The House of Journalists

The Prisoner meets The Imperfectionists in this confounding first novel from Finch, a former BBC journalist. Founded by Julian Snowman, London’s House of Journalists exists as an officious sanctuary for writers who have fled despotic governments. Current inhabitants include Mr. Stan, whose tortured, twisted body is a warning of the dangers all outspoken journalists face; Mustapha, who left his family behind in the wake of a revolution; and Agnes, a photojournalist unable to take up her camera after recording atrocities. Into this group comes the standoffish journalist “AA.” Julian thinks he’s there to bring down the house, but AA’s ultimate goal is more surprising than that. Finch’s novel frustrates because the story is told by a series of narrators, and the voices are difficult to differentiate. The same holds true for the journalists’ adventures, which are so generically described that they begin to sound alike. And although the author creates a Kafkaesque atmosphere in which K. would feel right at home, we get little sense of purpose. Some readers might appreciate a looming twist, but others will think it is not enough to rescue this novel from its confusion of intent. (Sept.)