A sinister, sophisticated debut thriller by “a remarkable new voice to watch” (J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author), Man of the Year has been lauded by Shelf Awareness as “an impressive slow burn that builds suspense and cracks the whip at the end…redolent with menace and ego.” Dr. Robert Hart, Sag Harbor’s just-named Man of the Year, is the envy of his friends and neighbors. His … is the envy of his friends and neighbors. His medical practice is thriving. He has a beautiful old house and a beautiful new wife and a beautiful boat docked in the village marina. Even his wayward son, Jonah, is back on track, doing well at school and finally worthy of his father’s attentions. So when Jonah’s troubled college roommate needs a place to stay for the summer, Hart and his wife generously offer him their guesthouse. A win-win: Jonah will have someone to hang with, and his father can bask in the warm glow of his own generosity.
But when Robert suspects his new houseguest of getting a little too close to his wife, the good doctor’s veneer begins to crack, and all the little lies he tells start to mount. Before long, Robert is embroiled in a desperate downward spiral, threatening to destroy anyone who stands in his way. It’s only the women in his life–his devoted office manager, his friends and neighbors, his wife–who can reveal the truth…if he’s willing to look.
Biting and timely, Man of the Year races along at an electric pace, building to a wicked twist you won’t see coming.
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Beautifully written and deviously plotted—the very best kind of story. MAN OF THE YEAR is a stellar literary suspense, exploring the chasm between truth and lies, identity, love, hate, and the pursuit of self, and how a moment’s decision can undo a perfect world. Caroline Louise Walker is a remarkable new voice to watch. Give me more!
This is THAT book. You know the one I’m talking about…the one hidden under your teetering should-read, have-to-read, said-I-would-read-months-ago pile. The one you grab at the end of the day because, damnit, you earned this deliciousness, and it reminds you of why you loved reading in the first place. Not only because it’s a blisteringly intelligent, breathtaking debut, drenched with a masterful understanding of human nature, brimming with twists, surprises, suspense and razor sharp language, but because it’s witty and hilarious and also – long lost thing – the book is a blast to read: it’s fun. So go grab a copy and disappear yourself, I’ll understand completely.
Man of the Year by Caroline Louise Walker
This book kept me guessing on who did what and who caused what to happen. Talk about paranoia will destroy ya……this is exactly what happens when Bobby gets Man of the Year and begins to suspect his 2nd wife Elizabeth of cheating on him with his sons friend. Lives are impacted when secrets are held…..a twisting turning read. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this book and letting me leave my opinion.
Man of the Year cleverly exposes the fault lines in the seemingly idyllic life of a renowned doctor and his family when an outsider is invited in. Lies and misperceptions quickly spiral out of control, leading to deadly consequences. This dark family thriller will keep you on your toes until the very last page.
You know those characters that we love to hate? Well, Man of the Year is full of them, some of which you won’t even realize you should hate for quite some time. I suppose this one falls under the thriller genre, and the book does have the right pacing for it. The story does have its share of tragedy, but once things start happening, it has elements of dark comedy as well. As Dr. Hart piles mistake on top of mistake, it’s a bit like a train wreck – you don’t want to see, but you can’t look away. This one has infidelity at its core, after all that’s how the doctor’s second marriage started, but it’s really based on paranoia and how far one person is willing to go once that sets in. The story does have its share of twists, some I saw coming and some, not so much, but I have to say that this author’s timing is quite good on that front. In the end, I can’t say that I liked any of the characters, and I certainly didn’t agree with their actions. That said, whether because of sheer incredulity or interest in how it would all play out, the story did hold my attention. Walker has shown definite promise in this debut novel, and I’ll be interested to see what she has for us next.
SUSPICION. LIES. DECEIT. “Man of the Year” is a story made up of all three. It’s also a tale that’s as twisted as it is compelling. It’s a character-driven story that will elicit a myriad of emotions, as the reader is drawn into the protagonist’s suspicions regarding his wife’s fidelity.
Boasting a unique premise and a few well-placed surprises, I enjoyed this intriguing story from start to finish.
Man of the Year is a multiple point of view novel that delves deeply into the personal lives and inner worlds of many of the characters. It’s a stark look at love, paranoia, family, and what people will do to get or keep what they believe they deserve. Thank you to Gallery Books for the ARC! The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #ManOfTheYear
I know I am in the minority with this rating, but the whole book bored me. I was just waiting for this huge “Wow” that everyone was writing about and it never hit me like that. I had a hard time even liking any of the characters in the book. Robert, the self centered doctor. Elizabeth, the pitiful wife and Jonah, an extremely boring college student. Read if you want to put yourself to sleep.
