The Story of Marceau Miller

“Marceau Miller” is both the pseudonym of the author of this brain-bending metafictional thriller and the name of its central figure. At the outset, Marceau, a bestselling mystery writer, falls to his death from a cliff near Lake Geneva after celebrating the publication of his 20th novel with his closest friends. After his wife, Sarah, finds the body, she’s plagued by suspicions that Marceau’s death was not an accident. She becomes obsessed with locating his final manuscript, convinced it contains clues to whether her husband was, in fact, murdered. As she outlines her theory to skeptical Swiss policemen, the narrative weaves in revealing dispatches from her business partner and snippets from the missing manuscript, which provide even more clues about the fatal fall. As secrets come to light and long-standing relationships disintegrate, Miller asks tantalizing questions about the dark impulses that can drive human creativity. Readers will be wowed. Agent: Marleen Seegers, 2 Seas. (Mar.)