Blaine DeSantis's Reviews > The Main Character: A Novel

This book is an auspicious tribute to Agatha, Christie and her classic "Murder on the Orient Express." What's impressive Is that relative newcomer, Jaclyn Goldis for only her second novel has succeeded where many would have failed. Yes, there is a murder on a train, but the characters are well developed, the plot is expertly devised, and personally I kept wondering who was killed on the train. I had my guesses throughout the book, and every time I turn to a new chapter, my guesses seem to evaporate. It is that well written and that much fun to read. Here we follow an author, Ginevra Ex, a highly successful writer, but whose last book was a dismal flop. In order to regain her status on the top of best seller lists she brought in former LA news anchor Rory Aranov who she interviews for three months in Rome. This is Genevra's modus operandi for all of her books. She finds a person, digs into their background, does extensive research on that individual and then that person becomes the "main character"for her new novel. Rory is someone different because Rory had interviewed Ginevra multiple times whenever she came to Los Angeles to promote her books, so there was a degree of familiarity when she was asked to be interviewed to be a main character in an upcoming book. Our book begins with.Ginevra finding a dead body, and then we go back in time to figure out what went on and what happened on this train? You see this was no ordinary train, this was the fabled Orient Express with a segment that ran from northern Italy down through Cinque Terra, to Rome and end up in Positano. It was designed as a three day vacation for Rory, but that first day when she went to the Club Car she was startled to find her brother Max, her best friend Caroline, and her former fiancé Nate all aboard the train. She had no idea they would be there and even they had no idea why they were there, even though they all told her that this was Ginevra's gift to all of them for being used as characters in her upcoming book. The book then goes back-and-forth with separate narrators for each chapter, and we eventually find out that there are secrets, mysteries, betrayals and much more among our assembled group. We also get to find out the background of Rory's father and his journey from Russia to America.. Along the way Rory receives a letter which exposes some of the issues and betrayals among her group of friends. This drives Rory to take certain actions because she thinks one and one equals two, when in fact, not everything is as evident as she believes. Each stop along the way is filled with danger, intrigue and revelation. By the end, all questions are answered, who was found dead, how they died and the mysteries all these individuals carried with them. It's a very well done book, with authentic characterization and plotting. And when you consider that this is the authors second book you're impressed by what she's been able to conjure up for all of us and can't wait for her next book!