Mouth to Mouth

A Barack Obama Summer Read'Carries distinct shades of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt... Supremely gripping'Vogue, Best Books of the YearAlone on the beach one morning, Jeff notices a swimmer drowning in the rough surf. He rescues and resuscitates the unconscious man, then quietly leaves when the emergency services take over. But Jeff can't let go of the events of that traumatic day and he begins to feel compelled to learn more about the man whose life he has saved.Upon discovering that it was the renowned millionaire art-dealer Francis Arsenault, Jeff begins to visit his gallery, eventually applying there for a job. Although Francis doesn't seem to recognize Jeff, he soon takes him under his wing, initiating him into a world of unimaginable power and wealth. As Jeff finds himself seduced by the lifestyle, he pursues a deeper connection with Francis, until morals become expendable and their relationship becomes ever darker, leaving Jeff finally to wonder... should he have just let Francis drown?'Devilish' Esquire, Best Books of the Year'Jaw-dropping' Time, Must Read Book of the Year

Auteur

Antoine Wilson

Texte du rabat

Breathes new life into the literary thriller... Mouth to Mouth is to be devoured in one greedy gulp' Financial Times

'An enthralling literary puzzle... We have no idea where it is heading, right up to the shocking final sentence' New York Times

A struggling author is stuck at the airport, his flight endlessly delayed. As he kills time at the gate, he bumps into a former classmate of his, Jeff, who is waiting for the same flight. The charismatic Jeff invites the author to drinks in the First Class lounge, and there, swearing him to secrecy, begins telling him the fascinating and disturbing story of his gilded life, starting with a pivotal incident from his youth...

Alone on the beach one morning, Jeff notices a swimmer drowning in the rough surf - and so he rescues and resuscitates the unconscious man, before leaving him to the emergency services. But Jeff can't let go of the events of that traumatic day, and he begins to feel compelled to learn more about the man whose life he has saved, convinced that their destinies are now somehow entwined. Upon discovering that the man is the renowned art dealer Francis Arsenault, Jeff begins to surreptitiously visit his Beverly Hills gallery, eventually applying there for a job. Although Francis doesn't seem to recognize him, he nevertheless casts his legendary eye over Jeff and sees something of worth - and so he initiates him into his world of unimaginable power and wealth, where knowledge, taste and access are currency, and the value of things is constantly shifting, constantly calling into question what is real, and what matters. As Jeff finds himself seduced by the lifestyle, he pursues a deeper connection with Francis, until morals become expendable and their relationship becomes ever darker, leaving him to wonder... should he have just let Francis drown?

Résumé
In the jinxy spirit of Portrait of a Thief, a compelling, one-sitting literary thriller of imposters and malevolent morals, in which a man pulls another man from the rough surf...and then wishes he'd just let him drown