Do you remember The Plot? Jake, a writing professor at a dicey college stole his dead student's novel, refined it a little, and published it to great acclaim, unlike the rest of his own inferior output. After receiving messages that someone knew that he had plagiarized the novel, Jake went on a tour of places in the book to see if he could uncover the sender. It turned out that Anna, his loving wife, knew the whole truth because it was her life that the student wrote about and she wasn't going to let Jake take credit for the book when she could do just as well by being his grieving widow. And so ends The Plot.
The Sequel continues the story. Anna is sent on a book tour for the newest book written by her posthumous husband. On the tour, she is always asked what her next step would be. When she once answers that she is going to write a fiction book based on her life with a famous author until his suicide ruined their happy love nest, she actually finds that this is a great idea. She coops Jake's agent and his editor, writes The Afterwards, and goes on her own tour. When a book is purchased from a store that will send it to a customer, the requested autograph message refers to someone in her past. But she knows that it can't be for him-she disposed of her brother years ago. As more disquieting information becomes public, Anna must figure out who knows the truth and how to deal with silencing them permanently.
I had forgotten a lot of The Plot but Korelitz refreshes your memory as she spins her own sequel. If you haven't read the book yet, it's a good idea to read it first as a lot of the background in The Plot is used in The Sequel. Along with a scheming woman who rationalizes every twisted thing she does, the book sends up writing, publishing, and even fans at readings and autograph parties. A murderously good time will be had by most.
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
Publication date - October 1, 2024
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