A Flaw in the Design by Nathan Oates

Gil is living a quiet life as a creative writing professor in a bucolic Vermont town, when he receives some shocking news: His sister and her husband have been killed in a car accident, and their only son is coming to live with him and his family.

Gil and his wife are apprehensive about taking in seventeen-year-old Matthew. Yes, he has just lost both his parents, but they haven’t seen him in seven years—and the last time the families were together, Matthew lured their young daughter into a terrifying, life-threatening situation. Since that incident, Gil has been estranged from his sister and her flashy, wealthy banker husband.

Now Matthew is their charge, living under their roof.

The boy seems charming, smart, and urbane, if strangely unaffected by his parents’ deaths. Gil hopes they can put the past behind them, though he’s surprised when Matthew signs up for his creative writing class. Then Matthew begins turning in chilling stories about the imagined deaths of Gil’s family and his own parents. Bewildered and panicked, Gil ultimately decides he must take matters into his own hands—before life imitates art.

A guest in the house who may or may not be trustworthy…I love this trope! I don’t want to spoil the story by giving anything away but WOW!

March 21

I heard about A FLAW IN THE DESIGN from an indie bookseller who described the ending of this book as “jaw dropping” and completely unpredictable. Say no more. I was sold.

The story follows a teenager who tragically loses his parents in a car accident and is sent to live with his aunt and uncle’s family out of state. Throughout his life, trouble just seems to follow Matthew wherever he goes. This can’t all just be coincidental, right?

A FLAW IN THE DESIGN does raise some interesting questions about nature vs nurture and the role of privilege and affluence in a child’s upbringing. While the premise was compelling, the story lacked the narrative drive that I was hoping for in a thriller. The chapters were quite lengthy and I had a hard time getting the motivation to return to the story. The action picked up right at the end, but I didn’t feel like the pay off was worth the slow build-up.

Readers looking for a character-driven mystery with a slow build may enjoy this!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When seventeen year old Matthew’s parents are killed in an accident, he goes to live with his Aunt Molly and Uncle Gil in Vermont. Several years previously on a family vacation, there was an incident with Matthew that has left the family estranged. There’s no love lost between Gil and Matthew, and Gil is counting down the hours until Matthew is off to college. Matthew has had trouble in his past, he’s grown up in a mega wealthy home in New York and is quiet smart and very privileged. When Matthew arrives he’s not the same boy that everyone remembers, but Gill isn’t fooled. He knows Matthew is evil. When Matthew signs up for for college classes where Gil is a professor, he ends up in a coveted writing class that Gil teaches. When his “fictional” stories start to mirror life, Gil is sure he’s right. Gil, too, has had troubles in his past, troubles with depression and as he spirals out of control, making bad choice after bad choice to “catch” Matthew, the reader wonders if perhaps Gil is an unreliable narrator. Could Gill possibly be wrong or are his instincts right on the money? As Gil takes things into his own hands, everyone might not come out unscathed. This book was twisty good with a perfect ending! Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Nathan Oates’ debut, A FLAW IN THE DESIGN, is brilliantly crafted, beautifully rendered, and psychologically rich.

A haunting spine-chilling psychological thriller of familial ties that bind. An unputdownable tale of grief, envy, and obsession. A blending of suspense thriller and literary fiction, readers will be salivating for a sequel.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew's wealthy Manhattan parents have died in a suspicious car accident.

Matthew goes to live with his uncle, Gil, his wife, Molly, and two daughters, Ingrid and Chloe, in Vermont. Gil has concerns about taking in his nephew due to things from the past that were of concern. Since then, Gil has been estranged from his sister and her wealthy banker husband.

Gil is a creative writing professor. He is jealous of his handsome nephew with the multi-million dollar trust fund. He also has his own problems.

Matthew appears to be intelligent, charming, and helpful. Molly, an artist, is delighted with Matthew's knowledge of the art world.

All seems well UNTIL.

Then he signs up for a creative writing class and turns in spine-chilling disturbing stories about the deaths of his family. He is in Gil's classroom.

Alternating between the past and present, we learn more about these two characters.

Gil becomes resentful and obsessed. Is Gil the one with the problems, or is Matthew a monster in plain sight? Did Matthew kill his parents, and are they living with a sociopath? Is Gil coming unhinged and paranoid?

