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'Expats'

Before she even considered marriage and children, Kate Moore had established herself in an exciting and fulfilling career.Then, after falling in love and starting a family, she began to slowly give up aspects of her work that were far from conducive to successful home life.But now she is about to leave the working world completely when her husband is offered a lucrative new position in Luxembourg, in Chris Pavone's "Expats."

Starting a whole new life in a foreign country feels strange, but Kate is determined to establish routines and a circle of expatriate friends.However, she soon becomes distrustful of her new acquaintances and eventually her husband, and she will need to call upon old contacts as well as old skills to keep her family safe.

"Expats" gradually unveils Kate's past and present by jumping the narration between time periods.At first it seems a bit jarring, but also establishes a quick pace from the very first page.This is a great thriller but it also presents an unexpected and interesting look at domestic life.

An average field day at her son's private school becomes much more when Grace sees the school building burst into flames and she realizes both her children are inside, in "Afterwards" by Rosamund Lupton.

Desperate to save them, she runs into the smoke and heat.Her heroic attempts to get her kids to safety place Grace and her daughter in comas.However, while their bodies are fighting for life, their spirits are free to roam the hospital and Grace begins to discover that the fire was not an accident and her children are still in grave danger.

Lupton's new novel is a bit reminiscent of her best-seller from last year, "Sister."The narration follows a similar voice as a woman tells her loved one about her attempts to safeguard her family.But "Afterwards" also feels a bit like "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold as Grace's spirit self investigates the events that placed her beyond the veil.

This is a great second novel for Lupton and a great choice for a wide variety of readers.

Carla Zollinger is a librarian with the Provo City Library. Email her at carlaz@provo.lib.ut.us.

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Book Buzz for May 27