Maxwell's Demon is a postmodern adventure with the pacing of a thriller and the twists and turns of a classic whodunnit.
Struggling writer Thomas Quinn has been asked to steal a valuable manuscript from the reclusive, bestselling novelist Andrew Black. But when Quinn’s late father leaves him a voicemail message, and characters from Black’s novel start appearing on the streets, Quinn begins a descent into a twisting mystery that spans a manhunt, fake names, theoretical physics, chaos theory, apocryphal texts, doll’s houses, the power of stories, the magic inside the alphabet and the nature of reality itself.
Maxwell's Demon was shortlisted for the 2022 Encore Award.
Spoilers!
Questions about the book's ending answered in Reddit AMA
Press/Quotes
'[a] dazzlingly smart postmodern treat. Maxwell’s Demon is both steeped in high European theory – think Calvino and Eco – and enormously enjoyable.' OBSERVER
'an engaging, pacy mystery as well as an exploration of reality' INDEPENDENT
'the author’s plethora of ideas and proliferating rabbit holes provides endless delights. Fans of Mark Danielewski will love this heady postmodern thriller.' PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
'Postmodern brilliance ... superb.' TELEGRAPH
'Part fantasy, part mystery, it is altogether delightful and filled with surprises—in a word, exceptional. No, make that two words; the second is fantastic. A rare, sui generis treat.” BOOKLIST (starred review)
'the genius of the book is that despite it seeming like an elegant orrery, all these wheels within wheels are a carapace, a psychic armour against a grief ... Beneath this truly beautiful astrolabe is a beating human heart.' SCOTSMAN
'In an era of ‘alternative truths’ this novel couldn’t be more timely ... a radiant and unique achievement.' —Bradford Morrow, author of The Forger’s Daughter
Shop
Maxwell's Demon is available from Waterstones, Foyles, Amazon, bookshop.org, Blackwell's and all good bookshops in the UK now.
Publishers
Maxwell's Demon is published by Canongate Books in the UK, Grove in the US, and Harpercollins Canada.