NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Reese Witherspoon's latest literary news marks a new direction for the Oscar-winning actor, producer and founder of her
Grand Central Publishing announced Wednesday that the 鈥淟egally Blonde鈥� and 鈥淏ig Little Lies鈥� star is teaming with the bestselling thriller writer and Netflix producer-creator on a suspense novel, her first work of adult fiction. The book, currently untitled, is scheduled for next fall and is being developed out of an idea 鈥� details to come 鈥� that Witherspoon came up with.
鈥淭o say I am a fan of Harlan鈥檚 body of work is a massive understatement," Witherspoon said in a statement issued through Grand Central, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. "The fact that he found my idea for this thriller intriguing enough to want to partner with me on it as co-author is a dream becoming a reality. Scheming with Harlan on how to thrill audiences with mysterious characters and complex narrative twists and turns has already been more fun than I can describe. I can鈥檛 wait for everyone to read what we have been imagining.鈥�
Coben has sold tens of millions of books worldwide, his notable works including the Myron Bolitar series and such standalone novels as 鈥淗old Tight鈥� and 鈥淔ool Me Once,鈥� which he helped produce for Netflix. In a statement Wednesday, he praised Witherspoon for her 鈥渦nrivaled鈥� storytelling instincts.
鈥淥nce we began discussing her idea, there was no turning back,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ollaborating with Reese has been a pure joy and so creatively rewarding. I could not be more excited about putting this novel out into the world.鈥�
Witherspoon, who recently announced she had chosen Lauren Ling Brown's 鈥淪ociety of Lies" as her October book club pick, isn't the first screen performer to collaborate with a prominent fiction writer. on a novel about a Black female judge in the rural South.
Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
