The Woman In The Fifth

Dec 28, 2025 5:50 PM

Author:Douglas Kennedy

Harry Ricks is a man who has lost everything.

A romantic mistake at the small American college where he used to teach has cost him his job and his marriage. And when the ensuing scandal threatens to completely destroy him, he flees to Paris.

He arrives in the French captial in the bleak midwinter, and ends up having to work as a night guard to make ends meet. Then Margit, a beautiful, mysterious stranger, walks into his life. But their passionate and intense relationship triggers a string of inexplicable events, and soon Harry finds himself in a nightmare from which there is no easy escape.

Reviews

Nail-bitingly compulsive... A thumping good read. Kennedy has done it again

—— The Times

An extraordinary tour de force

—— Mail on Sunday

I ended up missing my stop to finish it

—— Daily Telegraph

Classic Kennedy... extraordinarily compelling... Kennedy handles a morally complex, yet also surprisingly satisfying, ending with consummate skill, proving what a master he is

—— Daily Mirror

A grim, claustrophobic atmosphere is layered with sleazy transactions and the emotional flaws of the characters. It's all neatly captured in Kennedy's sharp, shoot-from-the-hip prose

—— Independent on Sunday

Douglas Kennedy is back with another of his intriguing, beautifully written page-turners

—— Elle

Kennedy is a fantastic, feisty writer

—— Independent on Sunday

Previous Article：Uncle Dynamite Next Article：The Story of an African Farm

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.