One Hand Clapping

by Anthony Burgess

First published 1961

Shirley and Howard are the picture of domestic bliss. But when Howard's photographic memory helps him win big on a TV quiz show, their lives take a dark turn. Flush with cash, the couple indulges in the high life - and Howard's penchant for betting on the horses. But as their wealth grows, so does Howard's thirst for risk. Soon, murder becomes the ultimate prize in their twisted game of one-upmanship. Can this picture-perfect pair maintain their perfect facade, or will the truth come crashing down around them?

Genres: domestic-fiction, suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary, psychological-thriller

Vibes: dark, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: deception, unreliable-narrator

Period: 1961, Fifties

278 pages · Paperback · Galileo Publishers

Content warnings: domestic-violence, murder

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