This book is everything and more. I couldn’t put it down. Now that I am back to reading again this feels amazing to read books that is inspiring and makes you feel things and this is what this does for me. One of my favorite authors hands down.

Loved this book! My cousin and I both read it at the same time on a vacation in the mountains and we had a blast discussing it as we read. We loved theorizing what might have happened and who could be behind it. Great read. Kept us on the edge of our seats. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ferrar, Strauss, and Giroux for allowing me to read a digital ARC of "Two Nights in Lisbon" by Chris Pavone, published in May 2022. Please forgive my delay in reading and reviewing this novel.

After a night of passion with her younger husband in a Lisbon hotel, Ariel Pryce awakens to find John missing. She receives a call from an individual stating her husband is being held for a ransom of three million dollars. Ariel, an unreliable narrator, digs deep into her reservoir to raise the ransom money and save her husband. However, she encounters one roadblock after another. As the narrative unfolds, the reader discovers Ariel's and her husband’s backstory, and that their names are not their birth names. Why do they have aliases? Is Ariel able to get the money and save her husband?

This engaging novel, filled with twists and turns, could have been shorter. At times, the dialogue and the actions felt repetitive and confusing. The ending was unexpected and left me wondering why the author took the reader on a circuitous route to the conclusion. “Two Nights in Lisbon” is the first novel I have read by Mr. Pavone. The author draws the reader into the narrative, keeping them invested as Ariel’s story unfolds. 

3 out of 5 stars

This novel was better than expected. I got something (in a good way) that ended up being a bit different than I went in imagininig it woud be. The story started out like an ordinry kindapping thriller with the husband dissappearing and things not going well. My initial thoughts were that this novel was more a social commentary on how “all men are bad” and none of them are trustworthy (which is a pretty worn-out trope because not all of us are bad!) but morphed into a political/spy thriller instead and the later half of the book was much better.

The pacing was great throughout the novel and even though there were 50+ chapters, the novel didn’t seem too long or too short. The twists that kept coming certainly kept me guessing, whish is why I ultimately rated this novel so high.

When Ariel awakens only to find her husband missing, her efforts to get help finding him meet some serious roadblocks. While this is not an original plot, Chris Pavone adds some hints and clues, throws in several twists and stirs in enough intrigue to keep the pace moving and the story growing on it's own. A great read meant to be shared with someone who loves thrillers as much as you do.

I'm glad the author veered away from the publishing world. It was great to see. Just like his others, it's a great ride to the end. This is a delicate balancing act, and although he might not have pulled it off completely, he did a pretty damn good job.

An exciting, evocative novel with a great sense of place. I loved the unreliable narration-- big fan of literary thrillers like this.

Ariel’s Husband Disappears in Lisbon

Two Nights in Lisbon is a sophisticated and thrilling read that offers a deep dive into the complexities of relationships and the lengths to which one will go under pressure. Chris Pavone's masterful storytelling and ability to create suspenseful and twisty plots make this book a must-read for fans of international thrillers. Its strengths lie in its compelling characters, moral depth, and exhilarating plot. Some readers might find the initial pacing a bit slow, but the book ultimately delivers a satisfying and thought-provoking experience.
For anyone looking for a well-crafted thriller with emotional and psychological depth, Two Nights in Lisbon is highly recommended.

Ariel Pryce hasn't been married long, so when her husband suggests that she accompany him on a business trip to Lisbon, she agrees. It is to be somewhat of a honeymoon and the first night lives up to that promise. A great meal, a lovely hotel and a night of passion. But when Ariel wakes up the next morning, her husband isn't in the room. At first she thinks he must be walking or eating breakfast but when he doesn't return and she notices belongings he should have with him still in the room, she starts to worry.

She goes to the police but they think she is an overanxious wife. She tries the American Embassy but the same thing happens. Unsure where to turn, she is given a cell phone on the street by a stranger and then it rings. John has been kidnapped and the ransom is three million in cash within two days.

Ariel doesn't know what to do. She and John are middle class and don't have anything like that kind of money. She calls her first husband who is wealthy but he isn't willing to help. Finally, she is forced to make a call she hoped she would never have to make to the man with whom she shares a dark secret but who is the only person she knows who has that kind of money.

Chris Pavone is a thriller writer whose work has been awarded most of the awards in this genre. In this clever mystery, each chapter starts with the time and the day which increases the tension as Ariel's deadline to pay the ransom inches closer and closer. There are many twists and turns which I didn't see coming and a very satisfactory ending. This book is recommended for mystery and thriller fans.

