Readers' Comments for The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
In April, a select group of readers who participated in one of our special Sneak Peek contests won copies of THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR by Joël Dicker. It’s about Marcus Goldman, a young author who enjoyed unparalleled success after the publication of his first novel, but suffers from serious writer’s block as the deadline for his second approaches. But when his former English professor, renowned author Harry Quebert, is charged with the murder of a 15-year-old girl, Marcus returns to the tiny town of Somerset, NH. There, he is thrown into the role of lead investigator, and knows he must find out the truth --- even if it means turning in his own mentor. Take a look at some of the readers' comments to give you more insight into this psychological thriller full of twists and turns --- and make sure to watch out for SPOILERS!
Nicolette from Beaverton, OR
This mystery has stories within stories developing characters you will miss when the truth comes out and THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR has ended. I thought I had a grasp on the truth, then another twist, another turn, and I’m confronted with another perspective raising just as many questions as it answers. The pace of the story pulls you in from the beginning, the characters becoming neighbors in the small town I grew up in, with each twist bringing up as many questions as were answered. You think you know the truth, but perhaps you only know one perspective. Then, just as I knew I was on the downhill stretch, a couple more turns in the story left the conclusion, the truth, until the last possible moment. More enthralling than the Stieg Larsson MILLENNIUM TRILOGY it’s being compared to, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR is at the top of my ‘Best Books of 2014' list!
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes, and I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Susan from Arvada, CO
I received this book Thursday and immediately started. I couldn't put it down. I was intrigued, mesmerized, challenged and sorry to finish. I learned wisdom from Harry and the ending was indeed a surprise. Thank you for sharing. It is totally awesome.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? n/a
Julie from Hellertown, PA
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR is a fast paced mystery, full of twists and turns, with a shocking conclusion at the end of a wonderful read and characters that I loved and, as the book predicted, will now miss! I loved it! I loved the mystery, the twists and turns, the unexpected resolution, and the book within a book feel.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes!
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Debra from Roswell, GA
I think THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR was bloody brilliant! I was hooked after the first 10 pages and was not let down. I'm totally fascinated that a 28-year-old wrote this book. Just think of all we have to look forward to from Joël --- I can't wait. It was much more than a whodunit, full of twists and turns that kept you guessing all the way to end. Some say that a book of 500+ pages is filled with parts readers tend to skip, and unneeded story line. This is not the case with this story.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes!
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Linda from Glasgow, KY
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR was absolutely brilliant! It’s singular, highly original and the rare book that lives up to its hype. Quite possibly the best, most satisfying thriller I have ever read. It grabs the reader’s attention from the first page and never falters, and I didn’t want it to end. Joël Dicker is a superb wordsmith who has carefully crafted a thriller replete with richly developed characters and surprisingly plot twists.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Laurie from Fredonia, NY
In THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR, a struggling writer, Marcus, goes to stay with his old college professor, Harry, in Somerset. Marcus discovers that Harry had an affair with a 15-year-old girl when he was 34. The girl, Nola, disappeared the summer of the affair. Marcus believes Harry had nothing to do with her disappearance, and has vowed to find out the truth. His new novel is thus born, and we are along for the ride. I loved it! I did not want to put it down, but laundry and children were calling. There were so many twists and turns throughout the book. It was captivating until the very last page.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Diana from Westerville, OH
I loved THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR. I could not put this book down and I was completely engrossed with the characters. This is a book within a book with many twists and turns. Marcus Goldman, a young author suffering from writer’s block, turns to his old college professor and good friend, Harry Quebert, for inspiration. Marcus stumbles across a part of Harry’s life he was unaware of, which causes him to question everything he knew about Harry. He then needs to investigate and shake his writer’s block to save his friend. But beware, nothing in this book is what it seems to be.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Ronie from Mechanicsville, VA
I enjoyed this book from the very first page. It was a big book but very easy to read. Just read it and I know you will enjoy it. I think it will be on the best seller list for a long time.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Patrick from York, ME
Probably the most original crime novel of recent years. There are so many twists and turns that they leave the reader mesmerized. I thought it was great, and gave a positive review on Goodreads.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Michelle from Minneapolis, MN
A mystery book with multiple plot lines and undercurrents that carry the story beyond a typical whodunit. I thought it was a great book to read on vacation or over a long weekend. With lots of twists and turns, it kept me guessing all the way until the end. Exceeded my expectations! I thought it would be a straightforward mystery/thriller, but there's so much more to it. Like all well-written books, I was invested in the characters and cared about what happened to them. I was really excited to see that the Economist gave a positive review of the book in their most recent issue. More validation that this is an amazing book.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have!
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Linda from Chatsworth, CA
This is a book within a book and has multiple stories. There is romance, friendship, mystery, and suspense. Once you start this book, it will be a challenge to put it down. I love books with twists and turns to the story, and I really liked this book! Our book club will read and discuss it for our July meeting.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Anna from Newcomerstown, OH
Sheer panic from the author of the year! Can he pull off another best seller? Or even write anything again? Ever? A set of coincidences leads to the story of a lifetime handed to him. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR is a stunner on steroids! I especially loved the politics of the day used to set the stage, then the missingLolita found. And his story, and redemption, is born.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes, and I already have!
