The Winner

A Novel

By: Teddy Wayne

Narrated by: Charlie Thurston

A New York Times Book Review and Washington Post ""Top-10 Thriller of the Year""

A New Yorker, Vogue, Esquire, Elle, and Bookshop.org ""Best Book of the Year'

Conor O’Toole has never been anywhere like Cutters Neck, a gated community near Cape Cod. It’s a sweet deal for the summer: in exchange for tennis lessons, he receives free lodging in a luxurious guest cottage, far from the cramped Yonkers apartment he shares with his diabetic mother.

In this oceanfront paradise, however, new clients prove hard to come by, and Conor has bills to pay. When Catherine, a sharp-tongued divorcée, offers double his usual rate, he soon realizes she is expecting additional, off the court services for her money, and Conor tumbles into a secret erotic affair unlike anything he’s experienced before.

Despite his steamy flings with a woman twice his age, he simultaneously finds himself falling for an artsy, outspoken girl he meets on the beach. With cautious, strategic planning, Conor somehow manages this tangled web—until he makes one final, irreversible mistake.

A dark, explosive literary thriller that brilliantly skewers the elite, Whiting Award winner Teddy Wayne’s unputdownable novel is cinematic, shocking, and a psychological masterpiece.

©2024 Teddy Wayne (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Entertaining with twists

I enjoyed this book it grabbed me from the beginning until the end. Also it gives insights into privileged persons’ lifestyle and attitudes.

A thrilling page-turner that adeptly examines the complex relationships between sex, class, and sports,

I am happy to recommend 'The Winner', a I am happy to recommend 'The Winner', a thrilling page-turner that adeptly examines the complex relationships between sex, class, and sports, reminiscent of 'The Graduate' and Philip Roth's literary style. This book was engrossing and thought-provoking, its timely commentary tempered by a classic, ageless appeal. reminiscent of 'The Graduate' and Philip Roth's literary style. This book was engrossing and thought-provoking, its timely commentary tempered by a classic, ageless appeal.

How he got away with seeing Mother and Daughter

Great read, I loved and enjoyed the reader of the audio book. The eleven hours went very fast.

The Winner

Epilogue: Connor was arrested 2 days after he began his new law firm position. The Mercedes screen was located at a chop shop and his phone records nailed his eventual new prison address. Perfect crimes are committed by imperfect people.

Uncomfortable Tension

This was a little bit difficult to get to. It takes a while to get to the insight incident, but once you do, you will find yourself in a place of uncomfortable tension. This book feels like a cross between the great Gatsby and the talented Mr. Ripley. I don’t know that I would call it a thrill ride, but it was certainly an interesting book.

As a sidenote, I completed this book as part of a prerequisite for school. And therefore have the book on both audio and on my Kindle.

tabloid fun

I must be unpopular in my old school opinions, but I still prefer writing that has some subtly to it, and follows to some extent the trope of "show don't tell."
The plot was on constant auto-review, as if the reader couldn't keep up.
I did like the ending, however...

Trashy

This was recommended by the New Yorker…unusual of them to recommend something so sordid. I feel like this book made me dumber.

Really good.

Well written, kept my attention, great characters but ended abruptly. Could have kept going. Sigh.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Politics sex suspense cunning companionship opulence violence a thoroughly delightful diversion legal tennis gated community

Suspense and careful plot plot construction.

The characters and locales were intricately described and very plausible. The tennis references were well researched. Terrific read!