It begins with a letter . . .
The letter contains a request - think of a number, any number - and a sealed envelope.

And inside the envelope is that number.

When Dave Gurney, retired NYPD homicide detective, is contacted by an old college acquaintance about some startling letters he's been receiving, he thinks it's little more than a diverting but sinister puzzle.

That is, until the acquaintance is brutally killed.

Suddenly Gurney finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation that makes no sense.

Because the killer seems to have known his victim intimately - how else was he able to predict his victim's thoughts, even his actions? How did he know his darkest secrets?

The killer is smart, and he is playing with the police.

But Gurney needs to be smarter.

This is only the beginning. And the killer alone knows where it will end.

Fans of Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay will love this unique and chilling high-concept thriller.

Praise for John Verdon:

'The best thriller I've read in a long, long time' Tess Gerritsen

'Wow! Totally absorbing, brilliantly written. The best book I've read this year' Sun

About the Author
John Verdon, a former Manhattan advertising executive, lives with his wife on a small hilltop in upstate New York. His first two Dave Gurney novels are Think of a Number and Shut Your Eyes Tight.

Reviews
Written with pace, style, intelligence, teasing puzzles and lots of tension.The number I'm thinking of is 1! * Reginald Hill *
Addictive and thoroughly engrossing . . . this tale will grab hold of you like a steel jaw trap * Joseph Finder *
Spectacular and mind-bending . . . the best thriller I've read in a long, long time. John Verdon's writing is so polished, so nuanced, it makes me envious that I didn't write this terrific novel * Tess Gerritsen *
John Verdon has written a flawless novel about flawed people and he's written it beautifully * Nelson DeMille *
With its edge-of-the-chair suspense, memorable characters that jump off the pages, and elegant and deft writing, John Verdon's Think of a Number is a stunning debut * Faye Kellerman *
One of the finest thrillers I've read in years. I devoured it. In a genre frequently and sadly known for delivering more of the same old familiar stuff, Think of a Number stands out as original and exciting * John Katzenbach *
Simply one of the best thrillers I've read in a lifetime of thriller reading - eloquent, heart-rending, deeply suspenseful on many levels, and relentlessly intelligent. Absolutely not to be missed! * John Lescroart *



Book Information
ISBN 9780141048703
Author John Verdon
Format Paperback
Page Count 512
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 351g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 30mm