Havoc

Christopher Bollen's latest is a significant leap forward for an author who has already proven himself adept at crafting engaging suspense novels. Having read his previous works - A Beautiful Crime and The Destroyers - I was familiar with his talent for creating rich, relatable characters and delivering straightforward thrillers with just the right amount of suspense. However, Havoc takes it to a new level.

At the center of Havoc is Maggie, an 81-year-old protagonist whose unreliability as a narrator gradually becomes one of the story's most compelling elements. Initially presenting herself as a benevolent widow seeking solace in an Egyptian hotel (during the pandemic, which heightens the tension), Maggie's true nature unfolds in increasingly disturbing ways, particularly through her manipulation of a young boy named Otto.

The novel's pacing is exceptional. I found myself at the halfway point one night, ready to turn in, when suddenly the narrative shifted from a simmer to a full boil. The protagonist does something so unexpected, so shocking, that I couldn't put the book down. I had to see it through to its conclusion, even if it meant losing sleep. This is precisely what great suspense writing should do - compel you to keep turning pages despite your bedtime.

What makes this novel different than his others are how he plays with reader sympathy. For much of the novel, you find yourself aligned with Maggie - after all, who wouldn't empathize with an elderly widow? But as the story progresses, this empathy becomes increasingly complicated. The final third of the book reveals just how manipulated we’ve been, forcing us to confront the reality that our protagonist needs help far more than she deserves our sympathy. (I’m finding it hard to write this as to both encourage you to read it, but also not spoil it.)

The Egyptian hotel setting provides an elaborate backdrop for the psychological drama that unfolds, with Bollen's vivid descriptions bringing the location to life in a way that enhances rather than overshadows the central narrative. The author excels at creating an atmosphere of mounting tension, using the exotic setting to amplify the sense of displacement and unease that permeates each page.

The novel's exploration of themes such as grief, manipulation, and the fragility of the human psyche is handled with subtlety and depth. Bollen avoids heavy-handed metaphors in favor of allowing these themes to emerge naturally through the increasingly complex relationship between Maggie and Otto, and through Maggie's own deteriorating grip on reality.

At the end you’ll be wondering what was real and what was Maggie’s own making. I’ve seen this compared to the movies The Bad Seed and Thelma and the television series The White Lotus. And yes, while it incorporates these familiar stories, Bollen elevates the genre by adding his own distinctive touches, crafting a psychological suspense that haunts me long after the final page.

This is really a 4-4.5 star book but I had to withhold a star because of the ending. I really dislike vague, open-ended stories that create more questions than they answer, infuriating. However aside from that, I really really enjoyed this book about the rivalry between an 80- something and 8-year-old with a bit of murder on the side. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audio version of this book, the narrator (Maggi-Meg Reed) is fantastic.