Four of fools

The characters: John Anders, a middle-aged ex-history professor with a ruined career; his young-wife, Vida, who immerses herself in her work with a disconcerting obsessiveness; Jim, their friend, a loose-footed Jack-of-all-Trades who has his own agenda; and the enigmatic scientist Geoffrey Fry, subject of Vida's research, who is attempting to formulate a theory about coincidence by exploring methods as old as the tarot and as modern as radioactive decay. Four of Fools is a psychological thriller at the heart of which lie several interlocking secrets. As the tale gathers momentum, the characters are swept up until the novel reaches its haunting conclusion in a startling showdown. Suspenseful and compelling; this is the fourth novel by a masterful storyteller, with a growing reputation for melding a dazzling style with a gripping narrative.