[Mind redacted spoilers—highlight to reveal.]

A successful book recommendation has one key component. Author familiarity? Genre bias? Language fluency? None of these. (Maybe language.) One and only one question unites all readers regardless of taste and five-star/one-star ratios: “Is this part of a series?” If the answer is Yes and the recommendation is anything beyond book one then back right off.

Hence, “Ben Walker No. 2” The Pandora Room and not “Ben Walker No. 1” Ararat. Thanks, unnamed bookstore clerk. I still enjoyed the book without the “Is it supernatural?” and “Are they sleeping together?” context that Ararat would have clarified—I guess it added to the mystery. Early on I hoped the whole story would take place underground and was pleased with the results, though the ending was rushed and almost glib. Life-and-death situation? Jump in the damn river! Generalized “jihadis” also felt more 2002 than 2019 but I suppose any group of faceless villains is as good as another. I can only assume Ararat terrorized with paired-up elephants and shit. Fast pacing, interesting characters (Sophie Durand for the win), realistic red herrings… nice. But I cannot recommend this. ⭐⭐⭐⭐