Irene,
I get the impression the you want to reference a book that everyone will instantly recognize and be able to make the parallel connections just from the reference.
Since nothing has come to anyone's mind right away perhaps 'the book' won't have that impact you wish.
My opinion is to just make up some book and with a few extra lines of dialog allow your characters to make the inference by acknowledging the plot of the 'well-known' novel.
Tank (who is very eager to see Irene's work back in this fandom again)
