Betrayals

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At once a hypnotic murder mystery, scathing literary parody, soap opera, and brilliant pastiche, this novel is a virtuoso performance by a modern master of literary gamesmanship in the tradition of Nabokov and Barth. It unfolds through seemingly unrelated narratives, each in a different style and genre. An obituary for a Scottish scientist reveals a colleague's relish for his death. Early in the century, a train in the Scottish Highlands derails during a snowstorm, leading to the death—or murder—of a passenger. An inept publisher's reader summarizes a tacky hospital romance that culminates in a gory murder reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. A report on a contemporary academic scandal spirals into plagiarism, shattered reputations, paranoia, and possible murder disguised as suicide. As the author teases out each situation, it becomes clear they all revolve around a common theme: a distinguished figure in an intellectual pursuit becomes obsessed with a rival's success and schemes their demise, only to fail due to their own monomania. Each plotter becomes a victim of their own machinations, and the betrayer often becomes the betrayed in a complex dance of deception, revenge, and revelation. This challenging, engrossing, and original work is a joy to read, filled with laughter, suspense, and the marvel of a cleverly constructed fictional puzzle.