The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz, is a story literally about a story plot. Jacob Finch Bonner had mediocre initial success as a novelist, and his career went downhill from there. He now teaches in a small MFA program, where one of his students discloses “the perfect plot.” When Bonner hears it, he knows that, indeed, it is the perfect plot, so perfect no writer could ruin it, so perfect that Oprah, a movie deal, and all the rest will inevitably follow. The student, however, only shares a few pages he’s written during his term in the class and then disappears. A couple of years pass, and there’s no novel published with this perfect plot. Bonner does some research and discovers the student died shortly after the class in which he disclosed the plot to Bonner. Should Bonner take the plot and write his own book? Will Bonner get away with it or be exposed as a thief? The rest of the novel unfolds that plot, as well as a plot within the plot. I figured out the resolution shortly before it was revealed at the end. Kirkus Reviews predicted “this one will be flying off the shelves. ” Here’s the full review:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jean-hanff-korelitz/the-plot-korelitz/