Game Theory: A John Murray Original - Tapa blanda

A neatly-crafted 21st-century take on a genre of literary fiction - the light-hearted, plot-driven romp - that has drifted out of fashion * Prospect * Has the good manners to record the self-concern of the privileged with a degree of quiet malice * Guardian * Patiently observes the travails of modern relationships * Sunday Times, Culture * This tenderly observed debut is a clever post-campus novel doubling as a satirical, state-of-the-nation period piece * Metro * This fantastic debut novel tackles those difficult years between firebrand youth and comfortable middle age . . . Well-observed and ruthlessly truthful * Daily Mail * Game Theory is a proper English summer novel: comic, sharply observed, a little bit sweet * Jessie Greengrass, author of Women's Prize shortlisted SIGHT *

Clare's mind strayed back once again to that weekend in August at Henry's house. Perhaps nothing would have happened if they hadn't played croquet on the Saturday after-noon. Fucking croquet. Alex and Clare have gone to spend the weekend at Henry and Victoria's house in the Kent countryside. Clare and Alex have been a couple for ten years, but little of whatever brought them together is left in their marriage. Henry's a friend from the old days, but it isn't clear how much they still have in common, while Vic doesn't much care for their guests; especially not Alex, who suddenly finds he can't keep his eyes off her. The weekend seems unlikely to end well. The consequences unspool over the years that follow. As their lives disentangle from and re-entwine with each other, they pass through most of the hoops that life stakes out for them, if not always in the right order, or the right direction - a little older, not much wiser, and as unready as ever for the next round. Game Theory is a comedy about friendship, sex and parenting, and about the games people play.