Synopses & Reviews
"I should have left her as soon as I found out. If I'd left her then, she'd have come banging at my door. She'd have come back to me eventually and I could have made my choice. I couldn't contemplate her leaving me, though. I couldn't contemplate her being alive and not being with me."
Matthew Bourne is very much the center of his own universe. He has a long-term partner, a mistress, and a high-flying career with a human rights agency, where he is campaigning to secure the release of a condemned African dissident. Then one day a colleague's wife dies in tragic circumstances, and Matthew is called to identify the body. Only much later does he realize that this incident has seeped into his life like a slow poison, and he spirals into a nightmare of death and betrayal.
The Execution is a riveting narrative of mystery and menace, of emotional disengagement and passionate action. Written in a smooth, detached style that builds the tension and suspense to almost unbearable levels, The Execution is an extremely accomplished debut from a new writer of huge promise.
Review
"[An] exceptionally well-done debut..." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"In this stunning debut, Wilcken creates a beautifully written, intricately crafted, multilayered story that can be read as a psychological thriller, a commentary on the superficiality of modern life, an Everyman story, or a modern morality tale. On whatever level, the book is both moving and mesmerizing....It is a relief to Matthew when the consequences of his actions finally bring him face to face with his fate. But there's no relief in sight for the reader, who will be moved, troubled, and disturbed by this deeply affecting book." Emily Melton, Booklist (starred review)
Review
"A self-absorbed British PR rep for a human rights activist group slowly begins falling apart in Wilcken's taut debut, a diabolical thriller that echoes the best suspense of Patricia Highsmith with a cheeky nod to Dostoyevski....This is a remarkably accomplished debut heralding the arrival of a noteworthy talent. Wilcken's literary career may take as many fascinating twists as this brilliant book." Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Hugo Wilcken is an Australian-born writer who has lived in London and Paris, where he now makes his home. Named by the Guardian as one of the "Top Five Writers to Watch," he is currently at work on his second novel.