As the tension mounts between the two, driving Gil and Matthew to an explosive showdown and an ending that leaves us wanting a sequel.

From the stunning eerie front cover to the very last page, this one hooks you. Compelling and thought-provoking, I love literary thrillers, and A FLAW IN THE DESIGN checked all the boxes! Love the writing style.

Oates carefully unspools this dark, intimate tale of ambition, class, and family. A deliciously wicked game of cat and mouse with a jaw-dropping ending. Highly recommend. I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Thank you to #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. #RandomHouseInfluencers

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Pub Date: March 21, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
March 2023 Must-Read Books

A very well written psychological thriller with some suspense. I was intrigued by the summary and dove right in. It was hard to put down.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I liked this thriller from Nathan Oates, and the setting really drew me in. I struggled a few times to pick the story back up, but ultimately I am so happy to have stayed with it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Nathan Oates for the advanced copy of A Flaw in the Design in exchange for my honest review.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book is that for *once* it was a male protagonist who wasn't being believed. I wouldn't go as far as to say he was being gaslit (not by everyone anyway) but his past was definitely held against him in a way that normally only happens to female protagonists.

So while the story itself maybe didn't progress as quickly as I'd hoped, I really did enjoy that reverse aspect, if you will. I was quite satisfied with the ending as well, even though it's slightly ambiguous, which I don't normally enjoy.

I am glad I had the audio to supplement with the eBook copy because it helped me get through it very quickly. Some of the chapters are on the long side so it was definitely needed for me.

A Flaw in the Design will be on US bookshelves March 21.

Readers who enjoy complex looks into the psychology of characters will like this novel. Unfortunately, I care more about the action. This book had too much detail, internal monologues and dialogues to hold my attention. The mystery was secondary to the psychology and most of the plot was predictable. I couldn’t figure out who was the crazy one here, the uncle or the nephew, but I wasn’t invested enough to care. I’m glad to see that other reviewers gave positive feedback, but I’m not the kind of reader who enjoys these kinds of books.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Random House Publishing Group!

Terrifying, twisted, and full of suspense.

Nathan Oates is the author of the novel, A Flaw in the Design, and the short story collection, The Empty House. His stories have appeared in numerous magazines, including The Missouri Review, The Antioch Review, and the Alaska Quarterly Review. His stories have been anthologized in The Best American Mystery Stories (2008 and 2012) and Forty Stories (Harper Perennial). He teaches creative writing at Seton Hall University and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

I can't believe this is a debut novel. This story tapped into one of my deepest fears and hooked me from beginning to end. Very rarely does a book compel me to keep reading past midnight. It checked all the boxes and I flew through it, savoring every scene. The characters were compelling, and the dialogue was so well-written it was enviable. It was expertly paced, and completely immersive, making it a satisfying read from beginning to end.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit I enjoy reading about psychology in my spare time—more specifically, abnormal psychology. While reading this book I was impressed at how Oates expertly applied psychopathic personality traits to Matthew, the nephew of Gil, the story's protagonist, portraying his erratic childhood behavior, callousness, and glib demeanor as an adolescent. The psychological effects he had on everyone around him as they fell for his charm, but in particular the emotional discord it caused Gil felt very authentic. Gil's paranoia became more evident as he began following Matthew around, convinced he was responsible for the tragic deaths of his sister and brother-in-law (Matthew's parents). It was very chilling to learn of their family history, and Matthew's unstable childhood, especially when applying it to the present timeline in which he mostly portrays a cool exterior, occasionally revealing his true nature when his 'mask' slips—as observed by Gil on a couple of occasions.

I'm a sucker for these types of books and thoroughly enjoy stories set between New York City and sleepy suburbs in the northeast. I was immediately immersed in both worlds, curious by the stark comparison between the lavish lifestyle Matthew and his parents led in New York City, and Gil's humble (and somewhat estranged) existence living and teaching as a professor in Vermont. The threat of Matthew's character was constant, creating an impending doom as I tried to figure out his next moves and motives before it was too late. The last three chapters had me on edge and when I finally thought all hope was lost, that last page left me feeling optimistic that Gil might finally see justice done. Even if it would have to be in my own imaginings.

