Reese Witherspoon is adding novelist to her résumé with "Gone Before Goodbye," a thriller co-written with bestselling author Harlan Coben that hits shelves Tuesday.

The collaboration pairs the Oscar-winning actress and book club founder with one of publishing's most successful thriller writers. It's Witherspoon's first novel and Coben's first time working with a co-author.

Witherspoon said she contacted Coben, despite warnings from friends about his dark subject matter.

"In my mind, he is the greatest thriller writer there is right now," she said.

Coben, known for his twist endings, said he rarely collaborates but was intrigued when Witherspoon came to his New York apartment with her pitch.

"Immediately, I had a yellow legal pad out," Coben said. "We started going back and forth with

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