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.

Such a great book and so very easy to read! It has so many twists and turns you would think that you were in the mountains LOL. I highly recommend this book! Hurry and pick yourself up a copy and sit down and enjoy yourself! Thank you for writing such a great book!

This is my first book by Chris Pavone. It definitely won’t be my last. It is a perfect beach read! An international setting, Newly wed Ariel Pryce has accompanied her second husband on a business trip to Lisbon. She has left her son with her mom. Ariel wakes up in the hotel and cannot find John anywhere. She decides to go to the American Embassy and to the police. No one seems concerned. The book is rather slow in the beginning and her past is inserted throughout the book. The book picks up speed when a motorcycle looks like the driver is going to run over her. It stops and the driver hands her a cell phone. At this point, the story speeds up. There are a couple of twists I did not see. Obrigada por um bom livro!

Ariel Pryce awakens in Lisbon to an unsettling reality—her husband is gone, leaving no trace, no warning, and not responding to any attempts at communication. As confusion and concern set in, Ariel embarks on a quest for answers, starting with hotel security, progressing to the police, and reaching out to the American embassy. Each encounter raises more questions that Ariel struggles to answer: What is John doing in Lisbon? Why did he bring her along on his business trip? Who might pose a threat to him? And why does Ariel know so little about her significantly younger husband?

The ticking clock intensifies Ariel's frustration and desperation, pushing her to the brink of running out of time. The one person who holds the key to unraveling the mystery is also the last person she wishes to ask for help.

The narrative establishes a compelling start, effectively portraying Ariel's mounting frustration and desperation in her quest to locate her missing husband. As readers delve into Ariel's backstory, empathy naturally builds for the challenges she has faced in the past. The involvement of the police, Consular Services, and the CIA adds layers of complexity to the story, though the initial lack of explanation in the first half may seem unrealistic.

The political undertones of the thriller emerge in the latter part of the narrative, contributing significantly to the suspense and overall atmosphere. While certain plot elements may feel somewhat predictable, and the pacing could be tightened, especially in the middle, the book manages to engage readers sufficiently, keeping them invested in discovering how the story will unfold in the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am far behind on leaving feedback because I kept hoping I would go back to this book and it would get better. Unfortunately, after the opening chapter it didn't keep my attention at all. I didn't like the main character at all. I was expecting more of a thriller based on the description but I was generally bored. I couldn't finish it without skimming and I didn't feel like I missed much.