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For readers who enjoy literary thrillers, suspense, compelling characters, and dark psychological themes.

What the hellllllllllll did I just read?

This is a beautifully written thriller of a masterful degree.

Gil has been appointed the guardian of his nephew, Matthew, after his sister and her husband have tragically died in a car accident. Matthew has won over Gil's wife and daughters but Gil isn't so sure. He has enrolled Matthew into a creative writing class, however all of Matthew's stories have Gil's daughters as victims.

Gil starts to pursue Matthew, even following him back to New York where this all leads to a terrifying yet open-ended conclusion.

The thing is.... is that this is the story of two unreliable people, so really....who is the bad guy in this story? Who is the flaw in this design?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A great literary suspense illustrating the tension between a man who's something of a middle-class deadbeat, and his very wealthy, possibly psychopathic nephew. Enjoyably twisty, with Gil becoming more and more of a villain as the story goes on, and a very good ending, too. Excellent stuff from a debut author whose future work I will be sure to keep an eye out for!

I found this to be a frustrating read. The main character Gil comes across as resentful, paranoid, and just not very smart of how he approaches his suspicions about his nephew who incessantly toys with him. His internal thoughts and his lack insecurities grew tiresome. What annoyed me the most was his lack of self-control and the idiotic actions that followed. The ending seemed obvious that it would end unresolved, which leads me to believe that the author is planning a second novel. I'll read it, but I hope Gil is wilier than his nephew the next time around.

This was an interesting story, though I found the inner dialogue with the main character dragged on in places. Gil and his wife have taken in his nephew, Matthew, who's mother and father were killed in a car accident. Gil's sister was Matthew's mother and Gil and her haven't spoken or seen each other in quite some time. This was largely due to an incident that had happened while Gil's family was visiting her palatial mansion, yes Gil's sister married well and money is not an issue. All of that money goes to Matthew as the lone heir, but he's not quite legal age yet and has to wait before he gets it all. Matthew is a strange kid, moody at times, hiding away to make calls, and spending nights with friends. Gil tries to talk to him, but can't seem to get through and once he agrees to allow Matthew to get a vehicle, he never sees him. Gil has deep concerns about Matthew, he's worried that he might harm his family (the incident at the mansion is his foundation for this feeling) but Matthew is on his best behaviour and everyone seems to think he's golden. I would recommend this book, I enjoyed it. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Random House for the ARC.

This was a great time! If you like books about cons and schemes, I think this would scratch your itch. I also really love morally grey characters and this book does that trope well. It's hard to believe this is a debut.

Oh, how I loved this book! It was so different from the usual thrillers I read. It was very suspenseful and does a master take on the “is the narrator losing his mind?” trope. What made this book so thrilling was the fact that our narrator, Gil actually does have something to be afraid of and that’s his 17-year-old nephew, Matthew. Gil’s fears border on obsession and Gil turns into somewhat of a stalker.

This was exquisitely written and the author makes ordinary relationships within a family extraordinary. This book was downright creepy and truly the definition of unputdownable. The lines between what is reality and what is in Gil’s mind are truly blurred and the reader doesn’t know what’s real until the very end. And speaking of the end, it was masterfully done and left me wanting more. Bloody brilliant work by Nathan Oats. All. The. Stars.

This is an intriguing thriller with a very surprising ending. The characters are in a mind boggling tug of war. The author has created characters mired in a twisted plot as they seek the truth about each other. Matthew is a twisted character that appears irredeemable. Gill is a father and husband trying to keep his family safe. The pace of the story ebbs and flows and is mainly told from Gill’s point of view. There are also flashbacks that provide context for the story. It is very well written.

An amazing , twisty, turns, thriller! Gil and his family live a quiet life in Vermont. They take in Gil's teen age nephew, Matthew, who’s parents die in a car crash. But was it an accident? Was Gil's daughter's fall into a pool an accident? Matthew comes from a very affluent New York City home, while Gil's family lives a simple life in small town Vermont. Their lifestyles clash, while at the same time Gil watches every move Matthew makes. Gil's wife Molly seems to think that Matthew is just a teen who has lost his parents and was moved from city life to small town. What is going on in Matthew's head? I don’t want to give too much away, but this book was great. I’m curious about the ending- if there was a sequel, what are the characters doing a year later? Makes you wonder!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced read in exchange for my review.

