An Unexpected Guest (2012) Virginia Woolf believed that ordinary decisions matter so much that it's "very dangerous to live even one day." This promising debut novel, a political thriller… Fiction Little Brown & Company
DINNER PARTY DISASTER In her debut, Korkeakivi uses Virginia Woolf as inspiration for her protagonist
DINNER PARTY DISASTER In her debut, Korkeakivi uses Virginia Woolf as inspiration for her protagonist
EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Apr 17, 2012; Writer: Anne Korkeakivi; Genre: Fiction; Publisher: Little Brown & Company

Virginia Woolf believed that ordinary decisions matter so much that it's ''very dangerous to live even one day.'' This promising debut novel, a political thriller inspired by Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, takes that warning literally. Clare Moorhouse is throwing a dinner party to boost her husband's career. But as she prepares, a mistake she made long ago suddenly threatens the safety of everyone near her. Korkeakivi shares Woolf's flair for making everyday rituals (buying flowers, setting the table) seem profound. But too many coincidences in An Unexpected Guest keep her Big Surprising Moments from feeling as meaningful. B

Originally posted Apr 11, 2012 Published in issue #1203-1204 Apr 20, 2012 Order article reprints