Includes P.S., insights, interviews and reading group guide.
A man, a woman, a child, and an unforgettable dog combine forces in this gripping and surprising psychological thriller, the most stunning novel yet from Scott Spencer—named one of Publishers Weekly’s Top Ten Books of 2010.
Can we ever get away with murder Are there secrets that cannot remain hidden no matter how deeply we try to bury them And do the things we hide control our destinies even more than the things we choose to reveal
Paul Phillips has been on his own since he was a teenager, leading a life of freedom and independence, beholden to no one and nothing. Once he thought his life would have no particular rhyme or reason, touched only by transient strangers. Then he met the beautiful, intelligent, loving Kate Ellis, who offered order and constancy. But Paul is a man of deep convictions, and the compromises we all make to get along in the world elude him.
On his way home after a particularly trying day, Paul discovers a man beating a dog, and in a few fateful moments is plunged into a world of violence and onto a tumultuous journey of self-knowledge, guilt, and redemption.
“"We don't often encounter novels that combine shrewd plotting, strong characters and gorgeous writing, but Scott Spencer's "Man in the Woods" does precisely that."”
-- Washington Post
"Spencer, a deft explorer of obsessive love and violence, confronts the consequences of doing wrong for all the right reasons in his exquisite latest." -- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"[A] compelling setup and stunning conclusion...The depth of the characters, the questions they ask and the challenge they confront stay with the reader long after the conclusion." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Spencer, a master of piercing insight and letter-perfect prose, tantalizes to the last climactic sentence of this compelling exploration of the wages of guilt." -- Booklist (starred review)
"This is a book poised to take its place as an American classic." -- Huffington Post
"Spencer has shown a powerful understanding of the price of passion. In this one, he explores the even more treacherous terrain of guilt, expiation, and longed-for salvation..." -- O magazine
"[Spencer] writes love stories with such beauty that you want to savor every surprising phrase, but his intense, intriguing plots propel you to race along the pages. He does it again in his new book, a complex novel... fresh, and compelling." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
"This beautifully written novel is so much more than just a good read." -- USA Today
"The novel is at its most compelling as it traces the evolution of Paul's inner turmoil... the precision of Spencer's eye for vibrant similes remains a pleasure throughout..." -- Philadelphia Inquirer
"MAN IN THE WOODS reveals the talent and confidence of a master story teller at the top of his game....Scott Spencer holds the reader to his terrifying account every step of the way. A page turner from beginning to end." -- Rudy Wurlitzer
"A smart, haunting thriller with bass reverb and a pounding heart....Spencer transforms an eight thousand dollar gambling debt and a dog with two names into an enthralling literary ride....Spencer is an American master." -- Jayne Anne Phillips, author of the National Book Award finalist LARK AND TERMITE
"In this brilliant novel, Scott Spencer further expands his range to embrace our relations with animals--with the loyal pets that consent to share our domestic lives, and with the darker, more alarming beasts that lurk within even the most compassionate and conscious human beings." -- Francine Prose
Scott Spencer is the author of nine previous novels, including ENDLESS LOVE, which has been translated into fourteen languages and has sold over 2 million copies. His other novels include THE RICH MAN’S TABLE, MEN IN BLACK, A SHIP MADE OF PAPER, and WAKING THE DEAD, a film version of which was produced by Jodie Foster in 2000, starring Jennifer Connelly and Billy Crudup. He has written for ROLLING STONE, NYT, The New Yorker, GQ, and HARPER’S, and he has taught fiction writing at Columbia University, The University of Iowa, and Williams College. He lives in Rhinebeck, New York.
A man, a woman, a child, and an unforgettable dog combine forces in this gripping and surprising psychological thriller, the most stunning novel yet from Scott Spencer--named one of Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Books of 2010. Can we ever get away with murder? Are there secrets that cannot remain hidden no matter how deeply we try to bury them? And do the things we hide control our destinies even more than the things we choose to reveal? Paul Phillips has been on his own since he was a teenager, leading a life of freedom and independence, beholden to no one and nothing. Once he thought his life would have no particular rhyme or reason, touched only by transient strangers. Then he met the beautiful, intelligent, loving Kate Ellis, who offered order and constancy. But Paul is a man of deep convictions, and the compromises we all make to get along in the world elude him. On his way home after a particularly trying day, Paul discovers a man beating a dog, and in a few fateful moments is plunged into a world of violence and onto a tumultuous journey of self-knowledge, guilt, and redemption.
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