NPR's Book of the Day Reese Witherspoon, Harlan Coben and Chris Kraus are out with new crime thrillers
Nov 7, 2025
Join bestselling thriller novelist Harlan Coben, actress and producer Reese Witherspoon, and autofiction author Chris Kraus for a fascinating discussion on their new crime thrillers. Harlan and Reese dive into their unique collaboration on "Gone Before Goodbye," sharing insights into their writing process and the complexities of their protagonist. Meanwhile, Chris presents her autofiction work, exploring how personal history and environment shape storytelling. They reflect on the social significance of reading in today's divided world and ponder deep questions about crime and morality.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Their Unusual Coauthor Routine
- Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben met regularly and co-developed plot and character details in person.
- Coben wrote the chapters and Reese sent critiques, research, and dialogue tweaks back to him.
Maggie: A Complex Protagonist
- Maggie McCabe is a military surgeon who has lost her medical license and is deeply in debt at the novel's start.
- Reese crafted Maggie's voice and wardrobe details to show her toughness and daily feminine calculations.
Porkchop Steals Scenes
- Porkchop is Maggie's father-in-law, a scene-stealing biker figure created for banter and to reveal Maggie's character.
- Harlan and Reese enjoyed inventing his wardrobe and personality, treating him as a comic, dark foil.
