Error - Rebound 2
Story
Cowardice was his salvation.
Heroism will be his downfall.
Former Mafia murderer Alain Toussaint abides by the rules. Thanks to the new identity that REBOUND gave him, he lives an inconspicuous life as a hermit in a small mountain village near the Canadian border. Until a group of Boy Scouts get lost in a nearby old copper mine. Alain does not hesitate and saves the children. His photo ends up on the front page of the newspaper. Will his heroic act kill him?
The day before the pivotal meeting that will define the future of REBOUND, Tyler learns about the organization's dark history. Meanwhile, Oz makes an all-or-nothing attempt to save his family. Who controls his wife and children? Who can still be trusted?
Willem Asman’s Rebound 2 - Error, the award winning bestseller, is the second part in the trilogy about the secret organization REBOUND, all parts of which were published within one year.
“Behind every secret there is another secret.
Behind it, there is a lie.
And behind the lie, there is a truth you wish you didn’t know”
Charles den Tex on Rebound
How it continues
How rebound continues
What starts with a young woman running through dense woods is ultimately 100 cliffhangers, and 100 chapters, Patterson style. I now know who is chasing her. But many other riddles I still have to solve.
A lot of mysterious figures are circling her, most of them for reasons I hardly understand. So far I think it's all a big joke, wasn't it all about the cliffhangers? Harhar. This, I speak to myself, is Raymond Chandler's law in its extreme: When in doubt have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand.
But what all those men want, with their proverbial guns drawn, where they come from, whether they come to the rescue or not, I have no idea yet.
Even Oz who can do anything and knows everything (Oz can ‘change into a tree’ as my publisher puts it) has no idea, when he is literally jumped from the bushes by the ominous Agent Austin, one of my most precious mystery guests in the first season of Rebound.
I don't know, Oz doesn't know - at least we're in good company.
I hear myself saying: ‘I'll solve all that later.’
Later on we’ll see, in ‘Season 45’.
Three in twelve
So here I am, armed with all my cliffhangers, in the offices of Ambo Anthos at the Herengracht. The manuscript’s working title is Rebound Season 1 - Welcome to the Land of Oz.
‘If you agree,’ my new partner-in-crime Wanda Gloude comes straight to the point, ‘we'll turn it into a trilogy. Three volumes of Rebound to be published within twelve months. We want to introduce binge reading, Netflix for books. And we think Rebound is perfect for that.’
If I agree? Hell yes I agree! Netflix eat your heart out!
Barely a month later I sign a three-book deal.
Not four books in four years, but three in twelve months – but who’s counting.
Am I sure?
Sure I am.
How hard can it be?
But as soon as the effect of the champagne wears off, and I write the first chapters of Rebound Season 2, I fully realize the depth of the problem I have created for myself. Because all of a sudden Season 45 is at the door with a gun drawn.
A trilogy, of course, but how does a trilogy actually work?
Let's start, I decide, by doing it the structured way, like real writers do.
‘Let's,’ I write, as it sounds less lonely than ‘let me’. ‘Let’s’ almost sounds pleasant. But in reality, a period of pure panic begins. As I get into Season 2, Season 1 has to be edited and rewritten, since Danny can be crueler, Charlie angrier yet more helpless, and Tyler nastier yet more frightened. A little later I see posters for the bookstores announcing ‘the whole trilogy published within a year’.
Suddenly, I realize I have to be quick if I want to add or change anything to Season 1 that will help me in Season 2 or 3. Such as – to mention a minor detail – an ending that is not only fascinating and surprising readers after 1,200 pages of cliffhangers, but also believable.
In a matter of weeks, my carefree ‘oh well we'll solve all that in Season 45’ and the ambition with which I started Rebound, are list in the unannounced storm in my head. Think Zeeland, 1953. Think hell and damnation in House of Asman.
There I sit, puzzling and plotting, pushing and pulling. I must and I will know everything before Enter hits the store, Everything with a capital E, before I allow myself to write one syllable for Season 2 or 3. It feels like a game of chess, not just on three boards, but in three dimensions.
