EXELLENT NARRATOR!!

Super-cool listening experience. An ordinary woman in Lisbon with her new husband wakes up alone. He's missing and he hasn't left a note. The night before, they'd taken sleep aids so they could get over jet lag. And yet she wakes up to find him gone. She goes to the police almost immediately, sensing that something is very, very wrong. Even though the relationship is a new one, she tells them that she knows for a fact he would never leave in the way he has.

And over two days, facing down skeptical local police, embassy staff and eventually the CIA, she goes searching for the truth and for her missing husband. Few books unfold the way this one did--literally never a lagging moment in the action, and so many misdirections, your head spins. And it's a cliche to say this, but in very few books is this true: "it kept me guessing till the very last page."

The author also included some commentary on the modern age--the speed with which information and disinformation travels across the globe, the reliance we have on how things appear rather than having curiosity about how they really are, and the limited attention span of people in the modern age. There was also a very strong undercurrent about the seemingly impossible task of toppling wealthy, powerful, morally reprehensible men. This one is listed as a "domestic thriller" and I guess? Seemed more like international suspense to me. But the genre is irrelevant --- pacing: flawless; plot: exciting and fast-paced; characters: engaging and multi-faceted. Listening experience: top-notch. Recommended, especially if you want something immersive, but not too dense.

Immediate thoughts: International thriller transported me. Loved how the ending tied up all loose ends. Lots of surprises throughout the book.

But too long with very long chapters. Could have been cut in half. Lost some interest in the middle a bit. One of the topics seemed very redundant, too. It was explained and brought up many times.

Great if you’re looking for a slow-burn kidnapping thriller.

Accompanying her husband on a business trip to Lisbon, Ariel wakes up to find him missing. A great deal of the plot takes place over the next forty eight hours as she attempts to get him returned. This was a slow burn type of thriller threaded with many, many flashbacks to her past.

I found the story compelling and could see it sell movie rights. The reason for three stars is that in some places I found the flashbacks to be a bit too much and/or too frequent. Definitely an entertaining read.

This book will likely be a very popular read. Lots of action, with some unexpected twists and turns. I liked it very much. Though I must also add, that I personally can be a stickler for fine points, and by about 75% of the way through the book I had pretty much figured it out, so the ending wasn't a surprise to me as much as a confirmation of what I was pretty sure was going on. Perhaps that was the author's intent. If so, he succeeded! If not, then next time give fewer hints along the way. I would give it 4.5 stars if that were an option.

This is a Mystery/Spy thriller, me too and a badass female heroine in a classic spy novel, fabulously done and combined with travel by book to beautiful Lisbon – this story had it all !

I’ll give you the premise: Ariel Pryce wakes in a Lisbon hotel room to find her husband of just a couple of months missing. Fearing the worst and increasingly frantic, Ariel turns to the Portuguese police and American embassy - her concern is met with skepticism: he’s a grown man and it’s only been a few hours. He disappeared early in the morning on a business trip. When the authorities discover that both Ariel and her new husband changed their names a couple of years ago, their doubting balloons into outright disbelief. His kidnappers surface and call, they demand an outrageous ransom.
With time running out and no help to be found, Ariel seeks help from those she’s long left behind in an old privileged life — things get interesting very fast, there are twists and turns and so many interested parties, the police, the embassy, journalists, the CIA but who can be trusted …
Lisbon is beautifully featured so this does read like a summer thriller, at the same time it felt very timely and relevant !
The audio for this one was narrated by January LaVoy and she did a marvelous job !

I listened to Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone on audiobook. The narration was well suited to the book. The story itself kept me interested and the ending was unexpected. Would recommend.

Enthralling, twisted, and surprising. I can’t say I loved the ending but I didn’t hate it either because I didn’t see the twist coming. The first half of the book really tripped me up because the author hid key details beautifully but in a natural way in which there weren’t any holes in the storyline.

What would you do if your spouse disappeared one morning while you were in a foreign country? Ariel Pryce woke up in Lisbon and her husband was not there.

Hotel security, the police, and the American embassy did nothing. She also knew little about his past.

Totally unexpected plot, great book

I am reviewing the audiobook version. The book opened with great promise. Ariel Pryce accompanies her younger husband on a business trip to Lisbon. She wakes up, he is gone, and he is not answering his phone. She immediately goes to hotel security and then the police and the American embassy. Of course, it is much too soon to report a missing person. Come on Ariel, everyone knows that! Finally she gets a ransom note and the police start paying attention. perhaps too much attention. Ariel and John have both changed their names. Who are they really? The story at times moves a little slowly with flashbacks explaining a bit of the past but it wasn't until near the end that it all comes together, and then the ending throws in that final twist that explains it all. The characters were multifaceted. At first I wasn't sure I liked Ariel but she grew on me throughout the book. John wasn't around much till the end. The detectives and a journalist were persistent in digging up clues. The ending was quite satisfying especially in today's culture. January LaVoy as usual did an outstanding job narrating this book. I received a copy of this book from netGalley. Knowing I was supposed to review it kept me reading but at the end I was so glad I finished it. This is my honest review.

This book was just okay for me. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened, but I felt it was too long and drawn-out and had too many characters. I was also distracted by the protagonist's snarky judgements of everyone -- she has an irrational hatred for younger people and anyone she deems a "hipster," which had me rolling my eyes.

