Man of the Year

Physician Robert Hart, the narrator of Walker’s searing debut, has a beautiful wife, Elizabeth, who teaches at Stony Brook; he’s reconnecting with his college-age son, Jonah, who for once is spending the summer with him in Sag Harbor, N.Y., instead of with his ex-wife; and he has just won the township’s Citizen of the Year award. However, all is not well in the Hart home. Jonah’s college roommate Nick Carpenter, whose parents died when he was young, is staying in their guest house, and the cynical Robert suspects, with little evidence, that Nick and Elizabeth are having an affair. As a result, Robert takes highly questionable steps to keep the two separated. After a shocking event, Robert frantically begins covering his tracks, desperate to keep his life’s carefully constructed veneer of respectability intact. There are more than a few surprising twists in store in this smart, subtly menacing novel of suspense. Walker is a writer to watch. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary. (June) Correction: An earlier version of this review displayed the incorrect imprint.