Night Film

A Novel

By: Marisha Pessl

Narrated by: Jake Weber

Length: 23 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Brilliant, haunting, breathtakingly suspenseful, Night Film is a superb literary thriller by the New York Times best-selling author of the "blockbuster debut" (People) Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive, cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova - a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than 30 years.

For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself.

Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.

The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time he might lose even more.

Night Film, the gorgeously written, spellbinding new novel by the dazzlingly inventive Marisha Pessl, will hold you in suspense to the final minute.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Marisha Pessl (P)2013 Random House Audio

Fun Book

Seems this book gets a lot of bad reviews by readers based on the apparent over-hyped release of the book and its author in general. I would ignore that and take the book for what it is, a fun, dark-thriller that has a lot of horror-like notes to it. Some consider it too long but I thought the plot had enough depth and complexity to warrant the length. This book was intriguing from beginning to end, I thought, and great entertainment. If you enjoy a slow-burn, spooky tale, (and have some time) I think you would enjoy it.
If you want to look at negatives, I will say the main character is sometimes an a-hole and often quite annoying, spiting out intended-to-be-funny-but-not, smart-ass quips. Also he seems to have a sneering tone toward other minor characters who happen to annoy him, usually for the way they look or way they live their lives. The narration is okay, I have heard so many amazing talents doing audio books. But this one is mediocre.

This story will stay with me

Everything about this audiobook was spot on perfection. The narrator is incredible. The story is haunting and will render you utterly and completely bound to the characters and their fate. The writing will leave you feeling astounded by its poignancy, depth and completeness.

If you’re in a hurry for obvious answers that seem believable or if you need everything to add up perfectly in the end, then come back to this title at a later time. If you’re ready for a dark journey and unprepared for it to end, then look no further.

ok use of tropes

the first half of the book is slow as they follow thier dark manic pixie girl trope through the book. The second half is better, and I appreciate the life and world of the fictional movie producer the author created.

Up there with house of leaves

I loved loved loved this book. Was recommended from someone in a house of leaves group. Definitely similar

Fantastic work

This was such a great read. I cannot wait to revisit it in a year or so. Cannot recommend enough.

A mystery tale on serious steroids

The ending flew a bit over my head I think, but it's clear Pessl has a steel grasp of unyielding darkness. The closer McGrath gets to the truth, the further we, the readers, get from being able to understand the nature of Cordova's world---and that's a good thing. This novel perfectly fuses the workings of a great detective novel and the golden rule of horror--horror is at its best when it is misunderstood. Amazing work by the narrator as well, really gave McGrath a voice I could love.

It’s a Chinese Puzzle Box

I’m reading the negative reviews wondering how anyone could not have enjoyed this book, and I see a theme here. It seems that those who didn’t like the book were looking for a straightforward, linear genre novel. That’s not what this is, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you should do as one reviewer suggested and go for the latest Lee Child or Robert Crais.

Night Film is a psychological drama with “mystery” and “thriller” elements. There is a mystery and there are thrills (I found myself gasping out loud at some of the events), but from start to end this story is no simple mystery. It is as intricate and fine as a well-crafted puzzle box. And consider that of the two contrasting characters one is a reporter who’s job is to find the truth, the other is a film director who’s job is to create fiction, and you can imagine the labyrinthine rabbit hole the director leads the reporter down. It’s dark and deceptive. Our rational hero must question everything he sees and experiences – was that real or was that the Primrose Path he’s expected to follow? And even the object he seeks, The Truth, must also be questioned.

One reviewer said that at the end of the book she wanted to start it all over again armed with a new perspective. I felt the same way! And I imagine that like a good puzzle box this story doesn’t have one way in but many, and those entry points can only be found after subsequent readings.

I love these long, chewy novels you can really sink your teeth into. Let Jake Weber’s narration wrap around you like a warm blanket and snuggle in for an amazing ride.

Brilliant, witty, and enthralling.

Would you consider the audio edition of Night Film to be better than the print version?

I do not know.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The protagonist.

What does Jake Weber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Wit and delivery.

If you could take any character from Night Film out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The protagonist, due to his wit, intellect, and humanity.

Any additional comments?

The best I have experienced in years.

A basic, creepy novel

I enjoyed this book but doubt that I would buy it again. It did have a lot of twists and turns that all came together at the end. I didn't have a problem finding stopping points to temporarily put it down. The narrator did a decent job. If you like a good mystery that is a cross of creepy, mystical, police search and dysfunctional families, this book id for you,and worth a credit.

Ack! Audible removed my glowing review

Any additional comments?

Audible removed the longish and glowing review I posted just after reading this book. *sigh* I’ll just say take a chance and read this sucker. I’m glad i did. It’s not quite “amazing,” but it’s impressive. Pessl does a great job. Jake Weber’s narration is perfect casting.