John Fowles

“This is a classic from my year off between school and university. I went interrailing and ended up on a Greek island with a battered copy of The Magus in my backpack—which I think everyone of a certain age should probably do—and I read it there. It’s the story of Nicholas Urfe, who’s a university graduate from Oxford and gets a job teaching English on a Greek island. There are problems with the first part of the book. I’m not sure revisions are a good idea, but he could have addressed the misogyny at the beginning when Nicholas is still in the UK and he’s at parties with his Australian girlfriend. That made me a bit uncomfortable. But once you get onto the island, and he starts playing these mind games with Conchis—who is this mysterious, wealthy recluse living on the far side of the island—I just loved it.” Read more...

The Best Psychological Thrillers

J.S. Monroe, Thriller and Crime Writer