This book was a thrilling adventure to Lisbon with twists and turns through a fast paced mystery that I couldn’t put down! The story is told from the point of view of Ariel Price - a woman seemingly on a romantic getaway with her new husband John. Ariel wakes up in her hotel to find her husband missing without a trace. Ariel is immediately frantic and starts to contact authorities to engage a search. Her worst fears are confirmed when it seems like John was kidnapped and she finds she is required to pay a ransom for his return. In order to secure the funds, Ariel is forced to call someone for help that she had hoped to never speak to again…and that’s just the beginning! This book kept me at the edge of my seat and was filled with unpredictable twists. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a thriller with mystery and intrigue thrown in for good measure.

We follow Ariel Price as she travels with her husband John to Lisbon for his work trip. He told her that he was requested to bring along his wife for the trip. After only just arriving, John goes missing, and then Ariel is contacted - John has been kidnapped, and his ransom is 3 million euros.

My thoughts on this book are a bit mixed. The final 20% of this book was excellent, fast-paced. All of the confusing threads from earlier in the book came together. But the rest of the book felt disorganized and difficult to follow. There are flashbacks that appear without warning. I also really wasn't that interested in Ariel as a man character. It felt like her story was told in relation to various men - her first and second husbands, her son - and not just her as a character. Basically I wish this writing on this book had been as good as it was at the end.

Overall 3.5 star read for me. I'd be open to other books from this author. Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Chris Pavone but it will definitely not be my last.
Fast paced thriller in the streets of Lisbon. Kidnapping, revenge, blackmail. Some great characters that you will sympathize with- others that you will love to hate!
Purely fantastic. And who do you trust? Who can we believe? Are their motives pure?
Chris had me going the whole time. And the big reveal - I never saw it coming!

I was very interested in the story at the outset, but the story and style ended up taking an espionage-y turn that is just generally not my vibe. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout and think many ppl will enjoy this story.

Title: Two Nights in Lisbon
Author: Chris Pavone
Format: Audio
Narrator: January LaVoy
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, international, kidnapping
Standalone: yes
Part of a Series: No
POV: Mostly Ariel but quite a few others
Steam Level: Nothing sexy, one violent
5/5

Two Nights in Lisbon took me a little bit to get into but once I did I couldn't stop listening. I grew up reading mysteries/thrillers and as a result I can usually predict pretty easily the twists but Two Nights in Lisbon kept me guessing and although I did see one thing pretty early on another not so much.

Two Nights in Lisbon follows Ariel and her search for her missing husband. Told mostly from Ariel's POV you get to see how traumas from her past continue to affect her present. As Ariel is trying to save her husband we also see the police investigation, the investigation by the American Embassy and the CIA, and a journalist. No one is working together, everyone has different theories and things escalate quickly. So many aspects of past and present come together to keep you guessing. Two Nights in Lisbon is a great mystery and I'm very glad I stuck with it.

I received this audiobook from free from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary reivew.

I want to love this audiobook. The plot is interesting to me, and the characters are compelling. Unfortunately, there is so much extra backstory that I was constantly getting lost in time and place. It could easily have been 25 percent shorter and been at a pace that held my attention. Ultimately, I gave up on the audio and will buy the text version so that I can skim through the parts that drag for me, but still find out what happens!

This grabs you from the beginning and just as quickly dropped me. Sadly, I lost interest and only wanted the book to end. I didn't like the characters. I didn't like how law enforcement officers were spoken to by the main character who was in their country. The dialogue was repetitive. This felt and read like possibly a story shooting for young adult classification. There was a lot of potential.

I had the audiobook and would look for other work by January LaVoy.

I would give 2.5 stars but wouldn't round up.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio or the opportunity to read and review Two Nights in Lisbon.

Immediately pulled into the mysterious disappearance of Ariel's husband, the fog of memory and confusion and pressure. The tension is set from the beginning with the pacing and then the unfolding of layers and layers of identities and untruths. With the local police not believing a woman, it feels like you might know where the story is headed and then it takes a turn and then another. You'll be holding on until the end.

A twisty kidnapping/ransom story with so much more going on than you first suspect! I loved how this book started off strong and kept revealing more and more layers as the story progressed. Recommended if you like reading #metoo stories and stories about rich men behaving badly and getting what they deserve!! Excellent on audio narrated by January LaVoy. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!

CW: rape, kidnapping, ransom, gaslighting

People are not who they seem to be on the surface.

Ariel Price wakes up in Lisbon, alone. Her husband, John, brought her along on a business trip, but he left the hotel without leaving a note. She is worried and takes readers along as she looks for him. Everywhere she turns she is met with condescending indifference, patronizing sympathy, and overwhelming unresponsiveness; no one wants to help. “Officials” do not care about something that is probably just a little marital dispute. Ariel owns a bookstore and reads tons of mysteries, so she knows a little about investigations, but she is not prepared to find her missing husband in a foreign country where few people speak English. And, she is being followed.


Ariel quickly becomes frantic, and readers wonder how far she will have to go to find her husband. She and her husband both have complex pasts filled with secrets. It is hard to live a lie, and those past secrets come storming back to complicate the present. There are convenient day and time references as the intricate maze of human relationships unfolds over two days filled with deception.

I listened to “Two Nights in Lisbon” as an audiobook narrated by January LaVoy. LaVoy has a multidimensional voice that at various times is melodic, matter of fact, cautionary, unsettling, and alarming. There is urgency in the narration as well as a tone of hope and a dread of what is to come. I received a review audio copy of “Two Nights in Lisbon” from by Chris Pavone, January LaVoy, and Macmillan Audio.