A SIMPLE PLAN (Scott Smith) - November 22/20

 This book is clearly much, much longer than necessary, and yet I was riveted for most of it. It's interesting that the narrative reaches a point at which I assumed it would end - Jacob is murdered by his brother - but that's only about the halfway mark. Smith packs the novel with a whole bunch of really suspenseful scenes, and I definitely found myself sympathizing more and more with the protagonist. The bleak ending was expected but powerful. ***1/2 out of ****