The Hollow Man: A Novel

“A twisting spiral of lies and corruption, a pitch-perfect portrait of contemporary London, and a beguiling bastard of a hero—what a recipe for a great read.”
—Val McDermid, author of The Mermaids Singing

Describing London police detective Nick Belsey, hero of The Hollow Man, an enthrallingly original thriller from British crime novelist Oliver Harris—the Daily Mail declared, “He’s got to be London’s coolest cop.” Crime fiction fans are sure to agree, especially those hooked on the novels of Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Mark Billingham, and Jo Nesbø. The first book in a series of tense and twisting police procedurals, The Hollow Man starts with Belsey at rock bottom, and then embroils him in a brazen identity theft scam and possible murder that could leave him either wealthy or dead. It’s time to discover Oliver Harris, a new master of noir who’s destined to be a big man at the scene of the crime.

Waking up on Hampstead Heath not far from a crashed squad car, Detective Nick Belsey wants out—out of London and out of the endless complications of his life. When Alexei Devereux, a wealthy hermit, vanishes, leaving behind a suicide note and his Porsche, Belsey discovers an opportunity—a new identity and a fortune—waiting for the taking.

Unfortunately, there are others who share the detective's interest in Devereux, including Scotland Yard. A dead rich man with suspicious financial holdings is bound to have some dangerous ties and a few ruthless enemies. Now, Belsey and his clever plan are about to be overshadowed by far more ambitious players with their own brilliant—and deadly—scheme.

Combining dark humor, dazzling twists, and a sharp narrative style, The Hollow Man is a tour de force of suspense—and the debut of an extraordinary new writer.

“Debut author Harris maintains the tension and suspense from the first sentence to the last. His antihero is engaging, and readers will be rooting for him all the way to the final plot twist.” - Library Journal

“A knockout debut novel.” - Charlotte Observer

“He’s got to be London’s coolest cop. . . . [A] richly plotted and unusual detective series. . .&nbsp. It’s heady stuff.” - Daily Mail (London)

“You’ll have a whale of a time.” - The Guardian

“A twisting spiral of lies and corruption, a pitch-perfect portrait of contemporary London and a beguiling bastard of a hero—what a recipe for a great read.” - Val McDermid

“This is an astonishingly good first novel. Its plot is original, its dialogue lively, and in DC Belsey—the man who can’t make up his mind whether he’s a corrupt slacker or a dedicated detective and seems cursed to be both at once—it has a protagonist who truly stands out from the crowd.” - Morning Star

“Searing. . . . Readers should be prepared for a mind-bending resolution that hurtles down as remorselessly as an avalanche.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The narrative is buoyed by good writing and piercing insights. . . . And is our heel-hero really a study in conflict or a have-it-both-ways fraud, true blue under a raffish surface? That’s the real puzzle, and one thoughtful readers will relish.” - Booklist