Picture a New Yorker who swapped a publishing desk for a life crafting pulse-pounding thrillers—meet Chris Pavone! Known for his international bestsellers like The Expats, Pavone weaves intricate tales of espionage and personal drama that keep readers glued to the page. His journey from Brooklyn to literary stardom is as thrilling as his novels.
The Making of Chris Pavone
Born in 1968 and raised in Brooklyn, Chris Pavone grew up with a love for storytelling. After graduating from Midwood High School and Cornell University, where he studied government, he dove into the publishing world. For nearly two decades, he worked at houses like Dell Magazines and Clarkson Potter, climbing from copy editor to deputy publisher. His time editing cookbooks and ghostwriting nonfiction sparked a creative itch, but it was a life-changing move that ignited his writing career. When his wife, Madeline McIntosh, landed a job in Luxembourg, Pavone embraced the role of stay-at-home dad to their twin boys, using the quiet moments to pen his debut novel.
Chris Pavone’s Unforgettable Stories
Pavone’s novels are masterclasses in suspense, blending globe-trotting intrigue with deeply human struggles. His debut, The Expats (2012), follows Kate Moore, an ex-CIA agent navigating secrets and suspicion in Luxembourg. The book’s clever plot and twisty narrative won both the Edgar and Anthony Awards for Best First Novel, marking Pavone as a thriller heavyweight. The Accident (2014) dives into the cutthroat world of publishing, where a dangerous manuscript sparks chaos. The Travelers (2016) explores espionage through a journalist’s eyes, while The Paris Diversion (2019) revisits Kate Moore in a high-stakes Paris terror plot. His latest, Two Nights in Lisbon (2022), delivers a gripping tale of a missing husband and political intrigue. Pavone’s style—sharp, sophisticated, and layered with double-crosses—draws comparisons to John le Carré and Ken Follett, with settings so vivid they feel like travelogues.
His knack for crafting complex female protagonists, like Kate Moore, sets him apart. Pavone channels real-life experiences, like his own expat challenges, into stories that tackle societal issues—cybercrime, terrorism, corporate greed—against personal betrayals. Each novel is a puzzle, meticulously plotted yet unpredictable, keeping readers guessing until the final page.
Why Chris Pavone Matters
Chris Pavone has redefined the modern thriller, blending espionage with emotional depth. His awards and bestseller status—across the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal—prove his universal appeal. Translated into over 20 languages and optioned for film and TV, his stories resonate globally. By drawing on his publishing savvy and expat adventures, Pavone crafts narratives that feel authentic and urgent, inspiring a new wave of thriller writers. His focus on strong, flawed women challenges genre norms, making his work both thrilling and thought-provoking.
- Born: 1968, New York City
- Key Works: The Expats, The Accident, The Travelers, The Paris Diversion, Two Nights in Lisbon
- Awards: Edgar Award (2013), Anthony Award (2013) for Best First Novel
- Fun Fact: Lives in New York with his family and an Australian Labradoodle named Wally
Snag The Expats and dive into Chris Pavone’s world of spies, secrets, and suspense!