The Lost Americans - by Christopher Bollen (Paperback)

About the Book

"A young woman finds herself in the crosshairs of powerful and very dangerous enemies when she travels to Cairo to uncover the truth about her brother's mysterious death in this smart, atmospheric, and propulsive literary thriller from the acclaimed author of A Beautiful Crime and Orient "Bollen writes expansive, psychologically probing novels in the manner of Updike, Eugenides and Franzen, but he is also an avowed disciple of Agatha Christie."-Daily Telegraph (UK) When the lifeless body of Eric Castle, a weapons technician for a major American defense contractor, is found under his hotel balcony, both his employer and the Egyptian authorities quickly declare his death a suicide. But the dead man's sister, Cate, doesn't believe Eric took his own life and is determined to get to the truth. Traveling to Egypt she begins to piece together her brother's life in Cairo with the help of a handsome, young, gay Egyptian man named Omar, who yearns to escape the brutality of his nation's harsh, restrictive government. Unfortunately, Cate's quest raises more questions-and problems-than she ever imagined, as she takes on not only the arms company's top brass but the Egyptian military, secret police, and a slew of American expats with their own reasons to keep the dead buried once and for all. Soon she's in over her head, and it's not clear if either she or Omar will get out alive. This riveting thriller of set in loud, boisterous Cairo of Americans lost and found showcases Bollen's depth of characterization and haunting descriptive powers"--

Book Synopsis

A young woman finds herself in the crosshairs of powerful and very dangerous enemies when she travels to Cairo to uncover the truth about her brother's mysterious death in this smart, atmospheric, and propulsive literary thriller from the acclaimed author of A Beautiful Crime and Orient

"Bollen writes expansive, psychologically probing novels in the manner of Updike, Eugenides and Franzen, but he is also an avowed disciple of Agatha Christie."--Daily Telegraph (UK)

When the lifeless body of Eric Castle, a weapons technician for a major American defense contractor, is found under his hotel balcony, both his employer and the Egyptian authorities quickly declare his death a suicide. But the dead man's sister, Cate, doesn't believe Eric took his own life and is determined to get to the truth. Traveling to Egypt she begins to piece together her brother's life in Cairo with the help of a handsome, young, gay Egyptian man named Omar, who yearns to escape the brutality of his nation's harsh, restrictive government.

Unfortunately, Cate's quest raises more questions--and problems--than she ever imagined, as she takes on not only the arms company's top brass but the Egyptian military, secret police, and a slew of American expats with their own reasons to keep the dead buried once and for all. Soon she's in over her head, and it's not clear if either she or Omar will get out alive. This riveting thriller of set in loud, boisterous Cairo of Americans lost and found showcases Bollen's depth of characterization and haunting descriptive powers.

Review Quotes

A Kirkus "Best Book of the Year" --

"The Lost Americans is a gripping, page-turning tour de force. Christopher Bollen isn't merely a great storyteller -- though he is. He is also a brilliant stylist who, once again, has given us a literary thriller where the action never flags and character and atmosphere never are slighted." -- Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and The Lioness

"A terrific novel, rich in character and wonderfully atmospheric, with a propulsive plot packed with nerve-wracking peril and satisfying twists and reading enjoyment on every single page. I loved it." -- Chris Pavone, New York Times bestselling author of The Expats and Two Nights in Lisbon

"The Lost Americans is a perfectly taut thriller. A deeply atmospheric portrait of Cairo in all its beauty and decay, the novel pulses with energy. Bollen orchestrates a vivid and gripping reading experience." -- Emma Cline, internationally bestselling author of The Girls, Daddy, and The Guest

"Bollen is a modern master of the Highsmithian literary thriller. His previous book, A Beautiful Crime, was a Venice-set caper about lovers turned con men, a mystery that tapped into the Floating City's labyrinthine nature. Here, he flies readers to Cairo to uncover a mystery about an American defense contractor who'd reportedly died by suicide and his increasingly suspicious sister working to understand what really happened." -- Electric Literature, "Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Books of Spring"

"A gripping thriller with lingering emotional effects. . . . Bollen takes real risks with the story, making it more haunting than the reader may be prepared for. The scarcity of civil rights in contemporary Egypt is captured to shadowy effect, extending to the targeting of gay citizens like Cate's guide and driver, Omar. . . . Cut from the same mold as Robert Stone's great political thrillers with its international intrigue, darkly atmospheric setting, and compromised characters." -- Kirkus, starred review

"A bold plot twist bolsters the story's gritty realism, revealing that the villainy behind Eric's death shields a lot of human complexity. Bollen, known for setting thrillers in alluring locales, skillfully captures Cairo's beauty and palpable tension, and Cate and Omar's courage in facing hard truths gives this memorable thriller extra frisson." -- Booklist

"Sharp new literary thriller." -- Vanity Fair

"Uncharted territory...gripping and genuinely moving." -- New York Times

"It is not only clever and shrewdly observant; it is full of knowing and well-researched references to episodes from recent Egyptian history, from the central conceit of defenestration (or "suiciding") to the descriptions of the central characters, many of whom bear echoes of the real-life Americans and Egyptians who (according to the acknowledgments) Bollen couldn't get out of his mind while he was writing the novel.....Atmospherically, the thriller captures well the inescapable atmosphere of paranoia and surveillance anxiety that ordinary Egyptians find themselves suffocated by on a daily basis....Bollen's well-researched, sensitive, and sympathetically rendered novel feels faithful to the experiences of locals and expats alike..." -- The Nation

"We're in Graham Greene territory in Christopher Bollen's The Lost Americans, which takes place in Cairo. . . . The Lost Americans is a sensitively written, keenly observed, hauntingly sad thriller that will make you want to weep with frustration: for the brief, broken promise of the Arab Spring, for the betrayals that take place within families, and for the ugly business of war, which is always booming." -- Air Mail

"The Lost Americans is a delicious jigsaw puzzle of a novel, one that evokes the allure of far-flung travel and the complicated fantasy of trying to disappear into a place that is not your home." -- Departures

"The Lost Americans is a thrilling and engaging novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Bollen's skillful storytelling and richly drawn characters make for a deeply satisfying reading experience, and the novel's exploration of themes such as power, corruption, and identity make it a thought-provoking addition to the mystery and thriller genres. Highly recommended for fans of smart, atmospheric fiction that will keep you guessing until the very end." -- The Bookish Buzz

"The Lost Americans is a potent thriller with an espionage shot on the side." -- Crime Reads

"Bollen's novels are always stylish and smart, with twists of international intrigue and a sharp eye for social commentary, and The Lost Americans is certainly no exception." -- Town & Country, A "Must-read Book of Spring 2023"

"The Lost Americans is a well-conceived, extremely evocative thriller that respects the reader's intellect." -- Crime Fiction Lover

"Bollen's depth of characterization keeps the intensity at fever pitch throughout this riveting novel." -- Brooklyn Digest

Praise for A Beautiful Crime -- ///