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The Passenger

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'The Passenger' by Lisa Lutz follows the story of Tanya Dubois, a woman who finds her husband dead and goes on the run, changing her identity multiple times to avoid being caught. The plot is filled with suspense, twists, and revelations about Tanya's past as she navigates a dangerous journey while trying to stay ahead of the authorities and her own secrets. The writing style is fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, with well-developed characters and a cleverly written plot full of unexpected turns that keep readers engaged until the end.

Characters:

Characters are multifaceted and developed throughout the story, with the protagonist facing inner conflicts and ethical dilemmas, though some supporting characters feel less developed.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and efficient, effectively describing scenes without unnecessary filler, while also incorporating moments of humor.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around a woman on the run, who changes identities frequently while trying to escape her past, particularly after her husband's mysterious death.

Setting:

The setting is varied and spans multiple locations as the protagonist escapes, contributing to the overall tension and atmosphere of the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow but gains momentum in the latter parts, with rapid developments and twists that maintain suspense.
When I found my hus­band at the bot­tom of the stairs, I tried to re­sus­cit­ate him be­fore I ever con­sidered dis­pos­ing of the body. I pumped his bar­rel chest and blew into his purple lips. It wa...

Notes:

The main character, Tanya Dubois, flees after finding her husband dead at the bottom of the stairs.
Tanya assumes multiple identities throughout the novel, including Amelia and Debra.
The story explores themes of survival, trust, and psychological trauma from living off the grid.
The narrative is enhanced by interspersed emails between Tanya and someone named Ryan, revealing her past.
Tanya forms a dangerous alliance with Blue, a female bartender who recognizes her fugitive status.
The book is categorized as both a thriller and a character study, focusing on Tanya's personal journey.
The narrative builds tension with alternating calm and chaotic moments, where sudden events shift the narrative dramatically.
The writing is efficient, with no filler content, focusing on necessary details and character development.
Some readers find the plot twists surprising, while others felt the ending left loose threads.
This novel marks a departure for Lisa Lutz from her light-hearted Spellman Files series to a darker, more serious tone.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of violence, trauma, death, and identity theft.

From The Publisher:

"A dead-serious thriller (with a funny bone)" (The New York Times Book Review), from the author of the New York Times bestselling Spellman Files series, comes the story of a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past.

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband's body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It's not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive's eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy-and dangerous-alliance is born.

It's almost impossible to live off the grid in the twenty-first century, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret. From heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, we are left to wonder…can she possibly outrun her past?

The Passenger's white-knuckled plot and unforeseeable twists make one thing for certain: the ride will leave you breathless. "When the answers finally come, they are juicy, complex, and unexpected. The satisfying conclusion will leave readers rethinking everything and immediately turning back to the first page to start again. Psychological suspense lovers will tear through this thriller" (Library Journal, starred review).

Ratings (4)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (3)

Reader Stats (17):

Read It (4)
Want To Read (10)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (2)

About the Author:

Lisa Lutz is the author of the New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award- and Macavity Award-nominated, and Alex Award-winning Spellman Files series, as well as the novels How to Start a Fire, The Passenger, and The Swallows. She lives and works in upstate New York.

 
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