Jenna Bush Hager’s latest Today show book club pick is Gillian McAllister’s Caller Unknown.
McAllister’s novel, set for publication Tuesday by William Morrow, tells the story of a British woman named Sophie who goes on vacation in West Texas with her daughter, Lucy. Lucy is kidnapped, and her abductors demand that Sophie do something unthinkable in exchange for her release.
Hager announced the book’s selection on the Today show, saying, “It is a fast-paced, electric thriller, and I can’t wait for everybody to read it. It is set in West Texas, which is where I’m from, and the story is full of twists and turns, and it will keep you wanting more. And it’s also…a tender story about motherhood and the lengths that we will go to protect the ones we love. I never choose a mystery! So it’s good.”
McAllister told Today.com, “I can’t help but be provocative. Maybe because I think a lot of what reading a thriller is for me is putting myself in the shoes of the protagonist. I do find it really interesting to think about what I would do when faced with a moral dilemma.”
She reacted to her book’s selection on Instagram, writing, “Forgive the self promo but I am simply not sure I will ever get over this. Thank you, thank you @jennabhager @readwithjenna.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
