Chris Pavone

About

Chris Pavone is an American novelist known for his intricate international thrillers, which combine espionage, psychological suspense, and explorations of marriage, ambition, and deception. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Cornell University before embarking on a career in book publishing. For nearly two decades, he worked as an editor at several publishing houses, holding positions ranging from copy editor to executive editor and deputy publisher. Pavone’s experience living abroad helped inspire his debut novel, The Expats. When his wife accepted a job in Luxembourg, the family moved to Europe, where Pavone became a stay-at-home father to their twin sons. Observing the expatriate community from a perspective different from that of many of the other parents inspired him to develop Kate Moore’s character and explore the hidden tensions beneath the comfortable appearance of expat life. Published in 2012, The Expats became an international bestseller and won the 2013 Edgar Award and Anthony Award for Best First Novel. Pavone followed it with several successful thrillers, including The Accident (2014), The Travelers (2016), The Paris Diversion (2019), Two Nights in Lisbon (2022), and The Doorman (2025). His novels have been translated into approximately two dozen languages and have received recognition from major literary and crime-fiction awards. Pavone’s work frequently explores the contrast between people’s public identities and their private motivations. Through international settings and carefully layered plots, he examines how ambition, secrecy, and the desire for reinvention can transform relationships and place lives at risk. He lives in New York City and on Long Island with his family.