by Ian McEwan
First published 1997
A hot air balloon crashes on a blustery spring afternoon, and Joe Rose rushes to help. The tragedy brings him into contact with Jed Parry, a deeply troubled man who becomes convinced that Joe shares his feelings of love. What begins as awkward encounters grows into something far more sinister. Parry starts following Joe, calling him, showing up at his home. Joe's girlfriend Clarissa thinks he's overreacting, but Joe knows the danger is real. Parry's delusions intensify. He believes Joe is sending him secret signals, that their connection is divinely ordained. Joe's rational, scientific mind struggles to comprehend this irrational force threatening his relationship with Clarissa and his sense of safety. The stalking escalates into violence as Parry's mental state deteriorates further. Joe must find a way to stop a man whose reality has become completely detached from his own.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary, psychological-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: psychological-suspense, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Chiltern Hills (England), England
262 pages · Paperback · Anchor
Content warnings: mental-illness, violence