Arthur Pfefferkorn and Bill de Vallee have been close friends since grade school. Bill even married Arthur's first love, Carlotta. In the passing years, Arthur became a creative writing teacher at a liberal arts college on the East Coast, while Bill became a mega-successful bestselling author of a long series of thrillers. Bill and his wife enjoy a lavish lifestyle in California, while Arthur is a divorced, disillusioned literary has-been. Jealous, Arthur has become estranged from Bill, but always considered Bill his best friend.

When Bill is lost at sea and eventually declared dead, Carlotta sends Arthur an invitation to his memorial in LA. He eventually decides to go, even though he's not too flush with cash. Seeing Carlotta rekindles his love for her, so he is delighted when she asks him to stay for awhile. As she shows Arthur around her estate, he notices an unfinished manuscript on Bill's desk. During the night, he sneaks it into his luggage, taking it home with him. Changing the title and using a pseudonym, Arthur rewrites the manuscript and presents it to an agent. It's a huge success and Arthur finally enjoys the respect he's always craved.

However, Arthur is not prepared for the repercussions that occur when his fraudulent accomplishment is uncovered by some unsavory characters. Shocked at what he learns about Bill, Arthur is forced to assume other aspects of Bill's life besides just being a bestselling author. It goes downhill from there for poor Arthur, and the final outcome is not a good one.

From the premise, I was expecting a true thriller, which POTBOILER is not. What started out interesting and suspenseful soon turned into an absurd parody of political thrillers. It pokes fun at the publishing industry, bestselling authors of lengthy series, dealing with overnight success and friendships. Some narrative was so comical, I either laughed out loud or groaned. When the action moved to a fictitious foreign country, POTBOILER spiraled into a plot so convoluted and confusing, it took a real effort to reason out all the disconcerting twists and turns. And I can't find words to describe the ending. If you like satirical reads that persistently poke fun at a myriad of topics, then this is the book for you.

Book Summary

Arthur Pfefferkorn is a has-been, or perhaps a never-was: a middle-aged college professor with long-dead literary aspirations. When his oldest friend, bestselling thriller writer William de Vallèe, is lost at sea, Pfefferkorn is torn between envy and grief, for de Vallèe not only outshone Pfefferkorn professionally, but married the woman Pfefferkorn loved.

Finding an incomplete manuscript from the late writer, Pfefferkorn sneaks off with it after the funeral and rewrites it as his own, finally earning the success and recognition he’d felt robbed of his whole life.

But taking over Bill’s work and status opens up more than just doors to fame and success. As Pfefferkorn learns more about the darker side of his late friend’s life, he finds himself sucked into a wholly unexpected adventure. He sets in motion a surreal chain of events, plunging him into a shadowy realm of double crosses and intrigue, a world where no one can be trusted - and nothing can be taken seriously.