THE AWARD

“Getting published is murder” is the literal theme of this twisted novel about a young Boston fiction writer whose hunger for success leads him to do bad things.

David Trent is beside himself when he discovers the apartment into which he is moving with his fiancée is upstairs from that of celebrated novelist Silas Hale, a hero of his. David envisions bonding over drinks with the New Yorker contributor, whose support will surely guarantee his rise in literary circles. But Hale proves to be an insufferable control freak who reveals his colors by refusing to turn up the heat in the weirdly designed building (which plays a major role), leaving the couple freezing. He seems to soften a bit when David, following in his large footsteps, is named winner of the Boston Literary Society’s prize for Best First Novel. But a punch-in-the-gut development quickly frays their relationship, leaving David to lie, cheat, and worm his way through serial setbacks. People die. Rats appear. For Pearl, known for historical thrillers including The Dante Club (2003), this satirical departure depicts the writer’s life in the worst possible light. It’s a clever and cutting novel about "someone who writes to become a writer" amid conniving competitors. But it can’t overcome the absence of information about David’s book save a one-line plot description more than two-thirds of the way through. Pearl may well be getting at how publishing has less to do with content than optics in having what we’re led to believe is a mediocre effort draw strong reviews. But as rewarding as this novel is in other ways, it’s a bit of a cheat to leave the reader hanging in this way.

Deviously entertaining.