Gil Duggan has a quiet life in Vermont with is wife, Molly, and two daughters, Chloe and Ingrid. He's a creative writing professor at Essex College. One day he is informed of the news that his sister and her husband were killed in a terrible hit and run car accident in NYC leaving their 17 year old son, Matthew, orphaned.

A terrible tragedy to be sure and now Gil and Molly are guardians of Matthew until he goes to college. Eight months. Eight months is how long they will have to endure his presence. That probably sounds terrible to say but Gil and Molly have a reason as to why they don't like and trust Matthew. It goes back to a long lost summer day when one of their daughters has an accident or was it? No, Gil is quite certain that Matthew is to blame. That was years ago though so certainly he could have changed.

From the time Matthew arrives he's polite, courteous, and even helpful. Bonding with Molly over her art and helping the girls in various school subjects. A picture of innocence. A bright boy with an even brighter future.

Except Gil knows the truth: He has let a monster into his home.

"Elroy was waiting by the door and he leapt at Matthew with his dopey golden retriever grin. Gil expected the boy to recoil but instead he knelt quickly beside the delighted animal and rubbed his flanks and tousled his head until Elroy collapsed in a heap and rolled over to show everyone his belly.

Gil squeezed past, trying not to feel what he knew was a ridiculous stab of jealousy. His dog! A traitor at the first opportunity." 😂

*Rest assured dear readers that no harm comes to Elroy. 🐕🐾

Oh my what a treat this one was! As soon as I saw the cover, the title, and read the synopsis I knew this was a book right in my wheelhouse and thank the stars I was right! Impeccably written and intriguing from the start. Gil Duggan reminded me a lot of Dr. Bobby Hart from another book I loved, Man of the Year. While the stories are very different they have one thing in common: an interloper makes there way into their home threatening who they are as men, husbands, and fathers and this, of course, drives them mad with rage and it's so very entertaining to bare witness to. The main difference in these characters is that Bobby Hart was not a nice man by any means where as poor Gil Duggan is admittedly a nice guy and just wants to protect his family from a boy he is sure is a predator. I liked Gil, I really felt for him and the situation he found himself in. Is Matthew the monster he claims him to be? You'll have to read this to find out! 4 stars!

What a novel! Thank you to Random House Publishing for the honor of receiving an ARC of this title. " A Flaw in the Design" has NO flaws. A absolute triumph in the Psychological Thriller genre with a game of cat and mouse so intense I read this book in nearly one sitting. Gil has just lost his sister and her husband, leaving behind a nephew he thinks to be a psycho, and while he isn't happy about it, he knows he must do it, and make the most of the situation. As Gil and Matthew's relationship moves on, Gil becomes more and more obsessed with his nephew, creating the ultimate unreliable narrator that I know we ALL love. As we follow Gil into his journey of madness, the reader is left wondering is Gil insanely jealous? Obsessing with his nephew's behavior allowing his jealousy and thoughts to get so far in front of him that he's on a path of destruction. Or is Matthew not who everyone believes him to be?
With an explosive ending I didn't see coming I am left absolutely book drunk and am fearing for the book hangover that is to come with this psychological masterpiece. I said what I said!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the copy of A Flaw In The Design. After the untimely death of his parents. Matthew moves in with his uncle Gil’s family even though they are worried because Matthew was involved years before in a life threatening situation involving their daughter. What follows is a tense nailbiter of a story. Is Matthew a brilliant, charming sociopath or just a misunderstood teen? Matthew is a really well-developed character and I wish Molly and Gil had been fleshed out more. Gil was not a sympathetic character at all so it was hard to be on his side because he handled his suspicions so poorly and he seemed to always make himself look bad. Molly was stereotypically clueless. The story dragged when Matthew’s transgressions kept piling up and again when Gil and Matthew had their final confrontation. While the writing was great at creating a foreboding feeling, I think some of it could have been streamlined and had the same effect. This book was a good read and I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended. If you want a solid thriller that will keep you reading, this is it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4