I draft a list of questions that remain to be answered by the end of Season 1. I make a Who's Who, a spreadsheet in which I describe all the mysterious figures that appeared in Enter, their backstory and interrelationships. Who's friendly to whom, who's going to help Tyler or Charlie, Oz or Gar, who's not, and why? Not only do I want everything to lead to a credible plot, but as in all my books, I want my villains to be credible villains, not one-dimensional bad guys.
Also I create an overview that should not only give me a grip on the chronology of the events, but also on the order in which I will reveal them to the reader. These quickly become two separate overviews, cross referenced. You don't want disclosure too soon (loss of suspense) but certainly not too late (loss of readers).
The Mother of All Overviews
Within weeks I have an expanding folder called Rebound – How It Fits, filled with lists and spreadheets and overviews. Too much of a good thing. I remember Jaap Vos’ quote from Wonderman's endgame: ‘The thicker the file, the more hopeless the case.’ And so I open a nice new empty document to make the overview that will be the Mother of All Overviews, providing me with insights that make all previous insights redundant.
At the top of the first page I write: ‘Watch it, Asman: no more than 1 A4.’ Highlighted in yellow.
Ultimately, this explanation to myself – solutions to problems I have created – takes up almost thirty-five pages. New issues arise, secrets, possible trapdoors and double plays that I discover on the job.
Also I find questions concerning the thriller writer’s ambitions, some of them urgent, such as: how do I avoid boring drivel between two talking heads? And what to do with all these secure phones and text messages? How do I avoid those horrible scenes just before the end of B-movies, in which the bad guy feels invulnerable and needlessly confesses everything while the good guy listens? I spend almost a full month looking for the answer to the simple question: where is Oz and when and why?? What should the reader actually know at the end of Season 2? What must be repeated so that the reader still has a chance to grasp its importance (if so what and how and where)?
Thank goodness I also find – as in the best thrillers – luck and windfalls in unexpected places. For example: during the last round of rewriting Enter Chapter 24, I quickly google for Port Newark Container Terminal and the first street name that catches my eye is… Tyler Street. For you this may mean nothing but a straw of despair, for me it signified a message from the universe that I was on the right track.
June 1, 2017
Then on June 1, 2017, during all this, Enter - Rebound 1 is published. Charles den Tex receives the first copy. A gathering at the new premises of Ambo Anthos, where many of my loved ones tell me they never doubted me finalizing the trilogy. Among those present is my oldest daughter (silently pregnant, her first, my first).
Later that week Vrij Nederland writes: ‘A thriller of international ambition. We cannot wait for parts II and III.’
‘Twelve months to go,’ whispers the clock. ‘Better start moving, Asman.’
WA, February 2021
Press
'Willem Asman has never been averse to international intrigue, but in Enter the author pulls out all the stops. Enter is the successful first part of what will become the Rebound trilogy. Asman tells the wildly exciting story with speed. The reader is continuously misled, the plot twists are abundant. The author has already been nominated for the Gouden Strop once, it comes within Asman’s reach for this extremely exciting story.' – de Volkskrant, Rolf Bos
'A palace of mirrors of intrigues, lies, half and whole truths, in which nothing is what it seems. Asman weaves a web of plot lines and writes at a pace that makes you gasp for breath, but in a style and setup that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. He also does this with a touch of refined humor. The chapters end with surprising cliff hangers, keeping the suspense alive. The plot twists keep you on your toes. Where necessary, Asman slows down to investigate matters. He knows how to sketch balanced characters and how to evoke atmospheres with a few striking sentences. The loneliness of the main character is downright oppressive. Her neurotic distrust is deeply palpable and her emotion grabs you by the throat. With Enter - Rebound 1 Willem Asman had written a thriller of international ambition that makes you hungry for more.' – Jury report BookSpot Gouden Strop
'A chillingly exciting book!' – Arthur Japin
