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“Birnam Wood is terrific. As a multilayered, character-driven thriller, its as good as it gets. Ruth Rendell would have loved it. A beautifully textured work—what a treat.” —Stephen King“One of the finest writers of our time.” —Jonathan Ruppin, The IndependentThe Booker Prize–winning author of The Luminaries brings us Birnam Wood, a gripping thriller of high drama and kaleidoscopic insight into what drives us to survive.Birnam Wood is on the move . . . A landslide has closed the Korowai Pass on New Zealands South Island, cutting off the town of Thorndike and leaving a sizable farm abandoned. The disaster presents an opportunity for Birnam Wood, an undeclared, unregulated, sometimes-criminal, sometimes-philanthropic guerrilla gardening collective that plants crops wherever no one will notice. For years, the group has struggled to break even. To occupy the farm at Thorndike would mean a shot at solvency at last. But the enigmatic American billionaire Robert Lemoine also has an interest in the place: he has snatched it up to build his end-times bunker, or so he tells Birnams founder, Mira, when he catches her on the property. Hes intrigued by Mira, and by Birnam Wood; although theyre poles apart politically, it seems Lemoine and the group might have enemies in common. But can Birnam trust him? And, as their ideals and ideologies are tested, can they trust one another?A gripping psychological thriller from the Booker Prize–winning author of The Luminaries, Eleanor Cattons Birnam Wood is Shakespearean in its drama, Austenian in its wit, and, like both influences, fascinated by what makes us who we are. A brilliantly constructed study of intentions, actions, and consequences, it is a mesmerizing, unflinching consideration of the human impulse to ensure our own survival.

In the enigmatic novel "Birnam Wood" by Eleanor Catton, readers are immersed in a world of secrets, betrayals, and hidden truths that unfold within the confines of a reclusive New Zealand town. The narrative follows the enigmatic character of Simon Adair, a man who returns to his hometown of Birnam Wood after a long absence, only to find himself entangled in a series of mysterious events that challenge his perception of reality. As Simon delves deeper into the town's hidden past, he encounters a cast of compelling characters, each with their own motives and secrets. There's Laura, the enigmatic and alluring librarian who seems to possess knowledge beyond her years; Kester, the enigmatic local historian obsessed with uncovering the town's forgotten truths; and the enigmatic figure of Birnam Wood, a place shrouded in myth and legend. As Simon's investigation progresses, he uncovers a web of interconnected relationships, betrayals, and long-buried secrets that have shaped the town's history. The novel explores themes of identity, memory, and the power of history to shape the present. Catton's masterful storytelling captivates readers as they follow Simon's journey, piecing together the fragmented truths that lie at the heart of Birnam Wood. With its intricate plot, evocative prose, and thought-provoking themes, "Birnam Wood" is a captivating novel that transports readers to a world where the boundaries between reality and illusion blur. Catton's exploration of memory, identity, and the lasting impact of history on the present leaves readers pondering the complexities of human relationships and the fragility of truth.