THE HAPPINESS COLLECTOR

A scholar’s dream job turns sinister when she finds herself at the mercy of gods.

Aida Reale, a 34-year-old historian in Boston, is dealing with a series of career setbacks—since being laid off from her university teaching job, she also lost a book deal after her publisher folded—when she receives a mysterious job offer. Her friend Felix Goodman, a tour guide in Rome, has recommended her to his rich client, Lady Ozie. Ozie’s organization, MODA, is hiring a scholar to build a historical database of places, items, and events in Italy. Impressed by Aida’s academic research, they offer her the job, complete with a gorgeous apartment in Rome and a $400,000 salary. Though Aida is reluctant to leave her fiancé, Graham Pechman, the opportunity proves too good to pass up. When she arrives in Rome, she learns the odd nature of the work: From the Casa di Goethe to the Colosseum, Aida is tasked with cataloging happiness, observing how each place she studies brings joy to the world. At first, Aida is invigorated, but she soon chafes against MODA’s strict protocols, including phone tapping and constant location monitoring. When Aida is shocked to realize that every site she visits is soon shuttered or destroyed, she uncovers the dark truth—her employers are gods, and she has been an unwitting pawn in their mission to plunge the world into total despair. Author King has concocted a wholly unique premise, supported by her obvious delight in imparting the rich history of Rome’s many marvels and a deep knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology. But once MODA’s true machinations come to light, she struggles to build the propulsive pace the plot deserves. Aida's relationship with Graham also proves extraneous to the narrative, and space dedicated to it would have been better utilized by fleshing out other characters and Aida’s connections to them—particularly fellow MODA “Happiness Collector“ Luciano Leto.

An innovative take on the eternal battle between gods and mortals.