'GREAT! You could say Willem Asman, the more than justified winner of the Gouden Strop, un-Dutch. But it is completely the Asman we know (from Queen’s Day, Wonderman’s endgame, Britannica and his surprising debut The Cassandra Paradox in 2006). That's the first thing that comes to mind after reading Enter. Asman again makes the grand gesture: Enter is the first part of a trilogy about REBOUND that has been published in one year. Also great in the structure of the story. Asman devised this web very cleverly and described it with extreme credibility. At a pace that makes you gasp for breath, but in a style and setup that make it almost impossible to put down the book. He easily manages to maintain the suspense, the cliffhangers are often surprising and the plot twists mislead the reader time and time again. Enter is the very successful first part of an ambitious trilogy, and if Asman manages to maintain this level in the following parts, that would have to be called un-Dutch.' – thrillerboek.nl, Jos van Cann
“Extremely exciting, lively characters, lots of action. Willem Asman does not shy away from a complex story that extends over more countries.' – Trouw
‘Asman weaves 'a worldwide web of intrigues in which action, excitement and sensation do not stand in the way of the human dimension.' – Het Parool, Algemeen Dagblad Magazine
'A hard-boiled action thriller, an excellent plot. Enter and Error are superbly written, thrilling books full of unexpected twists and action. A multitude of characters and intrigues ensure that the books remain fascinating until the very last page.' – Nederlands Dagblad
'What a story, folks! Very exciting, full of surprising plot twists. The characters are lifelike and partly because of this you as a reader get directly involved with the protagonist. Enter is the first part of a trilogy. That's good news because this book is good. No, not un-Dutch-good, an expression that no longer exists, just very, very good!’ – Remco Houtepen, bookseller of the year, Radio 5
'With the Rebound series, Asman once again proves that he belongs to the absolute top of Dutch-language thriller writers.' – Elvin Post
'With Rebound, Asman has done the Dutch crime literature and its readers a tremendous service.' – Jos van Cann
'Enter has many elements that make it a good thriller: a secret organization, a lot of uncertainty, truth and lies that alternate quickly, a lot of distrust, a lot of suspense and fascinating characters and finally the required plot surprises. The story comes to you from changing perspectives, which makes it credible. Enter ends with a wonderful cliffhanger that makes the reader eagerly await the second part.’ – Boekenblogderwijs.nl
'Asman turns it into a story you want to read in one go. His great strength is his ability to sketch lifelike characters. Each time, Asman conjures unexpected plot twists from his hat. Who to trust or not?' – Gooi- en Eemlander, Haarlems Dagblad, Leidsch Dagblad, Sonja de Jong
'Enter is a thriller with international ambition. We are eagerly awaiting parts II and III.' – Vrij Nederland
'Very nice thriller with an international touch. We are glad parts 2 and 3 will come soon.' – Broese booksellers, Utrecht
'Enter is a wonderful thriller. Asman's skilled brain fills the journey with exciting events, special twists and pleasant pieces of the puzzle. Luckily Error wil already follow next November.’ – hebban.nl, Remko Meddeler
'With his previous titles, Asman already showed that he is one of the Dutch authors who can easily cope with international competition and he is showing it again with Enter. Asman uses a strict writing style, with no unnecessary digressions. Enter has been plotted exceptionally careful. Asman ensures that it is correct in every detail. Not everything is clarified, but the answers to the remaining loose ends will no doubt be addressed in parts two and three.’ – hebban.nl
'What a wonderful thriller with international ambition!' – Kramer & van Doorn Bookstore, Zeist
'With De Cassandra Paradox and Wonderman’s endgame, among others, Willem Asman proved to have an extremely great talent for writing various types of thrillers. Although Enter is filled with action, it is clearly an introduction, a prelude to the sequels, where the intrigues can really erupt. But a very pleasant introduction. Asman writes fascinatingly about the witness protection program and the identity change that comes with it. Asman takes the time to explain the REBOUND organization and does so in a concise, powerful style. The narrative style, the solid plot structure and the secret world of spies are at times reminiscent of the books by Charles den Tex, who (quite rightly) crossed borders with The power of Mr. Miller and Cell. Willem Asman could also achieve this, because the REBOUND series tends to be an international hit. Enter is a promising start, it makes your mouth water for more.' – thrillzone.nl