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Alyson from Centennial, CO
A thriller with so many twists your head will be spinning, this book is also literary fiction about authors, writing, guilt, and love. I loved it! I had trouble getting into to it because I disliked Marcus at the beginning, but then I got hooked.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Rita from Charlotte, NC
This is the story of a book that chronicles the love affair between a man and a 15-year-old girl who mysteriously disappears in the summer of 1975. The discovery of her body over 30 years later turns the lives of everyone involved upside down. I thought the book was incredible. It captivated me so much that I didn't want to put it down.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Vicki from Brigham City, UT
A writer researching his next book gets caught up in an unsolved murder. An old friend and mentor is accused of the murder so the investigation becomes his next book. I loved it. One of my favorites of the year so far.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Valerie from Fortuna, CA
I loved THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR. It had several story lines which the author skillfully wove together into a cohesive whole by the end of the book. It was a great story, full of suspense and mystery, and once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Heather from Rumford, RI
For our area, it is a locally set story about a murder mystery that spans a long period of time. One of the main characters is a young author, like the real author, who sets out to prove the innocence of the man he wanted to help him with his writing problem. A great read, and I enjoyed Dicker’s writing style.
Rating: 4.5/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Jaque from Phoenix, AZ
I very much enjoyed reading THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR, a fascinating study in human experiences. Well-written with twists and fleshed out characters, I was completely absorbed in this quirky, mysterious love story, and finished reading it in record time.
Rating: 4.5/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Rena from St. Augustine, FL
This book is a rollercoaster mystery involving a murder of a young woman, friendship of two authors, and each chapter has another twist. Just when you think you know what happened, another surprise appears. The characters get more interesting throughout the book. It was a book I did not want to put down. An excellent mystery, it kept me interested throughout the novel.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Anne from Albuquerque, NM
The novel has a multi-layered plot, which is enthralling, and characters who are realistic and well portrayed. This novel is unique and intriguing, as well as memorable for the dilemmas the characters face and the situations that are involved. Intriguing and engrossing.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
John from Augusta, GA
Marcus Goldman, a successful young novelist, receives a phone call from long-time friend and mentor Harry Quebert. The skeleton of Nola Kellergan, a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing three decades earlier, has been discovered on Harry's property, and Quebert is accused of her murder. During an earlier visit, Marcus discovered that the two of them had a secret love affair and were to elope, but she disappeared before their departure. In Nola's possession in the grave was discovered a copy of Harry's manuscript, finished during the summer of Nola's disappearance, inscribed with an anonymous message to Nola telling her goodbye. Now Marcus finds himself traveling to the New Hampshire seacoast to save Harry, who claims he is innocent of the murder of the young girl he says he still misses.
I found this psychological thriller sustained my interest, page after page, as I accompanied Marcus in investigating the events surrounds Nola's disappearance and attempting to discern the motivations for those who might want to end her life. This mystery contains all of the qualities to make a good mystery --- that is, red-herrings, complex characters, family secrets and wrong-turns. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers penned by Donna Tartt or Gillian Flynn, you won't want to miss this novel when released.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Mark from Melbourne, FL
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIRis an extremely clever and engaging literary thriller. It is very well-written, with twists and turns that will delight the savviest adherents of the genre. The story has all the elements of a page-turning mystery. You will not come close to guessing the ending (nor multiple steps before). But it is so much more. For instance, and to my delight, it is meta-meta-fiction (I may have missed a meta- in there). It will strike chords with readers who love writers, as well as those who may (still) have aspirations of their own. Most profoundly, Dicker's work is a multi-faceted love story --- textured, rich, sad and funny. It never felt contrived or maudlin.I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and wish this book much success in its upcoming English language launches.
Rating:4/5
Would you recommend? Yes, and I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Marla from Pierre Part, LA
This is the book for you if you are in the mood for an intense read. It has everything you want in a great read and will keep your interest from start to finish. This book kept my interest and had me turning page after page.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Lystra from Anderson, SC
I really enjoyed this book! I felt that it was a great mystery/love story/fun read. It was great for an easy read and a very good page turner. I was hooked from the first page and the author held my interest throughout. Sometimes it was easy to see where the book was going, but even though you knew the trail wouldn't lead to the murderer, the story line behind it was still filled with twists and turns that added something to the overall story. The book was long, and could have been shorter, and the ending was very convoluted and strained to be believable, but by that time I didn't care. It’s a great beach read, a mystery that keeps you hooked from the start. Beware, it’s long, and may keep you up at night trying to get to the end. Also, it’s clean reading with no gratuitous sex, which I appreciated.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend: Yes!
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Elizabeth from Norcross, GA
I loved THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR. I couldn’t put it down. It was well-written and unusual. A multi-layered thriller full of twists and turns, the book seemed to have a bit unreliable narrator, and you simply didn’t know who to trust or which layer was true or what was coming next. Thank you so much for the advanced reader’s copy --- I really enjoyed it!
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes!
