Why ‘A Simple Plan’ is One of the Best Thrillers Ever Written
Scott Smith’s masterful 1993 novel is one of my all-time favorite thrillers. Here’s an in-depth examination into why.
The Story
A Simple Plan tells of three men who discover four million dollars in a crashed airplane and do everything in their power to keep the money a secret, to disastrous results. At the beginning of the novel, brothers Hank and Jacob, as well as Jacob’s friend Lou, are driving to a cemetery to pay their respects to their deceased parents, who died years ago in a car accident.
On the way, Jacob’s dog jumps out of the car, and when they go into the woods to find it, they discover a downed plane, a rotting corpse in the pilot’s seat. They also find a paper bag in the back that’s carrying four million dollars in cash. All three are aware they should turn the money in, but they decide to keep it for themselves, stowing the money away for six months, and then, if it turns out nobody’s looking for it, they’ll split the money three ways and leave town. Hank’s wife Sarah is on board with her husband’s plan, and she, more than anyone else, will do what’s needed to hold on to that money.
But right away, things start going wrong. Jacob’s friend Lou left a soda can at the…
