{"product_id":"the-marionette-isbn-9780771021114","title":"The Marionette","description":"\u003cb\u003eBestselling and beloved author Terry Fallis' tenth novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Marionette\u003c\/i\u003e, introduces readers to a new hero, James Norval: a world-famous thriller writer whose life takes an unexpected turn from the pages of his novels into the perilous world of espionage.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJames Norval has built a successful career crafting the thrilling adventures of his fictional hero, Hunter Chase, a character admired by readers and movie-goers worldwide. But despite his fame and fortune, Norval has always harboured a secret dream of living the life he only writes about—a life as a field operative for CSIS, Canada's Security Intelligence Service. In fact, nearly thirty years earlier, he washed out of the CSIS recruitment program, and it's haunted him ever since.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut that long-held dream becomes a reality when a series of unfortunate events lands Norval in a foreign prison. Rescued by CSIS, he is given an unexpected opportunity: to use his unique position as the favourite writer of Mali's newly installed president to assist in a delicate and dangerous mission. With the help of agent Lauren Cooper, Norval must infiltrate the Malian government and execute a daring plan to exfiltrate fifteen Canadian nationals before the corrupt powers that control the country uncover their true intentions. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Marionette \u003c\/i\u003eis a comic thriller by a master of the craft. Full of Terry Fallis' signature wit and combined with an exhilarating high-stakes plot, this is a must-read for fans of espionage and intrigue.\u003cb\u003eAdvance praise for \u003ci\u003eThe Marionette\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eThe Marionette\u003c\/i\u003e is a funny, fast-paced romp of a thriller. Terry Fallis has given us an unforgettable new action hero in James Norval—a bestselling thriller writer and aspiring spy who finally gets his chance to go undercover. I loved every page. More Norval, please!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Susan Juby, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eContemplation of a Crime\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Seldom has a Canadian spy mission to the West African country of Mali been this much fun. Just like what Terry Fallis did with Canadian politics in his first novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Best Laid Plans\u003c\/i\u003e, he does the impossible once again, making something inherently unfunny into an amazingly delightful adventure. Someday I want to grow up and write like Terry Fallis.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Drew Hayden Taylor, author of \u003ci\u003eCold\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Canada’s favourite humourist returns with a high-stakes comic thriller that managed to make me both laugh out loud and gasp in suspense. Bright, savvy, and dangerously funny, \u003ci\u003eThe Marionette\u003c\/i\u003e delivers from start to finish. Terry Fallis is a legend.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Ali Bryan, author of \u003ci\u003eCoq\u003c\/i\u003e, and two-time finalist for the Leacock Medal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"In a world shrouded in darkness and shadow, Fallis remains a shining light of decency and big-hearted humour. In his latest novel \u003ci\u003eThe Marionette\u003c\/i\u003e, a fast-paced, feel-good thriller, he combines laughter and suspense to weave a masterful tale of international intrigue and Canadian ingenuity.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Rod Carley, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eRUFF\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Terry Fallis' \u003ci\u003eThe Marionette \u003c\/i\u003eis a welcome reminder that fiction can be both artful and engaging. It's a comic thriller—a thromedy?—that teems with Fallis' trademark wit: a narrator, for instance, who says he's so hungry he could eat a sandwich made of a horse splayed out between two mattresses. But the thrills of the thriller are there as well in this tale of a Canadian writer, James Norval, who dives headlong into the middle of a coup in the West African country of Mali. Norval's voice is the most endearingly irksome one I've heard in quite some time. Fallis pulls off the feat of blending genres with elan, aplomb, and pure pizazz!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Wayne Johnston, author of \u003ci\u003eJennie's Boy\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the 2023 Leacock Medal for Humour\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Narrative surprises are a constant and the humour bubbles along as a Canadian thriller writer is conscripted into palace intrigue in a foreign land, then accepts a rescue mission that sends him on a daring high-wire escape to freedom in Terry Fallis’ rousing novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Marionette.\u003c\/i\u003e A great yarn.\"\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e—Trevor Ferguson, aka John Farrow, author of \u003ci\u003eCity of Ice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eTERRY FALLIS grew up in Toronto and earned an engineering degree from McMaster University. Drawn to politics at an early age, he worked for cabinet ministers in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park. His first novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Best Laid Plans\u003c\/i\u003e, began as a podcast, then was self-published, won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, was re-published by McClelland \u0026amp; Stewart to great reviews, was crowned the 2011 winner of CBC’s Canada Reads as “the essential Canadian novel of the decade,” and was adapted as a CBC Television series and a stage musical. His next two novels, \u003ci\u003eThe High Road\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUp and Down\u003c\/i\u003e were finalists for the Leacock Medal, and in 2015, he won the prize a second time, for his fourth book, \u003ci\u003eNo Relation\u003c\/i\u003e. His other novels include \u003ci\u003ePoles Apart\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOne Brother Shy\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAlbatross\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Operation Angus\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eA New Season\u003c\/i\u003e and were all national bestsellers. A skilled public speaker, he lives in Toronto with his wife, and blogs at www.terryfallis.com. Follow @TerryFallis on Twitter and subscribe to his newsletter at https:\/\/terryfallis.substack.com.","brand":"McClelland \u0026 Stewart","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233710813413,"sku":"NP9780771021114","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780771021114.jpg?v=1767740421","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-marionette-isbn-9780771021114","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}