It was a generous gift, to say the least. Traveling in style on the Orient Express! Who wouldn't be thrilled? Author Ginevra Ex is a bit of a mystery, but she is well known for how she develops the characters for her best-selling thrillers. She hires real people, gets to know them and then works them into her stories. It works. Rory was at a low point in her life when Ginevra offered to cast her as a main character. She had lost her job as a news anchor and her fiancé had broken up with her. Ginevra's generous payment helped and she was shocked by the unexpected gift of an all-expense trip on the Orient Express. She wasn't sure what to expect on this trip, but what she did discover was shocking. Aboard the train were her ex-fiancé, her brother and her best friend, all as guests of Ginevra. But, why? THE MAIN CHARACTER, by Jaclyn Goldis, is packed with characters with secrets, intrigue, and danger. As the story progresses, any assumptions readers make about the characters are proven wrong. The story is told in the voices of the characters. Even so, we really don't truly know them until they slowly reveal themselves to us. The narrative is well-plotted and multi-layered. Adding depth to the story are the beautiful descriptions of the various settings and the luxurious accommodations on the train. I found THE MAIN CHARACTER to be a story that is filled with the unexpected and that is what makes it intriguing and compelling. Highly recommended.
Reclusive, mysterious author Ginevra Ex is famous for her unusual approach to crafting her big bestselling thrillers: she hires real people and conducts intensive interviews, then fictionalizes them. Her latest main character, Rory, is thrilled when Ginevra presents her with an extravagant bonus—a lavish trip along Italy’s Mediterranean coast on the famed, newly renovated Orient Express. But when Rory boards the train, she’s stunned to discover that her brother, her best friend, and even her ex-fiancé are passengers, as well. All invited by Ginevra, all hiding secrets.
With each stop, from Cinque Terre to Rome to Positano, it becomes increasingly clear that Ginevra has masterminded the ultimate real life twisty plot with Rory as her main character. And as Ginevra’s deceptions mount, and the lies and machinations of Rory’s travel companions pile up, Rory begins to fear that her trip will culminate like one of Ginevra’s books: with a murder or two. In the opulent compartments of the iconic train, Rory must untangle the shocking reasons why Ginevra wanted them all aboard—and to what deadly end.
Another stylish and compulsively readable mystery from Jaclyn Goldis, this is the perfect read for fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and Paula Hawkins.
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