Title: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
From the author of the New York Times bestselling Spellman Files series, Lisa Lutz’s latest blistering thriller is about a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past: you’ll want to buckle up for the ride!
In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it…
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 today, 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…can she outrun her past?
With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: the ride will leave you breathless.
Review:
With plenty of secrets and startling twists and turns, The Passenger by Lisa Lutz is a riveting, suspense laden mystery.
After discovering the body of her husband, Tanya Dubois makes a life altering decision to flee due to her mysterious past. Following a seemingly fortuitous meeting with bartender “Blue”, Tanya is well on her way to forging a new life for herself in Wyoming when Blue’s past lands on her doorstep. Forced to change identities once again, Tanya quickly discovers that she is running out of options as she continues trying to outrun her past.
Initially, Tanya is not an easy character to like. She is little cold and comes across as rather opportunistic as she takes advantage of the people who cross her path. However, as more information about her past is revealed through a series of e-mails spanning several years, it is much easier to view her actions and reactions in a much more favorable light. Surprisingly, she has a pretty strong moral compass and she is greatly bothered when circumstances force her to compromise her principles. Tanya is also quite introspective and it does not take her long to begin to question the decisions she is making in order to survive.
On the other hand, Blue, who is also on the run, seemingly has no conscience. On the surface, her offer to help Tanya appears to be genuine but as Tanya soon discovers, her help comes with a pretty hefty price tag. Only time will tell whether their uneasy partnership will become Tanya’s downfall or ultimately, her salvation.
Well-written and compelling, The Passenger is an intriguing novel with an unusual premise that mystery lovers are sure to enjoy. Lead protagonist Tanya is flawed yet likable and as more of her backstory is revealed, she becomes a much more sympathetic character. The overall storyline is interesting and Lisa Lutz brings the novel to a dramatic but surprisingly, uplifting, conclusion.
Thanks Kathy