Lucky Dogs

Schulman (Come with Me) delivers an incisive and thrilling account of women who are hounded by powerful men. Meredith Montgomery, a famous young actor, is keeping a low profile in Paris, subsisting on Xanax and ice cream as she works on the tell-all memoir that will unmask “the Rug,” her nickname for the Weinsteinesque producer who assaulted her, then had her blacklisted after she tried to speak out. One day, while being harassed by a pair of sleazy tourists, she is saved by the switchblade-wielding Nina, who offers Merry the help of her organization, W2, which is dedicated to lifting up the voices of women. Turns out Nina’s story is too good to be true—Nina is actually an ex-Mossad spy on the Rug’s payroll, charged with stealing Merry’s manuscript and discrediting her in the eyes of the public. Schulman then shifts perspective to flashbacks of Nina’s war-torn childhood in Bosnia with her family, and shows how hindrances to Nina’s ambitions to become an actor run parallel to Merry’s own hurdles in her career. Though the diptych structure can sap momentum, Meredith and Nina’s intriguing relationship will keep readers on the hook as it evolves and leads to a surprising outcome. This packs plenty of punch. (June)