From Publishers WeeklyOnce one accepts the bizarre premise of Smith's astonishingly adept, ingeniously plotted debut thriller, the book fulfills every expectation of a novel of suspense, leading the reader on a wild exploration of the banality of evil. Indeed, it is difficult to believe that a tyro writer could have produced so controlled and assured a narrative. When Hank Mitchell, his obese, feckless brother Jacob and Jacob's smarmy friend Lou accidentally find a wrecked small plane and its dead pilot in the woods near their small Ohio town, they decide not to tell the authorities about the $4.4 million stuffed into a duffel bag. Instead, they agree to hide the money and later divide it among themselves. The "simple plan" sets in motion a spiral of blackmail, betrayal and multiple murder which Smith manipulates with consummate skill, increasing the tension exponentially with plot twists that are inevitable and unpredictable at the same time. In choosing to make his protagonist an ordinary middle-class man--Hank is an accountant in a feed and grain store--Smith demonstrates the eerie ease with which the mundane can descend to the unthinkable. Hank commits the first murder to protect his brother and their secret; he eerily rationalizes the ensuing coldblooded deeds while remaining outwardly normal, hardly an obvious psychopath. Smith's imagination never palls; the writing peaks in a gory liquor store scene that's worthy of comparison to Stephen King at his best. Two things are certain about this novel of moral corruption: it will rocket to the top of the bestseller lists and the movie (rights have been sold to Mike Nichols) should be a corker. 75,000 first printing; BOMC and QPB alternates. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.From School Library JournalYA-On an afternoon jaunt, Hank, his brother, and a friend accidentally discover a wrecked plane. Inside they find the dead pilot and a sack containing four million dollars. The men know that they should notify the authorities, but instead they devise a foolproof scheme for keeping the money. They will hide it for one year, tell no one, live normally, and then divide the loot into three equal portions. Nothing can go wrong with such a simple plan-or can it? Smith draws his characters deftly, fully exploring the changes that occur in each of the men after their discovery. The plot is clever, gripping, and full of twists. As Hank narrates the story, the tension builds slowly, but is sustained until the surprise ending. YAs will quickly become caught up in this polished suspense novel.Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VACopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalIn the opening pages of this riveting first novel, Hank Mitchell is heading down a snowy road with his brother Jacob and a friend, intent on visiting his parents' grave. After chasing Jacob's huge dog through the woods, the three men stumble upon a tiny plane whose pilot is dead. The plane holds another surprise--a bag containing $4 million. Upright Hank resists taking the money but finally thinks up a "simple plan" that will protect them if anyone suspects them of stealing. Once Hank veers from the straight and narrow, however, nothing is simple. Unnerved by his somewhat slow-witted brother's panic, distrustful of thief-in-arms Lou, Hank commits a murder--and is launched upon a bloody downward spiral that carries the reader quickly to the end of the book. Buttoned-downed Hank ultimately proves to be made of poorer stuff than his scruffier compatriots, and his carefully reasoned descent into crime is shocking. Occasionally, it seems a bit too pat--the reader is left wondering whether anyone could commit so many crimes without moral upset--but ultimately this should prove popular reading. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/93.- Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. is goodreads free to read books A Simple Plan
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great book with a cast of horrorsBy JM Harvey Author of Justice For NoneThis book sticks with you. when a plane full of dead men and millions of dollars crashes deep in the back country woods, a pair of brothers (one trying to achieve the middle class dream and overcome his back wood roots, the other wallowing happily in low-income obscurity) and the hapless brother's friend steal the cash and swear to keep it hidden away until it can be safely spent. Of course the ne'er do well pair can't stick to the plan and a murderous series of events leaves many dead. Very well written and meticulously plotted as the spiral of events turns everyone against everyone with a surprise ending that I won't relate but brings neat closure to the book. My only problem with this is my own set of literary prejudices: I found it hard to like the main character or any of the others. I can live with that if I can revile and respect them, but these three fell short of that. But Scott Smith has a lot of talent and is well worth the read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The banality of evilBy Merridy WillsonScott Smith is an incredibly talented writer and this book is hard to put down, but I wish that it wasn't quite so dark. The protagonist is one of the most evil people imaginable and is beyond redemption, and I found myself despising him more and more as the story progressed.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Dark story, all this for the love of money, sad (good story though)By amgoth2000Starts slow (but so did the movie). At first I preferred the movie but the more I read the book the more I liked it. Only thing I hated was that final death, it wasn't necessary at all but what do I know lol