The Drama Teacher

A Novel

By: Koren Zailckas

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

By the New York Times best-selling author of Mother, Mother and Smashed comes a propulsive new thriller: the story of a desperate and devious woman who will do anything to give her family a better life

Gracie Mueller is a proud mother of two and devoted wife, living with her husband Randy in upstate New York. Her life is complicated by the usual tedium and stressors - young children, marriage, money - and she’s settled down comfortably enough. But when Randy’s failing career as a real estate agent makes finances tight, their home goes into foreclosure, and Gracie feels she has no choice but to return to the creatively illegal and high-stakes lifestyle of her past in order to keep all that she’s worked so hard to have. Gracie, underneath all that’s marked her life as average, has a lot to hide about where she’s from, who she is, and who she’s been. And when things inevitably begin to spin out of her control, more questions about the truth of her past are raised, including all the ones she never meant to, or even knew to, ask.

Written with the style, energy, and penetrating insight that made her memoir Smashed a phenomenon, Koren Zailckas's next novel confirms her growing reputation as a psychological novelist that can stand up to the best of them.

©2018 Koren Zailckas (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Mesmerizing…Fascinated readers will keep turning the pages.” (Publishers Weekly)

"An unusual female perspective defies expectations and, ultimately, entertains." (Kirkus)

"A fast-paced, perfect poolside read." (Library Journal)

Wow, exceeded my expectations and more

I didn’t know anything about this author until I looked her up after I finished the book. I’m not really into memoirs and I saw she’s written at least two, but this novel really has nothing to do with the summaries I read about her previous books.
This book was really great, a unique spin on the story of a life-long fraudster and con-artist turned mother, who hustles to get the best for her kids. With a precocious childhood in Ireland and the ultimate con-artist for a father, Gracie does her best to do what’s needed for her family. The details of her growing up and the events that lead her to her present situation are very thorough and well-researched. I personally liked the integration and fairly accurate usage of computer technology and cryptocurrency like Bitcoin in the story to fuel important undertakings to get her where she needs to go. I really had no idea what kind of story it was going to be at all but I was drawn in very easily from the beginning. The balance of the main character’s past and how it made her the person she is today is excellently revealed and deliberate. The only discrepancies are the main character’s underestimation of her kids or her over confidence in them to be able to bypass a lot of inconsistency. But it all works out and the book is very entertaining, intriguing and unique and I do recommend it.

Unlikable Characters, Annoying Narrator

This story was extremely slow to develop and seemed to have no plot. None of the characters were likeable and the ending left me feeling unsatisfied. The narrators voice was whispery throughout and it really grated my nerves. This book had literally no suspense.

Don't waste you time on this one.