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2008 Book Reviews

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The Ghost by Robert Harris

Rating:

***

 

(Recommended)

 

 

 

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Recruited

 

Robert Harris sets his new novel, The Ghost, on Martha’s Vineyard in winter, and starts the action when a new ghostwriter is recruited to complete on a short deadline the memoirs of a recently retired British prime minister. The plot moves quickly and the characters are both interesting and complex. The unraveling of secrets will delight most readers. Here’s an excerpt, from the end of Chapter 2, pp. 30-32:

 

I took out his card. Sidney L. Kroll of Brinkerhof Lombardi Kroll, attorneys, M Street, Washington, DC. After thinking about it for ten minutes or so, I went back and sat on the sofa and called his cell phone. He answered on the second ring: "Sid Kroll."

I could tell by his inflection he was smiling.

"Sidney," I said, trying to sound natural using his first name, "you'll never guess what's happened." "Some guys just stole my manuscript?"

For a moment I couldn't speak. "My God," I said, "is there nothing you don't know?"

"What?" His tone changed abruptly. "Jesus, I was kidding. Is that really what happened? Are you okay? Where are you now?"

I explained what had happened. He' said not to worry. The manuscript was totally unimportant. He'd given it to me only be­cause he thought it might be of interest to me in a professional capacity. He'd get another sent over. What was I going to do? Was I going to call the police? I said I would if he wanted, but as far as I was concerned bringing in the police was generally more trouble than it was worth. I preferred to view the episode as just another round on the gaudy carousel of urban life: "You know, que sera, sera, bombed one day, mugged the next."

He agreed. "It was a real pleasure to meet with you today. It's great that you're on board. Cheerio," he said, just before he hung up, and there was that little smile in his voice again. Cheerio.

I went into the bathroom and opened my shirt. A livid red horizontal mark was branded into my flesh, just above my stomach and below my rib cage. I stood in front of the mirror for a better look. It was three inches long and half an inch wide, and curiously sharp edged. That wasn't caused by flesh and bone, I thought. I'd say that was a knuckle-duster. That looked professional. I started to feel strange again and went back to the sofa.

When the phone rang, it was Rick, to tell me the deal was done. "What's up?" he said, interrupting himself. "You don't sound right."

"I just got mugged."

"No!"

Once more I described what had happened. Rick made appro­priately sympathetic noises, but the moment he learned I was well enough to work, the anxiety left his voice. As soon as he could, he brought the conversation round to what really interested him.

"So you're still fine to fly to the States on Sunday?"

"Of course. I'm just a bit shocked, that's all."

"Okay, well, here's another shock for you. For one month's work, on a manuscript that's supposedly already written, Rhinehart Inc. are willing to pay you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, plus expenses."

"What?"

If I hadn't already been sitting on the sofa I would have fallen onto it. They say every man has his price. A quarter of a million dollars for four weeks' work was roughly ten times mine.

"That's fifty thousand dollars paid weekly for the next four weeks," said Rick, "plus a bonus of fifty if you get the job done on time. They'll take care of airfares and accommodation. And you'll get a collaborator credit."

"On the title page?"

"Do me a favor! In the acknowledgments. But it'll still be noticed in the trade press. I'll see to that. Although for now your involvement is strictly confidential. They were very firm about that." I could hear him chuckling down the phone and imagined him tilting back in his chair. "Oh, yes, a whole new wide world is opening up for you, my boy!"

He was right there.

 

Dialogue, plot and characters are expertly maneuvered on the pages of The Ghost. Read it before the winter chill leaves.

 

Steve Hopkins, January 22, 2008

 

 

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The recommendation rating for this book appeared

 in the February 2008 issue of Executive Times

 

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