Jamaica: A Novel

Lifelong friendships are put to the test in a Martin Amis-style dissection of privilege and mid-life crisis set against the backdrop of a marathon relay swim in Jamaica. Compulsive reading from an unflinching observer of fallibility, hypocrisy and thwarted ambition. WELCOME TO JAMAICA, HAVE A NICE BREAKDOWN. A group of six friends converge on the fabled island of Jamaica to compete in a marathon relay swim across treacherous water. Most have known each other since school, scions of wealth, breeding and privilege and members of the upper echelon of supposedly classless Sydney. The odd man out is new money Jeremy Hutchison (Hut), who's tolerated by the group because of the fortune he's made, but never really accepted. It is a group of people on the edge of crisis, none more so than Hut, who is guarding a terrible truth. As the sleazy charms of Jamaica insinuate themselves onto the group, things fall apart in predictable and surprising ways, and the secrets of the past must be addressed. Compulsive reading from an unflinching observer of fallibility, hypocrisy and thwarted ambition. Awards Winner of the Colin Roderick Award 2008 Shortlisted for the 2008 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Fiction) About the Author Malcolm Knox is the author of two previous novels, Summerland and A Private Man . Formerly literary editor of the Sydney Morning Herald , Malcolm broke the Norma Khouri hoax, for which he was awarded a Walkley Award. He is also the author of Secrets of the Jury Room . He lives in Sydney.