist and I was back to square one! Loved the way it ended...' - D. Dolan, NSW

'The Expats is a fantastic read & very cleverly written. I loved how the book integrated pieces from the past and present in the story to bring together the story as a whole.  

'The whole story was very imaginative and so clever. It was filled with plenty of suspense and drama with plenty of lies and deception between friends and family along the way...

'This is one book that you want to read from beginning to end and is definitely not recommended as a book to read before going to bed because you never want to put it down to go to sleep!' - K. Pirrone, QLD

'To be honest, despite being an avid reader, The Expats was my very first foray into the spy/espionage genre.  I found the frequent change in time and place chapter after chapter rather disorientating at first, but once I got my head around where the lead character was... and when, I was hooked.  Kate was a strong female character which I loved although, as a mother, I found her somehow disturbingly distant from her children - she picked them up from school and dropped them off and that seemed the extent of her motherly 'duties'.  I guess that's what spies have to do!  I know little about the CIA, the FBI and Internet banking fraud, but Pavone managed to ensure I understood all key aspects of the plot. I have to say the last couple of chapters kept me up til late as deception upon deception was revealed.  A good read and one that makes the life of the expat seem perhaps a little more exciting than the reality!' - L. Daebritz, WA

'In The Expats Chris Pavone creates a tangled webs of lies and half-truths mixed with the world of spies and electronic banking. By using flashbacks, the story of ex-CIA operative Kate Moore and her IT Security husband Dexter is developed. Moving from Washington to the seemingly other side of the world in Luxembourg, the author describes the locations in great detail, slowly revealing more of the history of each character.

'Kate's mundane role as an expatriate housewife is very different from her previous life. It doesn't take long for her training to force her to investigate the events occurring in her new country.

'The puzzle comes together in the final pages of the book, tying up all the loose ends and revealing how earlier, almost insignificant items, played their part in the story.

'I was drawn to this book by John Grisham's comment on the cover: "Smart, clever, suspense, skilfully plotted". After finishing The Expats I agree with him. A highly recommended debut novel - I look forward to the author's next book.' - C. Cousins, NSW

'Chris Pavone's The Expats is an absolute cracker! Twenty-first century cyber-espionage meets the heady disorientation of a European expatriate lifestyle.

'Kate Moore has officially resigned her CIA job so she can move to Luxembourg with her husband, Dexter, and their two boys. But it's not easy to shed the ingrained training of a career in intelligence.  Dexter's banking security job is taking more of his time than Kate had been led to expect. She'd promised herself she'd never investigate her husband, but is he being honest with her?  And what about her newfound friends, fellow American expats Julia and Bill? There are flares going off in Kate's mind signalling that things don't up there either.

'First-time novelist Pavone lays out the straight sides of a puzzle for his readers. Piece by piece, we begin to fill in the picture. Always, there are those odd little shapes that don't quite fit. You try pressing them into a likely space, but they don't belong. Those pieces just have to wait by the jigsaw's edge until more is revealed.

'The Expats is a taut, tight read, fizzing with energy and intrigue. Catch hold of Pavone's star while it's in the ascendancy. There'll be more thrills ahead.' - T. Wooldridge, NSW

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