Hugo Wilcken’s haunting existential thriller is not so much one reflection as a hall of mirrors, at times dazzling, often a little dizzying. This is a book that flirts openly with its influences, from Kafka and Hitchcock to Paul Auster to 1950s noir.

It is likely to frustrate readers who like their puzzles solvable and their characters conventional, as well as those who prefer philosophical musings kept to a minimum. Others will revel in the exact same qualities. (You probably know which team you belong to.) Either way, it is a testament to