Book: Two Nights in Lisbon
Author: Chris Pavone
Reviewed by: Phil Bolton, founder and publisher emeritus, Global Atlanta
Unbeknownst to me, Chris Pavone received very positive reviews for his book The Expats. Having traveled some myself, the title was intriguing, but I never read it.
When a friend handed me Two Nights in Lisbon, also by Pavone, I was intrigued once again. I’ve never been to Lisbon so I thought perhaps it might be a “twofer,” a good mystery and some exposure to life in Lisbon and Portugal.
The cover included over-the-top accolades from no less than Stephen King and John Grisham. Are these Pavone’s friends?
I can’t say the book is flawless, nor did I learn much of anything about Lisbon or Portugal. But there is a good reason, I think, to read this book. At its end, I asked myself one heavy question that I would love to have answered:
Can a male do justice to the interior life of a female who has been sexually assaulted, yes, raped by a corporate superior of her husband?
Pavone tries hard to do so, and I have no idea if he succeeds, even if you have to give him credit for trying.
When it comes to vengeance, the plot works. The guy gets his due and corporate America gets a black eye. So does a lot of the bravado that passes for success.
But is the interior life of one feisty female accurate, or is the task just too impossible for any male author, no matter his talent? It’s worth reading to try to determine the answer for yourself.
—
Editor’s notes: Global Atlanta will receive a 10 percent commission on any purchase of this book through the links on this page.
Each year, Global Atlanta asks influential readers and community leaders to review the most impactful book they read during the course of the year. This endeavor has continued annually since 2010.
See last year’s full list of books on BookShop here, and all 2022 reader picks here.
All books were chosen and reviews written independently, with only mild editing from our staff.