August 17, 2026 · Katy Simpson Smith

The Maltese Version

This couple is Leonie, in her early 30s, and Max, 40, who live in Chicago. Leonie is a travel writer, and Max is an underemployed academic and translator. When Max is offered an unusual translation gig that requires spending a month in Malta, he accepts. But soon after he leaves Chicago, Max seems to drop off the map. Leonie gets no reply to her texts and phone calls.