The Ghost
By Robert Harris Thorndike Press Large Print (2007)
ISBN 10: 0-7862-9875-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-7862-9875-4
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Reviewed by Auggie Moore - November 19, 2007
>From Robert Harris, the author of such books Fatherland and Imperium, comes another outstanding novel that is unlike any of his other books. In his new book, The Ghost, Harris parallels modern history as he follows Adam Lang, a British Prime Minster whose career ended in disgraced after he sides with the Americans in an unpopular war. Unable to show his face in Britain, Lang has come to the United States to hide out, and to write his memoirs.
Lang's plans go terribly awry when Michael McAra, his aide and collaborator on his memoir, goes missing, only to turn up dead. Lang is working on a tight deadline for his book, and the publisher is pressing him to get it 'in' in time. So Lang hires a professional, and unnamed ghostwriter, to help him smooth out the book's rough edges and to fill in a few more details. This new ghostwriter soon discovers some uncomfortable secrets about his boss - secrets that may already have lead to the death of his predecessor, and which now may threaten his own life.
The Ghost is set on Martha's Vineyard. The bleak, winter landscape of this summer playground for the rich and famous, is well suited as the setting for this dark, psychological thriller about power, war crimes, terrorism, and one man's torturous past. This is a complex and at times hard to fathom story, but its unexpected and satisfying ending makes everything clear.
Harris is a masterful writer, and this book is filled with unusual plot twists, gripping details, and artistic language. The Ghost is a modern day political thriller that will grab your attention from the get-go, and hold it until the very last page. Although the plot of The Ghost is vastly different from Harris' other books, I feel that fans of Harris' historical and alternate reality books will also enjoy this book, as will anyone looking for an absorbing thriller with which to while-away a few hours.
Related Reviews:
Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome, by Robert Harris.
The first part in a planned trilogy about the life and exploits of Marcus Tullius Cicero, as recounted by Tiro, his confidential secretary and slave who served Cicero for more than 35 years. Although a work of fiction, this book is based on fact and it presents an absorbing overview of Cicero's life.
Fatherland, By Robert Harris
The year is 1964, Germany won WWII, Hitler is still in power and a Kennedy is in the White House.