'The un-Dutch setting makes this book impressive. Suspension and intrigue run rampant in Enter. Willem Asman has an innovative writing style, he writes the story in an un-Dutch manner. You cannot imagine while reading that this is a Dutch writer. The visual description of the environment, the atmosphere and the storyline of the Rebound system gives it an American touch. Impressively strong writing, everything fits, the characters are clear cut and convincing. Slowly but surely Asman manages to draw you inside the plot, you will not just trust everyone. Not all riddles are explained, hopefully we will learn more about them in Error. Intrigues, strongly portrayed characters and the un-Dutch setting make this book highly recommendable. You will not be disappointed. It is not without reason that Willem Asman has managed to secure a place on the shortlist for the Gouden Strop. Well-deserved in my opinion. ' bol.com Lees Magazine
'An intelligent thriller that makes you think about witness protection programs. Are all liquidations in the underworld real? Or did criminals (pop stars, millionaires, etc.) start a new life? Enter is recommended for fans of, for example, Charles den Tex.' – Jaspers Badhoevedorp bookstore
'The Rebound series is perhaps the best that has appeared in the Dutch thriller genre during the last decade.' – Daan van 't Westeinde
'Enter is the best Dutch-language thriller of the year. After previous nominations, Willem Asman finally wins the prize for best thriller.' – de Volkskrant, Iñaki Oñorbe Genovesi
'Many surprises in the second part of Rebound trilogy. From the first sentence, Willem Asman sets the pace with part two of his 'Rebound' trilogy. It is great how Asman is able to clearly tie the countless storylines together. And each time he comes up with one more surprise.’ – Gooi- en Eemlander, Haarlems Dagblad, Leidsch Dagblad, Sonja de Jong
'After the exciting Enter, I immediately started in Error, part 2. And again I Was immediately captivated by the story. Can't wait for part 3!' - Veenendaal bookstore, Amersfoort, Mabel van Zijl
'Error is even better than Enter, especially because it goes deeper into what the organization Rebound actually is. Tyler, the newest ring bearer, and her daughter Charlie are featured again, and we hear more about how Gar joined the organization. The story about Alain Toussaint, a former hitman, is well woven into the book. All these storylines are intertwined and yet they belong together. With Error, Willem Asman has delivered an exciting book and the book is well composed. The chapters are not too long and well divided among the main characters. Also in Rebound 2 there is a preview from Rebound 3 and after reading this, I can only say that I am very curious about Exit!' – thrillersandmore.nl
‘Asman writes at a killer pace, and nothing is what it seems. One drawback: you must have prior knowledge of part 1 to understand everything. And part 3 will be necessary to get all the jigsaw pieces in their right place.' – Vrij Nederland
'The fact that the Rebound trilogy is unusually good was once again emphasized by the Gouden Strop award for part 1: Enter. With part 3, Willem Asman not only confirms this high quality, but even surpasses it. Exit rumbles on like a rollercoaster, full of unexpected loops and breathtaking twists and turns. It surprises to the last pages. In a superior way, Asman knows how to drag his readers along. Asman brings all the storylines together in a completely convincing way. This is the higher echelon of thriller writing.' – Gooi- en Eemlander, Leidsch Dagblad, IJmuider Courant, Sonja de Jong
'Asman finishes the trilogy entirely in style and with an appropriate ending. A flashy style, the necessary plot twists and speed. The disadvantage is that to appreciate Exit, you better read the two previous parts first. Other than that: bravo!' – Vrij Nederland, Jos van Cann
'Rebound is unique in its ambition. An original, exciting series, three brand new, incomparable thrillers of international level, to be released in one year. The third and final part will be published next month and I can tell you: Asman succeeded, he fully lives up to expectations. A phenomenal production of phenomenal quality. In Rebound 3: Exit , everything that has been built up in parts 1 and 2 comes together in a very exciting apotheosis.' – Harold de Croon, editor Ambo | Anthos
'Finally the denouement of this great series. The Rebound trilogy is a must for thriller readers!' – Veenendaal bookshop, Amersfoort, Mabel van Zijl, May 2018:
'Exit is the last part of the five-star trilogy about the unbelievably credible REBOUND.' – Remko Meddeler