NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Three people will stop at nothing to prevent the publication of a manuscript containing long-buried secrets, from the acclaimed author of The Doorman. “Unputdownable.”— The New York Times “A must-read . . . Gripping.”— USA Today “A taut, bookish thriller.”— People A ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Is this book worth killing for? As dawn approaches in New York, literary agent Isabel Reed turns the final pages of a mysterious, anonymous manuscript, racing through its explosive revelations about powerful people, In Copenhagen, CIA operative Hayden Gray, determined that this sweeping story be buried, is suddenly staring down the barrel of a gun. And in Zurich, the author himself is hiding in a shadowy expat life, always looking over his shoulder. Over the course of one long, desperate day, these lives collide, placing everything at risk—and everyone in mortal peril. Captivating, sophisticated, and impossible to put down, The Accident proves once again that Chris Pavone is a true master of suspense. “[Pavone is] a reliable new must-read in the world of thrillers. . . . You will want to finish The Accident at a nice, rapid clip to see how [the] pieces come together. . . . Unputdownable.” — The New York Times “Smart and stylish . . . Thrill-a-minute . . . The Accident never stumbles as it confidently and most entertainingly barrels forward toward shocking revelations and a bombshell of a finish.” — Chicago Tribune “Savvy . . . [with] plenty of swift action and sudden twists.” — The Wall Street Journal “Chris Pavone is the new best thing. The Accident proves the promise of The Expats . It is as intelligent and timely as it is relentless and gripping. Pavone is going to be around for a long time and now is the time to jump on the train.” —Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Gods of Guilt and The Burning Room “The thriller of the year . . . Pavone’s characters seem genuine, with some flaws in the good guys and some virtues in the bad guys.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Best Books of the Year) “Maximum enjoyment at maximum speed.” — Dallas Morning News “A sly globetrotting spy thriller that gives new meaning to ‘publish or perish.’” — Family Circle “A fast-paced, dangerous ride . . . That intricate plot [propels you] forward, twisting and turning right up to its final, ultimately satisfying conclusion.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram “A clever, sophisticated mystery.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “[Pavone] has outdone himself with this amazing thriller. . . . Full of constant surprises, [ The Accident ] is jam-packed with everything from media moguls to conspiracies. This is a truly great read!” — Suspense magazine “A high-wire thriller featuring a Wolfe-ian cast of characters.” — Vogue “Tantalizing . . . with terrific surprises and high-quality writing in this engaging thriller.” —Associated Press “Pavone’s plot twists tirelessly, shifting focus among a large cast of well-drawn characters. . . . Many readers will read this one through the night.” — Booklist (starred review) “[A] high-wire thriller . . . The suspense is palpable.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “[An] engaging thriller, driven by compelling portraits of desperate characters.” — Library Journal “Pavone knows the formula for a bestseller and keeps the reader turning the pages.” — Kirkus Reviews “Chris Pavone’s many fans will not be disappointed with The Accident , his fast-paced, twisting, smart follow-up to The Expats . Cleverly plotted, filled with surprises, a terrific read.” —William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob “The world of book publishing has never been more perilous or mesmerizing than in Chris Pavone’s dizzyingly good follow-up to The Expats . The dark eruption of long-buried secrets, complex betrayals further snagged by sex and greed, and eleventh-hour desperate gambits for reinvention all propel a whirlwind story that will keep you up way past your bedtime. Crafty, stylish, satisfying.” —Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife Chris Pavone is the New York Times bestselling author of The Doorman, The Paris Diversion, The Travelers , The Accident , and The Expats , winner of the Edgar and Anthony Awards for best first novel. He was a book editor for nearly two decades and lives in New York City with his family. Chapter 1 It’s just before dawn when Isabel Reed turns the final sheet of paper. Halfway down the page, her mouth falls open, her heartbeat quickens. Her eyes dart across each typescript line at a rapid-fire pace, accelerating as she moves through the final paragraph, desperate to arrive at a revelation, to confirm her suspicions. She sucks in her breath, and holds that breath, for the last lines. Isabel stares at the final period, the little black dot of ink . . . staring . . . She lets out her breath. “My