Judie from Lake Orion, MI
The book is a multi-layered love story, murder mystery, and a writer's guide book. The plot is delicately woven, and one wonders which is the book that is written and which is the one being read. An intriguing page turner.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? Yes, and I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Chris from Fort Wayne, IN
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR is a multi-layered mystery, involving almost a whole town of characters/suspects, several love stories, and so many plot twists and turns that you will not be bored. My advice is to take it on vacation and read it! I knew, from the length of it, that there would not be an easy answer to the mystery, so I had some hunches of my own along the way. I was dying to know who the actual murderer was by the time I got to the final two chapters and stayed up way too late trying to finish. I really liked some of the characters, namely Marcus, his mother, and Gahalowood. I also liked Harry, even though he was deeply flawed. He was troubling, and I kept thinking that his involvement with Nola was fictional, almost to the very end.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? Yes, and I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
David from Raymondville, NY
I read the book and thought that on the whole, it was pretty good. I did think it was overly long for the amount of plot, but it was so well-written, I could live with that. I would not compare it with outright thrillers such as THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, but with more thoughtful literary thrillers like THE GOLDFINCH and NIGHT FILM. The story, about a novelist trying to prove his mentor is not guilty of murder, is really more about the art of writing. In that regard, it reminded me of the film SWIMMING POOL.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Deb from Jericho, VT
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR is an absorbing book within a book that takes so many twists and turns that you are always wondering what is going to happen next. Although a couple of the personalities in the book were extreme and unbelievable by themselves, the rest of the characters are vivid and interesting enough to pull you through. Filled with deceptions and un-earthed secrets, this book keeps you guessing until the very end. I’d been having a hard time finding a book I could really sink into and live in. This was it! I couldn’t wait to get back to read more.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? I already have!
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Sonia from Ocean Pines, MD
I liked it. It was very long but it held my interest. A very clever story. Not a hardcore murder mystery (which I am not a fan of, except I really did enjoy "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," which was also long but more graphic). The characters were interesting, and I like that I didn't have to keep a written tally of them to keep them straight in my head.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend? I already have.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Cindy from Allen, TX
An interesting, readable mystery, with so many plot twists, there were almost more than one could keep up with. The author could have left out a great many unnecessary details and shorten the read. A very cleverly written book within a book, this murder mystery spans 33 years and keeps the pages turning. The characters are very diverse and keep the reader interested. The end is worth the wait!
Rating: 3/5
Would you recommend? Maybe.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Patricia from Dittmer, MO
This book is a story within a story, with lots of side stories. A little bit confusing at times because of the repeating. A good mystery/love story but a lot of suspects. I liked the book, but it was a little long. I was beginning to get tired of it towards the end and ready to read something different.
Rating: 3/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Lauren from Stoughton, MA
This is a fast-paced thriller that includes some pieces of the literary world,
but for whatever reason I wasn't engaged in the story line. I felt like I was missing out on a lot of details and could not keep track of the plot. I would not compare it to the Millennium Trilogy.
Rating: 3/5
Would you recommend? Maybe.
Would you read another by Dicker? No.
Lin from Poughkeepsie, NY
The premise of the book was very intriguing. When young, acclaimed author Marcus Goldman can't produce his long overdue follow-up, he turns to his mentor, Harry Quebert, for help. While staying with Harry, he learns that Harry had a relationship with a teenager in 1975, who has since gone missing. What happened between them and where is she? My biggest concern with the book was that I thought it was too long. I also found the style to be somewhat juvenile and the dialogue a bit unbelievable. Because it received such glowing praise in Europe, I'm willing to accept that these flaws might be attributable to the translation. I would like to see a different translator for his next book.
Rating: 3/5
Would you recommend? Yes.
Would you read another by Dicker? Yes.
Beverly from Palm Harbor, FL
A book within a book dealing with writer's block, a mysterious disappearance and small town life. I could not finish it. An interesting concept, but all the time changes --- back to pas,t on to present --- left me at times trying to figure out where I was. Very disconcerting.
Rating: 2/5
Would you recommend? No.
Would you read another by Dicker? No.
Annie from St. Paul, MN
In one word, I thought THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR was awful. I so wanted to be thrilled by this book. With a sinking heart, I knew about 40 pages in I was going to have a tough time finishing. The hype was great --- a book within a book, an author writing a book and accused of murder? The clincher was comparing this book to the Stieg Larson trilogy. Larson is one of my favorite authors, so I thought, sign me up! I am still ticked at the comparison to Larson's work as this book is the complete opposite in every single way! To me, this book read almost like a cartoon. I know sometimes translations can make a book sound funny, so maybe part of it was the translation? I could not find one person to like in this book --- they were all nasty, greedy, stupid, forgettable, shallow and there were so many of them! It seems everyone and no one was guilty in some way, somehow. A 640-page book of forgettable people... I just could not care about the story or the characters, and it was all I could do to slog through to the end. A wonderful and favorite quote of mine is by S.R. Ranganathan "Every reader her book. Every book its reader." This book came close to me changing my mind.
Rating: 2/5
Would you recommend? No.
Would you read another by Dicker? Maybe.
