Afternoon of a Faun

In this thought-provoking psychological thriller from Lasdun (The Fall Guy), journalist Marco Rosedale, an English expat living in New York, stands accused of sexual assault from an encounter 40 years earlier. When Rosedale finds out that an old flame has written a memoir that explores the sexual landscape of the 1970s, including details of him raping her in a hotel room, he realizes immediately that if the memoir is published his career will be over and his reputation tarnished forever. Told from the point of view of an old acquaintance of Rosedale’s, who’s unsure of his friend’s proclaimed innocence and attempting to remain objective throughout the ordeal, the story is a powerful social commentary that examines the consequences of such an accusation on both parties. Set in the days just after Trump won the Republican nomination—and referencing disgraced figures including Anthony Weiner and Roger Ailes—this novel comes to a brilliantly ironic conclusion that will leave readers reeling. Mainstream literary fiction readers will appreciate this one as well. Agent: Irene Skolnick, Irene Skolnick Literary. (Apr.)