Man of the Year – 3.5 stars. Interesting premise, but I struggled for the first probably 40 or 45% because I disliked the main character so very intensely. Dr. Hart was just not for me.
That said, Man of the Year was engrossing and full of secrets. Secrets, lies and misdirection. It’s definitely a winner in this genre. For most of the first half we see life through Dr. Hart’s eyes and what a life it is. He doubts everyone ~ their motivation, their honesty and their faithfulness.
Things really spiral when Nick is invited to stay the summer at the Hart’s home. This is when the suspense really builds, as do the lies and misdirection.
The ending sneaks up quickly, but felt too too much for me. As always though, decide for yourself whether to read this or not. I was glad I did and am very much looking forward to author Caroline Louise Walker’s second book. With a first like this, the second should be really something.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC at my request. My thoughts in this review are my own and freely given.
Caroline Louise Walker’s plot drips out chillingly, slowly, inexorably, until the bitter and savage ending.
The outstanding, suspense novel, Man of the Year, catapults the reader into the dark, paranoid mind of Dr. Robert Hart (Bobby). Caroline Louise Walker writes in a sophisticated style that that lures the reader into the storyline, then adds masterfully developed, devious characters that make this debut novel a pleasure to read.
Man of the Year is a slow burn that kept me wondering what the heck I was reading. Be warned there is little to no real action in this book, but something far better and more challenging to achieve, pure suspense. The author gets the reader deep into the inner workings of the mind of the main character, Bobby but also his wife Elizabeth and his son Jonah.
The first part of the book told from Bobby’s point of view where Walker uses a series of internal monologs that exposes just what an egotistical, paranoid person he truly is, thus setting him down a path of self-destruction. Bobby’s paranoia has him seeing faults in the people he once loved unconditionally. Walker also gives the reader a glimpse into the minds of Elizabeth and Jonah. We get to know their innermost thoughts, secrets, and of course, the lies and they harbor.
When Elizabeth suggests that Nick, Jonah’s best friend, spend the summer with them, this propels Bobby’s mind to imagine situations that may or may not be there. There are multiple twists and turns, lies, and hidden feelings from all the characters that explode into a domestic fray that has the ability to take down the whole family.
The one thing that you can expect from this book is that everyone in this book is lying and has a hidden agenda. You will not know whom to believe or whom to trust. So my advice is to trust no one, assume everyone is lying, and expect the unexpected.
I was utterly blindsided for most of the book, and the ending was phenomenal. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author.
***I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***
Can you ever trust the cuckoo in the nest? Beautifully written, cleverly structured, and fiendishly plotted, this book should be at the top of every discerning reader’s list.
Man of The Year is horror that takes place in a familiar setting. Caroline Louise Walker writes with chilling realism about the darkness beneath normality, and her debut ends with a twist you won’t see coming.
Othello isn’t the only great hero brought low by jealousy, as Caroline Louise Walker’s Man of the Year brilliantly proves. Just when you think you know which of the upstanding doctor’s suspicions to believe, the plot – and human nature – prove you wrong. This is what fiction is for.
Dr. Hart is a distinguished, important man in the Sag Harbor community. As he wins Man of the Year his life begins to fall apart. He sees things that aren’t as they seem, he hears things wrongly, and he acts on all of these things.
I started this book expecting a thriller. It was not a fast start and I began to wonder when the story was going to pick up when the story was going to start moving. About 1/3 the way through it picked up. The characters started acting out, the storyline got moving, and I couldn’t stop reading. I liked that the majority of the book is told from Dr. Hart’s point of view. There are a few chapters mixed in told from the other characters that added just the right mix to the book.
The ending is interesting. I couldn’t wait to see how it would all come together, I couldn’t wait to see how Dr. Hart and Mrs. Hart would find their happily ever after or if they would find it. I read the last page, closed the book, and thought that the ending wasn’t quite what I expected.
This was a different read from what I am used to. The main narrator is Dr. Robert Hart, for the most part of the book, who seems to be very paranoid and is spiraling out of control. Robert is married to the beautiful Elizabeth who he met when they were both married to different people, began an affair and broke up their marriages to be together. Robert has a son in college, Jonah who was basically raised by his ex-wife, but has returned to live with him and step-mother Elizabeth. Jonah’s college roommate, Nick, has come to spend the summer in their guesthouse. I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was a really good read, but the characters were all very unlikeable. Lots of events happened that made me think the story was going to go in a certain way, but then it went a different way. This wasn’t a thriller per se and I am not quire sure what I would classify it. I did not care for the ending and I felt there were a couple of loose ends that should have been tied up a little more. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this very interesting book.