Jan 15, 2017 the fall guy by james lasdun is published by jonathan cape. The fall guy by james lasdun, 9780393354942, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Lasdun has written four novels, including the horned man, 2002, a new york times notable book, and seven lies, 2006, which was an economist book of the year and was longlisted for the man booker prize for fiction. Besides, for the better part of the novel, its underobvious why the affluent charlie, a former banker whose post2008 turn to ethical investing hints. One reason, i think, is because the author is a poet first. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The versatile james lasduns attempt at a psychological thriller in the mode of the talented mr ripley falls sadly short of its mark. He has published two novels as well as several collections of short stories and poetry. The fall guy by james lasdun penguin books australia. The thrills it offers are those of narrative and philosophy. You could not go wrong with james lasduns the fall guy, a riveting psychological thriller lionel shriver, guardian books of the year. In the fall guy, james lasdun brings the signature gifts to contemporary noir that hes displayed in other literary venues wit, style, an attractive gravitas.
What makes the fall guy even more uncomfortable is that lasduns previous book, give me everything you have. The fall guy is more accessible than lasduns previous novels, and filmic to the point where it can seem like a. As readers of james lasduns acclaimed fiction can expect, the fall guy is a complex moral tale as well as a gripping suspense story, probing questions of guilt and betrayal with ruthless incisiveness. Matthew is perfect for that role, but james lasduns third novel is billed as a thriller albeit a psychological one so charlie, a banker who can. Oct, 2016 the fall guy is a thriller that belongs on the literary top shelf with graham greene and charles mccarry, a thriller in the way henry jamess the turn of the screw is a ghost story. Much like his peers james dickey and stephen dobyns, lasduns poetic talent has veered toward the genre of criminal suspense. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. So its no surprise that this work of fiction, the fall guy, is so darn good. Oct 18, 2016 how can this seemingly innocuous scenario go so quickly and inexorably to hell in james lasduns new psychological thriller, the fall guy. With astute observations of those around him, lasdun s unreliable narrator is as literate as he is lethal and downright creepy. Oct 18, 2016 as readers of james lasduns acclaimed fiction can expect, the fall guy is a complex moral tale as well as a gripping suspense story, probing questions of guilt and betrayal with ruthless incisiveness. Exceptionally entertainingthe fall guy reads like early ian mcewan or late patricia.
Author lasdun knows how to throw in surprises you dont see coming, but that make perfect sense when you finally see how all the pieces fit together. In the last book i read by him a memoir entitled give me everything you have he tells the harrowing reallife story of being stalked by an unbalanced student. The fall guy by james lasdun tells the story of matthew, his cousin charlie, and charlies wife chloe, as they leave new york city to spend the warmer summer months at their home near the catskill mountains. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the fall guy. As the days grow hotter, the friendship between the three begins to reveal its fault lines, and with the arrival of a fourth character, the household finds itself suddenly in the grip of uncontrollable passions. The fall guy reads like early ian mcewan or late patricia highsmith lasdun is masterly in his storys construction this is exactly what a literary thriller should be. Oct 18, 2016 james lasdun knows a thing or two about betrayal and revenge. And the tale itself is sharp, acute in its observations, and absorbing.
The fall guy is lasdun s most entertaining novel yet. Buy the fall guy by james lasdun from waterstones today. He has published novels, a memoir, collections of poetry and books of short stories, including the selection besieged, the title story of which was made into a film by bernardo bertolucci. James lasdun audio books, best sellers, author bio. The fall guy by james lasdun deliciously off financial times. Jan 06, 2017 the fall guy, by james lasdun, jonathan cape, rrp.
Narrator constant is excellent, especially his mastery of accents. Bookpage with its deftly constructed narratives of guilt and buried resentment, the fall guy is more accessible than lasduns previous novels. James lasdun was born in london and now lives in the us. The fall guy by james lasdun penguin books new zealand. A family, 20292047 2016 illustration by toby whitebread. As readers of james lasdun s acclaimed fiction can expect, the fall. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In his new novel of psychological suspense, set in 2012, poetauthor lasdun places matthew, a young, outofwork chef, under a literary microscope, catching every disturbing twitch of his increasing d. As readers of james lasdun s acclaimed fiction can expect, the fall guy is a complex moral tale as well as a gripping suspense story, probing questions of guilt and betrayal with ruthless incisiveness. A story of fracture in paradise, where ancient resentments and current desires lurch violently to the surface and an idyllic summer retreat becomes a stage for lies, lust and revenge, the fall guy is lasdun s most entertaining novel yet. What other book might you compare the fall guy to and why. Lasdun was born in london, the son of susan bendit and british architect sir denys lasdun.
You could not go wrong with james lasdun s the fall guy, a riveting psychological thriller lionel shriver, guardian books of the year. Sep 27, 2017 james lasdun s the fall guy is a psychological thriller with the same eerie flavor as claire messuds the woman upstairs. The fall guy has the quality of a dream that follows its own terrible logic, impossible to break free from, never to be forgotten after you wake up. In this taut psychological thriller, a couple and their houseguest find themselves caught in a deadly web of secrets, obsession, and revenge. Charlie, a wealthy banker with an uneasy conscience, invites his troubled cousin matthew to visit him and his wife in their idyllic mountaintop house over the summer. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. James lasdun is the author of afternoon of a faun, the fall guy, the horned man, seven lies, several poetry and short story collections, and a memoir.
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