Wow. This was the first book I have read by Chris Pavone but it won't be my last. I love how he wrote such a strong, authentic, female character. The pace of the plot and the premise of this novel kept things moving so quickly I didn't want to put it down!

Ariel Pryce wakes up in Lisbon to find that her new husband has disappeared. In the course of trying to track him down, Ariel discovers that she may not have known him as well as she thought. This is a terrific thriller told from alternating viewpoints and timelines. I liked the nifty twist at the end.

Two Nights in Lisbon is an action packed thrilled that will keep you guessing right up until the ending.

I enjoyed this book. The author took time building this story piece by piece, but I did not lose interest. Ariel was a strong, likable character who is easy to route for,

Thank you to NetGalley, Farrr, Straus and Giroux, and Chris Pavone for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“You think you know a person . . .Ariel Pryce wakes up in Lisbon, alone. Her husband is gone—no warning, no note, not answering his phone. Something is wrong.”

After hearing Anne Bogel recommend Two Nights in Lisbon on the What Should I Read Next episode 422, and realizing I had this unread title as an ARC on my NetGalley shelf, I finally read (and listened to the audiobook) to this novel by Chris Pavone. So glad I did! I loved that this suspenseful thriller was a twisty page turner without being overly gory or nightmarish. I liked that, afterwards, it made me think about the less obvious, but serious, ripple effects that can happen when rich politicians or people in power do bad things and buy their way out of them.
Other thoughts…
*I loved having the print and audiobook available. The audiobook was narrated by January LaVoy, who did a great job. Would definitely recommend it. Also, because of the timeline hopping between past and present, I was able to go back into the print copy if any confusion occurred.
*Great sense of place.
*In general, I liked the ending, but really would have liked John’s “Yes?” in the epilogue to have been a more detailed answer.
*As much as I liked this, there were places that this dragged and seemed redundant. Definitely could have been shorter in length.
*Trigger warning- Sexual assault, kidnapping, some drug use
Thank you to NetGalley and to Farrr, Straus and Giroux for this ARC in return for my honest review.

This book has more turns and loops than a roller coaster. Ariel Pryce takes a trip with her new husband, John Wright but on the first night there, he goes missing. The book takes the reader on a twisty ride with Ariel (as narrator) and how she tries to find her husband. She is resourceful and a fighter. You wonder how she knows how to navigate through the chaos. Could the reader do the same if it happened to you?We learn of her back story as the real events are unfolding. At times this can be confusing and sometimes there is too much narrative. If you like a thriller, this one you will not be able to put down. I look forward to discussing it with my book club! Highly recommend.

Intense, action packed and full of twists! I was tied up in this one until the end! Fantastic!

Thank you, Chris Pavone, the publisher and netgalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a unique, well-written mystery that I really enjoyed. My only gripe is that it's long for a thriller -- more than 400 pages! -- but I did have a good time reading it. My first Chris Pavone book and I'll definitely pick up his work again.

I’m such a mood reader that it took me forever to pick this one up, but I’m so glad I finally did! This was a propulsive, twisty little thriller that kept me guessing at every turn. The final twist was a little unbelievable, but it didn’t lessen my overall enjoyment of the story in the slightest. 4.5 stars.

The premise is definitely intriguing: a missing husband in Lisbon, but the pacing is slow and the book felt long for a thriller that takes place in two nights.

Two Nights in Lisbon is a suspenseful thriller surrounding a woman who risks it all and puts it all on the line. This woman, Ariel Pryce awakens in Lisbon all alone. She quickly surmises that something is very wrong - her husband is gone, without warning, without a note .. and now he's not answering his phone. As this one is a race against time - across the world, this story kept me engaged until the very end.

I am slowly make progress on my long overdue reviews as part of a New Year's resolution. I am determined to get caught up this year, even though I still sign up for new novels that pique my interest.
Ariel Pryce accompanies her new husband John Wright on a business trip to Lisbon. Things get off to a rough start after her goes out early the morning after they arrive at their hotel and disappears. Ariel is upset and alerts the hotel staff and local police. They don't seem too concerned since it has been less than twenty-four hours. All of a sudden everyone seems very interested after she receives a ransom demand. Even United States government officials jump into the fray making it appear politics may be involved.
The reader slowly learns Ariel's back story and why she changed her name. John isn't completely a reliable character either. Many events happen over the two nights and days in Lisbon. You would think the plot would be fast paced, but at over 500 pages that isn't true. Although there are many twist and turns that last until the end, repetition, one of my pet peeves, is used too often.
Looking at how "the other half lives" and how a simpler life can be fulfilling was entertaining on many levels. Chris Pavone was a new to me author. I would be open to reading another of his thrillers in the future.