Review of "The October List: A Suspense Novel" by Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver tried a different approach with this mystery, which begins with the last chapter and works backwards to the first chapter. Thus things happen that seem inexplicable in the moment.....but lead to "AHA" moments as you keep reading. It's good fun once you get used to it.

I don't want my review to be a spoiler, so I'll just give a brief description of the plot.

*****

Gabriela McKenzie is the office manager for investment counselor Charles Prescott, whose company - Prescott Investments - has an office in Manhattan. When Prescott comes into possession of a secret document called the 'October List' - reputed to be worth a lot of money - he steals all his clients' assets and skips town with the list.



Gabriela is questioned by the police, but isn't able to tell them anything about her boss's whereabouts.



One of Prescott's clients, Joseph Astor, lost $400,000 when the investment counselor absconded with the company's loot. Joseph wants his money back AND he wants a copy of the October List. So Joseph - a very creepy guy - kidnaps Gabriela's six-year-old daughter Sophie and calls the officer manager with a ransom demand. He wants $500,000 and the list, or little Sophie will suffer the consequences.



Gabriela finds a copy of the October List in Prescott's office, but can't locate his assets - so she doesn't have the money.



Gabriela is beside herself with anxiety, but her acquaintance - venture capitalist Daniel Reardon - has a company that's dealt with kidnappers before.....since executives in foreign countries frequently get snatched for ransom. Daniel offers to lend Gabriela the money AND to provide two associates who'll drop off the ransom and (hopefully) retrieve young Sophie.



As the book opens, Gabriela is waiting to hear news about the ransom exchange.



The story works backward from there, and - as we move along to the beginning of the tale - there's plenty of action. This includes: a break-in; a shooting; a fatal traffic accident; a severed finger; a romantic tryst; meetings with a Russian crime boss; police surveillance; a double murder; and more.



The are plenty of surprises in the story, and it's all very entertaining.

Deaver did a great job with the 'backwards story' format; I think he must have constructed a detailed flowchart/spreadsheet to keep all the story elements straight....so credit to the author.

I'd recommend the book to mystery fans in the mood for something a little different.

Rating: 3 stars